Following the events of the divination, N’Jadaka looks to the future and the Jabari.
[ 17 Days after Curse Reveal, 40 days after the Council Meeting] It’s been more than 2 weeks since that bizarre assault and T’Challa feels as if he might be in a dream. Could the scourge that was N’Jadaka, the weight and anxiety that had haunted him, followed him all these months be lifted just like that? It didn’t seem possible. The harsh memory of the day juxtaposing with his realization, and then delight at well deserved retribution. He’s never heard of a curse like this and a part of him is still cautious, not daring to believe. But the evidence—least of all N’Jadaka’s ‘experiment’ on two different occasions proves it. N’Jadaka hasn't approached him again after that day and T’Challa is blessedly left to his newly separated quarters. He’s not so naive as to think N’Jadaka couldn’t still hurt him, rather he grows stronger in the realization with each passing day that his cousin would not be gaining the satisfaction he sought if he dared to lay hands on T’Challa again. A praise to Bast leaves his lips unconsciously and he leans back further in his office chair. The display in front of him has an array of information, links, videos and a few messages. He opens a message he’s had pinned at the top of his official correspondence for a few days. It’s from Yamini, an invitation to dinner in her family’s homestead. Yamini hadn’t been present at the gala they held to celebrate a successful Festival of Bast but her niece had been and approached T’Challa to give her aunt’s regards. He’s received many invitations like this one since the Festival, and turned down most. However, this is one invitation he doesn’t think he can turn down. Not just because of the face, being invited by one of Mining Tribe’s most venerated elders gave him but because he suspected she wanted to discuss a matter that needed an impartial arbitration. He writes out a response but doesn’t immediately send, thinking maybe he should consult his mother first. The habitual instinct was hard to repress even if he and his mother haven’t spoken in more than a week due to an argument. While T’Challa is not proud of the words they exchanged he is not sorry for them. The argument started because T’Challa brought up his findings in the War Dog archives following a disparaging comment from his mother at the Director’s recent decisions to support the N’Jadaka’s new mandates. T’Challa hadn’t been looking for a fight, nor had he wanted to hash out old disagreements but something about the way she bad mouthed the Director irritated him. When the War Dogs had covered up N’Jobu’s treason, watched N’Jadaka from afar and told no one, following his father’s instructions it was fine. Now she wanted to criticize the same organization for going along with mandates that aligned more with their sentiments than any thing had in 50 years? “Bast chose your father and as king he made these decisions to the best of his understanding. It is not the same.” “When is Bast’s chosen correct and when are they wrong?” He retorted before his brain could filter or temper the words. His mother's glare could have cut steel in that moment. “When Her chosen do not make foolish mistakes.” Following that remark the benign discussion devolved into an argument that left them both shouting and T’Challa near tears. It hurt for several reasons but most of all it confirmed what he already knew. Losing his kingship to N’Jadaka, losing the challenge she had advised him against accepting in the damn first place had severely damaged his credibility and her assurance in him to lead and make good decisions. She may not say it with her mouth but her comments and actions bore the hints of resentment. T’Challa sends the message to Yamini and switches his display from his official workspace to his private one. There, he finds no new messages and no updates from Nakia. There are some blurbs and videos from his feed that monitored Shuri’s public communications, an older message about Barnes’ treatment plan but not much else. A stark difference from the months before his coronation, back then it seemed like everyone with his personal contact had been foaming at the mouth to chat or ‘connect.’ Nakia sent more updates of her missions then too, usually of the beautiful things she saw, sunsets, people, one time a chipped teacup some family offered her in hospitality. But then her position wasn’t the same as it was before. T’Challa hadn’t pried the last time they talked but understood that her promotion went much deeper than managing a new department of the Division. A flashing notification on the corner of his screen announces a new message on his official workspace. He would ignore the notification if not for the familiar tagline. He switches back to the official workspace and is a bit surprised to see a call waiting. A moment later he accepts. Ayo’s face greets him and T’Challa exchanges pleasantries with a small smile. Ayo doesn’t beat around the bush. “There was a disturbance 2 weeks ago where the new agriculture developments are. The machinery left overnight was defaced and tampered with to the point none of it is usable.” Ayo relays the information and T’Challa is momentarily hit by nostalgia. How many times had he listened to her or Okoye give such reports to him in the past as Black Panther? “Have the culprits been found?” He asks all while wondering why Ayo had called him. Surely the Hatut Zeraze would be able to investigate the matter? Why was he hearing this now? From what he remembered, The terrain around that area wasn’t inhabited and not good for much. Significant effort would be required to turn it into arable land. Different attempts to cultivate the land have failed over the years for different reasons but this was the first to T’Challa’s recollection that active sabotage occurred. A look of discomfort passes over Ayo’s features, disappearing as soon as it appears. T’Challa waits, patiently. “We believe the culprits might be Jabari instigators. The method of sabotage is…distinct.” The Dora Milaje pauses to send T’Challa a series of photos. T’Challa examines each quickly and his heart sinks. Ayo hadn’t been exaggerating about the machines being unusable. Where the metal wasn’t burnt and deformed by some sort of acid-like tar there was a thick residue pervading the engine and operating cabinets that he knew was something the Jabari were known for using. “No one else has claimed responsibility?” It’s a rhetorical question, if regular Wakandan citizens were involved, from any other tribe, there were several methods to place and find them. Failing that the only option was to believe the clues left by the damage done on the machinery. But why would the Jabari do this? What did they gain from this? “The matter has been kept very quiet but so far, no. Unfortunately since there is a possibility this might be the doing of the Jabari… N’Jadaka wants to confront the Jabari leaders in person about this matter.” Ayo finishes and it’s suddenly clear to T’Challa why she was calling him. “Our standing treaty doesn’t allow the Black Panther to enter Jabari lands uninvited. He can’t.” By the time T’Challa says the last part he realizes the foolishness therein. What couldn’t N’Jadaka do? What does he care for the consequences? Quickly T’Challa asks,“Where is Okoye?” Surely she and her husband could talk some sense into their king? “Right now? At the barracks.” Ayo pronounces stiffly and T’Challa finally picks the odd tinge in her eyes for distress. “Why hasn’t she called an emergency meeting?” If anything deserved more eyes and reasonable voices, this would. T’Challa hasn’t attended a council meeting in weeks and he regrets the distance. He stepped back to give himself time away from the council. The memory of that day, the words exchanged and their ruling over his assault was a little too strong for him to consider being in the same room. “He can’t be allowed to do this.” His voice comes out in a murmur, emerging from his frantic and then sluggish thoughts on what he could do. What did Ayo think he could do? “I’m not sure how we are to stop him.” Ayo sounds tired. It occurs to T’Challa that Okoye hadn’t directed Ayo to call him. Most likely she had called him of her own volition, revealing information she maybe shouldn’t have but then when the alternative was allowing N’Jadaka to rush in recklessly… “Tell me where he is, I will speak to him.” T’Challa pretends not to notice the relief that floods into Ayo’s eyes. The Dora Milaje purses her lips, eyes moving towards a secondary display obviously doing a query to the Dora on the king’s whereabouts. Moments later she tells T’Challa, “He is currently in Alhajim. However he will probably be leaving soon. Do you want to intercept him?” Ayo doesn’t say, ‘He’s with W’Kabi’ but T’Challa figures that out himself, Alhajim was a Border Tribe district. That and the Dora didn’t know the damned man’s itinerary, otherwise T’Challa would simply go to where he was supposed to be next. T’Challa takes a steadying breath. N’Jadaka couldn’t hurt him, not like before and he couldn’t be left to break century’s long treaties because he was uspet. “Yes.” “I will take you to him.” Ayo offers and T’Challa immediately declines. “No. Just tell me where and…” A small inhale, “Tell the assigned Dora to leave us.” They’ve heard enough of T’Challa and N’Jadaka’s “domestics” to last a lifetime. The less people that saw him humiliate himself the better. -:- Okoye -:- Okoye is stuck between deep seeded irritation and relief. She doesn’t know who told T’Challa about the situation but he had been able to talk some sense into N’Jadaka. They were still going to be antagonizing the Jabari (not even T’Challa could work miracles) but at least it would be a proper delegation and not N’Jadaka breaking their treaty and going up the mountain himself. The last three days have been nonstop preparation for this meeting and Okoye as General would be the one representing N’Jadaka. Considering the Jabari’s avatar lost his challenge months before, it was very possible there was a new leader in charge. One that could be much worse than Lord M’Baku. The proof that it had been Jabari to sabotage N’Jadaka’s agriculture plans was too strong for him to dismiss and while Okoye is half certain the real issue was a territory dispute that they were most definitely in the wrong for—she wasn’t in charge. Going up the mountain, even if they weren’t walking, is still a terrible time. The treaty didn’t allow Wakandan aircrafts to fly over Jabari territory so they used land vehicles that were so-so over the mountainous terrain. Having sent relay messages two days before they embarked, Okoye is expecting for someone to come meet them at the designated location eventually. There was every chance they would be ignored and have to repeat this process till the Jabari were annoyed enough to talk but that was a problem for later. Okoye is the only Dora Milaje amongst the delegation of six. The rest are civilians from Wakanda’s diplomatic circles, a sign of their good will and proof they came to negotiate not fight. T’Challa was the one to choose them and Okoye supported his decision. If any of them were harmed or killed then it would give them the higher ground and basis to have actual warriors on Jabari land. The first hour after they arrive at the enclave they all wait inside the vehicle. Partly as a precaution so if the Jabari were already here and extremely unfriendly—leaving would be easier. Mostly because of the cold. No one was eager to step outside, even in their thick thermal wear. None of the people gathered were fools, they knew that their lives were being used as collateral against the Jabari. Next to her, someone sneezes and Okoye sympathizes. The cold only got worse the higher they traveled. Now they waited outside the vehicle, she was the only one not visibly shivering. Someone shifts and the sound of crunching snow follows them, but something about it is off. Okoye signs casually in warning and the other 5 grow quiet. She scans the surrounding area, looking for signs that they weren't alone. When she finds the shift amongst the nearby foliage it takes significant restraint not to immediately pull out her spear. Then the shouting starts. Not unlike the ones she’d heard during challenge day. The sounds carry and echo through the open spaces, rising as if there were hundreds around them. With impressively silent precision a procession of Jabari appears and begins to walk closer to them. Unlike her group the Jabari are all armed and at the head is a very familiar face. Lord M’Baku grins rakishly at them as his group of warriors come to a stop mere meters away. Okoye counts 10 but her intuition tells her there were more in hiding. “There is no place for you here. You must leave.” M’Baku speaks first, a command not a request. The youngest in their group—a skinny Merchant Tribesman with long coiled braids surprises her by being the one to speak first. Amongst their group, someone like Okoye could not speak unless prompted by the Jabari but the others could and they had all been coached and prepared for this confrontation. Yet in the moment only one of them stepped forward. “Lord M’Baku, you honor us today. We are invoking Enkidu’s heart and ask that we discuss as brethren not enemies.” The introduction and delivery is textbook perfect. Okoye feels proud, even as her fingers twitch in anticipation for a fight. In response M’Baku shakes his head. “Enkidu’s law begins and ends at our border. This is not the border.” Another diplomat says, “We are here in peace. We hold no weapons. With us is a king’s delegate but that is all.” M’Baku glowers from the diplomats to Okoye. “You’ve come prepared. Well… get on with it.”
I’m still processing all that Black Panther 2 gave us. I plan to finish as many incomplete works as I can here on ao3. But I don’t know if I want to create any new content here. I’ve set up a private platform: TJadaka.com that I’ll be hosting my writing and musings on. I would be lying if I said wasn’t incredibly disappointed with fandom’s reception of this new movie and the disdain Letitia has received but I’m used to writing things for myself because it won’t exist otherwise.