Annual (August 2018) Written by Jake Hawkins Featuring:
Black Panther
Namor
Shuri
T'CHALLA'S PERSONAL QUINJET SOMEWHERE OVER THE ATLANTIC OCEAN
T'challa pressed a few keys on the circular console housed in the middle of a Quinjet that was ostensibly larger than the other's in the Wakandan fleet. His head dropped a bit while his shoulders sank only just, the first few signs that the physical and emotional wear of the past few days had begun to take its toll on him. He thought of his Mother, and what she would say to him at moments where although he would never admit it nor let such things show, he was clearly overwhelmed with the burdens he carried as a son of Wakanda. He put two fingers against the side of his temple and his uniform morphed away, revealing a black and gold dashiki dress suit underneath.
KING NAMOR'S THRONE ROOM ATLANTIS
A kimoyo band began to glow green while emitting a soft chime. One of the palace guards quickly grabbed the object out of the beautiful box crafted from Atlantean marble and sped over to where Namor sat deep in conversation with Andromeda.
"King Namor, it is as you expected." The guard handed Namor the kimoyo band before leading everyone except Andromeda and Marrina out of the room. Once they were alone, Namor finally answered the call.
A miniature hologram of T'Challa appeared before the ruler of Atlantis. "Have you called to beg for my forgiveness? For leniency?" Namor chided ruefully.
Onboard the Quinjet, W'kabi did his best to focus on the flight and give his King some privacy. He knew the coming days would be even more tumultuous than the ones they had already faced, and T'Challa would need his support in any and every battle that may lie ahead.
"You destroyed a sacred burial ground. You washed the remains of my mother out to the sea. The fact that you have the audacity to open the conversation in this manner gives me every ounce of credit I need to kill you." T'Challa fumed, his hand shaking on the console.
"You will not speak to King Namor in this manner, you mud and gravel slagging surface-dweller!" Andromeda boasted from behind the King, who motioned for her to be silent before responding.
"I'm sure your sister relayed the proof I brought to her before I laid waste to your city of tombs. That is if she managed to survive..." T'Challa's eyes lit up with a white-hot rage that was sent coursing through him at Namor's taunt.
"Someone has played you for an oafish pawn. Whatever proof you think you have of Wakandans infiltrating Atlantis, I can assure you it was fabricated. I attempted to be level-headed when it came to how I should approach you on this manner, but this time I'm afraid your pride and your mouth have taken you a step too far. I am going to kill you, so I suggest you make sure Atlantis is well taken care of in your stead." T'Challa abruptly ended the call, much to Namor's shock.
"He dares to accuse me of being a fool. It is his pride that has marked the undoing of his life and his country. Andromeda, summon Byrrah and prepare the royal guard. It's time T'Challa learned his place in this world, and it is a lesson far overdue." Andromeda followed her King's orders and swam out of the throne room, leaving Namor alone with Marrina.
"Are you sure this is the most prudent course to take Namor? War is not something I believe we are capable of sustaining long term. Not at this moment at the very least." Marrina advised but Namor brushed off her concerns with a single look before rising from his throne.
"Wakanda's proposed might is only a true threat to other surface-dwellers. This will not be a war Marrina, the conflict will be at an end long before it can even come close to escalating towards such a point." The kimoyo band in Namor's hand begun to glow red and instinctively Namor tossed it across the room just before it exploded. The explosion knocked out most of a nearby wall as guard's rushed into the throne room. Namor seethed as he looked at the destruction caused by the device before shooting out of the room.
UNITED NATIONS HEADQUARTERS NEW YORK
Shuri and Okoye are surrounded by the Dora Milaje as they are led through the U.N headquarters. They reach an office and the Dora's took up guarding the hall as the General and Princess follow their guide inside where they are greeted by an older French woman.
"Good afternoon Princess, General. My name is Daphene Arnoult. I am the residing President of the United Nation’s security council." Shuri and Okoye greet Mrs. Arnoult before taking seats on the other side of her desk in the large office she operated out of.
"I've been told you have some questions for me as to the whereabouts of Regent S'yan?" Mrs. Arnoult asked.
"We were told during our flight that he was in route to a meeting with yourself and the head of the UNODC when he was last heard from. That was over two weeks ago." Okoye informed Mrs. Arnoult.
"Yes, we had just agreed to Wakanda becoming one of the permanent member states of the council a few days prior. We were meeting to go over a few details in the process as well as discuss aid to some of the countries in the middle east. Although I haven't known him long, I've never known him to be late. I was surprised to get the call I did hours later that the vehicle he was traveling in had been abandoned." Daphene explained.
"Mrs. Arnoult, do you remember anything in particular that was said by Regent S'yan the last time the two of you spoke?" Shuri questioned, hoping to gain some sort of traction in their investigation.
"He told me he was stopping by the Stark hotel not far from here to discuss sending some of your countries medical resources to Syria to assist in caring for the civilians still caught in the middle of the conflict." Mrs. Arnoult explained.
"I do recall him informing my brother of having such discussions though I do not recall with whom." Shuri stated puzzled as she turned to Okoye.
"Emine Fakir, a newly appointed representative of Turkey. She stayed in the city a few weeks as we went through the process of her security clearances." Daphene exclaimed.
"The UN keeps copies of identification and passports on file here, yes?" Okoye asked to which Daphene nodded. "Would it be possible for you to give us all pertinent information you may have on Ms. Fakir?"
"I'm afraid that is out of the question even in a matter such as this without a federal warrant. I'm sure given your nation's security measures you could understand why we have a policy in place to not share such information even between member states." Daphene explained as Shuri and Okoye stood up.
"Mrs. Arnoult we appreciate you taking the time out of your considerable schedule to speak with us." They shake hands once more before leaving the office. As the Dora's flank them they tread through the hallways of the U.N. in hushed discussion.
"Please tell me you got us something substantial." Okoye pleaded with the Princess, who merely gave her cousin a big grin.
"Beloved I started hacking their servers from a drone I sent ahead of the limo on the way here.” Shuri pulled out her kimoyo card and showed it to her cousin. On the screen was all the information the U.N had on Ms. Fakir.
“Stark’s hotel is six blocks from here. I swear that man needs to put his name on every building he can in this cesspool of a city.” Okoye and Shuri along with the adored ones got into the stretch limousine that pulled off shortly after.
A hundred yards away from the U.N headquarters, Victor Creed watched the limo head down the street as the burner phone Hunter had given him began to ring. "Yeah, they're headed towards the hotel. I already let Viper know." He answers before hanging up abruptly.
NIGANDA THE LAB OF ERICH PAINE
Hunter strolled through the lab that was mostly occupied by his own men towards where Doctor Erich Paine stood before a series of stasis tubes. Inside the tubes resided monstrous creatures, grotesquely mutated into twisted and imposing versions of various animals. On the computer screen to his left, Paine studied the data he had collected from his earlier tests as Hunter reached him.
"I've already told Creed she is not ready for the process yet. One would think you people would understand the need for patience when dealing with experiments as delicate as the one's I am conducting." Paine spat, his temper overflowing at all the distractions he'd had to deal with that particular day.
"I understand your frustrations Doctor, but I have provided you with more than enough resources for you to fulfill your debts to me and my associate. Now I may be more lenient when it comes to the timeframe for you to deliver, but I suggest for your own sake you don't ever take the tone you just did with me again, or I'll be sure to let the mutant tear your throat out."
Hunter stepped around Paine's makeshift work center and closely observed the creatures inside each tube before turning back to Paine. "How soon will the first wave be ready?"
"Give or take a few weeks. The genetic splicing process has proved a bit more difficult than I predicted. Nevertheless, you'll have your army much sooner than later. Am I safe to assume I will be granted my freedom after that?" Paine asked as he looked up from the data on the screen.
"I find it alarmingly amusing you believe a man as dangerous as yourself deserves even the bit of freedom I've allowed you here. You're lucky you aren't in a cage, merely alive for my occasional amusement like M'Butu, so no it is not safe for you to assume anything if I’m being frank.” Hunter glared at the Doctor before returning his gaze to the subjects of Paine’s experiments. “You’re a very brilliant man, but don't do yourself the discourtesy of believing you are not replaceable.”
Hunter begins to leave the lab when one of his men approached him as he reached the facility’s exit. “Sir the Sub-Mariner has been trying to reach you for the past three hours. He request an immediate audience with you.” He informed the White Wolf, who brushed it off with an amused and non-committal shrug.
“Inform Namor I have given him enough for free as it is. I have no more time at the moment for him.” Hunter continued out the door without a look back in the man’s direction as he left.
CASABLANCA ANFA BOULEVARD
Tetu stepped out of the taxi, handing a bill to the driver. He waded through the sea of people as the lively city was in full bustle, searching for his destination, his green hoodie pulled over his head. He finally stopped in front of a hair salon, the sign out front reading “Cheveux et ongles pour pas cher!” Tetu stepped inside the salon, and the moment he did so a large guard standing right next to the door placed a hand squarely in his chest, halting him from getting any further.
(*Translated from French)
*"You have no business here. Please leave." The man told him sternly, his eyes relaying the threat of physical violence should Tetu ignore his instruction. Tetu merely stared at the man, annoyed slightly that his time was being wasted.
*"I have an appointment with the proprietor of this place. Please inform her I have arrived, and you will see you are making a mistake." Tetu responded calmly as a door opened in the back of the shop and a beautiful young woman stepped out. Her skin the color of pure caramel, her dreaded hair in a ponytail that went down her back as the bracelets on both her wrists jangled while she approached the two men in conversation at her front door. Some of the hairdresser's stopped and watched as their boss put a hand on the bouncer's shoulder to assure him she could take over the situation from there. He stepped back aside to his post as the breathtaking women waved a hand, signaling the rest of her employees to return to their work.
"I thought I told you not to come here." She said in a hushed whisper.
"You did, but as you should know I am not very much of a listener." Tetu answered.
She turned back, making sure the employees were back to attending to their clients before she responded. "Meet me at the Blue Parrot in twenty minutes." He nodded before exiting the salon, the young woman watching as he waded through the streets of Casablanca.
WASHINGTON D.C. THE HOME OF EVERETT ROSS AND NICOLE ADAMS
"I don't see why I'm the one who has to head to Cuba for this. They easily could have sent Jacob's or even an aide!" Everett Ross complained as he loosened his tie and opened the fridge, grabbing a bottle of Hennessey and dropping a few ice cubes into his glass on the counter.
Nicole joined him in the kitchen, spinning around as to allow him to unzip her dress for her before she returned to the bedroom. "They need someone who is familiar with handling problems like this on foreign soil. For once try to have at least an occasionally brighter outlook on things." She yelled from their bedroom as she changed.
"Well I would love to do that Nikki, seriously I would. But spending weeks in Cuba trying to figure out how a bunch of embassy desk jerks got food poisoning isn't exactly what I would consider a leg up. How many months did I spend getting shot at or dying of heatstroke in Africa for them? I swear one of these days I'm going to make sure everyone in the department realizes the actual measure of my worth before I wash my hands of the entire situation.”
Nikki returned to the kitchen, grabbing the bottle of Hennessey and pouring herself a glass as well before planting a sympathetic kiss on Ross. "You've got one more assignment. Knock this out and we'll be on vacation for three weeks. I got us a trip to Paris planned since I need to discuss our new trade policy with the Prime Minister anyway."
"I'm not sure you realize what a vacation should be but me watching you work for a change is not exactly what I would have considered." Ross said as he lounged on the couch and turned on the TV in the middle of a breaking news report.
"The attack on Wakanda is reported as being executed by the terrorist organization known as Hydra, who are also responsible for the massive blackout in India a few days ago. We've tried several times to reach officials from Wakanda for comment on these developments but as of this moment they have declined to share any information."
Nikki joined him on the couch, laying her head on his shoulder as they drank together while observing the report. "Things could always be worse. You could have been caught in the thick of that." She noted as he agreed with a nod of his head.
"I love the big guy, and I can't pretend I don't miss Zuri but I have had enough adventures with monarch's and mad men to last me a few lifetimes." He said as he got up to refill his glass. As he poured he watched a very familiar ship de-cloak itself while it landed in their backyard subsequently causing him drop his glass in awe.
"Jesus Everett what happ-" Nikki's words were caught in her throat after she rushed into the kitchen and caught sight of the spectacle that Ross was watching. The ship opened and moments later W'kabi carrying a standard Wakandan army energy rifle led the way as he and T'Challa approached the home.
Nikki prodded Ross in the back, who took it as an obvious sign to open the patio door for their impromptu guests. W'kabi and T'Challa entered a few moments later, shaking hands with the dumbfounded Ross.
"Hey buddy. Not that I don't love surprises-" Ross began
"I was always under the impression you hated them. Thoroughly." W'kabi surmised as Ross continued.
"But what brings you halfway across the world? Here? At this time of hour?" Ross asked as he began to sweep up the shards from his shattered glass.
"Friend Ross, I have need of information I am hoping you and Nicole can provide me with." T'Challa explained before grabbing a pair of glasses out of a nearby cabinet as he and W'kabi helped themselves to what was left of the fifth of Hennessey.
"Fire away your highness." Ross replied as he grabbed the bottle and took a swig, leading everyone back to the living room and turning the TV back off. T'Challa and W'kabi each took a seat across from the couple before they began. "There was a group of American tourists who went missing in South Africa weeks ago, we managed to help a small group escape what awaited them at the hands of M'Baku. Your government made no discernible actions to locate the remaining individuals and bring these people home." W'kabi began as he pulled his kimoyo card from his pocket and pressed a few keys on the screen. The TV once again came back on, but this time it displayed the information that W'kabi had compiled on his card.
"We didn't broadcast our efforts to retrieve them, but there were several attempts made." Nikki answered tersely. "I was personally tasked with working alongside the head of the CIA on locating them."
"Then why were American operatives on my land doing far more than that?” T'Challa's voice rumbled softly as images of the bodies found inside the Jabari caves flashed across the television next.
"You can't expect me to believe we were responsible for this." Nikki replied as Ross looked away queasily.
"I expect that you were too blind to personally have had a hand in this. But a series of events that culminated with me being attacked mere hours ago by Frank Simpson leads me to believe you may be able to point me in the direction of those who are responsible." T'Challa stood up as the tv went black and his kimoyo band began to play footage of his battle with Simpson taken from W'kabi's jet surveillance.
They all watched in silence as the helicopter crashed and Nuke dove away. Finally, T'Challa ended the footage.
"I'm going to be completely honest with you chief. I had no idea about any of this. I thought Simpson was a myth. Ya know something they make up to scare the interns during their first week." Ross trailed off before falling silent as Nikki shot him a look, her arms crossed. It was then T'Challa noticed the ring on her finger.
"I see congratulations are in order. How rude of me to disturb you without at least offering that first." T'Challa's cowl and cloak dissipated as he sat back down.
"Those men and women were not tourists, and your own animal slaughtered them." W'kabi said as he took over for the King. "Whatever you sought to find with planting your operatives near Wakanda, it cost them their lives. And it led to an attack on the golden city."
Nikki finally looked up at Ross, who took her hand before she let out a deep sigh and turned to T'Challa. "There was word of some black market Wakandan technology for sale near Niganda. We had a team of our people there to acquire the items first. But they were picked off one by one.. The last I heard from David Waller was that we had to cut ties with the entire operation. They knew what they signed up for. But I didn't know...I had no idea they would send in Simpson."
Ross looked on in a mix of awe and sheer astonishment at the revelation from his Fiancée. "You knew Simpson was real this whole time and you didn't tell me?"
"There's this thing called security clearance and we both accepted that we are on very different levels. You recall this discussion, am I correct?" Nikki barked, shutting Ross down on the spot. "General David Waller?" T'Challa interrupted. Nikki turned back to the King before nodding. "Well if Waller was involved I'm definitely not surprised the bodies began to stack up. The guy's a lunatic. He tried to choke me when I told him King Azzuri handed Steve Rogers an ass whooping once." Ross remembered very much to his displeasure. T’Challa smiled slightly, he had missed Everett’s personality sorely.
“Where can we find this Waller?” T’Challa pressed, eager to finally get some satisfying results.
Nikki looked reluctantly at the King, noticing finally the pain he clearly seemed to be hiding. She had known him more than long enough to know when even a man with his intelligence and innate knack for perseverance was cutting himself off from his emotions. His focus had always been unmatched, it’s what made her fall in love with him all that time ago.
“He cancelled a meeting he and I were supposed to have today to attend a dinner with the President and Secretary of Defense. I think they were going to try that new place near the airport.” Ross offered as he typed away on his phone before turning it towards T’Challa and showing him the restaurant in question on his maps app. T’Challa and W’Kabi stood up at that moment and prepared to depart.
“Thank you friend Ross. As usual your generosity and friendship is valued. Nikki, it was a pleasure as always to see you once again.” Nikki ignored T’Challa as he and W’Kabi exited back out the patio and moments later took off into the air, Ross watching the Quinjet in complete awe.
“Why is it that every time there’s a situation that could even remotely involve him, you decide it’s time we keep secrets between each other?” Ross turned to Nikki, slightly crestfallen as the jet disappeared. She ignored the question and merely turned back into the house as it began to rain.
Inside the Quinjet, T’Challa took a seat next to W’Kabi as information on General Waller projected in front of him. “Kimoyo, run patch thirty five on all traffic and surveillance camera’s on the city’s grid. Tap into any communication device’s within a thirty mile radius, cell phones, tablet’s. Use the back route file C, it will access the virus I placed in SHIELD’s birds eye protocol.”
A status bar appeared in front of T’Challa as the kimoyo network began to process his commands. W’kabi set the jet to hover and cloaked it before joining the King near the console as he placed a call to his sister and Okoye.
“Yes my King.” The projection of Okoye appeared in front of the pair moments later.
“Have you made any progress General?” T’Challa asked, cutting straight to business.
“My father was supposed to meet the current President of the U.N security council to discuss us joining the permanent ranks of member states. He never made the meeting, as he made a brief stop at the Stark Hotel nearby for an impromptu discussion with an Emine Fakir.”
Okoye pressed a button on her kimoyo card and moments later a projection of Emine Fakir’s Turkish license, passport, birth certificate and all other information appeared in front of W’Kabi and himself.
“Ms. Fakir is the newly appointed Turkish representative. It took some considerable leg work but it appears that Ms. Fakir’s entire existence has been fabricated.” Shuri leaned into the projection waving at her brother. “I spoke with officials at the US embassy in Turkey and the previous representative, Alim Hamdi, had been missing for months before they finally appointed Ms. Fakir as his replacement. Hamdi was found dead yesterday morning in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.”
“Have you been able to locate this Emine Fakir?” W’Kabi asked as he studied the falsified information in front of them.
“Not yet. Hotel camera’s show S’Yan entering the hotel and elevator but nothing after that. Your sister believes the footage has been tampered with significantly.” Okoye informed him as their limo reached it’s latest destination.
“There is more brother, something we found quite peculiar.” Shuri noted as she pressed a few keys on her own kimoyo card and a group of energy readings appeared in front of the King, replacing Ms. Fakir’s profile. “There were residual traces of the energy we registered from the portal used by Mother’s killer picked up by a drone I sent to where Hamdi’s body was found.”
“We’re currently outside the condo you kept here for him to stay in. I’ll let you know if we discover anything further of note.” T’Challa nodded at Okoye before ending the call and turning to W’Kabi.
“We need to wrap things up here as quickly as possible. Whoever sent Bullseye to free N’Jadaka clearly has some sort of long range teleportation capabilities.” T’Challa surmised as the thunder in the skies above D.C. cracked hard and the rain poured heavily.
“You don’t have faith in those two? My King you should know better.” W’Kabi chided his friend as they looked at the various places around the world the teleportation readings had been registered by their satellites.
“Of course I do, even if I was foolish enough not too, at this moment in time I wouldn’t have a choice. But that’s far from the point. Whoever has the reach and knowledge about us to not only bring Hydra directly to the golden city’s front gates but infiltrate the palace and retrieve that jambazi is a threat we must approach with every ounce of caution going forward.” T’Challa advised as lightning cracked against the ship, the vibranium absorbing the kinetic energy.
“I could have sworn I didn’t see a thing about rain in the weather report for this region on the way here, but I suppose I could have been wrong.” W’kabi observed as another bolt hit the ship, it's vibranium paneling absorbing and redistributing the energy.
T’Challa turned back around and began to head towards the back of the ship, the ramp opening up as he approached it. “No, I’m not sure you were…” T’Challa replied. Suddenly the mutant known as Ororo Monroe swooped into the Quinjet, riding the wind currents with such grace and beauty T’Challa remembered the moment he laid eyes on her why this women captivated him in a way nothing else on earth could dream of. The ship closed again as she landed in front of the King.
“You have some sort of nerve to ignore my calls.” Storm began, finally turning back to T’Challa.
“Ororo, I didn’t mean to show you any kind of disrespect.” T’Challa began but Ororo held up a hand to cut him off.
“You never mean to, yet somehow you always end up doing just that.” Ororo said as she took a seat across from him. “I had to hear from your sister about Ramonda. I’m so sorry T’Challa.” Ororo’s eyes softened as T’Challa approached her and a seat materialized from the ship directly in front of her. He sat down and laid his head on her knee, kissing her hand as she stroked his head with the other.
“We…lost her remains. Whoever sent Baron Von Strucker to Wakanda has also colluded to instigate a conflict between myself and Namor. In his usual rashness…he flooded Necropolis.” T’Challa informed her, composing himself as he raised his head.
“When you return home I have no problem assisting you in locating her so she may rest peacefully.” Ororo assured him, running her hand under his chin. “What brings you two to D.C. while your sister is in New York? I wouldn’t have imagined you’d let her out of your sight after the past few days you’ve had.”
“I was attacked by Nuke while investigating the Jabari mountain villages. I believe we have located the individual responsible for him being in my country and committing mass murder.” T’Challas voice shook with a tempered anger. He was sick of whoever had been trying to pull his strings. He was tired of playing a game he saw no end in sight to anytime soon.
The voice of the kimoyo network interrupted the distant lovers as a completed status bar appeared to the right of T’Challa and Storm. “Scan complete. Subject sighted en route to a transport approximately 18 minutes away. Communications network infiltration successful. Subject is to board a helicopter flight to Philadelphia that is set to depart no later than five minutes after subject’s arrival.”
T’Challa stood up before calling out to W’kabi. “Get us there, and bring us in quietly.”
W’kabi nodded as the jet surged through the clouds towards their recently discovered destination.
S’YAN’S CONDO MANHATTAN, NEW YORK
Okoye and Shuri stepped off the elevator and made their way through the hallway towards the unit that T’Challa had bought for S’Yan when he first took a position at the U.N. They reach the door and almost immediately the security camera placed out of sight above the door frame scanned them both before allowing them to enter. “DNA ANALYSIS COMPLETE. Welcome General Okoye, Welcome Princess Shuri.” The familiar sound of the kimoyo networks voice greeted them as the door to the condo swung open.
Shuri and Okoye stepped inside to find the place an absolute disaster. Clothes had been torn and shredded around the room while shattered glass littered the floor. The contents of the kitchen had been turned inside out as the pair began to search the room for any idea as to what may have transpired, and where Regent S’Yan could possibly be now.
Shuri entered the large bathroom, noticing blood streaks across the immaculate countertop as she surveyed the room. “Okoye, here now, quickly!” Okoye rushed into the bathroom to join her cousin, who immediately pointed out the blood stains before scanning the countertop with her kimoyo band. Moments later a small read out emitted from her band that read, “Analysis complete, 100% match for Regent S’Yan, former King of Wakanda.” Okoye’s heart sank as she read the results, turning to exit the room.
“Come now, lets us see what else we can uncover.” She headed back towards the living room, taking a deep breath to steady her nerves before continuing her search.
NAGOYA, JAPAN
An orange swirl of energy generated in the middle of the forest and seconds later Viper and Kilmonger emerged, with Baron Mordo right behind them. Finally a young man exited the portal, making it vanish with a gesture after everyone had come through.
“Are you sure this is the correct location?” Viper asked Mordo, who began to lead the way.
“I’d stake my life on it. There should be a passage somewhere along here.” Mordo examined a nearby tree, whispering an incantation under his breath before finally a small altar rose in the middle of their path. Mordo joined them and stepped in front of the altar before lighting it with a wave of his hand. Seconds later the ground behind the altar slid aside, revealing what appeared to be an endless staircase leading them down below to what they were searching for.
“You have your gifts sorcerer.” Kilmonger remarked as he and Viper stepped past Mordo to lead the way.
“My lord, I have someone wishing to speak with you.” The young man who controlled the portal called after Kilmonger before he could begin his descent. Kilmonger nodded and turned back around as another portal materialized and moments later Taskmaster joined the group.
“My lord, the intel provided to you by the White Wolf has bore fruit. Two Wakandans entered the former home of Regent S’Yan minutes ago.” An amused smirk crossed the face of N’Jadaka as he approached Taskmaster before raising his arm and revealing a crude version of the Wakandan kimoyo band.
"Let us find out if Hunter's backdoor into the kimoyo network is just as effective." Kilmonger said as a video emitted from the band that showed Okoye and Shuri entering and searching through the condo.
"We will need our forces for the oncoming war at a level the Hand has never before seen, am I correct Madam Viper?" Kilmonger asked, slightly turning to see her reaction to the question.
"That is why we are here." Viper confirmed. Kilmonger turned back to Taskmaster before speaking. "Kill the Princess. Bring me the General. She will be of great use to us in the battles that lie ahead." Taskmaster nods as he accepts his mission while fastening a pair of devices to each wrist. He turned around just as the young man created a portal with his destination on the other side. Taskmaster walked through the portal as Mordo, Kilmonger, and Viper began to head down the steps they had discovered, and he exited directly outside of the door to S'Yan's condo.
Inside the condo Okoye searched through the dresser drawers before flipping the mattress over for some hint as to what happened to her father. Shuri accessed the video footage recorded by the kimoyo network in the living room, finding nothing noteworthy much to her frustration.
"DNA ANALYSIS COMPLETE. Welcome King T'Challa." The kimoyo network chimed as Shuri turned around, surprised and relieved to see her brother. The smile on her face faded quickly as she immediately realized the danger they were in when Taskmaster walked slowly into the room.
Shuri didn't waste any time defending herself as the kimoyo band on her arm began to glow blue and her small hand cannon formed around her arm. She fired at the assassin without a second's hesitation, but much to her surprise he ducked around each laser blasts with arachnid like agility. Taskmaster closed the gap between himself and the Princess, tossing his billy club which ricocheted off the window, piano, and finally a picture of S'Yan and King T'Chaka before smacking Shuri in the side of the head, causing her to stumble and blast the chandelier above, which subsequently came crashing down and pinned her underneath it in the process.
Okoye released a cry of fury as she tackled Taskmaster, driving him through the glass kitchen table and pinning him down with a knee to the side of the face. Her vibranium staff extended, its point inches from his neck. "Who has sent you after us? Where is S'Yan?" She demanded.
Taskmaster swiveled his hips and caught Okoye in the back of the head with a kick before rolling away and getting back to his feet. Okoye tossed the spear at her opponent with deft accuracy, but the device on Taskmaster's wrist generated an energy shield just in time to deflect the weapon, sending it back to Okoye who caught it before pulling Shuri from under the chandelier. Taskmaster merely got into a stance they both recognized as one used by T'Challa before beckoning them to attack with a mocking wave.
Shuri came forward first, firing blast after blasts that the assassin easily ducked around as he met her. She threw a pair of kicks that he blocked with the energy shield before ducking around the Princess and pulling his katana just in time to block a blow from Okoye's spear. He caught Shuri with a back elbow before nailing Okoye with a rising knee lift that sent her crashing into the kitchen counter.
Okoye stepped aside quickly to avoid a slash from the katana before catching him with a kick to the chin. Shuri attempted to follow up on the blow, leaping over the kitchen island and nailing the assassin in the chest with a dropkick. Taskmaster recovered and ducked around each blow thrown at him by General Okoye before grabbing her by both wrists and driving a knee into her ribs, knocking the air out of her and delivering a spin kick that caught her in the throat. Taskmaster turned his attention back to the Princess and is sent flying into the piano with a crash when he is caught in the chest with a blast from her cannon.
Shuri rushed across the room towards him, grabbing Okoye's spear in the process and drove it towards the assassin's head. Taskmaster raised his energy shield just in time to protect himself before smacking Shuri in the chest with a vicious front kick that sent her flying backwards. As the Princess struggled to her feet Taskmaster wasted no time disposing of her, tossing the energy shield at her. The shield and the Princess went through the window of the condo and began to fall seventy stories below, the shield disappearing as it got farther from Taskmaster.
"SHURI!" Okoye bellowed as she got to her feet and rushed towards the shattered window where the Princess fell. Before she could dive after her cousin however, she is snatched into a rear-naked chokehold by Taskmaster, who put a fist to her temple before hitting her with his modified spider-bite mechanism based off Black Widow's SHILED design.
Once the General was unconscious, Taskmaster tossed her limp body over his shoulder as a portal materialized behind him and they exited the condo.
Across the street on a nearby rooftop, one of the Princesses drones lowered her by the wrist to safety before she ordered it to depart with a command on her kimoyo card. Moments later an explosion rocked the condo building, emanating from the very floor she had just fallen from. Shuri watched in wide-eyed horror as she realized she had lost another piece of her family.