His world is one of eternal darkness, but oh how the darkness is filled! Images ,
more vivid then any eyesight, supplied by a unique "Radar sense", as well as
hyper acute senses make his world a unique and astonishing place. By day he is a well
known and respected lawyer, by night a different kind of defender, one who is known by his
enemies as a "Man without fear". Years of training along with his amazing senses
have made him a man who instills fear instead. Armed with his multi purpose "Billy
Club" he swings through the Manhattan skyline , battling evil and injustice wherever
it rears its ugly face. He is....
Quick recap dept.: Last Ish, DD awoke to find his long dead Mentor "Stick"
poking him in the ribs. After a brief skirmish, DD realized this was truly a resurrected
Stick, and the two conversed. Stick Informing Daredevil of the real reason the Hand is
hunting him and Elektra. After a quick skirmish against some Hand assassins, DD entered
the home of Dr Strange, and was summarily teleported into the heart of the Chastes former
home. That brings us up to now.....
Daredevils' hyper senses play out across the dank black as night cavern. The darkness
doesn't faze him one bit;. His entire adult life has been spent in darkness. He is blind
since a childhood accident robbed him of his sight and gave him the miraculous gift of his
Radar sense, along with enhancing his remaining senses a hundredfold! But what does cause
him concern is the sounds coming from the darkness. Chittering things that whisper and
chirp to each other. And they all same the same thing, his name! Daredevil!
"Okay , time to get this show on the road." He thinks.
His radar sense reads the cavern he's in, and he immediately begins walking stealthily
through the cave, heading towards one distinct heartbeat among many, that of his one time
love, Elektra!
"This is insane, I've been walking for what seems like hours. And I still hear
her heartbeat loud and clear ahead of me. And those damn things are still murmuring in the
darkness!"
Then a voice intrudes on his silent reverie.
"That is because they can here your thoughts, as can I."
DD spins towards the sound of the voice, as a huge figure fills his radar sense . He
grips his Billy Club tightly, as the behemoth steps closer.
"I am Kurayama, the man mountain. We have met before, though you were quickly
rendered insensate by my hand."
"You mean when you blind sided me don't you? Typical Hand tactics. No honor."
"Hahaha, You seek to enrage me little man, to goad me into attacking you. You will
fail. I am not stupid. And you are correct. The Hand is without honor, and we revel in
it!"
DD begins to circle the giant, his fists clenched and ready to fight.
"Not a thing most Japanese would revel in Kurayama. But I guess your sect is not
most Japanese, is it?"
"Sect?" The Giant twists his head quizzically , "We are no
"sect" We are the Hand, we are eternal! The night is our home, the darkness our
mother. The wind our brother and death, death is our father who we welcome with open
arms!"
"You're either brainwashed, or totally insane."
"Perhaps little man, but in either case you will not leave this mountain
alive."
"I wouldn't put money on that Kurayama."
As he speaks, Daredevil springs into action! Snapping upwards his flying kick is aimed
at the giants throat, when suddenly DD is knocked from the air by another body, a body
followed by many more, as a veritable river of hand assassins overwhelm him!
"Did you think me alone little man? You are a fool! This is our home now. Not the
damnable Chaste! They are all dead. Your ties to them are all that remain in this world.
When you die, all remnants of the Chaste will be cleansed of this world."
DD says nothing, as he fires punch after punch, trying to clear himself some room, but
there are to many of them, literally hundreds. For every one he puts down, two more take
his place. Within mere minutes it is over, and an unconscious Daredevil is dragged from
the cavern ...
Back in New York City, Foggy Nelson walks home from a very strange day After opening
his mothers safe deposit box, he found her final gift to him. And he just doesn't know
what to make of it. Entering a bar on the Upper west side , Foggy sits down for a drink,
and to mull over thoughts that continue to plague him. A minute later his digital phone
rings. Swallowing another gulp, Foggy answers the insistent phone.
"Hello? Liz*? Hi honey. I'm at Bakers on 46th St. I had a rough day
Liz. I found out what mom,-Rosalind, left me, and I think this is going to change
everything. Yes, I-I could use the company right now. I'll be here waiting for you honey.
Love you, Bye."
*Liz Allen, Foggy's girlfriend.
Foggy fidgets in his seat and shuts his phone, before ordering another drink, his
thoughts are troubled, but how much is deservedly so?
In the Chastes mountain......
She has hung here for what seems like days. Her ankles ache. Her head throbs, as she
fights the delirium that seeks to overwhelm her.
Elektra Natchios is a prisoner of the Hand. Hanging from her ankles in a dank , dark
part of the cavern , over a seemingly bottomless pit. Then a voice intrudes on her
solitude, one that was once thought of as a friend, now, something far less.
"Well look at you! All made up and no prom date? Poor little assassin. "
"What do you want Nina? We were friends, almost sisters, how could you treat me
like this?"
The young blonde laughs
"You're such a dope Elektra. I was never your friend. I was using you. I needed a
place to stay, someone to leech off of. That was you sucker."
"No. That's not true. No matter what you may say here and now. You're not even
Nina. She is dead. You are some ghastly shade inhabiting her form and face."
"I guess that's one way to look at it." Nina sneers, "But I see it as
I'm finally free of all the constraints placed on me by mans laws. I'm free to be and do
what I want, and no one, especially not you , you old bag, can tell me different.. Your
day is done Elektra. The Hands is just starting. You better think about your options,
'cause you ain't got many. Join us , or die. That's it. Nothing else."
Elektra says nothing, merely staring as Nina turns and leaves. Once she is alone , her
thoughts again turn to Daredevil. She knows he's here somewhere, she can feel it somehow.
But she also suspects his predicament is worse then her own.
She's so right....
Daredevil comes to , his hands and feet are bound, and his head throbs dully.
"Well I see Hand hospitality remains at a constant." He mutters to himself.
A voice spirals from out of the cavern "No Redman, hospitality is never an issue
to the Hand. We remain and are who we always have been. That is the only constant."
Slight, measured footsteps are a prequel to the man who finally appears before the
bound hero. DD's radar sense plays over his form.
He's a small man, no more then 5'5" tall. His hands are inside the sleeves of his
kimono, that brushes the floor gracefully. His head is bald and his long Fu Manchu style
mustache quivers expectantly.
He is the Master of the Hand.
"So you're the head honcho huh?"
"Hahahaha, you Americans with your colloquialisms . Yes, I am the "Head
Honcho" as you put it. The boss. That was very astute of you to deduce "
"Well deduction is part of my game."
"Ah yes, the Lawyer. How true."
"Well that answers that question." DD thinks, "They know
who I am. I assumed as much."
'"So where do we go from here ---- Uh you have a name? Or should I just call you
short round?"
"Ah," Indiana Jones and the Temple of doom" Those thuggee, a brutal
,artless sect. So glad they are on the decline finally. Competition can be so fierce in
this market. And my name is Rhumi Thak So"
"So what do you want Rhumi? Or should I call you "Room" for short?"
"I want you to make a decision concerning your life. The decision is based on its
continuance, or its rather abrupt end. "
"I suppose this is the part where you tell me to join you, or die?"
"Exactly ."
"Can I get back to you on this, in oh, say a few years?"
"I was not aware you had a sense of humor Redman. It ill befits you."
"That's what I get for hanging around with Spidey so much."
"Your decision Daredevil, this grows tiresome."
"Be real Room. I'm not joining you. Now or ever."
"Very well then,.you leave me no choice. You will enter the arena and battle
against Kurayama. You will perish . "
"Yeah, I've heard that before. One question, what's going on here? Why are you
guys going so proactive suddenly?"
"We have a new......Benefactor Daredevil. He requires that we clean up our past
mistakes."
"Okay," DD Thinks, " This must be the mystic threat Stick
and Strange were talking about."
"Where's Elektra, Room-with-a-view?"
"Do not be so concerned with her fate belligerent one, she will join you
shortly."
The small man turns to leave. Once more Daredevil is alone with his thoughts.
"Where are you Elektra?" He muses to himself, all the while trying
to slip the knots that hold him fast......
Hours later....
Daredevil is brought to a vast stone arena within the mountain. His Radar sense can
read the flame from several dozen torches around the arena, providing light. Elektra's
heartbeat appears close at hand, and his radar sense discerns her as she is roughly pushed
to his side.
"Fancy meeting you here."
"Matthew, this may be the end for us. "
"Elektra, that could happen at anytime, anywhere in this life we lead. The fat
lady hasn't sang yet."
She looks at him and smiles, her features softening appreciably.
"You truly are fearless, aren't you?"
He smiles back at her, trying not to show his own misgivings, as suddenly a large gong
is struck, and the Hands master appears on a dais at the far end of the arena.
"My fellow warriors and assassins, today marks the end of an era. Today the Gaijin
dogs before us will be swept away by the power of the Hand, ushering in a new era, as we
will march forth from our mountain home, and take our rightful place amongst the powers of
this world. And soon, soon we will rule this planet from sea to sea!"
"Likes to talk , doesn't he?" DD asks Elektra out of the corner of his mouth.
Then without another word, two forms enter the cavernous room, from the opposite end.
Each brandishes a long sword.
"I-it's Nina!" Elektra breathes , horrified.
"And Kurayama ." Adds DD.
The Hands Master continues, "And you will all be witness to the deaths of these
dogs, by the power of the Mighty Kurayama, and his apprentice Nina!"
With that , the two facing Daredevil and Elektra begin to close on them, as DD grips
his billy club strongly, two sai whisper from Elektra' scabbard, to be held loosely in her
grip. Steely eyes meet the advancing enemies, and the gathered throng waits with loud
anticipation of the kill....
To be concluded!
Dare-ing to be different