Jessica Sanders
| Jessica Sanders | |
|---|---|
| |
| Portrayed by | Ali Larter |
| First appearance | Genesis |
| In-story stats | |
| Known ability | Enhanced Strength |
| Alias | Niki |
| Gender | |
| Age | 11, (Niki's sister's age at date of death) |
| Date of birth | 1976 |
| Date of death | 1987 (Niki's sister, not Niki's alter-ego) |
| Residence | Jessica Sanders's home |
| Parent | Hal Sanders |
| Sibling | Niki Sanders |
Jessica is the name of both Niki Sanders's alter-ego and her sister who died in 1987, possibly at the hands of their father.
Character History
Genesis
After seeing Jessica's reflection in the mirror several times, Niki Sanders wakes up to find Linderman's thugs brutally slain. She again sees Jessica in a mirror, now covered in bloodstains. Jessica gestures for her to be quiet.
Don't Look Back
When Niki watches the videotape from her garage studio, she again blacks out and wakes up four hours later to a phone call from Micah. When she returns home, she discovers that someone has already cleaned the garage. She sees Jessica in the mirror, who gestures across the street at a Cadillac. In the glovebox, Niki discovers the car is registered in her name, and a note directs her to the trunk, where she finds the bodies and a map.
One Giant Leap
Niki follows Jessica's map, and buries the thugs. She uncovers the bodies of D.L.'s crew and incorrectly assumes her estranged husband killed them.
Collision
When Niki refuses to go through with her deal to seduce Nathan, Jessica takes control to defend her from one of Mr. Linderman's thugs. She then returns to Nathan's room and seduces him.
Better Halves
After D.L. tells Niki he plans to exonerate himself by questioning the money launderer, Jessica takes control and kills everyone she finds at the poker game. Niki recognizes the carnage and tells D.L. she witnessed the same thing with Linderman's thugs in her garage. Later, Jessica confronts Niki. She confesses to killing D.L.'s crew, Linderman's thugs, and the men at the poker game, and to stealing the money and framing D.L. for the theft. She convinces Niki that D.L. will take Micah and leave her if he finds out. Niki agrees, and retrieves the money, but D.L. catches her. She tries to explain about Jessica, but Jessica takes over and attacks D.L. D.L. strikes back using his powers and incapacitates her.
Nothing to Hide
Niki wishes Jessica would take over so she can get Micah back. Niki breaks a mirror, and then Jessica takes over. She sends Tina away, telling her Niki doesn't need her help any more.
Later, Jessica is loading a gun when she gets a call from Micah. At first, she pretends to be Niki, but Micah sees through it and asks to speak to his mother. Jessica tells him his mother won't be back until Jessica brings him home, so Micah tells her where he and D.L. are. After D.L. hangs up the phone, Jessica loads a gun.
Homecoming
Jessica plans her revenge on D.L. for taking Micah after their fight. She buys a sniper rifle, and locates D.L.'s location after Micah calls her and tells her where they are. When she looks at her car's mirror, a helpless Niki stares at her back. Later, Jessica locates D.L. and Micah and fires a shot at D.L.
Six Months Ago
Niki visits her deceased sister's grave (titled Jessica Sanders, Beloved Daughter and Sister, 1976-1987).
After the confrontation between Niki and her father Hal Sanders, Hal returns to his hotel room. There is a knock at the door, and Niki enters, but it is quickly apparent that Niki's alter-ego Jessica is in control. She reveals that Hal abused Jessica (Niki's real-life sister) to the point where he accidentally killed her. Afterwards, Niki became his "punching bag", and Jessica says she hides the memory of it from Niki. After bloodying his nose and throwing Hal on the bed, Jessica tells Hal to go away and never come back, and shoves Micah's tuition cheque in his mouth.
Fallout
Jessica's first shot strikes D.L. in the shoulder. By the time she manages to fire a second shot, he has phased, and the bullet passes harmlessly through his head. Jessica approaches the car, but finds D.L. and Micah have vanished. She catches Niki's pleading reflection in the car's window, but dismisses her, slamming the car door so forcefully the glass shatters.
Jessica begins to search for D.L., but Niki is able to regain control when Jessica finds D.L.'s bloodied jacket.
When Niki slips and catches her reflection in a pool, Jessica confronts her. They hear Micah call out and head out after him.
At the cabin, Jessica pretends to be Niki, but D.L. is waiting for her. As they struggle, Jessica roughly pushes Micah to the side. Seeing him hurt, Niki is able to regain control.
Memorable Quotes
"What do you know about control, Niki?"
"You're part of me. You do what I say."
Powers
Jessica possesses the power of enhanced strength. Her victims are many: she has torn men in half, taken out a room full of armed men in a matter of seconds, and thrown D.L. across a room. Whether she possesses any secondary abilities, such as enhanced endurance or durability, is not yet known. However, because Mr. Bennet said that all located evolved humans have been found with only one power, it is likely that Jessica has but one all-encompassing power. It is also not yet known whether her alter ego Niki possesses any of these abilities.
Notes
- Jessica has a tattoo of The Symbol on her right shoulder. Niki does not.
- During the fracas at the poker game, several shots can be clearly heard. It's not clear whether it was the gamblers or Jessica doing the shooting. After all, there was a gun with the money. (Better Halves)
- Jessica's murder of D.L.'s crew appears to be an act of self defense. Her motives for framing D.L. seem intended to benefit Micah. Though many of Jessica's actions are illegal, she is principally focused on protecting Niki and her son. (Stolen Time)
- When Linderman's henchman corners Niki in the casino elevator after she leaves Nathan's hotel room, Jessica emerges and puts him on the ground. She then refers to Micah as "our son" in her threat to kill the henchman. (Collision)