Cage rolls Jessica off onto the street and leaps to his feet, ready to slam his fist through Killgrave's face, but she quickly flies back in his path and stands as a human shield between him and the "Purple Man" who simply smiles.
"Leave her out of this, Killgrave!," Cage shouts, "You want me, come and get me! I'm right here!"
"I am getting you," Killgrave explains as he paces, Jessica mirroring his every step as she stands between him and Cage, "But your girlfriend has been a problem for us and getting you both out of the way is beneficial."
"I know your game. I know all about your drugs. You might as well give up now."
"It's fancinating, isn't it?," he eyes Jessica, "I can have hundreds of sleeper agents, ready to serve the Maggia and they are just normal people you see everyday. They need someone assassinated? I know a waiter at the local diner. They need someone to collect money? There's a bus driver in the area. They need to intimidate a politician? No need, I already have him under my command. The best part about them is they don't even know they're working for us."
"So where's your angle? Your bosses want you to send someone to do their dirty work and you do it. What's in it for you?"
Killgrave shrugs indifferently, "I have the ability to do so. Isn't that enough?"
"Just so you know, after I kill you, I'm coming after your boys in the Maggia."
Cage tries to go for him again but a police squad car pulls up, lights flashing. Killgrave quickly backs away as Jessica steps forward. The cop gets out and aims his gun at her, "On the ground, now!". She continues to walk toward him blindly. He pulls back the hammer but before he pulls the trigger, Cage throws Jessica out of the path of the bullet and allows it to bounce off his chest. He turns to check up on her and she quickly disappears into the shadows.
"Luke Cage?," the officer asks, "You just put your hands over your head right now, big fella."
"Got no time for this," Cage turns and runs after Jessica.
A few bullets bounce off his shoulder as he races after her through the suburban area but he does not stop. She bounds along the rooftops of the houses and as he runs after her, the officer drives his squad car behind him and quickly closes the distance until the fornt bumper finally strikes the back of his knees. Cage drops and the car runs over him completely as it comes to a dead stop. He pulls himself out from under it, rises to his feet and slams his leg through the front tire, flattening it. "You're lucky I don't just rip the whole thing in half," he tells the officer who wisely stays in his car. Cage turns his attention back to where he last saw Jessica but there is no longer any trace of her. He leaves the area, disappointed.
Killgrave soon enters a hotel room. It's a cheap hotel with a balcony overlooking a dirty swimming pool. Not nearly as luxurious as the Remmington but it's a great place to hide out. He sits down in a plastic chair and loosens his tie. A moment later, Jessica Jones drops down onto the balcony and opens the sliding door. "Ah, you finally made it," he says happily as the purple bruises on his face disappear. She steps into the room and blinks once, swaying a bit as she slowly comes to her senses. The moment is shocking. She mostly stares at her hands as she realizes she can use them again.
"Welcome back, Ms. Jones, he stands up and opens the mini-fridge, "Since you are momentarily in control of yourself, I thought you might like a drink."
"You're sick," she tells him, "When did you infect me with your drug?"
"Earlier today," he tells her as he hands her a bottle of water.
"You won't get away with this."
"You'd be surprised with the sort of things I've gotten away with."
Jessica turns and sprints out the sliding door. She puts one leg over the balcony, ready to jump, but stops as the dead look returns to her eyes. Killgrave slowly approaches as she climbs back into the room. "Well, that conversation was short," he hands her the bottle of water once again. She takes it this time and starts drinking.
"You can rest easy knowing that I don't plan to hurt you," he tells her, "You've actually proven valuable to me. I'll have to keep you around for as long as possible."
Her expression is blank. Meanwhile, he turns and opens his laptop. Soon, he is in a private video chat and calls multiple computers at once. Soon, windows open up on the screen, revealing people hidden in shadow. "Ladies and gentlemen of the Maggia, I greet you," he says cheerfully as he sits down. "You shouldn't talk to all of us at once," one of the men scolds him, his face still hidden in shadows.
"It's easier for me," Killgrave explains and turns his camera toward Jessica, "I have a test subject if you are interested in seeing what she can do."
"Can it, Killgrave," another one speaks up, "We just got word that you have single-handidly severed our ties with Roxxon. Do you have any idea what that will do to our profits?"
"Nothing that can't be recovered from."
"These test subjects better deliver," one of the female heads scowls, "You've cost us enough already and we have word Luke Cage is coming after us again. We don't want a repeat of what happened to McIver."
"Trust me, ladies and gentlemen," Killgrave smiles, "I am confident he won't be a problem."
