The Marvel Knights Group presents: Iron Fist #8

WHAT HAS COME BEFORE: Danny Rand and Jessica Drew battled Rock Python, Puff Adder, Plant Man, Blacklash, and Titania! They were assisted in their battle by Luke Cage and Nomad (revealed to by Danny’s business partner)! Then, when the battle appeared to be nearing its end, Yu-Ti intervenes!

Yu-Ti stands, his arms crossed against his chest, as he looks over at his long-time enemy, Iron Fist. Beside Iron Fist is the lovely Titania, her long black hair falling past he shoulders, as she continues to hold up an unconscious Spider-Woman by the arms, her lower body stretched out on the floor. Beside Iron Fist is Blacklash, who is shifting his position, even as he watches Iron Fist closely. Luke Cage and Nomad, Iron Fist’s friends, are floating in mid-air, held aloft by impenetrable bubbles of an unknown energy force. Charlie Hamilton, dressed in a business suit, stands behind Iron Fist, his eyes moving from one hero to another, as if making sure that none are a threat to approach him too suddenly.

“There is a part of me that is glad that this day has finally come,” Yu-Ti remarks. “While it is true that there is much more that I hoped to accomplish before I was discovered, I am grateful for the opportunity to end your interference…once and for all!”

“Do you think for a minute that you—or any of your hired guns,” Iron Fist demands, looking over at Blacklash, then Titania, “are going to stop me from freeing Spider-Woman from your clutches?!”

“As a matter of a fact, Danny,” Yu-Ti returns, “I do.”

“Think what you want,” Iron Fist responds, as he crouches down, raising his hands defensively, as he prepares for battle, “but if I have to go through every one of your hired thugs to get to her, I will! And when I do, it’s your turn next!”

“Yes, of course,” Yu-Ti responds, shaking his head. “We’ve been through this before, your promises to stop me, to even kill me. Yet, here I am.”

“I’ll be happy to rectify that situation!” Iron Fist retorts, as he starts to rush towards Yu-Ti.

However, he is stopped by the sound of a cracking whip. As he turns, instinctively, towards the sound of the cracking whip, he sees that it is being brandished by Blacklash! The whip cuts through the air with amazing speed, pushed forward by the skilled hands of its master, crackling with energy.

The whip encircles Iron Fist’s left wrist, wrapping quickly around his arm, from his wrist to a spot just two inches under his elbow. Blacklash smiles, as he causes the whip to send a surge of energy through it, and into Iron Fist!

“Aarrgh!” Iron Fist exclaims, throwing his head back to deal with the pain of the stabbing electrical current, which leaves red welts along its point of impact with his arm. “Damn you!”

Focusing past the pain, which continues to shoot through his body with each new surge of electrical current, Iron Fist raises his left arm up again, and jerks back with his arm. This move surprises Blacklash, and throws him off-balance. He staggers forward, temporarily losing control of the whip, which loses its grip on Iron Fist’s arm. Iron Fist manages to extricate himself from the whip quickly.

“Why don’t you just kill him?!” Hamilton asks, as he and Yu-Ti watch the conflict taking place before them. “You could easily kill him now…while he’s distracted by his battle with Blacklash!”

“You couldn’t understand,” Yu-Ti responds. “I have always enjoyed watching him fight—whether it’s against my minions, or his former lover, Coleen Wing. Yes, it might be easy to kill him in that way, but I prefer using other means. As I said, one of your…limited talents would scarcely understand the situation.”

“I’ve grown tired of your petty insults, Yu-Ti!” Hamilton exclaims, turning towards Yu-Ti, and glaring at him with rage. “A business arrangement is one thing, but you’ll not talk to me like a dog!”

“Your whining is growing old,” Yu-Ti responds, dismissingly. “You have profited much from my financial contributions to your company. You have seen it grow in market share and dominance.” He then looks over at Hamilton, measuring up his partner with a look, and a shake of his head. “Just remember this: what I have given, I can also take away.”

Iron Fist leaps across the room, kicking the stunned Blacklash in the chest, knocking him back. “It looks like the first thing I’ve got to do is to take you out!” Iron Fist remarks.

“You’ll find that much easier said than done,” Blacklash returns, raising his arm to block Iron Fist’s next kick with his forearm. “I’ve fought tougher characters than you, buddy. Idle threats don’t do much to me.”

“So I’ve heard!” Iron Fist responds, leaping into the air. He spins around in one fluid motion, and kicks Blacklash in the face, sending him flying back through the air, where he slams into the plaster wall, slumping to the ground. “But, it all ends in the same way!”

In his bubble, far from the scene of conflict, and elevated from the floor, Luke Cage watches his best friend battle for his life against serpentine foes. “Damn it!” he exclaims, holding his left hand on the bubble, as he slams his right fist into the bubble, even more disgusted that it doesn’t give way under his power. “Let me out of this thing!”

“I don’t know what these things are made of,” Nomad thinks to himself, as he runs his fingers along the inner area of the bubble. The bubble has a slightly wet sensation against his bare fingers, exposed as his gloves lie on the bottom of the bubble at his feet. “It moves slightly when force is pushed against it, but it doesn’t give way. It doesn’t break. The elasticity is what’s keeping us in.”

“You figured out a way outta this thing yet?” Luke Cage asks, looking over at Nomad, who returns his look. Luke is visibly irritated, and frustrated to be held in such a seemingly minor cage. Nomad picks up on this, and shares his frustration.

“No, Luke,” Nomad returns, even as he continues to move his hands along the bubble, searching for any signs of a flaw in the design, or any means of breaking through. “But, when I do—if I do—you’ll be the first to know.”

Iron Fist moves forward, rushing towards Yu-Ti, who stands where he has stood since the conflict began. He is unmoved by Iron Fist’s approach, however, even as he watches with interest, small weeds taking shape in the space between him and Iron Fist, sprouting along small cracks in the cement floor.

Even as Iron Fist leaps at Yu-Ti, a weed encircles his ankle, spreading up his leg and pulling him back, preventing him from attacking Yu-Ti. Iron Fist looks down in frustration, as the weeds are moving up his legs, holding him tight. The weeds spin him around, as he is held aloft, his back parallel with the ground beneath them.

“It is time,” Yu-Ti comments. Iron Fist cannot see who he is speaking to, and he also doesn’t see Puff Adder approach from behind him, underneath where he is being held aloft. Plant Man approaches from the other side, with Rock Python rushing up beside him.

Puff Adder stands beside Iron Fist, even as Plant Man lowers him with his weeds. He is still held tight, but has not been struggling, so Plant Man has not tightened the hold of the plants on his legs, but the weeds have encircled his mid-section.

Looking over at Iron Fist, Puff Adder opens the mouth of his costume. Iron Fist looks over out of the corner of his eye, and lowers his arms to his sides, but does give any other indication of movement. When Puff Adder spits venom out of his costume, however, Iron Fist moves quickly and decisively. He pushes his hands forward, chopping at the weeds, cutting them with razor precision, even as he twists his body around, avoiding the venom busts, which narrowly pass over his body, spurting onto the plants. The acid works quickly, disintegrating the vines and instantly freeing Iron Fist.

However, the venom shoots past the vines, too, and some of it lands on both Plant Man and Rock Python, striking the latter in the face, and the former in the chest. Plant Man falls to the ground, clutching his chest in pain.

“You damn idiot!” Rock Python exclaims, holding his hands above his face, looking away from both Puff Adder and Iron Fist for the moment, recuperating from the venom blast, and unable to continue fighting in any meaningful way in the interim. “You got me! I should rip your throat out for this!”

Iron Fist falls to the ground, in a crouching position, the fingertips of his right hand brushing against the ground, as he prepares to go on the offense again, quickly. He kicks out his feet, sweeping Puff Adder off the ground. The villain staggers back, trying to regain his footing.

As Puff Adder staggers backward, Iron Fist leaps into the air, kicking the villain in the face. He spins through the air, kicking Puff Adder in the face again on his way down. As he reaches the ground, Puff Adder is still staggering back, unsteady on his feet, and still stunned by both the mistake his made earlier and Iron Fist’s own relentless attack on him.

Even as Puff Adder is unable to regain his composure, Iron Fist closes in for the kill, continuing his advantage against his disoriented foe. He slams lightning-fast punches with his right, then his left, fists into his foe’s mid-section, even as he hears the tell-tale sound of cracking ribs under his continued attack, with each of his pounding fists.

“He could have burned the skin off my face if he hit me with his venom,” Iron Fist silently considers, even as he leaps up, kicking his foe in the face again. “I can’t give him even a moment to regain his composure. He’s far too dangerous for that—with his venom!”

Iron Fist leaps into the air, leaping over Puff Adder, who is still too stunned to offer any counter-attack. Iron Fist leaps over his head, and boxes his ears on the way down. He lands behind Puff Adder, who has raised his arms, and is trying to stop the ringing sensation in his ears, thanks to Iron Fist’s attack.

Seeing an opportunity, with his foe’s arms moving up, he immediately sends out a series of fast karate chops along each of his foe’s sides, listening with interest to the sound of cracking ribs, as he continues to administer punishment to his foe’s body, weakening his resistance, and hoping for an opportunity to deliver a finishing blow to his opponent. It is how he was trained, and how he has learned to fight against dangerous opponents. He knows that foes who have unusual powers—deadly powers—cannot be given a chance to use those powers. He has no intention of giving his foe any quarter, as he looks for an opening, a chance to finish him.

The opportunity finally presents itself. Puff Adder staggers back, near the wall, his body reeling from the punishment that Iron Fist has administered. He leans his head back, reeling in pain. Iron Fist immediately rushes forward, delivering a powerful uppercut to his foe’s chin, slamming his teeth together with the impact of the blow. Puff Adder is sent flying backwards through the air, slamming head-first into the plaster wall. He slumps down to the ground, where his head slams against the unforgiving pavement. He does not get up.

Rock Python grabs Iron Fist from behind, his powerful hand grasping each side of the hero’s shoulder. “I think you’ve done enough damage, blondie!” He says, and effortlessly throws Iron Fist across the room. However, Iron Fist flips through the air, and lands on his feet, in a crouching position, twenty feet away from his foe.

“Oh, come on,” Iron Fist responds, smiling a cocky smile, as Rock Python rushes over to him. “I haven’t even started yet!”

As Rock Python is upon Iron Fist, he leaps into the air and kicks the slower, powerful villain in the face. Rock Python takes two steps back in response, and his head jerks back for a moment. However, as Iron Fist returns to his feet, Rock Python has a smile on his face.

“Is that all you got?” Rock Python mockingly asks, as he slams his right fist into his left palm.

“Not quite,” Iron Fist stands on his left foot and leans forward, driving his foot and slamming it into Rock Python’s solar plexus!

Iron Fist quickly leaps into the air, bringing his arm forward and slamming his elbow into the impact point, where the venom struck Rock Python’s face mere moments earlier. Rock Python throws his head back as he roars with pain!

“Dammit!” Rock Python exclaims, reaching blindly for Iron Fist, even as his eyes are clenched shut in pain. “When I get my hands on you…!”

“I’ll just have to make sure you don’t get that chance!” Iron Fist responds softly, more to himself than to Rock Python. He leaps into the air, slamming each of his elbows into each side of his foe’s neck!

Iron Fist leaps over his foe’s head, spinning through the air. In mid-air, he strikes his foe with his left fist, jerking his head violently to one side; then, he strikes his foe with his right fist, jerking his head to the other side. He continues his leaps, landing on the other side, behind Rock Python’s back. Immediately, he kicks his foe in the pit of the back, causing him to stagger forward, as he curses indignantly, frustrated that he is still in pain from the jab to his venom injury, as well as the body blows he’s receiving.

Standing behind his foe, he slams his fist up and down the sides of Rock Python with a series of body blows. He staggers around, moving out of the way, even as he starts to open his eyes, regardless of his pain.

Rock Python turns around, swinging towards Iron Fist. Iron fist ducks under the blow, which continues forward and strikes the wall, shattering plaster in all directions, much of it falling onto his costume.

Iron Fist, still ducking down, leans back and kicks Rock Python in the side of his knee, causing his leg to buckle somewhat. He then slams his fist into his foe’s back, towards the side, delivering a powerful kidney blow that makes Rock Python grunt with pain!

Infuriated and in pain, Rock Python lashes out, his right arm sweeping outward, striking Iron Fist in the mid-section, doubling him over and sending him flying back into a stack of boxes, knocking them over and scattering their contents across the floor. Nuts and bolts roll along the floor, the contents of the opened and overturned boxes.

“That was a lucky blow,” Iron Fist thinks to himself, climbing over the cardboard boxes. When he gets to the top of the pile of boxes, he leaps off, landing on the floor directly in front of the boxes. “But he could’ve taken my head off, with his adrenalin pumping like it is.”

As Iron Fist surveys the situation, he notes that Rock Python is rushing towards him. He shakes his head in disbelief, as the powerful villain runs at him like a freight train. His footfalls thunder against the concrete flooring, as he rushes headlong towards Iron Fist. As Rock Python extends his arms, he lets out a loud, guttural grunt, preparing to grab the hero. Iron Fist leaps into the air, narrowly avoiding the attack.

Iron Fist comes down on top of his foe’s shoulders, each leg spreading out, in a scissors hold, as he bends his legs, holding tight onto his foe’s neck. Iron Fist then twists his body, leaning towards the floor. This move throws his already off-balance opponent onto the floor. As they both fall forward, towards the ground, Iron Fist dislodges himself, but slams his feet into the back of Rock Python’s head, causing his head to slam face-first into the hard concrete floor!

“Fighting these super-strong villains makes me use different methods than I would ever use on a normal foe,” Iron Fist thinks to himself, raising his hands defensively, even as Rock Python shakes his head, trying to shake off the punishment. Iron Fist leaps forward, kicking his foe in the back of the head with great force, causing him to slam face-first into the concrete floor once again. “But sparring with Luke all those years gave me a good idea of how to fight these types. It might seem brutal, but it’s the only way to put them down.”

Iron Fist leaps back, as Rock Python slams his fist onto the concrete floor with rage, creating a series of cracks that run outward from the point of impact with his fist. He pushes up onto his feet with his hands, as he glares over at Iron Fist.

“I don’t know why you’re still alive,” Rock Python exclaims, as he balls up both of his fists, and moves menacingly towards Iron Fist, who still stands in a fighter’s stance, “but I’m just about to put a stop to that!”

“If I had to guess,” Iron Fist returns, ducking under a wild swing made by Rock Python, “I’d say it was because you don’t know how to fight!”

Iron Fist moves upward, unexpectedly, as he powers up his chi force in his fist. He brings his fist upward, slamming it into Rock Python’s chin in a brutal upper-cut. The effect is immediate. Rock Python’s head jerks back, and his teeth slam together, as he staggers backward, involuntarily. His eyes glaze over, and he falls straight back, his head slamming against the ground, as he hits the ground. He is unconscious, however, long before that.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Iron Fist leaps forward, slamming his still charged fist into the bubble holding Luke Cage captive. The bubble bursts inward, leaving a gooey, slimy substance coating a stunned Luke Cage, as he looks down in disdain as the stuff drips from his arms and shirt.

“Damn, Danny!” he exclaims, his lips twisted into a scowl. “Couldn’t you do it another way—I mean without getting this mess all over me!?”

“Sorry, buddy!” Danny returns, as he leans forward, striking the bubble holding up Nomad. Nomad falls to the ground, crouching as he falls. He rolls along the floor, even as the slimy substance making up the bubble falls directly to the ground when the bubble bursts.

“It’s over, Yu-Ti!” Iron Fist exclaims, looking over at the cloaked villain. Yu-Ti betrays no emotion behind his hood, as he continues to stand beside the lovely Titania, who holds the still-unconscious Spider-Woman barely off the floor. “I don’t know what this was all about…or why you want the Hamiltons…but it’s time to pay the piper!”

“Ah yes,” Yu-Ti responds, nodding underneath his hood. “I am certain that you would think this minor set-back enough to stop my plans. How like you to think so narrowly.”

“None of that matters,” Iron Fist retorts, looking over at Yu-Ti, who stands ten feet away. “Your plans end…now!”

“On the contrary, Danny Rand,” Yu-Ti argues, as an energy field covers him, Titania, Morris, and Spider-Woman. Titania seems surprised by the energy field, as they all start to disappear from view. Titania looks down, looking at her fading body with some degree of concern. “things are proceeding according to plan, despite your interference. But, for now, goodbye.”

Iron Fist leaps across the distance separating him, only to have his hands pass through the fading forms of those who were at the spot a mere moment earlier. Iron Fist falls to the ground. He rises to his feet, slamming his energy-charged fist into the wall, leaving a gaping hole under his punch.

“Damn!” Danny exclaims, frustrated.

“Danny,” Luke asks, as Danny turns to face him. “What now?”

“We have no choice, Luke,” Danny returns. “We’ve got to go to K’unn L’unn!”

TO BE CONTINUED!

MARTIAL MISSIVES

Next issue, Danny, Luke, and Jack go to K’unn L’unn to save Spider-Woman and to solve the mystery! Be here for Iron Fist #9!

As always, I look forward to any comments, suggestions, or questions. They can be addressed to me at earth2jsa@yahoo.com.

-Jeff Melton