Hello everyone,

Here is chapter 56, enjoy.


January 13th, 2017

Wakanda

While Tess had spent time in Shuri's lab, Kat sat in the Quinjet facing the computer as she looked over everything the Shadow Network had sent about Klaue's escape. She had slowly gone over each frame trying to gleam any details from the surveillance footage. Again the former Shadow Network agent Linda used their own program to disrupt the camera feed. After cleaning it up, Kat was able to view the underlying footage. She opened up a Skype channel to Cutter plus encryption to avoid government agencies finding her. Easily Cutter answered after the first two rings. "Yeah?"

"You sound exhausted Cutter." Kat replied in Mandarin, and he gave a muffled yawn.

"That is because I have not slept since Klaue escaped custody. Our one chance to find Linda..."

"We will locate her, Cutter." Kat promised, then looked at some of the images. "I have reviewed some of the footage and looked for electric feeds. I think I figured out how Linda located Klaue, tracker signal from his prosthetic arm. Now that I know the signature we should be able to track him should he use a similar device."

"That is good," Cutter sighed. "Right now we are trying to find where next Klaue might try to sell the Vibrainium, but no takers."

"Most likely he will wait until things cool down before making an appearance again." Kat replied.

"If that is the case it could take weeks to locate him again." Cutter replied annoyed.

"Alright this will undoubtedly take many hours but we will pick apart the surveillance footage frame by frame. Make sure to brew a full pot of coffee we will be here a while. Heck make that two pots..." Kat replied. For the next several hours they picked apart the entire surveillance videos inside the station and outside with the aid of numerous search algorithms. The footage before Klaue was interrogated was amusing. Klaue was laughing like a madman and making kissing noises as they watched the footage.

"This guy is as crazy as Gollum." Doc said.

"All he needs to do now is say 'my precious' in a creepy way." Mei added.

"Yep definitely off his rocker." Kat replied as they also saw Ross speaking to T'Challa. For the rest of the Shadow Network they had to use the translation function to know what T'Challa and Okoye said when speaking their own language, but Kat had picked up the language quickly so she had no use for a translator. They watched as Ross made the mistake of touching T'Challa and Okoye again spoke Xhosa.

"If he touches you again, I'm going to impale him to this desk."

"I just realised how mean Okoye is." Doc said.

"Yeah, get her around Tess and she turns into a sweet kitten." Kat said.

"Go ahead and tell Okoye that, Kat." Shado teased.

"Does she speak English?" Ross asked.

"When she wants to." Okoye replied.

"Huh." Ross said then seem to shrug it off. "I'm going in. When I'm done you guys are up." With that Ross started to head for the interrogation room.

"Agent Ross." T'Challa said getting Ross' attention.

"Yeah?" Said agent asked as T'Challa came up and placed a hand on his shoulder. No doubt Kat saw the move for what it was a means to plant a listening device on Ross.

"I do appreciate your help in Busan." T'Challa said, and Ross smiled as he looked to Okoye.

"You see that? It's called diplomacy." Ross said to Okoye who glared back. Stepping to the door he added to T'Challa. "You're welcome."

Left alone T'Challa looked to Okoye.

"Okoye..." The General scoffed, as T'Challa added, "Play nice."

"Americans." Okoye said giving a dismissive gesture.

"Definitely not a people person." Mei added as they watched Ross go in with Klaue. The madman was singing and Kat winced as it felt like he was making her ears bleed.

"He is butchering the song!" Doc grumbled as none of them would ever enjoy that song ever again. Finally crazy man stopped singing as Ross looked at his watch and cleared his throat. "You know you really shouldn't trust the Wakandans. I'm much more your speed."

"I don't trust anybody, not in this job." Ross replied, "But what I am interested in is that arm canon out there. Where'd you get that?"

"It's an old mining tool that I made some adjustments to. But I can get you one, if you like." Klaue offered.

"Why don't you give me the name of your supplier, and I'll ask them." Ross countered.

"He's right outside. Why don't you ask him yourself?" Klaue pointed out.

"What? T'Challa?" Ross asked, "You're telling me that weapon on your arm is from Wakanda?"

"Bingo." Klaue said clicking his tongue. This got Ross to lean back and fold his arms across his chest. "What do you actually know about Wakanda?"

"Ummm... Shepherds, textiles, cool outfits."

"It's all a front. Explorers searched for it for centuries. El Dorado, the Golden city. They thought they could find it in South America... but it was in Africa the whole time. A technological marvel. All because it was built on a mound of the most valuable metal known to man." Klaue explained. "Isipho, they call it. The gift. Vibrainium." As Kat was watching the surveillance feeds, she heard her phone chime and pulled it out of her pocket. Aida was alerting her to an issue in Shuri's lab, whatever that issue was sadly would have to wait as Kat put her phone down and continued to watch.

"Vibrainium, yeah, strongest metal on earth." Ross said already knowing that much.

"It's not just the metal. They sew it into their clothes. It powers their city, their tech... their weapons."

"Weapons?" Ross asked confused.

"Yeah," Klaue chuckled, "Makes my arm cannon look like a leaf blower."

"That's a nice fairy tale, but Wakanda is a third world country... and you stole all their Vibrainium." Ross said not buying Klaue's story one bit.

Klaue burst out laughing. "I stole..." Then the laughing stopped as he jerked in the seat. "All of it? I took a tiny piece of it. They have a mountain full of it. They've been mining it for thousands of years... and they still haven't scratched the surface. I'm the only outsider who's seen it and got out of there alive." As Klaue spoke T'Challa who was hearing all of this moved away. "If you don't believe me you ask your friend what his suit is made of. What his claws are made of."

After that Ross got up to go outside to speak to T'Challa no doubt catching on that not all the madman was saying was complete BS. Ross went to speak to T'Challa and Okoye about what he had learned and hoping to gain answers. Meanwhile Nakia was by the front window looking outside and seeming to notice something outside. She went to where a man sat watching the surveillance cameras.

"Where is that?" Nakia asked in Korean no doubt spotting a glitch in the camera feed. The man gestured behind them where the interrogation room was.

"Back there."

"Smart girl," Cutter noted as she moved towards the back room. She came in to warn T'Challa and the others just as the back wall to the interrogation room blew. In came a man with the tribal mask Kat recognised from the museum shooting at the group. She watched Ross pull Nakia down and get shot instead of her. While Linda and their merc pal pulled Klaue chair and all, from the building. Then tribal mask tossed a grenade. T'Challa in full Panther gear put himself on the grenade to prevent others from being harmed. His suit too all the damage as tribal mask moved back into the alley towards the van. T'Challa gave chase, but when he jumped at the man, tribal mask shot him with a grenade launcher knocking him into the wall. Tribal mask climbed into the back just as the van took off out of the alley way. However they did mange to get the plate numbers.

"We will run the plate numbers..." Cutter said, and Kat yawned as she leaned back and stretched in her seat. Kat looked at her watch and groaned at the time, she had been there most of the day! "Go Kat, you need to take a break. We will call if we locate the van or Linda."

"Yeah okay." Kat replied rising from her seat unaware that the enemies were a lot closer than she thought. In fact T'Challa had been challenged to combat by the very man that broke Klaue out in Korea. She snatched up her phone too tired to check it again as she left the Quinjet and headed back inside. When Kat got inside it was later in the afternoon and she frowned at how empty the place looked. Entering Shuri's lab the young teen was nowhere to be found. Was this the issue Aida was trying to warn her about?

"Aida?" The AI immediately replied through Kat's phone.

"Yes Kat I am here."

"Where is everybody?"

"I am not sure many left about two hours ago. Since I do not have permission to monitor certain areas I am unsure where they went. I do know Tess and Myra are in the lounge, and Everett Ross is in an office."

"Wait! Ross is here?!" Kat asked concerned.

"Yes, did you not receive my alert? He was in Shuri's lab when Tess and Myra were there. Unfortunately he was injured protecting Nakia in Korea, so T'Challa brought him back here to be healed." The thought that Everett Ross was so close to her daughter made Kat's stomach twist unpleasantly. What was T'Challa thinking bringing him here?! How come they were not informed so to avoid a confrontation?

"It is okay, he is unaware of your presence." Aida reassured her.

"But not Tess' or Myra's!" Kat pointed out annoyed.

"Fortunately he appears unaware of whom he spoke to, and as soon as Myra discovered him she made excuses to get Tess out of the lab." Aida said as Kat internally groaned, but with a growing headache she turned to leave the lab. She would just have to deal with this potentially dangerous issue later. Naturally she would check in on Myra and ask her to avoid the CIA agent, but first...

"Okay... I am going to take a shower." Kat sighed as she moved off for her room. Later hopefully she could catch up with King T'Challa and get on the same page with him. Going to her room, Kat stepped into the shower and closed her eyes enjoying the hot spray on her skin. It was alone in these peaceful moments that Kat could relax her mind a little. Too often she had to focus her mind on something otherwise she could find herself reading others minds without another thought. Strangely this time it felt different like her mind was pulling her towards... the cryo-room just past Shuri's lab. She saw the heavy door, then inside the vacant room. She saw the pod in the middle with Bucky inside. Immediately she recoiled from the vision with a gasp as she thought she heard Bucky's voice whisper her name.

The hot spray was now cold. How long had she stood there? Shaking her head she took a quick shower and got out. She dried off and dressed leaving her damp hair down to dry on it's own. Dressed in jeans, a black tank top, and purple button up shirt with the sleeves rolled up. Kat put on her boots and bracelets last, then grabbed her cell phone before heading to the door. Still thinking of the weird vision drawing her to Bucky, Kat was ill prepared as she touched the handle. Outside a local tribal woman shook like a leaf as her thoughts lingered. The image felt like a two-by-four hitting Kat in the stomach as she doubled over at the mental image she saw.

T'Challa in some sort of tribal ceremony. There were waterfalls all around with the Royal family and some of the tribal members present. Shuri, Queen Ramada, and Okoye were there. As the priest... Kat met him once his name was Zuri painted T'Challa's face, However two others were there one Kat recognised as Killmonger, and then there was a woman off to the side her arm in a sling. It was the former Shadow Network agent Linda! How?! What were they doing here?! That was when Shuri spoke up. "He will never beat T'Challa. He should have just come to the first challenge and gotten it over with."

That was when Zuri spoke as he held a small cup to T'Challa's lips. "The king will now have the strength of the Black Panther stripped away."

Whatever T'Challa drank it weakened him as those present moved to a rhythmic beat no doubt as part of the ceremony. Zuri looked at Killmonger for a moment then turned away to look back at T'Challa. Eventually the king rose to his feet as Nakia stepped past the woman to stand by Okoye. The pair spoke briefly, but Kat could not hear it since the woman who remembered this did not hear it. Instead she watched T'Challa turn to Killmonger. "This is your last chance. Throw down your weapons, and we can handle this another way."

In response Killemonger drove his blade into the ground and faced T'Challa. "I lived my entire life waitin' for this moment. I trained, I lied, I killed..." As he spoke Killmonger took off his armour and shirt, "Just to get here. I killed in America, Afghanistan, Iraq. I took life from my own brothers and sisters right here on this continent!"

Reaching down he grabbed his blades once more, "And all this death...just so I could kill you."

As he said the last part he pointed a blade at T'Challa. Thus T'Challa looked to Zuri who said. "Let the challenge begin."

She watched Zuri step out of the way so the two men could fight. Immediately the fight began between both men, and Kat watched wondering how long ago was this memory? What happened? She found she could not turn away from the memories of the woman in the hall still shaken by the memory. At first it seemed both men were evenly matched, T'Challa even managed to get some good hits in. So why then did she feel dread? That was when it happened Killmonger managed to cut him back and Shuri yelled to her brother. "Snap out of it, T'Challa!"

'C'mon T'Challa kick his ass!' Kat thought as she witnessed the memory. Sadly the memory showed her something far worse transpiring as T'Challa took cut after cut until he was disarmed. He tried to punch Killmonger, but the bastard stabbed T'Challa in the side. When he fell to one knee Killmonger tried to deliver the killing blow but T'Challa caught his hand only to be punched. Knocked to his hands and knees, Kat silently preyed he would get up. Killmonger punched him again knocking him down again.

"This is for my father." She saw Killmonger raising his blade. 'No! Move T'Challa!' However just as Killmonger brought the blade down Zuri blocked it with his own staff.

"Enough!" This got Killmonger's attention.

"Zuri no." T'Challa said as he looked up.

"Stop!" A couple others called out to Zuri, but he focused on Killmonger. "I am the cause of your father's death. Not him. Take me." Even Kat wanted Zuri to get away from the man. He did not deserve what came next.

"I'll take you both Uncle James!" Killmonger stabbed Zuri as Kat watched the memory from the woman in horror. She watched T'Challa call for Zuri and scream no repeatedly. From the single time she met Zuri she knew he was an old family friend and important to T'Challa. Not thinking and still very much injured T'Challa grabbed a blade and swung at Killmonger who easily stepped out of range. Then he looked at those gathered. "Is this your king? Huh?"

T'Challa kept trying to hit him as Killmonger taunted the crowd by asking. "Is this your king?"

Then Killmonger punched him in the stomach and while down brought his knee to T'Challa's face before turning back to address those gathered. "The Black Pather. Who's suppose to lead you into the future?"

"C'mon brother!" Shuri called out as she started to cry. All the while Killmonger continued his taunts.

"Huh? He's suppose to protect you!" One last time T'Challa tried to punch him, but Killmonger was ready and caught him up carrying him to the falls. 'No, no, no, no, no!' Kat thought helplessly watching as Killmonger threw T'Challa over the side. She heard Ramanda scream no, and could not help feeling sick. "Nah I'm your king."

She heard Nakia taking the Queen and Shuri away to safety as another woman stepped forward to place the ceremonial necklace on Killmonger. However Linda stepped up smiling at Killmonger as she took the necklace off of the woman. Linda, despite her injury placed the necklace around Killmonger's necklace. As he was made king of Wakanda.

Kat gasped as she tore herself from the woman's thoughts and memory. This could not be happening! While at first Kat and T'Challa had been on opposite sides when they first met with him wanting to kill Bucky, that all changed when Zemo was caught. Now the two were good friends, and seeing that memory knowing she could do nothing was painful. Taking a few shaky breaths, Kat realised it was no longer safe here with Killmonger as king. Getting back to her feet, Kat then slipped outside her room. She needed to find Tess and Myra now!


It was getting towards evening when Tess and Myra left the lounge and walked the halls of the palace. As usual Myra moved beside the little girl still carrying the practice staff. The pair had just eaten and Tess wanted to check on her mother. However Myra also saw it as Tess' little stall tactic, but since Kat had been working most of the day and Tess had not gotten to spend as much time with her Myra decided to indulge her. As they walked Tess asked. "Do you think we can go see Everett? He was nice."

"I am not sure that is a good idea Tessi." Myra admitted, "He may seem nice but that doesn't mean we should push our luck."

"Why not? He isn't HYDRA, and he was nice." Tess pointed out.

"On the surface perhaps, but he is a government agent and your parents are both wanted by the government. Besides if anyone found out about you they would not be so nice. Even Agent Ross could be ordered to take you away by said government. It would not matter how nice he is then." Myra explained, and Tess looked down saddened. So Myra sighed. "We would have to ask your mother first."

That got Tess to look up and smile. "Now that does not mean yes, your mom could very well say no and that would be the end of it."

The pair continued, then Myra frowned at the empty halls. Where was everyone? Looking around Myra grew concerned. They had just been heading for Kat's room when Myra saw some men up ahead. She recognised them as the border tribe wearing their blue robes, so she relaxed until they were spotted and one man pointed at them. "You there! You will come with us!"

"What?" Myra asked confused as she put herself between them and Tess. "We are guests of King T'Challa."

"King T'Challa was defeated in ritual combat, now you will be taken to the new king." Every alarm bell was going off that the last thing they wanted to do was meet this new king. Something was wrong here, and so as one of the men reached for her she caught his wrist and kicked another man in the stomach.

"Tess run!" Myra screamed. Scared Tess ran down the hall wanting to find her mother to help Myra.


Elsewhere in the palace...

After getting the Royal family to safety and meeting with Okoye, Nakia was left with precious few options. Any guest in the palace was in danger so her next stop was to get Everett Ross before anyone else. Entering the office carrying extra clothes. Everett turned from the window he was looking out to face Nakia as he noticed her expression he asked. "What's wrong?"

"The king is dead." Nakia replied and tossed him one of the clothes she brought in, "Come with me, unless you want to join him." Immediately Ross put the cover on and followed Nakia out into the hall the pair moved quickly, but as they started to move around the corner a little dark haired girl ran into view chased by two men.

"Come here!" One man called as he snatched Tess up. The little girl screamed, and began to struggle.

"MOMMY!" Tess shrieked in fear as Nakia was about to step out and save her. However before she could move. The man screamed in pain and clutched his head. Tess landed on her toes and hands , scampered a few steps then scrambled to her feet and ran away. Behind the man was another from the hall around the corner that got thrown into the glass window lining the right side of the hall. It was not enough to knock him out or through the glass, but he was down for the moment. That was when Kat stepped out into view. The man that had grabbed Tess recovered and pulled a blade. While on his knees he went to stab Kat who caught his wrist and kicked him in the side. When he dropped the blade, Kat brought her knee to his face knocking him out. The other man by the glass got up and ran at Kat, he swung on her and she caught his arm. Using his momentum she steered him forcing him to run head first into the wall stunning him. Before he could recover she kicked him in the face and he landed on the ground with a thud.

With the two men down Kat turned as Tess called out. "Mommy!"

Kneeling down Kat held Tess close as the little girl ran up and hugged her tightly. "Are you okay?"

The little girl shakily nodded, then pulled away. "But they got Myra. She tried to hold them off and told me to run."

"Okay, I'll-" Kat started to say as Nakia and Everett stepped from around the corner into the hall. Seeing the two figures Kat immediately called a wrist dagger to hand then relaxed a little as she saw Nakia. However seeing Ross made her tense.

"Katrina it is good to see you are safe."

"You too Nakia."

"King T'Challa is-"

"I know I saw it." Kat said wanting to spare Tess the news at least for now.

"How? You were not at the ceremony." Nakia said drawing closer.

"Long story short, I witnessed it through another. I will explain later when we are safer and not in front of him." Kat said as she said the last she pointed at Ross.

"It's okay Mommy. He is a friend." Tess added. Kat might have argued that, but hearing men coming both groups knew they could not linger. They quickly ducked down another hallway heading out of the palace. "Mommy what about Myra?"

"I'll go back for her, for now let me get you to safety first." Kat said as they entered the darkened woods. The group moved through the woods quickly and quietly. Up ahead they heard two women's voices and as they neared Ramanda rose pulled a circular blade.

"It's me." Nakia whispered.

"Nakia, who is this man?" Ramanda asked looking to Everett. The poor Queen was still grief-stricken as Kat held Tess close.

"He's a friend of T'Challa's. He saved my life."

"Where is Okoye?" Ramanda asked.

"Okoye is not coming. She and the Dora Milaje will serve the new king." Nakia told them making everything a lot worse. It was Tess that responded next.

"No! Okoye has to come with us." Kat quickly knelt down in front of Tess.

"Shhh Tessi. Look I know you want Okoye here, and I would feel a lot better if she was. But she has a duty she must follow and we cannot make her come with us. Right now I need you to be strong for me okay? You're the only Dora Milaje here, you have got to protect the Queen and princess. I'll go back for Myra..." This seemed to calm the little girl down some, however the next question scared Kat for a number of reasons; but most of all because Ross was standing there.

"What about Daddy?"

Momentarily stunned it was Shuri who added. "He is still in Cryo."

Recovering Kat looked up at Shuri, "Can we wake him?"

"The programming has not been completely removed. I have only just begun rewriting his mind, it is too dangerous to take him out of cryo now." Shuri replied apologetically as Kat tried to think of a way to ensure Bucky's safety. Then Kat remembered the resident AI, and pulled out her phone.

"Aida."

"I am here Kat." The response made Kat smile.

"I can have Aida lock down the lab and cryo room by plugging her in." Kat said.

"I do not have permission to access the Wakandan comput-" Aida started to protest.

"Oh to hell with authorisation! You have my permission Aida. Once plugged in lock down my lab, and the Cryo-room." Shuri said.

"As you wish." Aida replied as Kat rose and both told them to stay here. Together Nakia and Kat snuck back to the palace.

"Do you know where you need to go?" Nakia whispered.

"Yeah pretty much. I will try to get Myra, then meet you at Shuri's lab." Kat whispered back. The two split off with Kat heading into the palace. Nakia knowing her home well told her of a small tunnel above the dungeon she could use. Avoiding the guards and border tribe was pretty easy, as Kat moved and eventually found the tunnel Nakia spoke of. She personally had never visited the dungeon, but with Myra wearing trackers it was easy to locate her as she climbed through the tunnel. Eventually she located Myra in one of the cells a bit battered, but otherwise unharmed. She sent her thoughts to the red head.

'Myra, I am here to get you out.' The red head peaked up as she thought to Kat.

'No Kat wait! The guards are waiting to capture you. They are using me as bait.' This stopped Kat from acting as she tried to think of what to do. 'Is Tess okay? I told her to run.'

'She is safe, thanks to you.'

'Good, then go. Get yourselves to safety.' Myra urged mentally.

'I can't just leave you here!'

'It's okay Okoye won't let them harm me. She has given strict orders I am to be left alone.' Kat did not move, while Okoye would protect Myra that would only last so long. 'Go Kat, I will be fine.'

Kat looked around wishing for a way to help Myra and not wanting to leave her, but seeing through Myra's mind she saw the clever trap should she make a move to free Myra. Finally she thought to Myra. 'I'll be back for you. I promise, just hold tight Myra.'

'You will owe me some drinks after this.' Myra teased.

'I'll buy us some bottles of the good strong stuff then. Just stay safe.' With that Kat went back the way she came, then snuck into the palace and met Nakia in the lab. While Nakia grabbed a necklace, Kat went to the computer and plugged in Aida. The AI spoke after a moment.

"Okay I am in and locking out the computers so no one can access Shuri's schematics or data. I am also locking down the cryo room. Luckily no one has entered it, so James is safe." Kat released a relieved breath as Aida continued. "However this lock down is only a temporary measure. Once Linda learns of the lock-down.."

"She will try to override it." Kat concluded.

"How long?" Nakia asked.

"Approximately twenty-four hours possibly less if Linda is as good as Cutter claims." Aida replied. Kat sighed hating this.

"Keep her out for as long as possible. I will be back one way or another for him and Myra." With that Kat and Nakia snuck back to the woods and rejoined the others. Naturally Tess noticed Myra not with them and asked.

"I couldn't get her out. It was a trap, she told me not to try it." Kat explained, "Don't worry Okoye is keeping her safe for now." This small reassurance helped keep Tess calm as the group moved further from the palace. The only option was to get as far away as possible and keep the remaining Royal family safe. Killmonger seemed the kind of prick to 'kick 'em while their down', so hunting down the remaining family would not be beyond him. Shortly after they began their trek, Nakia asked if the Shadow Network could be reached.

"Sadly the only way I reach them here in Wakanda is through the communication array on the Quinjet, or Aida patching them into my phone." Kat replied.

"What of Aida?" Nakia asked.

"Sadly she was left in the palace's computers. In order to maintain the lock down she had to stay. It was the only way to lock down the lab and cryo-room."

"I thought Aida could move freely through multiple systems." Shuri said confused.

"Normally she can, but here she has limited access." Kat explained.

"Why?" Ramanda asked looking back.

"Well the main reason is because out of professional courtesy. Aida was allowed free range of movement at the Wakanda border facility, because King T'Challa gave her permission. That did not include the palace. Aida and I both agreed we would not take advantage of T'Challa's hospitality."

"Wait so the reason Aida does not have full access is because she was not given permission to?" Nakia asked shocked. If not for the situation they were in Shuri would have been laughing because of the plain and simple fact Aida had 'restricted' herself. Still the funny looks Kat got made her want to defend the poor AI that was not present.

"In case you forgot, not a lot of people are friendly towards AIs. You can thank Tony Stark and his not-so-brillant idea to create Ultron for that. Thanks to him Aida feels she has to walk on eggshells to avoid being tarred with the same paintbrush! So yeah she did the polite thing and restricted herself from the Wakandan computers."

"Kat, Kat, Kat." Shuri said before Kat could go off on a rant, "It's okay. We just thought she had full access was all."

"Right sorry..." Kat replied rubbing the bridge of her nose.

"Well we cannot contact your friends and Aida is in the lab computers, so we do not have a lot of options left to us." Nakia said thinking, "We need powerful allies if we are to stop Killmonger."

"Is there any that will help us?" Ross asked.

"The Jabari Tribe. M'Baku may be the only one that can help us stop Killmonger." Nakia answered after a moment. With a intended destination the group moved through the woods heading for the mountains. With Nakia leading the way, Ramanda and Shuri stuck close and second. Kat followed keeping Tess close as Everett Ross came to walk besides them. In the silence, Kat could literally hear the questions that Ross was bouncing to ask. For the most part she tried to ignore him and his thoughts. But that only worked for so long until he opened his mouth and tried to start a conversation.

"Sooo... a mom huh? How did that happen?"

"Your dad never give you the birds and bees talk Agent Ross?"

"That isn't what I meant."

"Okay, the stork delivered a bundle to my window-" Kat replied not willing to give anymore information up then she had to.

"Very funny." Ross cut in as he looked away then a moment later he started again. "Here's what I think..."

"Oh dear god..." Kat groaned.

"Your daughter is what two and a half? Three?"

'Don't answer that question Tess.' Kat thought to Tess knowing her daughter was about to answer. Immediately the little girl closed her mouth as Ross continued. "Now I did do some light reading as you suggested last time. You spent all that time hiding away. Ten plus years... then you come out of hiding to defend James Barnes. Which makes me think you have met him before..."

'Tess go on ahead and stay with Ramanda and Shuri. Agent Ross and I need to have a talk alone.' Kat thought to Tess, the little girl wordlessly moved on ahead as Ross kept talking. Then once Tess was by Shuri's side, Kat mentally told them to keep going and she and Ross would catch up. Once she was sure no one would interfere Ross found himself shoved aside and the business end of a blade from Kat's wrist dagger pointed at him.

"Let me stop you there, Agent Ross. The only reason you are still breathing is because I don't want to upset my daughter and you saved Nakia's life. However neither will keep you safe if Tess or I end up in your little report. I have spent my entire life either as a lab-rat or in hiding because your precious US government wanted to put a fucking man on the moon. Never mind how many had to die at HYDRAs hands for that! I don't see the US government apologising for it's mistakes or putting it's god damn name on the Sokovian Accords. Yet if they knew about Tess they would want her to sign on the fucking line, or worse they would try to take her away. I have not spent the last ten plus years hunting down HYDRA and having loved ones ripped away from me to lose my daughter too. So if you endanger my daughter by trying to report her, no one will keep you safe from me. She is off limits, got it?"

Kat watched Ross swallow down a lump in his throat before nodding. Taking that as a sign that they now had a understanding Kat turned to follow after the others. She heard Ross following, then he jogged to keep up as he came to be walking beside her again. "I uhh wasn't going to report her."

Kat looked straight ahead not caring what he claimed, she was not in the mood for chatting. Still the man was trying to make conversation. "Really, I am being honest with you. I-"

"Then why are you trying to learn more about her?!" Kat stopped and turned to face Everett annoyed, "So what? You can use her as leverage? 'Turn yourself in, or I spill the beans.' Is that it?"

Ross looked like a fish out of water for a second then sighed. "Back in Germany, I made a mistake. We ignored evidence you gave and went after an innocent man. My peers wanted to flay me alive when you dropped the bomb on the internet, but it was an eye opener..." Ross paused a moment to organise his thoughts, "Today there is just as many people hailing you as a hero as there are politicians calling for your arrest. Yes you are a wanted criminal and so is Barnes..."

"If you are making a point get to it already." Kat said arms folded across her chest.

"Yes my point is a lot of us don't want to arrest you anymore than we would want to arrest Steve Rogers. So I would rather pretend you're not here and not mention you or Tess either. Otherwise my superiors would be asking me why I didn't arrest you." Ross said as Kat looked at him sceptically, "As for Tess I was just curious... I met her in Shuri's lab and spoke to her. Then she called you mom... anyway she's a cute kid."

With that Ross moved on ahead as Kat watched him walk away a little stunned. She was not sure weather to believe him or not. He did seem sincere, but if he meant it remained to be seen. Hopefully he spoke the truth, but for now the others were waiting up ahead so she took up the rear. For most of the night they travelled, and at one point Tess was getting tired. Kat carried her on her back for a long portion of the trip until they entered Jabari territory that early afternoon. Then Kat set Tess back on her own two feet as they neared the mountain where the tribe resided.

Finally it was Ross that broke the lengthy silence. "So where are we going again?"

"We're taking the heart-shaped herb to Jabari-land."

"Heart-shaped herb? What is that?" Ross asked.

"It gives whoever takes it heightened abilities." Nakia replied.

"It's what made T'Challa so strong." Ramanda added.

"Every king of Wakanda is given the herb so that they can become the Black Panther and protector of Wakanda." Tess said remembering her lessons from the Dora Milaje. They were not just taught how to fight, but the history too. Everett looked over at Tess and smiled, as Ramanda had second thoughts about this plan.

"Nakia," The woman went over to Ramanda, "I don't like this. The herb belongs to us. We may be creating a bigger monster with M'Baku." Both women looked at the mountain they were nearing. Designed into the rock was an angry looking ape that did not bode well for them. "Nakia, you should take it yourself."

"I am a spy with no army. I wouldn't stand a chance." Nakia said.

"What about Kat?" Shuri spoke up, and Kat who had been looking at the mountain looked at Shuri as if she grew two heads.

"Wh—what?" Kat asked stunned as Ramanda and Nakia looked at Shuri and were now looking at her. Then Ramanda was shaking her head at Shuri.

"Oh don't look at me that way mama. We are about to hand over the heart-shaped herb to M'Baku. Which would you rather give the herb to? Him or Kat?"

"Woah time out," Kat said making a time out gesture with her hands as Nakia and Ramanda looked back at Kat again considering their options. "For starters I am an outsider. At the end of this whoever takes the herb most likely will be the future ruler of Wakanda right?" Receiving nods Kat continued, "Then it cannot be me for more than one obvious reason. Besides reason two is I don't have an army either. So our only real best bad option is M'Baku. Let's stick with that shall we?"

Both women nodded in agreement and Kat looked to Shuri who also nodded. With no other options available they were going to move towards the mountain. They did not get far when they stopped hearing the noises and approach of the Jabari tribe making chanting and grunting noises to sound like apes. Turning around they were behind them, however when Kat looked back they were ahead too. As Ross cursed they found themselves surrounded and Kat pulled Tess close to her.

"Look down. Stay calm." Nakia said softly and Kat did as she said urging Tess to do the same as the little girl hugged her tightly and gripped her staff. Somehow throughout the ordeal of yesterday and today she managed to keep the practice staff. Soon the group was huddled together in a circle as the tribe drew closer.

"Mommy?" Tess asked scared.

"It's okay Tess." Kat whispered as Ross moved closer next to Kat so the pair created a barrier between the Jabari and Tess. At least the CIA agent was willing to protect Tess from potential harm, but would that save them from what was coming next?


Author's Notes:

First off thank you all for the lovely reviews, and sorry this chapter was not posted sooner. I was having some computer problems.

In one of the reviews, Xuanny asked if Shuri had not known the danger Ross poses to Tess. When writing the lab scene I just went the idea that Shuri being the relaxed teen did not think of what it could mean at the time. Merely she knew Ross was injured and her brother wanted her to heal him. She also could have forgotten in the moment that Tess being Kat and Bucky's daughter might be in danger if Ross discovered the truth. However given the way Myra eagerly got Tess away she would have realised she had made a mistake.

As for this chapter, a lot of it is from the Black Panther movie with Kat simply watching the surveillance cams with the Shadow Network. Or the other fight scene with Killmonger and T'Challa was seen through the memories of a distraught tribeswoman that Kat got too close too.

Also something to note about what Kat saw was an injured Linda in the fight scene memory. As a I mentioned before I felt Linda was terribly underused. While Killmonger killing her was to show just how ruthless he was; it did not help me to better understand him. I am one of those that prescribe to the idea that the best villains are the ones that you can relate to on some level, even though they are bad and need to be stopped. That is why Loki is such a good villain, you can understand where he is coming from and why he does what he does even though he had to be stopped in the first Avengers movie. In short rather than follow the movie 100% Linda is still alive, and Killmonger when he shot her was not a killing shot but an injury shot instead hence the sling her arm is in.

The only other things to note is how Ross inadvertently finds out who Tess' mother is, and starts piecing together the whole truth. I didn't want to jut outright have him be told who Tess' parents were, so I decided this would be a creative enough way to say it.

The other thing is Aida restricting herself... I was careful in earlier chapters by saying Aida only ever communicated via Kat's or Myra's phones or while within the Quinjet. It is why Aida did not know Ross was in Shuri's lab, never was there a mention of her communicating via Shuri's computers. This was done to show the restrictions. The only platforms she can transfer between is the cell phones and Quinjet, so when she was plugged in that meant she had to plant herself inside Shuri's lab computers and then she could move more freely there. But as Kat stated it meant leaving Aida within the computers back at the palace.

Well I think I covered all the key things for this chapter... I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please let me know what you think by leaving a review.

Lesliezin