Rise

2.1
"Welcome." A man smiled as Kofi boarded the jet. It seemed as if he were alone until he sat down. A woman with a bald head and chocolate skin approached him. She held a metal spear in one hand and was dressed in traditional warrior clothes. The woman brought the spear down twice, hammering on the metal floor.

"I am Ashanti," she said in a proud voice, her chin high " second in command to the Dora Milajae." Kofi smiled taking a seat. The jet was one of military so had two long benches lining the outside of the plane each opposite to each other. The warrior cautiously took a seat across from him.

"Kofi," he smirked "Kofi Stevens." The jet set off into the crisp morning sky, leaving a trail of white behind it. On lookers pointed upwards at it.

"I know who you are." Ashanti looked the man up and down. "You're Kofi Killmonger, unbeknownst to the Wakandan people until you were selected. There was no trace of your father having a child amongst the people, are you really his?"

"Of course I'm his," he laughed "do I not remind you of your beloved king?" Kofi brushed off his shoulders, the naval uniform fitted him well. The colour complimenting him perfectly along with the many golden medals that decorated his chest.

"He was not our king, he was never our king." Kofi sat back, he was not about to light a fire before he even entered the fortress. The warrior sighed. "I wish I could tell you more about him in confidence but I cannot remember his rule. I have only been told stories, even though he was a bad man he changed Wakanda forever. For that I thank him, without him millions would be suffering all over the world."

"Right purpose, wrong execution." Kofi looked into his lap. "I'm not here to take over the throne, I want to see the new queen, to make sure the sun keeps setting on Wakanda." Ashanti nodded. "Well long enough for me to see one myself." he smiled. Kofi was truthful he did not wish to take the position of leader, he only wanted to see it handed into the right hands.

"I'm sure you will Killmonger-

"Just Kofi." he cut her off. "Not Killmonger in Wakanda, it's not the right place nor appropriate name." The name that plastered the uniform said differently.

"Well Kofi," Ashanti spoke "I hope you can make an impression on our people, that will represent both you and your father."

"I hope so," he sighed looking the warrior up and down. "but first can I get your number?" Kofi asked raising his eyebrows claiming back his fuck boy self. The niceties had come to an end with the woman.

"Keep this up and you will leave Wakanda without your dick and balls." She warned. "Don't try anything with the women if you want to have kids when your older. If not, be my guest. I'll buy front row tickets to watch, or maybe even one to participate." She pointed the spear towards him before setting it back beside her.

"Understood," he licked his lips looking at his phone "I'm not the type anyways." Kofi shrugged it off as he scrolled through his contacts. Contacts that were filled with hundreds upon hundreds of female (and some male) names.

"Get Katie on the phone and tell her that." The warrior laughed. They had obviously done a background check on him, which included hacking into his very easy to open phone.

"How do you know about Katie?"

"Let's just say, your phone security is not the safest. Considering your a navy seal you would think all your passwords would be different. Not all sexybeast379." Ashanti raised her eyebrows.

The jet rattled as it landed. The wheels touching the soft Wakandan ground. The door opened slowly, before hitting the floor beneath it. The people of Wakanda were stood waiting for the man, they had received the news yesterday and were intrigued to see their villainous kings son. The older generation had been insured that he was of no harm unlike his father.

"Ladies first." Ashanti ushered him from out of the plane. There was a gasp let out from the crowd followed by a bunch of smothered whispers. His ears catching some as he walked towards the future queen and her mother.

"He looks just like him."

"Do you think he carries the same marks?"

"I hope he is nothing like the man he mirrors."

Wakanda was just as he imagined. A beautiful place with beautiful people. Somehow a mix between nature and high tech. The ground almost buzzed with the energy of vibranium. Kofi looked down at his watch which ticked away, nearly unable to wait until the sun was setting. If he could push time forward, he most definitely would.

Shuri stood in-front of her mother in the most casual clothes. She had refused to wear anything formal until she became queen, using the excuse that when queen she would 'never be able to be comfortable again'. Kofi took a bow before holding out his hand.

"Kofi Cyrus Killmonger," he smiled as she took his hand "it's nice to finally meet you princess." The whites of his teeth sparkled as did his soft brown eyes however Shuri pulled away from him as fast as she could.

"I would say the same for you however considering your blood line was nearly the cause of Wakanda's downfall I cannot." she smirked. "I'm Shuri, I'm sorry about your father, he did change Wakanda whether for the better, i'm unsure."

"I will never know his true intentions, I never met him because of your brother. However I tend to stick with right purpose, wrong execution.” Shuri raised an eyebrow before turning on her heals, Kofi followed closely behind. Her braided hair was down and fell just below her waistline swaying as she walked.

"It was not my brothers fault for his death, he chose to die under the setting sun of Wakanda. You should of payed attention to that letter he sent you Kofi." His expression was one of shock. "If it wasn't for me and my brother you would've never gotten that letter, you wouldn't of ever been raised in the care of your fathers comrades. You may have a lot of hatred towards us however you wouldn't be here if it wasn't our kindness."

Shuri lead him through her lab, it was empty only filled by different devises and equipment. Each mechanic gleaming purple or coloured a sleek black. Across one of the walls were mannequins each with their own necklace, the next in line better than the one beside it. Alone she opened a door, inside was a room lined with windows. In the centre a bed and in that bed was a frail figure, strong still as the illness got worse and worse.

"He wants to see you alone." Shuri motioned the teen inside the room shutting the door behind him. The Black Panther stayed quiet waiting for the boy to appear in-front of him, his gaze set across his kingdom.

"King T'Challa." Kofi uttered unable to bow to the man who killed his father. The king just laughed, not to mock him but to welcome him. The teen seemed so uncomfortable in his presence.

"Not for much longer, please just call me T'Challa." he pointed to a chair across the room. "Join me." Kofi pulled it up beside his bed admiring the man. "Your father was a good man, with right intentions I believe. Just the wrong way of execution." Kofi smiled.

“It’s like you have read my mind, I’ve said that twice already today. I wish I didn’t have to explain him to people, I wish that he was here.” He looked down into his hands. “To explain himself, make up for what he’s done.”

“Do you hate me?" T’Challa asked the question that had played on his mind for a while.

"I thought I did." Kofi was truthful with the king. "But now, here, meeting with you. I'm unsure, if i'm honest i've been unsure about you for years." T'Challa nodded. "It doesn't matter now anyways, it's all in the past, hating you will not bring him back."

"Very wise words young man, your father would be proud of how you have matured. I apologise for taking that away from you and him." he smiled sincerely. "I hope that you have had a good childhood though, even considering the circumstances."

"I have." he sighed. "Thankyou for leaving me with his friends, I don't think I would've been able to grow up here. I doubt your people would've accepted me." Kofi shook his head, remembering the scenarios he used to make when he was younger. What if he stayed in Wakanda? What if? What if?

"You would've done just fine." He patted the teen on his back feeling bumps underneath his shirt. "I see you scar yourself like your father." T'Challa drew his hand away. Kofi felt the judgement in his gaze.

"Not to prove myself, I don't need to prove myself to anyone." he traced his hand over his chest. "I use it more as a way to honour the people that have died at my hands. It helps the guilt." T'Challa nodded. “It helps the resentment and regret.”

"I wish I could've had children, grow old and hand my place down to my eldest. The world works in funny ways just like people deal with things in funny ways." he chuckled. "One of my only regrets is that I didn't know who you were sooner. If I knew before he died I would've done something, my apologies."

"Don't apologise, even if you did know he would rather die with his pride than live on with shame. I would've done the same." Kofi admitted.

"I here you are quite the ladies man." T'Challa wiggled his eyebrows trying to lighten the mood. Kofi just laughed. "If I had your looks I would be to" Heat raised to his cheeks as he smiled.

"I may be a ladies man but secretly I really struggle to keep one." Kofi sighed. "I've been with so many yet still haven't found one to stay with." The many names floated in his mind unable to place a face onto most of them.

"Ahhh." he chuckled. "My weakness is I freeze whenever I see my queen, whenever I saw my queen." a frown formed where the smile had once been. Kofi had heard a few years earlier that she was killed on a mission.

"I'm sorry." Kofi commented.

"Don't be, it's a cruel world that no one can control." T'Challa began to cough, sitting himself up as it went away. "My immune system isn't the best at the moment." he explained.

"Is there any chance that you will get better?" Kofi asked. He knew that if there was any major hope then they would not be appointing a new leader.

"Yes," he sighed. "a very small chance but it is a chance at that. I'll tell you something Killmonger, even if I die it is not the end." he looked across the land. "I will live on with my legacy and with my ancestors." T'Challa willed himself out of the bed and hobbled over to the wheelchair in the corner of the room sitting himself down.

"Do you want me to help?" Kofi asked if he wanted to be pushed. The King just shook his head and smiled using his arms to push himself.

"I'm not dead yet." he joked. "You better follow me." Kofi did as he was told and followed the leader back out through the lab. He lead him onto a balcony. Already on the stage was Shuri, her mother, Ashanti and another Dora Milajae warrior. The crowd bellow instantly bowed to their king before standing up looking towards the foreigner.

"He is not meant to be up here." Shuri hissed.

"Shut up and help your king stand." She rolled her eyes before giving him her arm. T'Challa stood up slowly using his sister to balance out his weight. "You can let go now." he patted her arm signalling her to step back.

"Wakanda." he spoke over the balcony in a strong voice. "You will soon have a new queen. My sister Shuri." The crowd applauded. "However that will not be the only thing new," he looked to his sister. "please." Shuri stepped forward next to her brother.

"We will have a new Black Panther." she announced. "A Black Panther that will not be your ruler but will be your soul protector. I cannot take on this role so I ask each tribe to put forward a warrior who is willing to die for the position. Who is willing to die for Wakanda." The tribes stomped and whooped.

"Silence." T'Challa raised his arms looking around the people. "Tribe leaders step forward and announce your warriors." The leader of the river tribe stepped forward.

"The river tribe put forward our best warrior, Rafiki!" A man stepped forward and bowed towards the royal family. Next was the Border Tribe leader.

"Our warrior," the man smiled. "Isoke." A woman stepped forward next to the other selected. Another woman stepped forward, the leader of the mining tribe.

"Akins." Another man stepped forward.

"We put forward Pasua." The merchant tribe leader pushed a young girl forward next to the contenders.

"And me M'Baku of the jabari put forward my daughter. She is your second in command T'Challa." He smiled. "Ashanti." The warrior stood forward death glaring her father.

"Thank you." T'Challa looked down. "Each contender has great potential however we are missing one." There was a hush that fell over the crowd. "As current king and representative of the royal family, I put forward our blood." he turned towards the young man. "Our warrior is Kofi Cyrus Killmonger." T'Challa took the teens hand and raised it into the air.

"I will have no debate over this, no questions asked. He has a right to the throne so he has the right to fight." Kofi's hand dropped to his side. "All contenders are to be taken by the Dora Milajae to the arena.” The other warrior grabbed Kofi by the arm forcing him away from the king. “Good luck Killmonger!” T’Challa shouted after him.

The woman took him back to the lab however there was now chairs set up around the room. The chairs that you would get at a doctors office or in a hospital. Along with that were people busy pushing along carts with needles on the top. Kofi was the first in and he was sat on the first chair. A man came over, needle in hand. He pushed it into Kofi’s arm without warning.

“What are you-

Kofi was already out cold, fading into the darkness.