7 | COLOR

"Erik Stevens. Graduated Annapolis, age 19. MIT for grad school. Joined the SEALs and went straight to Afghanistan where he racked up confirmed kills like it was a video game. Started calling him Killmonger. He joined a JSOC ghost unit. Now, these guys are serious. They will drop off the grid so they can commit assassinations and take down governments." Ross gave the spiel about the man T'Challa saw escape with Klaue, whom also had just arrived to Wakanda with Klaue's dead body.

"Did he reveal anything about his identity?" T'Challa questioned.

"He has a war dog tattoo, but we have no record of him." Shuri replied.

* * *

T'Challa went to go speak to Killmonger for information. He came back with more news. "He wants the throne! To give Wakanda away to the world. He wants to challenge me!" T'Challa exclaimed furiously as he vented to Catalina.

"And what did you say?" Catalina asked.

"I accepted his challenge. What kind of king am I if I refuse a challenge? A weak one." T'Challa huffed.

Catalina sat up straight in the chair she was lounging on in T'Challa's room. "Which you are not. You are a good, strong king remember? You will not let this fool come and steal your throne to destroy Wakanda." She told him, sternly.

T'Challa nodded. "Cata," he grabbed her hands, "I know this will be a bloody fight. And I may not win."

"You will." Catalina scoffed at him.

"I need you to promise me you will make sure he doesn't demolish Wakanda if he wins. Even if you have to bring Tony Stark to help you." T'Challa was desperate at that point. His gut was telling him something was going to go horribly wrong. Catalina warily nodded. She wasn't responsible at all. She was a scary, unreliable and selfish person. But, for some reason, T'Challa saw a trustworthy woman in her those past few days he was with her. And, somehow, he made her believe that it was true and that she was capable of being such a person.

* * *

Catalina began to watch the challenge from her spot next to the princess and the queen on the side of the vast waterfall where the challenges took place. T'Challa was given a liquid to sip to strip away his Black Panther powers. "Let the challenge begin!" Was the only thing that had to be said before Killmonger charged at T'Challa and began swinging his sword around. The two battled continuously as they got dangerously close to the edge of the waterfall. Catalina watched nervously as Killmonger knocked T'Challa down. T'Challa managed to nick Killmonger's face before he got revenge and cut his abdomen and leg.

"Get up, T'Challa!" Catalina screamed at him.

"Snap out of it!" Shuri followed pursuit and began shouting at her brother as well. However, just as she shouted out, Killmonger stabbed T'Challa in the gut, then began punching him over and over until his face was covered completely by blood.

"This is for my father." Killmonger said as he lifted his sword up high to end T'Challa. Catalina's heart began to race, but it slowed down its pace when Zuri, the challenge officiant, stopped Killmonger. "I am the cause of your father's death. Not him. Take me." Zuri begged.

"I'll take you both." Killmonger growled as he stabbed Zuri and T'Challa screeched out in grief.

"Is this your king?! Huh? The Black Panther, who's about to lead you into the future! Him?!" Killmonger continued to banter. Catalina suddenly had the urge to use her water powers to kill Killmonger. She flicked her wrist and forced water down his throat. He began choking for a moment, but the Queen then jabbed Catalina with her elbow to stop her. Catalina sighed and allowed the water to get out of his lungs. Killmonger gasped for air and felt real stupid. So, he grabbed up T'Challa and tossed him over the edge of the waterfall. Catalina remained calmed and focused on the unseeable water below. She put just enough force to make sure T'Challa fell in the water and was pushed to shore somewhere where Killmonger wouldn't be able to find his recovering body.

"No!" Shuri and the Queen screamed out in grief. Catalina gritted her teeth as she watched Killmonger be crowned king, but she remained silent. Shuri and the Queen scurried away, knowing they'd have to run away because Killmonger would kill or enslave them if they stayed for any longer.

* * *

T'Challa's loved ones were  freaking out as they believed he was dead. But, Catalina remained calm. She knew he was safe. She felt every body of water flow through her spirit, she knew what was thrown into it or sputtered out of it. She felt T'Challa flow through the river below and safely wash ashore. She knew where he was. He was further north of Wakanda, in a cold place where snow surrounded him. Catalina knew someone must've taken him there. There was no way the river could have carried him there.

For the meantime, at least until T'Challa came back, Catalina watched over the lab for Shuri. For the few days while Killmonger ruled, Catalina snooped through Shuri's designs. She understood all the new tech that billions of others hadn't even dreamed of yet. She flipped through the designs and stopped when she saw a suit, much like T'Challa's. Except, this one was decorated with scales like an actual snake. She read the title: 'Catalina — Serpent of the Sea.' Catalina gasped.

She scrolled down to the description. 'Vibranium sewn, kinetic energy absorbing, serpent design, suitable for water. T'Chalina <3 if my suspicions are correct, I will give this suit to Catalina.' Catalina chuckled, it was like reading a fifth grader's diary. She really made an entire ship name for the two.

Just as Catalina was reading the description, she saw two Black Panther figures drop down into the train system from Shuri's lab. She watched the two as they fought back and forth. The whole thing got tiring as they were equally as powerful and skilled at fighting. Catalina saw this as an opportunity to help T'Challa. She focused her energy to bring water over from the air and a nearby river down into the mine. She flooded the train track, making it a bit more difficult for the two to fight. She realized that the Black Panther suits weren't resistant to water just as Killmonger had grabbed T'Challa by the throat. She rose the water just around Killmonger until his suit fizzled out and T'Challa could regain control over the fight. T'Challa spun on his heel and stabbed the defenseless Killmonger on sight.

* * *

The next day, T'Challa was already recrowned as king. Catalina met with T'Challa in the town square as she watched the children play and dance together. "I saved your life, twice, with my power. I think it's safe to say I've finally impressed you." Catalina mentioned with a cheeky smile.

T'Challa nodded, confessing his approval of her abilities. "Yes. I've been quite impressed... I guess."

"Ah." Catalina scoffed, playfully punching his arm.

"You know. Killmonger did say one thing that I think Wakanda should do: to help our people, our people outside of Wakanda." T'Challa mentioned, calmly.

Catalina sighed. "It would be a good idea. I'm tired of the injustice. It makes me want to scream. Why do you think I stayed here? I felt comfortable in my skin. It's not like Brasil where we'd be discriminated for our color."