Issue #3 (May 2018) Written by Jake Hawkins Featuring:
Black Panther
Baron Von Strucker
Shuri
Crossbones
Bullseye
White Wolf
T’Challa fell through the air towards the deck of the Hydra operated helicarrier, his suits stealth camouflage mode kicking in as he passed through cloud after cloud.
As I descend towards the aircraft assaulting my country, I find it troubling that my mind is elsewhere. The last twenty-four hours have revealed so many possible variables that could have led to this moment, the scientist in me wants nothing but the freedom and time to piece them all together. Then I hear my father’s voice echoing from my heart, and the King I was raised to be rears his head as I try to focus my attention on the here and now. I downloaded the schematics for this model directly from SHIELD’s servers before I left the jet. My objective is nothing short of stifling their main offensive weapon as succinctly as possible.
The Black Panther landed soundlessly on the helicarrier amongst a fleet of SHIELD fighter jets as Hydra troops flooded out onto the deck to defend against the counter attack coming from Okoye and the adored one’s. He slipped past a pair of soldiers and into the helicarrier, making his way towards the bridge. He turned down a hallway, stopping once he noticed a sealed door. Peering through the door, he saw a cluster of explosive devices near a deployment hatch guarded by a lone Hydra agent standing next to the hatches control console. T’Challas Kimoyo card easily unlocks the door and he slides an energy dagger silently between the ribs of the Hydra member once he’s inside.
T’Challa begins to work on the controls, using his Kimoyo card to bypass every security protocol on the ship. “Okoye, they’ve got at least two dozen bombs ready to drop on the capital, which was their very last mistake.”
“What is it you require my king?” Okoye asked as she banked hard to avoid the sentry guns of the helicarrier. Her husband, W’Kabi, sat in the co-pilots chair controlling the Quinjets vast array of weapons.
“Time. I’m going to drop this waste of US taxpayer money into the Nyanza.” He replied as he continued his journey to the center of the ship.
On the helicarriers bridge Baron Von Strucker oversaw the battle, more than pleased with the destruction he had orchestrated thus far. “Sir, our systems are being compromised. There’s a program overriding everything and attempting to lock us out!”
Von Strucker stood up, his temper spiking at the news. They had already lost an engine, and it was clear the King of Wakanda had made his way onboard. “Find him, kill him. More specifically bring me his head. I will place it in a glass case in my throne room once we rule this country.” Von Strucker ordered the man sitting directly behind him, Crossbones.
“By now he’s gonna be a lot closer than we think. Better to let him come to-“ a kick to the back of the head sent Crossbones into the ships control board. Von Strucker whirled around, firing relentlessly with his plasma gun at the Panther, who ducked around his blasts and ripped the gun in two with one swipe of his anti-metal claws. Von Strucker used T’Challas brash attack to his advantage, striking him directly in the chest with his Satan’s claw and stunning him with a nasty shock. Crossbones rushed at the dazed T’Challa, tackling him and sending them both over a railing behind Von Strucker and down fifteen feet below.
Sensing Rumlow had the situation in hand, Von Strucker turned his attention back to the assault on Wakanda. “Have our pilots focus their attacks at or near the palace. Don’t give them a single moment to turn the tide of battle! Cut off one head, and two more shall take its place!”
“HAIL HYDRA!” The room erupted in the familiar war cry of the terrorist organization that had struck fear in the hearts of millions for decades.
Inside the palace, Shuri exited the elevator and stepped out into a corridor where a lone glass door sat at the other end. As she made her way towards the door, the Kimoyo network scanned her several times over. “Facial recognition and DNA identification complete, good evening Princess.” A voice greeted her as the door slid open and she entered a room filled with absolutely jaw dropping technical marvels, all at various stages of development. Her Kimoyo band began to glow a dark purple as a large platform rose in the center of the room. Standing upon the platform was a massive robot designed as of course, a panther. Shuri stepped onto a small lift that brought her up to the robots cockpit and she slid inside, a seatbelt strapping across her chest as soon as she sat down. The controls lit up and a trio of 3-D screens that gave her a three hundred and sixty degree view of her surroundings came to life around the Princess. She smirked at her brother’s ingenuity, he had outdone himself again. A large door began to rise up and the Panther Mecha shot out into the city with uncanny speed for a machine of its size.
In the skies above the city Okoye, W’Kabi, and the Dora Milajae continued their battle with the Hydra pilots. As some of their forces began to dive towards the city, Okoye’s instinctively pieced together their motives. “Akili, Princess, they are focusing their air attack on the palace!”
“I’m activating the palaces automated defense system but I’m not sure that will be enough.” Akili answered frantically through his range-less communicator.
“Stifle your doubt cousin, I will handle them. Just keep their ground forces back!” Shuri yelled giddily, far too excited to try out the Mecha in live combat.
A group of Hydra piloted fighter jets broke through the clouds and began to fire their missiles at the palace. On the roof automatic sentry guns sprouted up firing energy bolts at the hostile pilots, doing their best to keep them at bay. Still, a few of the Hydra missiles found their mark and shook the palace. As they came around for another barrage, three jets are completely blindsided by a blasts of black energy, destroying them in mid air and sending the flaming wreckage careening into the waters near Necropolis.
Shuri let out a cheer of pure delight as she charged the plasma cannon housed in the mouth of the Panther Mecha at her control as more Hydra jets came to follow Von Strucker’s latest orders. Right on their heels however, was the Wakandan fleet of elite pilots led by the Quinjet of Okoye and W’Kabi. Okoye came in low, allowing W’Kabi to use the jets powerful rifles to rip through a few of the oppositions tanks before turning their focus back on the remaining F-16’s.
Unbeknownst to the combatants outside and in the skies above the palace, a small portal struggled to manifest itself in the hallway of the medical wing. The pair of guards stationed outside Aneka’s room noticed the bright yellow and orange hued mass growing right before their eyes and moments later a man began to come through. Before the guards could even consider defending themselves, two ballpoint pens came flying out of the portal, each lodging itself into the one of their necks. Lester (LAST NAME REDACTED) aka the assassin known as Bullseye marveled at his renowned marksmanship as the portal closed behind him.
Ramonda peered out into the hall and locked eyes with Bullseye, whose eyes lit up once he saw the Queen Mother of Wakanda.
“I’ve seen you on the news before. I can’t remember what particular stint at Ryker’s it was, but it was right around the time boss cat decided to let everyone know about this place. Ya gotta think he’s probably regretting that rush of altruism right about now, don’t ya?” Bullseye taunted as he backed Ramonda into the room where Aneka slept. Instinctively Ramonda dove towards the energy pistol that sat on the stand near Aneka’s bed with her other effects. Bullseye however was far too fast, tossing a knife that caught Ramonda right in the heart. Ramonda slumped against the side of the bed, her eyes wide as she weakly tried to pull the blade from her chest. Bullseye crouched in front of the Queen Mother, pulling the Kimoyo band from her wrist before wrenching the knife from her chest himself. He eyed Aneka for a haunting moment, Ramonda’s eyes filled with fearful tears as she bled profusely and gasped her last breaths. Bullseye moved towards the bed, examining the pistol and letting out an impressed whistle. He took the pistol with him and exited the room, continuing to whistle as he left.
Below the helicarrier’s bridge, Crossbones continued his attack on T’Challa. He dropped a knee onto the Panther’s chest as he drew his collapsible crossbow and snapped it into form. “Bolts made out of Adamantium, just the thing tough enough to crack your head open like an egg you damn Baboon.” Crossbones fired from point blank range, however the incredible reflexes of the Wakandan King enabled him to shift his head just out of the weapons path, narrowly avoiding the bolt that sunk into the cold steel floor. T’Challa slipped from underneath his adversary and delivered a boot right to the chin that sent Rumlow stumbling back. T’Challa pressed forward but Crossbones caught him off guard with a left uppercut to the King’s jaw, returning the favor with relentless malice in the blow. He attempted to follow up with a leg sweep, but T’Challa avoided it by leaping and caught Rumlow on his way down with a kick to the side of the head. T’Challa stood firm as Rumlow charged him once again, sending them both through a set of doors and crashing into an array of scientific equipment. T’Challa got back to his feet just as Rumlow fired an Adamantium bolt that landed in the King’s knee, hobbling him.
Although everything he represents or fights for disgust me, Brock Rumlow is far from a man to trifle with. Any warrior skilled and resourceful enough to consistently give Steve Roger’s problems demands my respect, whether I want to give it or not. However he suffers from the same weakness as every member of the organization represents.. He is far too caught up in his own lust for death, in his prideful leader’s machinations that it can make him predictable at the most crucial of moments.
Crossbones fired another bolt at T’Challa’s head that the King easily avoided as he pulled the one from his leg just as Rumlow came forward with a front kick aimed at T’Challas chest. T’Challa caught Rumlow’s leg, and delivered a devastating kick of his own to the knee of the mercenary that caused an audible snap to be heard. Crossbones dropped instantly, clutching his dislocated knee. But T’Challas attack didn’t cease there, as he drove the bolt from his leg into the shoulder of Crossbones, pinning him where he laid. As Rumlow struggled weakly to free himself, T’Challa scooped up the crossbow that laid a few feet away and stood over Rumlow, grabbing a few of the Adamantium bolts from the harness on his chest and loading it. He fired a few shots into the legs and arms of Crossbones, pinning him where he laid.
“You sort of bastards are always so smug the minute you get the drop on someone. I can’t wait to put a knife through the chest of every one you know once this is over. I can promise you that boy.” Rumlow growled, but T’Challa paid no attention to his threats as a massive gray coffin shaped tank caught his eye. A palm scanner on the side of the tank denied T’Challa access to its contents. He quickly pulled his Kimoyo card out and pressed a few keys before leaving Rumlow and the tank behind as he headed to deal with Von Strucker. He focused the kinetic energy built up during his brawl with Crossbones to the soles of his boots and sprung into the air, landing directly on the railing behind Von Strucker and his agents operating the helicarrier. Von Strucker turned, drawing his blade as he did so but he was a step too late as four energy daggers pierced his arm. As he dropped his sword T’Challa leveled him across the jaw with a haymaker. Von Strucker turned and quickly began to fire the chain gun mechanism in his Satan’s Claw directly into the face of the Black Panther, sending him backpedaling as he was bombarded. T’Challa managed to get his hands up, widening both his palms and releasing a concussive sound blast directly at Baron Strucker. Von Strucker is knocked back several feet as his vision tripled in front of him and blood began to drip from his ears. A Hydra soldier rushed in from the right, firing his rifle at the King of Wakanda, who stepped back to avoid the gunfire. He grabbed the rifle by the barrel and wrenched it aside before nailing the soldier in the chest with a front kick that sent him into the helicarrier’s controls and over the bridge railing. It was at that moment an emergency warning flashed across the three main screens that also served as windows to the skies above Wakanda that read “SECONDARY ENGINE DRIVE FAILURE”.
The entire helicarrier began to lose altitude as it dipped slightly and Von Strucker still struggled to get to his feet. His vision was significantly impaired as the visage of the Black Panther swam in front of him but the ringing in his ears had began to subside slightly as T’Challa grabbed him by the throat.
“I’m sure a man with your incredible lack of humility is wondering a great many things in a moment such as this.” T’Challa mused as he swatted away a weakly thrown electrical charged punch from Von Strucker’s Satan’s claw. “I’ve been preparing those concussive waves should I run into Dr. Banner for quite some time, which means they are more than enough to handle even someone with your considerable durability.” A group of guards stormed into the room, training their weapons on the King. Before they could fire he tossed Von Strucker over his shoulder, breaking his arm with a loud snap in the process, and used the chain mail gun mechanism in the Satan’s claw to drop each of the guards. He then pulled Von Strucker back to his feet, who in a last ditch effort began to release his debilitating death spore in an attempt to weaken the Black Panther, who merely tightened his grip on the Hydra leader.
“I’m afraid that will do you no good here. I designed this suit specifically to keep me safe from toxins, poisons, and air born viruses. Now before I kill you, I want to know who aided you in this foolish venture.” Panther demanded as the helicarrier continued to plummet towards the Nyanza.
“You think Hydra requires any assistance in toppling this continent? You’ve only witnessed the beginning, the tide has just started to rise. Cut off one head, and-“ Having heard enough of Von Strucker’s ramblings, T’Challa used the kinetic energy stored from the earlier chain gun attack and pushed the Hydra leader with such force that he went shooting through the helicarrier glass windows and falling to the Nyanza river. Moments later T’Challas skybike came roaring through the very same opening, the King using his Kimoyo card to control it. The bike dove downwards as T’Challa began to make his way back to the ships deck. His Kimoyo beads began to glow red and the bombs stored by Hydra exploded, leveling the ship.
“Okoye, status report.” He called his General just as his skybike joined him on the deck, now pulling the peculiar casket from the room he and Crossbones brawled through.
“They’re remaining air vehicles have been dealt with. And your sister is having far too much fun running them out of the city.” Okoye says as she attempted to stifle a chuckle.
On the ground near the city central plaza, Shuri rips through a pair of tanks with a wide blasts from the Panther Mecha, a broad smile on her face.
Inside the palace, Bullseye entered a door in the medical wing with ease as the effects of the Kimoyo network failing earlier still resided in the palace’s security. Inside was an incredible operating room, but as Bullseye stepped into the center of the room the stolen Kimoyo band he clutched in his hand began to glow a dark green and a lift activated that lowered him through the floor and out of sight.
He resurfaced below in a round wide room, filled with cells that were against the walls. Inside each were some of the greatest criminals to ever step foot on Wakandan soil, including the recently incarcerated and finally conscious M’Baku.
“Hey! White boy, free me from this cage and there will be riches far beyond your imagination coming to you. This the Man-Ape promises you.” The other prisoners began to stir as they noticed Bullseye, who makes his way over to a particular cell where inside a man stood completely frozen in a stasis field.
“Yeah, I’ve found em. You got my coordinates?” Bullseye spoke to whoever was on the other end of his coms as he used the Kimoyo band to access the control screen next to the cell. The energy bands that made the cells bars dissipated, causing the stasis field to drop as well. Bullseye stepped into the cell, picking the man up off the floor and throwing his arm over his shoulder as a portal identical to the one he arrived through materialized a few feet away. The pair of them stepped through and vanished along with the portal moments later.
In the Birnin Zana central plaza, Akili and the War Dogs rounded up any surviving Hydra soldiers and prepared to transfer them to holding cells in Birnin S’yan to await trial as Okoye and her husband observed. Shuri rushed over from the assault Panther, her excitement still bubbling over from the battle.
“Has there been any word from my brother?” She asked as she reached them.
Explosions echoed in the distance and lit up the skies near Necropolis as the flaming helicarrier plunged into the Nyanza.
“There’s the answer to your question.” W’Kabi cracked as they watched the ship sink. Okoye however remained stone faced as she watched over the proceedings.
“Hopefully he returns with answers as to how they were capable of mounting this attack.” She surmised as Ayo, a member of the adored ones rushed towards the group. “General, Princess you must come with me now!” Sensing the urgency of the situation the three of them followed her towards the palace without another word.
T’Challa landed his skybike on the palace helipad once again as he is greeted by Akili. “Have our engineers and the Wakandan design group begin work on rebuilding the city gates and all damage from this attack right away. Access file 87G on my main project drive, my plans for the updated gates are there. Where is W’Kabi?” T’Challa continued until he saw the grave look on Akili’s face. “Cousin, what has happened?”
Moments later T’Challa is led into the throne room, where a small group has huddled around the hovering stretcher that Queen Mother Ramonda laid on. Shuri was closest, clutching her mother’s hand as tears streamed down her eyes, yet she didn’t make a sound. T’Challa stepped to the side of the woman who did not birth him but raised and loved him as her own from the moment she had laid her eyes on the then Prince. He looked at his sister, the pair of them with only each other left, and he held his head high. He would have to grieve his mother on his own time, he had a home and a people to protect.
“Do we know who did this?” T’Challa asked as he turned around, a low rumble in his voice.
“The backup magnetic power source you had implemented in the palace surveillance systems managed to get this.” W’Kabis Kimoyo band generated a video in front of the group. Together, they all watched Bullseyes actions in Aneka’s room in silence.
“Who is he?” Shuri questioned, her eyes filled with an anger T’Challa had never seen in his sister. She was only a few months old when their father died, and he wondered how she would hold up after everything she’d been through in the last twenty-four hours.
“I recognize him. I met him when I acquired the deeds for my properties in New York. Kimoyo, access Avengers database, file 452.” Another video generated in place of the other, this one emitting from T’Challas Kimoyo band and showing various clips of footage of the assassin. “He’s called Bullseye. Occasionally goes by the name Lester or a few other aliases. One of the world’s greatest hand to hand combatants, it is rumored that he’d never missed a target, until he ran into Daredevil during his time working for Wilson Fisk. Is that all the footage, W’Kabi?”
“No my King, I’m afraid there is more. He managed to gain access to the holding cells.” W’Kabi began to show the footage of Bullseye releasing a prisoner and leaving through a portal. T’Challas face showed no emotion as he saw exactly who Bullseye grabbed, his mind running through each and every scenario possible going forward from this moment.
“That portal he exited through, what did our scanners pick up?”T’Challa demanded as he replayed the footage over and over again, his eyes scanning for anything he can use as a lead.
“There’s a peculiar energy reading coming from it that disappears the moment he leaves.” Shuri showed him the data on her Kimoyo card.
“Akili, the object I brought with me from the helicarrier, have it brought to the main lab and do whatever you can to get it open.” Akili nodded, leaving to follow his King’s orders at once. “Shuri, use our satellites and see if you can pick up anything on earth that resembles the energy output that portal is giving off. Okoye, W’Kabi, I need the two of you to hold things together here while I return to the Jabari lands. Prepare our mother to be buried in Necropolis, next to my father.” Without another word T’Challa left the room and headed to his personal quarters. As he reached the elevator at the end of the hall, Okoye caught up with him.
“Are you sure it’s wise for you to go playing detective in the mountains alone, now of all times?” Okoye questioned as they stepped into the lift.
“I downloaded everything they’re servers had while I battled Von Strucker. The EMP device they employed was specifically designed to Kimoyo’s network. And the knowledge of its existence, let alone its inner workings and data servers are not known to any outside of this palace, or so we thought. This all started to escalate when we stumbled upon the Jabari and their hostages, perhaps there we can find something we can use to understand exactly who is making an enemy of Wakanda.
“My king, you saw who he took. We can’t afford to have anything happen to you. At least take some of the adored ones with you.” Okoye implored as they reached the floor T’Challa lived on.
“I can’t afford to stretch our ranks thin if it isn’t necessary. Besides I want the full force of the crown right here should anything else transpire. Prepare us for departure tomorrow, and keep trying to get into contact with your father. The fact that none of us can find a regent of Wakanda has me gravely concerned.” T’Challa stepped out of the elevator but Okoye placed a hand on his shoulder to stop him before he could leave.
“T’Challa…I know what Ramonda meant to you, to all of us…are you going to be ok?” She said as tears began to well in her eyes that she wiped away quickly, the brave face of a soldier coming to the front once again.
“I don’t have the option to be anything but, my sister needs me, your husband needs me to be the king of Wakanda, not a grieving son.” And without another word he turned and headed to his room.
Once inside he fell into the chair by his work bench and hung his head low for a moment, collecting himself just as a holographic alert flashed behind him.
“Incoming video call from Ororo Monroe.” The Kimoyo network alerted him.
“Not right now.” He waved away the message before he walked across the massive room to the lab he had built and added on to his quarters personally, taking his time over the years to perfect it to his taste. A number of different Panther suits resided behind tubes, the glass sliding up as T’Challa approached the various costumes he had created and meticulously improved at his leisure. He scanned a suit with his Kimoyo card, and the suit left the mannequin and began to spread over T’Challa. In addition a long purple and black cloak materialized around his shoulders, the symbol of the panther emblazoned upon it, and lastly his cowl covered his face. He stepped through the gel-glass out onto his terrace and took in the city of Birnin Zana. Moments later his sky bike appeared right next to his balcony, and he jumped over the railing onto it before speeding off in the direction of the lands formerly controlled by the Jabari.
NIGANDA HOME OF (FORMER) RULING DICTATOR M’BUTU
Hunter sat listening to various reports through his back channel into the Wakandan communications net, a snarl on his face as a portal just like the ones utilized by Bullseye materialized in front of him. Viper and the Silver Samurai appeared moments later.
“I trust you’re pleased with the fruits of your labors.” Viper asked coyly, taking a seat next to the cage Hunter kept M’Butu in. “Made yourself at home rather quickly I see.” She noted, rapping on the cage in an attempt to antagonize Hunter’s prisoner, much to her amusement.
“You look more pleased with yourself than usual, I assume Bullseyes mission was a success.” Hunter handed the leader of the Hand a glass filled with a dark red liquid. “Some of M’Butu heres private collection, please enjoy.” She took a sip as the Silver Samurai came to her side, his eyes scanning the room for the slightest sign of trouble.
“It doesn’t look as if things went as smoothly for Von Strucker, did they?” She mused as she took another drink.
“No, they didn’t. He underestimated my brother far too much, even with the advantages I gave him so freely. He was destined to fail long before that helicarrier went into the air.” Hunter admitted as a servant girl poured him another glass. He tossed a handful of gold coins in her direction before leaning his head towards M’Butu’s cage.
“You see that? That’s called gratitude. Learn it, it’s what keeps people out of your current situation.” He sat back up, taking a heavy drink once he was upright.
“If you were so sure he’d be defeated, what was the point of helping him? Not that we don’t…appreciate the timely distractions and what come with them.” Viper asked, leaning towards him curiously.
“Because T’Challa hangs his hat on being the man on all fronts, ever vigilant and over prepared. So I throw as many ever changing variables as possible, keep the narrative fluid. It’s how you managed to free the second greatest criminal in Wakandan history right from under him. I trust he’ll be enough for your plans going forward?” Hunter asked a portal began to materialize in the middle of the room.
“If everything you’ve told me about him is true, I sure don’t see why he wouldn’t be.” Viper assured him as Bullseye appeared through the portal.
“I dropped em off at the coordinates you sent. You need anything else before I go blow a few grand somewhere I shouldn’t?” He asked with a grin.
“I take it you didn’t run into much interference in the palace once the melee began?” Hunter questioned as he drank straight from the bottle.
“Nothing I could sink my teeth into. A couple of guards and the old Queen who just happened to be stupid enough to try me. Their probably still mopping up all that bl-“ the words hung in the air as Hunter had pounced on Bullseye, both hands around his throat.
“Ramonda, what did you do?” He slurred in a fit of anger, his fingers digging into the assassins skin. Hunter felt the cold steel of the Silver Samurai’s blade rest against the back of his neck, an action made with the silent intent of a threat. Bullseye wriggled a bit so he could speak, a grin on his face as he looked into the grief filled face of the White Wolf.
“Well it was either me or her, and to be honest with you even if she hadn’t went for the gun…I still would have killed her.” Bullseye admitted without a care in the world.
Hunter pulled his handgun and pressed it against the temple of Bullseye, his fingers itching at the chance to blow this mans brains all over the rather expensive Ethiopian woven fabric carpet. Viper finally stood up and knelt next to Hunter, a rather amused expression on her face.
“My dear White Wolf, you knew the risks of the path you chose by involving us in your games. There are casualties in these sort of affairs, and I was led to believe a man of your reputation would know this. Besides, with what we have planned, not her life nor any others will matter much longer anyway.”
Suddenly there was a low, menacing growl as Victor Creed landed in the room from the open skylight. “Move your toothpick Harada.” He snarled as he stalked closer to the Silver Samurai. “Don’t give a better reason than I already got to gut your where ya stand.”
Hunter took a few deep breaths, before quickly putting away his weapon and stepping off Bullseye. “That’s enough Victor.” He ordered Sabretooth, who looked slightly disappointed he wouldn’t get the chance to rip out the Samurai’s throat. A portal manifested itself once again, and Viper led her people towards it as they prepared to depart while the tension had subsided.
“Well we appreciate all the considerable time and effort you lent to our cause Hunter, I trust you’ll be at the awakening?” Viper asked.
“Wouldn’t miss it.” Hunter chirped as she stepped through the portal after Harada. Bullseye lingers for a moment, before walking back over to Hunter and getting in his face. “If you’re ever stupid enough to try something like that again, I’ll kill you and your stray.” And without another word he followed them through the portal.
“I can’t believe ya just let em walk out of here.” Creed growled in frustration.
“They don’t matter to me anymore, and we have more pressing affairs to attend to. How is Paine faring? Hunter changed the subject quickly, still raw about the death of Ramonda. He had no choice however, but to persevere through the days ahead. There would be plenty of time to make sure his brother paid a hefty price for all of his shortcomings.
“The labs up and running, he hasn’t had a thing to complain about.” Victor assured him.
“I need you in New York by tomorrow morning. I’ll notify you of your tasks once you arrive.” Hunter instructed Sabretooth, who lingered still.
“I get you’re wrapped up in your own brand of crazy, but I hope you don’t let the little understanding between us that got me here to watch your back slip your mind anytime soon. Cuz that’d be just unfortunate.” Sabretooth let out the thinly veiled threat with a snarl.
“You can save your intimidation tactics for those who warrant them, my men have already acquired what you seek and are transporting it to Erich’s lab. Now, you have a flight to catch.” Hunter flashed a smile as Creed grunted a form of approval as he leaped back to the window sill and out of sight.
Shuri sat in the main lab, tinkering with the assault cat as she heard the elevator open behind her. Okoye joined her as she continued her work, her eyes bloodshot from the hours of crying.
“Beloved, I’ve been looking all over the palace for you.” Okoye said as she took a seat a few feet away from her cousins work space.
“Thought I’d take a page from T’Challas playbook and try to keep my mind elsewhere at the moment.” Shuri explained, her eyes never leaving the massive machine.
“For all your brother’s valuable traits, his knack for pushing his feelings aside has always been more detrimental than beneficial. Do not be afraid to let your heart come to the forefront Princess.” Okoye advised.
“When I was a child, my mother would tell me stories about my father. About how when he lost T’Challas mother he felt incapable of pushing through his despair, and yet he had the burdens and beliefs of an entire nation still on his shoulders. I may have never gotten the opportunity to know my Baba, but I feel his pain, his struggle with me right now. And I struggle to understand how he persevered through such feelings.” Shuri admitted, trying her best to hold her head high as she spoke.
“I was only twelve when King T’Chaka ruled his last day. I had only been brought to the palace to train just recently, and I remember feeling nothing but dread for the days to come. I was overcome with my fear for the realm, for my father, for the pain your brother felt watching his father fall before him. And then I saw how Ramonda took it upon herself to keep us steady during those weeks of instability. How she made it her responsibility, despite Changeamire whispering his suggestions in her ear or the many other tasks that fell upon her shoulders, to make sure we weathered the storm we were in the midst of. In was in those days that your mother, although she was not born of this country, taught me what it meant to be a woman of Wakanda. And make no mistake, every bit of her resides in you. From your ingenuity to you and your brothers innate ability to persevere.”
Shuri mustered a weak smile as she turned back to her work. “There are too many inconsistencies that don’t quite add up at the moment, I’m not sure why T’Challa felt the need to run off at a time when we know so little of our true enemies.”
“I’m sure he’d feel quite useless sitting here spinning his wheels trying to piece together who or what is behind the recent string of events, especially in light of our loss. I can’t find fault in his actions right now, I only hope he doesn’t come to regret them.”
THE FORMER MOUNTAIN LANDS OF THE JABARI NOW
T’Challa landed his bike near the mouth of a massive cave. Above the entrance a warning carved in Xhosa read “This land was built on the backs of conqueror’s”. T’Challa entered without a moment’s hesitation. As he traveled through the long tunnels that were dimly lit with torches along the walls, he took in the the sight of what his decision had created. The homes of Jabari families that had stood within these caves for centuries had been abandoned completely.
My senses catch the faint scents of women and children, warriors and generals who were forced to drop their ways of existence due to M’Baku’s years of selfish leadership. It is now as I see, feel, and embrace the results of my decision that a hint of regret begins to gnaw at me. I push these feelings aside as there will be plenty of time in the future to deliberate on whether I let my anger get the better of me, but that time isn’t now. Then I pick up a scent I’m all to familiar with, the smell of decaying flesh and hours old blood. My heart sinks at the thought that whatever conflict my people have become embroiled in has caused even more death. I feel the weight of these thoughts on my back as I rush towards the smells that have caught my attention, praying I am not too late for whatever may have transpired here.
T’Challa reached a large open section of the tunnels filled with bodies almost piled on top of one another. Behind the sea of bodies cages identical to the one’s M’Baku’s men carried their prisoners in had been sprung open. T’Challa moved about the room, examining the scene as he went.
Kimoyo facial recognition scans show these as the remaining missing Americans from that tourist group, at least twenty of them. The fact that M’Baku’s managed to imprison this many foreigners directly under my nose absolutely infuriates me, and solidifies my position that no matter what the repercussions, I made the right decision to ban those animals from my country. The bullet wounds in these men and women show that they were gunned down from behind. The wounds are from an M27, nothing any military forces near here would carry. Special forces? But from where, and sent by whom? More questions clouding my judgement going forward.
As T’Challa examined the outdated cages stolen by whomever lent them to the Jabari, the entire cave system is rocked by a series of explosions. T’Challas Kimoyo band begins to glow a sharp red as he raises it to eye level and a map of the caves emits from its center bead.
“Cave structure integrity is reaching dangerous levels. Suggest immediate evacuation of the mountain.” The voice of the network warns the panther, who takes off back the way he came as the explosions continue. Massive chunks of rock fall into his path, threatening to crush the king, who weaves between the deadly hail of debris in his hasty attempt to escape being buried alive. He quickly activates his Kimoyo card as he nears the cave entrance, which caused his skybike to shoot into the cave. T’Challa hopped on without breaking his stride and sped out of the mountain cave just as it collapsed in on itself completely. T’Challa soared through the air, watching as a iconic staple of the land he ruled was destroyed right before his eyes.
I was so lost in my ruminating I overlooked the distinct scent of C-4 once I reached sight of that massacre. Someone didn’t want me digging any deeper here. I need to get a team of War Dogs on site at once, there is clearly a danger a foot I had not calculated.
“Akili, the Jabari caves have been decimated.”
“The entire system? Why would the Jabari do such a thing, surely they can’t be that spiteful!” The voice of a concerned Akili barked into the King’s ear.
“I am not so sure they had their hands in this. The Jabari take far too much pride in their history to destroy what’s left of their way of life. I need you and W’Kabi to-
Suddenly an RPG smacked the side of T’Challas bike, engulfing it in flames and sending it careening into the mountain side. Frank Simpson stepped out into the mountains path and began to move towards the flaming wreckage, wanting to ensure his target had been destroyed. However behind him he felt a slight shift in the wind and turned around just in time to avoid a slash across the chest from a de-cloaking T’Challas claws. Simpson caught the off balance T’Challa with a nasty straight kick to the chest followed by a roundhouse to the head sending the King falling back. T’Challa immediately generated three energy daggers in each hand and tossed them all directly into the chest of the man Captain Rogers and Wolverine called “Nuke”. Simpson took each and every dagger and kept moving forward, loading a artillery into his newly modified Betsy. The moment T’Challa sprung to his feet Nuke fired, giving the King no chance to defend himself and nailing him right in the chest, sending him over the edge of the mountain.
PALACE CENTRAL SECURITY ROOM BIRNIN ZANA
Akili frantically worked at the console, flipping through the various surveillance feeds they had stashed in the Jabari lands, searching for any sign of the King since his message was abruptly cut short.
“Akili, the King’s skybike is offline.” A nearby technician alerted the War Dog commander as W’Kabi entered.
“What is going on?” W’Kabi demanded as he joined Akili.
“T’Challa was in the middle of informing me about the destruction of the Jabari village when his transmission was interrupted.” Akili explained.
“What do you mean the village has been destroyed?”A distraught W’Kabi repeated as he pushed Akili aside and studied the camera feeds himself for any sign of T’Challa. “Do you have his last known coordinates?”
Akili nodded as W’Kabi began to leave the room as quickly as he arrived. “Send me them en route, the King did not want the capital left poorly defended. I will go alone.” Akili hurried after W’Kabi into the hallway as he made his way towards the elevator.
“You know Okoye will not be pleased with this course of action. You haven’t the slightest clue what you are heading into!” Akili tried to reason with his superior.
“Then you will do well to hold your tongue in her presence for the time being.” And without another word between them W’Kabi entered the elevator and out of sight.
Back in the Jabari mountain territory, T’Challa began to stir as sounds of the ravine he’d fallen into roused him. His cloak dissipated as his enhanced senses heard the loud footsteps of Simpson plopping through the ravine towards him.
“There can’t be any evidence of involvement on our end.” Nuke stayed flatly as he popped a red pill into his mouth before reloading Betsy. “You must be eliminated with extreme prejudice.”