By all logic, even if Wakanda had been exposed and the Five Powers marched in under the banner of "peacekeeping," Wakanda shouldn't have been afraid. With vibranium tanks and vibranium aircraft, they had weapons no other nation could match.
But this time was different.
When the Demon Hulk rampaged into Wakanda, the armies of the nation had thrown everything at him—only to be crushed. They had failed to stop him, and in the process, countless Wakandan soldiers died. An entire city of the River Tribe was left in ruins.
And worst of all…
King T'Chaka had collapsed again. With him unconscious, Wakanda was leaderless. His last order before blacking out had been to retreat all citizens into the capital and raise the vibranium dome.
Everyone knew the rule: the larger the dome, the greater the drain; the smaller the dome, the stronger the defense.
T'Chaka believed that while Hawk might have shattered the shield protecting all of Wakanda, even Hawk couldn't break the dome that only covered the capital.
…
In the palace war room, tension choked the air.
"It's been ten days. Any word?"
"Has the King woken?"
"Enough waiting—we should fight! Drive those thieves out!"
"Fight how? They represent the Five Powers!"
"This is our land!"
The tribal chieftains bickered until the doors opened. T'Chaka appeared, slumped in a wheelchair, pushed forward by a stern attendant. His hair had gone white, his face gaunt. The room fell silent.
"King!"
T'Chaka's gaze found his daughter. "Shuri."
"Yes, Father."
"Contact S.H.I.E.L.D. Invite them inside."
The chiefs erupted in protest.
"Impossible!"
"They're nothing but bandits!"
"The vibranium belongs to us!"
T'Chaka's frail voice cut them off. "Do you see those flags outside?" On the projection, five banners rippled over the multinational army. "Do you understand what they mean? They are the Five Powers. Do you know the last nation that tested them?"
He rasped a single name: "Gaddafi."
The room fell deathly quiet.
T'Chaka's voice hardened. "Look at what became of him. Look at what became of his country. If you disagree with me, you are free to leave. Make your tribes independent. But the Golden Tribe has already chosen—we will surrender."
The chiefs exchanged uneasy glances.
"Shuri," T'Chaka ordered.
"Father…"
"While I still breathe, I will save our capital. Do it."
Shuri's eyes shimmered with tears. Finally, she nodded. "Yes."
Behind the throne, T'Challa's fists tightened on his father's shoulders. Rage boiled in his chest as he looked at the monitors. Just weeks ago, he had been Wakanda's hidden prince. Now, his kingdom was besieged, his father fading, his people fractured.
And in his mind, one name burned: Hawk.
…
"Achoo!"
In Midtown High's library, Hawk sneezed. He and Gwen were sorting through yearbook pages. She glanced up from her laptop. "Cold?"
He rubbed his nose. "No. Felt like someone was talking about me again."
"Peter?" Gwen teased.
"Why would he?" Hawk frowned.
"Maybe because you keep asking where his webs come from," she said, smirking.
"You're not curious?"
"I was. But Mary already told me."
Hawk's eyes lit up. "Where?"
"Not telling." Gwen grinned. "You never told me Peter's secret identity—I had to figure it out myself. So now it's my turn."
Hawk groaned. "You're so stingy."
"Glad you noticed."
At that moment, the doors opened. Mary Jane and Peter walked in.
"Gwen, the yearbook?" Mary asked.
"Done. Just sent it. What about the directory?"
"All set," Mary confirmed.
Hawk, meanwhile, stared at Peter. The spider-sense in Peter's skull screamed. Finally, Peter snapped: "What?!"
"Where do you actually shoot the webs from?" Hawk asked, dead serious.
Peter twitched. "Anyway—Gwen, have you seen today's news?"
"I've been stuck here all morning. What happened?"
Peter glanced at Mary, then said: "The U.N. declared Wakanda a permanent neutral state. The Five Powers are sending a joint garrison to 'protect' it."
Mary raised a brow. "Didn't they send troops to that African country a month ago?"
"Not like this," Peter said. "Africa's been in chaos for decades, but never once did the Five Powers unite under one mission."
Mary rolled her eyes. Peter droned on about politics.
Then he turned to Hawk. "Right?"
Hawk shrugged. "Africa's too far. Doesn't concern me."
But as soon as he left the library, he pulled out his phone and called Anna.
"Anna."
"Hawk."
"Talk to me. Wakanda's negotiations are over? What's with this permanent neutrality nonsense?"
Anna chuckled. "So you saw the news."
"Spare me the games. Details."
She took a breath. "Wakanda wanted its capital recognized and guaranteed as permanently neutral, preserving the Golden Tribe's supremacy. In exchange, the Five Powers demanded their tech archives and the right to station peacekeepers in Wakanda."
Hawk hissed through his teeth. "So Wakanda's military is gone."
"Of course," Anna replied smoothly. "A neutral state doesn't need an army. You think they'd let a small African nation stockpile vibranium weapons?"
"And Wakanda agreed?"
"The Golden Tribe agreed. The River Tribe, White Gorilla Tribe, and Border Tribe have already declared independence and are attacking peacekeepers. The joint command is furious. They're planning to make an example."
Hawk understood. "A kill-the-chicken-to-scare-the-monkeys move."
"Exactly."
Wakanda's troubles were far from over.
"Thanks," Hawk said.
"Anytime. Oh, and Hawk?"
"What now?"
"Congratulations."
"…For what?"
"Graduation."
Hawk froze.
…
(End of Chapter)
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