An Important Meeting

Three days later, King Namor of Atlantis looked around the throne room of the Wakandan capital, Birnin Zana, with disdain. The furniture was mostly as he'd remembered it... gaudy, everything black marble with gold accents. Now it lay in ruins, the rubble of panther statues and even the throne itself littering the floor.

Namor had always enjoyed a somewhat friendly relationship with T'Challa, whom he'd considered to be a wise and benevolent king. Black Panther and Namor respected one another as leaders, and T'Challa's isolationist tendencies ensured he'd left Atlantis to its own devices. But Namor was ambitious and driven, and there was one thing even the king of Atlantis was not allowed to have... something he wanted badly enough to forge new alliances and reshape the world. And if the idiotic Man-Ape M'Baku could help him get it, it was worth it. After all, this would be the surface world's problem soon, not his.

The doors suddenly swung open and the hulking form of the brute M'Baku strode in, his white ape mantle now adorned with the gold and the regalia of a king. Alongside him marched two Gorilla warriors, both tall and powerful specimens of the Jabari tribe. The butts of their vibranium spears slammed the marble floor with a clang as they came to a stop beside the door, letting their king continue across the room.

"Namor! This vibranium is incredible. Did you know T'Challa kept stockpiles of the stuff? Even the armory is chock-full of swords and shields… the fool left us everything we need to bring this kingdom to heel." The Man-Ape crossed over to the ruins of the throne, sitting himself down on the too-small chair.

"I see you've been making yourself at home, M'Baku. I trust you'll be making some changes around here... and not just in the decorations."

The Ape King chuckled, nodding. "Of course. The kitty cat decor doesn't suit the men of the gorilla tribe." He picked up the stone head of one of the fallen panther statues and crushed it up between his palms.

"Thank you again for your aid, Namor. Without your help, this entire coup might not have been possible. I will certainly be making some changes, but you are my ally and you'll have what you asked for when the time comes."

Namor smirked. "I'll count on it. Once the surface is yours, you'll have your choice. I think you can spare me just the one." The regal king with the physique of a legendary warrior straightened up, stretching, and started to turn toward the door. "I'll see you tomorrow at the coronation, M'Baku. Afterwards, we'll discuss our next steps. You have a long road ahead of you, and it won't be long until the Avengers or worse come to interfere with Wakandan politics once again."

M'Baku grunted his agreement as Namor left the throne room and the warrior guards closed the tremendous double doors behind him, leaving only the three Jabari inside together. Or so they thought... for as M'Baku reflected on his new title and what lay ahead for himself and his people, someone else was in the room... creeping... watching... waiting for the right moment to strike.