"Knew I had to run away now
Tell them what you did
Tell them how you tore my heart out
And threw it in the bin

But I still wanna bless you
Wanna kiss and caress you
You know nobody can test you
Cause I'll be the best you…

I'll be the best you best you
Best you ever had
Praying that you change yuh dirty ways
Coz ain't nobody gonna love you like me
I'll be the best you best you
Best you ever had
Didn't mean to hurt yuh that you say
But all I need right now is balance and peace"

Jada Kingdom—"The Best You Ever Had"

Shit ran so smooth.

Limbani and Klaue rolled the gurney out of the museum as Erik laid prone on it gripping the vibranium on his chest. The breathing mask that covered his face itched his skin, but he stayed still as Limbani and Klaue lifted him onto the ambulance.

Linda quickly secured the stoppers on the wheels as Erik sat up and grabbed her waist, gifting her lips with a spontaneous kiss that made her laugh out loud. She grabbed his face in return, the genuine affection coming from her making her breathy and open like a teenager sneaking smooches.

"What was that for?" she asked as Klaue closed the doors and Limbani hit the siren and drove them to the airport.

Erik slid off of the gurney and handed the vibranium to her.

"We about to be set for life," he said.

Her eyes regarded the hunk of metal.

"This is really worth ninety-million?" she asked.

"Minus expenses and my overhead, that comes to fifteen-million for each of you," Klaue said.

Linda shook her head with wonderment as Klaue hopped into the shotgun seat checking their flight departures from his field computer.

Erik took the vibranium from her and packed it away in Klaue's specially made travel bag.

"To think you considered bailing on me," Erik said.

He tried not to flinch when she stroked his face and leaned in closer to his chest. Reel her in and keep her focused.

"It's a good thing you talked me out of it."

She pursed her lips and lined them with his. He accepted the kiss, even allowed her to dart her tongue in his mouth before he pulled back from her slowly. She traced his lips with her finger and her eyes held open yearning for him. He just needed her a little while longer. He could tolerate her a little while longer.

###

Erik spent a few days exploring Busan and getting familiar with escape routes from the illegal gambling den that Klaue was due to meet Agent Ross in. For two nights he lingered in the Jagalchi Fish Market and watched a Korean woman pretend to be a market proprietor selling vegetables and fish. Occasionally, a well-dressed couple or other similarly dressed individuals would ease up to her booth and whisper to her discreetly. If she were agreeable, she'd jerk her head toward the back of the space where a young Korean man would open a blue tarp that looked like the entrance to a stock room/freezer. The people would disappear and then others would trickle in for most of the night. The Busan police were clearly paid to ignore what was happening.

He brought Linda and Limbani with him to run surveillance on the security set-up around the perimeter of three full blocks. The day before the transaction with Ross, Erik and Klaue took the eight South African muscle men to the site and let them know the best evasive routes in case they were followed by the C.I.A. It was the Wakandans that Klaue was worried about. He tried to play it cool as if he had everything under control, but Erik knew that Klaue probably wanted to hire a few more bodyguards just in case.

Game time came fast and Erik watched Klaue stuff the vibranium wrapped in a paper bag inside the front of his pants.

"Here, swallow this," Erik said handing him an internal tracker.

Even though Erik already had Klaue's prosthetic arm fitted with his own GPS tracker, he wanted the others to be able to find him too since he would not be there for the hand-off.

"Ross will have the C.I.A. deposit half of our fee in cryptocurrency and I will convert it into my Triton account right before I walk in. The rest of the balance will be paid in diamonds. I hand over the vibranium, he gives me the diamonds, and then I'll meet you at the hotel afterward. They'll be looking for us at Gimhae, so we'll leave out of the old airstrip in the morning."

"We're gassed up and ready," Erik said.

"Good. I want to get the fuck out of here and go back to South Africa. Enjoy our bounty and set up some new opportunities."

Klaue swiped a dime-sized mic under his shirt collar.

"Hold still," Linda said to Klaue.

Klaue stared at her as she pulled out camera contacts.

"We can see what you see now," Linda said placing the clear contacts over each of his eyes.

Klaue stepped back from her.

"Blink," Linda said as she stared at her field computer.

"It's making my eyes water."

"That sensation will pass," Linda said swiping her screen, "Okay, we're good. You can be on your way."

They watched Klaue and his bodyguards climb into four black 4Runners.

"What if he just takes the money and diamonds and leaves?" Linda asked.

"Nah. He ain't like that. He's a greedy racist fuckwad, but one thing Klaue ain't is a dirty double-crosser."

His lying words sat flat in the air. Linda didn't even react. She checked her field computer again and walked back toward the hotel lobby. Limbani sat waiting for them in the luxury suite they all shared and Linda uploaded the tracking software to a larger laptop so they all could watch the entire transaction.

Food was ordered from room service and the three of them watched Klaue enter through the blue tarp and set off the alarm system at the metal detector. They were passed through and stood on the first floor looking down into the casino. Erik concentrated on what he expected to see.

"There he is," Erik whispered as he spotted Agent Ross through Klaue's eyes.

Ross stared up at Klaue as the muscle men scattered away from him to secure the room.

"Take it easy, Boss Man," Erik said into the computer mic, "the Wakandans are already there somewhere. The moment you hand over the vibranium, you gotta move."

"They've been after me for over twenty years, boy. They like to stay hidden. They won't make a scene to blow their cover. In out. In out…"

Klaue took a second to stare at his watch viewscreen.

"You see that children? Fifty-million delivered. Now to get the rest."

Klaue typed onto his viewscreen.

"Money transferred. Here we go," Klaue said with a flourish.

Erik turned up the sound.

"Well, that is quite the entourage…"

Agent Ross gave mild banter and Klaue was boisterous and loud as ever.

"Chill man," Erik told Klaue.

Linda gave a nervous sigh. Limbani kept rubbing his hands.

Klaue whipped out the vibranium from his crotch and slammed the paper bag on the blackjack table. Ross looked turned his head in annoyance.

Seconds later…

A loud crash made people screamed.

"Shit," Erik huffed. Linda typed on the laptop and enhanced the sound.

Klaue pulled out his gun and Ross held up the metal attaché that contained the diamonds to deflect the barrage of bullets that came his way.

"Dammit," Erik shouted, "Get the fuck outta there!"

Klaue jumped away from the other bullets that flew around and ran back toward the entrance.

"C'mon, c'mon…" Erik muttered under his breath.

Klaue's eyes darted back down toward the casino tables and Erik saw him.

T'Challa.

The newly crowned King of Wakanda leaped up to the first floor and climbed over the stair banister.

They watched Klaue lift his gun and shoot at T'Challa, but his clip was empty.

"Umbulali!" T'Challa shrieked at Klaue.

Murderer.

Erik clenched his fists.

"Ndizokubonisa ukubulala," Erik said out loud. I will show you a murderer.

"What did you say?" Linda asked.

Erik shook his head at her.

"You know, you look just like your old man," Klaue said.

"Make sure his tracker is still good," Erik demanded.

He stood up and went to his suitcase and changed into his retraction gear.

"They're on the go!" Linda called.

Erik grabbed his duffle that carried his modified AR-15, stun grenades, and smoke bombs.

"Get dressed!" he ordered.

Limbani and Linda left the computer and Erik kept track of where Klaue was evading the Wakandans.

The C.I.A. and the Wakandans were on his ass and Erik's only hope was that Agent Ross and his people captured Klaue instead of T'Challa. The C.I.A. were easy to overwhelm. The Wakandans…not so much.

"Can't shake 'em off our ass," Klaue shouted as he climbed out of his window and deployed his prosthetic arm weaponry. Erik heard the sonic boom of the arm and then the 4Runner looked like it was tumbling…

"Ah, fuck!" Klaue yelled.

"Let's go!" Erik bellowed.

Linda and Limbani trotted out dressed in their gear and carrying several duffle bags.

"Oh mercy, King. Mercy…"

Erik's eyes regarded the laptop with intense concentration.

The Black Panther.

Claws hung in the air and Erik felt his heart drop as he waited with cool dread for T'Challa to finish off Klaue. His key to the golden city slipping away from him.

Two Wakandan women approached him and Agent Ross drove up.

Erik exhaled with relief.

The C.I.A. would snag Klaue.

Erik handed the computer to Linda and charged out of the hotel suite door.

###

The Black Site office for the C.I.A. was inside a seedy-looking travel agency located inside a building on the bottom floor. Limbani drove a paint service van around the block as Linda scanned the building for Klaue and other heat signatures. Either Klaue had removed his contacts or the C.I.A. had done it for him. They could only rely on his tracker.

"There's a back alley on the side where he's being held," Linda said.

She glanced at Erik in the back of the van.

He strapped the AR-15 on himself and hunched down in the back waiting to create the diversion needed to blast his way to Klaue. He grabbed the Benin mask that he brought with him.

"He's alone in a backroom," she said.

"Let's get it done before they ghost him."

Limbani drove around the block again then backed into the alley.

Bursting out from the van, Erik immediately posted up a daisy chain of explosives against the wall and stood to the side with Linda and Limbani backing him. Slipping the mask over his face, he took a deep breath and set the charges with a detonator. The explosion rocked the building and Erik ran in sweeping left to right, riddling the space with bullets as Limbani and Linda lifted Klaue up in the seat he was strapped to. Once people dropped to the ground as expected, Erik threw a grenade and ran back through the breach with his crew. He kept shooting while walking backward providing cover as Klaue was lifted into the van, a maniacal laugh erupting from that man's throat. If Erik didn't know any better, he'd think the man was off his permanent rocker—

The Black Panther ran out through the debris and Erik shot at him, the bullets lighting up his suit with purple streaks of light, until he leaped off the ground, claws outstretched.

Erik switched from bullets to the vibranium enhanced grenade launcher on the AR-15 and shot the Panther with a full blast, the impact blowing his cousin against the wall and then backward several feet onto his back.

Erik ran and jumped onto the back of the van and hung onto a metal rack on the hood. He looked back at T'Challa who was still on the ground stunned but watching him. It would have been so easy to blow his head off while he laid unmasked and prone on the ground. But they would meet again soon enough. He had to follow protocol. Kill him on his land.

As the van tires screeched with their escape, Erik pointed a finger at T'Challa, letting him know it wasn't over yet.

Not Yet.

Linda cut Klaue loose from the chair and they all stared at his arm with the missing prosthetic.

"Well shit. We'll just have to make due with half," Klaue said slapping Erik's arm with his right hand.

"Still rich," Linda said.

"Still rich," Klaue said winking at her.

Limbani weaved in and out of traffic and they stayed on the road for thirty minutes until they reached the abandoned airfield where Limbano hid their Cessna. Linda kept smiling.

"Cheesing," he said.

"Thinking about the château I'm going to buy. Can't decide if I want to be in Paris or Spain," she said.

"For the love of money," he said with a bit of surliness.

Her eyes regarded him with quiet suspicion. He stuffed his Benin mask in his duffle.

Unloading their bags from the van, Erik kept his eyes, ears, and mind focused on the other three. Klaue jumped on his cell phone as Erik and Linda followed behind him.

Klaue promised to transfer their money once he returned to Jo'burg and washed it through digital banks.

"I know you good for it," Erik said.

Limbani loaded up the plane with their bags and Linda walked to the other side with Klaue, a grin still on her face. Dreams of Paris or Spain still dancing in her head as she opened the plane door.

"On our way back, just drop us off in Wakanda."

"You don't want to go there, boy."

Erik's jaw tightened.

"Yeah, I do—"

Erik shot Limbani with two sharp blasts.

Turning back to Klaue, the man had Linda gripped with his right arm, his weapon jammed into her temple.

"Drop it!" Klaue shouted.

Erik calmly aimed his piece at Klaue's forehead. Linda kept her arms up with a stunned almost comical look of surprise painted on her face. Klaue kept screaming at him and demanded that Erik put his gun down.

"I'm sorry…I'm sorry, Erik," Linda said.

Erik glared at her. All he could see was Huntsman with his gun jammed into Sydette's chest, Shipley groping Yani, and Neal threatening to sexually assault her. Linda's eyes must have caught the seething anger erupting from his pores because her face went blank with realization.

"It's gonna be okay," he said.

One shot.

One shot through her chest.

Klaue dropped her and scurried away.

Erik shot at him them chased him down.

Klaue hid behind rusted remains of an old plane and Erik made short work of taking him out with a clean shot through the plane's window. Klaue fell back and dropped the gun he had clutched in his hand.

Moving around slowly, gun aimed and ready, Erik approached the man that turned against his father.

"You really want to go to Wakanda?" Klaue asked between gasps.

Erik kicked Klaue's weapon away and stared at the man, his gun wound ending his life slowly. He could hear the gurgling of blood in his voice.

"They're savages."

The viciousness made Erik's face harden. No. They weren't savages. They were too advanced for this man's liking and they spanked that ass. Erik stared at the branding on the man's neck. The thief had finally met his match. Klaue pointed to that branding and turned his head so Erik could see it better.

"This is what they do to people like us."

Us?

"I ain't worried about no brand. Check these out…"

Klaue had seen his scars before but never really paid much attention. He never asked about them. But his eyes really focused on them now.

"Each one is for a kill."

Klaue's eyes blinked wildly for a moment as his internal cavity felt blood spilling where it shouldn't. His words about Erik's scars and what it would mean to Wakandans was boring him.

Pulling down his bottom lip, Erik revealed his vibram tattoo. The marking of a Wakandan. The revelation that he had a savage under his nose flickered across Klaue's face. The shock of it made the man smile for a second.

"Ah, to think I saw you as some crazy American."

The man turned his head to the side and laughed.

Their ending together would be a replaying of their beginning with Killmonger pointing a weapon at him, the fate of the man's life in his hands once more.

Erik stepped forward and blasted Klaue's brains out at point-blank range. He had played this moment out over and over in his mind for the last two years, even toyed with the idea of telling Klaue who his father was and what he was going to do with Klaue's body. But he wasn't worth it. To speak his father's name to that filthy piece of shit was a dishonor actually. His father was royalty, a giant in Erik's eyes. Klaue was not worthy to hear it.

Erik holstered his gun and walked back toward the van.

He grabbed a large blue tarp with rope and brought it back to Klaue's corpse. Wrapping the man up like a steak and tying him off , Erik lifted him up and crammed it into the back of the plane. He moved around the aircraft and dragged Linda's body by her arms over to Limbano's so it wouldn't block the plane's path out of the airplane graveyard.

Erik checked his cell. He had a long trip ahead of himself.

"Erik…"

The faint sound of his name drew him back over to her. Life was fading from her eyes and blood dribbled from her lips, but she hung on awhile longer. He knelt down next to Linda.

They had a lot of laughs together and he genuinely liked her and respected her work ethic. But there were some lines that shouldn't have been crossed.

A thin tear streaked down the right side of her face and he closed his eyes. Breathing deeply, he rested his mind, made it clear of any thoughts about the loss of her life. She made a choice to get down with them. She could've been living comfortable and happy. She could've asked Erik about the secret safe. Hell, he would've given her the shit that was down there if she wanted it that bad. He didn't care about any of it. His original plan before that dreadful night in St. Thomas was to let her go free.

Choices.

It always came down to choices.

He reached into his leather vest and pulled out the micro USB she had been after. A thing so small but holding so much Intel that was worth way more than ninety-million.

But his girls were priceless.

He held it up to her face.

"Was it worth it?" he asked.

A clouding around her cornea began. It became hazier and then…she was gone.

Stuffing the USB back into his vest, Erik stood up and stared at the sky. He needed to get in the air before he was discovered.

The Cessna was a quality aircraft and he did his pre-flight checks to make sure he was truly ready for the journey. He started the plane.

Focus.

His whole life was geared toward momentum. Going into the Navy. Going into Special Ops. Going into the JSOC Ghost Unit. Going into the profession of mercenary work. Going to Klaue. Going to Wakanda. He knew the exact GPS coordinates from his father. He had Klaue tucked away and beginning rigor mortis in the back. He was ready.

Erik coasted down the makeshift runway and when he took off into the sky, he felt secure. Confident.

Ready to claim his birthright.

###

The landing was hard and wobbly, but Erik was able to guide the plane safely on plain dirt and grass. The sun was due to set behind him in a couple of hours and he could feel it beating down on his back. According to his father's directions, he had to be careful of crashing into a protective vibranium shield. He kept the plane a good two hundred feet further than what was written in his father's journal just in case the Wakandans had expanded their protective dome. There was no need really, the moment he crossed into their territory, he felt the subtle itching in his gums and had a clear idea of how close he was.

In the distance he saw what looked to be small round housing structures and he quickly pulled out Klaue's body from the plane. It was beginning to smell ripe.

Dragging the tarp, Erik didn't have to wait too long when his sensitive ears picked up a low-frequency sound. He was being tracked from afar. Closing the gap between himself and the village, he saw before him a delegation of guards moved as a unit to greet him…or kill him. It was hot as hell, but these men were dressed in blankets. Blankets that looked like the one he had as a baby.

A man with keloids marked in a pattern on his face with deep-set haunted dark eyes led the greeting committee. A dark gray blanket draped across his body. The fierceness Erik saw in the man's gaze made him take note. He was no mere villager. This was military. This man was a soldier. A high-ranking one by the way he daggered his eyes across Erik's.

Erik slung Klaue's body toward the soldier's feet.

"What is this?" the man said.

"Just a little gift."

Erik reached down and opened the tarp as the other soldiers pulled out curved blades. Their leader held his hand up to them, and then glanced down at the tarp. What he saw there made him regard Erik with new eyes.

"Ungubani?"

Erik pulled down his lip.

More surprise registered on the soldier's face.

Erik moved slowly and took off his father's necklace and dangled it before the man.

"This is the ring of Prince N'Jobu Dumisani Udaku. My father."

More than surprise shined in those eyes now. Shock.

"My father was a War Dog. Hatut Zeraze. He left Wakanda to spy in Oakland."

"He is…our Prince…he is alive?"

There was hesitation in his voice. Not the hesitation of someone knowing that name because of history. It was the hesitation of someone who knew his father.

"He was murdered—"

Several of the soldiers broke into excited chatter that came off gruff and disbelieving. Their leader held up his hand again. The man took the necklace and studied it, the reverence in his eyes so focused on the ring. Turning it over several times in his hand, he finally stared at Erik again.

Giving orders to take the body, Klaue was carried away roughly, and another soldier frisked Erik from head to toe.

"Hold still," The leader said.

The man touched his kimoyo beads and the sight of them brought back images of his father toying with his. A vibranium force field streaked from the beads and traced Erik's body from head to toe.

"Follow me," The man said.

Four soldiers surrounded Erik and he fell in step with the leader. His eyes darted about and observed the housing and the people who milled around to watch, their keen eyes taking him in. To the untrained eye, it looked like they were walking through charming bush country, but Erik could feel the occasional tingle of vibranium sparking reactions in his gums that slowly faded. The entire space hummed with invisible energy. All was not what it seemed.

"Is that a damn-?"

They passed a large fenced off area containing five giant rhinos with spectacular silver and blue markings on their hides. The soldier said nothing, but Erik watched the animals as they filed past.

After walking through the center of the village, the lead soldier tapped his kimoyo and the air crackled with electricity and a shimmery blue light caught Erik's eye before a large aircraft winked into view.

"Shit," Erik said, startled by the tech it took to camouflage a vehicle of that size.

"I will take you to see the King."

Erik's body flexed for a moment and the lead soldier caught it.

The door of the craft slid open without a sound as they boarded the ramp and Erik got a sense of déjà vu. His father once had him and his mother fly on a similar aircraft so long ago…

"Sit there," the man said pointing to a seat in the back with an open side view window. There were no seatbelt straps to hook up, but he wasn't worried. If they had the ability to hide a big ass space ship in the middle of a village in broad daylight, he was pretty sure he was safe.

A 3D holographic image popped above the lead soldier's arm.

A woman. Bald. Dressed in red military gear.

Erik recognized her. She was in Busan. Screaming at T'Challa not to kill Klaue in front of Korean citizens on a busy street.

Erik couldn't catch all they said in Wakandan, but he caught enough to know the woman was just as surprised to know that Erik had found them.

A vibratory hum tickled Erik's feet and skin as the craft lifted smoothly. Flying across lush terrain and grand hills, Erik began to wonder if the splendor he saw so long ago in his childhood bedroom had been a dream, and then suddenly—

They burst through another layer of camouflage and Erik felt his breath catch in his chest and he held it.

Wakanda.

The lead soldier looked back at him from his seat and saw the wonder in Erik's eyes.

"What is your name?"

"What's yours?"

"W'Kabi."

"W'Kabi? Is your father's name Tankiso?"

W'Kabi jumped up from his seat and the other soldiers regarded him with concern.

"How do you know that name?"

"I know a lot of names, bruh—"

W'Kabi grabbed onto Erik's vest and lifted him toward him. Erik stood his full six feet one-inch height without backing down from the man.

"Not that one."

"Trust. I know it. I also know what happened to him. And your mother."

W'Kabi's eyes blinked and there was an extra shine to them.

Erik's eyes stared past him and he walked toward the front of the ship where the pilot sat controlling the craft with just swipes of his hands and fingers. Erik felt the press of security behind him as spears were aimed his way.

He had to admit he was in awe of everything. His father said his people were the future made flesh. Erik believed it even more so when he saw the palace come into view. The double palace. The place where his father was raised. Birnin Zana really was a golden city as the sun did it's magic for the golden hour, bathing the architectural wonder in dreamy decadent hues.

Erik almost wanted to cry. For himself. His father. His mother.

A fairy tale made real.

His father flew there once a year from the time Erik was born until his death. He tried to imagine his father coming to his homeland and shaking of the façade of a humble barber and stepping into the swagger of a Prince. All those years he thought his father was leaving town to teach in Atlanta. He shook his head and smiled. Wild shit for real.

The aircraft swung around smoothly and landed softly onto a platform and the ramp was lowered.

"Stay close to me," W'Kabi said.

"You ain't said but a word."

Still surrounded by the cadre of four other soldiers carrying spears, W'Kabi led Erik, not into the main entrance but a side one.

"I must handcuff you."

"Why? I'm not running. I want to go in there."

"The King's personal bodyguards will not hesitate to kill you if you move suddenly. Even if by accident. Safer to handcuff you."

"Do it then."

Erik put his hands behind his back and another soldier put cuffs on him.

A thin shapely woman with short locs and a short lab coat met W'Kabi within minutes of them stepping into the palace. W'Kabi held up Prince N'Jobu's ring and the woman took a small scanner and ran it across the ring. The thin clear datapad she held popped to life with brilliant orange and red colors. Wakandan words and numbers popped on the viewscreen.

"Authentic," she said. Or maybe it was "real". He tried to keep up with the language.

W'Kabi took back the ring.

The woman looked at Erik and said a few words to him in Wakandan.

"She's asking you to turn to your side."

Erik did so and she took out a small square silver cube and pushed it against his inner right arm. He felt a little pinprick that went right through his shirt and a warm numbing in his veins. The woman took the tiny cube and attached it to the datapad. More lights.

The woman stared at Erik, her eyes appeared curious, but then she regarded W'Kabi. Her voice sounded different. Like she was in awe when she spoke to him.

"What did she tell you?" Erik asked. The woman spoke in a fast clip and he couldn't understand.

"She said you are who you say you are."

"Was that a DNA test?"

"Yes."

"Y'all just keep my father's DNA on tap?"

W'Kabi's hard eyes held his.

"Come," W'Kabi said.

Erik took in every single inch of the palace as they traversed through wide-open halls with ceilings that looked like they reached the stratosphere. Priceless artwork, breath-taking statues, an indoor waterfall, an atrium the size of a football field…servants rolling through the palace on silent silver vehicles looking like futuristic golf carts just to get to one side of a hall to another. And that was just on the first floor of the first palace.

Baba, what was it like to live here?

They reached a glass elevator and when they stepped in, Erik could tell the energy among the men had shifted.

"When we enter the council chambers, you must not speak until the King speaks to you," W'Kabi said.

The quiet lift took them past twenty floors within seconds.

"Any sudden moves the Dora Milaje will kill you."

Stepping out into a cavernous hall, Erik saw ornate onyx double doors fit for giants to walk through.

W'Kabi grabbed the cuffs and forced Erik to walk in front of him.

Two male Guards with tall spears watched their careful approach.

Erik felt his body heat rise and the gnawing rage he carried in his belly since he was ten moved into his throat. He flexed his neck and tried to contain the swelling of emotion that threatened to make him snap the cuffs off and break necks right then and there.

"Remember—"

"Don't speak until spoken to. I got it. But once I do speak, you best decide whose side you want to be on."

W'Kabi looked at him as if it were the most absurd thing he had ever heard. But that look didn't last.

"I came here to finish what my father started. Open those fucking doors. Let me give that nigga this work."

###

"Erik Paradise Galiber-Stevens if you don't get back over here!"

Yani stood in the garage near the S.U.V. trunk holding a small white bag.

Sydette reached up and picked up two bags.

"I can get it, Mama," she said pushing her glasses up on her nose.

"No, he has to do his share," Yani said.

They both watched Riki take his time walking back from the front house holding his fruit roll-up, a sheepish look on his freckled three-year-old face.

"Did you think you were just going to take your treat and not help?"

"No," he said.

His lip curled into a familiar smirk.

"Come here ashy legs and carry this bag," Yani said.

Her son reached for the small bag filled with toiletries. She rubbed the top of his light sandy brown hair. It was time for him to get a haircut.

"Ashy legs!" Sydette teased.

"You have ashy legs!" Riki shot back.

Yani tapped the button that shut the trunk automatically and followed her children all the way down to their house.

"Inside! We made it back," Yani called.

She found Leona and her mother in the kitchen huddled around the island counter, a large glass dish in front of them filled with fresh mac and cheese. They each had a fork in their hands and were tasting their creation.

"Take that in Mama's room," she told Riki.

He ran full speed out of the kitchen as Sydette piled her bags onto the counter.

"What are you doing?" Yani asked.

"We just made this recipe and we don't know if we like the taste. Here, try it," Paula said.

Yani took the fork from her mother and dipped into the creamy yellow goodness. She tasted it.

"This has a weird texture. But it's okay."

"You don't like it," Twyla said walking into the kitchen and helping to put food away from the store.

"Sweet Pea, go check on your brother. Make sure he's not squeezing the toothpaste again," Yani said.

Her five-year-old gave an exasperated sigh that all older sisters the world over gave when confronted with tiny sibling terrors.

Yani turned back to the women.

"Why does it taste funny?"

"Sour cream," Twyla said.

"Ew!" Yani said.

"Well, it was a recipe online and we wanted to try it. It's not bad, just different," Paula said.

"Trash," Twyla said.

"We wanted to make you a fancy dinner today," Leona said.

"For what?" Yani asked.

"Celebrating your first successful year of medical school," Paula said.

Yani walked over to her mother and accepted a kiss from her on her cheek.

She had made it.

Survived her first year of medical school with flying colors. Surprisingly, it wasn't as difficult as she had feared. Long hours of study and cramming information while standing on her feet all day was a breeze because of all the time she had spent juggling three jobs and taking care of Sydette on very little sleep. Her first-year schedule honestly was a piece of cake because of the family support she had.

Her mornings had been filled with university lectures on campus and after two weeks of going to class in person, she learned she could take the same lectures online, so she did that. Rising at seven in the morning every day, she made breakfast for her children and ate with them. By seven forty-five, Twyla drove Sydette to kindergarten while Yani stayed at home with Riki and watched her lectures on her laptop. After morning lectures, she kissed Riki goodbye and left him with Leona or her mother at the compound. She drove to campus to work six hours of lab time where she cut up cadavers all day learning human anatomy up close and personal. She returned home each night smelling like formaldehyde and her children covering their noses when they came running to greet her.

Classes focused on human physiology, histology, anatomy, and biochemistry. Her brain soaked everything up, and because she had a strong core of fellow students in her small group studies, Yani ended her first year strong. Her second-year schedule would be more of the same, but her third- and four-year schedules would get intense. Gratefully, Riki would be starting preschool then, and she could give up a couple of hours with him to handle the accelerated course load she expected to have.

At that moment she was on summer break, and planned to take her children on a trip to Disneyworld in Florida in two weeks, and then she would be volunteering at her University clinic to keep her medical skills tight three days a week, while also taking more online classes that specialized in childbirth and pediatric health.

She could breathe now. Enjoy her babies on the compound. Spend days swimming with them and playing. Relaxing.

"I am making stuffed salmon and I have made banana pudding for dessert," Paula said, "Your Daddy is coming over for dinner and we are going to sit down together. Your sisters are going to the movies and I need a break from them."

Yani laughed and tasted the mac n' cheese again.

"The taste grows on you."

Yani headed into the living room and checked the security feed on the view screen when she heard the door alarm announce that Sydette and Riki had left out of the living room door. She saw the children running down to the boat dock. Riki tried to keep away from Sydette who chased him. She saw her son run toward the end of the dock. Yani hit the intercom.

"Riki! Don't you jump in that water!"

Her son stopped and stared up at the camera system, a sly smile on his face. He stepped backward and closer to the end of the wooden dock.

"Yuh heard mi! Don't you try it!"

The child was a fish in his previous life and loved to swim, but he tended to be hard-headed and try to sneak into the water without proper adult supervision. Lately, he enjoyed jumping off the dock into the clear waters. Often fully dressed.

"Sydette, bring him up here."

Twyla walked up to her and watched the feed.

"What's he doing now?" Twyla asked.

"What isn't he doing?" Yani laughed.

Riki was the sweetest little baby, but once he hit toddlerhood, his personality really started to come out. Smart, inquisitive…fearless.

She often found him curled up with Jerome in the bushes, or climbing up trees while getting stuck. He was an explorer and wandered off a lot much to the chagrin of Sydette who would often have to look for him. Sydette loved her little brother to pieces and coddled him more than Yani did. And Riki followed Sydette everywhere. They shared a room together and Yani would often walk into their space and find Riki curled up next to his big sister.

When Yani would scold him about not being safe and walking off where they couldn't see him, Riki would just look at her and turn on the charm. Hugging her leg and saying, "Okay, Mama," while batting those big brown eyes and crinkling his nose at her. In those moments, Yani saw Erik in him clearly.

She wondered if Erik had been like that as a child with his own mother. Full of mischief and bursts of boundless energy, but also loving and observant of all that went on around him. Riki watched people closely and he wasn't afraid of them. Unlike Sydette who had been cautious and very selective as a baby in terms of who she grew close to, Riki was open. Wide open. Precocious in an endearing way and not the smart-ass way she saw in some children. Any mischief Riki got into was the exploratory kind. Like he was a little scientist in the making. Testing cause and effect.

But right now, he was testing her words.

"Riki, yuh heard me child. Come back up here. I don't trust you down there."

"Bring yuh lil ass here, boy!" Twyla added.

"Dammit!" Yani said.

She watched him inch closer to where he was never supposed to cross on the dock, and then he shot off running to jump with Sydette hot on his heels.

"Sweet Pea will catch him," Twyla said giggling, "he stays getting into something."

"Don't think so, he is too fast."

Yani didn't worry that her son would drown when he jumped in, but she was concerned that he was disobeying to test authority. It was going to be a long day.

Her son picked up speed and leaped into the air where he promptly vanished.

"Riki!"

Seconds later Sydette jumped and disappeared.

One second her children were leaping like she had done with them from the dock many times before, and then they were hanging in the air for a few seconds before literally vanishing into nothingness.

Yani flew out of the house like the devil was on her heels as she sprinted down to the dock screaming for her babies.

Nothing.

They were nowhere to be found.

But…

Yani felt the hairs on her arms rise.

"Yuh feel that?!" Twyla blurted, fear in her voice.

A vibratory hum filled the air and the wooden dock shook.

"Jesus!" Yani shrieked.

"Mama!"

Yani heard Riki's voice, but she couldn't see him.

"We're right here, Mama!" Sydette called out.

"Where are you-?!"

There was water and bright blue skies in front of her and then Yani blinked, for just a millisecond, a micro blink even, and the sky and sea were gone and before her was-
"What the fuck is that! What the fuck is that!" Twyla screamed.

"Lord have mercy!" Leona cried out.

Behind her, Yani saw her mother and Leona wringing their hands.

"Mama!"

Riki's voice didn't sound scared but rather excited. The kind of delightful excited he gave when he found a pile of ladybugs or saw a kaleidoscope of butterflies migrating through their garden.

It couldn't be real. Could it?

An aircraft floated before her, it's shimmery dark outer shell materializing from out of nowhere. A ramp sat on the end of the dock and two Amazon-looking bald women walked up to Yani with giant spears in their hands, their faces stern and unsmiling. Behind them, a slender young woman wearing a sheer gold-fringed dress and waist-length jewel-encrusted braids stepped down carrying Riki on her hip and holding Sydette's hand.

Sydette ran past the Amazons and hugged Yani.

The young woman regarded Riki's face tenderly and touched his cheek. Her gentle eyes rested on Yani's face.

"I am Princess Shuri Udaku."

Silence.

No one knew what to say. Yani's heart was still thudding in her chest with adrenaline.

Shuri walked past her personal guards and handed Riki to Yani.

"They are both fine. We did not expect them to jump onto the boarding ramp."

Shuri touched Yani's arm with a reassuring hand.

"I am sorry to have frightened you. I am here for a very important matter. Are these your children? Both of them?"

"Yes," Yani said, her voice fluttering with nervousness.

Another guard walked down from the ramp and handed Shuri a small clear pad. She detached a small silver cube and held it up.

"May I have your permission to run a test on your children?"

"What kind of test?"

"A simple blood test."

"For what?"

Yani felt Twyla stand next to her and take Sydette's hand.

"DNA. It is a quick test and I take very little blood—"

"What is this DNA test for?"

"Confirmation. One or both of your children are related to me and I need confirmation."

"Related to you? How?"

"Do you know who I am? Have you seen me on tv?"

Yani couldn't say for sure, but the woman looked familiar.

"Wakanda?" Shuri said.

Wakanda.

Wait, the country that was discovered to be super-wealthy and helping the U.N.?

"I have heard of your country. But I don't know anyone there, and none of my children's fathers—"

Yani took a step back.

"Do you know an Erik Stevens?" Shuri asked.

Yani felt herself gasp. Hearing his name out loud brought up so many instant feelings. She held Riki tighter.

"Killmonger," Yani said.

Shuri's eyes registered surprise.

"You do know him. Are these his children?"

"Just Riki."

"May I please test them to confirm. For our records?"

"What will you do with this information? Why are you here?"

Yani felt a protective energy emerging. She took a step back with Riki and pulled Sydette behind her. Spears or not, she and Twyla would throw hands with these bald bitches to protect her babies.

"If you allow me to test them, I will tell you what I can. I promise."

Yani glanced at Twyla, but her cousin was still dazzled by the aircraft floating before them. Her Aunt and mother looked paralyzed with fright.

"Do you know where he is?" Yani asked, her heart in her throat.

Shuri's kind eyes looked at Riki again. He was fidgeting in Yani's arms.

"I know where he is."

Yani closed her eyes and her left hand pressed onto her chest.

"Please, may I? We can talk after I confirm."

"What is he to you?" Yani asked.

"Killmonger? He is my cousin."

Shuri held up the silver device.

Cousin.

Killmonger was royalty?

Yani stared at her son.

"Okay," Yani said.

"Sydette, may I test you?"

Sydette stepped forward.

"Hold out your arm, please."

Sydette held up her left arm and Shuri placed the device on her skin. A look of surprise came over Sydette's face.

Shuri connected the device to her pad and swiped the clear screen. After about a minute, she smiled at Sydette.

"Thank you. And now your son."

"Hold out your arm Riki," Yani said.

Her son held up his arm, and Shuri placed the device on him. It was over in minutes.

"The boy, Riki, is Killmonger's child. May we enter your home and speak?"

"Yeah, follow me," Yani said.

One guard took the pad from Shuri's hands and returned to the floating craft. The air vibrated again, and the ship disappeared.

"This way," Yani said.

###

The Princess of Wakanda took the time to admire the African masks on the wall and all of the artwork that Yani kept. She had replaced all of the furniture in the house except for the bed she had shared with Erik.

"You have a lovely home," Shuri said.

Shuri's bodyguards stood at attention outside once they checked Yani's house thoroughly and looked over her security system. Yani asked that the rest of the family stay up in Leona's house to give her privacy. She made the children go play in their room, but not until Sydette and Riki insisted on giving Shuri a tour of their space and their favorite toys.

"Your children are very polite. And smart. You must be proud of them."

"I am," Yani said, feeling more nervous as she observed Shuri looking at family photos she had on the walls.

"You said you would tell me what you could."

Shuri walked over to Yani and sat down near her on the couch.

"Is he alive?"

"No."

Yani expected it. He never returned or tried to contact her, but to hear it said so matter of fact was still crushing.

She covered her face.

"I am sorry," Shuri said.

"What happened to him?"

Yani wiped errant tears from her face and held her hands around her stomach.

"There was a civil war in my country. He was killed during battle."

"Why? Why was he there?"

"He is part of our royal house. He challenged my brother for the mantle of King and war broke out."

"Slow down…slow down…he challenged your brother? To be King?"

"Killmonger…Erik…he is a Prince. By blood right, he could challenge my brother and he did. War broke out. His life was lost with so many others."

"Why didn't we ever hear about this war on the news?"

"No one pays attention to wars in Africa, not really. We are a very closed nation and we kept this matter private from the world."

"Is he buried there?"

"Yes."

Yani stood up and held her hands together. She knew the truth now. Both of her children were fatherless now. This news hit Yani so hard. Sydette had lost her father Chez the year before in a car accident. He was on his way home from work and a drunk driver crossed a freeway lane and hit him head-on. Yani didn't know if she could carry this new trauma.

A part of her could pretend that Erik was out there somewhere, but now she couldn't even have that false hope anymore. Her stomach clenched and she felt like she wanted to vomit. A sour taste coated her tongue and she thought she would scream. But she didn't want to frighten her children. She sat down on the couch and Shuri took her hand.

"Your son, Riki is of royal blood too. He is a Prince and has all the rights of a Prince in my country. I have come a long way to find you and him. My country, it is still reeling from that war and is struggling to reconcile. It has been very difficult over the years. There are many who still believe in Erik and feel he still had a right to the throne. There are rumors of war brewing again in rebel factions still loyal to Erik."

"What does that have to do with my son?"

"I need you to come with me and bring Riki to the royal court. If my people see that Erik has a child that can be placed under the protective hand of my brother, I think we can bring peace back to Wakanda. Too many have died in unwanted bloodshed. I do not want to see my people fighting again or some faction trying to assassinate my brother. Your son could bring order and peace back to Wakanda."

"Would we have to live there? I'm in medical school, I have my family here, my support system…I can't just leave my home."

"I think we would only need you to stay for a little while. Our people need to see our family heal in order to heal our nation."

"And if I don't go?"

"I fear the worst. I fear war. More death and dying. If the people could see King T'Challa becoming Riki's unvikeli—protector—then there is hope that Erik's loyal followers will allow true peace."

"Do you see how difficult this would be for me?" Yani asked.

Shuri nodded her head.

"I have dropped out of the sky and brought a heavy burden to your home. If I could do it another way, I would. But your son has the right to know who he is. My family has made tragic mistakes in the past by keeping secrets. I do not want to see history repeating itself. Would you please come with me? Bring your children. You will be cared for in the royal palace. Riki could meet his father's family. He could claim his birthright. You could continue medical school in Wakanda."

Shuri stood up.

"Please think about it. I must leave here in two days. Please give me your answer then. I apologize for the short notice, but I am desperate to save my country."

Yani stared into the Princess's eyes. She was telling the truth, Yani felt that in her spirit, but she was also holding something back. There was more to the story.

"How was he killed?"

"How?"

"Was he shot?"

"No. He was stabbed by a soldier and died from his wound. Hand to hand combat. I was there. I was fighting too."

"You fought in a war?"

"Yes. Anything to protect my people."

"When did he die?"

"Almost three years ago. Please think very hard about this—"

"Your people killed him. How can I trust that you won't kill my son? Or me?"

"That would not happen. Our people want peace. Riki is that peace."

"Where are you going?"

Shuri's hand rested on the doorknob.

"I shall sleep on the Talon Fighter—"

"No, you are my son's family. You will sleep here with us. Have dinner with us."

Shuri smiled.

"Thank you," she said.

Yani lead her to the kitchen.

###

Sydette, as usual, lead the chatter talking to Shuri with Riki interjecting. They spoke of stars and planets, something Sydette was really into since Yani had bought her a telescope for her birthday. Riki listed off the names of all the planets and asked Shuri tons of questions about her Talon fighter. He wanted to ride in it with her.

Yani's parents, Leona, and Twyla were polite and less talkative, allowing Shuri to lead the conversations. Yani could tell they were fearful…nervous.

Twyla and Leona took out food for the three Dora Milaje who remained outside and would stay there all night doing rounds watching the house.

While the children kept Shuri occupied with more toys and questions, Yani snuck into her den to speak with her family and tell them what Shuri wanted.

"No!"

Paula was adamant that Yani not leave anywhere.

Leona was devastated by the news of Erik, and Twyla was in line with her father. Claim what belonged to Riki. Erik left her money, homes, and a child. Why not take a country too?

"We don't know these people. We barely knew Erik—"

"Auntie, they flew here in a ship that is invisible and floating above the sea outside. If they wanted to harm Yani or the children, they would've done it. Or they could've taken Riki and just left. She is asking for Yani to stay for a short period of time," Twyla said.

"Her family is here. Riki's family is here," Paula insisted, "what if they don't allow them to leave Wakanda? What if some people there think it is to their advantage to do something bad to my grandbaby? Eh? What then?"

Yani's father stared at Paula.

"I think she should go."

"Why?" Paula whined to her father, her voice almost a shrill groan.

"Yani has time. She should see that her son gets what is his."

"I don't trust her," Paula said.

"They said I can take someone with me so I won't be alone with the children," Yani said, "Twyla, I want you to go with me."

Twyla looked unsure.

"How do you feel about it all Twyla?" Yani asked.

"Do you want to go Yani? If you do, I will go with you," Twyla said.

Yani's mother jumped up from the couch and grabbed Yani's arms and held her tight.

"I don't want you to leave—"

"Mommy—"

"That man is dead and gone. Leave his ghost there and live your own life—"

"Mommy—"

"Excuse me…"

They all turned to see Shuri carrying Riki on her hip again and Sydette holding her hand.

"The children would like to show me their telescope. The moon looks lovely over the water. I wanted to get your permission to go outside with them."

Yani stepped toward her.

"We were just discussing—"

"Private family time. I understand," Shuri said.

"I'll go out with you," Twyla said.

Shuri followed her out with the children.

Yani had to know more. She had to find out what happened to Erik from start to finish. She couldn't move forward until she knew the entire truth, especially whatever truth the young Princess was holding back.

She also wanted to see where Erik was buried. She owed to her son. And to herself.

"I will go with her."

Paula shook her head and left the room. Yani's father went after her.

"Auntie, yuh understand why, yeah?"

"I understand. Do what your heart tells you."

Yani went outside to join the children and Shuri.

The young Princess seemed enamored with Riki and Sydette. She was peering through the eyepiece and Riki was explaining craters to her and asking every few seconds if Shuri could see them.

"Yes, I can see them Riki."

Shuri stood back from the eyepiece to let Sydette take a look, and her delicate fingers reached out and touched Riki's hair.

"He looks so much like him," Shuri said.

"A lot like Erik's mother too."

"You have seen his mother?"

"A picture of her when Erik was three."

Shuri looked at Riki again as he patted her arm to get her attention.

"Can I get on your car?" he asked.

Shuri giggled. Yani smiled.

"Okay you two time for bed," Yani said.

"Ah, Mama!"

Sydette pouted and Riki copied her.

"If you get ready for bed, I will tell you a story," Shuri said.

"Really?" Sydette said grabbing Shuri's hand. Sweet Pea's halo of curls brushed against the Princess's arm.

"Really," Shuri answered.

The children ran past Yani and into the house.

"Brush your teeth too," Yani called to them.

"Okay!" They both answered.

"I'll go help them, Twyla said leaving Yani alone with Shuri and the Dora Milaje.

Shuri peeked through the eyepiece again.

"So bright," she said.

"I will go with you."

The Princess stood up sharply, her face looking relieved.

"I have a few weeks off, so I will stay for that amount of time only. I have a life here, but I want to see where Erik lost his life, and I want my son to have what is his."

"That is fair."

Yani regarded her. She was so young.

"How old are you, Shuri?"

"Twenty."

The same age Yani was when she had Sydette. God. Had Yani really been that young herself raising a baby?

"You fought in the civil war. For real? A Princess fighting? Aren't you supposed to be protected or hidden somewhere?"

"Erik…Erik made it so that I had to fight."

"You met him."

Her eyes grew evasive.

"Yes."

"Why did he want the throne?"

"He wanted to be King."

"Did he think he would be better or something? Did your brother—"

"My father was killed. My brother was crowned soon after. Erik challenged him, that is all I know. We did not know him…"

"Finish. I can handle it."

Shuri stepped closer to her. She was a couple of inches taller than Yani.

"We had never met him before. We didn't even know he existed until he arrived."

"But how did it escalate to war so fast?"

Yani knew Erik had a temper and he could be brutal. Something serious made her man the center of a bloody civil war.

"My people took sides—"

"If Erik had never been to Wakanda before, and no one, not even his own family knew him…what makes people fight for him?"

"It is complicated. My brother is the person you should speak to. He can give you the answers you seek."

"We're ready!" Sydette sang out.

Wearing matching Naruto pajamas, Sydette and Riki danced around the doorway peeking at Shuri.

"My audience awaits. Is it okay for me to tell them a story?"

"Go ahead," Yani said.

Shuri ran to them and grabbed their hands and all three skipped to the children's bedroom.

A tinge of doubt and uncertainty planted itself in Yani's stomach.

The love of her life was dead. But his son was a Prince. Even in death, Erik was still spinning her life into directions she never thought she would find herself.

The Dora Milaje brought Shuri some clothing to wear for bed, and Yani showed her the bedroom she would sleep in with her own bathroom. Her bodyguards stayed inside the house, making themselves comfortable in the living room.

The rest of her family stayed in the other houses on the compound, and Yani slept in her room with an uneasy feeling that kept her awake for a long time.

Was she doing the right thing?

She curled up on her bed in the fetal position.

Erik.

She had prayed for him every night for a long time until she had to accept that Riki would never meet him. She had pictures of him in the children's room, right on their nightstand so that Sydette would never forget him, and Riki could know what he looked like.

Her son called Erik's picture Baba just like Sydette did, and when they said their nightly prayers together, Sydette placed finger kisses on Erik's face.

Yani wasn't religious, but prayers with her children was a peaceful way to end their days together at bedtime.

Shuri watched them pray that night, all three of them kneeling on Sydette's bed. Riki added Shuri to the prayer and Yani saw the Princess wipe a tear from her eye. She shyly looked away as Yani tucked Sydette and Riki in their own beds.

"Night, Auntie!" Riki had called out and Shuri broke out into a smile.

"Goodnight little one," Shuri said.

The Princess retired to her room with a hint of sadness on her face.

Tossing and turning, Yani climbed out of her bed and went to her children's room and climbed into bed with Riki. He was sound asleep and Yani touched his hair, the children's fuzzy bunny night light making her baby boy's face soft and dreamy. She cried softly, the hole in her heart opening back up.

She had done well living a good life with her children thanks to Erik. She had even started dating a bit. Nothing serious. An occasional dinner here, or a movie night there at Caribbean cinemas. She had taken a liking to one of her study group partners and figured that one day in the future she could make time for a man, but her focus was med school and her babies. She didn't have time to be lonely, but learning Erik's fate made her heart crack again.

"Mama?"

Sydette sat up from her bed.

"Hey, love."

"Why are you in Riki's bed?"

"Oh, I just wanted to be in here with you two."

Sydette climbed down from her bed and padded over to her.

"You look sad."

"I'm just tired. Busy day."

Sydette climbed in the bed next to Riki. Her right index finger reached over Riki and touched the tear that ran down Yani's face.

She would eventually have to tell the children about Erik. If they were going to Wakanda, they would learn about it firsthand.

"Don't cry, Mama."

Her poor baby. Losing Chez was tough for her and took a long time to get over. And now her Baba…

"We are going to take a trip, Sweet Pea. You, me, Dumplin, Twyla, and Shuri."

"Yeah?!"

Sydette's eyes were so bright. Ecstatic.

"We get to go in the space ship?"

"I don't think it is a space ship—"

"It looks like one. It floats."

"We get to ride in it."

Sydette shook her fists.

"Shhh, don't wake up Riki."

"Okay."

"Go to sleep and we'll talk about it in the morning."

Sydette gazed at Yani's face again.

"I won't cry anymore. Don't worry."

Her daughter's eyes closed and Yani watched both her babies sleep.

Life would never be the same for them again.

###

It was a solemn bon voyage.

After bidding tense farewells to her parents and Leona, and after Riki and Sydette had been hugged, kissed, and prayed over several times, they boarded the aircraft with Twyla, following behind Shuri.

They packed very little. Shuri let them know that all of their needs would be provided for. But Yani brought books and toys for the children. Erik's pictures. Her cell phone. Twyla brought a small suitcase and a jar of green seasoning, a few cans of coconut cream, and a few scotch bonnet peppers…just in case.

The children were the opposite of the adults, their excitement contagious once they boarded.

"You all can sit back here. There are windows here you and open to see…just wave your hand like this…"

That was a mistake. Riki kept waving his hand opening and closing the view outside until Yani moved his hand away. He made one of the Doras smile, which was a relief because those women were not friendly-looking at all.

"Whoa, Mama!" Sydette squealed as the craft lifted up. Twyla had her eyes closed and was praying quietly.

"Riki, Sydette, come up here," Shuri said.

"Shouldn't they sit for take-off?" Yani asked.

"We already took off, see?"

Yani waved her hand over the side window.

Whoa indeed.

They were moving fast across the water, but it felt like a slow easy cruise.

The children soon grew bored with the flying and Yani brought out their toys and Twyla kept them occupied as Yani explored the craft. It was spacious and so high tech that Yani felt nervous even touching fixtures that Shuri said she could.

About three hours into the flight, the children were knocked out and lying on a couch bed in the back. Twyla was out with them. Shuri glanced back at the sleepy heads.

"Would you like to sleep? I can wake you when we arrive. It will take five more hours until we arrive at the border—"

The Dora piloting the ship called out to Shuri when flashing gold lights lit up the flight panel.

Shuri's face grew tense.

"Excuse me."

Shuri walked toward the pilot and took a deep inhale. Her hand swiped across the lights and the entire outside view of the sky switched to the face of a handsome man with intense eyes that looked angry with Shuri. Yani was shocked when the image of the man stepped from the screen and onto the ship. His holographic image was so real that Yani thought he was there in the flesh.

The man spoke with loud angry words and Shuri answered with assertive righteousness in her tone. Yani didn't understand their language, but she understood the name "Erik" when it fell from the man's lips.

Yani stepped forward and the holographic man stared at her. The heat of anger she saw there reminded her of the way Erik looked when he was pissed.

"Brother, this is Yani. The mother of N'Jadaka's son. Yani…this is King T'Challa."

Yani didn't know if she should curtsy or bow, but she did neither. The anger on his face was palpable as he glared at her like she was beneath him.

"You do not know what you are doing, Shuri. You had no right to act without my permission…"

The King's voice fell and his eyes looked past them both.

Yani felt the small warm hand of her son gripping her fingers. She looked down at her side and Riki's eyes stared up at the King.

"Hi," Riki said.

King T'Challa's eyes flickered from cool anger into something more relaxed as he stared at the boy.

"Hi," Riki said once more.

"Hello."

The rich sound of the King's voice was pleasant now, his whole demeanor switched up because of Riki.

"Why are yuh mad?"

"I…I am not mad—"

"Yes you are," Riki said.

"I am very upset, but I am not mad—"

"He is mad," Shuri said looking down at Riki.

"Why?" Riki asked.

The questions seemed to fluster the King.

"What is your name?" T'Challa asked.

"What is your name?" Riki shot back.

Yani couldn't hide the smile on her face. Neither could the King. Or Shuri.

"I am King T'Challa. And you?"

"Riki."

"Nice meeting you Riki—"

"Are you real?"

"Yes, I am."

"But I can't touch you."

Riki's fingers reached out and went through T'Challa's leg.

The King's eyes took in Yani again. This time he seemed to really see her outside of his earlier angry outburst. Something about the way he gazed at her made her feel funny.

"Brother, this is Erik's first-born son. I am bringing him home so please make sure the council is aware. This child can make us whole again."

King T'Challa still had his eyes on Yani. Her face grew warm and she pulled her son in front of her. He finally wrenched his eyes away from hers and dropped them back to her son.

"Contact me when you are close to the borderlands."

"I will."

King T'Challa vanished.

Riki waved his hands around and stood where the King's image had once been.

"The King isn't happy," Yani said.

"I cannot fix that for him. Riki is the most important person right now. Go rest, Yani. I will make you all lunch soon."

Yani saw the stress all over Princess Shuri's face.

"Riki, let's go back to Sydette and Twyla," Yani said.

She held Riki on her lap and rocked him, listening to the soft pleasant hum of the Talon Fighter. Riki swiped his hand over the side window so they could look outside once more.

Clouds.

The light of the sun.

What kind of world was Shuri taking her family to?

King T'Challa was a striking man. Forceful with his words. But gentle when he needed to be.

He was supposed to be Riki's unvikeli? His protector?

Would Wakanda welcome them? Or would Riki's presence spark another civil war?

Yani watched the sky with her son as her daughter slumbered peacefully next to her. Only time would tell her what Riki's legacy would be for Erik. She hoped she made the right choice following this young Princess Shuri.

God help her if she were wrong.

###

Epilogue

A metallic taste infused the lining of his mouth.

Pressure on his chest made it hard to draw in a breath and he gasped in desperate pants until the heaviness in his mouth and eyes subsided and he could open them.

Blurry.

Piercing hot white pain.

Lights.

Lights that were too bright for his eyes. It hurt.

"Can you hear me?"

Familiar.

"Erik? Can you hear me?"

The blurriness of his eyes faded to a tiny fraction of clarity. Someone was above him. Looking down at him.

He knew that face.

He tried to kill that face.

Shuri's came into focus above him.

She looked different. Older—

His body jerked and he felt like his brain was being swung around detached inside his skull. He lost all feeling in his body and groaned in fear.

"It is okay, Erik. Your body is just getting used to being out of cryostasis. The feeling will pass soon."

"Princess," he whispered, his voice frail from being unused for so long.

"Don't try to talk, Erik. I just need for you to listen..."