Orphaned in Tibet, Daniel Rand was raised in the mystical city of K'un L'un. He grew up to master the martial arts better than any of K'un L'un's native citizens. At the age of nineteen, Danny plunged his hands into the molten heart of the dragon, Shou Lou. He then gained the power of the Iron Fist, and to this day he fights to protect the innocent from the corrupt.

The proverbial iron fist. Often used in reference to the way the tyrannical dictators of the world run their countries. The epitomy of this expression was Victor Von Doom, emphasis on was. When the being known as Onslaught reared his ugly head, it took the combined might of some of the worlds greatest heroes to stop him. In the decisive battle where so many perished, Von Doom was one of the casualties.

The people of Latveria, so it seemed, were free from Doom's iron fisted rule. Then the madman Baron Wolfgang Von Strucker and his organization HYDRA attacked, intending to take control of the tiny nation. If Strucker won, then Latveria would be ruled by something far worse than an iron fist. They would be ruled by the Satan Claw.

It's ironic then, that Latveria's only hope lies in an Iron Fist.

Daniel Rand is

In

"Black Eyes, Blue Tears"

Daniel Rand had always prided himself on being a calm, rational man. The perfect reason why he should pride himself upon it stood right in front of him. Baron Wolfgang Von Strucker, leader of the terrorist organization HYDRA. Strucker and Danny were polar opposites. Danny was a picture of calm, with handsome features and an analytical mind. Strucker, on the other hand, was an insane madman whose once-handsome visage had been shattered by years of conflict combined with the tiny splotches covering his skin.

Those splotches were the Death-Spore virus. Years ago, Strucker had contracted the fatal disease, and subsequently died. HYDRA had floundered, as a power struggle raged. It seemed HYDRA may have had to disband, but one man stood up to once again take the reins of control.

That man was Baron Wolfgang Von Strucker.

The German had been resurrected by HYDRA scientists. He had come back from the dead. In his own words, he had conquered death. But when he returned, he also came back with complete control of the virus that had killed him. One touch, and, if Strucker wished it, through the air as well, and a person would be infected, doomed to die.

"What do you want, Strucker?!" snarled Iron Fist as he rose to his feet, bracing himself slightly against the love of his life, Misty Knight. He glared at the warmonger in front of him.

"What do I want, mein freund?" said Strucker in a falsely friendly tone. "I had thought that was fairly obvious. Perhaps you have taken one too many blows to the head?" Strucker's monocle gleamed in the dim lighting as he continued. "I want Von Doom's technology. To be more specific, the late Doom's particle accelerator. With it, I will plunge the world into chaos!! And the rivers will run red with the blood of mankind!!!" Strucker cackled, and Fist instantly saw the ramifications.

"What particle accelerator?" asked Fist, trying to buy time to think.

If Strucker possessed a particle accelerator with the power Doom could instill in it, nothing would stand in HYDRA's way. By accelerating particles, Strucker could make anything, for lack of a better word, evaporate. By accelerating the speed of the molecules, solid objects would begin to turn to liquid, and eventually gas. Normal accelerators would take a while to fully finish the job, but Doom was a genius. Most likely, his would work instantaneously.

That would mean Strucker could flood the planet, just for starters. He could dissolve dams, he could destroy the casings protecting the Earth from nuclear material, and so much more. He had to be stopped!

"For months, I have been secretly gathering intelligence from Castle Doom. Doom had just finished the particle accelerator when he left for New York City. His demise has made this operation so much easier. By now, my men have disabled all defenses in Castle Doom." Strucker grinned an evil grin. "Mein gott! I have just realized something, Herr Fist. I have told you my plan," his grin got wider, "so I must now kill you!"

The HYDRA forces surged forward, with cries of "Hail HYDRA!!" and blasting plasma rifles even as Fist dove out of the way. Behind him, the Latverians roared in defiance and charged at HYDRA. The Latverians had pitchforks and other various farm tools, some knives, and even a few shotguns. HYDRA had the plasma guns and the training. If someone were betting money on the outcome, they would most likely bet on HYDRA. But they would overlook one thing.

HYDRA had the way. The Latverians had the will.

* * * * *

Strucker hung back as the opposing forces collided. He was not terribly worried; his men had the superior weaponry and training. The only variable was the present SHIELD agents, as well as Nightwing Restorations and Iron Fist. His men had killed the delegates, meaning Iron Fist and his allies would have no innocents to protect.

Strucker decided to tip the odds more in his favor. Taking aim with his Satan Claw, he began to pick off the SHIELD agents. They went down, gushing blood. Strucker had killed them as he would a fly. He left one SHIELD agent standing, so that the American government and SHIELD would not underestimate the enormity of his wrath. That would be a reasonable interpretation. Really, he just left him standing because it pleased him for some reason.

Nearby, the woman with the bionic arm was causing a problem. It gave her some additional strength, slightly more than any of the men he had brought with him had. He turned the Claw towards her, and fired.

Iron Fist saw Strucker take aim, and cried out a warning. Over the sound of battle, he could not be heard. Misty went down, crying out in pain. Quickly, Iron Fist battled his way over to Misty. She was unconscious, but still breathing. Blood poured from her chest. Quickly, Danny whipped his belt off and tied it over the wound, putting pressure on it to stop the bleeding.

"Colleen!!" cried Fist as he stood up to defend himself and Misty from an opportunistic HYDRA agent. "Get over here!"

Somehow, through the din, Colleen heard, and rushed over. "My God, Misty!" she exclaimed in shock. She knelt down beside her friend.

"Get her out of here!" Iron Fist commanded as he kicked a plasma rifle from the hands of a HYDRA agent. Fist then picked him up and threw him at two more HYDRA agents.

"I can't just leave you! How will you get out of Latveria?!" asked Colleen, even as she lifted Misty off the ground.

"Get the remaining SHIELD agent, and get to the SHIELD transport. Don't worry about me, just go!" Fist shouted. He ducked a plasma blast.

"All right, I'll go. But you better come back in one breathin' piece, understand?" said Colleen as she started heading for the SHIELD agent.

"Scout's honor." As Colleen left, Fist thought, Not that I was ever in the Scouts. Then he turned his attention to more important matters. Namely, Strucker. Fist had put on a front for Colleen. He was seething mad at Strucker, and Iron Fist figured it was time for some aggression therapy.

"Strucker!!" yelled Iron Fist as he ran towards the HYDRA leader. Strucker looked at Fist, and simply grinned evilly.

"Ah, Herr Fist, you wish revenge, ja? Excellent!" crowed Strucker. He stepped into an offensive posture. "I can see a problem with that plan, mein freund." Strucker pointed his Claw at Iron Fist. "I have the power!" Strucker cackled. "Not you!"

The Baron let loose with a blast from his Claw, and Fist took it full bore. He crashed into the wall, and groggily rose to his feet. "Ah, you take punishment well. Good!" Strucker fired again, and Iron Fist leapt out of the way. The blast took out a portion of the wall, which led to the outside. Strucker cackled. "If you want me, Iron Fist, you must catch me!" With that, Strucker dematerialized.

Fist whirled around, looking for the Baron. There, outside the castle, was Strucker. Iron Fist ran to the hole, and simply jumped out. He performed a few somersaults, and came down rolling. He rose to his feet, and growled, "Strucker!"

"You will find, Iron Fist, that you are seriously outmatched," cackled Strucker. He pointed to a deep crimson belt around his waist. "With this, the power of my Satan Claw is magnified immeasurably!" Strucker howled in insane glee.

"You speak of your power, Strucker!" said Iron Fist. "I'll show you mine!" Iron Fist leapt at Strucker, only to hit an invisible wall of force. A brief flash of crimson flared when he hit.

"Did I forget to mention the forcefield? My mind must be going, ja?" exclaimed Strucker. He fired another blast from his Claw, which Iron Fist avoided.

"You lost your mind a long time ago!" replied Iron Fist, no trace of humor in his voice. Strucker fired another blast from the Satan Claw, which struck the ground just in front of Iron Fist. An underground cable could be seen where the blast struck.

"Why won't you face me, Baron? Is it you're too afraid of me to fight without the aid of technology? Because without the work of others, you are inferior!" baited Fist. He took a step forward. "You coward!"

All traces of amusement left Strucker's face, and his face took on a grim countenance. "For that, Herr Fist, you will die most slowly," hissed the Baron dangerously. Suddenly, he disappeared, and reappeared in front of Iron Fist. "They'll never find your bloodied corpse," he whispered.

"How about your fried one?" replied Fist quietly. Moving quickly, he grabbed Strucker by the wrist, and sank the Satan Claw into the electrical cable. "You made a serious mistake, Strucker. You let me close enough so I would be inside your field," said Iron Fist as Strucker howled in pain. His belt fell to the ground, charred to a crisp, as did his Satan Claw.

As much as he might want to, Iron Fist knew he couldn't just let Strucker fry. Iron Fist picked up an abandoned rake beside him, and hit Strucker with the wooden handle. Strucker flew backwards, and Iron Fist stalked after him.

"You may have won the battle," Strucker croaked in a hoarse whisper, "but I have won the war!"

Fist wondered what he meant. He brought his hand up to deliver a knockout punch, when he spotted the tiny splotches forming on his skin.

"No!" cried Iron Fist in horror. Strucker had infected him with the Death Spore virus! Fist knew he had one chance. His Iron Fist was not only a weapon, it could be used to heal as well. He called upon his chi, and made his fist like unto a thing of iron. The Iron Fist radiated energy, but suddenly stopped.

Iron Fist stared at his hand, stunned. What had happened to his power? He wouldn't have time to worry about it, as he found it harder to breathe, and slumped to the ground.

Next: Uh-oh. Looks like this may be a very short-lived series. With Iron Fist on the brink of death, how can the Latverians possibly defeat HYDRA? Also, will Misty and Colleen return to SHIELD headquarters, or will the unthinkable happen and there plane crash? Only next issue will tell!

TRVIA TIME!