The Beginning of the Crisis in New York
The story of The Defenders begins when a powerful and ancient organization known as The Hand returns to New York City with a dangerous plan. The Hand is a secret society of warriors that has existed for centuries. Its leaders have achieved a form of immortality using a mysterious substance. However that substance is running out and they need a new source to survive.
The leader of this operation is Alexandra Reid who controls several powerful members of The Hand known as the Five Fingers. Their plan involves digging deep beneath New York City to reach a hidden energy source connected to ancient dragon bones buried under the city. This substance can restore their immortality but removing it will cause catastrophic earthquakes that could destroy large parts of New York.
To carry out their mission The Hand secretly begins construction projects across the city while recruiting fighters and controlling criminal networks.
Elektra Returns as the Black Sky
One of the most important pieces of The Hand’s plan is Elektra Natchios. After dying during the events of Daredevil Season Two her body was recovered by The Hand. They place her in a ritual chamber filled with the resurrection substance and bring her back to life.
Elektra returns without memories of her previous life. The Hand trains her to become the Black Sky a powerful warrior meant to serve as their ultimate weapon. Alexandra manipulates Elektra and convinces her that The Hand is her true family.
Elektra quickly proves to be incredibly dangerous. Her fighting ability surpasses almost everyone around her and she becomes the key enforcer of The Hand’s plans in New York.
How the Four Heroes Become Involved
While The Hand prepares its operation four different heroes begin investigating strange events around the city.
Matt Murdock has temporarily stopped being Daredevil after the death of Elektra. He tries to live a normal life focusing only on his work as a lawyer. However unusual criminal activity and mysterious ninjas appearing in New York draw him back toward the conflict.
Jessica Jones is working as a private investigator when she takes a case involving a missing architect. Her investigation leads her to a building connected to The Hand’s secret construction project.
Luke Cage is released from prison and returns to Harlem where he hears that young people are being recruited into a strange criminal group connected to the same mysterious organization.
Danny Rand the Immortal Iron Fist arrives in New York while searching for The Hand after discovering that his mystical home city Kun Lun has disappeared. As the sworn enemy of The Hand Danny believes it is his duty to stop them.
These separate investigations slowly bring the four heroes into contact with one another.
The Heroes Meet and Form the Defenders
The first meeting between the heroes happens when Jessica Jones is arrested during her investigation and Matt Murdock acts as her lawyer. Meanwhile Luke Cage and Danny Rand encounter each other while investigating criminal activity tied to The Hand.
Eventually all four heroes meet during a battle inside a building controlled by The Hand. At first they do not trust one another and even fight briefly. However they quickly realize they are facing the same enemy.
After escaping the building they regroup at a nearby restaurant where Matt’s old mentor Stick explains the history of The Hand and their plan to mine the substance beneath New York.
Although Jessica and Luke are skeptical about the mystical elements of the story they agree to work together because the threat is too large for any one of them to handle alone. This marks the formation of the team known as The Defenders.
Discovering the True Plan of The Hand
The Defenders continue investigating The Hand and eventually capture one of its leaders. During interrogation they learn the truth about the substance hidden beneath the city.
The Hand has already used most of its resurrection material and is becoming mortal again. The only remaining supply lies deep underground in the remains of an ancient dragon skeleton.
The dragon bones contain a powerful substance capable of restoring immortality. However extracting it will destabilize the ground beneath the city and trigger massive destruction.
The Hand also reveals that the Iron Fist possesses the power needed to unlock the chamber where the dragon bones are hidden. Because of this Danny Rand becomes the primary target of their plan.
The Capture of Iron Fist
Despite the warnings from his teammates Danny insists on confronting The Hand directly. During this attempt he is captured by Elektra who now fully serves the organization as the Black Sky.
Elektra brings Danny to the underground chamber that holds the dragon skeleton. Using his glowing Iron Fist she forces him to break the mystical seal protecting the chamber.
Once the door is opened The Hand begins preparing to extract the substance from the bones. This action will cause the destruction of the surrounding structures and possibly large portions of the city above.
Elektra also takes control of The Hand after killing Alexandra believing she no longer needs to follow anyone’s orders.
The Final Battle Underground
The remaining Defenders decide to launch a rescue mission to stop The Hand and save Danny Rand. They descend into the underground chamber beneath the city where the dragon skeleton lies.
A massive battle breaks out between The Defenders and the remaining members of The Hand. Each hero uses their abilities to fight the organization’s warriors.
Jessica Jones uses her super strength to break through obstacles and fight the enemies directly. Luke Cage withstands gunfire and protects his teammates with his bulletproof body. Danny Rand uses the power of the Iron Fist to destroy enemy forces. Matt Murdock returns fully as Daredevil and fights using his combat skills and heightened senses.
During the chaos their allies above ground including Colleen Wing Claire Temple and Misty Knight prepare explosives to destroy the building above the underground chamber.
The goal is to collapse the structure and bury the dragon bones permanently so The Hand cannot use them.
Daredevil’s Final Choice
During the battle Matt finally confronts Elektra. Despite everything she has done he still believes the woman he loved may still exist inside her.
Matt sends the other Defenders away so they can escape before the building collapses. He chooses to stay behind with Elektra in the underground chamber.
As the explosives detonate the building collapses above them trapping both Matt and Elektra beneath the rubble.
The other heroes escape just in time as the entire structure collapses sealing the underground chamber and preventing The Hand from accessing the dragon bones.
Aftermath of the Battle
The destruction of the building ends The Hand’s plan and stops the earthquake that could have destroyed New York City. The remaining leaders of The Hand are killed during the battle and their organization is effectively destroyed.
However the victory comes with heavy consequences. Detective Misty Knight loses her arm during the fight. The world believes Daredevil died in the collapse while saving the city.
Jessica Jones Luke Cage and Danny Rand each return to their own lives after the battle though they now share the bond of having fought together.
In the final moments it is revealed that Matt Murdock actually survived the collapse. He awakens in a hidden location cared for by nuns suggesting he was rescued before the rubble fully buried him.
Although the team known as The Defenders disbands their actions prevented the destruction of New York City and ended the long threat posed by The Hand.