LATE NIGHT DRINK, PETER QUILL!

ZERO | PRELUDE

PRELUDE

"INGABA UZA KUFAKA IZINTO" He spoke the words to her with a firm look, yet filled with hope. 'May you reach the stars.' The words rang in her head and she couldn't help but smile at herself.

She sent a look of thanks, nodding and giving the King the Wakandan cross of arms. A smile was wide across her face, and she could barely contain her excitement as she stood before everyone.

Of course she shouted the famous "Wakanda forever!" down to everyone who watched before she left, entering her small craft full of faith and hope as she heard chants behind her.

The atmosphere was magical, the beautiful people of her home country united in every colour. For her. She was celebrated like a queen as the King T'Chaka stood just behind her. Of every place she had seen and everyone she met, there was nowhere as stunning as Wakanda, and no people more inspiring.

The smiles on their faces and their words of hope felt like pure energy and love. It was everything she believed it could be. Even the Dora Milaje stood before her, a true honour for her.

Her sister, Ayo, stood with the rest of her warriors, looking as fierce as ever. But a hint of emotion could be seen on her face. They could never meet again.

She loved her home, more than anything, but she needed more. They sent her to find more. There had been so many discussions about the decision for the Space Cadet to head out, some believing that only Wakanda should matter.

Some of leaders had never liked Blue, they saw her as a reckless girl, with no care or respect for her heritage. It wasn't surprising considering her love of the world outside of Wakanda, but it was her home. And her small character as Nuala was never enough.

But eventually they ruled in her favour, and supported her endeavour. The Princess had spent a year designing the perfect ship for her, a challenge she enjoyed, playing with different materials and ideas for hours without end. Eventually she decided a sleek design would be best, practically impossible to destroy and capable of generating its own fuel.

Her ship was mighty, quaint too, only hosting 2 small rooms as well as the control room. It was expected to have the energy to get outside the galaxy in 3 months, from there the course was uncertain and Blue would have to take control herself. It had a small system that should have the power to send a message back to the mountain in Wakanda, but had a back up drone about the size of a football that could send a message back to Wakanda just incase.

The energy seemed to rush through Blue's vains when she entered the ship. Inside it was beautiful shades of orange and red, much more vibrant than most ships made in their country. They had hoped that they could remind her of her home and her mission by giving the ship a true taste of Wakanda.

It was more spacious than she first thought, since the first time she went inside she was accompanied by 3 others. It wasn't necessarily cosy, but she loved it. She was ready to take on the world.

She heard the people outside chanting her name still, "NUALA" they called out, the name her parents gave her. But 'Blue' had always been the name she preferred to go by, for no reason other than she liked the sound of it. It had often been a cover name she would use on her missions when she was younger.

But her mission out into the depths of space meant something new, and that was why from then on she would call herself 'Blue'. She played with the golden band on her finger before taking her seat at the front of her craft.

The course was set, so she didn't have to navigate yet, but she felt powerful in her seat at the front. She could still see the people of Wakanda below her as she awaited the craft's movement and she smiled back at their faces.

"SIYA KUXHUMANA" She barely whispered the words to herself. The mission was something that had been planned thoroughly, and the best was hoped for her.

But she knew deep down that she may never return. The ship could break down, she could run out of supplies, she could be killed by an extra terrestrial. Her mind raced with thoughts for a few brief moments, until she took a breath.

It was worth it.