T’Challa the Black Panther in A Message to the Regent of Sol
Chapter One
Official word swiftly reached the throne of Wakanda and the War Council of Planet Arrako (formerly Mars) of the grand standoff between Wakanda and the Arraki in the Cardassian region of deep space. The Arrakis had taken it upon themselves to speak for the Wakandans at a meeting with Cardassian traders. The Wakandans had objected but the Arraki insisted that they spoke on behalf of all the inhabitants of the Sol System because they had the might to do so. But the Wakandan’s retorted that their king the Black Panther was mightier and they would not submit to any other authority to represent them. The Cardassians took a neutral stance and would not sign any trade deals with either party until the conflict was resolved.
Days later at the Arraki Council meeting war was declared on Wakanda on the grounds that they had to be made an example of to cement Arrako’s right to lead the Sol System. The Regent of Sol who was also the former wife of T’Challa the Black Panther used her power of veto to quash the judgement but she was overruled by the appearance of the reclusive council member Bragram the High Summoner. Bragram controlled all spiritual, unseen and supernatural aspects of Arrako. He claimed that Wakanda’s spirtual technology weapons were a great threat to Arrako and needed to be destroyed so the council moved forward with war plans for Wakanda.
MEANWHILE IN WAKANDA
T’Challa looked down from his throne at the warriors he had summoned. The insurrectionist Hatura; the seditionits Jabari Queen Divine Justice and her cousin M’Baku; the acolyte the Watcher and finally the victim of society Mute.
“Thank you for coming. I know it must be hard given each of your personal history with me. To be honest I don’t want to work with you but for the sake of Wakanda I have to do so,” said T’Challa.
He clasped his hands and a hologram of Bragram appeared between the throne and the gathering. The mutant wizard was ashen but with dark circular markings on his chests and face. His eyes were made from metal and his hair was lily white.
“This is our target. He is a servant of the Dweller in the Darkness and he has replaced his eyes with the Arrako metal called Mysterium to harness its mystical powers in order to increase his own,” said T’Challa.
“Who is the Dweller in the Darkness?” asked Queen Divine Justice.
“He was involved in the destruction of the last known universe,” replied T’Challa. “The Dweller in the Darkness provides legions of demons to his servants as gifts and hence the reason I called this group and not the regular Wakanda forces. Bragram is pushing a war with Wakanda and when we kill him then our enemy will concede.”
“Are you sure?” asked Hatura. “He could become a matyr.”
“No. Bragram is hated by the populace of Arrako because he was the warden at their re-education schools when the civilization lived in another dimension. Mutants form a unique identity with their powers and Bragram violated the identities of his prisoners when he mixed their blood with demons’. He will not be missed,” replied T’Challa.
“You seem so sure like there is something you are not telling us,” said the Watcher.
“I am giving you all that is necessary to complete the mission. We leave for Mars in an hour,” said T’Challa. “In the meatime mingle with each other as your teamwork will determine the outcome of this mission.”
Chapter Two
T’Challa spied on the group as they got into an agrument over the seditionist movement of the Jabari. Hatura and Watcher objected to the semi autonomous arrangements that T’Challa made with Queen Divine Justice. Meanwhile the telepath Mute remained aloof.
“You are one to talk when you ran a secret society in Wakanda,” said M’Baku and he stood face to face with Hatura.
“Move or be carried off little man,” said Hatura.
“Knock it off,” said Queen Divine Justice and she used her mutant power to create a spike made from ice that emerged from the ground and separated the two men.
Mute grinned and Watcher commented on his sewn up mouth. “Did you do that to yourself?” asked Watcher.
“Yes,” replied Mute telepathicially in the minds of the all the group members.
They looked at the dimunitive mutant uneasily.
“So what do you guys think? Is T’Challa being on the level with us?” asked Queen Divine Justice.
“Absolutely not,” replied Watcher.
“But aleast we are not expendable or a suicide squad because I have a country to get back to ruling after this is done,” said Queen Divine Justice.
“Maybe this mission is his way to get rid of you,” said Mute.
“It is too elaborate a plot even for him,” said Queen Divine Justice.
T’Challa felt sorry for her because of the naivity she displayed. She was a young ruler who was in her twenties and she had not grasped the horrofic pitfalls that lay on her path.
T’Challa returned to the group with bracelets that were needed to operate in the spiritual realm on Mars.
Chapter Three
The Earth bound mutant nation of Krakoa had terraformed Mars as a gift to their cousins the Arraki. The dead planet had turned into a tropical paradise in seven hours and was declared the capital planet of the solar system. There was a metropolitan space port, a diplomatic centre and orbital space station. The valuable mutant metal of Mysterium which rivaled vibranium was loaded on the merchant ships that constantly flew in and out of the planet.
But the spirit world was a stark contrast. The green bodies of monsters, humanoids and other undescribable dead creatures were piled on top each other. They were the legacy of unknown and unseen wars that plagued Mars from its creation. T’Challa led his forces to the prison door of the Vile School where mutants once had their identities stripped from them.
“Why not a sneak attack?” asked Hatura.
“Because as a wizard Bragram should have foreseen our arrival and our intent,” replied T’Challa.
The towering door vanished and the screams of people came out suddenly from the darknesss that was behind the door. Then T’Challa’s hyper senses told him that a creature was coming towards the group like a bullet train.
“Scatter out,” shouted the Black Panther.
No sooner had he said those words than a grey goo bursted out of the doorway and almost crushed the group in its path. It resemebled ink and it rose into the air then sprouted ten limbs that it tried to squish the Wakandans with.
Hatura transformed from a man into a Savage Hulk-like creature, Queen Divine Justice used her mutant powers to send ice daggers into the beast, Watcher fired neutron blasts from his sword and M’Baku along with Mute did nothing.
T’Challa gave them an authorative glare and they stared back at him in defiance.
Locust-like insects then appeared and they went at M’Baku and Mute. The stings from the locusts created boils on their skins and then Mute used his telepathy to take over the minds of the beasts and the insects fell to the ground. The White Gorilla blood in M’Baku’s body gave him the rapid healing factor to remove the boils from the skin.
T’Challa created two spears of light in his hands and he threw them into the doorway; they weapons exploded and temporarily cleared the passage of anymore defences. Meanwhile, Hatura, Queen Divine Justice and Watcher cut the ink beast in half and subdued it.
Finally Bragram floated out of the ash and embers of the destroyed passageway.
“Human pest have you come to send a message to the Regent of Sol that you can defy the power of Arrako or are you here to be educated on your rightful place in the universe?” asked the High Summoner.
NEXT STORY: WHERE WAKANDANS DARE
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