Ultimate Wonder Woman #20: The Coming Madness pt.2

[jackalope]

Ultimate Wonder Woman #20
Fear and Wonder: The Coming Madness pt. 2

The forensic investigator pulled off his face mask and nodded. “You're right; I don't think this is the same M.O. as the 'Heart Tearer.' Too messy, no fur traces, but whoever did this was prodigiously strong.” Sgt. Mike Schorr looked over at the body now being zipped up by the forensics’ team. “We'll get this to the lab; hopefully it will give us something more to go on.” The man nodded to the two other C.S.I. who pulled the bag onto a stretcher and carried it from the room.

“That is the most fucked up thing I've seen. So we have two violent murderers loose in Gateway City.” Schorr looked up to Champion, his huge partner, who was staring into the room, his eyes drifting- caught in thought. “What are you thinking?”

Harold shook his head. “I think I need a drink...”

“Good idea.” The voice came from behind them. Turning, Schorr and Champion saw Detectives Hudson and Warren. The former, bald and muscled, smiled as he spoke, “Don't worry, the big boys are here now.”

P.D. Warren, the latter, an attractive blond woman, continued, “You guys get back to your patrols. Homicide will take it from here.” She waved them off mockingly, as they pushed past the two cops.

Harold shook his head, as he said darkly, “I hate her, but I want to screw her so badly.”

Moving down the corridor, Mike nodded, “Let's go get that drink.”

* * *

“Whites RULE!”

The shout echoed out from the mega phone of the third story window of the Holiday College Administration building. Outside, in the stone court below, the police had created a barrier around which students were standing, gazing up at what was taking place. Getting out from the car, Iris took one look at the situation and turned to Aria. “We should probably leave it to another...”
With the sound of a door shutting, Diana was already happily pacing towards the crowd, smiling at all the fashionably dressed young people. Aria and Iris quickly followed. Looking around, Diana was glad she'd worn the university hoodie that Iris had given her for Christmas. Even over the base of her armour- Iris had convinced her to at least remove the shoulder plates- it felt warm and comfortable, and she felt like she belonged. She turned to an Asian guy with spiked hair, who was using his cell to capture the stand-off. “What are happening?”

Without looking at her he answered, “Some dudes have taken over the University offices. It looks like they might be holding hostages.”

The police negotiator lifted his speaker, “What are your demands?”

“Uhh...” The crackling from the hostage-takers speaker suggested some discussion and confusion in the room. “We... the True Americans of America, want, demand, that this University stops giving minorities unequal rights when it comes to education and scholarships and jobs and stuff!”

Another figure grabbed the mega-phone and leaned out the window. “We are Axis Amerika! We are White Pride! We want America to go back to how it was when there weren't all these foreigners and we're not afraid to say it!”

“Makes you ask- What, when it was just Native Americans? Or after when we it was us and the black slaves?” Diana, Iris and Aria turned to see Etta standing behind them smirking. “Hey guys, just in time to see some crazy shit going down- just like always eh?”

“Etta!” Diana hugged her friend, then stood back and scratched her head. “Are this people within in danger?”

Suddenly there was a smashing. Glass fell from a window near which the shouting was happening. An arm held out a dark skinned woman by her neck. She screamed and struggled, kicking her legs as she held onto the tattooed arm. “We have fourteen coloureds in here we're willing to kill if changes aren't made. Don't try and stop us! We are superior!” The screaming woman was pulled back inside.

“Fuck,” Iris whispered. She turned back to see Diana walking away.

“Do not harm any of the hostages!” the Police called, “Now if you want to negotiate that is something we can do, but not if you harm anyone.”

“Why aren't the police doing more?” Aria asked, “They're just standing around...”

Etta shook her head. “It's not what you think. Diana, you should watch this...” She turned back to the space where the Amazon just occupied, “...Diana?”

Diana sped by, leaping over the police cars and throwing her lasso out towards the administration building. The golden rope latched onto a flag stand near the roof and pulled tight. She swung into the window of the floor of the hostage takers- but further along to the right.

“Oh shit,” Etta remarked.

Glass smashed. Unhooking the lasso, Diana wound it up, and looked around. A woman screamed. The room was made offices, three women sat at desks, with a wide-eyed surprise. Diana raised an eyebrow, confused at how the women were working away whilst not seemingly noticing what was happening on the same level that they were on. She stood up from her crouched position.

A middle aged lady, with permed red-hair, leaned towards her, “Is this all part of it?” Unsure how to respond, Diana nodded. The lady nodded back, and pointed to a doorway on the other side of the hallway. She held her hand up to mouth and whispered, “They're through there.”

Diana skipped over a desk and rolled into the hallway, beside the door. She smoothly stood. The door had a note stuck to it. “Work in Progress,” she read silently. She tried the knob. The door swung open.

Around dozen people stood within the room, half shaven headed and pale, the other multi-ethnic. All heads turned to her. A woman with a shaven head angrily waved her in. Diana stepped in, arms held up in defence. Someone walked past and shut the door, then walked back again. The people went back to ignoring her, arguing over pieces of paper, and rolling up a large banner.

“You must release the hostage persons,” Diana shouted. “I am here to saves them.”

The largest of the skinheads stepped forward, lifting his huge arm to point at her. “You'll do no such thing, princess.”

* * *

Gateway Hospital

The sterile smell of cleaning liquid lingered in the stark-white room. In the corner sat a shape. Long scraggily black hair stuck out wildly, save for a small strip of bare skin which contained his eyes and a nose.

“Bitch.”

The figure was hunched against the padded walls. His body, wrapped in a blue hospital gown, was disproportionately small. He twitched his head, looking around. Drool rolled down his black beard. He didn't wipe it.

“Bitch,” the voice repeated.

Looking down at the padded chains which locked his wrists together, his eyes drifted, as the drugs made him unfocused. He rolled forward onto his knees and tried to stand. He lifted his hairy head. His eyes wild, he shouted, “BITCH! Fucking bitch!” He ran at the door, smacking into it and flooring himself. “I know what you say about me when I'm not listening. I know what's in your head... I know what's in all your heads!” His voice broke as he lay on his back, blood trailing from his nose.

“A man who calls himself a Doctor,” a different voice echoed around the room, “now a patient in a hospital.”

The dwarf rolled over. “Who said that?”

A line shimmered in the opposite side of the room, like a tear in the fabric of the wall itself. A black figure stepped through, like a living shadow. Another figure followed, dressed in black also, but without the otherworldly quality, the second figure was male, his face was uncovered and sported a small moustache and soul patch.

The small man looked at the two uninvited guests. Turning to the man he concentrated. “Angelo Bend. The Angle Man, or at least that's what you call yourself. Your mind is like an open book. A very boring maths book.”

Angelo snared back at him and turned to the shadow woman. “Do we really need him?”

The living shadow nodded, shimmering in and out of visibility. “Doctor Psycho has a gifted set of skills...”

“Doctor Psychic...” the dwarf corrected. “I'm rich and respected and have lots of sex.”

“Then why are you in here?” Angelo asked snidely.

“Bitch!” He voice became fast as he spat out his thoughts. “Bitch, that bitch did something... I saw somethin... They say I've had a breakdown, they don't get that I can see everything clearly now. So clearly... So clear.” The small Doctor looked up at the shadow woman, he asked hesitantly. “Why didn't I see you?”

The shadow shook its large featureless head. “I'm not supposed to be here.”

He nodded as if this explained everything. Drool dripped off his chin.

“He's nuts,” the Angle Man murmured.

The dwarf suddenly shot him a glare, and a fist smacked his face. Looking around Angelo realised it was his own hand. He coughed and looked to the Shadow lady.

“He's angry,” her distorted voice retorted. “The gods have cursed him, but he will use it to make himself stronger. Will you not?”

Dr Psycho nodded. The Shadow flickered in and out of visibility, and the small man's wrist cuffs were undone. He stood up. The Angle Man huffed, holding up a dark triangular shape, he dragged it down the air. A shimmering line opened in the space. The three figures stepped through, leaving a white padded room.

* * *

“Whait does mean?” Diana asked.

“Look around, what do you think it means?” the shaven-headed girl shouted back.

Diana looked. Apart from the tattooed man with the black eye and possible fractured arm, the other people seemed fine. Even the woman, who moments before was hanging out the window, was now sitting on a chair whilst a shaven headed man applied what looked like purple paint around one of her eyes.

Diana scratched her head as she tried to comprehend this. “You are Act?”

“Actors,” the woman corrected, “and actresses. We are part of Holliday Colleges' guerrilla theatre group. This is a commentary on awareness of the racism inherent in the fabric of American Culture.”

“I think she broke my arm!” cried the huge man.

“I am Sorrai.” Diana's eyes sunk with guilt. “I did not realise...”

“That's good,” the shaven-headed woman said, “that means we're being authentic. John'll be fine I'm sure,” she shot the near-crying man a look, “but the show must go on.”

“Can I make better?” Diana asked tentatively.

“I don't see how...” An Asian girl with a clipboard stepped up and whispered in the woman's ear. She raised an eyebrow, looking over Diana, “Really? You're Wonder Woman?” Diana half nodded. The woman grinned. “That's perfect; I've been wanting to do a piece on our reliance on American Super heroism. Have you got it with you?”

“What?”

“Your costume, of course.” Diana pulled off her hoodie to reveal the base of the black leather armour that she wore underneath. The actress laughed, “Brilliant. Can someone get a little make up on her?” She lifted a walkie talkie to her lips, “Brian, we're reworking the end. Give the police a heads up.” She turned to Diana, “We're goin' to need you to sign a waver.”

* * *

Roy's Pub

“I just don't see it.” Mike took another swig of his beer and shook his head. “This was messy. I mean the strength is there but you saw the corpse. Ripped open. Fuck.”

Harold nodded. “It seems familiar, that's all I'm saying.”

There was a silence as both men drank and thought. Mid afternoon the bar was quiet, and most drinkers at this time kept to themselves. Everyone left alone a couple of on duty police officers who had come back to re-hydrate.

“How is it going with... her?” Harold finally managed.

“Diana?” Schorr smiled to himself. “Fine, things are good. Just taking things as they come. I have a feeling she hasn't done anything of very much before.”

Harold Champion laughed, then stopped himself, “Sorry. It's just, don't worry.”

“No, what is it?” Mike finished his pint and put the glass down. “You obviously have some issue with her, and I don't what could have caused it because she's never been here before. I mean what's up- you've never said anything much about your life, and I don't say anything.”

Harold kept his eyes on his glass. “You just need to be careful, they're man-eaters, they're not like you or me.”

“Who? Women?”

Champion shook his head. “No, A...”

The radio crackled in. “Unit 7-12, we have an assault, possibly fatal on 14 street, apartment 22a.”

Sgt. Harold got up, throwing some notes on the bar. “Looks like we got another one.”

Schorr gritted his teeth. “I'm driving.”

* * *

“Stop America Axis! You do nots belong here!” Diana shouted.

“Get off Wonder Woman,” the shaven headed woman shouted back, “You have no right to tell free Americans what to do.” Fire sprayed out from the gadget on the woman's arm. Diana dodged it and grabbed the woman by the waist and leapt to the ground, in front of the crowd. With a second delay she dropped the woman on to the ground.

The shaven-headed woman jumped to her feet. “This is the moment where you see that true Americans will not stand idly by while one of their own gets attacked by someone with super powers.” The woman pointed to the crowd and the police, all of whom stared at her blankly.

Diana hesitated. “Uh, I am Super Heroes, I am ideal they look to. I am Wonder Woman.” She punched at the woman, making sure to stop inches from her face. The woman fell back, expertly lifting her legs off the ground and collapsing with closed eyes. Diana looked around at the crowd, and then felt a tap on her leg. She looked down to see the actress give a quick wink. Diana stood upright and put her hands on her waist. “Police mens, your job here is done.”

On the building behind her a banner unrolled revealing the symbol of the theatre mask, with the words 'Holliday College Guerrilla Theatre Society' written around it. After a seconds consideration the crowd burst into applause.