[center][h2][b][color=9e0b0f]B L A C K  ⧗  W I D O W [/color][/b][/h2]
in collaboration with [@Mao Mao][/center]

Agent Briana Ayers stood near a black minivan, designated for diplomatic missions, with notepads for the security team. She was assigned to debrief them about the strange invitations that ended up at embassy offices across Africa. One of the diplomats, an American, that received the invitation was waiting in the van. In fact, the diplomats invited to Wakanda represented five of the ten major countries in the United Nations. No one else was allowed besides security, but they were required to be searched before entering both the plane and palace grounds.

Briana saw both Black Widow and U.S. Agent exiting out of the SHIELD headquarters. She approached them and introduced herself, "You must be the security team. Were you briefed on the assignment?"

Natasha Romanov, the Black Widow, came to a stop and nodded. [color=9e0b0f]"Yes. But there can never be too much repetition."[/color] She said politely. As someone who had dealt with self-destructing messages her entire life, being told her orders more than once was a luxury. Natasha held her hands behind her back, while US Agent crossed his arms. 

Ambassador Aiden Fitzgerald was still trying to make sense of his story. It was hard to believe, after all. Even SHIELD didn't believe him until other diplomats confirmed the invitation. He was caught off guard when the van door opened, but relaxed when it was just Agent Ayers. She made her way to the passenger seat while the security team entered the van. Then, he saw Black Widow. It was surprising to see an Avenger so close, but it was so relieving that he was essentially protected for any possible threat to his life.

"Black Widow?! I-I can't believe you're here!" Aiden extended his hand out to her. "My wife is going to freak out when I tell her about this!"

Natasha smiled politely back, accepting the Ambassador’s handshake. [color=9e0b0f]"I’m looking forward to working with you, Mr. Fitzgerald, sir."[/color] She said. It was a feeling she still had to get used too, people reacting to her like this. Even if it was based on ignorance, since she doubted most people would trust her if they knew of her past.

US Agent shuffled in as well. Natasha looked at Walker and raised her eyebrows, and he rolled his eyes. [color=9e0b0f]"We’ll be here to make sure everything goes smoothly.”[/color] She explained, turning back to the Ambassador. Also, it was a bit of a PR move, but she wasn’t complaining. An easy but not boring assignment was just what she needed. 

“Good.”

The minivan began driving off and heading towards the airport that the invitation said to go to. Agent Briana turned around and handed them the notepads. It contained statements for witnesses that received the invitations before they dissolved. Along with footage showing the individuals that delivered them to the embassy offices. “These notepads contain more information regarding the invitations along with the diplomats targeted. All of them are part of countries in the UN Security Council. We’re still figuring out why them, but we have a few theories. Ambassador, share your story with them.”

Aiden took a deep breath and started to tell his story. “Yesterday, I was returning to the office for trade talks with Madagascar. I was notified that a letter of credence was waiting in my office. It was a surprise for me, but I thought it was nothing too serious. When I opened the envelope, I immediately saw it. It wasn’t like invitations that I received before. It was animating the message and info. But before I could’ve shown it to someone, it dissolved in my hand! I thought it was an acid attack, but it didn’t melt my hand off.”

“Our technicians think that it was some sort of pre-programmed molecular disassembly.” Briana added.

“At first, I thought that I had gone mad and made the whole thing up. But thankfully, other diplomats reported the same thing and I felt relieved. Now, I’m here on a special mission to establish relations with Wakanda.” Aiden finished his story and quickly added in his thoughts. “You know, when I saw the words ‘King of Wakanda’ on the invitation, I honestly thought it wasn’t real.”

Black Widow scanned through the documents while listening to the story, nodding along. [color=9e0b0f]"That sounds like a very high tech piece of paper. It seems to me like the Wakandans have a flair for the dramatic. I wouldn’t be surprised if that was only the first step of an impressive set of escalations."[/color] Natasha said, looking up at Aiden, Briana, and then US Agent. If her geo-political instincts were right, then it looked like the third and funnest option was becoming more and more likely. What was Wakanda up too, all by herself with no one watching her too closely? Black Widow liked to think she was above base thrill-seeking as a part of her work, but even she had to admit she was getting excited. She glanced over to Walker, who only seemed to be annoyed.

“Why’d they have to be all mysterious? Couldn’t they just come out and say what they want?” He asked. 

“You have to consider the fact that their isolationist policy has been enacted since their independence. They denied foreign aid and refused to join both the United Nations and the African Union. Now, this could be our chance to convince Wakanda’s new king to reconsider his country’s policy.” Aiden answered.

“Or maybe he’s reaching out to us.” Briana interrupted him as she was staring at the airfield. There was a futuristic private jet with the color schemes of Wakanda’s flag painted on. As the minivan approached the jet, there were other diplomats boarding the jet and being searched by the rather out-of-place security. But nothing unusual stood out. When the minivan stopped nearby, the SHIELD agent turned to the passengers.

“Be extra careful. Make sure that you contact us once you land on the other side.”

	Natasha nodded to the SHIELD agent, and then to Walker. Switching into a fully professional persona, she stepped out of the van first, then followed US Agent. Afterwards she went to the Ambassador’s side of the van and opened the door for him, keeping an eye on the airplane and the surrounding area for any potential threats. Her situational awareness was instinctual, she could maintain high levels alert without ever being mentally exhausted. A skill many people underestimate in its importance. [color=9e0b0f]”Right this way, sir.”[/color] She said, coolly but with a reassuring authority. Inwardly she wondered if she could relax a little bit, but she didn’t want to let an ego get in the way of her job. Just because she was an Avenger didn’t mean she shouldn’t pay mind to the basics of security. She wanted to do SHIELD proud.

	The troop approached the airplane and Natasha looked to the nearest member of Wakandan security. [color=9e0b0f]”I’m Natasha Romanov, the security leader for Ambassador Aiden Fitzgerald. This is my associate, John Walker. We’re here by the request of the King of Wakanda.”[/color] She stood with her arms folded in front of her. A polite, respectful, but practical pose to ensure she could switch into a combat stance or draw her pistol in a fraction of a second. Right now though, she would let the Wakandans take the lead. This was, after all, their show. They had brought the impressive jet and sent the mysterious letters.

Security Chief Aviwe scanned the security team and then whispered to one of the guards to watch them. She made sure that they were unable to listen in and called General Okoye. But to make sure that outsiders were unable to listen in, she began talking in Wakandan.
 
Meanwhile, Aiden and his security waited in awkward silence for the chief to return. He noticed how their uniform incorporated both traditional and modern wear without appearing too foreign. To him, it was unusual in a good way. Aviwe returned and turned to the guards, “The security team has been approved. Scan them.”

Immediately, two guards pulled apart their spears and advanced towards them. Then, they used the tip as a handheld metal detector. Aiden was the first to be scanned and he was good to go. But, it began to beep repeatedly when it scanned both Natasha and John, but Aviwe avoided it and stared at the outsiders. “You can keep your weapons, but you will surrender them once we land. If you understand, follow me to your seats.” 

[color=9e0b0f]”Of course.”[/color] Natasha said, impressed by the operation. Those spears had some fancy tech. Metal detectors. They must have dozens of different models for different uses. No doubt they were more than just ceremonial. It had been a long time since she had not been able to understand a language. She understood most of the major ones. One thing about Africa though was the sheer volume of unique languages. No one could possibly understand them all unless they had some sort of power related to it. And unfortunately, the UN had no translators trained in the Wakandan language.

She was surprised they were letting her keep her weapons on the plane. That was a good sign. Still, she had to be wary. Fortunately they couldn’t confiscate her lethal hand-to-hand combat skills. Well, they could but...not without a diplomatic incident. Natasha smirked briefly to herself, enjoying her own humor. 

John Walker nodded seriously and followed Natasha onto the plane. Natasha glanced around, exploring the environment with her eyes. 

The first thing that they noticed was how massive it was inside for being a private jet. There were enough for the diplomats and their security escort. And each one of them was waiting in their seats for takeoff. When Aiden and his security team sat down at their seats, the guards entered and took their positions throughout the jet. Then, a voice began to speak on its PA system. It asked for the passengers to prepare for takeoff. And within moments, the jet took off and began heading for its destination. 

Natasha sat down across the from Aiden, her presence reassuring. With a sigh she settled in, adjusting her weapons so she could be comfortable. She saw Walker sit down a few seats ahead, the back of his helmeted head looking out of place in the luxurious atmosphere. She did as well, with her black and red tactical suit. But her red hair was well-kempt and formally tied up into a bun. She looked over out the window as the Switzerland headquarters fell farther and farther away, as they zoomed over the Mediterranean Sea and into Africa itself, the continent from which all human life first emerged. Natasha wondered what the Wakandans had in store for everyone. She looked forward to finding out.