The Ghost [Marvel | Steve Rogers]

Chapter 63

Wakanda

Spring 2016

It was clear almost immediately that the cavernous chamber T'Challa led them to was different. It was clearly still a lab, but it was beyond any of the already impressive research labs they had so far passed on their journey deeper into the facility.

Though darker by sheer virtue of the room's size—a large natural cavern within the mountain, if Nadine were to guess, based on the vast expanse of mine out beyond the large bank of windows on the far side of the room—it was still welcoming and bright, much like the rest of the facility. Upon entering the lab, they were crossing a large walkway to a large, curious but beautiful structure that dominated the centre of the room that immediately brought a double helix to mind for Nadine, with each twist supporting a niche set aside of purposes Nadine couldn't even guess at without further investigation. Massive screens and projections lined the walls of the cavern, displaying so much information even Nadine couldn't even start processing it all. Though, if her daughter's wide-eyed fascination—and comprehension if the way her blue-grey gaze was eagerly and purposefully darting across the screens was anything to go by—Nina had at least some idea of what the complex formulas, algorithms and schematics displayed meant. A renewed flash of pride swelled in Nadine's chest.

As they circled down the clockwise walkway of the curving central structure, bringing more of the lab into view, Nina was soon all but vibrating with curious excitement.

"Mr Stark would die if he could see this place," she muttered to herself in astonishment as they reached the ground level of the chamber, earning a grin from Nadine that she couldn't quite manage to conceal, "Energy disbursement, nano-tech? He's been poking into nano-tech for months. He'd be in heaven!" Next to her, Steve chuckled.

But before either of them could comment, T'Challa was calling out in Xhosa—a language Nadine was absently noting that she might do well to learn—to the handful of scientists gathered on the far side of the room. And at a gesture, most of them were efficiently filing from the room, save for one who was instead heading purposefully, almost eagerly, in their direction.

One dressed in a graphic tee and skirt that immediately had Nadine frowning as she all but skipped over to them across the dark floor with its bold white bars of light and crisp inlays.

She was a...child.

"This is my little sister, Shuri," T'Challa said with a fond grin, tucking the suddenly squirming, willowy girl with his eyes against his side as she came to stand next to him, "the Princess of Wakanda, the head of our research and development group and our country's brightest mind, and this—" he gestured to the other woman who had joined them out in the corridor; the imposing, stoic woman outfitted with striking golden chokers and armbands and a wicked spear, "is Okoye, the General of the Dora Milaje and the head of Wakanda's armed forces and intelligence division." Nadine considered the commanding woman even as Okoye's sharp, dark eyes assessed her right back.

T'Challa turned back to them then, a slight smile on his face. "And this is Captain Steve Rogers." Steve inclined his head slightly at the introduction as T'Challa looked next to Nadine and Nina. "Madame Nadine Ryker and her daughter Nina and," he hesitated then, but only for the barest of instants as he turned to Barnes, his eyes growing faintly grave, "Sergeant James Barnes."

The effect was immediate. At once Okoye's eyes widened and she and her two silver-adorned companions stepped forward in perfect sync, their spears held ready across their bodies, intent and visibly angry.

Instinctively Nadine stepped forward, her face coolly blank as she angled herself before Barnes and Nina, her own frame loosening in preparation, leaving her nearly toe-to-toe with the intimidating general. The Wakandan woman's lip curled disdainfully.