There was fire everywhere. The two mysterious assailants had been completely covered by it, but the fire hadn't ended there. The "diplomat" that the fledgling Heroes For Hire had been transporting had just unleashed a wave of fire that sought to destroy the entire surrounding area.

Luke Cage lay on top of his longtime friend, Danny Rand, the Iron Fist. If Cage had been a split second slower, he might not have had a friend to save anymore.

"What…Luke? What's going on?" said Iron Fist, "My head is still reeling from that guy slamming me into a tree."

"Hold on a sec," Cage gasped, "I may have diamond-hard skin, but even a blast like that knocks the wind out of me."

Cage stood up and helped Iron Fist to his feet. They surveyed the area, seeing that most of the trees had been either burned to ash or bore long scorch marks. The security guards the mysterious woman had taken out were nothing but charred flesh now. The two cars that had been part of their little caravan were complete slag, having been so close to the initial burst of flame. The source of that flame was no where to be seen, along with the speedy attacker that had tried to knock over a tree with Iron Fist's spine.

The speedster's friend, however, was staring down Photon, standing only a few feet from where the "diplomat" had been right before he surprised all of them.

"Get out my way!" the strange woman yelled.

"Like hell! You have some serious explaining to do," replied Photon. The former Avenger held her ground, unsure of what to do next. Her first attack against this woman hadn't even slowed her down. Photon had passed harmlessly through her instead of short-circuiting her nervous system.

"Christmas," muttered Cage, as he stumbled as quickly as he could to Photon's side. Iron Fist ran right behind Cage, while activating his comlink.

"Deathlok! Come in!" the martial artist yelled.

{{I read you, Daniel, and I'm almost to your location. Photon converted herself to radio waves several minutes ago and briefed me. ETA: twenty-one minutes.}}

Iron Fist breathed a small sigh of relief. He had no idea what was going on. All he knew was that he needed every teammate he could muster. As he approached the two women, he could hear that the stand-off was far from over.

"I don't know who the hell you are, and I don't care. All I want is an explanation for what just happened!" Photon was usually known for her patience in times of combat, as she had lots of experience in dangerous situations. Currently, however, Monica Rambeau was not in control of either her emotions or the situation, and it was beginning to get to her. The mission was shot, and she wasn't sure if her powers had failed her or if her opponent was immune to them. Either way, she wasn't happy.

Upon reaching the pair, Cage spoke up. "Explanations are good…so are names and asskickings. So why don't you tell us the first two or I'll deliver the third. What say we start with your sucker-punching friend?"

"Cool it, Luke," said Iron Fist, as he turned his attention to the mystery woman, "Tell us what's going on. Who are you?"

"I don't have time for this!" screamed the woman as she lunged at Cage, her longer, claw-like fingers tearing his shirt and scraping across his skin. She seemed to be covered in a sturdy white substance that apparently hurt even Cage, which became obvious as he yelped in both sudden pain and surprise.

Cage blocked some of her attacks, but others got through, scraping against his tough exterior. "Oww! Back off, lady!" He ducked under her left arm as it reached toward him, grabbed it, and pulled. Shifting his weight, the woman went flying twenty feet away, landing on her side, expelling the breathe from her lungs.

Photon summoned her energy and unleashed a thin blast powerful enough to knock the woman off her feet. Her opponent raised her right arm at the last moment, as her entire body appeared to shimmer. It was if her form had shifted somehow. Photon's energy hit the woman's open hand, passing into it.

The woman became translucent, and it almost seemed as if the energy was bouncing around inside her! Refracting hundreds of times off the curves of the strange woman's body from the inside, she raised her other arm and redirected the energy at Cage, blasting him up against one of the molten cars.

As Photon ran to check on Cage, Iron Fist quickly concentrated his chi. He had undergone great trials to earn the honor of the iron fist technique, and he once again intended to use it. He summoned his entire life force into his right hand, making it like unto a thing of iron. Charging the woman, he was beginning to understand how she was able to do what she did. He had one chance to take her down.

A few feet from her, Iron Fist sprung into the air, aiming a deadly kick to her head. As he expected, she didn't even try to avoid his attack, letting him pass harmlessly through her. Before his feet even touched the ground, he twisted and pushed his charged fist into her misty form, releasing the built up power.

"What di….AHHHH!"

The woman's eyes rolled into the back of her head, and she slumped to the ground. Iron Fist, barely breathing hard, stood up, carefully watching his opponent in case she was faking. Her hard, white exterior slowly dissipated to show an attractive woman in her mid-twenties with blonde hair. She was breathing, but slowly. She appeared to be down for the count.

"So anyone want to tell me what just happened?" said Cage as he approached the now unconscious woman, while rubbing his head.

"Photon's attacks seemed to pass through her, but her skin was just as tough as yours," Iron Fist replied, "it reminded me of the Vision, and how he was able to control his density. I took a chance when using the iron fist, but it seemed to work."

"Vision could never manipulate energy like that," said Photon, a slight edge in her voice.

"Her powers are different, somehow," said Iron Fist, lifting his head to the sky, "we'll know more once Deathlok gets here. The equipment on his ship should give us a little insight."

"So what happened to 'Mr. I-need-an-escort?'" asked Cage.

Iron Fist swept his gaze back to the mystery woman. "I'm hoping she can tell us, along with where her friend is and why we were set up."

The living computer known as Deathlok stood over the unconscious woman laying on the examination table, scanning her with some kind of hand-held device. He had arrived in Peru to see the rest of the Heroes For Hire standing over this woman, and now they were eagerly awaiting answers.

What was supposed to be a routine escort mission (the team's first) had suddenly exploded into something much more important. Deathlok couldn't help but think to himself that the press was simply going to love this. Barely out of the gate, and the new H4H was running into a situation that may be over their heads.

The team had remained quiet while the cyborg scanned their visitor. Cage was the first to speak. "What have you found out?"

"She's unconscious," said Deathlok, not even turning his head to reply. Many people regarded Deathlok as cynical and sarcastic; few of them found humor in it. They figured it was just a part of his cold, calculating personality.

"Anything else?" said Cage.

"Her molecular structure is unique. Her body seems to be in flux. You said she displayed density powers similar to that of the Vision?"

"Similar, but different," said Photon, "she channeled my energy back at Luke somehow."

"Reminds me I'm glad I'm on your side, Mon," chimed in Cage as he rubbed his chest, remembering where the redirected energy blast hit him.

Deathlok lowered the scanning instrument and turned to face Iron Fist, saying, "Your iron fist powers are mystical in origin, Daniel. I don't really know what effect it will have on her unique physiology. Honestly, you're lucky she was only knocked out."

"Will she regain consciousness again soon?" asked Iron Fist.

"She's not in a coma, so she'll be awake relatively soon. Given the apparent urgency of our situation, however, I don't suggest we wait." Deathlok walked across the medical room aboard his aircraft to a row of stainless steel cabinets, and removed a vial from within them.

Hovering once again over the woman, Deathlok opened the vial filled with smelling salts and waved it under her nose, quickly causing her to sit up and gag.

"Easy…" said Iron Fist, preparing for anything.

"Where…" was all the woman could say while coughing. She leaned forward, trying to gather herself.

"You're onboard my ship," said Deathlok. Feeling the need for an explanation from their visitor, he didn't want to waste time with speeches of his own. "Who are you?"

Finally able to breathe clearly, the woman replied, "Lynn. My name is Lynn Erickson. You have to let me go, or he's going to kill David!"

"Which one was David, honey? We're still in the dark about what's going on, so how about you enlighten us a little," said Cage.

Obviously annoyed, but seeing no way to free herself, Lynn began to explain. "David is the one with the glowing, blue eyes…runs real fast? That man you were escorting isn't who you think he is. You've been set up."

"We gathered that much," said Iron Fist, "what have we gotten in the middle of?"

Lynn let out a long sigh before continuing. "Your wonderful diplomat is actually a pretty powerful sorcerer named Casavan. He's been posing in the U.S. government for years, hoping to get close to certain officials in Washington so he can control them. Two years ago, he tried to summon a demon into our world to help him in his lust for power. Something went wrong, and the demon ended up getting bonded to David."

"He's a demon?!" yelled Cage, surprised.

"No, no…he's bonded with one. It's what gives him his speed, among other things. He has trouble sometimes with…" Lynn looked at the surrounding heroes cautiously, deciding to stifle some of her words, "well, anyway…Casavan has been trying to separate them so he can have the demon for himself."

"So why did you follow him to Peru?" chimed in Photon.

"Casavan needs a specific talisman to separate David from the demon. There are only two in existence, and we destroyed the first one months ago when we found it in Nebraska. We think Casavan was in Peru looking for the second one, and now that he has David, it looks like he may have found it."

"So we were hired to 'escort' him, when in actuality, we were set up to slow you down," said Photon.

"That's my guess," Lynn responded.

"How did you say David was bonded with this demon, again?" asked Iron Fist as he shared a stare with Cage.

"I'm…not quite sure how it happened," Lynn replied, visibly becoming unnerved. "But if Casavan is successful in separating it from David, the stress his body will go through during the ritual will kill him."

"While I can't verify what you're saying, miss, I do believe we should investigate regardless," said Deathlok, as he turned his attention to his fellow teammates, "We were set up. We're deeply involved whether we want to be or not. Our next step is to find this Casavan."

Cage's massive frame moved closer to the young woman still sitting on the examination table. He didn't trust this stranger, but he had no other choice. He and his team had been fooled into helping the bad guy. He hated that. It made him feel like a rookie.

"So where is he?" Cage asked her.

"Somewhere he can perform the ritual. Some place he feels safe, where he won't be disturbed," she explained, "The ritual takes some time to complete, and he needs to draw upon outside magical forces. I would bet anything he took David to his stronghold in Texas."

Cage couldn't help but laugh. "Texas? His stronghold is in the Lone Star State? Does he ranch cattle, too?"

This time, Lynn couldn't hold back her smirk as she replied, "You wouldn't believe how powerful dormant magic is in Texas."

"It will take us about forty minutes to get near there, so strap yourselves in," said Deathlok. He headed toward the cockpit to pilot the craft to where answers hopefully lay. Iron Fist may be the field leader, but he had reformed H4H. This was his team. He hoped he wasn't taking them to their graves. He didn't have much experience with magic, but the few encounters he did have with it weren't good.

"Don't get too comfortable, we've still got questions, Lynn," said Photon as she slid into a nearby seat. "We'll be watching you."

"It's no trap," Lynn said, "At least not of my design…and from here on out, call me Diamond Dust."

"Diamond Dust?" said Cage, "You come up with that yourself?"

"At least it relates to my abilities, Power Man," replied Lynn, still smirking.

"I don't go by that name anymore. Too seventies."

Clouds encroached upon his mind. He could barely see anything. Was he dead, or had he simply been knocked out? He felt his fingers move, so he assumed that meant he was still alive. He doubted the dead could wiggle their pinkies. So if he wasn't dead, where was he?

He tried to remember, but his head began to throb. He felt the rest of his body stirring as he tried to raise his arms. They didn't raise very far, though, as something cold and metallic held them down.

Pulling as hard as his ebbing strength allowed him, the chains rattled against the wall. The noise of the clanging metal links helped his mind clear through the fog. Casavan must have taken him somewhere. Was Lynn here, too? If Casavan had harmed her in any way…

"Aarrrggghhh!" he yelled as he pulled at his restraints. He was beginning to feel stronger. He was beginning to feel more powerful. He felt…like a cornered beast, struggling to get free.

Suddenly, blinding pain erupted through his entire body. He couldn't scream this time, as all the air was driven from his lungs. It was like he was being electrocuted, only…it was different. He knew this energy; he had felt it before. Magic. Casavan.

"Relax, dear David," said the faux-diplomat, "You'll find these chains are enchanted, and even your better half would have quite some difficulty breaking them."

Gasping for air, David hung chained to the stone wall, helpless. He brought his eyes up to meet his capture's, seeing Casavan standing only a few feet away, with his hands behind his back, still dressed in a typical business suit that was the expected attire of a U.S. diplomat.

"Screw you."

"Indeed," said Casavan, "You know, I was going to make the separation ritual quick and relatively painless. I've all ready gathered the sleeping magic of this place together. After all, I don't want to be kept from my demon any longer then I have to."

The sorcerer brought out his right hand from behind his back, holding what looked like a metal cylinder with one end coming to a point. It was encrusted with three red jewels along its shaft, each giving off a faint glow. David knew what the object was, and seeing it verified his fears: Casavan had found the last remaining talisman capable of granting his burning desire.

Noticing David's eyes following the object, Casavan said, "That's right. It was in Peru, and now I have it. You'll never guess who was in possession of it! I searched for months, digging through clues in ancient texts, trying to decipher its location. All this time, it was my own teacher that had hidden it!"

"Your…teacher?"

"Yes! You see, he and I had a falling out of sorts years ago. Always in his shadow, I never sought his guidance in the matter, until I had no other option. He's been around a lot longer then I have. A lot longer. Centuries even. He was…friends…with the creators of my little toy here. Eventually, he killed them and took their power for himself. He was more than happy to place it in my hands, so long as I agreed to bring those 'heroes' along for the ride."

"I didn't take you for a typical villain," David said, "telling me how you did it like this. They call it 'monologuing', you know."

Casavan laughed slightly. "I am anything but typical, my dear boy. I'm going to draw that demon out from under your skin and control it. You never should have had it in the first place. It was mine! You aren't worthy of its power! From what I've seen, you can't even unlock its full potential!"

"I hope you burn in Hell," spat David.

Sighing, Casavan quickly closed the gap between the two, and plunged the silver cylinder into David's chest. David's eyes glowed a dark blue, with power rupturing from his body, sending him into convulsions. The red jewels on the cylinder began to slowly turn blue.

While David grunted in extreme pain, Casavan whispered into his ear, "With the demon, I'll gather enough power to one day conquer Hell. You will die now, and I shall live forever."

Sitting in a large throne made of dark stone, Casavan's former master opened his eyes. He had been using his magical abilities to keep tabs on his old pupil (something Casavan was unaware of), making sure the fool wasn't undoing his carefully laid plans. He would sooner be damned then allow that imbecile to ruin his chance at his family's redemption.

Hearing a soft crackle of energy, the dark man called back his magical senses. He had heard that sound before, which meant his "partner" would be stepping out of the newly formed portal any second now.

As a green sphere appeared and quickly grew large enough for a full sized adult to be dwarfed by it, the visitor stepped through the boundaries of space and time, entering the shadowed corner of the dark man's chamber.

"If your student successfully gains control of that demon, both of our agendas will be compromised," said the man that had just teleported into the dark man's throne room, the shadows still clinging to his form.

"You were monitoring his actions, then?"

"I'm making sure my investments aren't going to waste. It took a great deal for me to ensure I'll get the information I require. When I agreed to our…arrangement…I assumed it was understood from the beginning that our goals wouldn't extinguish each other."

"They will not. Everything shall still go according to our specifications. My ancestors will finally be returned to their rightful place of power and respect, and you…"

Finally exiting the shadows, the self-proclaimed Master of the World interrupted him, saying, "…and I shall have my vengeance, while simultaneously leading this planet into a new golden era!"

The dark man turned from his "guest" disgusted that he needed this man's help. Once he accomplished his task, however, he would shatter this alliance along with the Master's bones.

After centuries, his soul would finally find peace once his plans came to fruition.

Author's Notes