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Puerto Rico, outskirts of San Juan.
Inside the dense primeval jungle, the muggy air was thick with the faint scent of blood.
*Whoosh—*
Jessica Jones appeared beside a large, snapped tree trunk.
She raised her hand to wipe away the thin layer of sweat on her forehead.
The humid heat of Puerto Rico made her feel a bit irritable; she would much rather be in Homelander's air-conditioned bedroom suite.
She looked up ahead.
Coulson's team had already established a temporary security perimeter here. A quinjet was parked in a nearby clearing, and several portable generators emitted a low hum.
Jessica's gaze rested on the disheveled Phil Coulson.
This S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent, who was usually dressed in a suit and leather shoes, now had his white shirt covered in blood.
Most noticeable was his left arm—it was gone.
A large field tourniquet was tightly cinched above the stump, and thick medical bandages wrapped the end, with blood slowly seeping out and staining the gauze red.
Melinda May stood beside Coulson.
A tactical short knife was stuck haphazardly in the mud by her feet, its blade still stained with wet blood.
Jessica strode over.
"Looks like you guys messed up." Jessica stopped in front of Coulson, her gaze sweeping over his severed arm. "What happened?"
Coulson stood up straight, trying to keep his voice steady.
"We found the obelisk left by the Kree in an alien temple."
"We originally intended to use a containment box to take it back for research. But when Skye got close, the obelisk suddenly reacted."
"It was activated," Coulson continued. "The obelisk contained an unknown crystal that, after being stimulated, evaporated into a cloud of misty gas."
"Skye inhaled that mist. Immediately after, she was enveloped in a rock-like black substance, like... a cocoon."
"I tried to save her." Coulson looked down at his severed arm. "Only then did I realize my arm had been injured by the obelisk's shattered casing. That petrification phenomenon started spreading up from my hand."
"And then?" Jessica asked.
"I cut off Coulson's hand," May took over. "It was the only way to save him."
Coulson nodded, acknowledging Melinda May's decision.
"I owe May my life," Coulson continued, "but the point isn't me, it's Skye."
"The cocoon burst, and when Skye came out, a powerful shockwave erupted from her."
Fitz chimed in from the side, his voice trembling slightly: "That force sent all of us flying."
"We only have minor injuries," Simmons added, "but Skye was terrified by the destruction she caused; she was afraid she would kill us."
"So she ran," Jessica concluded.
"Yes." Coulson sighed. "By the time we recovered, she was gone. This is where her tactical suit's signal disappeared."
"Skye was a mole sent in by Vought; we believe you must have some special way of contacting her. That's why we contacted you for help." Coulson's voice was full of expectation.
Hearing the word "mole," Jessica arched an eyebrow and scoffed:
"Coulson, let me correct you on one point. Stop saying 'mole'."
Coulson was slightly taken aback.
"The current S.H.I.E.L.D. is already a subsidiary of Vought International." Jessica shrugged, her tone casual. "Your operational budget, your equipment procurement, even the salary you receive in your account every month—I'm the one signing off on all of it."
"From an administrative structure standpoint, I am your Boss." She pointed to herself.
"Skye is a Vought employee, and so are you. You are proper colleagues."
Fitz and Simmons glanced at each other, pursing their lips awkwardly.
Coulson also gave a helpless smile.
Melinda May shook her head and sighed: "The world is unpredictable."
The once-lofty S.H.I.E.L.D. had now become a subordinate department of a private company; it was indeed ironic.
Jessica dropped her joking attitude and got down to business.
"I did give Skye a watch with an emergency contact function," Jessica added, "but the bad news is, Vought also can't receive any positioning signal from that watch."
As soon as these words were spoken, worry once again filled everyone's hearts.
Although everyone knew Skye had initially approached them with a purpose, after going through so many life-and-death trials together, in their hearts, that smart, kind, and occasionally rebellious hacker girl had long been an irreplaceable friend and family member.
"Relax, everyone." Jessica looked at the group's reaction and spoke to comfort them. "There's also good news."
Everyone looked at Jessica in unison, waiting for her to continue.
"Skye has another watch."
"Homelander gave it to her personally. That watch doesn't have a positioning function, but as long as she presses the button, the watch will emit a special high-frequency sonic wave."
Jessica pointed to the sky.
"That sonic wave cannot be blocked; only Homelander's super hearing can capture it."
"Since Homelander hasn't heard a distress call yet, it means Skye is currently safe."
Hearing this deduction, everyone relaxed a bit. As long as she was still alive, there was still hope.
"Next, leave the scene to me." Jessica pressed her palms down and cracked her neck, focusing her attention on the surrounding spatial structure.
Then her figure flickered continuously in the surrounding area.
"Shua! Shua! Shua!"
Her afterimages were constantly left between the trees, in mid-air, and on the rocks.
"It's right here." Jessica stopped and pointed to the spot beneath her feet. "Someone opened a spatial portal here."
The science duo, Fitz and Simmons, immediately sprang into action.
The two of them, carrying heavy metal briefcases, ran quickly to the spot Jessica pointed out. They assembled a tripod and inserted several cylindrical sensors into the soil.
"Receiving abnormal quantum signatures." Simmons adjusted the frequency of the sensors.
"Can you reverse-track the coordinates?" Coulson walked over and asked.
"It'll take time, Officer." Fitz stared intently at the waterfall of data on the display. "We need to extract this residual energy signature, build an algorithmic model, and then compare similar energy eruption points globally. If there's a match..."
"...we'll be able to find Skye's location," Simmons finished the sentence.
Jessica watched as these two science nerds entered their work state, knowing she wouldn't need to intervene in what came next.
Then she turned and walked toward Coulson.
Her gaze fell once more on Coulson's empty left arm.
"Coulson, find some time to go to Vought Tower."
Coulson looked at her with some confusion.
"Go to Vought Tower and find the supervisor of the Applied Technology Department; he'll arrange the latest prosthetic implant surgery for you." Jessica explained, "The latest model of 'Gorilla Arms,' a benefit only for senior employees."
"Gorilla Arms? Sounds like I'll need to restock my wardrobe with some wider suits." Coulson looked down at his wound and chuckled.
"Thank you, Boss."
"No need, I'm in a hurry." Jessica waved her hand at him. "Since you've found a way, I'll leave the rest to you."
She couldn't wait to go back and continue that unfinished battle.