By Barry Reese

June Year 3

Van Plexico Presents :

To Recap: The Panther's arch-foe, Klaw, has returned to Wakanda in hopes of finding a cure for his affliction. Composed of living sound, Klaw has of late become increasingly insubstantial. Hoping to force the Wakandans into giving him access to their Vibranium storehouse, Klaw has kidnapped the Wakandan ambassador to the U.S., N'baru, and has not entered the African nation. Warning the Panther and his female partner, the beautiful M'swa, that he will kill N'baru if his demands are not met, the two old foes now face one another...

T'challa examined the options available to him and frowned. His oldest enemy, Klaw, held his sound generating weapon against the temple of N'baru. There was no doubt in the Panther's mind that he could defeat the villain, but not before Klaw ended his friend's life. Beside him, M'swa stood, steady and calm, awaiting his next move. Like almost everyone in Wakanda they looked to him not just for leadership, but for inspiration. He would die for his countrymen, if need be.

"I shall assist you, Klaw, but not until you release N'baru." Klaw laughed. "What do you take me for, T'challa? I've known you long enough to know I'm not # 1 on your hit parade...you'll try to pull some stunt to lock me back up -- but it ain't gonna happen. You agree to my demands or it's lights out for N'baru here..."

T'challa felt the panther-spirit within him, urging action. But the rational side of him won out. There would be time enough for battle later. He stood straight. "Very well. You win, Klaw."

Klaw grinned, tossing aside N'baru and generating sonic gauntlets around T'challa's arms. The Panther tested their strength and knew he was held fast.

"Smart move, chief. Now why don't we all get into that little limo of yours and head back to the palace, huh?" Klaw gestured towards the car and waiting until all three -- T'challa, M'swa, and N'baru -- were inside. Then he squeezed into the front, alongside the frightened driver. "Let's just hope for your sakes that your vibranium is what I need...or else I swear I'll take this whole damn country to hell right along with me!"

The heat burns so badly...the skin peels back, revealing white bone covered by rapidly searing veins. Still the man does not remove his hand from the flame. Still the man holds his injured limb above the fire.

All around him, his fellow members of the Consortium stare in silence. All of them have maimed themselves at some point -- Hawkins cut off the tips of all his fingers; Johnson pulled off his right eyelid. Similar disfigurements marred all the members of the Eight -- the leaders of the Consortium.

The newest board member screamed, yanking his hand away at last. The flesh was charred and smoking. Bits of his body now dripped from the raw wound. The intense flame had turned his hand to burned meat.

Hawkins, his hands covered by bloody rags, moved forward. He held a syringe up to the young man's neck and pushed the needle deep into the thyroid gland. The man's eyes rolled back in his head and he was unconscious.

Hawkins nodded. "It's done. He has been marked. His allegiance to the Consortium is proven."

A tall, hulking figure moved closer. His human head stared garishly at the maimed figure. His body was that of an ape and his powerful muscles flexed. "Good." He glanced over at the appealing female form whose head was that of a giant red ruby. "Ruby...don't you think it's time we began Project Africa? I'm tired of waiting...the inaction is killing me!"

Ruby Thursday nodded. "Soon, Arthur. Soon the Headmen and our loyal, mishapen servants in the Consortium shall gain victory. I believe Shrunken Bones is near completion of his personal experiments and then no one will be able to stop us. With the money we've poured into the Consortium...the power of Godzilla at our disposal, and our secret weapon...the Headmen are unstoppable!"

T'challa worked in the palace lab, his assistants all aiding him, while keeping an eye on the increasingly nervous Klaw. With his hands tied, all T'challa could do was to instruct his assistants orally, hoping that they could follow his instructions to the letter.

Klaw,meanwhile, stood guard over M'swa and N'baru. His head thrummed and he felt himself slipping away. He frowned over at T'challa. "Hurry it up, chief! I'm on a schedule here..."

T'challa nodded silently. Klaw had been forced to reveal the nature of his 'problem' and T'challa had proposed building a vibranium chamber, which could focus Klaw's sonic waves and re-solidify his body. He tested the bonds that shackled him and was pleased to see that they were indeed weakening, in direct proportion to Klaw's weakening physical state. Soon, he would be able to pull free of them. It was at times like this that T'challa wished he possessed the Vision's density powers...

"It is done. The chamber is complete."

Klaw grinned, though inside his mind was in turmoil. He had conquered death again and again, had even survived being an idiot for a time*, but true death... that frightened him.

(* in the immortal Secret Wars limited series)

M'swa watched the madman cross over to the chamber, noting how the lab technicians scurried to avoid his gaze. Her own heart was beating rapidly but she was calm. She saw the confidence in T'challa's eyes as their gaze fell upon each other and she was warmed. There was such great strength within him -- strength she wasn't sure she would ever possess. But if T'challa believed all was not lost...so did she.

Klaw entered the chamber, then paused. He raised his weapon. "No tricks, Panther! If you try to do anything wise, I'll blast my way out of her and kill the skirt and the diplomat...you understand?"

"You have my word, Klaw, as King of Wakanda."

T'challa heard the fear beneath the bluster. Could it be that beneath all the bluster -- all the insanity -- Klaw could feel fright? T'challa felt no pity for him -- Klaw was responsible for too many tragedies in T'challa's life for that -- but it did serve to remind him that within everyone there was a hidden self. Within Klaw, it was a frightened child -- within himself, the Panther Spirit, sacred to all his people. It gave him strength and purpose -- it gave him the Hunt. T'challa felt his breathing increase -- he had not betrayed the villain. He had given his word.

T'challa motioned for a technician to close the chamber door and Klaw disappeared from sight. T'challa glanced once more at M'swa's calm face and the Panther spoke. "Klaw...all is ready. You may begin at your leisure. Channel your energy into the chamber -- it will feed itself back into you a hundredfold."

Klaw nodded within the chamber and began pouring sonic energy into the walls of the chamber. A hum began to fill the air.

Outside the chamber, T'challa felt the bonds weaken. Klaw was diverting all of his power into the chamber. He pulled with the strength of a panther and was free. He held his hands up to the light and grinned. While Klaw was occupied, he moved.

"M'swa -- contact the authorities. I shall wish to turn Klaw over to them."

M'swa blinked. "Sire?"

T'challa smiled. "The way of force is not always the best answer, M'swa. Sometimes honor is the best weapon. I have kept my word. Klaw is getting his power back..."

Klaw felt himself weakening and for a moment he thought the Panther had duped him. But then the power came rushing back to him -- filling him, making him whole. His whole being sang with power. He laughed -- that stupid Wakandan had actually done it...given him his power back! He pointed his gun at the wall and fired, intending to free himself. He grunted as the energy he discharged was fed back into him, painfully. He was too full...but he couldn't discharge any in this chamber or it would just rebound.

"Panther! You lying scum! I'll kill you for this..."

T'challa heard the screams but ignored them. He was the Panther now. He glanced at his guards. "You will find that the chamber is lighter than it appears -- lift it and carry it outside. I shall have a truck take it to the airport, to await the proper authorities."

"Panther!" Klaw had stopped using his powers, realizing what a prison he was in... "You lied to me!"

T'challa pressed his face against the door. "I did not such thing. I saved your life. I restored your power -- that is what I promised. You are a criminal, Klaw, and a murderer. My family's blood is on your hands. May you be locked away forever until the stain upon you is all-consuming."

The Panther turned from his caged prey and remembered his father's face. Klaw had killed him so many years ago... The Panther felt the adrenaline rush of victory. Sometimes the thrill of violence was addictive, but today he had won with honor. As his father had taught him.

NEXT ISSUE : It's the 1970s all over again! The Spider-Mobile! The new Avengers! The Hypno-Hustler! White Tiger! And the Black Panther -- in Harlem?! Be there!

Barry Reese

May 12 1998