Invisible String

Forward

Matt can hear Dinah's accelerated heartbeat and her fast pants in pain. He has to step in. if it could possibly risk his hidden identity, so be it. She isn't gonna die on his watch. He runs forward, light on his feet. Matt goes for the guy holding the gun. He wraps his arm around his neck and drags him backwards. He grabs at the gun and the man struggles against him; he shoots upwards at the wall. Dinah takes her chance and fights the other unarmed person.

The man elbows Matt in the in the face and swings his legs backwards, kicking him in the knee. Matt kneels on the floor, blood dripping profusely from his nose. He slightly loses his grip, but he manages to yank the man's foot, he falls forwards onto his stomach. Matt stomps on the mans forearm and he screams in pain. He then kneels into his back lifts his head from the ground by his hair and repeatedly smashes his face against the floor, knocking him out cold.

Matt stands shakily and Dinah looks at him. Her mouth is open wide in shock. "Murdock...How did you? What was- "

Matt smiles weakly. "I'm a very good lawyer Dinah."

Dinah refrains from asking Matt any questions. Matt was a private person and didn't like to explain himself. Together they tie up the five guys and gag them. They also tie up Catherine, who had been cowering in the corner for the duration of the fight. They sit her in a chair.

"Okay Stone, this has been a really shitty day so far. Can you tell me what the hell is going on!?" Catherine bites at her lip. "Agent Madani I'm so sorry. I am, deeply. I didn't want this, honestly, I didn't."

"Save your apologies." Dinah spits. "I looked up to you. Everyone does. So, the least you could do is tell me what this is." Dinah points at a large glowing screen in the room. It seemed to be a map with intersecting tunnels and pinpointed locations. Catherine's face crumbles. "He threatened my family Madani. I wanted to find a way out I did. But they're everywhere."

"I can protect you." Matt says. "I'm a lawyer. It's my job to defend people who can't do it themselves." She shakes her head sadly. "This is embarrassing for me, for a someone in my position of authority to be in this situation. But these guys. They. Are. Ruthless. Nothing like I've seen before."

"It's Jameson, isn't it?" Matt interjects. Catherine closes her eyes and pursues her lips. "Hey." Dinah starts. "Look I believe you want to get out of this. That you care about the work you do here. If you tell us what we need to know I promise I will personally help you escort your family out of the country to a safe location. I have people off the books I can contact."

"I took an Oath. To serve, to protect. Help me, help you." Catherine's eyes water. "You promise?" Dinah looks at her intently. "I swear. On my life."

She sighs. "Okay. Okay. That map is a presentation of all of Jameson Banks underground bases. They're all located under buildings of influence. Homeland, NYPD, S.H.I.E.L.D, courts." Matt rubs his face with his hands. Its worse than he could've possibly imagined, and he's pessimistic by nature. "Jameson is bringing the fight to us. That way he can have direct control over how we choose to run things and if the opportunity presents itself, ambush us if necessary."  

"How did he get this set up so quickly?" Dinah asks. "Fisk I'm guessing. He doesn't show up much. Jameson is the main face of everything, but Fisk is behind the scenes. He has his filthy hands in so many resources." Dinah nods in agreement. "Jameson gave us a choice. We either work with him, or we die. Something about to have a peaceful world, there first must be violence." Catherine noticeably shivers. "He's disgusting. He preys on the vulnerable. Anyone who doesn't like how the government does things and he's using them to join him."

"I know he's creating an army. He's developed this chemical. It reduces the interaction with your pain receptors and increases strength."

"He's slowly assembling a team. Really an assassination scheme. Better than any squad of agents. Deadlier. Being able to take out large groups of people with a single order." Matt's hearts drop. The women in training organization. That's how he did it. "How many organizations are under his control?" Matt questions. "It's hard to tell. But a lot. Sometimes he bribe's the leaders with money, more power. But I have a feeling some are going to put up more of a fight than I did. Inevitably Jameson is a bloodthirsty monster. Lots of people are going to die. New York will suffer."

"Is there any way of knowing where his location is?" Dinah prompts. "No. He's very particular about that. He only lets us see part of the picture of his plans. It's what keeps us trapped."

"Where did you see him last?"

"A warehouse on fifth." Dinah moves forward and unties her binds. "Thanks for the information, now I'm going to fulfil my part of the deal." She looks to the left to see Matt pacing back and forth. "One second." She walks over to him. "What are you thinking Dinah?"

"First I have to deal with Catherine, but I'll reach out to some old friends, see if they can help." Matt nods. "I have some of those myself, I'll check in with them."

"Did they have anything to do with teaching a blind man to fight?" Matt shrugs. "I can't reveal all my secrets." He starts to walk back the way they came. "Hey Matt!" He turns around. "Thanks for having my back. You really care. You didn't have to get involved in all of this, but you did. That counts for something special." Matt smiles. "Anytime Madani. Anytime."