CHINATOWN
Meanwhile, in Chinatown, one of the areas in New York City, Daniel Rand was walking pass a lot of people. He could tell that a lot were scared and saw that they were spreading the story around to tourists that were visiting Chinatown. This was a major panic now and Daniel Rand hoped that whatever he can do, he has to figure out an answer. That was when he bumped into a person.
"Oh, sorry," Daniel-Kai apologized.
The person continued to walk by without saying a word. Daniel Rand was suspicious until he felt something that was already in his hand. He moves his hand towards his face and saw that it was card which says "Wai-Go Industries Warehouse". Confused at first, he began to remember that the Wai-Go Industries Warehouse was the place where it was used by Madame Lu Wei to organize the Da Jue Zhan between him and the warriors that serve the Hand. While he was suppose to go to Doctor Strange, he decided to head to the place at once.
Upon arriving at the Wai-Go Industries Warehouse, Daniel Rand opened the doors and walks inside to meet with the person he was expected to meet. He continued to suspect that there was something wrong. He looks up and saw a whole load of individuals that were around the second level of the building. He began to recognize a lot of faces. Realizing that these people were all associated with the Hand, Daniel believed that he has walked into a trap and believed that these individuals wanted payback for what he did in ruining the Hand's one and only mission to achieve immortality from the bones of the ancient dragons. That was when he began to focus on five shadowy figures that were sitting silently on their seats.
"I'm here," Daniel-Kai spoke towards the five shadow figures. "What is it that you want?"
"Its what no one wants," A woman's voice said.
Daniel Rand began to recognize that voice, and immediately, the five figures slowly step out of the shadows to reveal themselves. It was Cecilia Cardinale, Carlos LaMuerto, Tomi Shishido, Feruze Sowande, and Lu Wei, the five founding leaders of the Hand. Centuries ago, maybe millennia, the five masters known as Cecilia Cardinale, Carlos LaMuerto, Tomi Shishido, Feruze Sowande, and Lu Wei were members of the Dragon-Kings, an order of monks that were sworn to protect the Seven Cities of Yaochi and studied so many secrets on how to harvest the Chi in order to use it to heal. However, the five heretics used their brethren's discoveries to cheat death.
While unknown to them about the Tree of Immortality that the Dragon-Kings were in possession of in K'un-Lun, Cecilia Cardinale, Carlos LaMuerto, Tomi Shishido, Feruze Sowande, and Lu Wei discovered the mystical secret of immortality, by using the substance of dead dragon bones. Now, fearless of death, the group soon expanded their control over Asia. Only after they became a powerful empire, did the group call itself "Yami no te" or the "Hand," with the goal to activate the human weapon known as Black Sky. However, the five leaders of the Hand had made many enemies. Conflict also existed within the hierarchy of the organization, specifically among the Five Fingers, where each leader would often attempt to usurp one another even by means of assassination attempts.
Of course, the five leading heretics were eventually defeated by the combined might of Daniel Thomas Rand, Jessica Campbell Jones, Luke Cage, and Matthew Michael Murdock, who were able to stop their grand plan in gaining more of the substance and destroying all of New York. Even though they perished, they were mysteriously resurrected by Phaedra Cardinale, the daughter of Cecilia Cardinale, and under the command of the Dragon-Kings, she had the five leading fingers of the Hand imprisoned within the Eighth City as punishment for their crimes. Now, they are free.
"You were suppose to remain imprisoned in K'un-Lun," Daniel-Kai glared at them.
"Let's just say that things have been different ever since the genocide, Mr. Rand," Madame Wei smiled dearily.
"You mean Thanos' genocide?" Daniel-Kai asked.
"You have the eyes of one so wise," Sensei LaMuerto remarked.
"Is this what your here for?" Daniel-Kai scoffed. "Lead me here so you can kill me? Bad option."
"We're not here to kill you, Mr. Rand," Poison said, approaching him first and placing her hands on Daniel's shoulders. "We're here to talk, civilized."
"And if I plan to walk out of those doors?" Daniel-Kai began to ask that.
"We won't have to stop you," Poison answered.
"That was before when you threatened to kill my friends years ago," Daniel-Kai recalled.
"Fate changes in a way you can't comprehend, but as we know, you have a great or should I say, a remarkable gift that has kept you going," Poison remarked and explained as she removes her hands from his shoulders and walks around him as she speaks. "Think about what you can do with this gift, Mr. Rand. You can use it right now. Use it to send us back to K'un-Lun."
"How did you escape?" Daniel-Kai asked. "You haven't answered my question."
"I'm pretty sure you know the truth, Mr. Rand," Madame Wei continued to smile like she always does. "But we don't have to answer your question. The answer is already there. Can you not see it?"
"Then you better start answering my questions since you, on the other hand, refused to answer my questions back at the time when I tried to find out how my parents were killed," Daniel-Kai glared at her and the other leaders of the Hand.
"And yet the answer was already solved," Madame Wei admitted.
"But you didn't tell me about Ward Meachum," Daniel-Kai snapped. "A man that I trusted, who turned out to have been a whacko and wanted to seize power over the company that my father was a part of, and you and other leaders of the Hand were a part of it."
"That was in the past, Mr. Rand," Poison said. "But right now, we have a common enemy and we believe that you have something that you are in connection with."
"I knew it, you all didn't just invite me here," Daniel-Kai scoffed. "You came because you need something from me."
"Then may I ask you this, who were you talking to?" Sensei LaMuerto asked. "One of my students actually saw you speaking with someone, but it was unknown as to why."
"That's not your concern," Daniel-Kai glared at him.
"Is it?" Sowande asked. "Then how did the Eye of the Storm speak directly to you?"
"How did you..." Daniel-Kai paused.
"Don't you see Mr. Rand, we do have a common enemy," Poison explained to him. "This enemy is willing to destroy us all. Bring wrath, blood, and darkness to all those who would oppose the Dark Lord. Sauron has been one of our greatest enemies to the Hand. The Hand has been preparing to train for centuries to stand against him. With power that he is in control of, he will be a being so invincible, that would it would be impossible for us to stop. The only thing that he fears... is you. He fears all those that wield the power of the Iron Fist. You may have the power, but it will not be enough for you to stop him. He has grown too strong, and without the Black Sky, the Hand may not have the resources or the power to destroy him."
"And you want to help me take him out?" Daniel-Kai asked.
"Let's just say that we may endure the shadows, but in truth, we admire the light," Sensei LaMuerto answered.
"Then how?" Daniel-Kai demanded a specific answer from them. "How can I stop him myself without you?"
"Mr. Rand, you're going to need our help," Poison said. "When the time comes, we will be ready to stand at your side."
"And what makes you think that I'm going to ever ask you all to help me?" Daniel-Kai loudly scoffed. "You think I'm going to say yes, well I'll tell you this. The answer is 'no'. First of, the Hand almost destroyed my home. A home that I was born too. You guys aren't my friends or my allies, the only thing I'm looking at our enemies. And if what you say is true, then I will take Sauron down myself without your help. So if you really want to stop me from leaving, don't... cause if you do, it would be most unfortunate since I've already demonstrated my abilities. You've made the threats before when you wanted to kill the people I fight for, well, now it's my turn to make the threats to you. I'm walking out those doors, so be ready to fight if you really want to. The only thing I want is for you all to leave New York and never come back. You have a week. If you're not gone by then, I call in the special force and I'll tell them that the Hand is here again."
"Very well, then you may go," Poison nodded. "We have no qualms in stopping you at all. But know this, you may think you have the strength to fight the Dark Lord, but in truth, you don't. To defeat the Dark Lord, you must have the most unlimited power to defeat him. The Elders of K'un-Lun have mentioned that to you and that's why we say the same thing. Be ready when he confronts you again, and by that time, you may want to reconsider in allowing the Hand to come to your aid."
"The Hand will never come to my aid," Daniel-Kai refused as he walks out the doors.
Feruze Sowande comes up behind Cecilia and says. "The boy maybe strong, but he's totally naive in a way. He's a fool."
"That maybe true," Poison responded. "But he will need our help."
"We must look to the future," Madame Wei said. "Sauron grows strong every day. The Hand will not be strong enough to stand against him. The light, which we loved so much, will be gone."
"This one will doom us all if he continues to be stubborn," Shishido sighed. "The Iron Fist will doom us all."
"Patience Shishido," Poison told him. "We all must be patient. If Danny Rand may not agree to our term, then perhaps the other one will."
"Your talking about Colleen?" Sensei LaMuerto asked.
"Yes," Poison nodded. "She too possesses the power of the Iron Fist as well. She gained it after she defeated Davos."
"You want to persuade her to come back to us?" Sensei LaMuerto asked. "She is one my students, yes, but ever since I abandoned her, she went against me. She will resist if it comes to it."
"Yes, she will, but what she will understand is, the world is in fire now," Poison said. "We're at war now. The Hand is at war."
"And what of the White Sky?" Shishido asked. "The prophecy we were warned about long ago. A living weapon, resurrected by a traitor within our ranks, would arise to destroy the Hand."
"She will not fight us," Madame Wei said. "She knows now that we will help in a way."
JESSICA JONES' APARTMENT
Inside her apartment room, Jessica Campbell Jones, codenamed "Jewel", had been busy stacking all her moving boxes to leave her apartment and move to stay at Thelma's residence. Ever since she was snapped and blipped, her career of leading Alias Investigations was over, but she still wasn't willing to give up her vigilante career. Despite how she use to drink in order to cease the pain she carried for years, Jessica knew that she was willing to do better while caring deeply for innocent people that continue to suffer and send the wrongful criminals to prison for the crimes they committed. The worst criminals she had once dealt with was Zebediah Killgrave, the very person who she use to fear in the past, but managed to use all her strength to resist and defeat him.
At some point after witnessing the Eye of Sauron hovering over New York, Jessica had no clue on how to proceed since she doesn't much. She promised her young brother, who had come back during the Blip, that she would hang out with him during the weekend, but had tried to focus on work now. Despite been a victim of the Snap, Jessica's apartment building had been remodeled while the C.S.A. had been in full control over the entire world since Thanos snapped his fingers and the Avengers managing to end his mad reign of terror. Her apartment room was given to her, in which her business was restored, thanks to Thelma Hogarth and the Rand Corporation.
Jessica still remained in contact with Thelma Hogarth, Matthew Murdock, Luke Cage, and Daniel Rand since the Blip. Her drinking habit had lowered since she was able to see her family, who had come back from the Blip, and felt a change within her. While her mother had been working for the agency H.A.M.M.E.R., Jessica had recently been trying to get in touch with Patricia Walker, who had recently reformed and joined the Thunderbolts, a team of former criminals that had changed their way in becoming obedient heroes under the watchful eye of Thaddeus Elliot Ross. Ever since Patricia Walker, who become the dangerous vigilante Hellcat, and had been killing criminals like the Punisher and Ronin, Jessica felt that she could've done better in helping her while she was sent to the Raft for her crimes.
Before Jessica was about to call her old friend Steve Cornish, who had been working as an employee with Thelma Hogarth, and proceed in having him come over tommorrow to help her load all the boxes to be transported, her iPhone suddenly ringed. Believing it to be Cornish, she picked up the phone and saw that it was an "Unknown Caller".
"Hello?" Jewel immediately answered in absolute confusion as to whom she was speaking to.
"We've been watching you for years, Jessica Jones," A man's voice replied. "We know your records. For a person capable of lifting cars and trucks, I think a person like you can be of great use."
"And who are you to think that?" Jewel asked.
"My name is Phil Coulson, Agent and Acting Director of S.H.I.E.L.D.," Agent Coulson introduced himself on the phone. "I know you don't me, but S.H.I.E.L.D. has kept aa long tab of enhanced individuals, such as you, over the years."
"Oh S.H.I.E.L.D.," Jewel sighed in disgust. "What do you want?"
"We need your help," Agent Coulson said. "I know you prefer to work alone, but we're facing a very serious global threat right now. There are enemies coming from far away. S.H.I.E.L.D. is building an alliance to defend itself with other teams and organizations that are slowly uniting together. We're opening up a new program called the 50-States Initiative."
"Okay, look, on the bright side, I would've wanted to say 'yes', but I'm not interested," Jewel declined. "I work alone. I do my sh***y job every day, end of story. So, if you really have something to say, don't. Cause I don't like S.H.I.E.L.D. sniffing around my ass or my past without my permission. I have my own business and you have yours, so please don't even think about calling me again on this number or I'll have to walk over to your secret wherever and make some sense."
"I was hoping you would say that," Agent Coulson slightly chuckled. "I can see why you work alone all the time, but this is serious. We all saw what was hovering over your city. There are a lot lives at stake here Miss Jones. People believe that it involves with the end of the world. Some are right, but others have their own theories. Right now and S.H.I.E.L.D. is trying to find worthy candidates and volunteers to help in this. I would hate for you to refuse. But if that's not enough. Then think about a hero who gave his life to save us all. We all mourned him. The world lost their Iron Man and people have hoped that others would honor his legacy. The world needs heroes, and if some hate it when they prefer to work alone, that can change. I'm not asking you to work for us. I'm asking cause we need to find people to help save the world like the Avengers had."
"And why should I trust you?" Jewel asked.
"You don't have to," Agent Coulson said. "Its your call to make."
Jessica really didn't want to do this since she works alone and doesn't like it on how an agency would just spy on her like Zebediah Killgrave had in the past. However, since she knows that the world was in terrible danger and had recently played a part in saving the city of New York from the Hand with the help of other enhanced individuals, Jessica decided to do this for people she cared about and recalled about the Burning Eye's threats.
"What do you need me to do?" Jewel asked.
TRISKELION, WASHINGTON D.C.
Meanwhile, inside the Triskelion, the main capital base of S.H.I.E.L.D.'s third incarnation, Phil Coulson had just finished providing details to Miss Jessica Jones, who had agreed to volunteer in working within the program with other gifted individuals that were willing to join into an army to prepare for the coming war against Sauron. He then walked over to an office which said "Murdock". He opens the door and finds Matthew Murdock, who had just finished speaking on the phone.
Matthew Michael Murdock is a lawyer who had been blinded as a young boy by a radioactive substance that fell into his eyes from a crashed vehicle, and even though he lost his sight, his other four remaining senses were heightened to superhuman levels. After his father was killed by mobsters, Murdock was trained by Stick to become a warrior, using his disability as an advantage to fight for the Chaste. However, Murdock's compassion with Elektra led him to be rejected by Stick, as he then returned to Columbia University with Foggy Nelson to gain his law degree and dedicated his life to fight injustice where he could find it in New York City as a lawyer by day with his law firm Nelson and Murdock, and by night as a vigilante known as "Daredevil". His actions as a crime fighter had eventually put him into conflict with a crime lord named Wilson Fisk. Despite what Wilson Fisk trying to win his pleasure in taking power over the city, Matt Murdock managed to use his skills to expose Fisk's criminal activities and then have him sent to Ryker's.
As Daredevil, Matthew's actions in New York City and his strict moral code soon put him into conflict with the Frank Castle, who was known as the Punisher, a vigilante who believed that death was the only punishment for crime as he caused chaos across the city for the last few months since the death of his family. While dealing with the Punisher, Matthew was also thrown into more personal turmoil by the sudden return of his ex-girlfriend Elektra Natchios, as well as his former mentor Stick of the Chaste, who had both attempted to recruit Daredevil to join into their conflict against the Hand, whom the Chaste had been at war with for centuries. Eventually, Matthew managed to find a middle ground with the Punisher while also defeating Bakuto Sasaki, one of the Hand's deadliest warriors, although losing Elektra in the process and watching Nelson and Murdock fall apart as Foggy Nelson still struggled to cope with Murdock's double life as both a lawyer and a crime-fighting vigilante.
Following Elektra's death and his law firm falling apart, Matthew Murdock then retired from his vigilante activities as Daredevil and attempted to live a normal life as a lawyer, while telling Karen Page his own true secret identity in the hope of repairing their relationship. However, once the Hand began their attack on New York City and successfully managed to resurrect Elektra, Matthew began investigating, becoming the lawyer of Jessica Jones in order to find out whatever she knew. He and Jones had then joined forces with Luke Cage and Daniel Thomas Rand to destroy the Hand, while Murdock also reclaimed his Daredevil identity in order to be ready for the coming battle. However, the conflict with the Hand claimed the life of Stick and, in a final effort to redeem Elektra, Matthew chose to stay behind with her while the Midland Circle collapsed around them.
While thought to have been dead, Matthew managed to survive the building collapse and was taken to the care of Paul Lantom and Maggie Grace, although his body was broken and his mind disillusioned. During his recuperation at Saint Agnes Orphanage, he had learned of Wilson Fisk being released early from prison and once again made it his mission to defeat him. This time, Murdock turned away his friends and family and also made his time as a vigilante his one and only priority, putting his life as Matt Murdock behind him. Although Fisk had thought of many of the contingencies to his plans, blackmailing Rahul Nadeem and using Benjamin Poindexter to impersonate and frame the Daredevil, Matthew eventually managed to gain the upper hand over Fisk and defeated him, blackmailing Fisk with his threats to Vanessa Marianna if Fisk revealed Murdock's true identity or targeted his friends. Afterwards, he, Karen and Foggy created a new law firm to continue fighting injustice.
Ever since the Blip, Matthew was recruited by his ex-girlfriend Elektra, who had too survived the war against the Hand and the Snap, into S.H.I.E.L.D. due to his talents. He still did his job as a lawyer, but became a loyal asset within S.H.I.E.L.D.. His friends Franklin Percy Nelson, Constance MacDermid, Karen Page, Kirsten McDuffie, Rebecca Blake, Milla Donovan, Rosalind Sharpe, Elaine Kendrick, Heather Glenn, Deborah Harris, Glorianna O'Breen, Candace Nelson, Eliot Grote, Paul Carson, Brandy Ash, Sara Harrington, Kathy Malper, William Lincoln, Nick Manolis, Blake Tower, Lucretia Jones, Betsy Beatty, Sally Weston, Phil Hichok, Melvin Potter, Tia Senyaka, Jeryn Hogarth, Uri Geller, Amanda Fallows, all who were recruited into S.H.I.E.L.D. at the request of the Comission of Superhuman Affairs since the Blip. It also led to Nelson, Murdock, and Page been renamed the Storefront Legal Clinic, a new faction of skillful lawyers who had joined to help S.H.I.E.L.D. and do their business in courts like they had in the past.
"Ah, what did she say?" Agent Murdock asked.
"She's in, although you were right about her," Agent Coulson nodded his head by answering his question. "She is a real pain in the ass."
"She can be like that," Agent Murdock remarked with a smile.
"Look, I know you don't like keeping secrets," Agent Coulson said. "Everyone hates keeping secrets. Happens all the time. Me, done a lot ever since before I reconsidered to retire until me and May was dusted."
"And what's this gotta do with me?" Agent Murdock asked with slight chuckle.
"Well, since I told Jessica that you were the one who referred to join the program, it just allowed me to approach another, right here... in this office," Agent Coulson grinned widely.
"Sorry Mr. Coulson, but I don't know what your meaning, exactly," Agent Murdock said, sensing that Coulson may already found out the truth from Jessica.
"Yes you do, or maybe I should tell you right now since you look pretty embarrassed," Agent Coulson continued to smile. "Your him. The Devil of Hell's Kitchen or should I say the Daredevil. I was thinking the Scarlet Avenger, but whose counting on superhero names."
"I suppose Jessica told you that over the phone," Agent Murdock sighed.
"She told me not to spread the word about you," Agent Coulson said. "She didn't trust me at first, but when I said your name and explained more, that gave her one step to trust me, well a little. Even though, for someone who is blind and use to be independent, you can fight and hear things that are either close or far away. Is that why you were able to use all those gifts in play to take down Wilson Fisk and his criminal empire?"
"Let's just say it wasn't easy," Agent Murdock solemnly answered. "I lost a few friends to that maniac."
"I know," Agent Coulson nodded, showing that he truly understands how he feels. "You just wanted to keep your idenity hidden because you were afraid that people who you knew before get hurt."
"Or killed, otherwise, it would've been my fault," Agent Murdock told him more.
"What are you most afraid of?" Agent Coulson asked.
"Afraid of unleashing the devil in me," Agent Murdock answered his question.
"Which is why I want to include your other self to join the initiative," Agent Coulson offered. "I know you don't like killing, but believe me what I say, not many people, like me, don't like to kill those who are a threat to the innocent. But right now, we're all facing n enemy that is planning to wipe us out. He will bring hell on Earth if we don't stop him. Its your choice Agent Murdock. You don't have to, but S.H.I.E.L.D. and other important agencies are in need of people with gifts at this time. Say no, and I promise that I'll forget everything about what I know. This is your new life and I don't want to ruin it. I'm just giving you this one and only offer to you."
"Thank you, but I just need time to settle this with Foggy and Karen," Agent Murdock nodded.
"Understood," Agent Coulson nodded and turned to leave Murdock's office. "You have a unique gift. In times like that, you may want to keep using it for as long as you want."
DEFENDERS COMPOUND
Inside one of the buildings that were part of the Defenders Compound, Agent James Woo of the FBI and First Director of the Atlas Foundation had recently been in contact with S.H.I.E.L.D. about the global threat they were facing. While Coulson and May had been busy in searching for allies, Agent Woo's job was to meet with Colleen Wing. James Woo was a good friend of Colleen's father Professor Lee Wing during his time in S.H.I.E.L.D. and also Agent Melina May, who requested him to recruit her into the program.
Working as a member of S.H.I.E.L.D. and the FBI, James Woo, who often refers himself as "Jimmy", proved himself as a man who follows rules by the book in any case. As he grew up to become an agent of S.H.I.E.L.D., James once worked with his friend Melinda May, whom he once had a relationship. His work was enough for him to get recognized by Agent May, who proceeded to include Woo as one of her contacts in case she needed any special help. After HYDRA had been hiding within S.H.I.E.L.D. for several decades since the end of World War II, Agent Woo left the agency and joined the FBI. However, he was feeling less competent in working for the FBI because of the short list of successful missions.
"Oh yeah," Agent Woo grinned and chuckled as he managed to get a hang with all of his magic card tricks while sitting down until Colleen Wing arrived to meet him outside.
"Mr. Woo," Lady Samurai greeted him with a smile.
"Ah, is that Lee's special daughter of his?" Agent Woo responded with a smile and gave her a warm embrace.
"One and the same," Lady Samurai smiled. "So, what brings you here?"
"Ah, been taking a lot of matter serious," Agent Woo nodded. "I see you've been busy."
"Yeah, establishing a compound for those in need was important since before the Snap and after the Blip," Lady Samurai explained. "But man, I've been gone for five years and I'm really pleased that the compound still remained standing as we left it. Just a few months ago, I invited Mr. Chung to reorganize the Bayard Community Center and bring it here within one of the buildings within the Defenders Compound. We're turning it into a school, a place to train people to be fighters and give them a chance to start a new life. Sherry Yang is one of my headmasters within the compound. I recruited her."
"Ah good," Agent Woo sounded impressed. "You know if you need anything, maybe I can arrange the C.S.A. to have the Defenders represent within the world government. Its a good offer. The world has changed and people are looking for others to help protect them and their countries. The Snap and the Blip was a very powerful message to us all, so I think with your expertise, it might change your life."
"Thanks, but I don't think you wanted to talk about that," Lady Samurai suspected.
"No, I was sent by my old friend Agent Melinda May of S.H.I.E.L.D.," Agent Woo began to explain. "I use to work for the agency, but when HYDRA was hiding for decades since the end of World War II, I decided to move out and work with the FBI. It was tough at first, but I managed to get the hang over it."
"You want to recruit me into S.H.I.E.L.D.?" Lady Samurai asked, letting out a scoff. "Is that right?"
"Ah, no, not really," Agent Woo nervously replied. "Well, S.H.I.E.L.D. had just opened up a new initiative. They're looking people to help build an alliance. I believe something evil is coming, so that's why May referred me to ask you. You don't have to join S.H.I.E.L.D., but they're just finding some worthy candidates to volunteer, so I thought maybe you would like to be included."
"Okay, but where can I meet with S.H.I.E.L.D.?" Lady Samurai asked.
"You'll have to take a trip to Washington D.C. first Miss Wing," Agent Woo told her. "Their base is called the Triskelion. God, its been a long time since I've been there. So, are you in?"
"I need to make some arrangements first, but tell your friend Agent May that I'm looking forward to meeting her," Lady Samurai answered.
Stepping outside of the Compound, James Woo walks over to the car where he meets with Special Agent Angela del Toro, who is also known as the "Whitesnake". Born and raised in the Bronx, New York City, Angela was the niece of Hector Ayala, the first hero to assume the name "White Tiger". Angela grew up with her Uncle Hector and his friends and went on to be an officer of the NYPD for four years, gaining a bachelor's in political science and masters in criminology before attending Quantico and graduating in the top top percent of her class to become an F.B.I. agent.
"So what did she say?" Special Agent del Toro asked.
"She's in, but not alone," Agent Woo answered. "She been training an army of rebels."
"To fight against the Empire?" Special Agent del Toro joked.
"Hopefully, if that's what she attends, then yeah," Agent Woo sighed. "I'll inform HQ and my old friend Coulson the news."
"I'll see if I can try to convince the glowing fist man to help as well, if he's got the balls for it," Special Agent del Toro said.
"You mean this Daniel Rand guy?" Agent Woo asked.
"Yep," Special Agent del Toro nodded her answer.
"Alright, well I'll wish you luck on that one Agent del Toro," Agent Woo nodded his head. "Keep me on the loop. I'm gonna return to San Francisco and rally the rest of my special friendly troops in the Atlas Foundation. We need all the help we can get if we are to win this so-called war or end of the world, whatever its meant to be."
"Yes sir," Special Agent del Toro complied.
BETHESDA TERRACE, NEW YORK
At around nightfall, Daniel Thomas Rand had been walking alone in the Bethesda Terrace, a congregating spot for the Hair generation before devolving into a drug-trafficking venue during the 1970s. The whole place was deserted and Danny could tell that a thunderstorm was coming. He then texted Timothy Jones and Colleen Wing, warning them that the Hand is back. He stopped texting when he realized that someone was standing right behind him.
"I see that the Hand must've sent you to bring me in alive," Daniel-Kai stated, putting his phone awy in his pocket and turns around to face him.
"Well you'll be surprise kid, but I'm not with the Hand," "Although, you must be bold into thinking that you and your friend were ruining a couple of important operations."
"And what's that suppose to mean?" Daniel-Kai asked, confused and suspicious.
"I hear you've been looking for me," Orson said.
Daniel Rand began to realize that it was him, the very person that he and Timothy were looking for. "Orson Randall."
"In the flesh," Orson grinned.
"We just wanted to find you," Daniel-Kai said, giving him a glare. "We believe that you had answers about why you obtained that corpse of a previous warrior who wielded the Iron Fist. Davos wanted to purchase it from you. A lot of people were killed while Davos was reeking havoc in my home."
"Honestly, I didn't know who Davos was until I learned that he wanted to gain the power of the Iron Fist too," Orson admitted. "Did a lot of terrible sh** in this city. I'm sorry for what he did."
"So should I say that those deaths are on you?" Daniel-Kai asked.
"In a matter," Orson shrugged.
"Then let me ask you, how do you know so much about the Iron Fist?" Daniel-Kai demanded a specific answer.
"Well that's a good question Mr. Rand, but I'm quite disappointed that Master Kung didn't tell you much about me," Orson sighed before he then began to glow both his hands in a shiny light that looked a little like gold.
Daniel Rand was very shocked and surprised to see that Orson Randall had the power of the Iron Fist as well. "You? You have the power of the..."
"Iron Fist," Orson finished and nodded his head. "Yeah, I sure do."
"I don't understand," Daniel-Kai shook his head in confusion.
"You didn't think you were not the only one to wield the power of the Iron Fist?" Orson scoffed. "Yeah, I've had that power for a very long time while I've been hiding."
"Then why were you hiding while the Hand almost destroyed the rest of Yaochi and New York?" Daniel-Kai demanded more to this.
"Trust me when I say this, but I've been at war with the Hand since before you and your father were born," Orson explained. "Like them, I hide in the shadows and I be ready to come out and play like a snake, ready to devour its prey before it takes a long time to digest. You, on the other hand, were suppose to defend the gate to K'un-Lun, but it seems that the Dragon-Kings may not have needed you while the rest of the previous Iron Fists that were fighting to protect Yaochi from the Hand, must've managed to take care of the problem already." He clicked his tongue. "I'm very impressed with you. You handled the Hand all by yourself without needing anyone from Yaochi at all."
"Is that why your here?" Daniel-Kai asked. "To help deal with the Hand, who are back."
"No," Orson shook his head.
"But they're here," Daniel-Kai warned.
"I know, and that's why we're gonna need them," Orson said.
"What?" Daniel-Kai gasped. "The Hand is our enemy."
"They are, but we have a common enemy and they won't break their word once they fight with you," Orson added more to what he was telling him.
"You must be crazy into thinking that I would ever want to fight with the Hand?" Daniel-Kai scoffed.
"Yeah that's true," Orson nodded. "I don't trust them either, but they don't like Sauron and that's why they'll be joining this new last alliance to fight him. We're already at war with him."
"Sauron spoke to me," Daniel-Kai said.
"I know he did," Orson nodded. "Gotta say to you, you have a lot of confidence and honor in you. Now you may have pi**ed him off, but still he's on to you, Mr. Rand. He once tried to corrupt an Iron Fist during the War of the Last Alliance, but that didn't go so well when the Prince of Gondor was able to give him a serious beating. Like other Iron Fists that have trained for generations to protect Yaochi, I'm really strong to resist him, but your not. Take this as a warning, even if you do confront the Dark Lord of Mordor, he will try to manipulate you. He knows your weakness. He senses it. He smells it. He can feel it from far away. No matter what you do, Sauron will always be one step ahead."
"He wants me to play his game," Daniel-Kai stated to the point.
"And that he does," Orson sighed. "Look, I know you don't want the Hand to be at your side, but you're going to need them. The war has already begun. Sauron is marshaling an army so big that he will be ready to send them to all worlds across the universe. Thanos may be gone, but what you're about to face is a being so powerful than a Mad Genocidal Maniac."
"I will not fall," Daniel-Kai swore to him that he will not be corrupted. "Whatever he wants, he's gonna have to try a lot harder if he can break us."
"He won't break me, he won't break your girlfriend, but what he will do is..." Orson paused and clicked his tongue again. "Well, I'm pretty sure you'll figure it out." He looks ahead to see thunderclouds approaching and can hear the thunder. "Our time is up, Mr. Rand. Will speak again."
"Where are you going?" Daniel-Kai asked, concerned as to why he's leaving.
"You know me, Mr. Rand, getting ready for war of course," Orson chuckled a delightful answer as we walks away. "And you should to. Get to your girl. She's getting ready as we speak. But if I were you, I train as hard as I can to be ready to face him. Wish you luck."
CHIKARA DOJO, CHINATOWN, NEW YORK CITY
During the long rain at night, Colleen Wing had just returned to the Chikara Dojo where she received a message from her boyfriend, warning her that the Hand is back and to be advised. That was when she turned to notice Timothy Jones stepping inside the room.
"You got the message?" Lady Samurai asked.
"Yeah, I can't believe I'm hearing it, they're back?" Timothy scoffed. "I thought you and Danny took care of these shadowy ba*****s."
"And we did, but I just don't understand why they're here," Lady Samurai wondered.
"If I were Danny, I would assume they are after him," Timothy stated if that's the truth as to why the Hand had come back to New York.
"What'a going to do?" Lady Samurai asked.
"We should leave right now before they come for us," Timothy suggested.
"We won't," Daniel-Kai responded as he stepped into the room.
"What do you mean?" Lady Samurai asked him, concerned as to why he would say that.
"I had a conversation with the man that Tim and I were after," Daniel-Kai told them everything what had happened.
"Uh, what man?" Lady Samurai asked, confused as to what he was meaning.
"Orson Randall," Timothy answered. "You spoke to the guy."
"And for what I know is, he too has the power of the Iron Fist like Colleen and I," Daniel-Kai added. "We're not the only ones that fight to protect our worlds."
"So I guess that explains how he was in possession of the corpse and how he delivered it to Davos," Timothy finished the exact answer.
"Yeah well, Orson admitted to me that he didn't know what Davos was planning to do with the corpse in the first place while causing havoc to Chinatown," Daniel-Kai said.
"So wait, what did you mean that we won't run while the Hand has come back?" Lady Samurai asked.
"Look, I know this will be crazy, but trust me when I tell this, I don't like the idea, but we have to do this," Daniel-Kai explained the plan. "We don't trust the Hand. They almost took everything from us and committed the worst crimes in the past, but right now, we need them. We're at war. Sauron is coming for all of us. And we can't do this alone. Orson spoke to the Hand and they plan to fight with us when the time comes."
"Your crazy into thinking that I would ever agree to this so-called plan," Timothy began to disagree.
"Yeah, he makes a really solid point," Lady Samurai agreed. "I'm with him on this."
"Your right, it is crazy," Daniel-Kai agreed too about this. "I disagree too. I don't trust the Hand, but they have as much reason to hate Sauron like we do."
"Danny, my own sensei betrayed me," Lady Samurai recalled. "He tried to have me killed, using me like I was a toy to him. You helped me open my eyes to the truth and that's why I would rather die before he or the rest of the Hand may try to take me back into their fold."
"Yeah, and LaMuerto played on me too," Timothy remembered that as well. "He promised that he would help kill my evil dad, who helped the Hand kill your parents."
"I know," Daniel-Kai nodded. "But whatever happens now, we need to be ready for this. Otherwise, the world is screwed and they'll be nothing left for us to defend. Our homes will be gone. So many good people will die. Sauron wants me, well he's gonna have to try."
"I hate this plan, but I'll go with it," Lady Samurai sighed by agreeing to this.
"Let's hope we don't regret this," Timothy sighed too, agreeing to this terrible plan.
"Another thing, Danny, I've been invited to attend this program that is established by S.H.I.E.L.D.," Colleen changed the subject. "They're looking for people with unique abilities, such as us. I want to include you into this."
"What does this S.H.I.E.L.D. want with us?" Daniel-Kai asked.
"Well, for the same reason... to fight," Lady Samurai answered. "It seems we're not alone in this."
"I guess your right," Daniel-Kai nodded. "Right now, I need to stay here. Tim and I have to take care of some things in the company."
"Okay, but I'm leaving in a couple of days, but I will mention your name, so hopefully if you ever come, meet us at the Triskelion," Lady Samurai instructed. "Its in Washington D.C.. Be there."
"I will, Colleen," Daniel-Kai promised.
"Well, at least you two are getting ready for this terrible sh**, so I'll wish you luck," Timothy said.
"Don't worry Tim, I promise you'll want be included in this fight because its not yours," Daniel-Kai assured.
"Hey, your the Immortal Iron Fist, why should I be afraid?" Timothy asked, joking around.