T'Challa hated politics. Unfortunately, he was the Prince of Wakanda, heir apparent to his father's throne and the current bearer of the Panther Habit and the title Black Panther. King T'Chaka, his father, had stepped down from the position of their country's protector two years ago now, leaving it up to T'Challa to handle from that point on.
As both the Prince of Wakanda and the Black Panther, T' Challa didn't have much choice… when he was asked to attend a council meeting with his father, mother, and the tribal leaders of Wakanda, he truly had no choice but to show up. To do otherwise would be an insult to his father, who never asked T'Challa to come to one of these meetings if it wasn't important.
That still didn't leave the Prince in a very good mood as he makes his way towards the throne room. He can't help but wonder what this is all about… especially when he runs into a familiar face on his way in. "Nakia? What are you doing here? Do you know what this meeting is about?"
Nakia doesn't look surprised to see him, but she does look a little distressed. Finally, the beautiful War Dog simply nods her head as she bites her lower lip.
"Yes. But I don't know how much I'm allowed to say. I… it' s about Klaue."
T'Challa's eyes widen at that. Ulysses Klaue! Suddenly, the Prince is very interested in what's going on here. Klaue was an arms dealer who had been a thorn in Wakanda's side since T'Challa's childhood. The man was Wakanda's greatest criminal, a thief who had managed to steal a quarter-ton of their Vibranium through underhanded means.
And he wasn't just their greatest criminal, he was the greatest threat to their safety and security. Only Klaue's own ego and antisocial nature kept him from spilling the truth of Wakanda to people around the world. If everyone knew about the massive mountain of Vibranium that lay under their country as Klaue did, Wakanda would find itself at war with the entire world, of that T'Challa had little doubt.
Before he can inquire with Nakia further however, the doors to the throne room open up and they're admitted inside. T' Challa frowns when he sees the solemn, withdrawn expressions on not just all of the faces of the Tribe Heads, but also his father and mother's faces as well. They all look… tense to say the least.
T'Challa's eyes, however, are drawn to the center of the room… where a white man kneels on the floor, a bag over his head and his pale arms restrained behind his back. Could it be? But… there was no way, right? If that was who T'Challa thought it was, then surely the mood in the room would be far happier and much more festive… right? Moving to his father's side was is proper, T'Challa watches as Nakia hesitates in the wings, waiting to be addressed and called forth. Instead of doing so however, King T ' Chaka gestures to Okoye, who stands at the ready.
"Remove the bag."
The King of Wakanda's order is followed without question, revealing that T'Challa's suspicions were in fact correct. Even still, the Prince can't help the widening of his eyes as he stares into the ugly, crazed eyes of one Ulysses Klaue. The man has indeed been captured and restrained and brought before them on his knees. The brand on his neck marking him as a thief is as good identification as anything else.
Immediately, Klaue's eyes lock onto T'Challa and the Panther Habit, which T'Challa is currently wearing. He half-sneers, half-grins before cackling madly.
"Ehehehe… think I'm scared just because you've got your precious Panther here now? Think he's going to intimidate me into talking?"
"Gag him."
Klaue barely has time for his eyes to widen before Okoye and two more of the Dora Milaje move forward to carry out the King's order. T'Challa glances down at his father, curious beyond belief now. Finally, once Klaue has been silenced, T' Chaka looks up at his son.
"My son. We have found ourselves in quite the quandary. As you can see, Ulysses Klaue is before us at long last. But it was not us who captured him. He was gifted to us… along with a letter." T'Challa's eyes widen again at that. He'd been starting to wonder. The thought that there'd been an operation involving Nakia and the War Dogs but not him had been enough to have him steadily growing angrier. This however… this changed things. He still didn't quite understand why Nakia had been called back to Wakanda, but the idea that they hadn't been the ones to recover Ulysses…
"The Vibranium."
The words leave T'Challa's lips in a horrified tone, causing Klaue to start radiating smugness while everyone else in the room becomes all that more solemn and serious. T'Chaka nods his head, the King's expression grim and grave as he snaps his fingers.
" Indeed. The Vibranium was not returned with Klaue. Instead… well, read the letter for yourself."
Soon enough, T'Challa has the letter sent with Ulysses Klaue in his hands. The Wakandan Prince stares at the words, finding them all too… lacking.
Do what you will with Klaue. He's the scum of the Earth and nobody will miss him. Well, except for Erik Killmonger. You might want to look into that one before he comes looking for you.
It wasn ' t much. It wasn ' t nearly enough … and the arrogance permeating through the short note has T'Challa's jaw clenches as he looks to his father while handing the letter back to him.
"Who is this… Erik Killmonger, exactly?"
Shaking his head, showing just as much confusion, the King of Wakanda gestures to Nakia."
"War Dog, step forward and speak. What have you been able to uncover about 'Erik Killmonger' so far."
Stepping up to the plate, Nakia offers a bow to the assembled before straightening her spine and giving her report.
"We have managed to trace the name back to one man from America. Erik Stevens, an infamous United States Soldier. Born in Oakland, California, he was said to have been orphaned at a young age. From there, he has dedicated himself to the path of a warrior, as much as an American can. He is a renowned killer, even among-!"
Nakia is cut off as Zuri, T'Challa's chief advisor, suddenly lets out a gasp of remembrance. All eyes turn towards the shaman, who suddenly looks to be in significant emotional distress. T' Chaka furrows his brow and calls out to his old friend.
"Zuri?" " My King … we journeyed to Oakland, California once before if you recall. To deal with… an issue. We may have left something behind, if you recall."
Something incomprehensible passes between the two older men. T'Chaka's eyes suddenly widen and he sits up in his throne in alarm, causing Zuri's eyes to close as he solemnly nods his head. The entire throne room is filled with shifting as people exchange looks and try to figure out if anyone outside of Zuri or the King knows what's going on.
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