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Jack stood there for a moment after White Queen's explanation, the faint breeze of Villain Space moving past him like a quiet witness. The endless grassland rippled in soft green waves under the pale sky, deceptively peaceful, as if this strange sanctuary had never known blood, betrayal, or monsters the size of skyscrapers. Yet every person present carried memories heavy enough to sink continents. Silence lingered, not empty but swollen with thought.
Peggy was the first to break it. She folded her arms, her expression firm but not unkind. "Jack, take a few of us with you. Take the strongest among us. If you leave alone again, none of us will be at ease."
Her voice carried more than logic. There was worry hidden beneath composure, the kind forged by too many near-death farewells. The prairie wind brushed strands of her hair across her cheek, but she didn't move them away.
Teri glanced between Alice and Ada. "Strongest… that would be Alice and Ada. They have real combat abilities. Superpowers, even."
Jill nodded slowly, her sharp eyes thoughtful. "That's true. If anyone can keep up with Jack in another world, it's them."
Su Yueming exhaled softly, tension easing from her shoulders. "If Alice and Ada go, that's enough to make us breathe easier. Sending more would only complicate things."
There was reluctant agreement in the air. No one wanted to admit weakness, yet reality had a cruel way of insisting. Villain Space might be vast, but compared to the unknown dangers of Marvel's main world, it suddenly felt fragile.
Alice looked at Jack. Her gaze was steady, layered with emotions too complex for a single name. "I won't become your burden."
Ada followed, her tone calm but edged with determination. "Neither will I. If we go, we go as allies, not liabilities."
Jack watched them, eyes narrowing slightly. Behind his usual rogue-like grin, calculations moved. Risk, probability, survivability. Powerhouses in Marvel's world were not like the bio-mutated horrors of Resident Evil. Gods, geniuses, monsters, machines. Different scale, different rules.
Several of the women spoke almost at once.
"Jack, take them."
"You can't refuse that."
"It's the best choice."
Jack finally lifted his hands in surrender. "Fine, fine. Since you all insist so passionately, how can I play the villain now? Alice, Ada, and White Queen come with me."
Relief passed through the group like a subtle current. Alice and Ada exchanged glances, faint smiles appearing — not joy, but reassurance.
Claire tilted her head, amused. "Look at that. Our terrifying Jack can still be reasonable."
Jack scoffed. "Reasonable? Don't ruin my reputation."
Crosshairs suddenly stepped forward, voice dramatic. "Old boss! Don't forget me. I'm stylish, lethal, and incredibly eye-catching. Perfect travel companion material."
Jack gave him a long, unimpressed look. "You're not a person."
Crosshairs clutched his chest. "That wound goes straight to my spark core."
Su Yueming smirked. "Jack, just take him. He's noisy, but useful."
Crosshairs brightened instantly. "Mistress speaks wisdom!"
Jack waved dismissively. "Fine. I'll take your car form."
"I love you, old boss!"
"Keep that affection mechanical," Jack muttered.
Becky watched the exchange, then tugged lightly at Alice's sleeve. "Mother… Father is leaving again?"
Alice knelt slightly, smoothing Becky's curls. Her smile was gentle, though sadness flickered beneath it. "He'll come back. Your father always does."
Jack ruffled Becky's hair. "Clever daughter. Of course I'll come back. Who else would survive your endless complaints?"
Su Yueming rolled her eyes. "Becky, be careful. Your so-called father is not exactly a saint."
Jack clicked his tongue. "Please refrain from slandering my glorious paternal image in front of children."
"You deserve worse."
Becky looked up at Jack, completely unfazed. "Father may be unprincipled… but I still like Father."
Jack froze briefly, then grinned. "That's my daughter."
Peggy shook her head, half amused, half helpless. "Hopeless."
Tessa crouched beside Becky, hugging her lightly. "Don't worry. We'll protect Becky here."
"Protect me from what?" Becky blinked.
Su Yueming replied dryly, "From your father's future nonsense."
Laughter spread, easing the tension. Even after apocalyptic wars, humor stubbornly survived.
Ada, however, remained thoughtful. She turned to Su Yueming. "There's still something strange. Why do you and I look exactly the same?"
Su Yueming crossed her arms. "That's my question too."
White Queen's expression grew analytical. "The most plausible explanation is parallel-world overlap. In Jack's origin world, you may both exist as fictional characters portrayed by the same individual. But in reality, each 'movie world' functions as an independent parallel universe."
Ada frowned. "But our memories are real. Lives from childhood onward."
"Which suggests existence, not imitation," White Queen replied calmly.
Alice nodded. "We're not performances."
White Queen continued, voice measured. "Think of reality as a branching structure. Jack's original world may be the trunk. Movie worlds are branches — dependent yet autonomous. Villain Space functions as the bridge between them."
The idea settled heavily. Vast, unsettling, fascinating.
Jack scratched his cheek. "In simpler terms, the universe is weird."
"Profound," Jill deadpanned.
Suddenly, the familiar mechanical voice echoed.
"Villain Space expansion complete. Connection established: Marvel Main World. Transmission countdown: three days."
Jack sighed dramatically. "Three days. Barely enough time to enjoy my peaceful retirement."
"You were never peaceful," Ada said.
Jack smirked. "Details."
The atmosphere slowly softened. Conversations drifted. Some sat on the grass. Others stared at distant mountains newly formed by the expansion. Waterfalls shimmered in the far horizon, sunlight catching mist like fragments of broken glass.
Then Jack spoke again, quieter.
"You all stay here."
The words stilled everyone.
Peggy's brows tightened. "Jack…"
He shook his head. "Marvel's world isn't Resident Evil. Enemies there rewrite physics for fun. If you truly consider me important, don't make me worry."
There was resistance in many eyes, but also understanding. Strength had limits. Pride could not override survival.
Alice stepped closer. "Then promise you'll return."
Jack grinned, though something sincere flickered behind it. "Since when have I broken a promise?"
Everyone stared.
Jack coughed. "Fine. Since when have I broken an important promise?"
Ada almost smiled.
White Queen folded her arms. "Try not to die. Reviving you is computationally inconvenient."
Jack laughed. "Heartwarming."
The prairie wind moved again, carrying voices, laughter, unease, hope. Above them stretched a sky that belonged to no single universe — only to possibility.
Three days. Another world. Another war.
Villain Space waited, vast and quiet, holding its breath.