Chapter 206: Wakanda Appears
Eileen's expression showed that she already understood the problem.
"That chapter is only three pages long," Lynn said.
"Three pages to cover a conflict in which hundreds of enhanced individuals could potentially be injured."
He tapped the relevant section of the draft agreement.
"And the medical provisions are written almost entirely around conventional human trauma care."
"The drafters assumed that a wounded person can simply be stabilized, transported to an ordinary hospital, and treated there."
"That assumption doesn't survive contact with reality."
The conference room became quiet.
Jean-Pierre leaned back, folding his arms.
"Dr. Lynn, are you suggesting that without your clinic, enhanced casualties from future conflicts would have nowhere to go?"
"I'm not suggesting it."
"I'm stating it."
Jean-Pierre's expression hardened slightly.
"Then are you using that fact as leverage?"
Lynn smiled politely.
"Mr. Jean-Pierre, I'm a physician."
"I'm not threatening anyone."
"I'm presenting a practical solution to a practical problem."
"If you decide that solution isn't necessary, I have no objection."
"I'll return to New York."
"I'll continue treating ordinary patients."
"And when enhanced individuals sustain injuries that conventional hospitals cannot safely manage, you can make your own decisions."
He spread his hands.
"I'm simply warning you that my current fees may not remain my current fees."
The expressions around the table changed.
The logic was difficult to dismiss.
The Accords were being designed because governments expected future superhuman confrontations.
Superhuman confrontations produced casualties.
And casualties required medical care.
The problem was that conventional medicine had never been designed for people whose physiology might include Kryptonian cellular structures, mutant gene expression, alien biology, mystical alterations, gamma mutations, or extraterrestrial technology integrated directly into their bodies.
A hospital could stabilize a normal human with a bullet wound.
It could not necessarily treat a Kryptonian with internal injuries.
It could not necessarily remove alien tissue from a mutant.
It could not necessarily repair damage caused by energy weapons whose physical properties were completely unknown.
And Lynn's clinic had already demonstrated that it could.
Eileen remained silent for nearly ten seconds.
Finally, she reached for the proposal.
"Leave this with us."
"We'll discuss it."
Lynn stood.
"Of course."
He picked up his briefcase.
"I'm not in a hurry."
He reached the door, then paused.
"One more thing."
Eileen looked up.
"The equipment inventory and personnel requirements for my Sokovia field clinic are included in the appendix."
"You may find that section useful when drafting the humanitarian provisions."
He left.
...
Three days later.
New York.
Miracle Clinic.
As Lynn expected, the Geneva committee had not reached an immediate decision.
Bureaucratic systems moved according to their own rhythm.
Review.
Consultation.
Subcommittee review.
Legal revision.
Another consultation.
Then another revision.
There was no reason to rush them.
The clinic remained open.
At three in the afternoon, Lynn sat behind the reception desk watching the television.
Live footage showed the preparations for the upcoming signing ceremony in Vienna.
Diplomatic delegations were arriving from around the world.
Security had been increased dramatically.
Then...
A familiar name appeared on the broadcast.
WAKANDA.
Lynn's eyes narrowed slightly.
A black diplomatic limousine stopped before the designated entrance.
A tall, middle-aged Black man in formal dark clothing stepped out.
His posture was straight.
His expression was restrained.
Yet there was an unmistakable authority in the way he carried himself.
T'Chaka.
King of Wakanda.
The current Black Panther's father.
A younger man followed him from the vehicle.
Tall.
Athletic.
Dark hair.
Calm eyes.
T'Challa.
Lynn watched the screen for two seconds longer.
Wakanda had deliberately concealed its true capabilities from the outside world for generations.
To most governments, it was an isolated African monarchy with limited industrial development.
That image was false.
Wakanda possessed the world's greatest known concentration of vibranium and had developed a technological civilization far beyond what most foreign intelligence agencies understood. T'Challa himself had repeatedly demonstrated the combination of Wakandan science, martial training, heightened senses, and the traditional mantle of the Black Panther.
Lynn continued watching.
The Heart-Shaped Herb was another matter.
He had already studied fragmentary intelligence concerning it.
The herb was sacred to the Black Panther tradition and was tied not merely to vibranium exposure, but to Wakanda's spiritual traditions and the Panther God, Bast.
Consumption granted the chosen Black Panther enhanced strength, speed, senses, reflexes, and physical resilience.
In different eras of Wakandan history, the herb and the mantle had been treated as both biological and sacred phenomena.
That made it considerably more interesting than a simple radiation-mutated plant.
Lynn adjusted his glasses.
His own Immortal Divine Body made the physical enhancement largely irrelevant.
But the underlying mechanism...
That was different.
A biological substance capable of producing systematic enhancement while interacting with mystical inheritance and Wakandan vibranium culture was worth investigating.
And there was another principle Lynn followed.
Having something and needing something were not the same.
He simply wanted the sample.
Lynn switched off the television.
He picked up his phone.
A few seconds later, another news report appeared.
After arriving in Vienna, King T'Chaka had issued a brief statement concerning the Accords.
"The tragedy of Sokovia demonstrates that extraordinary power carries extraordinary responsibility."
"Wakanda supports international efforts to reduce civilian casualties."
"We will participate in the signing proceedings."
Lynn placed his phone down.
Interesting.
...
Two weeks later.
Vienna.
The day before the signing ceremony.
The venue was heavily secured.
Austrian federal police.
Special security units.
United Nations personnel.
Diplomatic protection details from participating nations.
Multiple layers of screening had been established around the Vienna International Centre.
At four in the afternoon, Lynn arrived wearing a light-gray trench coat.
His temporary diplomatic credential identified him as:
Dr. Lynn Chen
Special Medical Consultant — Enhanced Individual Affairs
The credential was genuine.
He passed through the security checkpoints without difficulty.
No weapons.
No suspicious equipment.
No prohibited devices.
Nothing that would attract attention.
Inside the complex, however...
Lynn's All-Seeing Eye revealed an entirely different picture.
He could detect the concealed security positions.
The cameras.
The motion sensors.
The biometric checkpoints.
The armored security doors.
The communications relays.
The specialized counterterrorism teams positioned around the perimeter.
A single intruder would have found it extremely difficult to reach the main conference hall.
Lynn walked outside into the square.
A cool evening breeze moved through the open space.
The Danube lay beyond the surrounding city structures, reflecting the final light of the afternoon.
Diplomatic vehicles continued arriving.
Black sedans.
Armored limousines.
Motorcades bearing national flags.
Then Lynn saw it.
The Wakandan delegation.
The vehicle carrying King T'Chaka entered the underground diplomatic parking facility.
T'Challa followed close behind.
Lynn's gaze remained on the vehicle for several seconds.
Then he turned away.
No need to approach them yet.
He returned to his hotel.
On the way, he stopped at a small café.
"Black tea."
The waitress nodded.
Lynn sat beside the window.
Outside, Vienna was settling beneath the evening sky.
Historic buildings glowed beneath the fading sunlight.
The city appeared peaceful.
Tomorrow...
That peace would be tested.
...
Vienna International Centre.
9:35 a.m.
The delegations began entering the main conference hall.
Security procedures had been completed.
Diplomats took their assigned positions.
Tony Stark stood near the American delegation's seating area in a tailored dark suit.
Natasha Romanoff stood beside him.
She glanced at his expression.
"Stop frowning."
"The cameras are already watching."
Tony gave a faint smile.
"I'm less worried about the cameras than the possibility that someone records me regretting every decision that brought me here."
Natasha's expression softened slightly.
"You wouldn't be here if you regretted it."
Tony looked toward the conference hall.
"That's the problem."
Across the hall...
Bruce Wayne stood near one of the structural pillars.
He wore a gray three-piece suit.
His posture looked relaxed.
His eyes were not.
He was studying the security architecture.
Entrances.
Exits.
Camera placement.
Guard positions.
Emergency routes.
Everything.
9:40 a.m.
Another diplomatic convoy entered the complex.
The Wakandan delegation had arrived.
King T'Chaka stepped from the vehicle first.
He wore formal dark clothing appropriate for a head of state.
His expression was calm.
Controlled.
Regal.
Behind him came T'Challa.
Young by royal standards, but already carrying himself with unmistakable discipline.
His eyes moved constantly.
Not nervously.
Assessing.
A lifetime of royal training and preparation had taught him not to enter unfamiliar territory without first understanding it.
T'Chaka shook hands with several delegates as he entered.
His expression remained composed.
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