The only positive thing they could cling onto was the fact that the Dora Milaje were no longer pointing their imposing spears at them. Sure, it'd probably take a lot more to lay a scratch on Wanda or Carol, and America was still discovering just how impervious she was, but it was nice not to be the centre of attention for once. That was as far as they could go in listing factors that were working in their favour, with the sudden shift in atmosphere palpably icy. They were starting to consider whether it had been the best of ideas to enter Wakandan territory before fully knowing what was going on, with the three of them now at a loss for words and merely passengers in the conflict playing out in front of them.
America kept looking towards the two older women for an explanation that wasn't forthcoming, mainly because neither Wanda nor the Captain understood who the man was. He was smiling, showing off his brilliant white teeth. Anyone who was so happy to be surrounded by a well-drilled army was bad news, and they knew that from personal experience. Killmonger, as Shuri had named him, was clad in a similar black armour to his female counterpart, though his was detailed with gold accents, rather than Shuri's silver markings. That should have been enough to exemplify the sort of mindset he was operating on.
Like the namesake of their fabled hero, Killmonger was prowling in front of the group like a panther, stalking his prey with a menacing gleam in his eyes. Each step in any direction was met with spears tracking the movement, poised to strike if he did anything to put them on edge. From their wide-eyed expressions, it didn't look as if it would take a lot to do so, adding to the tension in the air. Having fought side by side with the Dora Milaje, it was quite alarming for Carol and Wanda to see them so unnerved, when they were usually seasoned professionals as soon as they entered the battlefield.
"Is this all the welcoming party I'm greeted with?" Killmonger asked, spreading his arms out wide. His claws weren't yet visible, but the Wakandan guards braced themselves for an attack all the same. "I was expecting more to be honest."
"This is not possible," Shuri commented. "You died. My brother made sure of that. Wakanda was rid of you for good."
"I can only apologise for that version of me being so disappointingly weak. If it's any comfort, I can assure you that I'm going to be much more difficult to get rid of."
"We could strike you down right here and no one would ever know," Okoye threatened. All it would take was one word from her and her team would do as they'd been trained.
"I'd like to see you try. I'm sure there was some sort of stipulation in your contract, though, that ensured you couldn't turn against the Black Panther. Maybe that's just from where I come from. But the Okoye I know is so…strictly bound by the code that I doubt you'd be much different."
"You are no Panther of mine, whoever you are."
"Does it need spelling out for you? Because I'll only allow this disrespect for as long as you're out of the loop. Once you're clued in, I fully expect you to bow down before me."
Shuri took a step forward, going against the silent wishes of her military leader. She was actively choosing to ignore Okoye's pleading looks to keep her distance. This was her realm. She was the Black Panther now, no matter how recently that had transpired. Even with the powerful allies that had shown themselves just before this, it was down to her to protect Wakanda. It sent an odd thrill down her spine to be seen as the hero, when the likes of Captain Marvel were also present.
"You will be waiting a long time."
Killmonger looked her up and down. "To be honest, when I was filled in with the mission brief, I wasn't anticipating coming up against some kid playing dress-up. Where's the real Black Panther? T'Challa? I've killed him once before. Never thought I'd get to do it again, but that's going to make it even more enjoyable."
Shuri's face fell. "T'Challa is dead." The words struggled to escape from her throat, as much as she wanted to maintain her strong persona. "I'm more of the panther than you ever will be, pretender."
He shrugged, seemingly unphased by her insult. "A shame. It'll make my job easier though."
"You mentioned a mission," Carol said, entering the fray and going against her better judgement. "What did you mean by that? You made it sound as if it was given to you, that you're just following orders."
"I don't follow anybody!" Killmonger scowled at her. "I don't even know who you are, with your stupid costume."
"She's someone who doesn't have the right to ask questions until she answers some of my own," Shuri fired, hoping to seize back a semblance of control.
"Do you expect me to understand any of this?" Carol wondered. "I've never seen this man before in my life. I've bumped into quite a few egotistical men in my time, but I reckon I'd at least remember this one."
"You and your friends arrived here, alerting our sensors. Moments later, a long dead stain on the history of our nation is alive and well. You will forgive me for drawing conclusions."
"If a Killmonger existed in this reality, then I'm certain that this man isn't the one you know," Wanda explained, though it seemed to cause more confusion on their faces.
"I know that you practise magic, but can you leave out the accompanying riddles for the time being?" Okoye suggested sharply.
"He's from another universe," America said, when everyone had basically forgotten that she was there. She was tired of that happening just because she was younger than everyone else, although it did mean that she was less likely to get speared, which she couldn't underestimate the value of. "In a different reality, there will be another Wakanda just like this one, with one difference. The Black Panther there must be…Killmonger."
Okoye flared her nostrils. "Nonsense."
"It's true," Carol tried to reason. "We've been dealing with various multiversal threats. Different variations of enhanced people. There was another version of Wanda, a different Hulk is currently rampaging across England. It seems that the trend has found its way here. That's what we were tracking when you came across us."
"People don't just come from other universes," Shuri argued.
"They do if someone wants them there." The Captain stepped closer to Killmonger, who appeared to enjoy having her undivided attention. "Did Kang send you here? Is he the one who gave you the mission?"
He cut a nonchalant figure, sniffing with his nose and pouting as if he weren't intimidated by the slightest. "I don't have a clue about what you're talking about."
"So he told you to stay quiet? I didn't think you'd be such an obliging puppet, but I suppose appearances can be misleading."
"I see what you're trying to do. Sow the seeds of animosity, playing on my obvious ego. But it's not going to work, blondie. Because I'm choosing to be quiet solely because it annoys you so easily. Kang doesn't care if you find out, since there's nothing you can do about him coming here."
"Who's Kang?" Shuri was increasingly cutting a frustrated figure. "Is he a threat? If he has his eyes set on Wakanda, then I need to know."
"Basically a guy hell bent on conquering every universe he can get his hands on," America said, knowing there wasn't a lot of time to provide the necessary context.
"You'll talk about him with a bit more respect if you know what's good for you," Killmonger spat.
America wasn't one to back down easily, no matter how risky it was. "Or what? Are you going to run home crying to your boss?"
"He's not my boss !" His words came out like a hiss as he became more agitated. He looked as if he'd believed this was going to go a lot smoother. "And, even if he was, I wouldn't have to run anywhere. Because he's on his way. He just needed to sort out a few things before the show could really start."
With each word that came out of his mouth, Shuri was growing more worried. "What sorts of things? An army?"
"Do you think I care about the details? He's got one, obviously, not that he'll need it if you believe what he says…"
The true Black Panther looked at Okoye nervously. "Get back to the city. Strengthen all defences. I don't want there to be a single hole in the barrier."
"We're not leaving you here on your own," her closest confidante countered passionately. "Not after we've lost so many people recently. I owe it to your mother to protect you."
Shuri gestured her head to the three trespassing women. "I think I've got that covered for the time being. You're more useful in protecting the populace. Now do as you are told."
"You know that M'Baku won't take kindly to this once he hears about it." Okoye clicked her fingers and the other soldiers prepared to leave, with their general already walking away.
"Tell the big brute that, if he has a problem with it, he can get down here and show everyone why he's now king."
"Hold up… M'Baku is the leader in this reality?" Killmonger's tone was a mix of disbelief and optimism. "This job keeps getting easier and easier."
"Not if we have anything to do with it." America raised her fists, ready for a fight.
Carol placed a relaxing hand on her shoulder. "I appreciate the enthusiasm but we need all the details before we do anything rash. Because this imposter is apparently the least of our concerns."
"Who are you calling an imposter?" Killmonger tilted his head, eyeing the Captain up.
"Why did he choose you? Why…out of all the heroes and villains he could have picked to torment us…why did he pick someone who was so… weak ?"
"Keep talking and you'll be about to find out just how strong I am."
"Please…I'd wrap you up like a pretzel before you can even start showing off your admittedly impressive muscles."
"I'm going to enjoy watching Kang put you in your place. He thought there'd be more of you, in fairness, to greet his arrival. That's why I was so surprised when it was just you, the redhead, and two young girls. I suppose the proper superheroes are busy dealing with his other attacks."
"Just shows how little we see you as a threat. You haven't answered the question though…what's the game plan here? Or are you simply trying to distract us through the sheer banality of your self-importance?"
"Kang needs Wakanda for its resources. He thrives on technology and knows he'll have everything he needs here to build another version of his society. What better place to start his new kingdom? As for me…he knows that I'd be able to hack the systems, lowering the defence systems, which brought you here in the first place, right? That's all this has ever been about…putting everyone in the right place at the right time. He's always one step ahead of you. And he always will be."
"What do you get out of this?" Wanda asked.
"Wakanda, obviously. No Black Panther in history has been able to claim that they control two Wakandas at the same time. I'll be a legend. I'll go down in history. And do you know why I'm telling you this?"
Carol rolled her eyes. "I'm sure you're going to tell us…is it because we don't have a chance of stopping him?"
"Close." He was looking down at his wrist, where a holographic display was visible on the sleeve of his black suit. Even Shuri thought it looked like advanced technology. "It's because I just got a head's up from the man himself. He finally wants to say hello."
The group took an uncertain step away as a horrendous red tear appeared in the air, no more than five feet about the ground. It was small at first, the sound of its arrival more to do with their agitated movement. Killmonger remained still, like he was used to the occurrence. The rip widened, opening its jaw. The larger it got, the more their surroundings seemed to phase in and out of existence, blurring before their eyes. At the sight of three figures standing in the mouth of the gaping void, Shuri activated her mask, with Carol and Wanda preparing their own powers to defend themselves if necessary.
The first person to step from the boundary was a man wearing a strange blue spacesuit, striding confidently onto the grass. The Captain looked at America for confirmation as to who this was, with the young girl claiming to have come face to face with him before. She shook her head, having never seen that smiling face. He was accompanied at a much slower pace by two people who they did recognise, Yaz supporting the Doctor's weight as they made the short trip. They were immediately on high alert once they caught a glimpse of the state the blonde woman was in. She tried to give them a weak smile, but it wasn't the most encouraging of expressions.
As soon as all three were firmly placed in one reality, the tear slowly shrunk down, eventually disappearing from sight. After it was gone, the strange effect on their true surroundings subsided, as if the wound had been tampering with the stability of their realm. They couldn't even concentrate on that troubling prospect, instead having to focus on the man walking in front of them, grinning from ear to ear. He had his hands pressed together happily and, with every flicker of emotion that came across their faces, he seemed to get more enjoyment out of the situation.
"It's been a while since I last walked on this ground," he said. "But it was so worth the wait. What did you make of my interdimensional gateway? Impressive, right? I understand you may be too shocked right now to applaud, so I'll make do with the amazed looks on your faces. They are a picture to behold."
"What've you done to the Doctor?" America asked angrily, choosing to ignore him in favour of their friend.
"Really? You're more interested in her ? She's fine. She'll survive, which shows just how benevolent I can be."
"Funnily enough, the people who have to make a point of their benevolence usually are the ones I have to worry about," Carol said.
He didn't seem too annoyed by her comment. " Captain Marvel ? Always so full of bravado and false confidence. One of the greatest pleasures in my life has been breaking that, over and over again. You're usually the last to fall, which is what makes your inevitable defeat all the more satisfactory."
"Is that why you wanted me here? To get me out of the way quickly? I'll take it as a compliment that you're scared of me."
"You're here to show the world that there's no use in standing against me. You were supposed to choose this path, being here for my arrival. That's how it was preordained. Once people learn that I destroyed the most powerful avengers…Captain Marvel and the Scarlet Witch…well, what hope will they have? I've learnt over the years that, in any existence, if you break their spirit, then people are much more likely to listen to what you have to say."
"You're Kang then?" Wanda surmised. "The fabled monster we've been warned about. I pictured you to look more…impressive."
"Appearances can be deceiving. You've already seen how easily I can control one witch of your unimaginable powers. Do you really think I'll have any trouble doing it again?"
America had slowly edged towards Yaz to help her keep the Doctor upright. "You're not Kang. I made it to your universe. I saw the statues. You look nothing like him."
Kang's smile only grew larger. "I'm actually really glad you mentioned that. It's all part of my grand scheme, which I'm not going to make the mistake of spelling out for you. Honestly, that's villain 101."
"So you see yourself as a villain?" Yaz fired at him. "After all the nonsense you've sprouted about being fair and just."
"I'm perfectly willing to play the part that you cast me in. I'll play to the narrative for as long as it lasts…but once the Avengers are defeated, then no one will care. You'll be surprised at how quickly people can forget things when a better life is presented to them." He paused when there was an almighty roar close by. They expected him to be concerned (since they definitely were) but it was just another thing that apparently excited him. "Bang on time."
The savage snarl was accompanied by the sound of trees falling over with deafening crunches, along with increasingly loud footsteps. Kang moved away from them, eyes spread wide, as the forest was forcefully parted. A Hulk appeared, blazing red, growing angrier at the sight of them. It roared once more, droplets of spittle hurtling towards them and crashing like large raindrops.
"What the hell is that thing doing here?" America shouted.
"You know it?" Shuri yelled. "Did you bring it here too? To Wakanda of all places?"
"It's supposed to be in London," Carol tried to explain, though she was preoccupied quite rightly by the looming beast. "The other team was meant to be containing it."
"It was always destined to be here," Kang told them. "So that I can exemplify my strength to you all."
He looked like he was about to attack the Hulk, only for the monster to swipe its arm towards Kang, its oversized palm swatting the man away like nothing more than a fly. He crashed into a tree, sending that tumbling in the same fashion of some of its brethren. The rest of them looked towards Kang's prone body, then back at the Hulk, who appeared to be smirking in a satisfied manner.
"I guess you can't control everything," Carol commented in shock.
"Is he…dead?" America posed the question they were all thinking. "Surely it can't be that easy after such a big build up."
"Of course I'm not," Kang rasped, getting back up to his feet on shaky legs. His suit was visibly damaged, a scar running across its centre. The Doctor seemed to perk up at the sight, though Yaz didn't know why she was so happy when the man's hands began to glow again. "Because you now get to see my true party trick, Avengers."