"Children of nature from another culture
Had to survive living in the light
Stolen from the center of the world
Untimely departure
Somehow survived living in the light…"
Caron Wheeler—"Livin' In The Light"
Erik held the flame from his lighter up to the smooth cool blue metal in his palm.
"You made it back!" Maria said.
Maria stood outside of his closed bedroom door.
"Yeah."
"Are you hungry, I'm going to head over to the spot for a chicken bowl."
"Nah, I'm good."
"Want me to bring you something back for later?"
"I'm good Maria."
He heard her milling around outside his door a little longer and then she left. He focused on the metal.
Vibranium.
The notes from his father's old journals could only convey the slightest bit of wonderment he imagined when he was younger. Vague memories of toying with his father's kimoyo beads and opening up a world of wonder when he activated it on his own. Slivers of images came back, images that revealed the use of vibranium in that futuristic world that his father came from. The world he was trying to get to himself.
In his hand, he held a component to deliver him justice.
The flame from the lighter didn't melt or activate anything from the metal. He could still feel the tickling irritation on his tattooed gums. The itchiness he could live with easily. Turning it over in his fingers Erik tried to figure out a way to get the vibranium into the Stark labs secretly so he could test its properties. His father's notes gave no clues as to what it could do. From what Erik could gather, it was a powerful energy source that had to be hidden. It was also an energy source that his Baba was going to use to help the diaspora and his mother.
Erik closed his eyes.
A man named Klaue betrayed his father for this metal. Ulysses Klaue.
Some of his father's notes were cryptic and also written in his own language. But there was one part of the three journals his father kept that his Uncle Bakari and grandfather had saved for him that Erik memorized by heart. Direct coordinates into Wakanda. Erik just had to find out how to use this metal to his advantage. It was the cause of his father's murder. But it would soon become the cause of Erik's rightful revenge. Against Wakanda. And Klaue.
He pocketed the metal in his pants and walked out of his room. Maria was gone and he had the apartment to himself. Making himself a pot of ramen in the kitchen, Erik thought about Stark. Was that man aware of vibranium? Tony went everywhere in the world, had access to arms dealers both legit, and Erik was pretty sure, illegitimate too. A man and his family didn't become billionaires without doing some dirt in the world. Billionaires were hoarders and they would know all the outlets to increase their selfish intake of resources. Most of their outlets were dirty. In Erik's eyes, Tony was a dirty mofo. No doubt about it. It wasn't a huge leap for Erik to assume that Tony knew who Klaue was. One thing Erik knew for sure, Klaue remained off the grid. Scant evidence existed that the man was still alive. Erik only knew that South Africa was that man's home base.
Erik went to get his laptop and sat in the living room slurping up noodles and looking up anything new he could find on vibranium. All he found were vague references to it being a rare if not fictional metal, probably a metal alloy mixture rumored to have mystical properties as a joke because of its natural glowing blue color. Small amounts were found in the arctic before World War 1 and its value was estimated to be astronomical if found in large amounts.
That explained a lot about why Wakanda looked the way it did from the glimpse he had as a child.
The fire alarm set off in the kitchen and Erik felt a strong hot vibratory shock inside of his pants pocket when he leaped up to turn off the pot of ramen he left on the stove that was now burning. He forgot to turn it off all the way. Erik shut down the alarm above the kitchen sink and when he reached inside of his pocket and pulled out the vibranium, it glowed brighter and he could feel the metal pulsing in his hand. Like a heartbeat.
Sound.
Erik turned the pot back on and let the rest of the ramen broth burn once more. The alarm gave another piercing shriek and Erik dropped the vibranium this time when the vibratory shock was too much for his fingers to handle.
He quickly moved the pot off the stove and shut down the alarm once more.
With great caution, he handled the metal again and could still feel the surge of power within it, along with the heat emanating from its brighter hue.
He smiled.
Who would've thought a burning pot of cheap noodles would help him learn an observational scientific fact?
Vibranium. The light of his father's world.
Now it was his light. And he would bring it to the Lost Tribe.
His tribe.
###
Erik worked diligently at the Stark computer lab.
He completed assigned tasks on time and kept to himself mostly. Tony had been traveling for a couple of weeks and there was a noticeable difference in how the office energy changed when he was gone. It was dull. Not quite listless, but when the head man was away, the mice didn't play, they just became…boring.
Standing at his comp screen, Erik strung lines of code together to input and received a vid screen message from Devika.
"Please come to Mr. Stark's office."
No reason was given. Erik knew he hadn't fucked up anything because Janine hadn't said anything to him directly. Shutting down his work station, Erik left the lab and headed to the bank of elevators whisking other employees around.
He saw Giselle inside the elevator he picked to take him up top. She held a fresh salad encased in a plastic container.
"Hey stranger," she said making room for him along with four other people.
"W'sup?"
"Where you headed?"
"Up top."
Erik could feel ears straining to eavesdrop as always whenever he was around.
"You have lunch yet?" Giselle asked.
He glanced at his watch. It was past one. He hadn't even thought of lunch. He'd been so busy coding and trying to get access to another lab that would permit him to test the vibranium in private. That wasn't working out too well.
"I'll eat later. Gotta see what they want first."
The elevator doors swished open and Giselle stepped out.
"See ya later!" she said.
Cheery. The day must've been going well for her.
Eventually, Erik was the only person on the elevator as he made the lone journey to the executive suites.
Devika handed him a donut the moment she saw him.
"I know you skipped lunch again," she said.
Erik ate the chocolate glazed treat to be polite. He used the hand sanitizer on her desk to clean his fingers.
"What's poppin'?" he said.
"Stark wants you to ride in the service car to pick him up."
"He's back?"
"Flight arrives in ninety minutes. You need to leave now. The car is out front waiting for you."
"Why does he want me to come there?"
Devika stared at him.
"He didn't mention any reason?" Erik asked.
Devika handed him another donut. A regular glazed one this time.
"Get going," she said gently pushing him toward the exit.
"You could've just told me on the phone or in a vid chat."
"But how would you get the donuts?" she said.
He grinned and left the office.
A sleek black S.U.V. awaited Erik in front of the office and he watched the crowded L.A. traffic as the car took him to L.A.X.
Tony Stark stood at the curb looking fashionable with his roller bag. Next to him was a statuesque Black woman with short curls and abundant curves filling out a white dress that made Erik's mouth get tight for a moment.
Erik hopped out of the front passenger seat and opened up the back passenger door for Tony and the woman as the driver grabbed their bags and placed them in the trunk.
"Stevens! Meet Athena Robinson. New addition. She'll be working in your department."
"Hi," Erik said and his voice came out with such a flat affect that Tony stared at him.
"What's wrong with your voice?" Tony asked.
"Nothing," Erik said, his voice still coming out strange.
Athena blessed him with a smile and held out her hand. Erik took it and the soft warmth made him feel giddy.
"Hi, Erik. Great to meet you," Athena said.
Erik stayed in the front as Athena and Tony sat in the back.
"Stevens, I want you to show Athena around, get her up to speed in your department. I also need you to prep for New York this weekend—"
"Prep?"
"Yeah, you're coming with me to the Expo. Athena is too—"
"Janine wants me to finish—"
"Valentina will take over that project for you. Be packed and ready. Get a new suit too. We'll be meeting some new investors for the European offices and if all goes well, we'll be flying to Monaco in a few weeks."
Erik tried to process everything quickly.
He didn't want to leave the vibranium unattended in L.A., but he didn't want to take it with him to New York because metal detectors would give him away.
"Stevens?"
"Yeah?"
"Athena was asking you a question," Tony said.
Erik turned his head to look at her in the back.
"I just wondered where the best places were to eat. Mr. Stark said you were a foodie and would know," she said.
"I can hook you up. What do you like?"
"Everything," she said. Athena's eyes looked game for anything and Erik turned away quickly. She was as fine as frog hairs as his grandpop would say. He'd seen fine women all over L.A., but this one was a little different. He was digging the vibe she exuded.
"Hey this is the cut!" she exclaimed.
Erik realized he still had the radio on to the local R & B station. Return of the Mack blared from the speakers up front. Erik found his head bobbing along to it too, and when he glanced back to look at Athena, she was popping her fingers, not even caring that Tony was watching them both with amusement.
"Get into it Mr. Stark!" she said, nudging his arm.
"I'm not familiar with this song," he said.
"Old classic British soul," she said, "turn it up, Erik."
Erik did what she told him and the S.U.V. was rocking. He was really liking this woman already. She wasn't beholden with Tony at all. He was also really liking the idea that they would be in New York together.
Shit New York.
He might be able to see his Uncle and Aunt and a few homies from the DMV since he was so close.
The song ended and Erik turned off the R&B and switched to a classic rock station that he knew Tony loved. Steely Dan's "Peg" came on. Tony started rocking his shoulders.
"Wait. You two can't get into this?" Tony asked.
"It's hittin'," Erik said.
"Turn that up," Tony said.
Athena laughed at Tony as he made his hands wave in time to the beat.
"Haters," Tony said.
Erik laughed.
They arrived back at the Stark offices in good spirits.
"Show Athena around and then meet me in my suite around five?"
Erik nodded.
Stark had Athena's bags taken to the apartment she would stay in at Oakwood.
Athena followed Erik as he did the essential tour of the premises. She was impressed and asked plenty of questions. Especially about how being an intern there was fairing with him.
"Stark is an interesting dude. He can be a little out there, but you seem to have him figured out."
"That's only because he knows my father."
"Word?"
Athena's eyes lit up at his voice.
"My Dad works in the State Department. We've known Tony for a long time."
Erik kept that little tidbit in the back of his mind as he watched Athena take in the world of Stark Industries HQ.
"So, where do we work?" she asked.
Erik led her to another bank of elevators. When an express one opened, Erik rushed over to take it. Athena was on his heels. They stepped into the space and Giselle was there again. She smiled when she saw Erik again.
"Did you hear that we're going to New York?" Giselle said almost breathless.
Giselle's excited energy faded the moment she saw Athena.
"Athena," Giselle said.
"Giselle," Athena said.
No claws came out, but Erik could swear there were deep scratches somewhere from the sour tone that came from both of them.
"Athena is a new intern," Erik said.
The elevator doors closed and Erik stood between them both.
It was a good thing he did.
He knew for sure that if he weren't there, these two would probably be duking it out.
What the hell?
The tension was so thick on the ride up. He wasn't in the mood to make small talk to help ease the situation.
The doors opened and Erik was grateful to see Tony once more.
"Hey! How'd the tour go?"
Tony stepped onto the elevator and stood in front of Athena. Within seconds, Tony also caught the brittle vibe.
Erik gave Tony a look that was equal parts "Help" and "Wtf?"
"I have an idea, why don't we all go to dinner and talk about New York?" Tony said.
This was surely going to be the meal from hell.
Erik hung his head. Going to New York with two women that caught his eye along with his boss?
Trouble.