Ch.47 - Spinning the Web
"I am pleased to hear Shuri is doing so well at your Academy my friend. Her last message home spoke of great happiness, even if she is too shy to admit her longing for home and family as well." T'Challa said over the line. "Please convey my gratitude to Empress Michiko for taking care of her like she was her own as well.
Mother has been incredibly relieved to hear about it."
"Mother has been delighted to have Shuri around, especially with how close her and Sayako have become. I do have to say that she truly is a fierce child though, not taking any negative opinion of Wakanda very well, becoming very defensive and ripping the offender apart verbally or in the ring." I chuckled as many boys have learnt to keep their trap shut around Saya and Shuri at this point.
Things like this tend to happen when kids start hitting puberty and their hormones make them notice girls, resulting in them doing or saying stupid things to gain their attention even if it's not the type of attention they'd truly want.
"Yes... Father and I have heard of her... victories." T'Challa replied with a poorly suppressed smile. "I've also heard of you helping in her training, for that I am thankful as well. I know how busy you are with your duties my friend."
"Think nothing of it. Family has always been a priority for me, and with Saya and Shuri being such close friends, it allows me to teach them both at once." I casually said to reassure my friend it was no trouble at all. "She is quite the little prodigy in the Way of the Spear, something I have been nurturing during her time here, even if she seems to stubbornly prefer an unarmed style resembling the Tiger school of Kung-Fu, only lighter and more agile in nature.
I would say something like a leopard or panther style of combat, which I am only guessing either your father or yourself practice. Fitting since the Panther is Wakanda's national animal too."
"It is an old path handed down within the family since ancient times, one Shuri is very determined to learn." My friend informed me with a wry smile at his sister's stubbornness.
"Figured it was something like that." I nodded in understanding at sisterly mulishness. "I've been helping her adjust the style to fit her as a female, altering many of the pouncing attacks to shift into targeted strikes, throws and submission holds based on a style I created while young. It'll be different, but will also suit her a lot better than trying to use a fighting style made for men."
"Thank you my friend. You didn't have to do something like that, but I am grateful for you doing so regardless." T'Challa truly meant it too. "How have the tutors been acting?"
"Altogether, not too bad after the first few days." I answered as I remembered the trio of tutors who had accompanied the princess. "They seemed to have I high degree of arrogance and condescension which mellowed out after experiencing the Academy, something which confused me, but you do meet such people from time to time."
"I apologize on their behalf my friend. If they said or did anything, please let me know." He replied with a slight frown.
"They haven't said anything, it was simply in how they looked at the island or others around them, their postures and the subconscious behavior. Not the best first impressions, but they were here for Shuri alone and it did not matter as long as they left the other students alone." I waved the matter away. "Forget about them. Instead, have you thought about my proposal for aid and which countries could be helped?"
"As you know Ethiopia desperately needs food and supplies, but I'm sure you already have matters ready for that. But the majority of West Africa needs aid that we just can't support, the famine has been horrible and the UN has been glacial in acting to aid in the crisis." T'Challa said with a grace expression.
He knew Wakanda could do a lot to help the hundreds of thousands of people starving to death in their own continent, but he still believed in the need to protect their secrets from the world.
"We're already in the process of readying everything, but I'm hoping you can get me into contact with some trustworthy people to work with and maybe have your father help me get the UN involved. I just don't have the manpower available to help multiple countries with populations as scattered as they are in Africa and I'm not particularly known in that body outside of my scientific work." I informed my friend, which seemed to take a burden off his shoulders.
"You are a godsend my friend. I am certain my father would help gather support, especially if you are 'footing the bill' as they say." He promised with a firm nod. "I will also contact some people who owe Wakanda and myself favors. They should help you organize everything as long as supplies are forthcoming."
"Let's do our best to make sure none of it 'goes missing' as well. This food and water will be for those suffering. I will also make sure to include medicine, but this will need stricter security measures since my products face incredible demand." I seriously told him as this was going to be a tempting target.
Rioters, criminals and desperate individuals could do a lot of terrible things for the supplies I would be sending, and we need to be prepared.
"Worry not my friend. I will be personally taking care of it. For all you are doing, I should pull my own weight for my fellow Africans." T'Challa acknowledged the brutality which humanity could lower itself to in order to survive or which greed could inspire.
"That's good. I hope it can go a long way to helping them while I take care of issues closer to home.
Many Island countries in the Pacific and Indies need help which was promised to them, only to be taken advantage of, I'll be focusing on them while you handle things over in Africa." I said as we nodded to each other.
"It will do me good to be able to help others and use some of what I learnt while abroad in a different manner." The motivated Prince stated.
"If only more people did, we wouldn't have to. But at least we can set an example for others." I responded with equal motivation.
"The world sorely needs such individuals my friend. Let us blaze the trail for them." T'Challa charismatically declared.
"Indeed." I agreed as we finished our calls.
-Maria Stark Foundation Hospice, California, USA
Without the knowledge of anyone, the White Widow appeared in the room of the facility's most important guest.
"Arno Stark," Yelena Belova softly said to herself as she looked at the extremely thin man near his mid twenties, sporting short black hair and an iron lung combined with multiple life support equipment. "Twin brother of Anthony Stark and secret son of Howard Starl and Maria Stark.
The commander says you hold great potential, I hope you don't disappoint him... for your sake."
With those deadly words unheard by the slumbering man, the White Widow placed a small disk on him and then his life supports, activating them with the press of a button, switching him with an android-like Life Model Decoy and properly hooking him up to each machine while they were being looped by second disk.
The Stark would be teleported to her leader's healing pod to take care of his numerous genetic, biological and mental issues while keeping him sedated.
The young man was suffering from depression, an inferiority complex towards his brother, abandonment issues, and sociopathic tendencies due to never having received a proper upbringing inside the facility and Iron Lung he was confined in essentially from birth.
'As the Commander said, as he is now, and with his recorded IQ, Arno Stark was a ticking time bomb for a mad genius who could threaten the world.' Yelena thought as she made sure no one would notice any differences in the LMD and the original.
They had even made sure to program appropriate speech and behavioral patterns, alongside ensuring any samples taken by the medical staff would match those on file. It had been tedious to design, but would ensure no one would know about what just happened.
'Another example of the world slowly creating its own problems by ignoring those suffering.' She then thought while shaking her head and vanishing from hospice like she had never been there.
-Maiden, North Carolina, USA, a few days later
"Commander, it is my honor to be your shadow for tonight, even if I know you have no need of me." Yelena said with respect as she knelt while deactivating her cloaking.
During her time under my command, she had achieved many feats of espionage and assassination which she has never even been suspected to have taken part of, now even infiltrating multiple Weapon Plus programs to keep an eye on them. She knew that she was only matched in espionage by three others at the moment, the other titled Widows and Mystique who had begun her new assignment.
"I appreciate your company nonetheless my White Widow. Beside, I would have easily trusted you to accomplish this assignment without my presence if our target wasn't special." I informed with a small smile. "You have been doing marvelously at recruiting others on my behalf after all."
And she was.
Yelena was very convincing even without violent threats, aiding in recruiting and rescuing young mutants in the States Xavier was too busy pandering to his partners, putting out fires or training his child soldiers to help.
Her ability to cancel the powers of others gave them instant hope for control, betterment or cure, as well as a level of credibility for having her own powers and controlling them. So coupling that with her training in seduction, infiltration and information gathering, Yelena was able to convince many to relocate to the ever expanding Ōshima.
I had already begun the artificial expansion of the island itself using a combination of magic and science to create the new land. Other plans were also in motion regarding this matter as well.
"Thank you for the praise." She more confidently responded as she stood up, displaying her proud body in her un-camouflaged white suit. "As you are no doubt aware, the Aldine family are in, well the women are. The boy is out being a delinquent again."
"Yes... the boy." I coldly spat out.
The boy was a piece of trash who blamed all his self-created problems and the troubles in his life on his prepubescent little sister while his mother work herself to the bone to provide for them both after her husband ran out due to their daughter being born with no eyes or eye sockets.
It wasn't even that bizarre, but the man left his entire family because of it. His son, took afterhim as he began abusing his sister and was slowly beginning to do so to his mother as well as he grew bigger and stronger from puberty.
Even as a teenager he drank, did drugs, hung around the wrong crowds, and was being radicalized religiously by his local preacher, pushing him further and further into his violent beliefs and thoughts.
As ever, the only thing staying my hands are the thoughts of the young child I wanted to help and the mother who loves her children.
It was the same reason I didn't eliminate Mora MacTaggert so her incredible number of sins, or Magneto, Mystique and Irene, or Xavier, their children deserved chances to have better and confront them if needed.
Approaching the small home, Yelena knocked for me, dutifully taking the role of an assistant as her White Suit shifted a form fitting dress and coat for the winter.
"Yes?" A tired looking woman in her early forties, short black hair and old clothing questioned as she opened the door carefully, looking around but only finding two good looking young adults she had never seen in town before. "Can I help you?"
"Miss Aldine?" Yelena asked in a kind, but still business-like voice.
"Yes." The woman confirmed hesitantly with a nod.
"Hello, I'm Helena Fall, special admissions officier to the Imperial Academy for the Gifted located on Ōshima Academic Island in Japan, and this, is his Highness, Imperial Prince Kaihito, the Headmaster." Yelena smoothly introduced us with a brilliant smile. "We would like to talk about your daughter and a wonderful opportunity for the both of you."
It was amusing to see the wide eyes as Miss Aldine looked between us, especially when she mentally compared my TV appearances to me.
"Good evening." I politely greeted.
"G-good evening!" She nervously squeaked as she tried to catch up to the sudden revelations.
"I am sorry for the sudden and secretive nature of this visit, but as it involves an as of yet revealed aspect of my school, and the fact that your daughter is a very special little girl, I thought it be better for me to come in person." I calmly explained with a peaceful smile and aura.
"N-no p-problem at all your highness! P-please come in." She managed to squeak out through her nerves.
She was a single mother in a small town working tough jobs that didn't exactly pay much, so meeting such a famous individual was a lot.
"Thank you Miss Aldine." Yelena graciously replied as she stepped in first and scanned the small living room with old furniture, in need of a good cleaning and a tv running.
"Oh my lord! Forgive the mess!" Our hostess suddenly said as she tried to hurriedly clean up.
"Please, it is our fault for the sudden intrusion, and I am used far dirtier messes with my tinkering and medical procedures." I appeased her jovially as blood and oil stains were quite frequent even now.
There was just something about working with your hands that Technopathy or telekinesis couldn't replace.
"Still, I've just been so busy and that's no excuse to leave the house a mess." She berated herself slightly as I sat down on a reclining chair and Yelena stood by my side, subtly ready for anything.
"Please have a seat so we can talk about why we are hear today." I instructed her, to which she nervously did. "Now, I am here today because my school has far more to it than simply helping geniuses of all kinds hopefully fulfill their potentials.
You see, the other half of the why behind my school was to form a safe haven and learning place for individuals with unique abilities due to the increasing number of such individuals appearing in the world."
Now those words got a proper reaction as the woman snapped out of her nervous state to one of realization.
"A-are you saying you want Ruth to be part of your school?" She hesitantly asked. "But we can't afford that."
"Miss, you misunderstand. Yes, I do want your daughter to join my school and learn how to use her gifts while receiving a top class education, but this would also essentially be a scholarship like for most students attending.
In fact, I was thinking of offering you employment as well as a better home as recompense for your struggles and your love of your daughter even after you've gone through so much." I compassionately informed her with a kind smile.
"*Gasp* R-really?" She whispered with high emotions as her eyes watered and hope and relief were clearly visible.
"Of course. You are a very strong woman Miss Aldine, and how you've accepted and loved your daughter regardless of her differences makes you an ideal person to join the staff on my Island if you desired." I easily answered as I provided her with hard copies of everything I was offering and her possible jobs, salaries, benefits and requirements.
"W-what about my... my son." She managed to ask as she pushed through the painful memories and her motherly side won out.
"Yes... Luca Aldine." I spoke with a noticeable drop in kindness. "He will be given an apartment and stipend in a city within the state, but he is not welcomed in my Island.
In fact, he is lucky I am not reporting him to the police for his abuse of yourself and more importantly of Ruth on top of his... activities, only abstaining because I know how such would affect both of you."
The torn looks she had for a moment as her motherly instincts fought against leaving him behind, but then she looked at the better life she could have for herself and her daughter while not really abandoning him completely.
Luca was a high school dropout who was already running with the wrong crowds before that, so him having his own place and money for food could actually give him a chance to snap out of it and become a productive member of society if he didn't completely squander it like I strongly suspected he would, then somehow blame his misfortunes of Ruth again.
I had already removed his mutant genes and the possibility for the boy to develop those powers which drove Ruth to near insanity when he stole half of hers, which are psionic in nature, after his activated during his execution for the murder of his mother when he attempted to kill a young Ruth with a chainsaw.
Miss Aldine knew very well how bad her son had gotten but she just couldn't control him anymore.
"I understand." She finally said after thinking matters through. "Please, just give me time to settle everything here and I'll be happy to accept your offer your Highness."
"Wonderful! I'll make sure to have some people keep an eye out to make sure nothing bad happens and they can help you with a smooth transition." I informed her happily as I stood up.
"T-thank you your highness." She gratefully replied as Yelena opened the door for me.
"I do hope to see you again soon." I said as we walked out of the home, leaving a mother in near disbelief, only saved from believing it was all a dream from the papers in her hands.
"Mommy?" She suddenly heard, causing her to look at her daughter wearing her yellow pyjamas and blindfold which concealed her eyeless state. "Did the White Spider come?"
"White Spider?" She asked without knowing what she was talking about.
"Yeah. The White Spider that will bring us to the Wise Island." Little Ruth explained in her own way.
The mention of 'Wise Island' suddenly made the single mother look at the papers for their move to the Academic Island in realization.
"You know what sweetie? I think it did." She told her daughter with a hopeful smile appearing on her face.
"That's good." Ruth simply said as she did not speak of the very bad alternatives she had glimpses if the Spider hadn't come, returning to her room instead.
-North Salem, New York, USA, Bayville High School Principal's Office
"So this is where he put you?" A youthful woman's voice spoke up a she appeared before one Principal Darkhölme.
The principal was a Caucasian woman in her early thirties, with short brown hair, sharpe features of a disciplinarian, wearing black rimmed glasses, and a indigo pantsuit.
Before her a young Latina in the prime of her youth, shoulder length black hair, luscious brown skin, a body most models would kill to have only covered by a grey full body suit.
"Yes. Erik has decided to have me oversee young recruits with quite the potential and train them up while keeping an eye on Charles' little group." The principal answered with a little distaste.
"That makes things easier for us as well since I've been busy tracking mutant activity across the Americas. He has been busy setting up cells for his group while you're here." Informed the Latina. "This means you can be our link to both factions if needed."
"That might not be as easy as you think." Darkhölme replied. "Charles has recruited an old... friend to his cause.
Although if it was entirely willingly, I can't say."
"We already know more than the Wolverine knows about himself. Worry not about him, he lost most of his memories after going through Weapon X. He doesn't even know his real name, much less your past with him." The younger woman said with a nod.
"Good. It indeed facilitates my job then, especially now that I can change my scent as well." The Principal acknowledged easily. "Now why are you here? I doubt you simply decided to drop by."
"I didn't. The Boss sent me to deliver a message." Was the answer which caused the older woman to look up from her work with a raised eyebrow.
"Two special interests are going to join Charles soon:
One is Ororo Monroe. She is not to die. Not only is she an Avatar of Gaea herself, her being in true danger would involve the Boss directly.
And two, is Kurt Wagner." The Latina said, causing Darkhölme's eyes to widen immediately. "He knows who the kid is and this isn't a power play. If needed, the Boss will help you try an reconnect with him by explaining that you aren't truly his enemy once your role here is over.
And an offer to join or at least visit the Academy will also be extended."
Those words seemed to at least a calm the older woman down as she had been prepared to take some 'not pleasant' actions at her apparently alive son being mentioned.
"Understood and... thank you for telling me. Anything else?" She questioned after a quick bit of gratitude to be passed on to their Boss.
"Be careful with some matters regarding Summers and Pryor. Sinister has eyes on to not repeat a past mistake of his, so he may involve himself in things if he believes it necessary. You can pass that information on to Erik if you deem it necessary. He should have some first hand experience with the man once called Nosferatu during WW2." The Latina answered easily.
"That could be useful if he gets suspicious or paranoid more like. Good." Darkhölme nodded appreciatively at the new card she now had to play.
"Oh, and keep an eye out on Bobby Drake, he has some incredible potential according to the Boss, while Queenie is going to see if she can sway Worthington more to our side soon." The younger woman finished before disappearing from the room, leaving the older one to look out through the window with some emotions in her eyes at unknown memories and thoughts before finishing up her work.
Author Notes:
Kai be taking advantage of all the places screwed over by 'first world countries' while breaking the USSR. Such a wonderful way of gaining enormous sway over so many while looking like a Saint.
He also be deepening his bond with the next generation of Wakanda's royal family even further as he works with T'Challa and mentors Shuri. I do actually think the prior would be quite open to working with Kai in the relief projects he's organizing and that even T'Chaka would be open to helping as long as Wakanda's secrets remain hidden.
This a fantastic way to not only helping millions who were actually suffering a lot in the 80's, but it also serves as a great opportunity to better his standing in the eyes of the world, make himself more important any future relief efforts, form a foothold in Africa and even build future brownie points towards the weather Goddess.
His moves in the Indies and Pacific regions will be mainly to build a Coalition he plans to form later though, but that will also create a powerful new player on the world stage which will challenge the idea of America being the standard of Justice and peace.
Next is Arno Stark, I modified things to have both him and Tony be Howard and Maria's kids since I did still want MCU kind of relationship and the new element stuff to still be about the same while adding Arno. The mental illnesses are genuinely what I believe a child growing up with actual parents he knew were out there but wouldn't spend time with him 'for his safety' would develop while being aware of his brother 'having everything' from his point of view, then learning said parents died and constantly watching said brother become progressively more famous and then taking 'his birthright'.
Lots of stuff to work through there.
I also thought taking in Blindfold before her mother gets murdered and her brother steals half her powers would be for the best. The girl can actually be pretty powerful with her full powers as a psionic, precog and retrocog, is immune to reality warping and can manipulate 'chaos/probabilities' to a degree in order to have futures she predicts more likely to occur.
Making her a year younger than Sayako, around 11.
And lastly yes, Raven is going through a modified X-men Evolution bit with a mostly original crew of Cyclops, Iceman, Angel and Beast, with Madeline Pryor, Wolverine, Storm, Spike, Kurt and Kitty joining in. There's not gonna be too much of a focus of stuff here because it was fairly contained as event went for a while, even the asteroid M business being resolved internally. But Kai is ready to interfere at any moment if needed.
Anyway, this was a bit of an interlude chapter to have some things happening with other characters. It will be a bit of the same to have some individual screen time for some next time too, but also with another bigger move from Kai.
Hope you enjoyed.