Avengers: A New Dawn/Chapter 3

T'Challa rolled out of his bed. He couldn't sleep. Not after what had happened yesterday. Yesterday marked the fourth-year anniversary of Tony Stark's sacrifice. It was a sad day.

He rolled over and looked at Nakia. He decided not to wake her. He climbed out of bed to look out the window that showed the beautiful city. They were still doing repairs on the damage that had been done nine years ago. There was so much damage. He checked his clock. It read 3:30 am. Too early to do anything but sleep. At least, too early for anybody but himself. He was king. He looked back at Nakia again. She was still asleep. He went to his closet and grabbed a nice shirt, some pants, and his sandals. He got them on and silently left his bedroom, hoping that at least someone else was awake. Even Suri, his annoying little sister. He wouldn't bother to look yet. Too early. So instead, he switched on the news downstairs in the gathering room. He rarely even switched on the TV. Didn't benefit him in any way. It was the same as every year this time, it covered Tony's sacrifice, and his funeral, and that stuff. the Starks opted out of the interviews since the beginning. That was mostly Tony's thing.

T'Challa heard a faint rattle in the distance. He turned his head around the couch and looked back to the source. He got up and looked into the kitchen, where it came from.

"Nakia, why are you up?"

"I heard you up. Why? Is there a problem?"

"No. I guess not," T'Challa said, looking at the pans that Nakia was getting out. "What are you making?"

"Something for later," Nakia said.

"You were never a cook. Why are you cooking?"

"Are you saying I'm a bad cook?" Nakia asked, with a slight smile.

"No! I would never say that," T'Challa said. "Anything I can do to help?"

"No, I want it to be a surprise. Go back to bed." She said it in such a tone, it was as if she was asking him, yet forcing him.

"Alright. I'll go."

When T'Challa got back to his bed, he looked out the window. He couldn't sleep. He knew that, so why try? He didn't know, yet he didn't dare question Nakia's authority around the house. After all, she did most of the cleaning and taking care of things around the house. She also had a job to do. T'Challa? He went to the palace to talk with the elders most of the day. It wasn't as nice as it seems. Most conversations are boring. Nothing that would interest him, yet he had to be there. He would much rather be like Nakia than himself. He was making himself weary just by thinking about it. He laid back down and pulled a sheet over his body so he could rest his eyes.

To his surprise, he did sleep. When he awoke, the sun was shining down on the city. his clock now read 8:48 am. He slept for five hours and eighteen minutes. Not bad. He went down to find Nakia. She was already off to work. He looked around for something to eat. Even something as simple as cereal (which they rarely had). While looking, he found a note from Nakia. I have left for work early today. I will be back tonight around 5:00 pm. I saw you have a message on your recorder. Have a good day. He looked at his recorder. Who could it be? He pressed the "Old Messages" button on it. and listened.

"King T'Challa," said what sounded to be Thor's voice. "I bring bad news. Do you remember Sam Wilson?" T'Challa thought hard into his past. Sam Wilson...he recognized the name, but couldn't see his picture. "Well, he has been captured by an unknown enemy. We have not located him yet, but hope to. We would be honored if you could join us at the Stark Tower. We have started to remodel, so sorry for the look. Hope to see you then, Thor." Well, it was Thor. That was the least of his worries. He looked at the note. There was no way he'd be back at 5:00 pm. He knew not to contact Nakia at work, but he wanted to notify her. Sam was a good friend of his, or well, at least now he was. He pulled out one of his Kimoyo Beads, and set the contact to Nakia.

Nakia activated hers.

"Sorry to interrupt you, Nakia."

"You know not to contact me at work!"

"Sorry, but I need to tell you that I won't be home tonight. Maybe not even tomorrow. I have to attend to some urgent business in New York. I'm sorry for the short notice, and oh, by the way, happy anniversary. No, I did not forget this time," T'Challa said.

Nakia said nothing, but stared at the image in shock.

"Have a good day, Nakia," T'Challa said as he deactivated his bead, and put it back in his pocket.

It's going to be a long trip, he thought. Better contact Okoye. Okoye was the leader of the royal guards. Again, T'Challa took out a Kimoyo Bead, and this time set the contact to Okoye.

"Okoye. Can you do me a favor?"

"Of course, your majesty. What can I help with?"

"Bring a Royal Talon Fighter to the cave in a half-an-hour. I have an urgent appointment, and can't be late."

"Yes, your majesty. Anything else?"

"No, that is all, Nakia." T'Challa deactivated the bead, and went back to his room so he could get some propper clothing on that way he didn't look like he just got out of bed when he went to the palace to tell the elders that Shuri would be a substitute for him today. He always wanted to do that. It'll make his sister mad. He got on some more formal wear, a simple black shirt, with some black pants, along with some sandals. He went downstairs, where he grabbed an apple, and walked out the door. He waited at a train station, which would lead him to his sister's and mother's home. It was a peaceful ride. Nothing bothered him. He just sat back in one of the seats, and listened to music while they traveled.

It took only about ten minutes to arrive at their house. T'Challa walked in the door, cautious that he wouldn't wake anybody up if anyone was still asleep. He saw his mother cooking something he could not see, but it smelled delicious.

"Mother, do you know where Shuri is?"

"Yes, she just went to the Panther Cave."

"Thanks. I should be back by next week."

"Next week? And who do you suppose will fill in your spot to the throne? Don't tell me it's-" T'Challa started laughing. "No. No, no, no no no no no! She will not be there for that."

"Mother. She can handle herself, and is old enough. I have some urgent work in New York to attend to. I might be a while."

"New York? What's gone wrong now?"

"I do not know. They did not give me specific details, mainly because all they know is that Sam has been capture. Nothing more."

"Well, I suppose you should help him. But wait. What about your anniversary? I am making this for the occasion."

"We can celebrate when I get back. How does that sound?"

T'Challa's mother sighed, and shook her head. "Your food will be cold by then," she said without even a smile. T'Challa could tell that she was laughing on the inside as she looked down and diced some peppers.

T'Challa laughed. It was a good laugh. "See you later mother."

"Don't hurt yourself over there, T'Challa!" his mom called out.

"Don't worry. I won't," T'Challa said, already out the door.

T'Challa waited out at the train station outside his mother's home. He didn't mind waiting, or the trip. In fact, he liked it. He wasn't treated like a king (usually) inside a train. Everyone else was too busy with other things. When the train arrived, he got in a seat and watched out the window, seeing the beautiful sites that is Wakanda. The train arrived at his next destination shortly after. He went down the spiraling vibranium staircase which led to the Panther Cave.

"No no no, this one goes here, that one goes there." He could hear Shuri complaining from afar. He guessed she was working on something. She always was.

"Shuri, what are you working on?"

"Close your eyes!" She shouted. T'Challa did as he was told, and laughed.

"What is the matter?"

"It's for you, brother. Dont look!" She was still yelling. "What do you need?"

"I need a favor. More like a gift. Interested?"

"Give me more detail and we will see."

"Do you want to be at the throne for a few days? Possibly a week?" There was a pause. She stopped whatever she was doing. He could hear that. "May I open my eyes?"

"No, not yet," Shuri said. "I have to finish covering it up." She hurried to put a tarp over her project so they could talk. "Now you may," she said.

"Now, Shuri, I have to go to New York for a little while. At least a week, and I need someone to fill in for me. Can you do that?"

"Are you serious? It's not April 1st, right?" T'Challa laughed.

"No. I am serious, sister." She stared at him, wondering if this was true or not. There was another long pause.

"Yes." She didn't sound very enthusiastic.

"I thought you'd be happier. Is something wrong?"

"Well, I was planning on finishing your gift."

"Gift? Gift for what?"

"Your birthday is in 3 days. I need to get it done." He had forgot that it was. In three days, he would turn 42. "Did you forget?"

"No, no! Of course not!" T'Challa said with a laugh.

"Uh huh?" He shook his head, and started walking towards the stairs. He looked at his Kimoyo beads, and one was activated.

"It looks like my ride's here. You sure you want to do this?"

"Of course! It will be fun," she said as she shoved his arm towards the doorway.

"Need a ride?" T'Challa asked pointing his thumb out the door.

"No. I need to finish your gift, now get out!" He chuckled, and left. He walked passed the guards, and made an X with his arms across his chest. The guards repeated. He walked outside of the cave, up the stairs, and onto the platform where Okoye was waiting.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Okoye," T'Challa said.

"My king, we have received more news on the situation. Samuel Wilson has been captured."

"Yes. I am aware of this. Anything new?"

"Yes. James Barnes looked over security footage with Thor and Bruce."

"What did they see?"

"A ship. It looks like the ones that Steve and Tony mentioned 6 years ago during the Infinity War."

"The ones that Thanos used?"

"Yes, but we never encountered them."

"But Thanos is dead."

"We know. We can't figure out who it is. We should be on our way."

"I agree. How fast can we get there?"

"About 25 minutes."

"Let's go the." T'Challa was scared, but he would never show it. He was scared that Thanos somehow came back. No. He was killed by Tony. He kept trying to tell his mind this, but he always came back to that. Maybe they were minions of Thanos? But they were all dead. They were snapped away.

He wasn't just concerned for his life. He was concerned for everyone's life.

"My king, we are arriving." T'Challa got up from where he was sitting in the back, and went up front. to look out.

"Look, smoke. Someone was here. And they do not like us." He sat back, awaiting the landing. When they landed, T'Challa was greeted by Bruce, Bucky, and Thor. They all looked shaken up.

"We have a lot we need to discuss," Bruce said, already walking towards the tower.

"Who else is coming?" T'Challa asked.

"So far? We know of Thor, me, Bucky, Clint, Scott, Nebula, Parker, Quill, Drax, Rocket, Mantis, Strange, Hope, and others we dont know of. This is big. We gathered footage, and saw a Q-Ship. It has to be Thanos. Come in. It's not safe out here."