Jessica found herself seeking advice from Wanda, but Wanda's upbringing in the chaos of Sokovia didn't offer much guidance. She hadn't had the chance to read or study in a structured way, and both of them were now just beginning their educational journeys. Recognizing this, Uld arranged private tutoring for them, focusing on the basics.
One day, after picking up a pile of books, Jessica was walking home when she witnessed a robbery in progress. Initially, she intended to ignore it and leave quickly. However, the situation escalated when the robber's gun went off, the bullet tearing through an elderly man who had been speaking to her. Jessica watched in horror as the bullet spiraled through the air, seemingly in slow motion, heading towards her. The old man's body had absorbed much of the bullet's force, but Jessica wasn't willing to take any chances.
In that moment of panic, Jessica felt time slow even further. Her perception shifted, and suddenly, she could move. In this surreal, slowed-down world, she instinctively dodged the bullet.
When time resumed its normal pace, the bullet smashed into the wall behind her, scattering debris. The robbers, startled by the turn of events, dragged their injured accomplice away, while the old man collapsed, bleeding. As people rushed to help him, a young man sprinted over—Jessica only caught his name in passing: Peter.
Still in shock from the sudden activation of her powers, Jessica fled. Every step felt dangerous—her feet left dents in the pavement, and when she grabbed a streetlamp for balance, it bent under her grip. Terrified of her newfound strength, she rushed back home.
"Sir, I think you need to see this," said the Black Queen, Zod's AI assistant, as she played a video showing Jessica's accidental destruction during her escape.
Zod wasn't surprised. He'd anticipated Jessica awakening her powers after the coma, though he hadn't expected it to take this long.
"Have you erased the footage?" Zod asked calmly.
"It's been handled," the Black Queen confirmed. Without such action, Jessica might have drawn attention from S.H.I.E.L.D.
Zod nodded. "She's probably distressed right now. Where is she?"
"At Wanda's dormitory," the Black Queen answered, pulling up another video.
Jessica was confiding in Wanda, explaining how she had suddenly become incredibly strong, invulnerable, and even capable of flight—essentially a miniature version of Superman. The two girls didn't know that, in this universe, the Superman series hadn't yet been released, with only Batman movies available, so their reference point was purely descriptive.
Wanda, clearly envious of Jessica's powers, tried to reassure her friend. Despite her own feelings of inadequacy, Wanda comforted Jessica, suggesting that these powers could be a blessing rather than a curse.
Zod had initially planned to check on Jessica, but seeing the connection she shared with Wanda, he decided against it. They seemed to be helping each other more than he could at the moment.
Under Wanda's guidance, Jessica started to view her powers differently. She reflected on the robbery earlier that day—her first instinct had been to flee rather than to save the old man. The thought of whether her fear had caused someone's death weighed heavily on her, but with Wanda's encouragement, Jessica pushed aside her guilt and decided to reach out to Zod.
"Mr. Heath, I... I have something important to tell you," Jessica said nervously when she reached Zod, noticing Uld nearby and quickly adjusting her wording.
"A secret, you say?" Uld's eyes narrowed slightly in suspicion. "Is this something appropriate to share with a minor?"
Zod shifted the conversation, curious about a sudden influx of legal letters. "Uld, why has the legal department received over a thousand lawyer letters?"
Uld quickly explained, "A company investigator disassembled one of our war machines and found that a single screw resembled one of their patented designs. They're claiming we've infringed on their patent. It started with one letter, but they've since bombarded us with hundreds."
"A screw?" Zod raised an eyebrow, incredulous. "Which company?"
"Rosanne Energy Group, notorious for using lawsuits to bully competitors," Uld replied with a sigh. "They're also the top energy company globally. In addition to their oil ventures, they control major social platforms and have subsidiaries that produce everything from petroleum products to lighters."
Zod's enhanced memory recalled the real power behind the company—Dario Agger, a major villain from the Marvel comics. After surviving a pirate attack, Agger had stumbled upon the remains of an ancient Minotaur and, in desperation, consumed the bones. This gruesome act triggered a mutation, transforming him into the new Minotaur, a powerful and nearly indestructible being.
Although Agger maintained his human form most of the time, he could transform into the Minotaur in battle, wielding immense strength and resilience. His influence stretched across the energy industry, and he wasn't someone to be trifled with.
Still, Zod wasn't concerned. His legal team was composed of top-tier lawyers, some of whom had defected from rival firms or even the political sphere. They would handle the Rosanne Energy Group's petty lawsuits with ease.
With that settled, Zod finally turned his attention back to Jessica. He invited her into a private room, treating her with the kind of respect most adults never showed children. Jessica was moved by this gesture.
"Now, what's your secret?" Zod asked kindly, a smile softening his features.
Jessica hesitated but, seeing Zod's encouraging expression, mustered up the courage. "I... I had an accident today. While trying to avoid a bullet, I discovered I have superpowers."
Zod's expression didn't shift in the slightest. He took her revelation seriously, nodding thoughtfully. "Superpowers, you say?"
He repeated it as if testing the word, showing no doubt or dismissal.