Spider Man: Duty And Loss - Chapter 102

Reed expertly lowered the ship as he came into the landing pad they had been lead to. Everyone was still shocked by the sights around them, that they didn’t notice the contingent of people that surrounded the ship until Reed had powered down the engines.

Around their ship were other resting aircrafts, which Reed noted, were just as advanced as the ship he sat in. Peter started for a second as he took in the family standing a bit away from the ship. Standing with a straight back and royal bearing was T’Chaka, current king of Wakanda.

With grey beard and hair he still had a regal air around him, something they could all feel even looking at him from a distance. Standing next to him was a woman also bearing a royal demeanour, she stood just behind T’Chaka, she was Ramonda Queen of Wakanda.

She had been with T’Chaka for many years and had sired two kids for her husband, both of which were standing behind their parents. T’Challa stood ram rod straight behind his parents as he stared at the resting ship. Though it wasn’t as prominent as his father, he had the bearings of a leader, no doubt cultivated as he was to be the next king of Wakanda.

Finally standing next to him was Shuri. Peter’s eyes stopped on her the longest as he hadn’t seen his best friend in person for a very long time. Even from a distance he could see the excitement in her eyes. Peter was sure that if it wasn’t for protocol, she would have rushed up the ramp to give him a hug, before the two would banter and geek out about new technology and ideas.

“I guess we should go out and greet them.” Peter’s words seemed to snap the rest out of it as they all turned to him. Peter didn’t give any visible response to the sudden attention and instead nodded towards Johnny, before motioning to the rest, his voice just a bit more serious.

“They’ll have the facilities you need to look after Johnny and get the rest of you checked out. We all need some rest after getting out of that crazy castle.” Sue visibly relaxed and grabbed for Johnny as she heard he could get treatment. He had briefly left her mind as they reach Wakanda, but she was still very worried that he hadn’t woken up yet.

Ben gave a nod to the web head, as his words made sense, though he was interested in everything that was happening, he knew that he could get some rest and look at it later. It was Reed that looked like he wanted to disagree.

Personally Reed wanted to leap from his chair and start shaking answers out of Spider-Man! ‘What the hell! Where did all this technology come from?! Did he know about it…of course he did! How did they keep it from the UN! How are they more advanced than the rest of the world?! What made up their stealth technology to cloak their entire country?!’

His mind was racing a mile a minute, but the strong solid hand of Ben Grimm resting on his shoulder calmed him down. He turned to look at his long time friend and let out a breath of air. His body was too tired to do any of that, honestly his mind was also straining to stay awake.

Spider-Man was the only one to come out truly unscathed from their escape.

The Fantastic Five made their way slowly out of the ship and stopped for a second as they took in the people that greeted them once again. Now that they were closer they noticed the royal family of Wakanda were all dressed in royal garbs as they waited for them to move closer.

Standing just behind them were woman, all with no hair, menacing and wearing a type of red outfit that denoted their collection as a group. Their eyes followed them as they walked closer and closer to the royal family. It was frankly intimidating to the fantastic four, though Peter who knew about them before hand was more easily going.

They all had spears in their hands that glinted in the sun above them, Reed taking a closer look couldn’t identify the metal that was used for the spear head and could swear there was some type of circuitry going through the spear shafts which just set his mind ablaze with new theories.

There was one standing noticeable closer to the royal family than the others; her name was Okoye, general of the Dora Milaje, the special forces of Wakanda. Though she could afford to be slightly relaxed as the group before her had just done a great service for their country, until she knew the Fantastic Four personally she would not take any chances, even if one of them was injured, her eyes briefly flickered to the knocked out form of Johnny Storm.

Though she did know Peter, she had been their when Shuri had first met her ‘Pen Pal’ in person. A concept almost laughable to her mind at the time. Shuri being a genius, even in Wakanda, and royalty, what was the purpose of her having a Pen Pal? An even better question, that was answered later, was how they even became Pen Pal’s in the first place.

At least no misunderstandings had occurred when that question was answer; she didn’t like having to silence children, especially for somehow breaching Wakandan communication security.

But her mind had wondered for too long, she refocused on the group as they finally appeared before them. T’Chaka took a step forwards first and addressed Spider-Man as he had been nominated by the Fantastic Four to talk for them.

“Hello and Welcome to Wakanda. I must thank you for the service you provided by retrieving our stolen Vibranium. There is no telling the horrors that could occur should one such as Victor Von Doom mishandle such a substance.” Giving a respectful Wakandan greeting Peter was quick to respond.

It wasn’t the first time he had met King T’Chaka, but it had been a long time. A few of the Dora Milaje moved behind the group to secure the ship they flew in on, as Peter spoke up. “I could not turn down your request your majesty, not in your time of need. I would do so again in a heartbeat, you know I will always help a friend.”

Peter’s head shifted ever so slightly to Shuri as she flashed him a smile. What neither of them noticed was the small smile and glint in the eyes of Ramonda off to the side as she watched the interaction between the two.

She was happy that her daughter had such a good friend. Straightening himself and turning to the Fantastic Four Peter continued. “It is them you should thank your majesty, they had no reason to help but did so anyway. Without them it would have been a near impossible task.” ‘Or more like impossible’ Peter thought to himself.

T’Chaka gave a small nod at the words and stepped just past Peter to acknowledge the four others. “Yes, your help in this matter will not be over looked. Know that you have made friends with Wakanda this day and that we always repay our debts of gratitude.”

They could only nod a bit dumbfounded as they stood before a man with such presence. Hearing him thank them whole heartedly was something they hadn’t expected. They had spoken to other politicians and leaders that were stuck up and brutish to say the least because of the power they wielded.

Peter spoke up as he noticed that Sue was having a bit of trouble keeping Johnny’s prone body up. “We received some injuries retrieving the Vibranium, we could use some medical assistance as soon as possible.”

T’Chaka nodded once more as he motioned for one of the Dora Milaje to step forwards. “Bring our guest to one of the medical wards and give them the best care we have.” The woman nodded her head gravely and waited for her king to finish. Turning back to the Fantastic Four he motioned for them to go.

“We will speak more when you have fully recovered.” “Thank you your majesty.” Sue left those words as she began to follow the Dora Milaje into the building in front of them. Reed had so many questions on his mind but he moved along with Ben as they also left.

Peter was the only one still on the landing platform waiting for the other to leave, when they moved out of sight Shuri couldn’t help it anymore and bounded forwards giving him a full blown hug. “Peter! It’s been so long!”

Peter was surprised for a few seconds from the sudden hug, but should have known it was coming. The smile on her face was radiant as he slowly returned it, a smile coming to his lips under the mask. “Yes, Yes it has.”