Ult. Wonder Woman #11: How We got to this Place p2

[jackalope]

Ultimate Wonder Woman #11
The Wonder and the Vision: How We got to this Place part. 2

Diana ran across the wide field of grass which stretched out over a great plain sloping up at the horizon to a peak. Fear shook within her forcing her legs into a blurring speed. The sky swirled above her, grey angry clouds crackling with blue electricity. She could feel it following. The huntress was coming for her, gaining speed towards her. She pushed harder but her legs would not respond. The sound of the footsteps following her became louder and louder until the point she could hear the panting breathes of the predator only inches from her ears. If she turned she would not make it.

The hand grabbing her arm broke her will. She turned, screaming with surprise. The man holding her arm screamed as well. Her eyes wide and searching, she tried to place his lean, pointed features, and the strangely familiar costume that adorned him. He clicked his fingers and they were sitting in a small cafe on the Italian coast. He wiggled his fingers at her. “Don't try to force it, it'll come.” His winged cap fluttered off his head and on to the table. He smiled, picking the teaspoon and stirring his coffee. She looked down at the light yellow dress she wore, then around at the cobbled street and the street vendors, white stone houses surrounded by a glorious blue sky.

She raised her eyebrow. “Hermes?”

He sipped his coffee and smiled. “<So quick, I knew I bet on the right horse.>” He raised his arms around him. “<Not bad huh? What do you think?>”

She dropped her young head, “<Please great Argus-slayer, Messenger, and Traveller, I beseech your forgiveness in defiling...>”

“<Whoa, whoa, whoa. Defile? All you did was take a little fire.>” His eyebrow flickered “<... Right? You didn't cut off the willy on my statue or anything did you?>”

She shook her head, still not raising it.

“<Then what are you babbling about? Come on, God of Thieves, if anything I'm proud of you.>” She felt his hand reach out and lift her chin. His kind eyes sparkled with an otherworldly mischievousness. Her lips cracked a small smile. He sat back and took another sip of his coffee. “<So young Diana, what do we do with you?>”

She looked down at the coffee in front of her. “<What do you mean, Great Hermes?>” Her eyes flicked back to him.

“<Well let’s see: You're stuck on an Island populated solely by women, which in itself must be an oestrogen overload, let alone what it'll do to you when you finally encounter a human male. You're trained to fucking breaking point constantly, which can't be fun. You have reoccurring dreams of being chased through a field, what's that about?>” Hermes rolled his eyes, standing up and turning as his voice gained in power and speed. “<You barely talk to your mother, you have all of this power which you seem to be unwilling to tap, you seem to have no interest in leaving your little slice of paradise.>”

“<I do!>”

“<I mean look around You Diana! The world turns, a million things are happeni...>” Hermes stopped his rant and turned to her. Diana suddenly looked embarrassed. “<Really?>”

Her voice meek she continued. “<I do want to leave Themyscira. I want to see the world. Meet people. Try new things.>” Her eyes dropped again. She picked up the coffee in front of her and gulped it. She looked up at the God with a confused look. “<...tastes like goat's milk.>”

“<Ah, well, funny thing about dreams, you don't know what coffee tastes like so...>” He sat back down. “<It's the thought that counts though, and I like the intention.>” He reached over and messed her hair. She smiled. He looked away and sighed. “<You're important Diana. I was just checking that we were on the same page. Most dreams will fade away but I think this one may stick with you, mostly. Remember you have friends in high places. Become the champion you are destined to become, we'll be around.>”

“<So this is just a dream then?>” Diana said, looking as the god as he replaces the cap on his head.

“<'Fraid so, thus the singing cabbages.>” In the stall across from her, the cabbages started to sing in harmony. Hermes laughed and clicked his fingers.

Diana awoke.

*

Diana looked down at the bleeding policeman and took a couple of steps towards him. She recognised the man; he had been transformed into a dog a few weeks earlier. There was a clamour from the stairway and the door swung open violently. A huge cop charged through and looked down at his fallen partner.

“Fuck! You idiot.” He dropped down and checked Mike's pulse. “Hold on man, hold on.” His eyes suddenly looked up a Diana, who stood rather helplessly, her eyes quivering as she stared at the unconscious man. “This is on you,” he snarled, “you fucking... Amazon!”

A tear rolled down her cheek as she squeezed her eyes shut. There was a coughing sound and she opened her eyes to see the shot officer looking up at her through half closed eyes. He looked to Harold and gave a pained smile.

Harold held his head. “You'll be alright man, it's just a shot in the guts, we'll get you fixed up. You'll be ok.” Mike tried to move his head and then leaned back, he licked his lips. Harold pulled his shirt off, just leaving his singlet, and rolled it into a ball, pushing it into Mike's wound and pressing down. Mike winced. “Don't talk, save your strength.”

“...You're such..,” his voice was weak, “...a girl.” He smiled and looked to Diana, who smiled sympathetically, as if sharing his pain. “Whoever you are... you should go... stop her.”

She paused a moment then nodded. She walked over and picked up her sword. She turned to look at the man whose smile affected her strangely. “I am Diana.” She turned and ran, leaping off the building.

*

The Queen watched her daughter from the stands. She clenched her jaw, breathing in sharply. Down below, Diana stumbled sideways. Her opponent charged and Diana barely dodged the spear that thrust towards her. Diana twisted, slicing the spear in two and kicking the woman aside. She landed on her feet, but then dropped her left leg, landing on her knee. The woman charged again but Diana was back on her feet, her sword swinging to smack the woman on the back of her armour with the flat side. The woman turned. Diana leaped, wrapping her legs around the woman’s head and placing the blade at the woman's neck. The Queen smiled quickly, sighing out.

“<Yield!>” Diana's voice was haggard, tired.

The woman threw her weapons to the ground. “<I yield.>” Diana dropped forward over on to her back and lay panting on the ground. She looked up at the shape of her mother, who sat sternly watching her. Someone threw a skin of water from the stands. Diana's opponent picked it up and walked over to Diana, crouching and pouring it into her mouth. Diana gulped the refreshing water down.

“<Next.>” The echoing voice of her mother caused Diana to cough, almost choking on the liquid. Diana rolled over and started to push herself up.

Orana dropped down into the arena. “<Now young princess, we shall see if you have the skill to take my place as champion of our people.>”

Above, Epione the physician walked over to the Queen briskly and sat down beside her. She leaned over and whispered harshly. “<Seven days Hyppolyta? Seven?! Our finest last three at most!>” She looked down at the Amazons now circling one another. “<You must end this. Look at her, I'm surprised she is even standing. This arena is blocked from the purple light; there is no healing or repairing of injuries whilst she fights. At this rate she'll die, you'll get her killed. She does this for you, you know!>”

The Queen turned. “<I do know Epione, and as her mother and your Queen I believe I did not ask for your guidance.>” She turned back to the fighting. “<At any rate I believe it shall be over soon.>”

Orana stepped aside, tripping Diana who was flung across the floor. Orana walked over and levelled her sword at the younger warrior.

“<Do you yield?>”

*

“How the fuck is she still alive after that fall?”

The officers that surrounded Orana stood nervously, unsure how to handle a woman who was vastly outgunned, but still unwilling to surrender. Sgt. Marco and Sgt. Brents slowly approached the red headed woman, both holding pistols levelled at her. Marco grabbed the handcuffs off his belt and held them at his side.

“Ma'am, please get down on the ground. You are surrounded. Resisting arrest is a felony.”

She stopped staring up at the tall building and turned to the cops. In the distance behind them she could see the crowds of people, within them cameras pointed at her. She smiled and looked straight at the approaching officers.

“Ma’am, put your hands behind your head and get onto your knees.” Marco held his handcuffs out towards her. Orana's face became a frown, her eyebrows turning upwards in confusion. Marco hesitated, swallowing. He had never seen a woman more beautiful before, her large blue eyes seemed to tremble slightly, as if she perhaps was feeling the same thing as he was.

Her arms blurred around, twisted him around, holding him as a shield and using his handcuffs as a tight leash around his neck. He coughed, trying to grasp at the chain that was strangling him. She threw his pistol at the other approaching cop, who fell to the ground, and in reflex fired his gun. Her free arm blurred once again and one of the surrounding officers fell to the ground. Two more opened up, but she ducked under her shield, who yelled out with the volley that hit him.

“STOP!” The firing stopped and the Chief ran over. “Stop shooting you inbred shitheads!” He slowed as reached the ring of policemen. He lifted his police radio, “Get me someone who speaks Greek and Latin.” He dropped the radio and lifted his hands up as he approached the woman. “That’s my officer you have there, you need to release him so we can get him medical attention.” As he stepped forward she stepped back, tightening her grip on the handcuffs and dragging the man back with her. He stopped moving. “Look we will get you what you want, what do you want?”

A huge slam sent a cloud of dust up behind Orana, who turned her body side on to see what was the cause. As the dust cleared, Diana stood up in the concrete crater. “She wants me.”

*

The waves crashed around. She was lifted high on the peak of a wave then tossed over. Rolling under the water, disorientated by Poseidon's violence, she released a bubble of air from her mouth and watched as it drifted down towards her legs. She flipped, righting herself, then swum hard to ocean's surface. She broke to the surface and took in a gasp of air. She rotated herself on the spot. Lightning cracked in the sky, lighting the giant white cruise liner, rocking in the water. She could feel the power of the huge engines, churning the water. A wave knocked her aside once more.

Above her she heard a faint call, which was absorbed by the rumbling thunder. She felt the ropes that bound her satchel to her, and kicked to keep up with the towering ship. The call came again, louder now.

“...Man overboard!”

She spat out some water and watches a neon orange lifebuoy fly over, splashing a few metres from her. Lightning cracked again, and she swum towards it, grabbing it and holding it tightly. She rocked with the wave, then felt the rope on the buoy tighten. She was dragged through the sea and then pulled into the air. She tucked her legs in the ring and felt them dangle. She spotted three men above her pulling the rope through a pulley. One of them stepped forward and grabbed her hand. She climbed over the railing onto the ship's deck. She started shivering uncontrollably and one of the men grabbed a towel and wrapped in around her. She smiled gratefully through chattering teeth.

“What the hell were you doing out there?”

“We didn't have any report of anyone falling overboard.”

“Lucky I saw her.”

“There were orders for everyone to remain in their cabins.”

She looked at the three men, trying to understand what they were saying but failing. She pulled the towel more tightly around her. One of the men brushed the wet hair out of her face to try and get a better look at her.

“Let's get her inside, have the doctor look at her. She's probably got hypothermia.” One of the men led her into the ship. She looked about the strange little corridors, marked on the walls by glowing panels which did not give off heat. “Sorry about the weather, storms aren't that common around here, but when they happen they happen big.” She smiled and nodded. She was taken through to a doorway and the man knocked. It opened revealing man with a large grey moustache and thin round glasses.

“Now what has happened here?”

“We just dragged her out of the water, must have fallen in not long ago. We just want to make sure she's alright. You know, so she doesn't sue us. Hahahaa.” The crewman smiled at her rather aggressively. She smiled back.

The doctor nodded. “Just leave her in here, I'll make sure she's ok.” The crewman took one last look at her and left. “Have a seat.” The doctor pointed to the examination bed and she sat. Slowly she was warming up. She rubbed her hair with the towel and put it beside her. He gently took her wrist and squeezed her fingers. “How are you feeling?” She nodded and smiled. “Any numbness or pain?” He felt around under her neck as she nodded and smiled once more. “Really? You seem pretty good to me so far. Where is the numbness?” He removed his stethoscope and leaned brought it towards her. “Is that leather? You'll need to remove that.” She nodded and smiled, while watching what he was doing. He looked at her. “Do you even speak English?” She paused, and then nodded and smiled, less sure though. He sighed and grabbed the top of her chest armour and started to try and push the stethoscope stem down it.

“<What are you doing!?>” She pushed him. He flew across the room, hitting the back wall and collapsing on the ground unconscious on the ground. “<Oh crap.>”

A few minutes later Diana ducked through the doorway and looked side to side. Empty, she walked through quietly. She looked back at the unconscious doctor, propped up rather awkwardly in his chair. She smiled apologetically, shutting the door and creeping silently through the corridor.

*

Orana threw the cop she held hostage, spinning on the spot and releasing him at three cops standing together. Sprinting, she flicked the tiara like a chakram, knocking the sword out of Diana's hand, before catching it once again. Diana struck Orana's chest, ducking and weaving Orana's blows. The metallic tolling sound rung out as the Amazon's wrist braces met, blocking one another's attacks. A kick, caught and twisted, sent Diana falling to the ground.

*

Diana leapt on to her feet and straight into a diving roll at Orana. The younger Amazon's shoulder connected with Orana's stomach, sending her flying backwards into a skid along the ground. Diana knelt on her arms and punched her face. A lightning fast strike upwards hit Diana's neck, choking her briefly, she fell back. Orana flipped her over and pulled both her hands around until her arms were contorted. “<Yield!>”

*

Diana's boots connected with the back of the Champion's head, dazing her for long enough for Diana to roll over. She grappled Orana's neck, squeezing her arm with gritted teeth. Orana’s elbow slammed back into Diana's face.

*

Orana's hands gripped Diana's throat. “<Yield!>” Diana grabbed at her opponent's fingers trying to pull them off, before desperately sending a flurry of blows into her stomach. Orana head butted Diana. Blood flew out from the younger warrior's nose. “<Yield!>” Orana growled. Diana punched Orana's head. Orana head butted again, a crack rung out. She released. Diana fell to the ground unconscious. Orana turned to the stands.

*

Diana shook her head. She moved her arms, blocking each of Orana's strikes, then punched her chest. Orana flew backwards, only to be caught by Diana who whacked her against the ground. Orana tried to crawl away but Diana grabbed her legs, dragging her back. Orana's punch was deflected, Diana returning one to her face. Orana tried to push her off. Diana forced the older Amazon's arm onto her neck and pushed.

“<I yield!>”

The words burst from Orana's mouth. Diana looked at her, confusion in her beaten face. Orana looked down, at the golden lasso pressed against her arm, then back up at Diana. “<I cannot win this fight.>” Diana stood and lifted the defeated Amazon up. They paused looking at one another. Orana placed the tiara on the ground. “<By rights of honour, you have defeated me and won my weapons and my honour. You are now our champion.>”

Diana picked up the tiara and held it. “<Tell mother that I do not wish to be the Champion of Themyscira.>” She placed it in Orana's hands. “<This is where I need to be right now.>”

Orana nodded. “<She will be very angry with you Princess.>” Diana nodded, slightly ashamed. Orana continued. “<...but also proud.>”

*

“<What have you done!>” Queen Hyppolyta leapt into the arena and punched Orana. She knelt by her daughter, brushing the hair from her bloodied face. She gently lifted the unconscious body. “<Epione! You must help her, please.>”

“<Bring her.>”

Diana's mother carried her from the arena. “<Gods please let her live...>”

*

Police cuffed each of them four times. The crowds called incoherently at them as they were taken into separate police escorted ambulances.

*

Diana looked one last time at the satchel containing the weapons and supplies she had managed to obtain. She felt the blanket, in which she had wrapped her hearth idols. She closed it and started to tie it around her body. When she had woken, she had overheard her mother was in the temple. “<Probably asking Zeus to strike me down for failing her,>” she whispered under her breath. She looked out. A storm was coming, but this was her chance, the ship had just passed the island, if she left now she might be able to make. She felt her face; it was still tender but mostly healed. She smiled.

Running to the edge of the cliff she jumped. She rolled and dived into the sea.