*000000*

They answered by attacking her in combo. She stepped back so fast that she had left an afterimage and when the remaining ninjas struck it, she caught their ninjatos in her hand and Elektra didn't know what she did but the blades turned into iron sand and she controlled it? And sent it to cover one of the ninjas who suddenly found himself unable to breathe. He fell dead. Then she looked at the remaining one who wasn't Akuma and he was lifted him from the ground.

To Elektra the ninja was being strangled and he beat his feet until the young woman in the dark hoodie tilted her head. With a loud crack, the ninja was killed, his head clearly not facing the front of his body anymore. Elektra approved of her ruthlessness, and nodded appreciatively at her. It's too bad that she got too focused on her target and left an opening for Akuma to stab her in the thigh.

"Ouch!" She screamed in pain.

Akuma was astonished, he felt his sword meet resistance, there was barely any blood on his blade and on the ground. She looked at him, her hood was now lowered, revealing the youth and beauty of his opponent and her despondent green eyes glowing in the dark.

She was really young, a redhead, barely Elektra's height. An aura of red energy suddenly surrounded her. Elektra saw as the gravel around her cleared and floated in the air as she felt the hatred of the young redhead as she projected it. Akuma stepped back now knowing he was now fighting a martial mystic.

What Elektra saw next made her thankful that Matt didn't come with her today, the girl released from her eyes, beams of energy that struck Akuma and made him fly in the air and crash in the metal cistern on the roof, pushing him into the metal and leaving an indentation.

"P-please, mer-cy." Akuma tried to say.

The young girl took the Ninjato and threw it at the Akuma, it landed on his right thigh, the same place where he had wounded her.

"I am sure that you heard that a lot from your victims, asshole." She walked up to him and unmasked him, the Ninja was still stuck in the cistern.

He was a man of asian descent, he had a gigantic scar on his face marring it. "What you sayin' now, you suckass? I told you I would break your fuckin' neck, you slant eyed motherfucker!"

Elektra was surprised by all the swearing, but it made her laugh; then she saw the young woman do what she just threatened, Akuma was no more when she heard a loud bone crack, his head was at an odd angle. Her savior crushed his head with a stare. Some brain matter, and blood, fell onto the ground. *I keep getting involved with the strange… and it keeps getting weirder.*

"Now let's see how the Hand is going to ressuscite you, if there's no body." Elektra was surprised to know that this girl already knew who she was fighting against and knew the method her enemies were fond of.

She proceeded to loot the bodies of each ninja; Shuriken, Kunais and sword flew and placed themselves at her feet. Elektra then became scared when she saw the red ki of the girl surrounding each of the bodies and… she didn't know what she was seeing, but their bodies were disappearing, turning into dust and lifting in the air becoming fine particles of light.

"You have nothing to fear from me, Miss Natchios." The young woman promised, as she turned to Elektra.

Elektra frowned, her Sais flying back into her hand. "How do you know my name?"

The girl giggled. "You are famous as an assassin and the deadliest woman after Natasha Romanoff, the Black Widow."

So she did know her from someone else. Did they fight? Or did she use some other source to sought her out?

"What do you want from me?" Elektra asked, but she had an incline on what the girl wanted.

The redhead bowed slightly and said, "Instructions, I asked Daredevil, but he has this weird sense of justice and I saw that we weren't compatible as teacher and disciple. Then I decided if I was to continue with this life, that I would get instruction from the best, you."

The assassin nodded, understanding.

"Are you sure that you want to continue down this path? Those who live by the sword die by it." Elektra was strangely taken in by the eloquence of the young woman. She remembers when she was this young, all she could think about was about fashion and the next boy that attracted her attention at school.

"Miss Natchios." The redhead called her.

Elektra became startled. She didn't like to lose herself down memory lane after such events but it often happened when she remembered her father. "Call me Elektra, you saved my life, I can allow you that much."

Elektra saw the young girl coughing, fighting down a squeal. She felt that this young woman admired her as if she was a fan. This was a strange sensation for her. "Okay, hum Elektra I will tell you why. As long as I remember I wanted to do what was right, but it had taken a man to tell me before he died that with great power comes great responsibility."

Her red chi like aura spread all around her and she said, "I have all those abilities but I can barely control them. I need guidance."

Her explanation sounded rehearsed to Elektra, but this was a decent motivation she had there; she reminded Elektra of herself at a younger age, she couldn't but see herself in the position that strange younger woman. "Why don't you go to the Chaste? I can give you their location."

The redhead laughed, snorted, then laughed again, "They are all a bunch of fools, too set in their ways to see that the world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place and I don't care how tough they think they are, it will beat them to their knees and keep them there permanently. They are letting their morals and lofty ideals run the show when their enemies don't play nice."

It was said, as if this young woman knew the final fate of the Chaste. *Is she touched by the gift of prophecy too? Is she like this woman? Destiny was her name, right?*

Elektra gave the young woman a nod. "I agree with your opinion about them, but why should I take you as my disciple?"

Jean walked up to Elektra who tensed as the young girl advanced, they were face to face until she kneeled and was now lowering her head. "Please, I am dogged at the heels by an enemy too powerful for me to fight yet. He wants to take away my freedom and turn me into a broodmare."

When the girl pleaded, it broke Elektra's heart to hear such fear and plea for help from the mouth of a powerful person such as her. She didn't understand, this young woman was strong, Elektra was sure that she could take on the New York chapter of the Hand by herself; what kind of monster could make her so afraid for her life?

"Who?" Elektra wanted to know who could be so dangerous.

The younger redhead lifted her head and looked back at her. "I cannot tell you, he would know, he is always watching." She said as she shook her head vigorously.

Her decision was already taken when she saw the haunted look in those green eyes. "Very well, what is your name young woman?"

"Jean, Jean Grey but others call me Phoenix." There were tears falling down Jean's cheeks.

Elektra placed a hand on her left shoulder. "Do you swear to always listen to me, Jean Grey? Helping me like I would be helping you? Of never lying to me and never to keep secrets from me?"

"Yes, I swear, Master." Jean bowed her head, smiling.

Elektra smiled back at her, elation laced in her tone when she said, "Then stand up Phoenix. I accept you as my disciple."

"Thank you." The girl sobbed, hugging Elektra who tapped on her back, embarrassed by the affection suddenly coming from the girl.

# # #

(Agent Phil Coulson)​

Queens

Cerberus Security, HQ

September, 9th 1996

10:00 AM

Once is happenstance, twice is coincidence, but the third time? It's, undeniably, enemy action. Ian Fleming had voiced this. As he mulled over this quote, Agent Phil Coulson knew that there was something rotten in Annandale-on-Hudson. First with his partner Katherine Shane, also affectionately called Kat who wished to change assignment because it was boring to stay in the car each night for so long. The change in assignment was accepted, after all, Kat had been patrolling the place for weeks and she was a Level 4 agent, she could choose her missions.

Katherine went to DC to investigate a SHIELD facility that went dark. Then it happened again, four agents this time asked for a reassignment. It was allowed and another team was dispatched. However, this time Phil waited to have them settle in their roles to let them go. He found the team deeply asleep and unable to be risen unless you harmed them.

Phil knew his agents, after all they were conscientious, responsible and good people. Sleeping on the job wasn't something they would do. When it happened a third time, Phil knew that he should do something and be proactive, he couldn't let his subordinates be prey to whatever was happening in this little town.

The agent took his phone and typed a number. After the third tonality, the line reached the caller. "Hello, Mrs Director, I request an urgent meeting."

He heard the old feminine voice say. "Is there a situation?"

Phil heaved a sigh, then looked upon the papers with demand of reassignment on his desk."I cannot say, but I need to speak to you face to face."

"Come see me." She replied, before hanging up.

Phil did the same, and stood from his chair and took the papers, quickly walking to the nearest door.

Last edited: Jun 5, 2024

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