"Hello, Ms. Jessica Jones. I'm Agent Phil Coulson with the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division. Do you have a moment?"
It was just after Christmas. The snow in New York had turned into a grey slush, but inside Jessica's Midtown mansion, the air was warm. She stood at the heavy oak door, looking at the man in the nondescript suit with the receding hairline and the disarming smile.
Rosen, hidden in the surveillance blind spot of the second-floor landing, smirked. "Finally. The Village Chief of Marvel's Beginner Village has arrived."
"I'm sorry," Jessica said, blinking with practiced confusion. "I've never heard of... whatever that mouthful was."
"It's a bit of a mouthful, I know. We're working on it," Coulson said, his smile never wavering. "Our situation is unique. Perhaps I can come in and explain?"
"Sure," Jessica shrugged, stepping aside. "Come on in."
Coulson stepped into the foyer. His eyes didn't dart around suspiciously; instead, they moved with a casual, practiced observation. He noted the high-end art, the lack of personal clutter, and the faint smell of fresh coffee.
"Nice place, Ms. Jones. Do you live alone?"
It was the standard Agent question. Testing the waters.
"Just me," Jessica lied smoothly. "Can I get you something? Coffee?"
"Coffee would be great, thanks."
As Jessica moved to the kitchen, Coulson walked into the living room. Rosen had been meticulous. Unless Coulson had X-ray vision to see through the hidden door to the underground vault or decided to raid Jessica's bedroom, there was zero physical evidence of a second occupant.
"Here," Jessica said, handing him a mug. "I assume you didn't come here to talk about interior decorating. What do you want, Agent?"
Coulson took a sip. "I'm just a little curious about the personal life of New York's famous Homelander."
He dropped the name casually, watching for a reaction. A flinch. A denial.
Jessica didn't give him one. She just took a sip of her own coffee. "So, you know. I figured the FBI would be the first to knock."
"They wanted to," Coulson admitted. "But we stepped in. For certain... special matters, my department has higher jurisdiction."
"Ah," Jessica nodded, feigning realization. "Like A.R.G.U.S. in the comics?"
Coulson chuckled. As a closeted superhero fanboy who collected vintage Captain America trading cards, he appreciated the reference. "Similar nature, yes. But I like to think S.H.I.E.L.D. is a bit more reasonable than Amanda Waller."
"S.H.I.E.L.D.," Jessica tested the name. "Much better than the full title. So, are you here to recruit me?"
"I'll be direct," Coulson said, setting his mug down. "We have an initiative. A special project to recruit individuals with abilities like yours. The world is getting stranger, Ms. Jones. We need people who can handle 'strange'."
"Like a Justice League?" Jessica smirked.
"You could say that. Though we're short on Supermen and Batmen at the moment."
"But you could have a Homelander," Jessica countered.
"Exactly," Coulson smiled. "And honestly? A real Homelander would probably poll better than Superman right now."
"Don't get too excited," Jessica said, raising a hand. "I'm listening, but I have conditions."
Coulson straightened up. "Name them."
"First," Jessica's expression hardened. "You found me, which means you dug into my past. You know about the car accident. I want the truth. The real truth."
"Done," Coulson said instantly. "In fact, we've already pulled the file. The accident wasn't your father's fault. It was a collision with a military transport carrying unsecured hazardous materials. We've already sent a formal inquiry to the relevant departments to clear your father's record. You'll receive the official apology and settlement offer within the week."
S.H.I.E.L.D. had found the surface truth—the Air Force stealing from the Army, the corruption, the negligence. They hadn't dug deep enough to find Hydra, but for Jessica's purposes, it was enough to clear her conscience.
"Good," Jessica nodded. "Second. I'm not a soldier. I require full disclosure on missions. I don't want to be a weapon you point and shoot. And when I'm off the clock? My life is my own."
"Reasonable," Coulson agreed. "Unless the world is ending, we generally respect privacy. Anything else?"
They spent the next hour hammering out the details. Salary, benefits, legal immunity for past vigilante actions. By the time Coulson left, Jessica Jones was officially a consultant for S.H.I.E.L.D.
Early 2008
A few weeks later, a secure tablet was delivered to the mansion.
MISSION BRIEFING: 0-8-4 (Suspect) TARGET: Natasha Romanoff (Alias: Black Widow) LOCATION: Last seen in Eastern Europe. OBJECTIVE: Investigate and Apprehend.
Rosen looked over Jessica's shoulder at the screen.
"Well," he grinned. "Looks like we're going hunting.