[2009 – October – Friday]
Following behind the broad-shouldered young man to meet one Emma Frost, CEO of Frost International, T'Challa's enhanced perception told him that the young man was a formidable opponent with the ability to faintly threaten his own life and his movements gave away his experience as a soldier and warrior despite his age.
T'Challa would be surprised that a normal businesswoman had a warrior of such caliber by her side if he didn't know that Emma Frost was not a 'normal' businesswoman.
Having single-handedly raised her family's company from a large company to an international giant that was dominant in the transportation and logistics sector while also having a large share in the electronics market, not to mention the numerous and varied branches and daughter companies that had shares in other markets, Emma Frost's achievements spoke for themselves.
A reputation of ruthless efficiency and cold-hearted pragmatism preceded her and word of her terrifying intellect was spread wide in most circles of influence. However, all that seemed to pale in comparison to the rumors of her impeccable beauty and aloof charisma.
In fact, even some of her competitors seemed almost willing to give up half their souls just for the chance to meet and woe her.
Additionally, the War Dogs of Wakanda were spread over the globe and made for a terrifyingly effective intelligence network with the advanced technology provided by the kingdom but even their capabilities seemed to have reached their limit when it came to this woman.
Not a single flaw had come up in the reports that might serve as a bargaining chip in the negotiations that would no doubt ensue, which basically confirmed to T'Challa that Emma Frost had secrets, well-hidden secrets.
And while there had been rumors about the death of Adrienne Frost and Winston Frost, no facts or evidence of any kind could be found.
Though at this point in time, his father had already ordered the War Dogs to stop all investigations surrounding Emma Frost and her family because of hisappearance.
T'Challa's thoughts revolved silently as they rode the elevator up to the penthouse before his musings were interrupted by a pleasant chime ringing out that made it clear that they had arrived.
The young warrior once again led the way through a short corridor before turning right through another short hallway that opened up to the large and bright living area of the penthouse apartment, a large table of dark and solid wood drawing his attention as a gorgeous blonde sat at the end of it.
Rising to her feet, Emma Frost, as flawlessly beautiful as promised, placed down her phone after seeing them approach and stood up to walk towards them for a greeting.
"Prince T'Challa. I had not expected Your Highness to come in person. Please, forgive my manners. I should have received you personally."
She welcomed them with a polite smile, recognizing him despite the fact that he hardly ever attended any official business in his identity as the Prince.
T'Challa could feel a sharpness to her presence that told him that Emma Frost was not a woman to be underestimated, even though his instincts told him of no threat to his well-being, indicating that she was indeed just a normal human, however formidable her intellect, unlike himself.
His eyes were momentarily drawn to the young man wearing an all-black suit, still standing at the far end of the table behind the seat that Emma had sat in, and T'Challa could almost feel the blood freeze in his veins at the danger he perceived coming from this young man.
He fought hard to suppress the irregularity of his breathing while the young man's presence seemed to shroud the room even in a subdued state, a terrible chill running up his spine as his panther side urged him to cower or run. The young man's impassive expression aside, it was undoubtedly him.
Quickly shifting his eyes back to the blonde CEO, T'Challa replied with a schooled expression and a rapid heartbeat: "There is no need for such courtesy, Ms. Frost. My father is very grateful for the information that you provided and the help that you offered."
"And may I introduce my mother, Queen Ramonda.", he added according to etiquette and looked on quietly while his mother and Emma Frost greeted each.
Eventually though, the blonde businesswoman turned around to gesture at the tall young man and introduced: "And may I introduce my younger brother, Elijah Frost."
T'Challa's mouth was a bit dry and his muscles tensed as he turned his gaze in the same direction and looked at the seventeen-year-old whose existence had most of the world's leaders worrying because he quite possibly represented the personification of what most of them had been fearing – a mutant whose existence marked the appearance of a singularity.
It sounded abstract but since the first appearance of the mutant race, there had been those who had hypothesized the birth of a mutant with such great power that it threatened the very survival of the planet with any measure of control proving ineffective.
The consensus was that it was impossible to predict what might happen once someone like that was born and awakened to their power since nobody could guess the thoughts and actions of a being like that.
Therefore this was classified as a possible event known as a singularity like the emergence of AI or the contact with alien lifeforms, which were in general events whose consequences were impossible to predict.
Still, it was a widespread theory that had basically split those in power into three camps: Those who wanted to see the mutant race extinct to prevent the birth of someone like that, those who aimed to empower the human race similarly through all means necessary, and those that sought genuine coexistence.
Naturally, those who did not even believe in the possible emergence of such a mutant were excluded from this categorization. Unfortunately, yet predictably, the people advocating for genuine coexistence were the lowest in number, even if nobody wanted to admit that openly.
Even Wakanda wasn't too dissimilar in that aspect as they had planned to rely on their advanced technology to keep their superiority in case of a conflict. There was no need to speak of coexistence if there was no conflict as Wakanda was a hidden nation that did not involve itself with global politics.
Naturally, there were mutants amongst the Wakandan population but they were Wakandans first and mutants second, and their people looked after each other.
But at this moment, while staring into the deep green eyes of the young man wearing an all-black suit as he approached with the silent grace and assertiveness of a roaming tiger, T'Challa felt almost suffocated as understood that he was in the presence of a being that was capable of reshaping the very surface of the planet if he so desired.
Without a doubt, the Wakandan Prince believed that Elijah Frost was the singularity made flesh, his every instinct telling him that he was indeed in the presence of the mutant race's first, but possibly not last, 'god'.
His eyes serene yet hiding something lightlessand hungryin their dark depth, Elijah Frost raised his hand for a handshake as if to challenge him, to dare him to accept the gesture as he voiced out: "It is my pleasure, Prince T'Challa."
An unnatural fear gripping his heart, T'Challa felt as if he couldn't breathe but he persisted through sheer will. Inch by inch, he forced himself to raise his hand as fought against his own mind, battling his rational instincts as his pride as a warrior was all that kept him standing, and he finally managed to take the offered hand.
And as if it had been nothing but an illusion, all the mental pressure and fear in his heart vanished like smoke, the faintest of smiles having formed on Elijah Frost's lips.
"You do have grit, don't you, Black Panther?", he remarked casually before simply retracting his hand and turning around as he returned to his spot in front of the window.
T'Challa's heart skipped a beat at those words, a chilling sensation at the back of his neck, but he didn't have the leisure to analyze and think about what it implied that this terrifying young mutant knew one of the most well-kept secrets of his people as Emma Frost took the stage again as she spoke up.
"Now, why don't we sit down and discuss what you came here for Your Highness?", she suggested in a clear voice, not a hint of boastfulness or smugness in her tone or expression. And yet, the pride in her eyes was apparently not that easy to conceal, or maybe she simply did not bother to make the effort.
T'Challa could only take a deep breath and nod, having known that this meeting would be a difficult one before coming here, even if he had not known with certainty that Elijah Frost would be present.
Still, the necessity of retrieving the terrorist's remains that had taken the lives of dozens of Wakandans remained. It was a political chess piece as much as it was evidence of the fact that justice had been served, even if not by their own hands.
There was also the secondary objective of finding out if Emma Frost had been told the truth about Wakanda by Klaue before his death.
Though factoring in the existence of Elijah Frost, T'Challa could not even begin to guess what this woman knew and what she didn't know, given that he, much like the rest of the world, had not the faintest clue about the exact nature of her bother's abilities, aside from the fact that he had the strength to destroy whole continents.