The Red Widow

Chapter 2 - New Craft, New Vistor

   My head bounces off the mat with a hard slam. I Kip-up to my feet, realizing I'm surrounded by 3 Dora Milaje. One jolts after me, but misses when I back flip over her and sweep her feet as I land, knocking her to the ground. Another starts toward me, coming in for a punch aimed at my gut. I close the gap toward her, sliding on my knees and arching backward to miss her throw. The last activates her spear, ready to throw. I slam my foot on the edge of a small shield near me and catch it on the up-fly. Just in time, I hold the shield out and crouch against it. The spear hits and my ears ring from the sound of the impact. I throw the shield at the same Dora, sending her into the wall. In one quick movement, I grab her thrown spear and hold it at her throat, standing over her.

  "Well done!" Okoye yells from behind. The Dora I have pinned smiles, and I help her to her feet. Okoye comes over and speaks to me quietly as I dab the sweat off myself and refresh with water after a 5 hour training session. The other Doras train with each other; Okoye and I haven't had too much time together, but she pops in normally for big occasions, so I was confused why she chose today to just "watch".

   "We have someone here who would like to meet with you." She mutters.

   I immediately stare at her in surprise. Nobody has ever sought me out for anything; unless Dreykov wanted to send me specifically on a mission back when I was a Widow. Okoye tries to assure me, "Ah, don't throw your guard up so easy. They just want to talk."

   "Why?" I bark. She stares blankly at me. I huff, "Are you going to at least tell me who it is?"

   The corners of her mouth turn to a small smile, "I think we should go." My head whips around to find Ayo. She gives me a reassuring smile and I turn to follow Okoye.

...

    Okoye and I make our way through the palace. Every time I think I know what room we're going in, she brushes past it; each room being more and more important. We finally start down the long stretch hallway to the throne room. Why here? Who is so important that a meeting has to happen here? And why for me? The two Doras on either side of the door tap their spears on the ground twice and salute Okoye. She returns the salute and the massive double doors open.

    Shuri sits on the throne, seemingly relaxed. I don't get too nervous until I see every nearly every member of the Dora Milaje in the room. Some on the higher platform, some down on the ground level. Riri Williams is here as well; she's been helping Shuri try to find another technological algorithm to wipe my programming.

   "Shuri, what's going on?" I ask nervously. She smiles, "No need to worry, Ksana, everything is fine. We just have someone here who would like to meet with you; talk about some things." There's nobody on the planet that isn't already here in Wakanda that I would imagine needing to talk to. On the opposite end of the room, by the other set of double doors, another set of Doras tap their spears twice and the heavy doors open.

"She reached out to us, concerning you. She knows who you are and believes she can be of help." From the doors, a woman confidently walks into the throne room. I make out ripped jeans, a dark band tshirt and a heavy grey coat; uncommon for the Wakandan heat. Wherever she's from, it must be chilly. The sound of her boots echo and I see the sunlight from the window hit her blonde hair. The glare in my eyes makes it hard to see her face; but her deep voice and thick accent that matches mine makes my stomach drop, "Hi, Ksana."

I feel my palms start to sweat and my heart start to race. My breathing quickens and I feel out of control of my own body. Shuri looks concerned, but as my eyes finally make out the face of Yelena Belova, something in my head snaps, and I lose control completely. A burn of anger surges through my chest and I sprint toward her. Okoye has no time to grab me and suddenly the room is in chaos.

"Ksana, no!" I hear Okoye yell from behind me. "Mnqande!" (Stop her!) she shouts to the Doras. Yelena stands still as can be and just before I launch off my feet to get to her, I'm slammed to the ground by 2 Doras. I fight against them, kicking and pulling out of their grasp, starting toward Yelena again. "I knew she would do this-" she mumbles. Shuri now stands in between the two of us, "Ksana, stop this, just listen!" Just before I plow through her, another Dora has a spear in my face. The training I've had with Doras has taught me spear work. I spin kick the Dora in the gut, making her spear fly upward in the air; I snatch it and turn to the circle of Doras that now surround me, armed.

They close in with their spears ready, I grab a hold of the end with the blade and swing the spear around my body, knocking down 4 Doras in my swing. Everyone in the room scrambles around and I throw the spear as hard as I can toward Okoye. She dodges it, but once again, I turn to Yelena. Shuri takes me to the ground, the strength of the Black Panther making it difficult for me to fight back, but I try. My body doesn't tire, and the all too familiar accent speaks over everyone, "Shuri, let her get to me. She won't stop until she does." Shuri hesitates, but releases me.

I run, full speed, toward the blonde and my legs launch my body at her as hard as I can. She catches me and we fall to the ground in a tumble. Never fighting another Widow before, my body can't understand why she's countering every move I throw. We rumble for a moment when Yelena yells out of frustration, "Ksana, listen to me, I'm trying to help you!" I scream and fight back at her, trying any way I can to get the upper hand; a kick, a throw, an eye gauge, a choke, something. I feel all eyes on our fight, when Yelena barks, "Shuri, we need to get her to your lab, she's not going to stop. Riri, help us carry her." The two rush to me, trying to get a hold of my arms and legs that now kick and fight like an animal.

The anger still burns inside me, but feels disembodied at the same time. My mind scatters for a solid thought that isn't violent, grabbing at straws for some stability; for once, my mind is trying to fight back. I don't even realize I'm being carried by the three of them until I land hardly on a cold, metal table in Shuri's lab.