"Mur... phy..."
A bellows-like sound came from the monster's throat as black, foamy blood poured out.
Before it could finish speaking, its hand fell limply to its side. Its pupils dilated, and life left its body.
"Murphy?" Jessica frowned. "Is that a name? Or... some kind of codename?"
"Perfect! Absolutely perfect, Jessica!" Dave's excited voice came from beside her. "That flying shield strike just now was insanely cool! And that... that pose! You had so much style!"
"Quick! Face the camera! Say the line!!"
Jessica took a deep breath and suppressed the doubts in her heart.
She turned around and faced the cameraman who had crawled out from behind the cover.
She sighed softly, wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth with her thumb, planted her hands on her hips, and delivered the line they had rehearsed beforehand.
"When the world needs heroes, The Seven answer the call!"
With that, she flicked her cape and strode off the battlefield.
S.H.I.E.L.D. Director's Office.
On the enormous display, a breaking report from Vought News Network was playing.
On-screen, Jessica Jones's fluid Tai Chi Cloud Hands was replayed in slow motion countless times.
The commentator's excited voice echoed through the office:
"...Did you see that?! This is Queen Jones! This is the strength of The Seven! Efficient! Elegant! Zero casualties! Compared to that, the efficiency of certain 'mysterious agencies' is simply outrageous..."
Smack!
Nick Fury shut off the screen with a dark expression.
"Sir." Maria Hill stood beside him, holding a thick stack of documents, her expression equally grim. "Vought's PR department has already released a statement. They're calling this operation 'the beginning of a new era of law enforcement.' Over at Congress... several more senators have sided with Starr."
"A new era of law enforcement?" Fury turned from the