Let Them Come
“What is it? What is it,” Rogers asked, breathless as he rushed into the control room that displayed all of the Wakandan security information.
“Yes, brother,” Suri sneered, completely disgusted by the decisions her brother had made since the death of their father, a real Wakandan king. “What is it?”
T’Challa stood gaping as the whole of Wakanda was surrounded. Every inch of the border was surrounded by various armies. At the forefront, and the truly concerning factor, was an army of Iron Men armors.
“It’s the Iron Legion. But they’re a search and rescue force, and Tony’s never made so many,” Rogers said as they looked on at the shining army that headed the enormous force outside their shields. The legion stretched as far as the eye could see. Steve knew that they were likely being remotely piloted, but he also knew from watching Jarvis and Friday that they were just as dangerous as Tony—in fact, they would likely hold back less than the genius would.
“Our sensors indicate an array of weapons . . . weapons that should not be in existence. This technology, no one has this technology,” Suri said, distraught.
“What have you done,” T’Challa asked angrily, taking an aggressive step towards the Captain. “They could not have found us. What have you done?!”
“I just sent Tony a letter and a way to contact me. I couldn’t leave it like I did,” Steve said plaintively.
Suri and T’Challa both groaned.
“It was a burner phone. There’s no way to track it,” Steve said quickly.
“There is if you’re Tony Stark . . . idiot,” Suri hissed.
“It’s fine. It’s fine,” Steve said hurriedly, running his hands through his hair in agitation. “You said to let them come,” he added accusingly.
“And they did, didn’t they, brother. You thought we could stand against the whole world? Even our technology cannot withstand the sheer numbers that wait at our door!”
“They’ll never get passed our main shield,” T’Challa said confidently.
“Your highness,” a technician said meekly as he turned to face the king. “The outer shield has fallen.”
“WHAT! That’s impossible. Not even Tony Stark,” T’Challa began.
“Imbecile! Of course, he can, brother! He simply never had the reason to try before now.”
“Watch your tongue, Suri. I am still your king.”
There was a tense silence.
“Not for long,” she said confidently, her back straightening. “You have been selfish and arrogant, a disgrace to the memory of our father. And you are raining destruction down on our nation. We will have to give them something. And we will.”
T’Challa and the Captain looked on in outraged betrayal as Suri gestured to the Dora in the room. To T’Challa’s shock, they looked at one another, Okoye nodded, and then surrounded T’Challa and Rogers.
**
Steve struggled against the cuffs that held him securely as he was marched towards the convoy that would transport them back to Europe. T’Challa was beside him, also in cuffs, as the princess reassured the Accords Council representatives, that included Tony Stark, that his immunity was in the process of being revoked, his entire rule as king of Wakanda at an end.
“You can’t do this,” Steve said, though he stopped abruptly when Tony stepped around a corner to address him.
“You’ll find that we can. I tried to warn you what was coming, but you refused to listen. And now, here we are. Only this time, instead of collapsing a secret, spy organization, you’ve managed to sink an entire, secret nation,” Tony added, rolling his eyes.
“Tony, please. Don’t do this! We were only doing what we thought was right,” Steve said loudly, bracing his feet as a soldier shoved him forward.
Tony looked at Steve sardonically as he threw that stupid line from his self-serving non-apology letter back at Tony.
“That’s right, Rogers. We can only do what we think is right. That’s all we should do. That’s what you said, right?”
Steve smiled with a bit of panic behind his eyes.
“Yes! Yes, that’s it exactly!”
“And you’re right, Steve. The part that you forgot to mention is that once you’ve taken a stand, you have to be prepared to pay the consequences for the position you took. It’s time to pay the piper, Steve, and don’t worry. I’ve already replaced all of those locks.”