SUMMARY: Wakanda opens its borders to the world for the first time in its history. With the change come refugees, outreach programs, international relations... and an organization that claims to guard humanity against the "anomalous."
T'Challa is wary of the Foundation, and the liaison that the Foundation sends is equally wary of him. But it's not just opening a relationship between Wakanda's government and the Foundation that's causing tension; it seems that Erik Stevens wasn't always just a US soldier and a CIA agent. And if it wasn't enough that he once worked for a secret, global (albeit somewhat struggling) organization with no loyalty for anything except the survival of humanity, he's accused of stealing a dangerous anomalous object that may now be lost somewhere in Wakanda, causing unknown damage by its mere presence.
It's too bad that Erik has no idea what the hell he did during his time with the Foundation. Damn post-employment amnestic protocols.
A/N: This is going to be a VERY weird crossover with some VERY weird editing done to both the SCP and MCU universes in order to wrangle them together into coexistence for this fic. This fic is going to be mostly focused on Black Panther with the SCP Foundation mixed in, so not knowing anything about the Foundation isn't a big deal since there's going to be plenty of exposition explaining things in the narrative. Not knowing anything about Black Panther will make things very confusing, though.
A few major changes/interpretations:
- This fic ignores everything else that has happened in the MCU that would break reasonable SCP "lore" with regard to maintaining the "veil" of secrecy of the anomalous. Anything that is anomalous (i.e. the Infinity Stones and the Asgardians are anomalous, Stark tech and the super soldier serum are not) doesn't exist/isn't known to the public, but nothing outside of what happens in Black Panther will likely come up.
- I haven't watched Age of Ultron or Civil War so absolutely none of that is going to show up in this fic.
- The Accords aren't a thing and so the bombing that killed T'Chaka happened during a different UN meeting.
- Bucky isn't in Wakanda.
- The SCP Foundation in this universe isn't a major global power with unlimited resources as it's sometimes depicted. They're stretched somewhat thin, don't have funding other than whatever the Foundation itself can generate by itself, and containing anomalies isn't effortless.
- Erik is alive. He is because I say so.
CH SUMMARY:
anomalous (adj) [ anom·a·lous | \ ə-ˈnä-mə-ləs \ ]
1) inconsistent with or deviating from what is usual, normal, or expected
2 a) of uncertain nature or classification
b) marked by incongruity or contradiction
T'Challa is faced with the Foundation.
The world is a very, very big place.
T'Challa is not unaware. He's been aware of the sheer size and scope of the world since he was a child, looking at projected globes with simulated ocean currents and scale-accurate topology. He's traced the outline of the nation of Wakanda with his fingertips, done the same with the various other countries surrounding them on the African continent, followed out further toward the western borders of the Asian continent and up to the European continent, trailed across waters to the Americas and Australia and Oceania. He's seen some of those places too, on missions in the flesh or through images and video sent by the War Dogs.
Now that Wakanda has opened up to the world, the entire world has come. Like water rushing into an open tub, the world has fluidly flowed into Wakanda. People have arrived, many refugees welcomed with open arms, some curious visitors who have come to learn. The people bring with them their ways of living, their cultures and languages and goods, and the Wakandans look upon them with healthy curiosity and respect. So much newness has arrived in Wakanda. Some of the newness is, of course, less pleasant, but it is T'Challa's duty as king to deal with international relations with the various governments of the world. He will handle all of this with the strength his people need, because he knows his own good intentions are not always shared by the outside world.
This, however, is unexpected.
T'Challa looks his new guest over. The first striking thing is that the guest is in a pale gray suit blazer and slacks, with a burgundy tie. Not a conventional black suit and tie, and very distinctive. Well-made, a showy expression of wealth or status. The tie appears to have some sort of chevron pattern on it, although T'Challa is too far away to make it out fully. The silver hairpiece resting on short cropped black hair is similar in pattern, with several curved, intertwined lines that are tipped in arrows pointing inward, reflecting the light with its sheen. The second striking thing is that this guest appears to be completely at ease in this room in his presence, clearly here to make a request (or demand) for the king.
The Border Tribe guards accompanying the guest are wary, although they do a good job of hiding it. It's to be expected; they don't know anything about this newcomer who's stepped foot into the country by T'Challa's permission without explanation. T'Challa is wary too, and as he orders the guards to step out of the room he scans the guest for any sign of hidden weapons. Not that anything should have gotten past the weapon checks that would have occurred before entering the room. The guest clearly can tell that they're being seized up, but doesn't react.
"I am King T'Challa. Your organization requested a direct meeting with myself, and I would like an explanation," T'Challa says, thinking back on the message he'd received. Heavily encrypted, nothing difficult for Wakandan technology to decrypt but clearly further advanced than anything that any national government utilized. For his eyes only, apparently, as the message had stressed, and as he read the message he immediately understood why.
"Of course, your Majesty," the guest speaks. "Unfortunately, I am not authorized to speak with anyone other than the highest leadership of the nation of Wakanda. I'm afraid I cannot speak in the presence of anyone else."
The guest looks each one of the others in the room directly in the eye in turn: the five tribe leaders, and Okoye and Ayo standing behind T'Challa. It's in acknowledgement of their presence, rather than hostility.
"I am willing to dismiss my guard, but my council act as direct advisers to me. Any matter which you may discuss with me would be discussed with them as well. That is not negotiable."
T'Challa is preparing for insistence on a private discussion, but the guest shockingly only nods in agreement.
"Very well. I understand, your Majesty."
"You are able to override your authorization from your organization in such a manner?" T'Challa asks as he dismisses all of the guards. The guests smiles.
"I have authorization to override anything that may stand in my way for a productive discussion. If the highest leadership of Wakanda includes the regent and council, then I will speak in the presence of the regent and council," the guest admits. "My organization is not in a position to be regulating the government of a nation, your Majesty."
"Your organization does little to explain itself, as well. Who are you, and what is this organization you speak of?" T'Challa asks. The five tribe leaders eye the guest suspiciously, especially M'Baku. "You have made it clear that your organization is not associated with any government, and has a global presence."
"It does. Have you ever heard of the Foundation, your Majesty?"
"Not before the arrival of their message to me. Do explain."
"I am Liaison Paulias, and I represent the SCP Foundation. We are a global organization, unaffiliated with any governments or international government organizations, under our own jurisdiction. Our purpose is to handle esoteric threats to humanity and the world, and while we are not the only organization to do so, we are the most well-equipped to do so, and with the largest presence."
Everyone stares. Liaison Paulias continues on.
"The Foundation wishes to establish a relationship with the Wakandan government. Not one of direct association, but more of a... partnership. We would like to work with you in order to protect the people of Wakanda from these threats. However, we were unsure of whether or not an organization like ourselves may have already existed within Wakanda. In that case, we would like to p-"
"Stop." Liaison Paulias immediately cuts off at the interruption, watching T'Challa. There's a hint of nervousness there. "What do you mean by 'esoteric?' What is it exactly that you protect humanity from?"
"Threats to the normalcy of the world in which we live," the liaison explains. "Anything that shouldn't exist in our reality. Anything that defies the laws of reality. Anything that is impossible, yet exists."
"Nothing is impossible. Nothing exists that should not exist. I fail to understand what you are claiming are dangers to humanity."
"People speak of ghosts or monsters or strange occurrences. When those things that could not possibly exist appear in real life, the Foundation contains them. We refer to them as 'anomalies.'"
"Anything that exists is meant to exist. In Wakanda, we do not presume to know everything about the universe, and we certainly do not determine what can and cannot exist in reality."
The liaison doesn't have an answer to that. They stare at T'Challa with a look of confusion, and one by one at the five tribe leaders. Finally, they look back to T'Challa.
"It seems that Wakanda has a very different approach to studying the anomalous than the Foundation," Liaison Paulias finally responds. "Although I assume your methods are similar to ours. Primarily scientific in nature. Still, a partnership between the Foundation and Wakanda's government has merit, we believe. We do not expect to hear an immediate decision on that matter, of course, and I only ask for your Majesty's and his council's consideration. I have a second, more vital topic I must discuss."
The liaison's face goes from a respectful smile to something approaching a hidden grimace.
"The Foundation has been following several leads regarding the theft of an anomalous object from containment several years ago. Those leads suggest that the object has appeared in Wakanda, and poses a significant threat to safety. This object was not well-studied before its theft so its exact properties are unknown, but the Foundation has evidence of its detrimental effects on human health. In addition, we believe that the theft was conducted by a Foundation employee who has since left the Foundation, and is possibly in Wakanda. The Foundation takes such breaches very seriously. We are asking for permission to investigate within the country to recontain the object and to capture the perpetrator."
T'Challa watches as the liaison pulls open one lapel of their blazer, clearly showing the inside (to indicate that there are no weapons hidden there) to pull out a... flash drive. Shuri would have a heart attack if she were here.
"I realize that this is horribly primitive technology in Wakanda, but this contains some information regarding the issue at hand," the liaison says, holding the flash drive out. T'Challa takes it, and he hears a beep in his ear.
"A flash drive!" Shuri's voice screeches in his ear. Ah. T'Challa shakes his head.
"Shuri, can you access the data in this for me?" T'Challa can see M'Baku silently sending complaints his way regarding Shuri's habit of listening to things she shouldn't be.
"I'm coming down there right this second. A flash drive, really..."
"Thank you, Shuri."
T'Challa doesn't say anything about Shuri's listening in on the conversation. Liaison Paulias doesn't either.
"I don't assume that I am not being listened in on," they reply at the silent question. "I'm from the Foundation. We listen to everything we can."
That isn't reassuring to hear at all.
Shuri arrives with a scanner of some sort, and fusses over the flash drive for longer than it takes to actually access the contents. T'Challa introduces her while she works, and the liaison gives a polite bow to the princess. When she gets the image to project from T'Challa's kimoyo beads, everyone cranes their neck to look. It's in the shape of a panther's head with an open mouth, notably without teeth.
"So this is the object?" T'Challa asks. He tilts the projection to take a closer look into its open maw.
"Yes. It's solid, made entirely of a metal alloy that the Foundation hasn't completely identified. The holes along the mouth suggest that it may have had teeth fitted into it at some point, either actual teeth from a wild cat or artificial ones made in the shape of them. Actual teeth are more likely, since the holes left behind are irregular and have the same shape as the root structure of wild cat teeth." Liaison Paulias points at the holes along the inside of the mouth area. "We also think it may have been covered in an animal hide, again likely from a wild cat."
"And what exactly does it do?" T'Challa asks.
"Again, poorly documented, but it was originally contained due to bizarre electrical activity sensed in the object. It is made of a conductive material, but it holds power within it almost like a battery of some sort. And then the researchers who had handled it suddenly fell ill due to severe radiation exposure."
Shuri raises an eyebrow.
"There was nothing odd about their symptoms. They had the same symptoms and damage as a result of radiation exposure. We tested the object again, and the results showed no significant radioactivity. After some further testing, the theory was put forth that the object is capable of holding an electrical 'charge' that somehow is output as gamma radiation. How that change is caused and why are complete unknowns to us. The individual who stole the object should have died as a result of the unpredictable nature and sheer amount of radiation output, but if our investigation is correct, they survived by unknown means."
"And you are confident that it has appeared in Wakanda?" T'Challa asks. Liaison Paulias nods.
"We are, your Majesty. All of our leads have pointed here."
"If this object has made its way into Wakanda, then we shall defend our nation and investigate the matter. I fail to see the necessity of the Foundation to intervene."
"This object was stolen from the Foundation, your Majesty. It is the responsibility of the Foundation to recontain it. And there is also the matter of the theft itself. The individual responsible for this must be captured and returned to the Foundation."
Liaison Paulias stands firmly in front of T'Challa. Their expression is unreadable, a steel-eyed look that betrays not a hint of the desperation that T'Challa knows is there. He pauses to think.
He's not keen on allowing the Foundation to operate within Wakanda. The least of the reasons is the way they view their duty; it runs almost opposite to Wakandan ideas, the concept that anything that exists on earth could somehow be an impossibility of reality. The secrecy, the power, the uncertain oversight, all of it is unsettling to T'Challa. But the liaison has a point about responsibility for the object and the thief, and the sooner this object is found and the thief captured, the better for all.
"I will need to consider both issues until I come to an agreement with my council on the matter," T'Challa responds finally. "However, in the meantime, Wakanda will handle the search and capture of the thief and the object, using the information you have presented to us. We will not ignore such a danger in our nation."
T'Challa turns to the rest of his council, waiting to hear any dissenting voices. All voice their agreement, as expected.
"...very well," Liaison Paulias replies, with clear dissatisfaction in their voice. "The Foundation values the health and safety of humanity above all else. I will aid in whatever means I am able until you make your final decision, your Majesty."
"Do you have information on the individual who stole the object?" T'Challa asks. "We can begin a search immediately, with pertinent information."
"Thankfully, yes. An American by the name of Erik Stevens, although we do think he may have changed his name after leaving employment with the Founda- your Majesty?"
Liaison Paulias watches T'Challa in confusion and concern, turning to everyone else in the room to see their reactions as well. The room feels like it's dropped several degrees in temperature.
"What did you say?" Shuri demands in a steeled voice. "What was his name?"
"Erik Stevens, your Highness. Is... is there a problem?"
"Not one that concerns the Foundation," T'Challa says, his blood turned to ice in his veins. "But yes, there is."
A/N: "Paulias" is a codename I made up based off of a name someone offered after brainstorming for fifteen entire minutes with several people in the SCP chat at 1 am. Foundation liaisons are named after flowers, we decided, after I shot down at least five different perfectly logical and thematically appropriate codenaming schemes because I know nothing about Wakanda beyond what was in the movie and the Marvel wiki isn't very helpful, and also colors as code names is already something that exists for Foundation agents (not that I couldn't do it since There Is No Canon for SCP, but I'm avoiding confusion as much as possible). Paulias is named for Saintpaulias or the African violet.
For those who may be wondering, Liaison Paulias is Asian-American (they're originally from an American Foundation site) and nonbinary. Paulias uses they/them (which I'll differentiate from the plural they/them in the fic by adding "both," "all," etc when I can in instances where it's plural).