Chapter 10: Generosity of a King
"Fifty-two canisters, each weighing five pounds. A quarter ton of vibranium." Alistair repeated for the hundredth time, "3 billion dollars."
It's been a week since he stole the Vibranium from Klaue. His entire world has been consumed by it even during his training with the only upside is that he mastered the Vapors of Valtorr.
"I've been wondering." Maleficent said stretching her body on the bed, "If you can make sure 1a portal anywhere why didn't you make one directly to the vibranium."
"I staked out that boat head to toe. Klaue had men guarding in all day every day with rotating shifts." He replied, "I needed to get everyone far away enough for me to take it."
"Ok, but why didn't you just take it while you were in that mirror place you talk about?" She added.
"I can't affect the real world from the mirror dimension besides I can't go through walls in there anyways." He answered, "The original plan was to start a fire in the cargo hold and get the whole crew out of the way but that fell apart. Still, we got what we wanted."
"When are you going to sell it?" She asked licking her paw.
"Tomorrow, I'll ask for it in cash." He answered before he yawned, "The Ancient One kicked my ass today. Need to sleep." He sighed before dozing off, "I got to do a lot tomorrow."
The next day proved to be very busy. Alistair canceled all of his previous bank accounts. The bankers on the phone said they would send the checks with his money to the local post office. Alistair wouldn't get them right away given that Shield and who knows else is probably tracking everything with his name on it. He's also been looking into other banks in the Cayman Islands, Lebanon, Luxembourg, Switzerland, and Hong Kong to hide his coming fortune as well as one in America as a legal front.
Alistair knows that this money might not last forever given the multiple disasters coming the Earth's way. He's already planned to buy stock from Stark Industries, Rand Corporations, and maybe A.I.M. after Killian dies. He's also going to need to hire an accountant or an assistant to help him manage all of this. He's also going to gun for the fortunes of those who acquired their wealth with less than legal means such as people like Wilson Fisk. He once read that his comic counterpart is worth over 40 billion, if the same is true for this one is uncertain.
He's also 'acquired' six duffle bags from Dicks Sporting Goods and stuffed them full of vibranium. Twenty six of the fifty two canisters that he's going to sell back to Wakanda. He also took an ice cooler and ice from the arctic to keep Klaue's hand from decomposing.
"Now I've got everything set." He smiled looking down at the six duffle bags, "Got the vibranium packed and the arm on ice and I even got a vehicle set up in Uganda." He said as he opened a portal.
"Where'd you get it?" Maleficent asked as they walked through the portal into an open plain.
"Some used car lot in Montana." He shrugged, "I kept my face covered so whatever cameras they had didn't see me. I got a pickup truck." He said nodding to the old grey truck.
Approaching the truck he tossed the duffle bag and the cooler onto the flatbed. He then turned to Maleficent, "Ready for a new form?"
"Am I ever ready?" She asked sarcastically.
"Into a panther." He said with a slight wave of his hand as the cat turned to a large panther, "I think it'll make a good impression. Hop in I'm driving." He said opening the door and hopped into the seat as Maleficent hopped into the flatbed.
Turning the key in the ignition the engine roared to life. Alistair flexed his fingers on the wheel nervously. If this goes the wrong way he'll have to fight his way out of Wakanda. Klaue and his men were one thing but this is a whole high-tech country and not to mention the Black Panther.
Putting his foot on the gas the truck moved forward. The duration of the drive was peaceful Alistair even got to admire the scenery. He drove for an hour in the uneven terrain before he caught sight of the village belonging to the Border Tribe. He slowed to a stop before pulling the keys out of the ignition.
Alistair saw the Border Tribesmen slowly began to walk towards the truck. Opening the door he saw them raise their spears but he quickly raised his hands in surrender. Climbing out of the car he carefully took a few steps back. Glancing around the men he saw W'Kabi taking the lead.
"I have something for you." He announced before he slowly reached into the flatbed.
The men suddenly pointed their spears at him and Maleficent jumped off the truck and positioned herself protectively in front of Alistair. The tribesmen looked at the panther in shock as it protected this intruder. Alistair reached into the truck and pulled out the small cooler before grabbing the duffle bag and slung it over his shoulder.
"It's ok." He said as Maleficent ceased her growling. Walking up to W'Kabi he held out the cooler, "This used to belong to Ulysses Klaue." He said getting a shocked look from W'Kabi who snatched the cooler from his hands. The leader of the Border Tribe opened the cooler and paused when he saw the contents, "And this used to belong to you." He added dropping the duffle bag to the ground and zipped it open revealing the vibranium.
The Wakandans looked at the metal in shock before looking to their leader. W'Kabi looked up at Alistair suspiciously, "Who are you, what do you want?"
"My name is Alistair Sanz and I've come to see King T'Chaka." He answered confidently.
Next thing he knew Alistair was put in cuffs and escorted through the citadel before eventually making it to the throne room. Sitting in a circle was the council of Wakanda and on his throne sat T'Chaka with his wife and queen Romanda sitting to his right and his son and heir T'Challa to his left. Guided to them Alistair looked down at Maleficent who was put into a collar attached to a chain smiling down at her he looked up to meet the king's gaze.
T'Chaka said something and W'Kabi translated, "Speak."
"I've come here to give something back that was stolen from you with a price." He declared, "I could've sold this vibranium to any country and they would've paid anything for it."
"Why didn't you?" The king asked in English.
"Because it belongs to you but I also believe in fair payment. I would like to be compensated for my troubles, I assure you getting it back was not easy." He explained and got a few laughs from the council, "Klaue took a quarter ton of vibranium but I only found half of it. I could only assume he either sold it or had it hidden way somewhere else."
"Where is this half that you acquired then?" T'Chaka asked, "What you gave us is but a fragment of what was taken from us."
"It's in a safe place, I'll give it all to you when I get my payment. Money first and I'll get you the rest." Alistair explained glancing around the council.
The council began to speak amongst themselves in Wakandan. In hindsight, Alistair really should've learned the language. They began to argue in raised voices before I'd take ended it with a stern voice. The King gave Alistair an unreadable look.
"What'd do you want?" He finally asked.
"The worth of a quarter ton of vibranium is 3.5 billion dollars so I would like at least half of that, preferably in American cash." Alistair explained and quickly added, "And I know you're good for it."
T'Chaka gave him a stern look before saying, "This is ridiculous, take him away, interrogate him until he reveals where the vibranium is!" He ordered.
Maleficent began to snarl and don't but Alistair simply rolled his eyes, "Fine." He grumbled before his astral body flew out of his physical body.
Looking around everyone else moving in slow motion. Turning to the king he floated over to him before pulling out his astral body. T'Chaka gasped at the sudden change. Alistair gave the king a sympathetic look and nodded, "Give it a minute you'll get used to it."
T'Chaka looked at Alistair in confusion before it changed to anger, "What have you done?" He asked as he looked around the room to see everyone moving slowly.
"I pulled your astral body out of your physical body." Alistair said pointing over at T'Chaka's physical form.
The king looked at himself in astonishment before he turned back to Alistair, "Put me back!" He demanded.
"Not before you agree to my terms." Alistair stated, "Please, the money is all I want. Give me that and I'll give you back your vibranium."
"I am the king of Wakanda and I do not respond to demands from foreigners." He replied firmly, "Now put us back or-"
"Or what, you'll kill me like you killed your brother?" Alistair snapped silencing the king, "Or leave me to die like your nephew?"
T'Chaka showed genuine shock and fear, "How do you know that?"
"I know a lot of things." Was Alistair's answer, "And I can prove it. Eric Stevens, N'Jadaka. I can go fetch him and bring him to your doorstep and show them the matching ring. Show them the secret you've been hiding for more than twenty years."
T'Chaks looked down at the ring on his finger before closing his fist, "What do you want?"
"You know what I want and you know you can give it to me." Alistair said before floating over to look the king in the eye with a determined glare, "I have the power, information, and means of ending your rule and disgracing you, your wife, and your children. Give me the money and none of that happens." He explained with cold conviction in his words.
T'Chaka met his gaze before giving a short nod, "Yes."
Alistair's gaze softened into pity, "I wish didn't have to come to this." He said before pushing T'Chaka back into his body and going back into his own.
Back inside his physical body, Alistair felt his arm being grabbed by the guards, "Wait stop!" T'Chaka ordered as the council whipped their heads around at the sudden change. T'Chaka met Alistair's eyes as he said, "You've given us a gift no one else in the world would've given us. I will not be a king who punishes those who do him a great service, you will be repaid in full."
"Thank you, King T'Chaka." Alistair nodded respectfully.
"You will have a room for the night as we collect your payment." The king stated before nodding to his servants, "Take Mr. Sanz to one of the guest rooms and remove those cuffs." He ordered.
Alistair watched as a servant removed his cuffs and the collar from Maleficent, "I am glad that you've agreed to my terms, your majesty."
"Shuri!" Romanda exclaimed before the door slowly opened.
Alistair looked over his shoulder to find the one in question, the princess Shuri who seemed to be in her preteen years. She looked down in embarrassment at being caught and in fear of her mother. Alistair smiled to himself as the prince and princess walked past us.
"What did I tell you about the listening in on council meetings?" Romanda demanded.
"To not to." She replied with a tiny voice, "Sorry, mother, but I wanted to see the outsider." Shuri said looking up at Alistair who waved awkwardly.
"Your mother and I will deal with you later." T'Chaka said sternly before the princess quickly walked away.
"My room then?" Alistair asked awkwardly.
The next day Alistair stood before T'Chaka and his council. Next to him was a large wooden crate that hovered just above the floor. Alistair looked at and thought that it would've been more compact. Looking up at T'Chaka he spoke, "I'm going to go ahead and guess that this isn't all of it?"
"As you gave us a fragment of what we have lost we give you a sample of you are yo gain." T'Chaka replied, "Now, where is the rest of the vibranium?"
"Right here." Alistair said before waving his arm above his head.
Looking up the council saw their own broken reflections. With a flick of his wrist, five duffle bags dropped out of the mirror before it disappeared. The bags were pilled in the middle of the room before the council and T'Chaka. A guard searched the bags and nodded to the king affirming that it is indeed vibranium.
"Bring the rest of the payment." T'Chaka ordered before the doors opened revealing more wooden crates.
Alistair counted the crates as each one of them was brought in. He counted twenty of them, "There is one hundred million in each crate." The king stated.
"And since there are twenty crates it's two billion altogether." Alistair said before approaching a crate, "Mind if I check?" He asked before he forced open a crate. Looking inside he gasped at the site of the green bills, "It's all there." He looked in awe before he quickly collected himself, "Thank you King T'Chaka. This is very generous."
"Then please return this generosity by never revealing what have seen here." The king replied.
Alistair recognized the subtle threat, "You have my word."
"Take the outsider back to the border along with his payment." T'Chaka ordered before the guards began to take the crates out of the throne room, "Goodbye, Mr. Sanz."
"Goodbye, Your Majesty." Alistair bowed his head respectfully before he left to follow his payment.
Walking down the hallway with the crates he heard the slight thumping of small feet. Looking over his shoulder he saw a small figure quickly hide behind a decorative plant. Smiling to himself he continued on his way before quickly turning his head to find Shuri frozen in the middle of the hallway.
"I thought I heard something." Alistair said with a smirk.
"I'm sorry I just wanted to see you before you go." She said shyly, "I've never seen an outsider before at least not in person."
"Well, I hope I meet up to your expectations." He laughed before walking away. He was going to leave it at that before he added, "And by the way, if you want to sneak up on someone wear shoes that don't make too much noise."
Shuri looked down at her shoes before humming, "Thanks for the tip!"
"Anytime!" Alistair called back.
The trip back to the border was relatively peaceful and quiet. They took an airship flew over the city and the countryside before reaching the Border Tribe Village. Once they've landed the crates were pushed out of the airship and out into the field just outside the border. Dropping the crates on the floor the guards returned to their ship and flew off.
With Maleficent at his side, Alistair let out a sigh of relief and disbelief, "That actually worked."
"Do you think they'll leave us alone?" She asked as Alistair opened a portal.
"Of course not, I know the king's darkest secret so I'll always be a threat to him." He replied before he levitated the crates off the floor and into the portal, "But that's also why he won't touch me. He'll do anything to keep his secret a secret."
"Including killing you?" Maleficent quipped.
"They'll have to find me first." He countered before he smiled, "Now, let's go to the Cayman Islands."