[sup][h1][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/CrdmdEe.jpg?1[/img][/center][b][center][color=FFFAFA]B L A C K P A N T H E R[/color] [color=black]B L A C K P A N T H E R[/color][/center] [/b][/h1][/sup] [h3]Six Months Ago Wakanda[/h3] [img]https://i.imgur.com/j1du6Ol.jpg[/img] Shuri stood on the top floor of the palace and looked down below as her country burned. Today marked the third day of violent rioting across the capital city of Birnin Zana. The military, royal constabulary, and even the Dora Milaje were all out in force to put down the riots and bring order back to Wakanda. It wasn’t working. The Kimoyo Beads on her wrist showed a real-time map of the chaos going on across the city and the rest of the country. So far there were plenty of injuries and hospitalizations on both sides. She was just thankful there were no deaths yet, but it was only a matter of time before that line was crossed. If that happened then the flames of unrest would be fanned into an open inferno of revolution. “We have come to a decision,” a deep voice said behind her. She didn’t turn to face her brother. She already knew what he would say. He loved Wakanda so much he would anything to keep it safe. Even at his won expense. Deep down she knew exactly what the king and tribal leaders had decided on. Shuri was on the verge of tears and she feared if she turned to look at him the dam would break. “I… am abdicating the throne. You will take over as regent while you and the tribal leaders work with Achebe and his faction to create an actual constitution for the country. This will stop the violence for now. But the future of our country and family is unknown. It will be your place to write it. Not mine.” Shuri felt the tears beginning to roll down her face. His large hands gently touched her shoulders. Together they watched the riots below in silence. “This is like some nightmare,” she finally spoke. “Ever since that awful man Achebe came out of nowhere with his awful allegations against [i]Utata[/i]–” “There is something at work here, sister,” he said. “Something hidden and sinister. At this point is simply an intuition, something I cannot prove yet. Give me time and room to operate.” “Are you leaving Wakanda?” “I must,” he said softly. “Even with the Dora Milaje I am not safe here.” “Where will you go?” The silence told her that he had no intention of even hinting where he would go. It made sense, Shuri reasoned. The walls tended to have ears in the royal palace. The less people who knew his moves the better. “I leave tonight. Take care of mother. I will return one day, sister. And I will reveal the truth and reclaim what is ours. I promise you that.” “Safe travels,” she said. “My king.” [hr] [h3]Red Hook, Brooklyn Now[/h3] “We got a major motherfucking problem.” Sampson Mitchell didn’t look up from the bowl of Fruity Pebbles he was making. As West Brooklyn’s foremost drug trafficker he was used to major motherfucking problems. Every day there was a new crisis or calamity that was the end of the world to these young boys. Sampson was pushing forty which was damn near ancient in the drug game. You didn't get there by being stupid and irrational. He’d seen it all and done it all. Nothing at this point could phase him. “What’s the problem?” Sampson said after adding milk to his cereal. He looked up from the bowl at his bodyguard Trey with his eyebrows raised. “Well?” “A car load of stick up boys hit the collection car. We capped one of them, but three of them got away.” Sampson did a rough calculation. Even if it had been a slow night that car would be loaded with over forty thousand dollars. “They get away with the money?” he asked after taking his first spoonful of Fruity Pebbles. “Nah… but it got weird.” “What do you mean?” Trey pulled a phone out of his pocket. Sampson did not own or talk on the phone as a matter of routine. Trey took that risk. All calls and texts ran through him. He pulled up a text chain. Sampson saw someone had sent a video. Trey pressed play and put it on the table in front of Sampson. “Oh, fuck,” Sampson said as he watched. “Yeah… we got a big fucking problem.” [hr] [h3]One Hour Earlier[/h3] Charlie Chinwe peaked over the hood of the car for any potential shooters. Instead he saw a blur of motion rush by him towards the wrecked Yukon that held Sampson’s soldiers and a lot of cash. Charlie heard the burst of automatic fire followed by the sound of ripping metal. There was a scream and a loud thump. Another burst of gunfire and broken glass. And… silence. Charlie looked at O and TT who were also hunkered behind the car. Somewhere far off was a police siren. That wasn’t good news at all. They had to get out of there as fast as possible. Charlie heard movement on the other side of the car, followed by an impact on the car’s roof. The three stick-up boys looked up and saw him squatting on top of the car. [img]https://i.imgur.com/1xDIyPp.jpg[/img] “Run,” said the Black Panther. “One of the men took a video of me and sent it to someone before I could incapacitate him. They will be sending reinforcements on top of the police. Run.” The three young men stared up at him, too shocked to speak or even move. “I said, RUN!” He popped the vibranium claws in his gloves as he yelled. That did it. Charlie turned and ran as fast as he could down the street. He didn’t see where O or TT went, but he didn’t give a damn at this moment. He wanted to be as far away from guns, drugs, cops, and the goddamn Black Panther as possible.