Broken

Broken: Chapter 1

I stepped off the private stealth jet – the only private jet I'd ever been on before – in the African country of Wakanda and let out a gasp. Even standing there on the landing pad, I could see the most beautiful city on the planet stretched out before me, the mixture of traditional and futuristic architecture taking my breath away.

"Holy mother goose," I whispered, looking around. "This is awesome."

"Ms. Hunt," I heard a strong but distinctly feminine voice say as a statuesque African woman approached me trailed by several other bald but no less beautiful women. "Welcome to Wakanda, Ms. Hunt. I am Ramonda."

"Your Highness." I started to bow but was met with a laugh that caused me to look up. "Sorry. I didn't get a lot of information on Wakandan royal protocol in my google search."

She extended her hand. "Because there isn't any protocol, Ms. Hunt. We're more informal than most aristocracies you'll find around the world." She winked. "We're cool like that."

I smiled as I took the queen's hand and shook it, impressed by her grace and charm. I could see where Shuri got her style. "Thank you for the warm welcome. No disrespect, but I half expected to meet with Shuri and the king when I arrived."

She nodded as she gestured for me to walk with her. "We'll be joining them shortly, Ms. Hunt. First, I wanted to meet with you."

"Ma'am?"

She smiled. "Shuri has always spoken highly of you. I wanted to see for myself what kind of person you are before my children have a chance to corrupt you."

I laughed. "No chance of that, your Highness."

"I can tell you have a very strong character already, Ms. Hunt." She smiled. "I'm pleased to see my daughter has excellent choice in friends."

"I'm honored you think so, Queen Ramonda." I felt myself blush a little, uncomfortable with the compliment. "Shuri mentioned that there was something special she needed my help with but didn't tell me much about it."

"There is a task she would like your assistance with, but I'll let her and T'Challa give you more detail. Right now, my children would like you to join them for lunch at the market," she explained as we left the landing pad and stepped into the busy streets. "I tried to explain that you might be tired after your long journey, but since he is the king I must accept his will... Most of the time."

I grinned. "You are his mother, after all."

She turned to me and grinned as well. "I am that, Ms. Hunt, and as a mother, I worry. If you'd like to rest before meeting them, they will understand."

I shook my head. "No, ma'am. I slept most of the way over and I'm eager to get to work. Thank you, though."

"Of course." She gestured for me to follow. "This way."

By the time we made our way to the rooftop garden less than a block from the landing pad, I was already dizzy with excitement. The city's energy was unlike anything I'd felt before and it filled me with hope to see how advanced yet still connected the people of Wakanda were.

The queen, for the most part, kept silent. However, I knew she was studying me. Whatever they had planned for me to do, they wanted to make sure I was the right person for the job. Lost in my own thoughts, I didn't even realize we were standing in front of King T'Challa and Shuri until a bald woman announced us.

"Her Highness Queen Ramonda and Ms. Destiny Hunt from the United States," the woman said as the queen took a seat to the right of the king while his fiancée, Nakia, and Shuri sat to his left.

Startled back into reality, I bowed my head again and made a clumsy attempt at the cross-armed salute I'd seen online. "Your Highness. It's an honor to finally meet you."

"Told you she'd act funny," Shuri, who I'd known since our research days in Brazil, teased as she came over.

"Sorry I ain't never been around royalty before, brat," I shot back playfully before catching myself as the king stood as well. "Pardon me, your Highness."

"No apologies needed, Ms. Hunt." King T'Challa said as we shook hands. "Shuri explained your tendency for formality until you're comfortable."

I blushed and tried to change the subject. "Thank you for inviting me here. Your country is beautiful. Beyond beautiful. I'm so honored to be here."

"Oh, shut up and sit down," Shuri rolled her eyes before hugging me. "Thanks for coming, Des."

I grinned as I took the empty seat next to her. "Still piss and vinegar I see."

The others laughed as King T'Challa added, "An excellent description of my sister."

"Not fair," she protested. "The only reason I was belligerent was because you refused to accept my brilliance."

I smiled, beginning to relax into our comfortable banter. "Yes. That's the same brilliance that got our lab and all my supplies blown sky high. But thank you for the new ones and the nice little grant that's been funding me for the past three years."

"Your research on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is groundbreaking," King T'Challa said with a smile. "We're happy to help in whatever small way we can."

I nodded my thanks. "No, sir. Your funding is the only thing that's been keeping my work alive. Well, that and the tech a friend of mine got a hold of for me. Honestly, it's been a Godsend for some of the vets I've been working with. It's amazing to see how far they can come when someone just takes a little time and concern."

"Of course, but your empathetic abilities must also play no small part in the healing process." He said as our meals were served. "Were you born with the ability?"

Surprised by the openness toward my gift, I looked away from him. "With all due respect, your highness, I'm just good at reading people. If you're implying I have some kind of supernatural ability, you're going to be very disappointed."

"I see," he replied, a hint of a smile dancing in the corner of his lips which I didn't need my powers to know was sarcasm.

"To quote an old friend," Shuri commented under her breath, "'Break out the hip boots cause it's getting deep in here.'"

I laughed. "All right, Princess. Maybe I'm a little sensitive."

"Banned in Vegas is more like it." She smiled. "And Morocco"

"I thought it was Reno and Atlantic City," the queen commented with a smile that mirrored Shuri's.

"I believe Biloxi, Mississippi, too," the king added with his own grin. "Ms. Hunt, you do have a bit of a reputation."

"All right." I shook my head, embarrassed by my youthful recklessness. "So, yeah. I'm a little more than sensitive, but I really don't think y'all asked me here for my gambling skills. What's this project you're needing help on? And who's this Bucky guy whose name keeps popping up."

The trio exchanged pleased expressions before the king spoke, "Let's enjoy our meal, Ms. Hunt, while we tell you about the White Wolf."