Chapter Thirteen, Wakanda Forever!

After a long talk with Jeri and her team, the major benefit Stark Industry would get is exclusivity and input. While we will be able to have contracts with other companies, the Stark Industry will also have a hand in those. Meaning that for the planned contract with Toyota for example, we won't provide the cable nor the means to produce them, what will happen is that Stark will act as an intermediary between Toyota and Yggdrasill, taking most of our production and disseminating it to the other companies. If we produce 100 units of Alfium, we will give Stark 87 units, of which 45 will stay with Stark enterprise while the 42 left will be passed to other companies. The remaining 13 units that we are left with will be for Yggdrasill's direct use and restricted to use only, meaning no direct sale of any part of those 13 units will be authorized.

As such, Yggdrasill will still have 13% of all the Alfium's production a week to use in our products, now consisting of our suits (not using alfium) and our Radiation Detection Units (using very little Alfium). Down the line the products we'll be making such as the Scan-Eir (Sue's machine, a scanner with the Norse name of the Goddess associated with medicine, planned to be distributed under either Vanaheim or Alfheim) and the Svalinn Generators (Ben and Johnny shield generators, named after a legendary shield protecting from the power of the sun, often associated with the idea of cold so either Jotunnheim of Nidavellir) will be using a bit of Alfium, but for each of them less than one unit will be needed. Recently, the team dove into Norse mythology and finding names for our inventions and products has become a sort of competition.

After that, Jeri went to her office to prepare the next batch of meetings with all the companies she thought would be interested. Jeri and Stark agreed that they won't be announcing anything until all partners were selected, with everyone signing a very stringent NDA at the start of every meeting. As such, she told us to expect to be able to announce it around late March next year. That leaves us with around five months to do what we wanted. Which meant finishing our products to announce them along with the Alfium.

A couple of days after Tony left, Jarvis' remnant informed Alfred that Stark had shared his current Arc reactor design, so I worked on it. Pulling them up, I couldn't help but marvel at the sheer genius of the inventors of the original reactor, Howard Stark and Anton Vanko, two smart minds limited by their time and technology but still able to create such an impressive thing. Tony as well, being able to miniaturize it in a cave and subsequently improve upon the original design again and again before adding a newly created element as its core without failure shows his resourcefulness and intelligence.

Diving into it, I start by analyzing the original design's blueprint, the pictures available of its creation process and of its workings. Creating an image in my mind of all the elements and parts used in its design, a 3D blueprint slowly forms in my head, assembling itself into the finished product, and disassembling itself into its components again and again, with different parts changing or replaced by others. After the main Arc is created, I take the design from my mind and bring it to the real world, using Tony's favorite hologram os. At this point, the reactor is about 6.4 meters wide (or 21 feet), and should produce enough energy to power this building, but the size and materials needed is a concern.

Once the Arc 1 is saved and stored, I check out Tony's versions. Seeing the copper coils serving as electromagnets, I ask Alfred to prioritize simulations of alloys dedicated to replacing it. Alfium could be used, but the field generated would be smaller than actual copper so I need to either use copper or find something else. Directing him around neodymium, his simulations should take less time. I use the same process to create a blueprint in my mind of the two different models Tony sent me, analyzing them under different angles, taking them apart and building them back together in my mind. Comparing the first to the second, and the two small ones to the two bigger ones, the original and my version, I end up with different designs and slowly check each one before ending with an usable one. It's a bit bulkier than Tony's, but it's still around the size of a normal mug, so much better than Arc 1. Naming the file Arc 2, I bring it from my head to the computer, saving it as well.

Now using an advantage over Tony (yes an advantage, no I'm not cheating…), I ask Alfred to replicate the scale model of Stark Expo 1974, before doing like Tony and extrapolating the element left behind by his father. I want to get a head start on upgrading his reactor using the Badassium —sigh— he'll be 'rediscovering' in a few months. I won't share this discovery with him, waiting for Tony to find out by himself before talking to him about it. Since I'm working on it now, I want to make sure all I can do about the reactor is saved before I forget (which I doubt will ever happen). The Badassium now simulated, I re-work tony's latest Arc reactor model to house it, like he will, using every detail I can remember from the movie and my dream. Now that it's ready in my mind, I do what my brain is now used to, which is taking it apart and reconstructing it multiple times till I find an appropriate version.

After a while, Alfred informs me that a new alloy might work as replacement, using neodymium, iron, boron and an alloy of the three as well as a new metallic material based on it. This material takes the best characteristics of the four different things to create a stronger and more powerful electromagnetic core, and an alloy of Alfium and the newly created Vidofnium (from Vidofnir, the rooster symbolizing the victory of light over darkness and vigilance) for the coils makes it, in theory, one of the most powerful electromagnets and as such fusion reactor to exist on earth. Thinking to myself that using other materials to improve upon it would be difficult, I remember the fact that there are in fact materials that could be used, such as Vibranium, and so making contact with Wakanda has now moved into my list of priorities.

After working on all the Arc reactors for what now amounts to a week, I take the first real break in my research to try and get information on Vibranium.

"Alfred, I've decided. It's time we contact Shuri. Hack into Wakanda's system, but just to find a way to leave the game we prepared."

"Does it take priority, Sir?"

"Yes." I decided to do it now before Shuri takes a closer look at Wakanda's cyber defenses. From what I can remember she was always trying new things all the time and inventing stuff using the vibranium at her disposition. She's still pretty young so finding something new to do should stimulate her a bit.

"Very well." After a couple of minutes, Alfred speaks up again. "Sir, the package has been delivered. We'll be informed as soon as— Ah, pardon me, it seems young miss Shuri has already found it, and apparently finished the first le— the first two levels."

"Good, bring up the game interface for me please. I want to see her progress."

"Very well, Sir." The screen showing the game in front of me, I had prepared it a while ago. It's basically a high stake online puzzle game designed to find smart and talented young people. I hadn't planned to release it online just yet, but I sent a copy to Shuri as a first contact. The goal is to beat one level to access a higher and higher difficulty. It has puzzle, racing, action, strategy and simulation elements depending on the level, to challenge different parts of the brain. It's what I'll be using to find young smart minds in the future, to help them and the Baxter foundation grow. For now, though, while it's connected to Alfred servers, only Shuri has access to the game, which means it's easy to track her progress. While I created the game and infrastructure surrounding the code, Alfred has been programming all the different puzzles and levels. When I tried it, it took me around three hours to complete the first ten levels. The game has 50. After three days, I had managed to beat it. I estimated her to take around one or one and a half day to beat it. After all, I wasn't playing non-stop as I suspect she will. After two hours and forty minutes, she manages to pass the tenth level, and as I informed Alfred earlier, the next level is locked with a code to decrypt. Once decrypted, the code will in fact lead her to my email address, to initiate contact. Around five minutes after the code appeared in front of her, I receive an email, containing a couple of malwares, spywares and Trojan horses. Sweeping through them, Alfred informs me that the mail is just a hello, so I respond by saying hello as well. Without all the software she had associated in her mail.

"Who are you, what do you want, what is this game, do you have more, how can I play…" and a whole string of questions asked one after the other arrive in the mailbox.

"My name is Reed Richards, from the Baxter Foundation and the Yggdrasill company. I just want to talk, Princess Shuri of Wakanda. Might I ask an audience with you? As for this game, it's an online competitive game I made with the goal of finding smart and talented individual such as yourself. I'll eventually release it to the world, but for now only you and I have played it. There is a total of 50 levels, and I'll give you access to it in a while. I thank you for your participation and for accepting my request of communication." I try to be a bit formal, knowing that she is an actual princess. A few seconds later, she tries to hack into my systems, but is blocked by Alfred and Circé. I had asked them to prevent her intrusion but forego the usual counterattack, so when her cyberattack fails and nothing happens, she is a bit surprised.

"Who are you?" she asks again after a while.

"As I said, my name is Reed Richards. I'm a scientist working at the Baxter Foundation, and one of the owners of the newly created Yggdrasill company. I recently discovered the unstable molecules and started working on it, notably with the recent type of suit we produce at Yggdrasill. I was hoping to have an audience with you to discuss science and technology."

"I know all that, but how do you know about me, and Wakanda?"

"That is one of the things I would like to address in a private talk with you. Or if you'd like with your family. I am willing to come to Wakanda, or meet you wherever you desire. The reason why I'm so cryptic is that despite being pretty secure, there is no way to make sure our online conversation stays private. Some of the things I would like to talk to you about require extreme confidentiality and as such I would like to avoid any potential leak. I understand that you might need to take some time to think about meeting me. As such, I thank you for your attention. Sincerely, Reed Richards. P.S.: When you'll receive this email, the rest of the game will be unlocked for your use."

After a few minutes without answer, seeing that not even the game was activated, I decided to go and train a bit. Three days later, without any news from the game or Shuri's email address, Alfred informs me that a guest requested a meeting at the front desk. Showing me the video feed, it seems that this guest is Ayo, from the dora Milaje.

"Welcome, Miss…?" I ask her as she comes down the elevator and into my office.

"You are Richard?" she asks with a strong tone.

"I am Reed Richards, yes. You are?" I ask again.

"Come." she says, turning around and going back to the elevator. I sigh, and follow her. After a few minutes of walking, we enter a small building down the lane. "Sit." she orders me, pointing a chair in front of a small desk. As I obey, she goes near the door and stays standing. Five minutes later, T'chaka comes in accompanied by Okoye. As I rise to salute him, Ayo retrieves one of her pearls which grows to the side of a spear and points it at me. This movement took her less than a second.

"Wow, sorry. I just wanted to offer my salutation." I say, as I raise my hands in the air.

"It's alright, Ayo. I'll manage. You must be Mr. Richard. My daughter told me you tried to talk to her." he says in a somber tone.

"Yes, I'm Reed Richards. I'm sorry about the way this could be seen. I know that she's young and it's easy to misinterpret my wanting to talk to a young girl on the internet. As I told her, she's a brilliant mind, and I would like to discuss science with her. It's all I want with your daughter, your highness." I say, first slowly putting my hands down and bowing. I know that the Wakandan salute is different, but doing it might not be the best of ideas right now. "Respectfully, I already have a partner whom I love and satisfies me profusely, and I have no attraction towards young girls. I really am only interested in talking with your daughter about technology and science. I apologize for intruding on your network as I did but it was the fastest way to obtain an audience with you or her." I bow again. He turns to Okoye and nods. She goes outside the room, with Ayo. He turns to me, and sits on the chair opposite.

"Sit." I do as he asks. "Why should I believe anything you just said?" Other than the fact that you're probably monitoring my vitals to see if I'm lying? I ask in my mind.

"Because as you know, I hacked into your systems without being noticed, but leaving enough traces of my passage so that once discovered, you could plug a lot of holes in your defenses. Because once I was in your systems, the only thing I did was leave a game for your daughter. Because I followed your bodyguard to this building without asking any questions, taking any defensive measure or telling anyone about where I was going. I even left all my belongings and electronics at home."

"How have you learned of Wakanda and of my daughter?" Now we're talking.

"Is this room secure?"

"Yes. We have surveillance all around this building. Nothing comes in and out."

"That's not what I'm talking about. If we are to talk about what I know, you should retrieve all recording instrument from this room and the surrounding ones. This is extremely confidential and could be detrimental for the whole world if leaked. I would like to talk about that in my office, which is safe from prying eyes and ears, and secure from external threats." We recently put one of Ben and Johnny's shields in place, using a less powerful copy of an arc reactor to power it, but it's strong enough to block a lot of damage. "I understand if you don't want to go there, but I won't be able to reveal to you a lot of information otherwise." After saying that, I leave him to ponder my words. Scratching his beard for a while, he must be listening to the Dora Milaje on the other side of the door.

"Again, why should I believe that what you have to say would require such precautions?" Getting tired of this little game, I decide to give him enough to move him.

"Oakland, April 24th, 1992." This is the day he killed his brother N'Jobu. I doubt he'll refuse to hear me out after that. He may try to kill me though, so let's see how it turns out.

[{AN: The day and month are random, since the movie never really said a specific date}]

He jumps off his chair and the Dora Milaje enter the room with a bang, putting themselves between their king and me, their spears at the ready. I don't move a muscle, looking into T'Chaka's eyes. What will you do, your highness? After a couple of seconds, he tells something to the two. They leave the room, although reluctantly, sending me death glares. T'Chaka stays standing, looking at me.

"How much do you know?" he says, his voice almost as loud as a whisper.

"A lot." I answer. "When I said it could affect the whole world, your country was included, your highness. Do you need more? Do you want more reasons to 'believe me' as you asked? Or shall we move on and start anew? The day is getting old, and I'd like to return to my office before my family starts looking for me. Shall we?" I ask, not moving a muscle. I have no doubt that if I move before he does, the guards will enter the room again, probably breaking the door for good and try to skewer me. After a few moments of hesitation, he talks to his guards, turns to me and nods.

"Let's go. If what you say does not satisfy me, I will kill you." he threatens, but points to the door with an open hand.

"I have no doubt that you will try, king." I say, slowly rising from my chair and following after him. Once I pass through the door, Ayo tells me to lead the way and the two Dora Milaje stay between T'Chaka and myself for the short trip. Finally stepping down the elevator, I welcome them to my office. King T'Chaka doesn't move yet, letting his guards inspect the room instead.Once they are certain it is safe, the king comes in. I offer him a seat on one of the couches, instead of going to my desk. "Alfred, are we monitored?" I ask. Ayo and Okoye look around the room to see who might I be talking.

"Sir, it would seem the beads on the wrist of your guest are used for communication, and are presently recording this conversation, yes. Otherwise, the room is clear." The guards look around more frantically this time, not used to the presence of a disembodied voice responding to me, and pointing out what should be a secret to the world.

"This is Alfred, the Artificial Intelligence responsible for the safety of this building. I would like to ask you to turn off your recording apparatus, please." I ask, looking only at T'Chaka.

"Leave the room." He says, touching his bracelet. The guards interject in Wakandan. "This is an order." he responds, leaving no room for discussion. Once more, they reluctantly leave the room.

"Alfred, if you could guide them to the lounge for the time. And activate the white room protocol please."

"As you wish, Sir." The elevator door open, welcoming the two guards, while the wide bay window turns white, masking us to the outside world. Alfred also shuts down all electronics in the room besides T'Chaka's pearls.

"All electronics in this room has been deactivated besides your pearls. Alfred as well, is shut down for our conversation. If you could please do the same." I ask, and he nods, touching his pearls for a few seconds before putting them down on the table. "Very well. Let's start from the beginning." I say, before explaining everything about our trip to another dimension, our powers, and my dream. Talking about his brother's death, telling him as much detail as I can remember to make sure he believes me, without saying anything about the future. I have told enough people as it is about it, and I have no reason to do so with him. If anything, while that might look heartless, I'd rather wait until his son T'Challa becomes king, as while he was a good king for the most part, he made some terrible decisions during his reign. "King T'Chaka, it may be presumptuous of me, but I'd really like to talk to your daughter about technology and science, as well as obtaining just a sample of Vibranium to help my research. What I aim to do ultimately is protect this world against external threats. I believe your daughter might be able to help me in that regard." I present him a couple of plans I have with Tony and the team, including the science hub we talked about at length. "I know that your country will also benefit from such an alliance." I say, as a closing statement, leaving him to ponder my words for a while.