Revamped!

[My poor babies are in trouble and I feel so bad for putting them through all this]. [2020: No you don't … and it gets so much worse].


Chapter 84: The Contingency Plan Part Four

Stark Towers - 20:39 PM

Emily lands the quinjet on the balcony's landing pad, applying the reflective panels to camouflage it as everyone runs out. They burst into Stark Towers in a rush. Apollo carries Xavier with Daniel and Angela running close beside him, and James runs with Merida in his arms. Iqadi and Emily run in afterwards. Emily pushes all the decor off her dining room table, items shattering on the floor as Apollo places Xavier on it.

"Jarvis, give me Xavier's vitals, now!" Emily exclaims.

There's no response. James places Merida on the nearby couch and he and Apollo switch places since he's more skilled in working with the human body.

"Really?!" Emily screams in frustration about her absent AI.

"Forget it," Daniel says. "Without someone helping Xavier breathe, he won't make it."

"He's passed out!" Angela exclaims.

"Keep the pressure on the wound!"

Angela continues putting pressure on Xavier's wound but his eyes remain closed. Her hands shake as they remain stained with Xavier's blood, caking under and around her nails. What may be beneficial for her is that the tears forming in her eyes blur her vision so she can't directly see this. She can never unsee all the sticky and thick blood. He fired two bullets into his body because he didn't even want to point the gun at her. He could've punctured an organ. He might not have much time left.

"You have to do something…" Angela mutters to Daniel.

"We have to break normal procedure and take the bullet out now," Daniel tells them as he tears through Xavier's uniform to expose the bullet wound. He inhales sharply when he sees the fleshy wound. "By the looks of it, Xavier shot the same spot so there's only one entry and exit wound and he knew where to fire to skim all his major organs." Daniel rolls up his sleeves. "We're going to need alcohol, ice, sterile towels, and hot water to remove the bullet."

"Luckily, I've got lots of that," Emily says.

She runs over to her liquor cabinet gets some vodka bottles and a bucket of ice. James shrinks and flies to get the linens and a first aid kit, and Angela the hot water from the stove. Iqadi keeps track of Xavier's pulse with a stethoscope from the quinjet on his neck as Daniel keeps the pressure on the wound. Apollo stands by Merida, keeping an eye on her and to make sure nobody comes crashing in.

As they gather supplies, Daniel mumbles to himself things that he learned while obtaining his masters degree in medicine. He's practised on mannequins and cadavers and knows that professionals need hours upon hours of practice that he doesn't have. They can't go to SHIELD because something about this mission is compromised so they can't risk it, and they'll be spotted at a hospital so he's their only hope.

He's shaking with exertion but takes deep breaths to calm down. He can't look at Angela's hollowed expression because that adds more pressure on him not to fuck this up.

Once everyone returns with supplies, Daniel takes off his SHIELD windbreaker and rolls up his sleeves. He takes a swig of vodka to settle his nerves before dousing his hands, forearms, and gloves.

"We need to clean the wound again before we attempt to take out the bullet," Daniel explains to James. "We don't have any antiseptic so this will have to do."

They use the vodka on some towels and apply them directly to the wound on the front and the back. Although Xavier is unconscious, Angela holds his hand, pretending that he's squeezing it tightly.

"Ok, it's clean," James says.

"Now, we have to make small incisions on either side of the wound, straight down, to give us space to remove the bullet," Daniel explains as he opens the quinjet's first-aid kit. He sounds like his professor.

"What?" James gasps. "We have to cut into him?"

Daniel's eyes flicker up for a second. "I'm cutting into him."

"I can't watch this…" Angela mutters, sounding faint.

Emily hands her another stethoscope so she can monitor Merida. Angela turns away. Daniel takes the medical equipment in his hands and holds his breath as he precisely cuts into Xavier.

Daniel cuts into Xavier while holding his breath and biting down on his lips. He wasn't prepared for the slicing sound but powers through it.

"His pulse is steady…" Iqadi mutters. "...slowing down but I still have it."

"And now, remove the bullet?" James questions although he knows that's what's next.

Daniel shakes a little as he nods. He takes a few quick breaths to calm down as Emily rinses some forceps with boiling water and vodka before passing them to him. Emily gives him a reassuring look as Daniel turns back to Xavier. This is his friend and now he's operating on him. Oh, how the times have changed.

"Fuck…" Daniel mutters.

"What, what happened?" Angela asks quickly.

"The bullet hit an artery. That's why there was so much blood."

Daniel tries to latch onto the bullet, but it slides further into Xavier's body. He nearly screams with frustration as he feels the bullet slip out of his grasp. Angered tears fill his eyes and he blinks them away because he can't risk hindering his vision. The moment Daniel finally grips the bullet and pulls it out, he steps back and James jumps in to immediately apply pressure to the wound. Daniel puts the bloodied bullet and forceps down on the table and wipes his hands on his clothes. He looks at everyone who are on their toes.

"He's still stable," Iqadi mutters gratefully.

"I've never done that before in my life," Daniel states. "Holy fuck, I can't breathe."

"You still have to stitch him up, right?" Apollo questions.

Daniel huffs. "Son of a bitch."

-o-

Since Jarvis is still currently unavailable, Merida and Xavier's vitals are being monitored by Emily's suit which she rewired to work as a vital monitor.

"They're both stable," Emily states.

"Xavier was smart for shooting himself twice," Daniel says. "Not only was it a ploy not to shoot Angela but aiming in the same spot twice reduces the chances of scarring and internal damage. The experience of pain is closely related to emotional factors and the security of trauma. He passed out on the battlefield not only because of the blood loss but because the chaos and confusion pushed his body to the extreme, which is saying something for him. Since Xavier would have been aware of what he did when it happened, pain can be naturally reduced so it shouldn't take that long for him to heal. He's using endorphins - body's natural painkillers - as opposed to morphine."

Everyone is silent at the mess of Daniel's words. Sure, they have all been anxious about what is currently going on with them so what some cope with silence others use words.

"You just rambled a lot," Apollo says.

"I also just removed a bullet and stitched Xavier so forgive me for still being jittery about it," Daniel says.

Apollo nods and puts a supportive hand on his shoulder. "You did great."

"I had no choice."

"Daniel, take the applause."

Angela teeters in Emily's kitchen. She sees a kitchen knife holder on the counter and stares at them for a few seconds before rushing to it. Angela grabs a knife and lunches over the kitchen island. She launches herself towards Iqadi and slams her against the wall, pressing the knife against her neck. Iqadi accepts it without fighting back or even defending herself.

"Hey!" Emily exclaims with red-tinted towels scrunched in her hands. "No murder in here. There's already more than enough blood on the furniture that I can handle."

Angela ignores her and has raging tears in her eyes as she stares directly at Iqadi. Her breathing is tense and heated, the knife just piercing the surface of Iqadi's neck.

"If I killed you right now, in this kitchen, nobody else in the world would be able to hear it," Angela threatens. "You will tell me and everyone else what you meant when you said that you were the one taking the team down."

"Alright," Iqadi replies.

She looks at the others who slowly approach them. None of them want to be close to her due to skepticism and the fact that Angela has a knife to her neck. Iqadi waits for Angela's face to soften up but it never does.

Iqadi takes a deep breath. "Seven years ago, in preparation to take the throne, I had to create contingency plans to protect Wakanda. Against my will, I had to make several plans against you because you all have the potential to be a threat. That includes Merida's earpiece, Xavier's gun, Apollo's axe, and Jarvis's absence. All this was to protect Wakanda in the case that any of you were to turn on us for whatever reason. I never intended to use them nor do I ever want to. When Wakanda was being torn apart by my mother, all systems were down and someone stole them."

Those words paralyze the listeners. None of them can seem to accept what Iqadi just said. The mere existence of plans that were aimed to end them is too much to handle, let alone the fact that it was made by their friend and two of their own were already unconscious.

"That's insane!" Emily exclaims.

"Doesn't mean it is false," Apollo mutters.

"I can't apologize enough for this and I will never apologize enough to make up for all this," Iqadi says as tears rim her waterlines. "This is all my fault and I take all the responsibility."

Iqadi lightly takes Angela's arm off her neck and the knife skitters to the floor. Angela doesn't even acknowledge the knife but keeps her eyes on Iqadi.

"Please don't accidentally kill me," Angela softly begs with snark in her voice. "I already can't breathe with everyone I love having a target on their backs and not knowing how to cover them up. You'd better pray to your Panther God that Xavier doesn't die or you'll be next."

No tears fall out as Iqadi nods. "I have your word."

"Well, now the plans got out," Daniel states.

"Slow down," James says. "I can't think as fast as any of you. There are multiple anti-James plans?!"

Iqadi knows that everyone is mad at her and she's not surprised. She had to keep it a secret from them not only for Wakanda but so they could all sleep better at night. Now, someone has her plans and is putting them to use right before her eyes.

"You all deserve to be angry since I have been mad at myself for seven years," Iqadi admits. She looks at Apollo. "Would you do the same if it meant protecting Asgard?"

Apollo is silent for a second. "First things first, why my axe?"

"You're too reliant on it and I've only seen it on SHIELD Island."

Apollo can't deny he's impressed, especially since wrote those plans before he left. In response to her question regarding Asgard and his royal duties, he can't lie to her. "I would. Sometimes, it's hard to choose which feelings to fight and which ones to follow and when you rule a kingdom, failing to prepare is preparing to fail. I can't imagine how hard this must've for you, Iqadi, but I know how difficult it is to be away from home and unsure of how vulnerable it may be now. I will be with you every step of the way."

Apollo's words bite into the others. Sometimes, they forget that Iqadi is the heir to Wakanda's throne and that the responsibility and safety of all those citizens fall on her shoulders. She had to choose to protect the lives of thousands, possibly millions, over the lives of nine. They work with SHIELD and know that in a situation where you have to pick between saving the world versus your team, they always save more lives and sacrifice less. Opportunity cost in the term of lives is always at risk. Utilitarian perspective. It depends on who you're willing to let go, no matter what the price to pay is.

But if there's the chance to save everyone, go for it.

"As messed up as this all is," James mutters, "at least we know the truth and that's all that matters."

Daniel looks at Iqadi. "You're never going to be alone with us in the picture."

Iqadi looks at all her friends and knows that she loves the best people in the world, which ultimately makes the creation of the plans hurt even more.

Angela sighs, putting the knife back on the counter. "My death threat is off the table. Right now, it's either kill or be killed and I'm not helping someone else finish their agenda. I'm sorry, it's just … it should've been me with the gun."

"God, I don't want to die now," James says. "Do you have any idea who could have taken them?"

"None," Iqadi responds.

"Well, we're going to kick this guy's ass," Emily exclaims.

Angela smirks a little, wiping her tears. "Or her ass."

"Either way, there will be some ass-whooping."