Marvel: Randomly Load a Protagonist Template - Chapter 61
“That’s how it is, and I don’t know why this happened to me.”
Jessica wiped her tears in the burger shop across from the hospital and explained her situation in detail to Hawking.
After all, she was just a high school student. A car accident had taken her family away, and it was hard for her to cope with the emotional aftermath.
She had been suppressing her emotions for days, which is why she had been on the brink of suicide. Now that she had Hawking as someone to confide in, her feelings were finally being released, and she couldn’t stop her tears.
“Jessica, this was just an accident; you can’t blame yourself,” Hawking comforted her, then explained:
“I think your ability to float and your sudden increase in strength might be due to some reaction between your body and the military chemical agents involved in the car crash.
This isn’t uncommon, so don’t worry.
Just adapt to it, and you’ll be able to master your unique abilities.”
“I don’t want these powers; I just want them back by my side or to join them wherever they are,” Jessica said, wiping away her tears, her voice slightly dreamy.
Hawking immediately became severe:
“Jessica, the dead cannot be brought back to life, but the living must go on. You can use your abilities to help those in need and prevent similar tragedies from happening. Imagine if someone like you were nearby during your accident who was willing to help; the tragedy might have been averted.”
“But me… Can I do it?” Jessica faltered upon hearing Hawking’s words.
Perhaps God had allowed her to survive the crash and bestowed these special powers upon her for that reason—to prevent such tragedies, as Hawking suggested.
But she was just a high school student; could she shoulder such a responsibility?
“Maybe not now, but if you accept my training, there’s hope,” Hawking assured her.
He led Jessica to a deserted alley and used a spell to transform into his iconic armor.
“It’s you!” Jessica immediately recognized him.
Though she had been in the hospital, there was a TV in her room, and she had seen reports about Iron Man and Spider-Man. She thought that if Iron Man and Spider-Man had been nearby on the day of the accident, perhaps her family would have survived.
“Yes, it’s me. I plan to ally with heroes, gathering like-minded super-beings to prevent more tragedies. Jessica, would you like to join us?” Hawking asked.
Jessica looked at Hawking’s gleaming figure in the alley, the warm sunlight shining on him and reflecting a dazzling light like a deity.
After about five seconds of silence, she stepped out of the shadow of the alley and smiled for the first time in a long while.
“I’m willing!”
It’s hard to muster the courage to attempt suicide a second time after an unsuccessful first attempt.
Luckily, she had met Hawking and found a new reason to keep living.
“You’re doing well. I’ll come here every day at this time to help you adapt to your abilities until you’ve completely mastered them.”
After about an hour of testing Jessica’s abilities and assisting with control exercises near the hospital, Hawking left her with these words and prepared to depart for Oscorp.
Jessica, a bit out of breath, asked:
“When can I join you to fight criminals and help those in need?”
“That depends on when you can control your abilities,” Hawking replied as he transformed Jessica’s outfit back to her hospital gown and rode off on his motorcycle.
Jessica’s powers were not as strong as Peter’s, probably because she hadn’t mastered them yet, but her ability to fly compensated for that. With some training, she would be a valuable ally.
“Young people are so easy to influence!”
Riding on his motorcycle, Hawking couldn’t help but sigh.
Peter Parker and Jessica Jones were both high school students and more naive, making it easy for them to sway during vulnerable moments with just a few words from Hawking.
This tactic wouldn’t work on more experienced adults, such as the cunning adversary he would face—Norman Osborn as the Green Goblin.
Of course, dealing with the likes of the Green Goblin required a different approach—fight first, talk later! The Green Goblin’s deceitful nature required a show of absolute strength to subdue him and make him realize the disparity in their powers, making him aware that Hawking could easily threaten his family—and would act on it if necessary.
Once this understanding was established, they could talk business and preempt many troubles.
“Hello, I want to speak with Mr. Norman Osborn, your chairman.”
In his Midtown High School uniform, Hawking urgently said to the receptionist at the Oscorp Industries building.
The receptionist looked puzzled at Hawking:
“Do you have an appointment?”
“I’m a classmate of Mr. Osborn’s son Harry, who’s been seriously injured!”
Hawking continued with an anxious expression.
Upon hearing this, the receptionist no longer hesitated and quickly picked up the phone to report the situation to the chairman’s office.
Soon, Norman Osborn rushed out of the elevator to Hawking’s side.
“How is Harry? Where is he now?”
“He accidentally fell from the second floor and broke his leg. Let me take you to him right away!”
Hawking grabbed Norman’s arm and headed out of the building, and the father, anxious for his son, followed without suspicion:
“Let’s go to the parking lot. We’ll drive there, and you can direct me!”
Moments later, a Rolls-Royce sped out of the Oscorp building, driven by Norman Osborn, with Hawking sitting in the back, looking relatively calm.
“Indeed, even the Green Goblin has his weaknesses.”
Watching Norman, who looked tense, Hawking thought to himself.
Even though the Green Goblin emerged from the human enhancement experiment with an evil personality and ruthless methods, he still deeply loved his son Harry.
Even in death, he instructs Peter not to tell Harry that he is the evil Green Goblin, not wanting his son to know he is the wrong person.
“Turn left here, then take a right at the next intersection.”
After running through several red lights, the Rolls-Royce stopped before a luxurious mansion.
“Are you sure this is the place? Harry broke his leg here?”
At this point, Norman finally realized something was off.
Firstly, he had never met Hawking, Harry’s supposed classmate, nor had Harry mentioned him.
Secondly, it was just past four o’clock; given Harry’s personality, he was unlikely to be home so early as he had club activities to attend.
Lastly, and most suspiciously, he noticed that since they had gotten into the car, Hawking, who claimed to be Harry’s classmate, no longer displayed the initial urgency, which was highly dubious.
…
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