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....
What has gone before: DD invaded the Hands sanctum, to be almost immediately captured.
After meeting, and verbally sparring with the Hands Master , DD and Elektra were reunited in a
vast stone arena, where hundreds of Hand assassins line the cavern cheering on their resurrected
champions, Kurayama , the man mountain, and Nina, Elektra's one time friend!
That brings us up to now....
Daredevil and Elektra ready themselves , as their enemies advance, then with a practiced leap ,
and mid air roll, Nina attacks were one time friend, with a vicious swipe of her sword, aimed at
Elektras neck!
With a deft move of her right Sai, Elektra catches the deadly blade, then kicking out with her
left, in a roundhouse , Elektra connects Nina's kidney area, hard!
Pow!
"Arrhh" Grunts Nina.
"How does it feel little one? Not what you expected is it? You thought it was going to be easy to
embrace the darkness didn't you?"
"It is easy you slut!" Shouts Nina, as she kicks Elektra in the stomach, then rolls to regain her
sword in one deft motion.
Nearby Daredevil leaps upwards, avoiding Kurayama's slashing blade, as it cleaves the air where
Daredevil once stood, then in a lightning quick motion, DD scissor kicks him under the chin
snapping the behemoths head back loudly!
Crack!
"Uhhnn., You are good little man, but Good alone is not enough to stop me."
"Maybe I'm better then "Good" you Hulk wannabe, time to find out I guess."
"Yes, time for you to die Redman."
Kurayama slashes the blade outwards again, this time DD snaps his billy club outwards, the line
wrapping itself around Kurayama's wrist, and with a quick snapping pull, Daredevil rips the
blade free!
"Bah", grunts Kurayama, "This will not save you. I'll grind your puny bones with my bare
hands!"
He grabs the line wrapped around his hand and yanks hard, pulling Daredevil off his feet like a
child, right into a powerful punch that almost brings Daredevil into darkness, the permanent
kind!
"My God!" Thinks DD, "He shook my fillings loose on that one, I've got to take the offensive!"
Groggily Daredevil stands as Kurayama charges him, but this time DD is ready! He sidesteps the
man monster, and hammers him behind the ear with his billy club, with all his might!
Ka-Pow!
Kurayama staggers for an instant, but turns and throws the chain he wears wrapped around his
neck at DD's legs, instantly wrapping them up, and then with a tug he pulls the man without fear
towards him, knocking him from his feet!
"Now you die Daredevil, you were valiant, but no match for Kurayama!"
Across the arena, Elektra avoids yet another close slash of Nina's blade, but the female ninja has
had enough!
"You're goin' down Elektra, this time for good old lady."
"We shall see evil shade, we shall see."
Nina raises her blade and prepares to run Elektra through, when in a move that startles the
senses, Elektra hurls her left sai, through Nina's arm! Instantly the blade drops from numb
fingers, as Elektra pushes her advantage with a thrust kick to Nina's solar plexus, dropping her to
the ground, as she delivers a massive elbow smash to Ninas' head.
Pow!
Nearby DD struggles mightily as Kurayama slowly, inexorably pulls him closer and closer with
each tug of the chain.
"I will snap your neck little man, and watch as the life drains from your sightless eyes."
"I bet you say that to all the boys, Meatloaf."
DD suddenly snaps up, throwing himself towards Kurayama, instead of away from him, as he
wraps a length of the chain that binds him around the startled giants neck, then throws all his
weight sideways!
"NnnGggkkk!"
Is the only sound emanating from Kurayama's mouth as he fumbles with the chain, his face
turning colors with his lack of breath!
Around the combatants , the arena roars mightily, as hundreds of assassins chart the pulse of the
to and fro battle.
Then, Kurayama reaches up and grasps the chain with both hands, pulling with all his might!
Veins stretch and pulse as his muscles expand to their limits and beyond, when suddenly....
Ka-Krak!
The chain snaps!
"Wow, impressive . Not many guys can do that ."
"You will remember that feat in your grave Daredevil, for I will send you there now."
"Yeah, yeah, scare me Kew."
DD pulls himself free of the remainder of the chain and circles the big man on unsteady legs.
But Kurayama is also staggering, as the two face each other, wary of the others ability.
Then, Kurayama attacks! A flying kick from the giant towards DD midsection is quickly parried
by the fearless adventurer, who quickly fires off a right snap kick to Kurayama's groin, with
enough power to snap him into the air!
Crunch!
Kurayama doubles over , and DD acts on the moment, a powerful right to Kurayama's head
draws blood!
Poom!
Followed by a left cross that sends teeth flying!
Krak!
Kurayama blindly grabs for DD who ducks below his attack to drive upwards with the billy club
held in both hands to Kurayama's open chin!
P-Kow!
"N-no I will not fall to the likes of you little man!"
"That's what you say killer!"
Daredevil punctuates his words with a precise flying kick to Kurayama's jaw!
Sta-KOW!
DD lands gracefully, as the behemoth wobbles on shaky legs before him. Daredevil draws his
fist back, ready to strike, before suddenly relaxing, he walks over and plinks Kurayama on the
forehead , and with that , the Man Mountain Kurayama, finally succumbs!
Boom!
He crashes to the ground, unconscious and beaten!
"He's down, he was literally out on his feet. His heartbeat told me so. Now where's
Elektra"--"NO!" He shouts! As he leaps towards her.
Elektra stands above Nina, her sai ready to plunge through the struggling girls heart, as the other
sai is still embedded in Nina's arm.
"Elektra, STOP!"
"No Daredevil, this unholy creature is not Nina. Not my friend. She is dead. This...ghoul has
replaced her. Now she will go back where she belongs, to hell.!"
Elektra starts to slam her Sai down into Nina's chest, when DD snaps his billy club line out, wrapping it around the sai, pulling it from his former loves grasp.
"No Elektra, think about it! This is just what they want. If they force you to kill again, you
become like them, and lose everything you've worked so hard for. Whatever this thing is, she's
alive. Her beating heart tells me that."
She turns and faces his sightless eyes, realizing they see far more clearly then her own. She turns
towards the girl who was Nina, and smashes her across the face with all her might, knocking the
wounded assassins apprentice into unconsciousness.
"You are correct Daredevil, I will not give these dogs the satisfaction!"
"NO!" Screams a voice from the dais , as the Hands Master stands angrily, pointing at them. As
he does the entire arena goes silent. "Kill them both! All of you!"
The Hand assassins begin to pour over the stone railings like mercury to surround the two
heroes.
"Uh oh, I was afraid of this ." Breathes DD heavily
"It is no matter Daredevil, we have once again beaten the Hand together. Even if we must die in
victory, they know they could not defeat us."
Suddenly DD cocks his head sideways , listening to something seemingly below them, then
grabbing Elektra, he snaps his Billy club line upwards to a rocky outcropping high above them.
"Move!" He yells, as the ground splits asunder beneath them both, on the very spot they were
standing mere seconds ago!
Suddenly a gigantic snake head rises above the floor, to tower above the Hands master.
"Wait! We can defeat them yet." Pleads the master assassin!
But the snake being has heard enough! Faster then the eye can follow, the massive head darts
down, and swallows the evil leader whole, he doesn't even have the time to scream!
"Well I guess we found their new mystic benefactor." DD shouts over the din to Elektra, who
merely nods.
Then the snake head stares evilly upwards at Daredevil and Elektra, hanging above it. With a
smooth movement of its tail, it flicks DD down from the ceiling, enwrapping him in its coils.
"This is it." Thinks the frantic man without fear, "This is where I buy it."
The coils crush him, as he suddenly feels something jab him in the leg. Something within his
pocket, and he remembers!
"The stone Strange gave me!* I pray this works!"
*See issue 10
DD painfully rips the stone from his pocket, and once free he holds it tightly in his hand, as the
serpents mouth opens to swallow him whole, he flicks the glowing gem into the beasts mouth,
and suddenly a look of reptilian surprise fills the face, as the beast begins to pulsate from within,
and then finally, Explode!
Ba-Koom!
Daredevil is thrown clear, as the ground begins to buckle and tear itself to pieces, a falling object
catches DD's radar sense, as he slashes his billy club line outwards, catching the falling Elektra,
an instant before she disappeared with the rest of the hand assassins into a huge crevice that
opened up with the serpents destruction beneath their feet!
"Strange!" Shouts DD , with all his remaining strength, "If you can hear me, get us out of here!"
The ground continues to buck and heave as DD holds onto the line, holding Elektra above a
bottomless doom!
"STRAAAAAAAAANGE!"
And suddenly, in an eye blink, Daredevil and Elektra find themselves in Dr Stranges Sanctum
Sanctorum.
"No need to shout Daredevil, I heard you the first time. I trust all is well? The mystic balances
are returning to the norm around the globe. I have to surmise you were successful."
DD helps Elektra to her feet, before answering the master sorcerer.
"Yes Dr, we were. Wait a minute, where's Stick?"
"He must have disappeared but a moment ago Daredevil. He WAS here before you came back."
"Doesn't matter Doc. Thanks for everything, especially that overgrown throat lozenge, it came in
decidedly handy."
Daredevil and Elektra leave without another word, as Strange ponders the meaning of DD's last
sentence .
Once outside....
"Matthew, I thank you." Begins Elektra, "Without you I could not have beaten them. Do you
think they are gone for good?"
"Evil like them has a way of returning when we least expect it Elektra, but I know they wont be
returning anytime soon at least. I think we put a very serious, if not permanent stop to their
activities."
"Then I will take my leave of you for now Matthew, but not for good. I will return to you shortly.
We have much to discuss."
She kisses him then, long and hard, with a passion burning like a star in the night time sky. It's a
kiss that brings back memories of a college life with the vibrant school girl who would one day
become Elektra, the dreaded assassin and Ninja.
And then she is gone, leaping away over the rooftops, to become just a ghostly echo to DD's
radar sense.
72 hours later, after some very much needed rest.....
Matt Murdock enters the offices of Murdock, Nelson and Sharpe. He surprised at the name
change he finds already plastered across the buildings front, and when he enters his office, he
gets his second surprise of the day.
Foggy Nelson's office is being packed up and moved!
"What th---" Thinks Matt, as his Hyper senses seek out his life long friend, and seeking find him
in an adjacent office.
"Foggy, what is this? What's happening here?"
Foggy turns to his old friend and smiles warmly,
"Matt! C'mere, I have to speak with you privately buddy."
The two men sit in Matts office, alone and begin to confer.
"Matt." Foggy begins, "Remember when Ma ,er Rosalind left me a key to a PO box* at her wills reading? Well I opened it that day, and found this note and a few other things inside. Well I know you can read the print by touching the paper, but I'll read it to you to save time ."
*See DDtF #8
Foggy begins, "Dear Franklin, I know I was never the best parent to you, giving you up for
adoption was a poor way for a mother to show her love. But it was for the best. The woman who
raised you did a far better job of it then I ever could have. But I do want you to know that I
always have, in my own way, loved you. That is what this letter is all about. A mothers love for
her son, no matter how warped the love may be in the common sense. I did do what I considered
to be in your best interests. Also you'll find in the safe deposit box you hold in your hands
several legal documents that entitle you to a large share of my personal wealth that have been set
aside for your use. There is enough here for you to retire now and live comfortably for the rest of
your days on some forgotten island, which I hope you take my advice and take advantage of.
You are now a wealthy man Franklin. Use it wisely. Leave the firm in the capable hands of Mr
Murdock, and enjoy life. I suggest also you marry the Osborne* woman, as she is heiress to a
vast fortune from deceased husbands side.
*Liz Osborne, Foggy's girlfriend
In passing be assured my son that I did for you always what I perceived as best.
Eternally, your mother."
Foggy lays the paper down and turns his attention to Matt.
"I suppose she did was she considered to be right." Is all Matt can say at the moment. "Are you
going to take her up on her advice? Retire young and live it up?"
"I-I don't know Matt. I'm sorely tempted to be sure. But I'll have to wait on any decisions like
that one, at least till after my vacation."
"You're taking a vacation? When Foggy?"
"I'm leaving today buddy. I'm going to Mexico with Liz for a few weeks , sort of a whirlwind
honeymoon I guess you'd call it."
"You're getting married? When? And why? Because of what she said?"
"No! No way what she said. Mom had a weird way of seeing things, everything was always
money to her. No, I'm marrying Liz because I love her. And little Normie needs a daddy too.
Something I think I can be pretty good at. I have a lot to think over about this retirement thing
and all, but I am considering it. I think Mom leaving the firm to you was a great idea. Especially
since it'll keep you occupied for a while with Earthbound duties, if you know what I mean."
Matt smiles at his old friend. "Yes Foggy, I think you're right, I need a little vacation, at least for
a short while as well, from my other "duties"."
Matt rubs his sore shoulder and winces, and Foggy chuckles as he stands to shake his friends and
partners hand.
"I'll call you from down there in a few days buddy. Relax for a while. This city has enough
guardians to be without one for a couple of weeks. C'mere, there's someone here I'd like you to
meet. A new personal secretary I hired for you. "
"Wha? Foggy, I'm appreciative and all, but ---" Matt stops dead in his tracks as the young
womans heartbeat assails his senses. His radar sense takes in her form as she stands from her
desk.
"Matt," Foggy continues, "I'd like you to meet Miss Furios, Elektra Furios."
Matt smiles almost enough to break his face open, as he feels Elektra smile back from behind
her glasses and business suit she wears to disguise herself. Her hair is blonde now, but to Matt at
least, she is still unmistakably Elektra.
Foggy shakes Matts hand one last time. Smiles at Elektra, and makes his way to the executive
elevator to leave.
Matt continues to "stare" at Elektra, before finally saying, "Miss Furios, please come into my
office to take a memo."
She smiles, her soul finally restored by the destruction of the Hand , and answers him."Right
away Mr Murdock."
The office door slams behind them both, and inside , the sound of broken, joyous laughter
begins.........
Ralphs remarks.....This is the end of my days as DD's scripter here on the web. I've had all kinds
of fun with the character, and I hope you've all enjoyed what I've done here as well. I know Jason
Kenny will do a great job here , now that I'm gone, so don't despair of DD's fate.
DD was a strange series for me to write in a lot of ways. One for a few issues I collaborated with
my brother Ron , a first for me. Second , I've always written more high powered characters then
street level tough guys. So the fights had to be more brutal and more realistic, and as everyone
knows. I love to write fight scenes. DD was a challenge to me in a few ways. But I think I did
admirably well here. This series is one of the most "Hit" on my page, so I know others have
enjoyed it as well. And for that, I'm glad.
Don't forget, I'm still writing Captain Marvel , and Iron Man here on the MV1, as well as the
Mini epic Avengers 2011: Invasion. Check 'em all out and please, send me your comments on
this issue , as well as everything else you read of mine. Writers love to get feedback.
Take care gang!
Ralph
[email protected]