Black Panther and Storm in The Eye of Abyssinia
Previously in The Black Panther and Storm:
For over ten thousand years, warrior kings called Black Panthers ruled and protected the isolated and unconquerable African nation Wakanda. In their isolation Wakanda became the most scientifically advanced nation on Earth. T’Challa was the latest Black Panther, and he believed that his great nation was obligated to use its resources to help the less fortunate; defenseless peoples of the world against tyranny, corruption, and megalomaniac super humans.
Black Panther later married Ororo ‘Storm’ Munroe the extraordinary mutant heroine.
Story: The Eye of Abyssinia
“Before Memnon the Abyssinian king was slain by Achilles on the shores of Troy, he and I fought in a battle to save the world.” An excerpt from the Book of Kings and Queens written by King Malgenda.
Chapter One
How things have changed over the years. T’Challa remembered as a youth that he played freely in the White Gorilla clan sector, but at present he was hated by that group.
The White Gorilla clan sector was located behind Serpent Valley. The sector was so named after the apes that were mutated like most of the fauna in Wakanda when the vibranium meteor crashed into the land.
The Crystal Forest was the salient aspect of the White Gorilla sector. It was a tropical rain forest that was completely crystallized. Science explained the phenomenon. The skins of the flora were genetically altered by the meteor’s radiation and the mutation was transferred throughout the generations. The flora still lived off the photosynthesis process and they were pollinated by animals and insects.
The view of the Crystal Forest from above was spectacular; a flowing flickering of white light bouncing off the surface like the rays of sunlight on a pond.
Adjacent to the Crystal Forest was a regular jungle that had a mystique all of its own; an ever winding tapestry of vegetation and the sometimes home of the giant White Gorillas when they migrated from the Crystal Forest when the seasons changed.
The White Gorilla clan settlements were on the savannah behind the jungle. The settlements mostly consisted of compounds that housed the various families. Cars were non existent. Subsistence agriculture was the norm.
T’Challa strolled through the area on his way to Kana’s house that was on the south side. Children clearly indoctrinated with the idea that the Black Panther clan were devils looked suspiciously at their leader as he passed them.
The older folks were more respectful as they greeted him, but there was the hint of silent protest in their body language.
What had gone wrong with between clans that were historically good allies? It was simply T’Challa’s fault. The White Gorilla clan didn’t want Wakanda opened to foreign influence and their leadership made it explicitly clear to T’Challa, and he in turn banished them. Eventually, T’Challa and the clan’s new leaders went to war until a truce was found. It was a very bitter truce.
Looking back, T’Challa could say that he made a mistake, but that made no difference now.
Kana had been kicked out of his father’s compound over some dispute and he lived on a piece of land that one of his uncles owned. When T’Challa approached the small conical dwelling, Kana was waiting at the door.
Kana was unlike most other men from his clan who were naturally burly and could carry a fully grown bull on their broad shoulders. No doubt Kana had the same strength, but he lacked the giant size of his compatriots. He was fairly six feet tall and brawny. His hair was neatly trimmed and his face was smooth. He was in his early twenties like Shuri.
“Good evening,” said Kana.
“Good evening,” said T’Challa. “Can I come in?”
“Yes, sir,” said Kana.
“You can drop the sir,” said T’Challa, and he stepped into the house.
The place was not very roomy. On one side was an area that acted as both the living room and bedroom. Then there was the kitchen and bathroom.
“Do you have the Eye of Abyssinia piece?” asked T’Challa as he looked around the house.
“Yes,” replied Kana.
The piece had been given to Kana based on his family’s inheritance laws.
“Good. You’ll be accompanying Ororo, Shuri and me on this mission,” said T’Challa.
“Did Shuri tell you about me?” asked Kana meekly.
“Tell me what exactly?”
“I falsified my records to get onto her elite team. I thought that this mission was to repay that crime.”
“No she did not tell me,” said T’Challa as he focused on Kana.
T’Challa sensed no protest or insolence in the man. It was as though things were normal between the clans.
“We need to go now,” said T’Challa.
“My gear is already packed,” said Kana, and he pointed to the bags near the kitchen doorway.
“Then let’s get going,” said T’Challa.
“If I may ask?”
“What is it?”
“Why didn’t you just drive or fly up here?” asked Kana.
“I haven’t been in these parts for a while and I needed to see how the place has changed,” replied T’Challa.
“If you weren’t the leader of the nation they would probably dismember you,” said Kana.
“I know,” said T’Challa. “And I probably would deserve it.”
“So you admit that it was your fault,” said Kana.
“Yes. I had to keep stability in the country and I made a decision,” said T’Challa. “But things escalated and this is the outcome.”
T’Challa continued, “Why aren’t you like the others?”
“What makes you think that I don’t harbor ill will to you?”
“Your demeanor,” replied T’Challa.
“As a kid they told me that you said that we were the recalcitrant minority”
“I did.”
“Another thing was that the Black Panther kings were able to use the heart shaped herb to enhance their abilities which helped them win the kingship battle tournaments, yet others were banned from eating the heart of the White Gorilla to give them the same powers as the Black Panther kings. Therefore all the contests were in favor of the Black Panther clan,” said Kana.
“That’s not true. My ancestors never took the herb when those contests were fought,” said T’Challa.
“Well that is not what the kids are being told,” said Kana.
“That will need to be fixed,” said T’Challa.
The Black Panther removed the time space sword from the satchel that he carried.
“Get your bags,” said T’Challa.
Then he and Kana were teleported to N’Dare harbor.
Chapter Two
Ororo went over the story of the Eye of Abyssinia from the Book of Kings and Queens.
“Having received word from our spies in Egypt that the pharaoh Apocalypse intended to steal the Eye of Abyssinia, I assembled a team of warriors to accompany me to Ethiopia to stop the plot. I appointed Lolb of the White Gorilla clan as my second in command for the expedition.”
Ororo’s attention was interrupted by the security warning that flashed on the dashboard before her. A computer screen showed Shuri as she boarded the ship.
Ororo switched the digital book off of her kimoyo and got up to meet her sister in law. She couldn’t help but think of Ethiopia or as it was called Abyssinia. The nation was far reputable than Wakanda in the ancient world. Ethiopia played significant parts in the history recorded in the Bible and the Quran. Moses’ tomb was believed to be there, and a replica of Jerusalem was built out of the mountains in one of its valleys during the 12th century.
Shuri came on the deck and Ororo hugged her.
“You didn’t tell T’Challa about Kana?” asked Shuri.
“No,” replied Ororo.
“Thank you. I don’t think that I want to go through with it anyway.”
“Why not?”
“I saved the entire world once, on my own. I like Kana’s confidence, but I don’t believe that he is in my league,” replied Shuri.
“So him working with us will not be a problem?” asked Ororo.
“No it won’t.”
“On another note I’ve been going over the Eye of Abyssinia story,” said Ororo.
“I believe that my mother used that as a bedtime story once,” said Shuri. “I haven’t heard it since then. Who is after the weapon?”
“Renegade Atlanteans. They have a head start on us,” replied Ororo.
The onboard computer stated that a teleportation had occurred on the lower deck. Ororo knew that it was T’Challa since she sensed the ‘flavor’ of the energy used in the teleportation.
“Well let’s see who this guy is,” said Ororo.
T’Challa and Kana came quickly up the stairs. The first thing that caught Ororo about Kana was the confidence in his stride that Shuri spoke about. He looked like a leader.
Ororo glanced at Shuri and her sister in law had a calm expression. General civility followed and the expedition got underway.
The craft was submerged and into the Indian Ocean within a few minutes. Ororo showed the team their destination on a holographic map.
“The Eye is on the Mid Indian Basin, 12000 feet down,” said Ororo. “The Atlanteans number ten. In my estimation the curse on the Eye will incapacitate most of the Atlanteans leaving us with the task of taking care of the rest. T’Challa and Kana will retrieve the Eye while Shuri and I will deal with the surviving Atlanteans.”
“One question,” said Kana. “What is the chain of command in our team?”
“It’s simple. There is no chain of command with Ororo, T’Challa and me,” said Shuri.
“So I’ll be following either one of you,” said Kana.
“Correct,” said Shuri.
“Kana are you aware of the full story behind the Eye?” asked Ororo.
“Only the role that my ancestor played,” replied Kana.
“We can give you the full details if you want them,” said Ororo.
“I’ll appreciate that,” said Kana.
Chapter Three
Kana and Shuri checked the scuba gear and weapons while T’Challa and Ororo stayed in the helm.
“Did you get my message?” asked Kana.
Shuri paused a little and replied, “Yes.”
“T’Challa stated that you didn’t tell him about my case,” said Kana.
“You are under my jurisdiction so I didn’t have to inform him on such a minor matter,” said Shuri.
“Back to the message that I sent, do you want to talk?”
“Not now, we are working,” said Shuri.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to do it right now, maybe later,” said Kana.
“Why are you doing this?” asked Shuri.
“What?”
“Pursuing me,” said Shuri. “You are not my type, so let it go.”
Kana didn’t respond and then he continued his work.
Meanwhile, in the helm, T’Challa discussed his trip to the White Gorilla Clan sector with Ororo.
“There was no incident which was a good thing,” said T’Challa.
“Still what?”
“Still I want them back on the council,” said T’Challa. “I hoped that Kana had good standing in the community so that we could have used the history of the clans as a means of repairing the damage that was done. As it turns out, Kana’s repute is very low in the clan.”
“What did he do?”
“It was a personal matter so it isn’t on the file,” said T’Challa. “And he doctored some of the information to get onto the commando unit so I can’t really trust everything that is written about him.”
“How did he do that?”
“Shuri knows. She didn’t tell us,” replied T’Challa.
“Well I hope that she has done something to prevent such a transgression from ever occurring again.”
“I don’t know if he was punished or not,” said T’Challa.
“I see,” said Ororo.
“I think that she likes him,” said T’Challa.
“How did you reach to that conclusion?”
“I know my sister,” replied T’Challa.
“What is your impression of him?”
“Smart, outspoken and shady,” replied T’Challa. “Do you have any?”
“A commanding presence.”
“That too,” said T’Challa in hindsight. “He also has the skill of throwing any projectile object with one hundred per cent accuracy and with lethal force.”
“That’s interesting. Is he a mutant?”
“No.”
“Speaking of mutants, I will have to look into the history of mutant activity in Wakanda,” said Ororo.
“Any particular reason?”
“The records aren’t centralized. I want that corrected.”
“Oddly quite a bit of mutants in the past came from the White Gorilla clan,” said T’Challa.
“On another note do you want to spend some time just by ourselves before I go back to the X Men?”
“Sure. Where do you have in mind?”
“Nothing definite as yet, we just need to make some room for it. My only disappointment is that I won’t be able to finish the story in the Book of Kings and Queens. I rushed to end that’s how I knew about the curse.”
“Let me finish it for you,” said T’Challa and told what he remembered from the story.
Chapter Four
The use of roving spies by Wakanda was started by Malgenda’s mother the former queen. When the Malgenda learnt of Apocalypse’s plan, he went to Abyssinia and contacted the spies that operated in the kingdom.
Then Malgenda officially met Memnon the king of Abyssinia. They had a long and at times heated discussion over the Eye. Memnon was suspicious of Malgenda.
“How would I know that it is not really you who wants the Eye and this threat from the pharaoh is only a ruse to reveal the Eye to you?” asked Memnon.
“We are both warriors and honorable men,” replied Malgenda. “You cannot know for sure that I speak the truth unless you see me for what I am.”
“You are from a distant kingdom that I have never heard of,” said Memnon. “And travel with strange weapons. You may very well be an imposter or sorcerer. Put yourself in my position. Would you trust such a person?”
“No.”
“Exactly,” said Memnon. “I will put you and your followers under watch as long as you remain in my kingdom. But you will not roam freely. You shall be housed and shall stay there until you are ready to leave.”
“Thank you,” said Malgenda.
Later in the noble house that Memnon had given, the Wakandan king and his warriors prepared for the night. The rest of the citizens in the capital called Aksum were probably asleep on the warm night. The capital itself was a major trading base that had ties to Rome, China and India.
Giant obelisks were prevalent in the city and acted as markers for underground burial chambers.
Malgenda had heavy thoughts on his mind. He had to convince the king that the plot was real and then he had to return quickly to Wakanda since the country had never gone without a ruler for such a long period.
He contemplated for an hour and then came to a decision. Then he went to his warriors whom numbered twelve.
“We will take the Eye tonight,” said Malgenda.
No one objected to the king’s plan and so they planned their escape from the Abyssinian guards.
The two storey house was monitored on all sides by watchers and two guards were posted at each of the three entrances and exits. A high perimeter wall bordered the house.
Malgenda overcome the difficulties through his abilities. All the lights in the house were doused and the windows closed. Then the window on the south was opened and Malgenda leapt out like the wind. He reached the wall in a single bound and then was onto the nearby house where a watcher was stationed. Malgenda located the watcher by scent and subdued him quickly and silently.
Malgenda bounded the watcher and took his garments. Malgenda disguised himself in the clothes. Then he went around the other houses and took out the watchers. The guards on the east exit were next.
He opened the doors for his warriors and they came out silently. Then they ran towards the Obelisk of Aksum that stood over the hiding place of the Eye.
The Wakandan spies had indicated that the entrance to the underground tunnel was through the fifth house away from the obelisk. However, the spies had found an alternative route was also in the vicinity.
The new route started underneath the garden of a noble’s house. Malgenda and his warriors got to the place and subdued the guards that were there. Four of the warriors disguised themselves as guards and remained in the garden while the others entered the tunnel through a hole that was camouflaged with potted plants and a metal cover.
The sound of battle came to Malgenda’s ears after a few minutes inside the tunnel. He urged his warriors forward soon after they came upon Memnon in a battle with six robed creatures.
“What is going on?” asked Malgenda’s second in command. “I cannot see a thing even though I hear the noises.”
“Memnon is being attacked,” replied Malgenda who saw everything due to his abilities.
The sound of his voice stalled the fight between Memnon and the creatures. The creatures realized that they were out numbered and fled.
“They have the Eye,” said Memnon.
Malgenda joined him in pursuit of the thieves.
“How did you get here?” asked Memnon.
“I knew of the Eye’s hiding place,” replied Malgenda.
“Then why didn’t you take it instead of coming to me?”
“Because you are the king and I must show respect to you.”
“You must understand my position,” said Memnon.
“I did,” said Malgenda. “What does the Eye look like exactly? I only know of its existence.”
“I don’t trust you fully,” said Memnon.
The creatures vaunted through the door that led to the house. Malgenda noted that his men were not able to keep up with his and Memnon’s pace.
The two kings erupted out of the house and saw that the creatures had taken flight into the sky. Memnon made an astonishing leap about the height a house and caught one of the creatures.
Malgenda made a similar leap and grappled another fiend. The creature’s body felt reptilian underneath the brown robes. It hissed and spat at him.
Then Malgenda drew his chakram and threw it at the four other creatures. The sharp hooped weapon sliced through the creatures.
The creature that Malgenda held onto scratched him across the face. Malgenda turned the creature into the path of the returning chakram and the weapon buried itself into the creature’s head.
Malgenda positioned the creature so that it would take the brunt of the fall. The duo crashed through the roof of a house and caused a great commotion for the family that resided there.
Malgenda grabbed the creature and darted out of a window. While falling, he saw his warriors emerge from the first house. He landed and went to them.
“Did you see anything else in the chamber?” asked Malgenda.
“Nothing,” replied Lolb, the second in command. “What manner of beast do you carry my king?”
Malgenda took the hood from the creature’s head. The beast was wrinkled like an aged man. Ghastly canine teeth protruded out of his mouth.
Then Malgenda sniffed the air for Memnon’s scent. His search was interrupted when the homeowners came onto the street and looked out the windows to find out what the noise was about.
“Go back inside,” shouted Memnon as he came out of an alley with the corpse of a creature on his shoulder. “So says your king.”
Immediately people retreated into their homes and heads went back from the windows.
Memnon held a sword that dripped with red blood. He walked swiftly up to Malgenda.
“You have great skill,” said Memnon.
“Likewise you,” said Malgenda.
An hour later, the two kings met once more in private council in the palace.
“Do you know the full history of the Eye?” asked Memnon.
“No,” replied Malgenda.
“Many years ago, the Eye was created as a gift for the Lemurian Empire. But Lemuria was destroyed so the Eye remained here. But it is not the first time that someone has tried to steal the Eye. They didn’t get this far though,” said Memnon.
“Then you need to hide it somewhere else or destroy it,” said Malgenda.
“The Eye cannot be destroyed,” said Memnon. “Finding a new hiding place has been on my mind for quite some time. As long as it exists people will try to get their hands on it.
“Tell me something, did you come by the Andigan Pass on your way to the capital?” asked Memnon.
“Yes.”
“It is a beautiful plateau isn’t it. What if I told you that a mighty mountain once stood there? A mountain so tall that snow wrapped around its peak. The Eye was tested on that mountain and the outcome became legend,” said Memnon.
Malgenda was left speechless.
“I am going to die,” said Memnon. “I know the date, the hour and by whose hand. I cannot protect the Eye anymore and I have lost confidence in my compatriots to guard it when I’m gone.”
“What do you have in mind?” asked Malgenda.
“I think you have shown honesty and honor enough to be entrusted with the disposal of the Eye,” replied Memnon.
“But you said that the Eye cannot be destroyed.”
“It cannot but it can be placed where no man may ever dare find it and if so, only your bloodline and another’s could open it.”
“You will not regret this trust,” said Malgenda.
“Of course I won’t,” said Memnon with a grin. “We will drop the Eye with weights into the ocean near India and the bowels of the Earth will hide it. You and your chosen person will undergo a ritual that will bond you to the Eye. Only you and the chosen’s descendants would be able to move the Eye. But it must be done in unison. My council came up the idea during our deliberations.”
“How soon are we to do this?”
“Immediately,” replied Memnon. “And this is what the Eye looks like.”
Memnon placed a small gold cube on the table. It looked innocuous. Then the cube unfolded and melted. A cylinder the size of a small vase was constructed from the flowing gold metal. A small green crystal glowed on the top of the cylinder.
“Imagine that something so small can create so much horror,” said Memnon.
“Indeed,” said Malgenda.
Chapter Five
“So that was how Kana’s ancestor got involved,” said Ororo.
“Yes. Malgenda chose his second in command,” said T’Challa.
The ship’s computer gave off two warnings; one for the arrival at the Eye’s location and the other for a vessel in the vicinity.
Ororo called Shuri and Kana to the helm. Then Ororo got the specs of the vessel on the screen. It was an Atlantean ship.
“It is not a royal cruiser,” said Ororo. “Probably only carrying light weaponry. We’ll tell them to stand down. If not then we’ll chase them with fire from our side.”
“Sounds good,” said T’Challa. “I’ll get ready with Kana.”
Then he went out of the helm. Ororo heard as he met Kana and told him to turn back around. After that, Shuri came on the helm.
“I’m preparing the weapons system. You can hail the Atlantean ship in the meantime,” said Ororo.
Shuri got on the communicator. She identified herself and asked the same from the Atlanteans.
“Have you come for the Eye of Abyssinia?” asked a coarse and angry voice.
“What do you know of the Eye of Abyssinia?” asked Shuri.
“That it killed my brothers,” replied the voice.
“Well what can I say,” said Shuri.
“I want their bodies,” said the voice.
Ororo shined the ship’s spot lights on the ocean floor and it showed the large decorated box that contained the Eye. Seven bodies were around the box and they were stuck to the floor.
“We’ll give you the bodies,” said Ororo.
T’Challa and Kana came into the picture as they went to the box. They were in high pressure dive suits. They held up their respective keys for the box’s scanners. A green light shot out of the box and scanned the keys. Then T’Challa and Kana went closer.
The pair inserted their keys into the box at the same time and turned the locks; thereby deactivating the security system. Then T’Challa and Kana lifted the box that was the size of a man and carried it back to the ship.
“You can get your dead now,” said Shuri. “But you will be destroyed if you pursue us.”
“Thank you,” said the voice in sincere manner.
Ororo sent the ship on a return course to Wakanda. Then she and Shuri went to the loading bay.
T’Challa and Kana had opened the box by pushing back its two sides. The Eye of Abyssinia was in the center.
“Are we returning it to Ethiopia?” asked Kana.
“No. We’ll keep it,” replied T’Challa.
“So there isn’t anyone in Ethiopia who can handle this responsibility?” asked Kana. “Have we checked?”
“He said that we will keep it. Don’t push it,” said Shuri.
“Actually he is right,” said Ororo. “We should inquire.”
Chapter Six
The Eye of Abyssinia was taken to the Vault in the Kanga Mountains for the time being. T’Challa returned Kana home and then he went to Shuri’s house.
Shuri took the opportunity to voice her concern over Kana’s behavior.
“I think it was a bad precedent that he was allowed to speak like that,” said Shuri.
“He gave his opinion and we will look into it,” replied T’Challa.
“Still,” said Shuri.
“What happened between the two of you?”
“What do you mean?”
“There is something going on. Did you discipline him for doctoring the files?”
“I gave him an earful and I have not decided on a suitable punishment as yet.”
“Well don’t.”
“Why not?”
“Because I want to work with him some more,” replied T’Challa.
“What for?”
“I have my reasons,” said T’Challa and then he left.
Next Story: The Mists of Kun Lun
