Read Ebook {PDF EPUB} The Mercenary by Sam Knight A Queen's Knight. Richard has lost everything to Andrew Kineer, even his identity. Whether he will be able to reclaim it remains to be seen. The backdrop to their own struggle is the political tension in England. Mary I, convinced God has given her the task of returning England to the true faith, sends the Protestant reformers a stark and violent message. Jack finds himself in a difficult and dangerous situation. His patience and his loyalty are sorely tested. Catherine finds herself uncomfortably close to Elizabeth and is forced to accompany her to court, a court full of watchful eyes and whispers. Christopher Morley soon makes the most of this opportunity, pressing Catherine to embroil herself further in his schemes. Genre: Historical Mystery. Mercedes Knight (Earth-616) Mercedes "Misty" Knight was born and raised in New York City. She graduated the Police Academy with honors and joined the N.Y.P.D. and rose through the ranks, quickly becoming a lieutenant. She was partnered with Lt. Rafael "Rafe" Scarfe. During her tenure as a police officer Misty became good friends with Colleen Wing. [ citation needed ] While visiting a bank, Misty encountered a bomb. She tried to get rid of it, but when it exploded it took her right arm. Rafe did his best to wrap her wounds and got her to the nearest hospital where he stayed by his partner's bedside. Unable to continue active duty after losing her arm, she was given a desk job. [3] Tony Stark took notice of her heroism, providing her with a bionic arm. [4] During this time, the Human Torch and Spider-Man stopped some thieves from stealing Christmas presents from Misty. It would be years before she revealed this to the heroes. [5] Knightwing Restorations, Ltd. Misty rejected settling for a desk job and instead left the N.Y.P.D. to start a private investigation business with Colleen Wing, Knightwing Restorations, Ltd. The Cult of Kali attacked Colleen's home and Misty tried to protect her friend. Mistaking Iron Fist for one of the cultists, he was forced to knock her out as he rescued the Wings. [6] She helped Iron Fist track Colleen, who had been kidnapped by Master Khan. She met with Rafe who helped in locating her friend. Together they fought the Ravager and the Steel Serpent. During the fight with Ravager, he blasted Misty's arm, revealing to Iron Fist that it was bionic. [7] Working together, they were able to rescue Colleen. [8] She later helped Danny gain his company back [9] and helped him take down Chaka Khan and the Golden Tigers. [10] Misty and Rafe were called into the office of D.A. Blake Tower, who wanted Misty to infiltrate Bushmaster's criminal organization. Rafe was against it, as everyone who had gone undercover had wound up dead. She took the name Maya Korday. [2] This led her, Colleen, Iron Fist, and Spider-Man into conflict with Steel Serpent. It was during this fight that the duo of Misty and Colleen received the nickname "Daughters of the Dragon," a moniker sarcastically bestowed upon them by Steel Serpent. [11] Luke Cage was sent by Bushmaster to kidnap Misty, or else his friends Claire Temple and Noah Burstein would be hurt. He was forced to fight Iron Fist; however, they decided to work together to take down Bushmaster, save Luke's friends, and clear his name of all charges. [12] The Daughters of the Dragon frequently teamed up with Iron Fist and Luke Cage once they formed the Heroes for Hire. [4] When work began to dry up, Misty took work as as a paralegal for Nelson and Murdock. During this time, she helped Daredevil fight Mr Hyde [13] and Insomnia. [14] One of Misty Knight's prominent roommates was Jean Grey. [15] She teamed up with the X-Men in Japan by order of the Prime Minister. [16] Together they battled Moses Magnum [17] which led to a conflict with Alpha Flight [18] After the mission together, the two groups formed a bond. [19] "Death" and Return of Iron Fist. Iron Fist was replaced with a H'ylthri duplicate [20] who took over his identity. [21] The duplicate was killed, leaving everyone including Misty to believe that Iron Fist was dead. [22] Knight had a brief romance with Tyrone King while Danny was believed to be dead. [23] When Knight found evidence that Danny Rand was still alive, she went to great lengths to investigate. [24] [25] [26] [27] [28] [29] [30] [31] [32] [33] With the aid of Colleen Wing and the Sub- Mariner, Misty was eventually able to find Iron Fist, rescue him from his captors, and return him to society. [34] [35] [36] Ricadonna. Daughters of the Dragon. Misty continued working with Colleen, reforming the Daughters of the Dragon as bail bondsmen. They also hired Otis Johnson to work in the office. They investigated Celia Ricadonna, a wealthy New York publishing magnate and crimelord suspected of involvement in the deaths of some of their clients. [37] The criminals Freezer Burn, Humbug, 8-Ball, and Whirlwind were hired to steal a microchip containing a computer virus capable of taking down the global economy. [38] Celia attempted to kill all the criminals involved in the heist. [39] When Misty confronted her, she sliced off her bionic arm. Tony Stark however was able to provide her with an upgraded version. [40] Teaming up with Iron Fist and one of their clients Humbug, they found the auction for the microchip and brought Ricadonna to justice. [41] Civil War/Initiative. During the Civil War; Misty and Coleen were contacted by Iron Man, Reed Richards, and Spider-Man to reform the Heroes for Hire in order to track down superhumans refusing to comply with the Superhuman Registration Act. Initially hesitant, the pair eventually created a team consisting of Shang-Chi, Humbug, Orka, Black Cat, Paladin, and a new Tarantula. [42] The new Heroes for Hire. Misty was one of the 142 registered superheroes who were part of the the Initiative. [43] [44] This put a strain on her relationship with Danny, as he had joined the New Avengers roster opposed to the SHRA, though they continued to have an infrequent sexual relationship. [45] When the Hulk returned to attack New York after his exile on the planet Sakaar, the Heroes for Hire were deployed to help, with disastrous consequences after an encounter with the alien race, the Brood, in which several members became possessed. The physical and mental strain caused several members to leave. [46] Though Misty herself continued to aid in overcoming the Hulk's forces, the Heroes for Hire were officially disbanded. [47] [48] Shadowland. Misty moved into an apartment in Harlem with Danny after they got engaged. She learned that she was pregnant, but this was proven to be false. They remained together but decided to live in separate apartments. [49] After Daredevil issued ninja clan The Hand as Hell's Kitchen's ultimate force of dark justice, Misty was asked by a mobster to investigate the murder of his brother. Misty declined to formally accept the man as her client but pursued the investigation of her own free will, as the body was found bearing The Hand insignia and yet seemed too brutal to be of Daredevil's doing. As more criminals were discovered dead and marked, they attracted the attention of vigilante Shroud, international bounty hunter Silver Sable, and mercenary Paladin, all of whom had their own reasons for pursuing the case and agreed to work with Misty. [50] [51] Midway through the investigation, Misty was part of a small cadre of super-hero friends of Daredevil who pleaded to have an intervention with him about Shadowland and The Hand's presence and effect on New York. Unwilling to listen to reason, Daredevil, now possessed by an ancient demonic beast, dispatched White Tiger, Typhoid Mary, and many Hand ninja to eradicate his former allies. The battle resulted in an explosion within Shadowland Palace itself and the heroes barely managed to escape. [52] [53] [54] Her suspicions of the real perpetrators were confirmed when she was attacked and left to bleed in an alley. Waking up in hospital being cared for by Danny and Silver, she deduced that the Hand ninja who had warned her previously were, in fact, members of the NYPD who were taking advantage of the Shadowland situation as an opportunity to eliminate criminals from earlier cases in disguise as Hand ninja. Gathering Silver, Shroud, and Paladin, Misty orchestrated the crooked cops, including her old partner Rafe, into revealing themselves in front of The Hand as well as the rest of the NYPD, resulting in their arrest and an end to the killings. [55] [56] Misty rejoined Daredevil's friends in their gambit to release him from The Hand's dark influence and purge Shadowland from Hell's Kitchen. Though successful, Daredevil was now in hiding, guilt-ridden over his actions. [57] New Heroes for Hire. After being kidnapped and held prisoner by Puppet Master, [58] Misty was forced to act as a liaison for a new, loose-knit Heroes for Hire, employing Moon Knight, Falcon, Black Widow, Silver Sable, and Ghost Rider in various missions to stop a drug cartel pushing the Atlantean- manufactured drug Hook, [59] before being rescued by Paladin and ex-boyfriend Iron Fist. [60] Following her release, she and Paladin officially restarted the Heroes for Hire, briefly employing Spider-Man in their first mission against Batroc and his Brigade.