I got bored, so i'm uploading another chapter
I've also started updating the original story, Forgotten, to start to fall in line with events from this story. Check it out!
xo
Chapter 4
T'Challa watched as the German Special Forces swarmed the building beside the one he stood on. He watched with anticipation for any sign of the criminal he sought.
He had tapped into the local Special Operations communication channel, and with the help of Vielka's linguistic skills, was able to follow them to his current location, a rather unassuming building in Bucharest, Romania.
According to Vielka's deciphering of the current radio chatter, It would seem that Captain America had already arrived before them though. The German Special Forces now battled to subdue the Winter Soldier, as well as fend off the American Super Soldier.
T'Challa had already seen a back pack thrown from a window, landing on the rooftop he was perched on, so he now waited patiently for his opportunity.
There was the smashing of glass, as a man leapt from the building, landing heavily and rolling to his feet, before gathering the backpack. T'Challa had already started running toward the man as he picked up the pack, beginning to try and make his getaway.
T'Challa chased him down, tackling him from behind and causing him to tumble to the ground, before he looked around in confusion.
The Winter Soldier's eyes narrowed as he took in T'Challa's armour, T'Challa extending his fingers to reveal his sharp, Vibranium claws from his suit, before rushing forward to attack the fleeing criminal.
T'Challa slashed wildly at the super soldier, before aiming a sweeping kick at the man's legs, which he jumped over. The Winter Soldier tried to fight back, but T'Challa had backed him towards a wall, capitalising on his position, he kicked out at the man, sending him flying into a brick wall.
He charged after him, his anger continuing to grow as he leapt forward to try and slash at him with his claws once again, but the super soldier grabbed a metal bar, using it to block the attack, before going on the offensive himself.
T'Challa managed to knock the bar from his hands, before trying to slash at him once again, only for the Winter Soldier to catch his wrists and hold him in his place. He was strong, and held T'Challa firmly in place, as the sound of a chopper flying close by could be heard.
T'Challa could hear the sound of a machine gun being fired, but ignored it, as he felt the bullets ricochet of his suit of armour harmlessly. There was the sound of something large hitting the chopper and the bullets changed course, spraying wildly.
"T'Challa, word has it Captain America and Falcon are in pursuit, watch out," Vielka's voice warned through his earpiece.
The Winter Soldier managed to break free, shoving T'Challa away, before gathering his bag and taking off again.
"He is getting away!" T'Challa exclaimed, beginning to pursue the man.
"I'm tracking you, I'll try and head him off," Vielka replied.
T'Challa followed him as he leapt down a level, using the claws of his suit as traction on the wall of a building, landing in the middle of a busy road. He was quick to continue the chase, utilising the enhanced speed of his armoured suit. He could hear the sound of the German Special Forces calling for them to halt over the loud speaker of the helicopter that pursued them, but paid no heed.
Gunfire from the chopper that now followed them, tore up the sidewalk around them, but still T'Challa kept chasing.
The Winter Soldier jumped down through an opening in the middle of the road, landing in an underpass, and causing traffic to slam to a halt or swerve wildly around him. T'Challa dropped down after him, leaping over cars in an effort to catch him.
The escaping criminal ran over the top of a speeding car, outpacing it, with T'Challa just a few cars behind, keeping pace with him.
As T'Challa ran, an SUV appeared beside him, he glanced sideways and saw that Captain America was at the wheel. The American glared at T'Challa and the Wakandan realised what his purpose was. He was trying to get to the Winter Soldier before T'Challa could.
T'Challa leapt onto the back of the SUV, clinging to the vehicle with his Vibranium claws piercing through the metal shell of the car. Captain America began to swerve wildly, in a bid to shake him loose.
"T'Challa, the local authorities are joining the pursuit, this is getting out of hand," Vielka warned.
"Where are you?" he demanded, his voice strained as he continued to try and hold tight to the SUV. He leapt to the roof of the car as Captain America swerved the SUV at another police vehicle that tried to cut him off.
"Up ahead, nearly there," she replied, her voice even and calm.
oOOo
The Winter Soldier reached a fork in the road, facing oncoming traffic. He leapt over a barrier, which Captain America continued to drive through, causing T'Challa to climb further onto the roof of the speeding car.
A motorbike sped towards the Winter Soldier and T'Challa immediately recognised the rider. Vielka sped towards them, unsheathing one of her swords as she approached. The Winter Soldier saw her before she had reached him, sliding to a stop.
As she sped past him, she slashed at him with her sword, connecting with the arm that he brought up to offer himself some protection. As she continued past, T'Challa saw part of his sleeve fall away from where she had sliced him, revealing his metallic arm.
"Be careful, Banzai," T'Challa warned as Captain America continued to swerve wildly through the traffic.
Vielka spun the bike around, revving it again before speeding back towards the Winter Soldier, her sword still drawn. This time as she sped towards him, the super soldier leapt forward, connecting with the front wheel of the bike with his metal arm, knocking it sideways.
Vielka leapt into the air, flipping once, before landing at a crouch easily, her sword poised at her side.
As they stared at each other, there was the screeching of tires as Captain America tried to still shake T'Challa from the SUV, and Falcon tried to hit him with a small explosive projectile. He hadn't counted on T'Challa's armoured suit deflecting it easily, and it flew ahead of them, hitting the ceiling of the overpass.
The ceiling began to crumble, the debris landing in front of the car. Captain America swerved the 4x4 in an effort to try and make it through the rubble, rather unsuccessfully. The SUV hit the debris, as T'Challa leapt from the top of the vehicle, closely followed by Captain America.
T'Challa continued running towards Vielka, who was moving to attack the Winter Soldier, her sword poised to strike, but Captain America outran him, tackling Vielka and flinging her away from the Winter Soldier. T'Challa quickly moved to stand before her as she rolled back to her feet easily.
T'Challa glanced back at her to check she was fine. She wore her new armour, with one new addition. He had made the scientists design a face mask for her, which would act as armour, a communicator and HUD, as well as a way to keep her face concealed to protect her identity.
He looked her up and down, until she nodded to him, her new armour clearly having protected her from any injury. He then turned back to face his father's murderer, and the man who wished to protect him.
oOOo
Captain America stood before them, she could see both he and The Winter Soldier eyeing them both off with caution, as well as curiosity. As she stood there, her HUD began streaming intel being passed between local authorities and she was also listening to the radio chatter from both the Special Forces pursuing The Winter Soldier and the local authorities.
They were all moving in on their current position.
It did not take long until they heard the sound of sirens. T'Challa spoke quickly through their internal radio system. "You need to go, if they were to find you, it could cause you problems."
"No, my job is to protect you, we'll cross that bridge when it comes."
"You cannot protect me if you are in custody due to your enhancement," T'Challa argued. Vielka glanced sideways at him, but sighed, before running away, disappearing into one of the service tunnels within the underpass.
She lithely followed it, careful to move quietly so as to keep herself off their radars. She clenched her jaw, annoyed that T'Challa would not allow her to stay close to keep him safe, but his concerns were justified. She would find her own way to keep close to him.
oOOo
T'Challa stood looking at Captain America and the Winter Soldier, glaring at them as they stared nervously back. He was glad he had sent Vielka away, after the conversation they had in the jet on the way there. The last thing he wanted was them to discover her many 'talents'.
Armed police arrived, surrounding them, with their guns aimed at all three of them. War Machine leapt down from above and raised both hands, pointing his weapons at all three of them.
"Stand down, everyone," War Machine ordered, as the Winter Soldier moved closer to the Captain, who put his shield on his back. "Congratulations, Cap. You're a criminal."
Police moved in and forced Bucky to his knees, which T'Challa found rather dissatisfying. He raised his hands, showing his surrender to the authorities surrounding them, withdrawing his claws back into his armour. A policeman moved Captain America's arms behind his back, who still glared at T'Challa. He reached for his helmet slowly, removing it and revealing his face.
War Machine turned his head to look at him, disengaging the weapon pointed at T'Challa before nodding.. "Your highness." Captain Rogers gaped, as the Winter Soldier was forced to lay face first on the ground.
oOOo
T'Challa sat in the front of an SUV, as it sped through the busy city streets of Berlin. He looked out the window, his eyes scanning through the traffic and faces for any sign of his guard that would most likely be tailing them.
They had been transported by convoy from Vienna to Berlin, headed to the Joint Counter Terrorism Centre, he was certain that Vielka would have found a way to track them, but he worried for her well-being.
He realised that was a silly sentiment, she had been alone for a long time, fending for herself and slipping beneath the radar of society for years already, for him to worry about her seemed like a pointless endeavour, but still he did.
Captain America, or Steve Rogers as he now knew him as, was seated behind him, as was The Falcon, or Sam Wilson. They had travelled in predominant silence so far, T'Challa too absorbed by his own thoughts to bother conversing with the pair.
"So, you like cats?" Sam asked, his tone indicating that he was clearly mocking the Black Panther. T'Challa did not react, ignoring the question.
"Sam," Steve warned his friend.
"What? Dude shows up dressed like a cat and you don't wanna know more?" T'Challa smirked, but said nothing to the American's jibes at his armour.
"Your suit...its Vibranium?" Steve asked, the curiosity evident in his voice.
T'Challa narrowed his eyes as he glanced behind him at Steve. "The Black Panther has been the protector of Wakanda for generations. A mantle, passed from warrior to warrior. And now, because your friend murdered my father, I also wear the mantle of King. So, I ask you... as both warrior and King... how long do you think you can keep your friend safe from me?"
Steve was stony faced, glaring back at him, as T'Challa turned back to face the front.
The SUV pulled up inside a light gray walled bunker, the Winter Soldier's prison pod carried away by a forklift. T'Challa stepped out of the SUV and glanced across, watching as they took away the prison pod, before glancing around the bunker, wondering where Vielka could be.
With Sam and T'Challa close behind, Steve approached a young blonde woman, whom seemed familiar to him by the way she looked at him, beside her was standing a diminutive, grey-haired man.
"What's gonna happen to him?" Steve demanded, seeming to address the woman more than the man.
"Same thing that ought to happen to you. Psychological evaluation and extradition," the grey-haired man retorted.
"This is Everett Ross, Deputy Task Force Commander," the blonde woman replied, although T'Challa detected some dislike in the woman's voice when she introduced him.
"What about our lawyer?" Steve asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Lawyer. That's funny," Everett replied haughtily, before turning to the young woman. "See their weapons are placed in lockup, Miss Carter. Oh, we'll write you a receipt."
"I better not look out the window and see anybody flying around in that," Sam said pointedly, as he watched them take his wings away. Everett began to lead them away, further into the building. He lead them upstairs and across a covered skywalk that overlooked the city.
"You'll be provided with an office instead of a cell. Now, do me a favour, stay in it?" Everett asked, looking at each of them pointedly.
"I'm not intending on going anywhere," T'Challa replied, folding his arms across his chest and looking meaningfully at Everett as Sam and Steve followed along behind Miss Carter.
Everett looked back at him with mild concern, before narrowing his eyes and crossing his arms. "There were reports of another hostile in the underpass, the reports say she seemed to be in league with you."
"She is my bodyguard, and she has diplomatic immunity, as do I. The only reason I am still here, is because I wish to see the Winter Soldier face justice. As such, I seek to take the Winter Soldier into Wakandan custody to face trial in my country for the murder of the King, T'Chaka."
"Very well, we will look into it, but we would like to speak with this bodyguard of yours," Everett replied.
"She speaks to no one, but me."
"What is that, some kind of Wakandan bodyguard code?" Everett scoffed.
"Indeed."
Everett looked dubiously at the Wakandan King, but said nothing more of it, leaving him to his own devices. T'Challa looked out over the city below, wondering if Vielka had made her way there yet.
oOOo
T'Challa sat inside the office that had been provided for him, watching the evaluation of James Buchanan Barnes. He could not hear anything, only able to see the happenings inside the interrogation room. Barnes was still being held inside the prison pod, the psychologist seated at a desk across from him.
T'Challa watched intently, growing impatient. He also worried for Vielka, as to whether she had been captured by the curious Everett Ross, or if she was even aware that they knew she existed. He knew the chances were that she would have ensured that she blended into her surrounds once she escaped the underpass, but he still worried.
His thoughts were interrupted as Natasha Romanoff entered the office. He glanced up at her for a moment before looking back to the feed.
"So, the Black Panther?" Natasha said, sitting across from him. When he didn't reply she continued. "I'm a little surprised you supported the Accords when really it would have brought you under their jurisdiction."
"How long do your psychological evaluations usually take?" T'Challa asked, ignoring her point.
"Why? You bored?"
"Not currently, but my prisoner and I have a plane to catch."
Natasha gave a small smile. "Well, I don't see that happening any time soon."
She had no sooner said it before Everett appeared at the door. "Your highness, extradition has been approved as soon as evaluations are over."
T'Challa gave Everett a nod, before glancing back at Natasha, saying nothing as she narrowed her eyes slightly, before taking her leave.
oOOo
As he continued to watch on, another half hour passing by, the lights dimmed, power cutting from the lights in the office he was in. The feed from within the interrogation room was cut, the screen going black. T'Challa stood, looking about the offices surrounding his. They were nothing but a sea of blackness, a feeling of unease settling within his stomach. He ran into the corridors, spotting Steve, Miss Carter and Sam, running in the opposite direction to him.
He quickly ran to follow them, although when he finally caught up, he found that Sam and Steve had separated from her. He continued after her, hopeful that she would eventually lead her to the Winter Soldier.
As he ran downstairs, he found Tony Stark, Miss Carter and Natasha had engaged with Barnes, who had somehow escaped from his prison pod. T'Challa hurried to free Natasha from being strangled by Barnes, leaping from the stairs above him and kicking him away from her.
He quickly engaged with Barnes, striking at him with lightning fast kicks and some punches, before Barnes was able to get in a counter punch, causing T'Challa to fall backwards. He quickly recovered as Barnes hurried up some stairs.
T'Challa was quick to cut him off, leaping up the levels easily and vaulting a railing, to land in front of Barnes. T'Challa aimed a roundhouse at his chest, forcing him backwards into the railing before grabbing Barnes' metal arm, which he tried to twist but soon realised it wasn't going to work. Barnes flexed his arm, loosening T'Challa's grip, before moving to grab T'Challa by the throat.
Before he could put any real pressure to T'Challa's throat, someone barged into Barnes, knocking his arm away and throwing him backwards, falling down the stairs with him.
T'Challa fell sideways, before looking down after Barnes, to see Vielka was there, having tackled the super soldier, tumbling down the stairs, tangled amongst the Winter Soldier.
She was quick to her feet as they stopped on the landing, before lunging at Barnes again. He blocked her punches, grabbing hold of one of her hands as T'Challa hurried to join the fray, fearful as he saw her try to pull her arm back from the super soldier, that he would cause her serious harm.
Before he could reach them, she swept her leg low, collecting Barnes' legs and sending him over the railing and into the wall behind the landing. He jolted her shoulder as he went, but released her. She held her shoulder as he ran to check on her.
"Banzai, are you alright?" he asked, moving to help her.
"I'm fine, come on, we can't let him get away," she said, brushing him off her and moving to leap over the railing, T'Challa following behind her.
They both landed on the ground floor to find the area empty, not a soul in sight.
oOOo
Vielka watched as T'Challa moved about their hotel suite, a tablet in hand, while she stood by the window, watching the skyline and the roads below for any sign of trouble.
She had taken a big risk, tracking T'Challa to the Joint Counter Terrorist Centre, but she was also intrigued by the man he was tracking. And when she saw him suddenly attacking without prejudice, something had not seemed right. She kept her thoughts to herself, though, certain that T'Challa would not agree with her thoughts at this time.
Everett had ordered for her detainment almost immediately, but T'Challa had been quick to defend her, warning Everett that he risked an international incident if he were to lay a hand on her. As she had committed no real crime but been doing her job, he had no cause to detain her, and she was not obliged to provide a statement of her involvement in the events inside the underpass. Not that she had done much.
Much to Everett's disappointment, she had walked out of the establishment, freely.
After a few hours of phone calls, emails and hacking government agencies, T'Challa had finally sourced the information he needed, getting them closer to finding Barnes.
They hurried downstairs to the underground car park, where there was a car waiting, Vielka leading the way, slipping her face piece back over her eyes as they moved through the corridors.
As they approached the car, she spotted the red haired female Avenger, the Black Widow. She moved to stand before T'Challa defensively, unsure of the woman's purpose to being there, when the rest of her team were also supposed to be searching for the Winter Soldier.
T'Challa stepped before her, looking at her with a look of amusement, and moved to greet the Avenger. Vielka moved to stand behind him, her eyes watching the woman warily, noting her eyes drifted to look back at her more than once.
"You really think you can find him?" Romanoff asked T'Challa as he stopped before her.
"My resources are considerable."
She scoffed slightly. "Yeah, it took the world 70 years to find Barnes... so you could probably do that in about half the time."
Vielka furrowed her brow, the red head knew something.
"You know where they are," T'Challa said, narrowing his eyes at Natasha.
"I know someone who does."
T'Challa considered Natasha's words for a moment, before he looked sideways at Vielka, who turned her head slightly to meet his gaze. "Come, Banzai, the hunt shall continue."
oOOo
Vielka stood behind T'Challa as he met with Tony Stark. She was well aware of the entrepreneur and weapons developer. His story was infamous throughout the world. He was the Iron Man. She had to admit, he was less impressive outside his armour.
"Your highness," he said, putting his hand out to T'Challa, who accepted it slowly, she saw his eyes slide to look at her. "I'm sorry, I don't recall seeing your name on the list."
"She is my personal guard," T'Challa was quick to answer, not missing a beat and stepping before her protectively.
"You're awfully protective of your 'guard'," Tony said after appraising them both for a moment, raising an eyebrow as he looked between Vielka and T'Challa.
"He's protecting you," Vielka muttered, folding her arms across her chest and looking away. She didn't need to look at T'Challa to know he was smirking at her comment, as Tony huffed slightly and looked at Natasha.
She stepped forward, looking around the room they were in. "We know that they're currently in Flughafen Leipzig-Halle, from what we can tell, they're looking to fly out of there, where, we aren't quite sure. So we need to stop them there. We have 36 hours, before Ross goes postal and does God knows what."
Vielka glanced around the room, from what she could tell they had Black Widow, Iron Man, War Machine and a rather disturbing looking... Being... Named Vision. She dared not call him a person, there was something about him that made her uncomfortable. Especially the way he looked at her.
"In the last few hours, Wanda was kidnapped by Clint," Natasha continued, before looking at T'Challa. "You might know him as Hawkeye, so we have to assume that they're siding with Steve."
"They've got two super soldiers and a woman that can manipulate matter. I think that might equate to us being outnumbered..." Vielka murmured behind T'Challa, not looking up to meet Natasha or Tony's gaze.
"Don't worry about that, I've got something organised," Tony said, a small smirk gracing his face.
oOOo
T'Challa crept across the tarmac of the airport. He heard the fizzle and crackle of the helicopter, telling him Iron Man had found one of the band of escapees.
He leapt over a truck, landing lithely in front of Captain America. "Captain."
"Your highness," Steve replied with a slight nod of his head.
Vielka whispered through T'Challa's ear piece. "Keep your guard up, I've got heat signatures approaching."
"Anyways, Ross gave me 36 hours to bring you in. That was 24 hours ago. Can you help a brother out?" Tony rambled, as T'Challa looked beyond the Captain, seeking the other bodies Vielka had picked up.
"You're after the wrong guy."
"Your judgement is askew. Your old war buddy killed innocent people yesterday," Tony exclaimed, the anger in his voice becoming prominent.
"And there are five more super soldiers just like him. I can't let the doctor find them first, Tony. I can't."
"T'Challa, if there's a chance he's telling the truth, perhaps..."
"No, we seek only the justice for Wakanda," T'Challa cut Vielka off as she began to voice her concerns. He would not be led astray from his vengeance for his father.
"The world is bigger than Wakanda, T'Challa," he heard her murmur under breath.
"Steve... you know what's about to happen. Do you really wanna try and punch your way out of this one?" Natasha asked, moving to stand beside Tony. Steve sighed and turned his head, showing his thoughts on the matter.
"All right, I've run out of patience. Underoos!" Tony shouted, as a blur of red and blue flew overhead from behind Steve, a web shooting out and taking his shield, before collecting around his hands and pinning them together. The red and blue blur landed in a crouch on a cart behind them, Steve's shield in hand. "Nice job, kid."
"Thanks. Well, I could've stuck the landing a little better. It's just the new suit... Well, it's nothing, Mr. Stark. It's-It's perfect. Thank you," the kid began to ramble.
T'Challa heard what sounded like Vielka muttering obscenities under her breath, but did not let it distract him.
"Yeah, we don't really need to start a conversation," Tony replied, motioning that the newcomer should be quiet.
"Okay. Cap... Captain. Big fan, I'm Spider-Man."
"Yeah, we'll talk about it later. Just..."
"Hey, everyone."
Tony sighed in frustration. " ... good job."
"You've been busy'" Steve said with an amused look on his face, although his hands were still restrained by the webbing.
"And you've been a complete idiot. Dragging in Clint. 'Rescuing' Wanda from a place she doesn't even want to leave, a safe place. I'm trying to keep... I'm trying to keep you from tearing the Avengers apart," Tony retorted angrily.
Steve sighed in resignation. "You did that when you signed."
"Alright, We're done. You're gonna turn Barnes over, you're gonna come with us. NOW! Because it's us! Or a squad of J-SOC guys... with no compunction about being impolite. Come on."
"T'Challa, watch out!" Vielka warned and he was immediately on his guard, knowing Vielka had a far better view of the airport from her current position in overwatch.
Steve raised his hands up, an arrow shooting through the webbing that bound them. "Alright, Lang."
Spider-Man, as he called himself, began to move strangely. "Hey, guys, something..." He was sent flying backwards, as a man appeared from thin air, before turning and running back towards Steve.
"Whoa. What-What the hell was that?" War Machine demanded, looking around at the others as if to check if they had seen it too.
The man handed Steve his shield. "I believe this is yours, Captain America."
T'Challa was immediately on edge. He knew the soldier was most dangerous with his shield in hand. "Vielka, I need a scan of our surrounds, now," T'Challa said, beginning to move forward.
"Hang on."
"Oh, great." Tony threw his hands up in frustration, before the helmet on his suit closed over his face. "Alright, there's two on the parking deck. One of them's Maximoff, I'm gonna grab her. Rhodey, you want to take Cap?"
"Got two in the terminal, Wilson and Barnes," War Machine reported, also moving to take on Captain America.
"I've got a lock on Barnes, T'Challa," Vielka also reported. "He's running through the main terminal, looks like The Falcon might be with him. I'll head in."
"Barnes is mine!" T'Challa shouted to War Machine, making a move towards the terminal, but Captain America moved to stand in his way.
"Move, Captain. I won't ask a second time," T'Challa demanded, eyeing off the super soldier before him.
"I can't do that."
War Machine and T'Challa moved to attack Captain America, both working together to try and over power the super soldier. No matter how they tried, they could not gain the upper hand over him.
Steve kicked out at War Machine, knocking him out of the air, before flinging his shield at T'Challa and sending him reeling.
T'Challa recovered quickly, glancing sideways at War Machine as he discarded of his now broken mace. "Great."
They both looked to Steve as the man who had appeared from no-where hurried to his side. "Hey, Cap, heads up!" he called, handing something small to Steve. "Throw it at this. Now!"
Steve threw it, and it suddenly enlarged into a large truck, tumbling towards War Machine.
"Oh, come on!" he groaned as the truck landed and exploded, the blast blowing out towards T'Challa. He felt himself tackled roughly, thrown sideways behind a bus from the force.
"Argh!" Vielka gasped as the blast hit her.
"Banzai!" T'Challa exclaimed, quickly moving to check on her as the blast subsided, while Steve and his offsider took off in the opposite direction. "I thought you were going to the terminal?"
"I'm fine," she said sardonically, as he looked her over. There was a burn on her neck and one on her hand, clearly she had been caught well by the blast. "MY job is to guard you, remember? Don't worry about it, let's move."
"Alright, now I'm pissed," War Machine murmured as he recovered from being hit by the truck.
T'Challa, War Machine and Vielka ran after Captain America, seeing them headed for the hangar where Tony's Quinjet was parked. That must have been their plan all along, to hi-jack the Quinjet. They were joined by several others, including the Winter Soldier.
"We won't catch them at this rate," Vielka warned, even as she began to pull ahead of T'Challa.
T'Challa knew she was right, even with the assistance of his enhancement, there was no chance that he would catch them before they made the jet.
A fizzing stream of red energy sliced across the runway before the escaping renegades and they skid to a stop as Vision hovered overhead.
"Captain Rogers. I know you believe what you're doing is right. But for the collective good, you must surrender now," Vision said calmly, as he floated closer to the ground. T'Challa and Vielka, slid to a stop, War Machine landing beside them. The rest of Tony's team were quick to join them.
xo
Krayzee