You're the one I Dream of
Shuri sent out the medical staff, with a gurney; o intercept Ayo and Aneka as they arrived with Okoye. They wheeled her into the medical unit, and to the operating room. Shuri had Griot to do an updated analysis on her condition. Okoye was prep for the procedure, while Shuri waited for the results. Griot put the data up on the screen for Shuri to see.
M'Baku, Ayo and Aneka waited in a room, praying for a successful outcome. None spoke a word, fearing a divergent from their deep devotion; could alter their request; to bring Okoye out of this whole. They heard the footsteps; before she entered the room. They all inhaled at once.
“I thought you should know, before I commence with the surgery,” she looked at each one. “I know at this stage; Okoye wouldn’t mind all of you knowing. She has a tumor, normally, it would be classified as inoperable. But I, as well as a couple of others; could do this in our sleep. Right now, there is another larger problem that has developed. This is the reason she collapsed. She has an aneurysm that ruptured, and we have to take care of it, before we move forward. I got to go back.”
“But Shuri, what does this mean, if everything goes well?” Aneka asked.
“Let’s get through this, and then we can deal with the rest,” she left them in the room, staring at each other, neither wanted to say what was on their minds.
Attuma sat on his special rock, he does; when he comes there. He really needed to expel Okoye from his mind, and out of his heart; if he ever hoped to go back to Wakanda. But there was this nagging feeling, that kept eating away at him, about hearing his name being called. He heard the water splashing and interrupting his quiet time. He looked around, and saw her approaching. A young Talokanil female. Tall, and very lovely, slender, dark eyes and long black hair.
“Excuse me, but this is a secluded area,” he stood to his feet.
“Oh, sorry for the intrusion,” she walked up to him. “But I saw you with Namora, and I asked who you were, she told me. I was so overjoyed, to finally see my idol for real.”
“I can appreciate your enthusiasm, but that still doesn’t answer my question,” he was stern.
“I apologize, I just wanted to meet you, and tell you; how much I admire you,” her voice was shaky, and tears filled her eyes. Attuma looked away, if there was one thing he could not take, a woman’s tears; gets him every time.
“Hey, don’t do that, it’s no big deal,” he hooked her chin, and tilted her head back. “What is your name?” She allowed a small smile to form.
“Maczil,” she told him.
“Well, it’s nice to meet you, Maczil,” he says. “Have a seat, and tell me about how I became your idol.”
M'Baku sat in a chair, dozing off at intervals, Ayo and Aneka were doing no better. It has been some time since they received word from Shuri. They felt the no news is good news theory could be at work here. Footsteps approaching knocked them out of the drowsiness. Shuri entered the room.
“Shuri,” Aneka spoke first, as she came to them.
“Please sit, while I explain things,” she took a seat, they did as well. “We went in and dealt with the most pressing issue, which was the aneurysm. We were able to get it taking care of, but weren’t able to remove the tumor at this time.”
“Why?” M'Baku questioned that decision. Shuri looked at him.
“Because she is took weak, we had to do this hands on, I went in myself,” She explained. “I wasn’t trusting technology with this, important procedure. The main thing everyone should know, the danger has been eradicated, the rest will be easier. She needs rest, and time to recover from the surgery. Then we go back in, and remove the tumor.”
“So, what you’re saying, is she’s okay?” Ayo wanted clarification, or for her to repeat it.
“Yes, the aneurysm is what was causing the headaches, and the blackouts,” she informed them. “Which caused her to have panic attacks, with each impending episode. I must get back, and suggest all of you go home and get some rest. I don’t need any of you lined up next to her from exhaustion. She left the room with them exclaiming their joy for hearing that news.
“My King M'Baku,” Ayo came to him, as she recalled something.
“Yes, General?” He turned to her.
“When we heard her scream out, she was calling someone,” she said. “She called for Attuma. Where is he?”
“He’s gone,” he informed her. “He went back to Talokan.
“Ayo,” Aneka said her name.
“Yes,” she replied.
“That’s what she said, before passing out,” Aneka reminded her.
“And what was it she said?” M'Baku asked.
“She said, He’s gone,” Aneka told him. M'Baku stood bewildered. “Ayo, remembered how she had this far away look like she was staring at something?”
“Or someone,” Ayo added.
“How would she know, he left?” Aneka injected. “Unless she could see him going.”
“It seems those two have a spiritual connection,” Ayo concluded. “Maybe we should get word to him?”
“Yes, no matter what, he would want to know,” M'Baku agreed with her suggestion. “And that may be the reason for certain things developing the way they did. I will send word to him.”