Mao Mao

Star Wars - Jedi Exile

woah.

There's a lot of sheets now. I might still do a Jedi temple guard (or just a regular jedi knight) or be one of the politicians that were part of the Delegation of 2000.

Star Wars - Jedi Exile

I might do a politician instead since there are too many jedi and sentinels. lol

Star Wars - Jedi Exile

Would it be alright if I made my character a trainee of the Jedi Temple Guard?

Mao Mao's Test & Stash Zone

S E N A T O R J E H L A I R K

_{A P P E A R A N C E}

Standing at 5' 10" tall, Jeh Lairk was physically fit with an olive tone and prominent scars across his hands and arms. His square face, softly shaped jaw, and light blue eyes were notable features that caught the attention of many. Jeh maintained medium-length, frizzy, black hair which went un-styled—no matter where he went. And he wore ambiguous clothing that was a mixture of professional and informal wear while wearing some jewelry.

_{S K I L L S}

Senator Lairk - Being a senator wasn't an easy job as one would've thought. Jeh Lairk had to learn so much about his homeworld's politics and the galaxy in its entirety. In addition, he also learned history and became proficient at writing. But all of the struggles and hardships were worth it. In his time as senator, Jeh managed to form friendships with several senators and established contacts and connections across both Coruscant and Corellia—particularly those in the shipyards.

Corellian Engineering - Besides politics, Jeh learned a few things about engineering in his time at Corellia. He knew how to repair and upgrade certain airspeeders; he tinkered with other senators whenever he wasn't busy with senatorial duties. And he learned things about freighters because he worked on customing a YT-2000 transport, which was stashed back at his home in Coronet City.

Professional Pilot - Since he was Corellia, it was inevitable that Jeh would've taken an interest in piloting a starship and exploring the galaxy. But before politics got in his way, he knew a lot about flying freighters. And it didn't stop when he became a senator especially since he was working on a YT-2000 transport to modify.

_{F L A W S}

Delegate of 2000 - Jeh understood that signing the Petition of 2000 could've meant being accused of treason against the republic. And it would have, for sure, painted a new target on his back. But Jeh didn't care because he was doing to protect democracy against a Chancellor that had so much power over the Republic.

Stubborn As A Mule - Like his father, Jeh Lairk was a stubborn bastard that became more unyielding when he became a senator. And with that dangerous path the Republic found itself in, Jeh challenged the emergency powers that Chancellor Palpatine gained during the Clone Wars. He knew that his life would be difficult opposing the Chancellor, but he had to do it or go against his beliefs.

Lone Rebel - Corellians were always known to have independent minds and often stood against authority for personal reasons. It was no different with Jeh Lairk, who stood against Chancellor Palpatine towards the end of the Clone Wars. He had repeatedly written about how the Chancellor should give up the emergency powers once peace prevailed. But, it unknowingly put him in danger, especially after Order 66.

_{H I S T O R Y}

Being born four years before the start of the Clone Wars, Corellia never saw the brutal fighting between droids and clones since it was inside Republic territory. Nalmun Lairk was a predominant government official on the planet. His son, Jeh Lairk, desired to follow in his father's footsteps at a young age. Educated at prestigious schools on Coronet City and the galactic capital of Coruscant for her education, Jeh secured his first political position as a member of Coronet City council. He severed for seven years until his father died of natural cause, leaving his senator position available.

After being appointed the spot, Jeh Lairk moved back to Coruscant towards the end of the Clone Wars shortly after the battle. Like much of the galactic population, he was tired of the war because of how costly it had become. But, he had deeper concerns about Chancellor Palpatine since gaining so much power during the Clone Wars. So, he signed the Petition of 2000 that stated the Chancellor should give up the emergency powers acquired throughout the war. Afterward, he became one of the Delegation of 2000 and formed acquaintances with several other senators, including Mon Mothma, Bail Organa, and Padmé Amidala.

Then, Order 66 happened.

He watched from his balcony when smoke rose from the Jedi Temple, wondering what was going on. The following day, the Supreme Chancellor issued a special session of Congress to address what happened.

Star Wars - Jedi Exile

I'm gonna keep an eye on this.

Precipice Of War: The Reboot of a Reboot

---

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

_{July 10th, 1955}

REVELATION

---

_{Downtown Culver City // Culver City}

After reminding the doorman of who he was, Melvin let himself inside Kingship and immediately locked eyes with Howard, chatting away with the talented workers. One of them was in the midst of demonstrating her skills on the pole while the others surrounded him. While the owner seemed to be having fun, Melvin never cared about gentlemen's clubs nor strippers and made his way to the dance floor. Howard remained distracted with examining them before he felt a familiar grip on his shoulder. He froze with fear when he realized whose hand it was and turned to greet Melvin.

"M-Melvin?! It's nice to see you! What brings you to-"

"I'm not in the mood for your nonsense, Howard." Melvin gently pushed one of the strippers out of the way and advanced towards him. "Your office. Now."

Howard stood up from the leather chair and dismissed himself, ensuring his workers that it was fine. But the whole thing felt awkward to watch; even Melvin felt how uncomfortable the strippers were. Both men made their way to the office on the second floor, which overlooked the club. Melvin already knew that Howard would use every excuse possible on him like he often did on his business partners. Instead of letting him use one of them, Melvin opened the office door and suckapunched Howard into the room. He made sure the door was closed before processing to give a beating that he wanted to do for months now.

Howard pleaded with him to stop while his face was all bruised up. After a minute of kicking and punching, Melvin settled down and got down to Howard's level before pitching his nose. "Why did you fuck with us, Howard? I thought you were too busy blackmailing directors and fucking movie stars to betray us."

"I-I don't know what-" Howard screamed as his nose was broken and began bleeding profusely. Then, Melvin grabbed his arm and started squeezing it hard.

"We know about the fifteen grand you stole for us. So, don't lie to me again, or I'll break your arm."

"Alright! Alright, don't break it, please!" Howard put his freed hand up, after crying for mercy, and pointed at a bookshelf. Melvin dragged him across the office and threw him against it. Howard felt some books hitting him but avoided the pain to pull out a safe. It took a moment before it was unlocked, which Melvin inspected almost immediately. But, there was no money inside. Instead, he found something that was big trouble: coke.

Or, it seemed to look like cocaine expect it was a dark red. Melvin lacked the experience in drugs to be sure but he knew finding it in Howard's possession meant trouble. In an instant, Melvin pulled out his pistol and pressed it against his huge forehead.

"Tell me where you got the coke, or I will make your face unrecognizable." Melvin threatened.

Howard cried a little more before responding, "Delbert Nixon, one of my regular patrons, told me about how profitable it was going to be on the streets. He told me that if I were to give him some cash, he would contact his friends to include me in the trafficking."

Melvin pulled the pistol back as he was trying to figure out why the name sounded familiar. Then, it clicked. "Isn't he directing that Great War heroic for the Europeans?"

"Yeah, that's him." Howard struggled to get up from the floor after taking a severe beating and started making his way to the desk. "Delbert loves that white rock more than God. As for his friend, I only met him once, but he was definitely Mexican."

Melvin took a deep breath to process everything he heard coming out of Howard's mouth. He knew that shit was about to get really hot soon but understood that his boss needed to know about this revelation before more damage was done. Yet, even he knew that Howard Rowe's life was essentially over; but, his boss had the final say. So, after taking a nearby suitcase and stashing the cocaine, Melvin departed from the Kingship and met up with the driver.

"So, did you get the money?" The driver asked.

"No." Melvin placed the suitcase on his lap and then opened it to show the driver. "I need to speak with the boss."

The driver immediately shut his mouth upon seeing the strange-looking cocaine, knowing what it meant. "I will take you to him now."

---

_{Downtown Las Vegas // Las Vegas}

Fremont Street was crowded with people from all over the world that could've overwhelmed a newcomer. But for the Bradshaw brothers, it was a regular Sunday night for them. In particular, the Golden Nugget was busy at nighttime with guests gathering in the gambling hall to spend their hard earn money. But, they weren't there to bet on luck. The brothers showed off the poker chips to the receptionist, who signaled a nearby guard. The guard, an older man with scars on his right hand, inspected the chips before asking them to follow him. They walked through the smoke-filled hall before ending up at the showroom, which was off-limits to guests for the night. Yet, it seemed like a performance took place earlier based on the same smoky odor from the hall.

A person was sitting on the stage, staring at them before gesturing at the nearest seats. George made his way there, which surprised his older brother because he was usually cautious about his surroundings. Russell followed his younger brother seconds later and took a seat by him. Then, the individual in the darkness started to speak femininely. "It's nice to finally see you two. I only wish you came sooner."

"We wanted to be sure of your intentions with our business." Russell responded with his arms crossed. "After all, our father helped made this city possible. We usually don't deal with folks who are... aspiring to be someone they aren't able to handle."

"You make it sound like I don't know a thing or two about running this city." the individual laughed and then took a slip. "People don't just call me Mr. House as if I'm some showgirl on the Strip. I got my hands dirty as your father did."

"I don't know what you're talking about."

"Of course, you don't." Mr. House snapped his fingers, and another person tossed the brother a folder. Russell took it before his younger brother could have a look and started reading it. It contained pages of a proposal to work for Mr. House and allow him to form a fractional ownership over anything owned by the Bradshaw brothers, including their resorts and casinos. But, in return, they would receive a cut of profits for all business under his control. Regardless, Russell viewed it as an insult to his father's legacy.

He got up from his seat and threw it at Mr. House, hitting him. "Fuck your deal. I will never allow your dirty hands to touch what my father built. Come on, George, we're leaving."

As Russell was about to leave the showroom, Mr. House gathered the scattered papers and reorganized them. Then, he made his way towards George, revealing himself to him for the first time. "Fortunately, you don't have the final say."

"What-" Before Russell was able to finish his question, he felt something tight on his neck and struggled to breathe. He tried to get free, but it was already too late. George couldn't watch his older brother die and turned his sights at Mr. House, whose feminine style clothing caught him off-guard. He grabbed the folder and then decided to see Russell, still fighting to live.

Mr. House saw George realizing what was about to happen and went to place his hand on his cheek to relax him. Then, he started to speak in a calm tone. "I'm sorry that it had to be done, but... he would've done the same to you."

Russell watched with his final breath as George nodded and turned away for his older brother. He tried to say something, but the world went dark around him.

---

One Universe: World Of Heroes - A Marvel & DC Comics RPG

_{In collabation with @Zoey Boey}

---

BLACK PANTHER

_ARRIVAL

THE HIDDEN PARADISE // 01.05.00

---

_{Royal Palace of Wakanda // Birnin Zana}

The Taifa Ngao called for an emergency meeting minutes after T’Challa’s announcement to address the historical moment. It lasted for two entire days before the council had a solid plan, which was to condemn the king’s decision to reveal Wakanda’s true existence to the outsiders. Surprisingly, the vote was nearly split in half along the members. Some felt that the time of hiding was over when Ulysses and his private army invaded the country. Others were still standing by tradition and believed that the world would turn against them. It was the fourth time that the council vote was divided in Wakandan history.

Then, to the surprise of everyone, T’Challa entered the chambers dressed for the occasion. “It’s great to see everyone working hard during these uncertain times, but we will not need the drums of war.”

Amara Azikiwe, the opposition's unofficial leader, spoke up to the king while attempting to remain respectful. “My king, It saddens me that you haven’t reconsider your unorthodox decision. I hope you’re here to hear us out.”

“In all honesty, I am not here to listen to you but to invite everyone to greet the outsiders with me. And, if you wish to attend with us for the day.”

“You already know our answer.” Amara responded with some bite in her words. “We are not going to allow you to commit to this blasphemy on our history!”

"Then, get out of my way or, if you still wish, come with me. Either way, you don't have a choice." T’Challa's intimidation was a surprise even to his diehard supporters. Then, his wrist bead lit up and left the chambers without saying anything else. He saw the message left behind by Okoye, which contained a report written by one of her warriors. It was too long to read the whole thing, but he briefly skimmed through it to get an idea of what to expect. That was when he read up the brief inspection on one of the security members: Natasha Romanoff.

---

_{Wakandan Airport // Birnin Zana}

On the tarmac, King T’Challa, along with Shuri, Okoye, and N'Yami, waited for the plane to appear from the horizon and land. Unfortunately, T'Chaka declined to meet the outsiders when they exit the plane but had plans to attend the dinner. Taifa Ngao boycotted the entire event in protest of the king's judgment. He had hoped that some of them would've come, but it was impossible with Amara taking charge of the other councilors. The plane finally showed itself and headed for the tarmac. So, everyone got ready with Okoye ensuring that security was prepared for the worst.

The plane landed, and its security team left first before letting the outside exit.

Black Widow was the first to leave, followed by US Agent. She walked down the stairs of the plane and then went to the left. She inhaled the fresh air, and gave their welcoming committee a once over. All royally dressed, with formal, beautiful designs of various colors and silhouettes. She held her right wrist in her left hand and stood at attention. Walker followed after her and stood to the left of the staircase. He raised his elbows and twisted his back, and a faint popping sounds could be hurt. “Ugh…” He groaned.

Natasha hummed. ”Classy.”

A few moments later, the Ambassador descended. He spotted the Wakanda diplomats and smiled, waving, before adjusting his tie and hair once again. Once he was on the ground he glanced at the two superheroes that were in charge of protecting him. Exhaling, he glanced over at Natasha. She nodded. With that, the UN team began to walk forward to meet the King of Wakanda. As he neared them, he hesitated a moment before bowing.

Okoye gave the outsider a confused look while Shuri nearly broke down laughing before her mother whispered to her to stop. T’Challa awkwardly smiled and addressed him. “You don’t need to do that.”

Aiden’s face lit up with embarrassment and began to rub his neck. “Sorry about that.”

T’Challa nodded and then turned towards the group. “Welcome to Golden City, the real capital of Wakanda. I am happy to show you and your leaders what Wakanda has to offer to the world with a tour of our design sector. Hopefully, my sister is able to showcase everything before dinner. For now, though, General Okoye will escort everyone to the rooms. Until we meet again.”

Okoye stepped forth while the royal family left the tarmac with some of the security team. She examined the outsiders before speaking. “While my sisters and I are protecting your lives, know that we won’t tolerate any… ‘bullshit’ as you outsiders say. That means, upon arriving at the rooms, the security teams must submit their weapons to us. You will get them back before leaving.”

She made sure to stare directly at Natasha before finishing up. “If you lie or try to go behind our backs, we won’t hesitate to respond accordingly. Understand?”

Natasha was stood up straight, her hands held in front of her. She nodded solemnly. ”Of course. I wouldn’t have it any other way.” She responded. The King confirmed that the Golden City was the true capital. This was truly a momentous occasion- a lucky break that she got to participate in it. Hopefully she didn’t ruin it by getting caught poking around. Okoye seemed to have a good bullshit detector, so she would have to be careful around that one. As powerful and as refined as the Wakandans were, however, they didn’t have the experience of the international, backstabbing savagery of the Cold War and beyond. Natasha was confident she could outwit them, if it came down to it.

The King, T’Challa himself, seemed nice enough, but it could easily be a political front. He did actually meet them on the tarmac, and his outfit was formal but not exorbitant. Many powerful monarchs wanted everyone to know how rich they were by decking themselves out in all sorts of jewelry and fancy cars. Between him and General Okoye’s no-nonsense demeanor, she already had a positive first impression of Wakanda.

”After you, ma’am.” Natasha deferred to the General politely.

Okoye and her security team began escorting the outsiders to the royal palace by using a self-driving bus, which was big enough to fit everyone. When everyone was on board, the bus began driving towards its destination. Unlike other places, there wasn’t any traffic blocking the road for miles and miles. In fact, people were walking on them or using self-driving transports instead of using cars. It was an eco-city without any restraints from bureaucracy and capitalism came to reality.

Eco urban architecture was also realized with the local ecosystem coexisting with the population and structures. After five minutes, the bus made its way to the royal palace after a security check at the entrance. Okoye escorted the outsiders to the guest quarters and asked their security to surrender their weapons. After that, the security team dismissed themselves and left the outsiders alone.

---

_{Guest Quarters // Royal Palace of Wakanda}

Aiden set down his suitcase and took a moment to stare at the window, overlooking the city. He was amazed by everything that he witnessed so far. There wasn’t anything like Golden City in the world. And there was more to be revealed by the king. So, he needed to seek out the other ambassadors to discuss… everything. The ambassador got the attention of his security. “I have some matters to take care of with our allies. There is so much to talk about after all especially… this.”

“You guys should take a moment to enjoy the view.” Aiden left the room, leaving both John and Natasha alone.

The redhead nodded at Aiden. Natasha, her frame less bulked up with her various weapons, walked up to the window and learned her arm against it, and her forehead against her arm. She took in the sights and sounds of the city. It truly was a modern marvel. Though she hadn’t seen much of it yet, right now it looked to be one of if not the greatest city in the world.

”Amazing, isn’t it?” She asked Walker. John was sitting on the bed, rubbing the place where his deployable hard light shield used to be.

“...It’s okay, I guess.” He grumbled. Natasha chuckled. ”I see. Things not competitive enough for your taste?”

Walker shrugged. “I dunno. I feel like this city is looking down on me. Oh, look, I’m the Golden City, I’m sooo great.” He crossed his arms. Natasha nodded, raising an eyebrow. Perhaps she could see where he was coming from, though she didn’t quite agree.

“It’s not the rest of the world’s fault our civilizations didn’t start on a giant lump of vibranium.” He complained.

”I see.” She nodded solemnly. ”Well, their isolationist policies are beginning to come to an end. Maybe they’ll be sending foreign aid to various struggling countries.” She said.

“They better. We do, and we don’t have…” He trailed off.

”Magical plant skyscrapers.” She described them simply. He gestured at her pointedly.

“Lord, they’re gorgeous, aren’t they?” He shook his head, and she nodded in agreement.

“So….I guess we’re safe here. I don’t think the Wakandans are going to betray us.” He commented, rubbing his stubble. Natasha silently agreed.

”No, they won’t. I agree with you on that.” She looked back out the window. She turned her head over her shoulder and raised an eyebrow at him. It was a simple look, but one they both understood. Keep quiet. They might be listening. But yes, Walker, I am going to be poking around.

”You should catch up with the Ambassador.” Natasha said. Walker nodded. “See ya around. Test their tap water out.” He joked, and let the Black Widow alone.

“Why didn’t you follow him?” the voice of Kimoyo appeared out of nowhere, catching her off-guard. “Don’t you wish to explore the quarters?”

Natasha didn’t react externally, but she was surprised. She knew they were listening, but she didn’t think they would be watching. They tipped their hand too early, if one asked Natasha. She was hoping to be alone for a little bit.

”Well, Kimoyo, I’ve always been something of an introvert. Maybe I was just hoping for some alone time.” She said, some humor underlining her words. ”Can you see me right now?” She waved to the empty air. Her eyes scanned the room for cameras, or some kind of strange piece of vibranium technology.

“Yes, I see you waving at me.” Kimoyo answered in an almost annoyed tone. “And no, you won’t be able to find me so easy. But enough about me, I came to notify you that King T’Challa will be arriving in an hour for the tour.”

Natasha nodded. So, she was being watched...very, very closely. It would be difficult to get any spying done if there was an omni-present AI in the building. What and couldn’t it see? ”Well, I am looking forward to protecting the man that’s supposed to meet him.” She joked. ”Very well,” Natasha sighed. ”I suppose unless you’ve translated some of Wakanda’s most famous stories for us, I’ll take a look around.” With that, Natasha walked out of the room and followed after Walker. Her footsteps were purposefully louder than they could be- which was, of course, completely silent.

John immediately noticed what his partner was attempting to do and detoured to the nearest bathroom. He signaled for her to follow before entering it, noticing that no one else was there. But to be extra sure, he checked the stalls while waiting for Natasha to enter. When she did, he went over to the door and locked it so no one was able to walk up. Then, to make sure whoever was watching wasn’t able to listen, he went up to the sinks and turned all of them on. And after all of that, they were finally able to talk.

“Are you alright? What happened in the room?”

Natasha frowned at the display, wondering if it would really be enough to prevent the AI from listening in, or watching them right now. Kimoyo probably wasn’t the modest type. Still, it was old school from John, so she could appreciate the effort.

”Not much,” She said quietly. ”Except Kimoyo, the AI, is listening and watching us at all times.” She concluded, raising an eyebrow ominously. ”They want us to know this, no doubt. Still, if I was up to something, and I was in charge of Wakanda security, I would have kept this a secret. Just to see what I would do, if I was up to something.” She said, smirking. John would be able to tell she didn’t quite believe they were alone, even in this very clean gender-neutral bathroom.

“AI? Well, shit. With how much we have underestimated them in every aspect, no doubt they are the reason why I can’t contact Agent Ayers at all." John paced around the bathroom to figure things out until he leaned against the counter and turned to Natasha. “Yet, this could actually benefit us and the objective.”

John reached into his right boot and pulled out a 10TB USB stick to extract any data useful to the United States. “Our only shot will be during dinner. And even then, we would be on a time limit. Unless something goes wrong or, god forbid, they are onto us, I will be the one doing the extraction while you remain the center of attention. But if we’re caught… well, we might face something problematic at an international scale.”

Natasha crossed her arms and rubbed her chin. ”You think Kimoyo can only watch one person at a time?” She asked.

“No.” John answered honestly. “But, if I were the head of security for a country that’s protective of its secrets, I would be putting more effort into monitoring the KGB spy turned Avenger more than some SHIELD agent. Just saying.”

Natasha conceded this point with a tilt of her head. ”Fair,” She said. ”Still. Be careful. If you can’t find a good opportunity, just don’t do anything. I’d rather not find anything than risk an incident.” She cautioned.

“Yeah, yeah. This isn’t my first time doing a simple extract mission. But, I will be sure to keep my eye out. Don’t worry.” John winked at her partner and started making his way out to be with the ambassador. “Oh, by the way, make sure you don’t leave the sinks on once you leave. We won’t want our host to pay a high water bill, do we?”

”Wow,” Natasha deadpanned as Walker left her alone. She placed her hands on her hips and shook her head. Simple extra mission? ”Coulson’s gonna have my head on a platter...” She murmured sarcastically to herself. With that she flicked off the sinks, one at a time. Frowning, she glanced around at the room. Was she being watched? She stomped the ground, loudly. A moment passed and she clicked her tongue, leaving the room to follow Walker and try to salvage this intel gathering mission.

---

Mao Mao's Test & Stash Zone

_{In collabation with @Zoey Boey}

---

BLACK PANTHER

_ARRIVAL

THE HIDDEN PARADISE // 01.05.00

---

_{Royal Palace of Wakanda // Birnin Zana}

The Taifa Ngao called for an emergency meeting minutes after T’Challa’s announcement to address the historical moment. It lasted for two entire days before the council had a solid plan, which was to condemn the king’s decision to reveal Wakanda’s true existence to the outsiders. Surprisingly, the vote was nearly split in half along the members. Some felt that the time of hiding was over when Ulysses and his private army invaded the country. Others were still standing by tradition and believed that the world would turn against them. It was the fourth time that the council vote was divided in Wakandan history.

Then, to the surprise of everyone, T’Challa entered the chambers dressed for the occasion. “It’s great to see everyone working hard during these uncertain times, but we will not need the drums of war.”

Amara Azikiwe, the opposition's unofficial leader, spoke up to the king while attempting to remain respectful. “My king, It saddens me that you haven’t reconsider your unorthodox decision. I hope you’re here to hear us out.”

“In all honesty, I am not here to listen to you but to invite everyone to greet the outsiders with me. And, if you wish to attend with us for the day.”

“You already know our answer.” Amara responded with some bite in her words. “We are not going to allow you to commit to this blasphemy on our history!”

"Then, get out of my way or, if you still wish, come with me. Either way, you don't have a choice." T’Challa's intimidation was a surprise even to his diehard supporters. Then, his wrist bead lit up and left the chambers without saying anything else. He saw the message left behind by Okoye, which contained a report written by one of her warriors. It was too long to read the whole thing, but he briefly skimmed through it to get an idea of what to expect. That was when he read up the brief inspection on one of the security members: Natasha Romanoff.

---

_{Wakandan Airport // Birnin Zana}

On the tarmac, King T’Challa, along with Shuri, Okoye, and N'Yami, waited for the plane to appear from the horizon and land. Unfortunately, T'Chaka declined to meet the outsiders when they exit the plane but had plans to attend the dinner. Taifa Ngao boycotted the entire event in protest of the king's judgment. He had hoped that some of them would've come, but it was impossible with Amara taking charge of the other councilors. The plane finally showed itself and headed for the tarmac. So, everyone got ready with Okoye ensuring that security was prepared for the worst.

The plane landed, and its security team left first before letting the outside exit.

Black Widow was the first to leave, followed by US Agent. She walked down the stairs of the plane and then went to the left. She inhaled the fresh air, and gave their welcoming committee a once over. All royally dressed, with formal, beautiful designs of various colors and silhouettes. She held her right wrist in her left hand and stood at attention. Walker followed after her and stood to the left of the staircase. He raised his elbows and twisted his back, and a faint popping sounds could be hurt. “Ugh…” He groaned.

Natasha hummed. ”Classy.”

A few moments later, the Ambassador descended. He spotted the Wakanda diplomats and smiled, waving, before adjusting his tie and hair once again. Once he was on the ground he glanced at the two superheroes that were in charge of protecting him. Exhaling, he glanced over at Natasha. She nodded. With that, the UN team began to walk forward to meet the King of Wakanda. As he neared them, he hesitated a moment before bowing.

Okoye gave the outsider a confused look while Shuri nearly broke down laughing before her mother whispered to her to stop. T’Challa awkwardly smiled and addressed him. “You don’t need to do that.”

Aiden’s face lit up with embarrassment and began to rub his neck. “Sorry about that.”

T’Challa nodded and then turned towards the group. “Welcome to Golden City, the real capital of Wakanda. I am happy to show you and your leaders what Wakanda has to offer to the world with a tour of our design sector. Hopefully, my sister is able to showcase everything before dinner. For now, though, General Okoye will escort everyone to the rooms. Until we meet again.”

Okoye stepped forth while the royal family left the tarmac with some of the security team. She examined the outsiders before speaking. “While my sisters and I are protecting your lives, know that we won’t tolerate any… ‘bullshit’ as you outsiders say. That means, upon arriving at the rooms, the security teams must submit their weapons to us. You will get them back before leaving.”

She made sure to stare directly at Natasha before finishing up. “If you lie or try to go behind our backs, we won’t hesitate to respond accordingly. Understand?”

Natasha was stood up straight, her hands held in front of her. She nodded solemnly. ”Of course. I wouldn’t have it any other way.” She responded. The King confirmed that the Golden City was the true capital. This was truly a momentous occasion- a lucky break that she got to participate in it. Hopefully she didn’t ruin it by getting caught poking around. Okoye seemed to have a good bullshit detector, so she would have to be careful around that one. As powerful and as refined as the Wakandans were, however, they didn’t have the experience of the international, backstabbing savagery of the Cold War and beyond. Natasha was confident she could outwit them, if it came down to it.

The King, T’Challa himself, seemed nice enough, but it could easily be a political front. He did actually meet them on the tarmac, and his outfit was formal but not exorbitant. Many powerful monarchs wanted everyone to know how rich they were by decking themselves out in all sorts of jewelry and fancy cars. Between him and General Okoye’s no-nonsense demeanor, she already had a positive first impression of Wakanda.

”After you, ma’am.” Natasha deferred to the General politely.

Okoye and her security team began escorting the outsiders to the royal palace by using a self-driving bus, which was big enough to fit everyone. When everyone was on board, the bus began driving towards its destination. Unlike other places, there wasn’t any traffic blocking the road for miles and miles. In fact, people were walking on them or using self-driving transports instead of using cars. It was an eco-city without any restraints from bureaucracy and capitalism came to reality.

Eco urban architecture was also realized with the local ecosystem coexisting with the population and structures. After five minutes, the bus made its way to the royal palace after a security check at the entrance. Okoye escorted the outsiders to the guest quarters and asked their security to surrender their weapons. After that, the security team dismissed themselves and left the outsiders alone.

---

_{Guest Quarters // Royal Palace of Wakanda}

Aiden set down his suitcase and took a moment to stare at the window, overlooking the city. He was amazed by everything that he witnessed so far. There wasn’t anything like Golden City in the world. And there was more to be revealed by the king. So, he needed to seek out the other ambassadors to discuss… everything. The ambassador got the attention of his security. “I have some matters to take care of with our allies. There is so much to talk about after all especially… this.”

“You guys should take a moment to enjoy the view.” Aiden left the room, leaving both John and Natasha alone.

The redhead nodded at Aiden. Natasha, her frame less bulked up with her various weapons, walked up to the window and learned her arm against it, and her forehead against her arm. She took in the sights and sounds of the city. It truly was a modern marvel. Though she hadn’t seen much of it yet, right now it looked to be one of if not the greatest city in the world.

”Amazing, isn’t it?” She asked Walker. John was sitting on the bed, rubbing the place where his deployable hard light shield used to be.

“...It’s okay, I guess.” He grumbled. Natasha chuckled. ”I see. Things not competitive enough for your taste?”

Walker shrugged. “I dunno. I feel like this city is looking down on me. Oh, look, I’m the Golden City, I’m sooo great.” He crossed his arms. Natasha nodded, raising an eyebrow. Perhaps she could see where he was coming from, though she didn’t quite agree.

“It’s not the rest of the world’s fault our civilizations didn’t start on a giant lump of vibranium.” He complained.

”I see.” She nodded solemnly. ”Well, their isolationist policies are beginning to come to an end. Maybe they’ll be sending foreign aid to various struggling countries.” She said.

“They better. We do, and we don’t have…” He trailed off.

”Magical plant skyscrapers.” She described them simply. He gestured at her pointedly.

“Lord, they’re gorgeous, aren’t they?” He shook his head, and she nodded in agreement.

“So….I guess we’re safe here. I don’t think the Wakandans are going to betray us.” He commented, rubbing his stubble. Natasha silently agreed.

”No, they won’t. I agree with you on that.” She looked back out the window. She turned her head over her shoulder and raised an eyebrow at him. It was a simple look, but one they both understood. Keep quiet. They might be listening. But yes, Walker, I am going to be poking around.

”You should catch up with the Ambassador.” Natasha said. Walker nodded. “See ya around. Test their tap water out.” He joked, and let the Black Widow alone.

“Why didn’t you follow him?” the voice of Kimoyo appeared out of nowhere, catching her off-guard. “Don’t you wish to explore the quarters?”

Natasha didn’t react externally, but she was surprised. She knew they were listening, but she didn’t think they would be watching. They tipped their hand too early, if one asked Natasha. She was hoping to be alone for a little bit.

”Well, Kimoyo, I’ve always been something of an introvert. Maybe I was just hoping for some alone time.” She said, some humor underlining her words. ”Can you see me right now?” She waved to the empty air. Her eyes scanned the room for cameras, or some kind of strange piece of vibranium technology.

“Yes, I see you waving at me.” Kimoyo answered in an almost annoyed tone. “And no, you won’t be able to find me so easy. But enough about me, I came to notify you that King T’Challa will be arriving in an hour for the tour.”

Natasha nodded. So, she was being watched...very, very closely. It would be difficult to get any spying done if there was an omni-present AI in the building. What and couldn’t it see? ”Well, I am looking forward to protecting the man that’s supposed to meet him.” She joked. ”Very well,” Natasha sighed. ”I suppose unless you’ve translated some of Wakanda’s most famous stories for us, I’ll take a look around.” With that, Natasha walked out of the room and followed after Walker. Her footsteps were purposefully louder than they could be- which was, of course, completely silent.

John immediately noticed what his partner was attempting to do and detoured to the nearest bathroom. He signaled for her to follow before entering it, noticing that no one else was there. But to be extra sure, he checked the stalls while waiting for Natasha to enter. When she did, he went over to the door and locked it so no one was able to walk up. Then, to make sure whoever was watching wasn’t able to listen, he went up to the sinks and turned all of them on. And after all of that, they were finally able to talk.

“Are you alright? What happened in the room?”

Natasha frowned at the display, wondering if it would really be enough to prevent the AI from listening in, or watching them right now. Kimoyo probably wasn’t the modest type. Still, it was old school from John, so she could appreciate the effort.

”Not much,” She said quietly. ”Except Kimoyo, the AI, is listening and watching us at all times.” She concluded, raising an eyebrow ominously. ”They want us to know this, no doubt. Still, if I was up to something, and I was in charge of Wakanda security, I would have kept this a secret. Just to see what I would do, if I was up to something.” She said, smirking. John would be able to tell she didn’t quite believe they were alone, even in this very clean gender-neutral bathroom.

“AI? Well, shit. With how much we have underestimated them in every aspect, no doubt they are the reason why I can’t contact Agent Ayers at all." John paced around the bathroom to figure things out until he leaned against the counter and turned to Natasha. “Yet, this could actually benefit us and the objective.”

John reached into his right boot and pulled out a 10TB USB stick to extract any data useful to the United States. “Our only shot will be during dinner. And even then, we would be on a time limit. Unless something goes wrong or, god forbid, they are onto us, I will be the one doing the extraction while you remain the center of attention. But if we’re caught… well, we might face something problematic at an international scale.”

Natasha crossed her arms and rubbed her chin. ”You think Kimoyo can only watch one person at a time?” She asked.

“No.” John answered honestly. “But, if I were the head of security for a country that’s protective of its secrets, I would be putting more effort into monitoring the KGB spy turned Avenger more than some SHIELD agent. Just saying.”

Natasha conceded this point with a tilt of her head. ”Fair,” She said. ”Still. Be careful. If you can’t find a good opportunity, just don’t do anything. I’d rather not find anything than risk an incident.” She cautioned.

“Yeah, yeah. This isn’t my first time doing a simple extract mission. But, I will be sure to keep my eye out. Don’t worry.” John winked at her partner and started making his way out to be with the ambassador. “Oh, by the way, make sure you don’t leave the sinks on once you leave. We won’t want our host to pay a high water bill, do we?”

”Wow,” Natasha deadpanned as Walker left her alone. She placed her hands on her hips and shook her head. Simple extra mission? ”Coulson’s gonna have my head on a platter...” She murmured sarcastically to herself. With that she flicked off the sinks, one at a time. Frowning, she glanced around at the room. Was she being watched? She stomped the ground, loudly. A moment passed and she clicked her tongue, leaving the room to follow Walker and try to salvage this intel gathering mission.

---

Precipice Of War: The Reboot of a Reboot

---

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

_{July 10th, 1955}

LOST WAGES

---

_{Venice // Los Angeles}

Melvin Merrill unloaded an entire round of his custom Thompson gun into the traitor as his fiancée watched in horror. She went over to her fiancé and tried desperately to stop the bleeding as the Midway transformed into a chaotic scene. He lowered the tommy gun and pulled out two California sunlights, throwing them at the dead body. The fiancée, caught off-guard by the poppies, went to turn around but felt the barrel of a pistol against her head. She sat there, frozen with fear as her husband's killer inhaled before pulling the trigger. Two more shots rang out in quick succession, and Merrill exhaled, relieved that it was over.

The traumatized crowd watched as the hitman walked past them and headed for the parking lot. None of them interfered because they knew who he worked for. Meanwhile, Merrill tossed his gun in the back seat and entered through the front car door. Without any words, the driver drove away from the scene with enough time to avoid the authorities. It was only when they were on the main road that the driver spoke. "Impressive work. The boss will be delighted when he listens to the evening news."

"I take it that there's no more work for now?"

"Actually, there is." The driver responded as he took a sharp left turn from Lincoln Boulevard. "You are needed for an urgent matter concerning Howard."

Merrill rolled his eyes when he heard that name. Howard Rowe was the drunken fool who was the proud owner of Kingship, a gentlemen's club in Culver City. It was close enough to The Culver Studios that its workers, and sometimes well-known individuals in the film industry, ended up at the club. For that reason, and how profitable it was, the boss often 'forgot' the late payments. But, what he did this time was inexcusable. "How much?"

"Fifteen grand. That bastard hid fifteen grand for us for the last few months. The boss wants you to remind him of his commitment to our family."

"How does he want it done?"

"Keep it in his office. He doesn't want to lose any clients. Make sure he never fucks with us again." The driver pulled up at the Kingship and opened the passager door for Merrill. "Almost forgot, tell Howard that the payment has increased ten percent after his betrayal. Don't disappoint."

---

_{The Strip // Las Vegas}

The Magician's Menagerie was the twelfth casino and resort to open its door on The Strip. The stretch of road was covered with showrooms, nightclubs, shopping centers, and other resorts and casinos. But, this resort hotel and casino was the biggest one in Las Vegas and the nation. Its theme was based on medieval myths and fairytales, making it more family-friendly than any other place in the city. Naturally, it became an instant tourist spot for parents to gamble and travel around while their children were having fun around the resort. And it played a major role in boosting the city's popularity in recent months.

The mastermind behind Magician's Menagerie was none other than Russell Bradshaw, son of former horseracing and auto racing magnate Clayton Bradshaw. He and his younger brother, George Bradshaw, owned four other resorts and casinos (along with other businesses) in the city. Unlike Galveston or Atlantic City, Las Vegas was a newcomer not held back by anti-gambling laws or Prohibition in its history. As a result, it flourished quicker than expected, which caught some attention from the East Coast. And one person in particular who managed to make a name for themselves.

Mr. House. It was a nickname used on the mysterious individual who bought up both the Golden Nugget and Binion from their previous owners. It took them a year before acquiring most of Downtown and a massive chunk of the Strip. Nobody knew who they were, but they were treated with respect and dignity by their friends. And as for their enemies, well, they were never seen again or sworn a vow of silence. Much of the local population, and frequented tourists, deemed him the unofficial mayor of Sin City.

But for the Bradshaw Brothers, they weren't fazed by some outsider with trust issues. After all, Mr. House hardly had any influence with the city council nor city hall. Plus, their father spent his remaining years teaching them the life of a businessman and how to safeguard his business empire. Even if the stress of work ended up killing him, he would've been proud to see his sons preserving his legacy. Experience was something that Mr. House lacked while the brothers had plenty under their belts. So, they went on their lives until an envelope ended up on the front door. Inside the envelope, there were poker chips and two ace cards addressed to Russell and George Bradshaw with the message:

Golden Nugget. Ten o'clock.
You won't want to miss out.
- Mr. House

After reading the message, the brothers already made their minds up and ended up in front of the casino. Russell pulled out one of the poker chips from his suit pocket. But, his attention was on his younger brother, still talking to the driver. He called out George, which clearly annoyed him, but he finished the conversation and made his way towards him. "What was that about?"

"Nothing much. Just told the driver to enjoy a coffee break." George was rather dismissive of his older brother's question and made his way inside. "Let's get this over with."

---

Mao Mao's Test & Stash Zone

Kingship wasn't open for business during the afternoon, but there were workers preparing for another busy night. An older doorman approached him and told him that the club wasn't open. Merrill pulled out his family's insignia, the petals of a California sunlight made out of bronze.