Black Panther and Storm
Author: NWHS
Possibilities
Chapter 2: Reaping What You Sow
Part 1
The Queen Mother raced frantically to T'Challa's room to see if his condition had changed since Ororo returned from limbo. Upon entering the room she lowered her eyes in sadness as she looked upon his limp body in the exact same condition as it had been when she left a couple of hours ago. "Has his condition improved Dr. Somide?" asked Ramonda.
Looking at his patient's vitals instead of the Queen Mother Dr. Somide said, "For some reason his vital signs are beginning to show evidence of improvement. His heart beat is stronger and there have been definite signs of strengthening brain activity." Dr. Somide finally looked at Ramonda confusion clear on his face. "I can't explain what is happening here Queen Mother but the last 20 minutes have been nothing short of a miracle. I would dare say that we could probably remove him from the tube and see how well his lungs adjust without the artificial assistance. If he can breathe on his own then that would be a miracle indeed," smiled Dr. Somide.
A very relieved Ramonda said, "Keep me abreast and send someone to get me when he awakes." She walked out of the recovery room and straight for the war room where she met W'Kabi, Zuri, and S'yan who were monitoring the battle outside of the palace gates.
"How are they doing?" asked a concerned Ramonda. Taking in the men's glum expressions the answer was quite evident.
"Morlun is destroying everything in his path. Shuri and the others are only slowing him down. They are a mere nuisance to him and nothing more," contended S'yan.
"They can't battle him the way they would a normal foe. He will incinerate them if they get too close and Shuri has been smart enough thus far to wage her battle from a distance," informed W'Kabi. "She is using all her marksman skills to pulverize him with bullets, lasers, and electronic pulses but to no avail. She is extremely accurate and any other enemy would have fallen to her by now but…"
"Morlun isn't like any other enemy," Zuri finished.
"No he isn't and unless something happens very soon," interjected S'yan, "we will end up like our destroyed city and the rest of Wakanda will fall as well as all of Africa and every other nation after that."
Ramonda looked at her daughter on the security screens in the war room and said proudly, "She is performing admirably and the Panther habit becomes her. I'm so pleased that the Panther God blessed my youngest child."
S'yan took a deep breath and said, "She is out there on my orders not the Panther God's."
Confusion and anger growing in her eyes Ramonda said, "Explain yourself S'yan!"
"The Panther God rejected her and seeing as Ororo was unavailable I made an executive decision."
"You mean to tell me," Ramonda said voice rising with every word, "that you sent my daughter out there to face that monster without the blessing or protection of the Panther God."
S'yan simply nodded and said, "I had no choice. He will only recognize Ororo as the next Black Panther and as you well know she was unavailable. Shuri was willing and able and as you have seen for yourself quite capable. Right now she is the only thing standing between T'Challa and Morlun."
Turning back to the security screens the Queen Mother said, "I hope Ororo is having an easier time than Shuri for if she isn't we are all in trouble."
Ororo found the destroyed remains of Munya's cavern and searched for any signs of life. Under a pile of rubble she detected a faint heat signature and used her strong winds to unearth the weak form of the witch doctor she sought. Munya looked at Ororo's blue eyes and flowing white hair and knew immediately who she was and why she was there. Lifting his burnt body into the air on a cushion of currents Ororo drew him to her and said icily, "Undue the curse witch, recall your demon spirit."
Frightened brown eyes met hers and for a second Munya considered answering in the negative until he saw something within Ororo's now stark white eyes that told him that his life was worth absolutely nothing to her. What he saw there was worse than what he had witnessed when Morlun destroyed the very people who had given him form and purpose.
Munya knew that X-Men did not kill and that Storm of the X-Men upheld the ideals of her mentor and friend Charles Xavier but the woman who held him in her winds was not an X-Man at this moment. The woman who held his gaze was a woman whose husband and kingdom's fate rest on her shoulders, burned through her heart and was leaking out into the suddenly frigid air that now surrounded them. No, this was definitely the Queen of Wakanda, the Black Pantheress herself, sans the habit that stood before him with a single solitary command. Munya's life lay in the balance with his next words and he thought very carefully as he opened his mouth to speak.
Morlun tired of the distance attack leveled against him by Shuri as he crept closer and closer to his goal. Closing in on the "would be Black Panther" Morlun grabbed her by the neck fiercely and pulled her to him.
The Queen Mother, S'yan, Zuri, and W'Kabi looked on in stark terror from the war room. The security screens were alit with burnt bodies of the finest military in the world whom had fought bravely but futilely against the demon spirit and now Morlun had Ramonda's youngest in his grasp with the ultimate intent of consuming her oldest.
Morlun sniffed Shuri and said hoarsely, "You are not the one I seek. You are a pretender, a mere shadow of the chosen one. However," he exclaimed showing an evil glint in his demon eyes, "You will make for a nice hors d'oeuvre."
Ramonda screamed as Morlun started to suck the life out of Shuri and her world started to turn black as she struggled to maintain her composure. She closed her eyes and sank to the floor deep in prayer. The room was silent for ten agonizing seconds until S'yan said in absolute disbelief, "He is gone."
Zuri reached for the Queen Mother and helped her to her feet as S'yan said again with more confidence, "He is gone." Ramonda looked upon the battle scene once again to see a weakened and weary Shuri lying on the ground. Ramonda pressed her hands against the screen in an attempt to confirm what her eyes were witnessing. Morlun was indeed gone and her sweet brave daughter lay frightened and exhausted but alive in front of the palace gates.
"What happened?" inquired a confused Zuri to no one in particular. S'yan and Ramonda looked at each other and knew that the answer, their savior rested with a mutant outsider who while still not favored by many Wakandans had the favor of the Panther God.
"The queen happened," S'yan said taking a breath of relief and revealing a rare smile and break in decorum. "She and Shuri make one hell of a team."
Part 2
S'yan had palace guards check the palace perimeter to make sure that Morlun was indeed gone as well as the health status of any surviving Wakandans. Shuri was taken to the palace's infirmary where she was checked and given a clean bill of health with the exception of minor burns and marks around her neck where Morlun had grabbed her.
Shuri and Ramonda stood side by side at T'Challa's bed side. He had been taken out of the tube and was now breathing on his own. Turning to Dr. Somide Ramonda asked, "Why hasn't he woken up?" "I don't know. His vitals are normal, his brain seems to be fully functioning, and he is breathing normally," responded Dr. Somide. Based on all of the tests I've run he should be awake and I can't explain why he isn't," stated the exasperated doctor.
Ramonda stroked her son's arm and placed a soft kiss on his forehead. She then turned to her daughter and pulled her into a loving embrace and said, "I am so proud of you Shuri. Your father would be as well." Shocked by her mother's unusual display of affection Shuri could do nothing but smile and return the embrace.
"Where is the queen?" asked S'yan as he walked into the recovery room. Before anyone could answer Ororo landed on the balcony and brought a warm breeze into the stuffy room as she entered. She could tell from the smiling faces that greeted her that the spell cast by Munya to recall Morlun had worked. She also observed the destruction he left in his wake when she approached the city and knew that a few minutes more the destruction would have been absolute and she would have been left without a family and home once again.
"How is he?" asked Ororo as she approached her husband's bed.
"He is doing much better than the last time we saw him," answered Ramonda, "but as you can see he is still unconscious."
Ororo took possession of T'Challa's hand and in that moment a surge of what could only be described as life energy moved from Ororo and into T'Challa. Ororo stepped back shocked and weakened by the sensation that continued to pulse through her body. She dropped to the floor suddenly struck by pain. Dr. Somide rushed to her side as did Shuri and S'Yan.
"What's wrong?" asked Dr. Somide to Ororo who continued to clutch her chest and abdomen in obvious pain. She didn't respond and tried to force herself from the floor only to fall back down. Shuri cradled Ororo in her arms to help settle her when she realized she was bleeding. Dr. Somide noticed the blood on her upper thigh as well and called for two nurses to assist him in moving the queen to an examination room.
Seeing the concern in Shuri's eyes Ramonda said, "Go with Ororo and make sure she is okay. I'll stay with T'Challa." Shuri was already out of the door before the sentence was complete lock step behind the nurses. S'yan shot the Queen Mother an 'I told you so' look right before he left the room as well.
Horrified by the scene that had just taken place and hoping that it had nothing to do with the sacrifice of which S'yan warned Ramonda turned back to T'Challa to see his eyes fluttering open.
Two hours later T'Challa had been examined completely by Dr. Somide. Fortunately all of the cat scans came back negative. While T'Challa had minor abrasions and burns from the blast he took from Dr. Doom the most crucial injury was to his spine. His spine was inflamed and several discs misaligned. While such injuries were certainly treatable T'Challa noted that he had no sensation in his lower extremities which concerned the doctor and T'Challa alike.
"Where is Ororo?" T'Challa asked for the third time.
"She'll be here as soon as she can son," answered Ramonda.
"You told me that an hour ago mother and she still haven't come to see me. Something must be wrong for her not to be here and I want you to tell me what it is," demanded T'Challa weakly.
"She had a minor health issue and is being checked out by Dr. Akinwole," reassured Ramonda. "She will be here as soon as she can. You just need to worry about resting your tired body."
Knowing that his mother was keeping the truth from him T'Challa settled into the comfort of the bed allowing the pain medication to overtake his mind and body. He told himself he would find out the truth once he awoke.
Once T'Challa was in a deep sleep Ramonda slipped out of his room in search of Ororo. She desperately needed to find out what was happening with her and whether it was connected to T'Challa's miraculous recovery. Ramonda saw S'yan standing outside of Ororo's room and attempted to push her way pass him.
"She doesn't want any visitors right now Ramonda," stated S'yan bitterly.
"But I am her mother she will want to see me," countered Ramonda as she again tried to pass S'yan.
He stood his ground and looked down at her and said, "Haven't you done enough for one day Ramonda. Ororo wants to be alone and by god after all she has done today the least we can do is respect her wishes."
Fighting the desire to lash out at her brother-in-law Ramonda calmly asked, "Is she alright? What happened to her?"
S'yan moved from the door and took a seat. He looked and felt exhausted. He took a deep breath, laid his head against the wall, and said, "She relinquished part of her life force to rejuvenate part of T'Challas."
The Queen Mother started to speak as she sat next to S'yan but he raised his hand to quiet her. "I'm not finished. When she touched him the dark spell that Zawavari cast that allowed her to travel to limbo was fully invoked and it took what it was due to balance out what it gave."
"I don't understand S'yan," contended an impatient and scared Ramonda. "I'm sure with rest and fluids the energy Ororo loss in the transfer will be restored.
S'yan suddenly sat up and glared at Ramonda with an anger she had never seen in his eyes before. "No amount of rest or fluids will give Ororo back which was taken from her Ramonda. The energy that was sucked from her body was the life force of her unborn child. Her and T'Challa's child, your grandchild," he said hotly.
Ramonda's mind went blank with pain as S'yan's words cruelly worked their way around every nerve in her body. She felt like she wanted to vomit or collapse. She couldn't breathe and her heart started to beat uncontrollably. Shaking her head as if it was a lie she exclaimed, "No this can't be right S'yan Ororo wasn't pregnant. If she was she would have told us; she would have told T'Challa."
"She didn't know," he replied solemnly. Dr. Akinwole placed her pregnancy at only three to four weeks.
"Does she know?" asked Ramonda.
"She does and Shuri is with her."
"T'Challa's been asking for her," Ramonda said quietly as she realized for the first time the impact the news would have on T'Challa and his recovery.
"This is going to devastate him," thought S'yan as he watched Ramonda start to pace in front of Ororo's room.
Shuri exited the room almost running into her mother.
"How is she?" asked Ramonda eagerly.
Shuri shook her head and said, "I don't know she won't talk to me. She is virtually despondent and refuses to cry although it has been raining for the last hour and a half."
"Do you think she would speak with me if I went in to see her?"
"Honestly, the only person that can help her right now is T'Challa and he is also the last person she wants to know. In his current condition she doesn't think he could handle knowledge of the miscarriage," replied Shuri.
She is taking a shower now and I told her I would bring her another outfit to change into. She wants to see T'Challa and nothing that I or the doctor said will dissuade her."
"Well he wants to see her too," said Ramonda. "Perhaps it will do them both some good to be in the presence of the other."
"There is nothing we can do for either one of them now," contended S'yan, "except give them space and time alone together." The women nodded in agreement. "Come Ramonda we have business to attend to until Ororo is ready to deal with the responsibilities of being queen."
Ororo stood in the doorway to T'Challa's recovery room for several minutes looking at him sleep fighting back the urge to cry for their loss. "Come closer beloved so I can see you," came a soft voice. Ororo smiled and walked fully into the room and next to her husband who was also smiling.
T'Challa reached for Ororo's hand, placed it gently to his mouth, and put a kiss on her palm. "Thank you," he whispered his eyes never leaving hers. Ororo let tears fall from her blue eyes as her husband stared into them not understanding the true depth of those tears. "Don't cry beloved," T'Challa said reassuringly wishing he could stand and take his wife in his arms.
"Come here," he said pulling the covers back and moving over to make room for her. Ororo slipped into bed with him choosing to ignore the inappropriate sight of the two of them in a hospital bed together in exchange for the warmth and security T'Challa's arms would afford her. And she so desperately needed him right now; so much more than he knew or she could tell him.
They sank into each other's embrace; each holding on to the other like a lifeline and finding solace with their soul mate. Ororo put her head on T'Challa's chest searching for the sound that affirmed his place in the world and in her life. T'Challa gently ran his hand up and down her back in slow methodic soothing movements.
"I know you think I'm not strong enough to hear whatever it is that kept you from me for so long today Ororo and perhaps you are right."
Tears started to flow from her eyes and onto his chest as he continued to speak.
"I won't push you on it and I know you will tell me when you feel the time is right. I'm just pleased that you sought me out for comfort in spite of my current condition. I want to be there for you beloved the way you are always there for me."
Her quiet and consistent sobs saddened and frightened T'Challa for his wife didn't give in to such raw emotions easily. He knew that whatever caused her to be in this state would be something that he would rather not know.
T'Challa continued to console his wife until they both had fallen asleep content in each other's arms but dreaming about lost opportunities, mistakes, and the future of their family and nation.
TO BE CONTINUED
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