(Front cover. We see Elektra and the Flag-Smasher, both in their uniforms, fighting each other. The Flag-Smasher swings his mace at Elektra, who dodges it. Inside front cover. We see the usual blurbs for Elektra, Nina, and Mac. Below that, we see this blurb:)

Flag-Smasher: The son of an ambassador from Switzerland, the man known only as the Flag-Smasher has but one goal in life: unite all of the countries in the world into one political unit, no matter what it takes! This, of course, has gotten him in trouble, having to face people like Captain America and X-Man.

(Page 1, Splash page. Leave room for credits here. Elektra’s living room. We see her, Mac, and Nina sitting in a triangle facing each other, meditating. Elektra and Nina are in their uniforms; Mac is in karate pants only.)

Cap (N1):A quiet moment of repose.
Cap (N2): A chance to meditate, to collect one’s thoughts, and recover.
Cap (N3): It doesn’t happen very often for Elektra.
Cap (N4): If it’s not stop someone from killing or hurting someone else,
Cap (N5): It’s bringing someone else to justice.
Cap (N6): Rare moments like this are savored like a fine wine.

(Page 2, panel 1. Go over to the United Nations. We see the ambassadors there talking and discoursing on a normal, routine situation.)

Cap (N1): Meanwhile, at the United Nations,
Cap (N2): A routine day turns into anything far from routine.
Speaker: [Therefore, it is with great urgency that I ask you to condemn the nation of S’adrira for their actions against my ethnic group.] *
Cap (N3): * Translated from the original Valkalish.

(Panel 2. The screen behind this man shows the Flag-Smasher.)

Flag-Smasher: Good day, Gentlemen. I am the Flag-Smasher. For many years I have watched your buffoonery and lack of discipline, and I know now is the time to act.
Speaker: [What is going on here!? What is he saying?]

(Panel 3. The Flag-Smasher continues to talk.)

Smasher: Four hours from now, this place will explode into a massive fireball. There is one way out, however. The world must become one.
Speaker: [This is an outrage! I waited six months to plead my case before the general assembly!]

(Panel 4. The screen goes blank.)

Smasher: And if you try to leave, the place will explode.

(Page 3, panel 1. Elektra and Nina again. The two of them are walking amongst a group of people. Both of them wear nice blouses and miniskirts.)

Cap (N1): Later.
Cap (N2): Elektra and Nina have agreed to go shopping together.
Nina: Isn’t this cool? I haven’t been shopping in ages.
Elektra: It does take me back to my youth.

(Panel 2. They stop in front of an electronics store, which has several televisions tuned to the news in the window. The televisions show the Flag-Smasher.)

Nina: Who is that?
Elektra: He seems... familiar somehow.

(Panel 3. They enter the store to hear a reporter talking about the Flag-Smasher.)

Reporter: Nobody knows the real name of this terrorist, but one thing is certain. He is a dangerous criminal out to force his will on others... and he will stop at nothing of getting his goal done. Even if it means resorting to terrorism. He is commonly known as the Flag-Smasher, because in his debut he destroyed the flags outside the United Nations.
Elektra: He is familiar... All the more important I stop him.

(Panel 4. United Nations again. We see the members talking and worried. The leader bangs a gavel.)

Leader: [Order! Order! We have never kow-towed to terrorists, and we shall not now! The Levanish representative has had to wait six months to plead his case before the assembly, we should hear him out.*]
Cap (N): *Translated from the original French.

(Page 4, panel 1. The screen again shows the Flag-Smasher.)

Smasher: In case you think I am kidding, look at the representative from Stengal, a country who is the most isolationist in the world.

(Panel 2. We see the representative from Stengal, an Asian male wearing a suit and tie, jump to his feet as he is electrocuted.)

Stengal Rep: [EYOW!!!*]
Cap (N): *Translated from the original Stengalese.

(Panel 3. Go back to seeing the Flag-Smasher on the screen.)

Smasher: Three hours, 50 minutes, gentlemen....

(Panel 4. The screen goes blank.)

Cap (N): And what is Elektra doing?

(Page 5, panel 1. Go back to Elektra. We see her with Nina. Both of them are in their uniforms.)

Elektra: I would rather do this on my own.
Nina: All the more reason why I should be with you. You say you know him from long ago in your past... What if where you know him from is terrifying?

(Panel 2. Elektra picks up the phone.)

Elektra: I’ll cross that bridge when I get to it.

(Panel 3. Elektra talks on the phone.)

Elektra: It’s me. I need some information.

(Panel 4. Elektra continues to talk on the phone.)

Elektra: Find out what you can on the Flag-Smasher. I’ll see you in three hours.

(Page 6, panel 1. Go back to the United Nations. We see the Flag Smasher come on the screen again.)

Smasher: Gentlemen, a friendly reminder... you have 5 minutes.

(Panel 2. Go outside to see a reporter with camera crew there.)

Reporter: Whoever this Flag-Smasher is, he has done his homework. The bombs have motion sensor detonators on them. One bomb expert has already been killed when he got within 5 feet of a bomb. The other bombs are being studied cautiously as tension mounts. We are near five minutes to the deadline.

(Panel 3. Focus on the reporter’s face.)

Reporter: And things are looking grimmer by the minute. The main problem is this: They cannot get within 5 feet of the bombs, or they will explode. This makes disarming them very difficult indeed. Not only that, but there are enough of them that people cannot evacuate without setting off at least 4 of them, which causes a chain reaction for the rest of them. The bomb that was worked on was separate from the others surrounding the main assembly. We will keep you posted on further developments. Kim Weykel, News on the Spot.

(Panel 4. Go back to The Flag-Smasher. We see him waiting.)

Cap (F1): Twelve minutes.
Cap (F2): Then boom.
Cap (F3): I do hate to kill them,
Cap (F4): But they must be made to see the foolishness of their ways.

(Page 7, panel 1. We see Elektra and Nina on top of a brownstone apartment building. Both are in their uniforms.)

Cap (N1): About 10 minutes later.
Cap (N2): Elektra goes to her informant.

(Panel 2. Enter a smallish man, wearing a blue T-shirt, jacket, and blue jeans. He wears glasses and smiles.)

Man: You got something I want, and I’ve got something you want.
Elektra: I knew you would not let me down.

(Panel 3. Elektra hands the man some money.)

Man: You can find him in a loft in the village. He’s holed up there, ready to strike.
Elektra: Let’s go.

(Page 8, panel 1. Elektra and Nina stand on top of a nearby apartment building.)

Voice (From off panel): Strange, the curve balls life throws at us.

(Panel 2. They turn to see Stick there.)

Elektra: Stick?
Stick: Well, your curiosity is satisfied now, is it not?

(Panel 3. Focus on Elektra’s face as she smiles slightly.)

Elektra: On this part, perhaps... but on the rest, definitely not.

(Panel 4. Nina is confused.)

Nina: Elektra, who is this?
Elektra: This is my mentor, Stick.
Stick: So are you happy that you face him now?

(Panel 5. Elektra is deadpan.)

Elektra: I will stop him because it was the right thing to do.
Stick: Just be sure you know what you’re getting into.

(Page 9, panel 1. Stick vanishes.)

Nina: What was that all about?
Elektra: It would take too long to explain.

(Panel 2. Go back to the United Nations. We see the dignitaries being lead out of the place in the background. In the foreground, the reporter continues to report.)

Reporter: This just in, the ambassadors are very slowly, and very cautiously leaving the building. However, more than half of them are still inside, and the evacuation is a very slow process. It has been estimated that almost half of them will still be inside when the Flag Smasher’s hour runs out.

(Panel 3. Suddenly we see one of the ambassadors collapse.)

Reporter: That is the representative from the Gambia who has just collapsed here. (to the firemen.) Can we get a paramedic here!? We’ve got someone who has collapsed!

(Panel 4. Two paramedics rush to aid the African man in a suit and tie who collapsed.)

Reporter: Well, we have New York’s finest attending to the Gambian ambassador here. What will happen when the Flag-Smasher’s hour runs out? Only time will tell.

(Page 10, full panel page. They stand on top of a building in the village.)

Cap (N1): 10 minutes later.
Cap (N2): Elektra and Nina have arrived at the Village.
Cap (N3): Now they must face the real test.
Cap (N4): A test which will leave Elektra very changed.

(Page 11, panel 1. We see Elektra and Nina readying themselves for an attack. Nina has a katana drawn.)

Nina: Let’s do it.

(Panel 2. The two of them crash through a window, colliding with a couple of thugs.)

SFX: SKRESH!!!
Thug: What the--!?

(Panel 3. Nina and Elektra fight back to back, sending several thugs sprawling with kicks and punches.)

SFX: WHOK! POW!

(Panel 4. Elektra strikes a thug with the but of her sai as Nina gives another ninja a kick to the jaw.)

SFX: WHOP!
Nina: No problem.

(Page 12, panel 1. A Watchdog stands between Elektra, Nina, and the door to the Flag-Smasher.)

Nina: You go ahead... I’ll take care of him.
Elektra: Are you sure?

(Panel 2. Nina advances on the Watchdog.)

Nina: I’ll take care of this bozo... you find the Flag-Smasher.

(Panel 3. The watchdog clashes swords with Nina.)

Watchdog: Bozo!? I have been trained by some of the best!

SFX: CLANG!

(Panel 4. Nina gives the Watchdog a foot to the jaw while clashing swords with him.)

SFX: CLANG! POW!
Nina: But I was trained by the best.

(Panel 5. The Watchdog strikes Nina in her knee, sending her down.)

SFX: WHAM!
Nina: UHN!

(Panel 6. Elektra goes up to a door.)

Cap (E): Well, mystery man... we will meet at last.

(Page 13, panel 1. Elektra suddenly enters, making a diving kick onto the Flag-Smasher.)

SFX: POW!!

(Panel 2. Dazed, the Flag-Smasher swings blindly with his mace, missing Elektra.)

SFX: SWISH!

(Panel 3. Elektra counters with the butt of her sai into the Flag-Smasher’s jaw.)

SFX: WOK!

(Panel 4. Elektra kicks the Flag-Smasher in his stomach.)

SFX: THWOK!

(Panel 5. Elektra delivers a blow to the Flag-Smasher’s head, and he goes down.)

SFX: WHAM!!!

(Panel 6. Elektra kneels next to the fallen Flag-Smasher.)

Elektra: Your tormenting is over, Flag-Smasher. But I have to know... why are you so familiar to me?

(Page 14, panel 1. Focus on Elektra’s face as she has removed the Flag-Smasher’s mask.)

Elektra: (shocked beyond belief) It cannot be!!
Cap (N1): But it is.
Cap (N2): To understand what is going on here,
Cap (N3): We must go back in time,
Cap (N4): To another place,
Cap (N5): And a very different Elektra.

(Panel 2. Flashback to Elektra’s 17th birthday party. We see her with her father. The place is decorated for the occasion, and a banner reads “Happy Birthday Elektra” in Greek in the background. Hugo Natchios is there, celebrating with some other people.)

Cap (N1): She’s got everything here to make her happy.
Cap (N2): So why is Elektra sad?
Cap (N3): The reason is simple.
Cap (N4): She feels like she is being ignored at her birthday.

(Panel 3. Hugo turns to Elektra.)

Hugo: Come, little amber, you should be happy, this is your birthday.
Elektra: I know, father, but it all seems so... empty.

(Panel 4. Hugo smiles.)

Hugo: Come, there’s plenty to eat, good friends -
Elektra (interrupts): Your friends. I have no friends.

(Panel 5. Hugo is deadpan.)

Hugo: Well, I have brought someone for you to meet tonight.

(Page 15, panel 1. Hugo gestures, and a man dressed in a suit and tie approaches him.)

Hugo: Jaques, si vu plait, bring your son here.
Jaques: Of course, Hugo.

(Panel 2. Jaques exits.)

Cap (E1): This is very unusual.
Cap (E2): He never lets me near boys.

(Panel 3. Reenter Jaques, with a younger Flag-Smasher, who also wears a suit and tie.)

Hugo: Little Amber, let me introduce you to Marcel Du Egravon. He is the son of a good friend of mine.

(Panel 4. We see them approach each other.)

Marcel(1): She was everything you promised, father.
Marcel (2): [Good evening, I’m afraid my Greek is not that good, I’ve only started learning the language.*]
Elektra: I do speak English.
Cap (N): * Loosely translated from the original Greek.

(Panel 5. Later. We see Elektra and Marcel parting for the night.)

Marcel: I have had a wonderful time, Ms. Natchios.
Elektra (smiles): Call me Elektra, Marcel.

(Panel 6. Exit Marcel as Hugo enters.)

Hugo: Well, little amber, what did you think of him?
Elektra: He is wonderful, father... I like him.

(Page 16, panel 1. Go back to the present.)

Cap (E1): I never saw him again until tonight.
Cap (E2): I’ve often wondered what happened to him.
Cap (E3): I was better off not knowing.

(Panel 2. The Flag-Smasher wakes up.)

Smasher: E-Elektra?
Elektra: Yes, Marcel... so we meet again.

(Panel 3. the Flag-Smasher sits up.)

Smasher: You... stopped me?
Elektra: What you did was wrong, Marcel... I had to stop you.

(Panel 4. Both of them stand.)

Smasher: You never did find out why we never saw each other again, did you?
Elektra: What of it?

(Panel 5. The Flag-Smasher faces Elektra.)

Smasher: The Greek government found out that the Swiss government was holding funds for some terrorists. When the Swiss refused to seize them, Greece broke off diplomatic relations with Switzerland.

(Panel 6. The Flag-Smasher continues.)

Smasher: I realized that to see you again, I would have to break all the barriers between our countries - unite them, if you will. I then realized to do that, I would have to unite every country in the world...

(Page 17, panel 1. The Flag-Smasher approaches Elektra.)

Smasher: But now... now there are no barriers for us. But how many more will have to suffer as we did?
Elelktra: I may have liked you, Marcel, but that was a long time ago... a different me... and a very different you.

(Panel 2. Elektra ties up the Flag-Smasher.)

Elektra: The authorities have been alerted. You, Marcel, must answer for what you have done.

(Panel 3. Elektra exits as there is a knock on the door.)

Voice (from off panel): Open up! This is the police!!

(Panel 4. The door breaks down and we see several policemen enter, weapons drawn.)

Policeman: You’re under arrest!

(Panel 5. Go back to Nina to see her standing over a fallen Watchdog.)

Cap (N1): I got a little careless.
Cap (N2): But now he has been defeated.
Cap (N3): I should rejoin Elektra, see if she needs help.

(Panel 6. The police enter to see only the watchdog on the floor. The policepeople have their weapons drawn, and ready to fire.)

Policeman: Put your hands up!

(Page 18, panel 1. We see Elektra and Nina standing on the roof of a brownstone building.)

Elektra: Are you alright, Nina?
Nina: I’m fine. No sweat.

(Panel 2. Stick appears.)

Stick: Remember what curiosity did to the cat.
Elektra: Stick?

(Panel 3. Stick advances on Elektra.)

Stick: Well, you’ve always wondered where he went to, now you know.
Elektra: I never dreamed that he would do something like this... and no sane person could have imagined it either.

(Panel 4. Stick turns.)

Stick: Be careful whose heart you break in the future.

(Page 19, panel 1. Mac’s Dojo. We see Elektra leading a course in karate. There are several other women there, all dressed in a white karate outfit. They are practicing karate moves.)

Cap (N1): Tomorrow, of course, is another day.
Cap (N2): And back to the old grind.
Cap (N3): After clearing her name,
Cap (N4): She returns to teaching others.
All: KIYA!!

(Panel 2. They do a karate kick.)

All: HEEYA!!

(Panel 3. They stop.)

Elektra: Well done, my students. Our time for today has ended. Warm down and I shall see you next week.

(Panel 4. Enter Nina, arm in arm with a handsome man. He is tall, dark haired man who wears a goatee. He is dressed in a white shirt and slacks.)

Nina: Elektra! I want you to meet someone!
Elektra: Yes?

(Panel 5. Elektra approaches the two of them.) Nina: His name is Marcel Gardman.
Marcel: It is nice to meet you. Nina has told me a lot about you.

(Panel 6. Focus on Nina’s smiling face.)

Nina: And the best part about it is, we’re in love!

Commentary: Now I suppose you’re wondering where this goes in Marvel Continuity. It doesn’t really. The Flag-Smasher apparently died in X-Man #35, Mac died in Spider-Man:Elektra ‘98, and the like. But you have to admit... it makes for an interesting story.