Marvel Template System:Spectrum

- Astonishing... - Kilgrave couldn't tear his eyes away from the screen. He simply couldn't get enough of this sight! Just the prospect, the mere hint of this possibility, was driving him insane. - Simply incredible...

Kevin Thompson—he hated that name, preferring the one he'd chosen for himself, "Kilgrave"—knew he was capable of far, far greater things.

His very power spoke of his inner ambitions, of a core that tolerated neither competition nor dissent.

Kilgrave had always believed that everything he'd achieved was just the beginning, not the limit. But he wasn't devoid of fear.

He didn't want the government, for example, to turn against him. After all, his ability had its limits—both in time and range. It was almost laughable to think that a good ambush and a team of professional snipers would be enough to kill him.

But the years passed, and his ambitions only grew. Irritation and weariness with his achievements robbed him of the joy of his usual luxuries. Wine had become nothing more than sour swill, expensive homes no longer impressed him, and women felt like nothing more than sex dolls.

He was bored with everything. He was tired of standing still. And...

Only in his beloved Jessica had he found solace, though it was more like she had sparked a competitive interest in him. Before, she had been just another one of his peculiar toys, as obedient as the rest, but with extraordinary abilities. The sight of Jessica ripping the heads off his other toys had always amused him.

But when Jessica had broken free of his control six months ago... Oh-ho-ho... Jessica had gone from being a "peculiar toy" to his "favorite toy."

Finally, in his stagnant, boring life, there was... a challenge.

A few disguised encounters—when Kilgrave needed to, he could stoop to such unworthy extremes—with Jessica had only confirmed his suspicions.

Kilgrave no longer had power over Jessica.

And that had awakened in him... passion. A kind of thrill that had spiced up his dull existence.

Kilgrave realized that making Jessica submit without his powers would be no easy task, but... This feat was worthy of him.

Of course, Jessica's self-destructive tendencies were irritating, but Kilgrave was prepared to "rehabilitate" his favorite toy in the future.

The problem arose where it shouldn't have.

A damn neighbor, some fucking stray mutt—fucking Christopher, motherfucking Wallace—had somehow gained superpowers!

At first, he'd sent Irish thugs to scare the guy off or, if necessary, kill him, but...

The little mutt had sharp teeth. Teeth that could... tear people apart.

But the worst part was his complete disregard for collateral damage! A tactic that had worked for years on weaklings and cowards had failed!

And there, among the ruins of a burning building and the shredded remains of most of his mercenary army, Kilgrave felt... fear. Staring into those furious eyes, he realized that he was about to have his head ripped off.

God, what humiliation!

Yes, Kilgrave had been seeking new, intense sensations, but this particular palette of emotions didn't sit well with him at all!

He was a king and a god! Everything was always under his control! If something went wrong, it meant Kilgrave had allowed it to happen! But...

Damn Christopher Wallace!

The humiliation and fear from that incident had so consumed his mind that Jessica didn't even feel like a consolation prize!

But standing here, in the wide cabin of a military plane, Kilgrave felt... an unprecedented surge of energy and a thirst for action.

He realized that he had been given a unique opportunity not just to take revenge but to rise to unprecedented heights! Truly, everything happens for a reason!

- Once more, - Kilgrave, almost obsessively, turned to the gray-haired general, not taking his eyes off the screen. - Who... what is this?

- The Hulk, - even a seasoned military man couldn't resist his powers. Wasn't this just another confirmation of his greatness? - The subject's real name is Dr. Bruce Banner, a scientist specializing in gamma radiation. However, after an incident involving gamma exposure, his body underwent irreversible changes. Under emotional or physical stress, the subject transforms into a massive, invulnerable green humanoid. In this state, his physical strength far exceeds all known human or even superhuman parameters. He can destroy buildings, deflect projectiles, and withstand almost all known methods of destruction. It's important to note that the limits of his strength are incredibly difficult to assess. But there is a certain correlation between his level of anger and the strength he displays...

And in Kilgrave's mind, ideas and plans were pounding like a drum, all carrying one theme...

"He's stronger than Chris..."

"The Hulk will crush Chris..."

"With the Hulk by my side, I'll reach a whole new level..."

- This is just... incredible, - Kilgrave almost wept with joy. - Is he in New York?

- Yes, sir, - General Ross nodded. - Bruce Banner is heading to Samuel Sterns, a cellular biologist who has had quite... fruitful correspondence with the subject. We believe Stern has made some progress, especially with the blood samples Banner himself sent.

- Why does the Hulk need this? - Kilgrave frowned.

- We believe the Hulk wants to rid himself... of his condition.

- That's UNACCEPTABLE! - Kilgrave snarled. - We must immediately cut off this possibility! Kill Samuel Sterns!

- Excuse me, - a man who appeared to be the general's deputy, Emil Blonsky, interjected. - But I believe that would be counterproductive.

- What do you mean? - Kilgrave stared at the soldier with interest. If the man had spoken without Kilgrave's command, it meant he believed his information would serve a greater purpose, or his inner desire outweighed the control, or perhaps both.

- I've been made into a super-soldier, - Emil made a shocking statement. - I'm much faster, stronger, and more durable than an ordinary human. And it only took me a day to recover from multiple injuries sustained in a fight with the Hulk.

- A super-soldier? - Kilgrave's surprise knew no bounds. - And you can create more like you?!

- Unfortunately, there are side effects, including cancerous tumors throughout the body six months after the serum is administered, - General Ross interjected.

- You didn't tell me that, General, - Emil's expression was blank, but the air was thick with resentment. - Good thing I planned to kill you after the mission.

- Go ahead, kid, - Ross replied with the same blank stare. - I planned to do the same.

- Enough! - Kilgrave stopped them. - Let's say you're a super-soldier. So what?!

- I planned to betray Ross and force Stern to use his blood samples to...

- To "what"? - Kilgrave held his breath.

- To become another Hulk.

It seemed Kilgrave momentarily lost touch with reality.

- Heh, - Kilgrave smirked. - Ha-ha-ha!...

One Hulk is good...

But two is even better!

*****

- Police patrols have been redirected. 

- All cameras within three hundred meters are disabled. 

- Communications are cut. 

- Evacuation route is ready. 

- The target must be taken alive. You have five minutes. Do you understand, soldier? 

- Yes, sir, - a hollow voice came from behind the mask. - Operation begins.

People in unmarked tactical gear poured out of multiple vans in front of the hotel. And leading them was...

The Soldier.

*****

- What the hell is going on?! - Jessica yelled and—oh no—put down the bottle of whiskey. - Can you keep it... down?

Opening the door, Jessica instantly sobered up, because standing in front of her was... a killer.

The Soldier, his lower face obscured by an impenetrable mask. Dressed in black tactical gear with multiple layers of armor and various "additions" like ammo clips, grenades, and knives. His very appearance screamed highly skilled assassin. But the most notable feature was his left arm. A gleaming metal arm adorned with a red star.

A quick glance to the side revealed a hallway full of unconscious people.

Jessica didn't bother with threats or curses. She knew they were here for her. So the only option was...

Strike!

Swinging her fist, Jessica expected some nasty surprises, but not on this scale. Disbelieving her eyes, she stared at her own fist, clenched in the metal grip of the robotic arm.

- Who the hell are you? - Jessica muttered, stunned.

The Soldier didn't answer. Instead, with lightning speed, he delivered several brutal blows to her face.

Jessica retaliated with her own punches, but the assassin quickly confirmed her worst fears.

He wasn't just some thug.

He was a true professional.

Every punch Jessica threw either missed by millimeters or met the unyielding barrier of his metal arm. But the Soldier quickly realized that even his arm couldn't nullify the damage from Jessica's strength, so he simply... dodged.

Like a snake, he evaded her blows, making her fists crash into the walls while he delivered precise strikes to her head.

Jessica had always considered herself tough... until today.

The Soldier once again ducked under her swing, grabbed her arm in a vice-like grip, and bent her body so that Jessica was instantly slammed to the ground.

Jessica desperately tried to get up, but the Soldier, now on top of her, raised his metal arm and... struck.

BOOM!

Jessica felt her head sink into the floorboards.

BOOM!

Her eyes swelled shut, leaving her blind.

BOOM!

Her strength was fading fast. Her head was spinning so much she couldn't even clench her fist. Blood poured from her mouth and nose.

She'd been beaten so badly that Jessica was surprised she was still conscious.

And the Soldier...

Realizing Jessica could no longer resist, he grabbed her by the hair and dragged her behind him. In her helpless state, all she could do was weakly grip his arm.

Honestly, she'd been so thoroughly outmatched in strength and skill that Jessica wasn't even angry. She didn't have the energy to think straight.

So the Soldier dragged her out of the hotel room like a sack of potatoes. Until...

- Hey, Asshole... - The voice of the newcomer was cold but trembling with concentrated rage. - Get your hands off my friend...

Jessica could only make out a silhouette at the other end of the hallway, but...

She knew help had arrived.

- Chris... - Jessica croaked. Kill... this... this...

- I got it, Jessica, - Chris's voice softened for a moment, but only for a moment. - I'll turn this bastard into a bloody smear.

And Christopher Wallace faced...

The Winter Soldier.

As it turned out, if you order someone to stop or face you with the most intense command, it might not work.

For example, right now, some random militarized jerk with a metal arm gave him a quick glance, then immediately bolted in the other direction with Jessica slung over his shoulder.

- You son of a b-b-bitch... - Chris muttered angrily and chased after his target.

At normal distances, no one—not even this strange mercenary or assassin, Chris still wasn't sure who he was or why he was here—stood a chance against Chris. I mean, Chris could leap dozens of meters with the strength of his legs. What kind of competition was that?!

But the unknown soldier had a different goal, because at the end of the hallway was a window, which he promptly jumped out of, after hooking a line to the windowsill. His actions weren't a secret to Chris, but the soldier wasn't hiding. He'd correctly assessed the risks and guessed that Chris wouldn't "drop" his enemy while Jessica was still on his shoulder.

But that didn't stop Chris from jumping after him. And he didn't need a safety line. Falling from the tenth floor barely fazed Chris, though there was a slight tingling in his knees. But he'd overtaken the soldier, who needed more time to descend!

Except the unknown soldier wasn't alone. And these "not alone" guys just happened to be real professionals who kept their cool and reacted annoyingly quickly to the situation.

Because as soon as Chris landed, they surrounded him and opened fire with futuristic-looking rifles.

But instead of bullets, they fired metal cables, whose voltage could not only stop a heart but fry an ordinary person on the spot.

Whoever these guys were, they knew who they might be dealing with.

Dozens of cables latched onto Chris's skin, continuously delivering high-voltage electricity. His limbs stopped responding, his fingers curled, and his face twisted into convulsive expressions.

The pain was intense, but the worst part was that the soldier with Jessica over his shoulder had already descended and, completely ignoring Chris's "dancing" figure on the ground, got into a van, followed by an entire armored convoy.

It took less than a minute for these people to load up and disappear from the scene.

- M-m-m-oth-th-th-er-f-f-f-uck-k-k-er!... - Chris managed to shake off the cables hanging from his body—probably because the voltage had run out—and snorted, getting his body back in order.

It seemed the road had cleared itself for these people, as the traffic ahead was free, and as soon as their vehicles passed, the previously non-functioning traffic lights caused a jam. Their swift exit had been perfectly planned, flawlessly executed, and shouldn't have left Chris any chance. Sure, he could've jumped across buildings, but there's a difference between some panicking thugs and a group of high-class professionals.

They knew his capabilities. The weapons they'd used to briefly restrain him proved that. And yet, they couldn't have known he'd be here! So this was just a precaution!

But there was one thing these enemies hadn't accounted for.

Chris from a week ago wasn't the same as Chris today. There was a huge, just massive difference in skill!

SYNCHRONIZATION [2] [Dominic Toretto] [Rarity: Rare]: 13 %

As it turned out, the difference in "rank" wasn't just about "strength" but also the "speed" of synchronization. A short ride with Trish had been enough to gain a whole thirteen percent! But now wasn't the time to dwell on that.

Chris's eye immediately caught a bright red motorcycle parked on the side of the road. His legs carried him to the beast, and his hands hypnotically reached "inside."

Chris had never stolen anything, let alone a motorcycle! But his movements were deft, every finger knowing the purpose of every wire, and his eyes only grew more determined. Sure, he felt a bit bad for the owner, but he needed it more.

Hopping on the bike and assuming the most optimal—again, instinctively—posture, Chris revved the throttle, never taking his determined gaze off the disappearing armored vehicles.

He'd never ridden a motorcycle before, let alone a sports bike, but...

He had a few aces up his sleeve.

Phantasm [Rank: B]: Screw physics! We've got a multi-million-dollar blockbuster here!

- But that's too unrealistic! 

- We already sent a car into space! What are we afraid of?! 

For you, a car isn't just a vehicle—it's a personal destroyer of objective reality!

Physics is just a suggestion, not a rule!

As long as you're in a car, nothing is impossible for you. 

The crazier the plan, the higher the chance of success. 

If you don't have a plan, even better! 

Bonus:

If there's a "whiny skeptic" who criticizes your plan at every opportunity, the chance of success for even the craziest scheme increases. 

No time to doubt. Time to act!

Standing slightly, Chris lifted the bike onto its back wheel, controlling it with just his body.

Accelerating, Chris headed straight for a fire hydrant, jumping slightly and hitting the obstacle with his single wheel.

He couldn't believe it, but the plan worked!

Chris had sent his bike flying! It seemed even the enemy stopped shooting for a second, just stunned by his improvised flight!

A flight that ended on the roof of the truck!

The bike's wheels immediately started leaving marks on the white roof, but as much as Chris wanted to stay longer, that wasn't the plan.

Accelerating even more, Chris landed near the driver.

The door, even armored, wasn't an obstacle for his strength, so the next second, the driver was sent flying, and the truck, now driverless, started to tip over.

Good thing Chris wasn't there anymore.

Because now there was only one last target.

A small van, its rear doors open. Chris noted with relief that Jessica was strapped in, but immediately turned his attention to the unknown soldier with the metal arm. He aimed a strange weapon at Chris, firing a buzzing metal disk. Chris tried to dodge, but the disk magnetized itself to his front wheel!

His supernatural instincts took over.

Lifting the bike onto one wheel again, Chris made an incredibly precise move, striking the axle of the front wheel, to which the disk was magnetized.

The next second, an explosion went off behind him, where he'd sent the wheel he'd just torn off.

The sight was so unbelievable that even the soldier hesitated for a second. And that was a fatal mistake.

The next moment, Chris grabbed the metal arm in his iron grip, still riding on one wheel.

- Well, tin soldier, - Chris smirked vengefully. - LET'S GO FOR A RIDE?!

Chris yanked the mercenary out of the van and started dragging him behind like a stuffed toy. But given the speed and the road surface, this ride wasn't going to be pleasant. The soldier tried to voice his opinion, pulling out knives and trying to cut Chris's arm. Naturally, to no avail, though he did tear Chris's new jacket.

And Chris decided to show the depth of the soldier's mistake by using him as...

A club.

BOOM!

The soldier's body slammed into the side of the van, leaving a dent.

BOOM!

The mask was long gone, blood pouring from his nose and mouth, but Chris didn't stop. Holding the soldier by his metal arm—so tightly that his fingers left imprints—he "bashed" the van with the body of Jessica's tormentor.

A pretty pointless act of cruelty, but full of vengeful—almost sadistic—glee.

Swinging again, Chris realized with surprise that he was only holding the metal arm. Looking back in confusion, he saw that the soldier had somehow, motherfucker, detached himself and disappeared! Though Chris was sure he had more broken bones than intact ones!

Sighing dejectedly, Chris leveled with the driver in just a few seconds - still on one wheel! - and "begging" - almost breaking the mercenary's neck - stopped the van with Jessica inside. 

An incredible ride that lasted both fifteen minutes and several hours at the same time. An amazing adventure that would warm his soul for a long time to come.... 

- Holy shit... - Chris muttered, as the adrenaline and inner drive subsided. - I'm fucking awesome! A-A-A-A-A! A-HA-HA! I'M AWESOME!