Spider-Man: Duty And Loss Chapter 108: Considerations

Peter stood with the Fantastic Four as the air craft taking them out of Wakanda arrived. A royal procession of the Dora Milaje stood at the ready behind the royal family as they saw them off. With calm smiles plastered on their faces, Shuri looked the most down as she waited for them to leave.

Though she tried to hide it, it was clear for most to see how much she would miss her best friend. Peter took a step forward and motioned for Shuri to follow as they moved off to the side. He wanted to talk to her a bit more before they finally set off.

Seeing the two move off, Reed as the de-facto leader of the group stepped forwards to talk to King T'Chaka. The four had a great stay after arriving in Wakanda. Though restricted in where they could travel and what they could learn, they, as scientists, relished at the technological wonder that was Wakanda.

On the first day they had been able to quickly patch Johnny back up from his injured state and he had got better so fast, he had been able to join everyone for the dinner on the first night. Reed gave a small bow as he reached a respectable distance from the king.

"Your Majesty, we would like to give our thanks for the aid you have provided in our time of need, as well as the accommodations and generosity that has been shown to us this far." Say what you will about Reed Richards and his obliviousness in social setting, in such situations regarding foreign powers and dignitaries he knew how to hold himself.

His voice was respectful as he spoke to the rightful ruler of Wakanda. Though Reed could admit it had taken him a time to learn the ins and outs of such practices and Sue was usually the one that handled negotiations and deals.

T'Chaka gave a diplomatic smile as he himself also gave a modest bow back. "There is no need for thanks Mr. Richards. The aid you have provided Wakanda shall always be remembered." Reed gave a small smile at the words, but it turned slightly stiff as he thought on his next words.

"Thank you Your Majesty. Have you thought on what we discussed early this week in regards to a partners.h.i.+p?" There was a noticeable pause in the air as the rest of the Fantastic four became nervous.

(First night in Wakanda)

"Are you seriously going to eat with the mask on?!" Johnny's voice reverberated around the room as he pointed an accusatory knife in Peter's Direction. With his face turned to talk to Shuri, he was also somehow shoveling food down his guzzle while at the same time keeping his mask on.

Johnny newly recovered, faster than thought possible by the other, especially Sue with her knowledge of bio medicine, was surprisingly pepper after waking up in an unknown hospital, in a completely new environment.

h.e.l.l in Sue's opinion he was acting like his normal self, as if he hadn't taken a severe electrical shock to his entire immune and nervous system earlier in the day.

Peter turned his head in Johnny's direction, quickly stuffing another plate into his mouth, before nodding dumbly, as if the question was the stupidest thing he had heard all day. Johnny seemed to deflate as he had no comeback for the non verbal answer, it took him a few seconds, but a mischievous smirk soon crossed his face as he looked at the arachnid. Before he could say anything though, an elbow from his sister and an accompanying death glare shut him up quickly.

*Cough* Sue faked a small cough as she looked around the room, hoping no one saw what she just did to her brother, but knew that at least one of the Dora Milaje would have noticed. Turning her head to the King and Queen near the head of the table she spoke up.

"The food has been lovely tonight; I would love it if you would pa.s.s my compliments to the chef later on." T'Chaka and Ramonda shared a small smirked between each other before the king spoke up. "There will be no need for that, for it is my lovely wife who cooked tonight. You have just told her." Sue's eyes brows rose in surprise like everyone else at the table, especially their own children. It had been a long time since their own mother had cooked their dinner.

Along with that omission a chorus of compliments and thanks came from those around the table. Ramonda kept a regal smile up as she nodded at everyone in thanks. "I must say, Wakanda truly is a modern marvel of science. I have not seen much, but what I have caught glimpse off, put it ahead of all cities in the world in my opinion."

Reed this time spoke up, causing a smile to float over both Shuri and T'Challa's lips. "Reed is right, Wakanda is truly gifted." T'Chaka turned to Sue at her words. "It is a blessing Miss Storm, one that we do not squander or take for granted. As my ancestors have before I, we will continue to better our country and society with what we have been give."

There was a type of pa.s.sion behind T'Chaka's words as he spoke them that couldn't be hidden; he was a very patriotic and filial king to his country. Steeped in tradition, T'Chaka loved his country, some would argue too much, but it had been how he was raised and what he believed.

It was because of this reason that he paused at Sue's next words. "I overheard while I was at the hospital treating Johnny that Wakanda has discovered the cure for rhinopharyngitis. I must say that is truly a monumental achievement. Till this day scientist around the world are still looking for a permanent cure for the common cold."

T'Chaka paused from experience, his eyes narrowing. As an experienced King and foreign negotiator, he could tell when an important, maybe even controversial question was about to be posed, because of this he instinctively put up a poker face.

"This cure would be a breakthrough in the scientific community and could greatly help with research into much deadlier viruses..." Sue seemed to balance the words on the tip of her tong before she got them out. She knew what she was asking would be very big and quite possible inappropriate, especially seeing as Wakanda had been so careful to hide their technology and advanced society.

"Would it be presumptuous to ask for a partners.h.i.+p between the Baxter Foundation and Wakanda, to disseminate such a vaccine or scientific knowledge?" The air visible stilled in the room as everyone stopped their conversations and turned towards her.

She knew that she might have asked the wrong question when she saw the quick flash of a frown over T'Chaka's face, he didn't like her idea, not one bit. No one said a word for a while as he thought over her words, before speaking up. "Would you sell the vaccine for monetary gain?"

There was a bit of steel in his voice that sounded dangerous to the ear. Quickly realizing what he might be thinking of Sue quickly shook her head and put her hands up in a friendly gesture. "No, no, no. I don't wish to sell the vaccine for Money, just to reduce the risk of children that could be in danger. For example life threatening operations, kids in 3rd world countries with repressed immune systems. People could possible die if they catch the common cold in such circ.u.mstances. With the vaccine we could save thousands of lives."

T'Chaka starred right into her eyes as if to see if she were lying. After a few seconds he finally turned his eyes away and rubbed his chin in thought. Looking to his wife for a second, she didn't show any outward opinion, so he delayed the matter, though he already knew his answer.

"I have to think about your proposal and what it may entail for Wakanda and its people, should the world discover where said Vaccine comes from. I will give you my decision before you are due to leave."

Sue gave a small nod of confirmation before getting back to her food. Though everyone wanted to act like nothing had happened, the reaction from T'Chaka to the request left a bold impression on the Fantastic Four.

That impression hung over them for the rest of the dinner, as well as the rest of their stay.