The Iron Fist Chronicles: Journey to the East

A New Path

"So... Japan." Luke Cage's baritone voice sounded quizzical. "Why are you headed to Japan, again?"

"Come on, Luke, you know why," came the lighter, more puckish voice of Danny Rand from onboard the Quinjet. It was set to autopilot, taking him rapidly to his destination. "The Avengers might have taken down M.O.D.O.K., but A.I.M. managed to smuggle a few weapons shipments out of the States. I'm just helping them track 'em down before they cause us any more problems."

Luke chuckled with a bit of skepticism. "Right, right. But why do they need you for it?"

"Thor's away on Asgard business, Natasha's hunting down Taskmaster, Clint and Steve are looking into a new H.Y.D.R.A. sect, and who knows what T'Challa's got going on in Wakanda these days," Danny elaborated to his old partner in crime fighting. "Everyone else is either holding down the fort or going after other caches." Danny snorted, smirking faintly. "Besides, it's not like I've got anything better to do."

Luke couldn't help another chuckle. He knew Danny well by now; adventurous, free-spirited, and stubborn as a mule once he put his mind to something. Luke had just learned to accept that about him. "Uh-huh. It'd just be crazy if you went and got yourself a normal job or something," he quipped.

Danny loosed something approximating a laugh. "I would have asked you to come if you and Jessica didn't have the baby on the way." Danny smiled, genuinely happy for his friend. "Congrats on that."

"Hey, 'preciate it." Luke gave a small nod. "Yeah, Jess just can't wait to be a mom. You should see her, the way she looks at the little guy. It's sweet, and I've never seen my wife that... that content." Luke had to take a moment, as if the imminent realities of parenthood hadn't fully hit him yet. "Still seems weird though, knowin' we're gonna be parents and stuff. I mean, I still feel like I'm a kid, you know?"

Danny chuckled. "You haven't been a kid since I met you, old man."

Luke laughed. "Come on, Danny, we can't be that old right? Wait, don't answer that." Luke paused. "I'm thirty-five and you're, what... twenty-seven?"

"Twenty-six," Danny corrected mildly, still smiling. "Seven strong years since Power Man and Iron Fist. How time flies."

Luke sighed, shaking his head. "Sweet Christmas. That ol' clock is tickin'. I mean, I knew we'd been at this whole crime fightin' thing for a while, but actually hearing it? Makes me feel like I'm really an old man now. Guess I should start actin' my age, huh?" Luke's voice turned playful. "But what about you, mister globe-trottin' bachelor? When are you gonna start settling down?"

"Some of us haven't had the same luck as you," Danny replied, though still amicably. "You know Misty and I have put our whole thing to rest by now."

Luke murmured. "Mmm... I know, and I'm sorry man. I know how hard it was on you when things ended between you and Misty." Luke paused, realizing maybe he shouldn't be mentioning this right now. "Too soon?"

"Nah, you're good. It's cool," Danny said. Misty and he had come to peace about their old relationship quite some time ago.

Luke sighed in relief. "Thank God. Well, what about some of those other picks you've been around these past few years? She-Hulk?"

"Eh, we just couldn't make it last after the whole 'saving each other's lives' high wore off."

Luke made a sound, pausing. "The magic girl?"

"Couldn't get over her old flame Constantine," Danny answered, but without any bitterness. He could relate.

Luke chuckled. "Still got a thing for the bad boys, huh? How 'bout that British one with the braid?"

"Married to her work," Danny replied. Another great woman, but too driven to her profession, and maybe afraid to fully let her guard down.

Luke sighed. He was running out of people to mention now. "Uh... Silk?"

"Ouch." That one was too soon for Danny.

Luke winced. "Oh, man. Probably shouldn't have brought that one up... My bad."

"It's all right," Danny assured him.

Luke sighed, moving on. "But hey man, I know you can handle yourself pretty well, but... just be careful over there." The older man huffed. "Feels like the world is always spiralin' out of control."

"Control is an illusion," Danny intoned. "Every force creates an echo, a turn of the cycle. One must embrace the cycle and find their place within it."

"Oh, don't you get all feng shui with me, kung fu man," Luke playfully scolded.

Danny smiled wider, suppressing a laugh. "Anyway, I'm not far from the drop zone. And don't worry, I'll watch my back." Danny nodded his head. "Good talking to you, Luke."

"Likewise, champ. Be careful out there. I'll catch up with you when you get back. Good luck and godspeed, Iron Fist."

And the call ended.

Settling himself back into his chair, Danny glanced at the Eighteen minutes to arrival. Destination: Hosu, Japan.

Danny closed his eyes, taking slow, deep breaths to gather his focus. The warrior's path lay before him. He would now see where it led.

A phone call... is here!

A phone call... is here!

A phone call... is here!

Miles away, a distinctive ringtone marked another incoming call. The owner's emaciated hand retrieved it, checking the caller ID and quickly answering after reading it. "Tsukauchi, hello. What is it this time?" a man's voice said.

"We've got a situation, I'm afraid," the detective answered. "Down at the docks near west Hosu. Intel says it's some kind of high-tech arms shipment coming in from overseas."

A spark of righteous indignation lit inside the man's heart. Someone was trying to smuggle dangerous weapons into Japan? Unacceptable. "And you want my help?"

"To head them off, if you can," Tsukauchi replied. "We're tied up with villain activity on the north and east sides of Musutafu. The Hosu police have asked for our help and there are no other heroes around that area. If you can get there fast enough..."

Steam slowly emitted from the man's body. His wiry frame slowly expanded into a towering physique of pure muscle. With a trademark, comforting smile of determination that all Japan had come to rely on, he replied. "I'll head there right away. These villains won't escape justice."

Tsukauchi sounded relieved, his tone at once grateful and at ease. "We can't thank you enough, All Might."

The call ended with a click, and Japan's Number One Hero returned his phone to his pocket. The spark inside his heart expanded into a swirling fire, fueling him as he ventured forth in the never-ending battle against evil.

The Symbol of Peace and Justice was here.