Ultimate Wonder Woman #5: Glass Jungle Pt.2

[jackalope]

Ultimate Wonder Woman #5
World of Wonders part 5: Glass Jungle pt. 2

“<Who are you?>” Diana asked without thought.

The woman's violet hair floating behind her became magenta. She turned to the side, leaning over and picked up a jewel covered handbag. She turned it over in her hands. “Name, what's in a name?” She looked back over her shoulder at Diana, “<or is it better I talk in the old tongue?>”

Diana's brow furrowed, “<Why did you call me Amazon?>” Beside her the dog growled at the woman.

“Bad dog,” the woman wagged her finger in faux upset manner. Her lips widened in a smile. “<I know your kind. The fierce warrior women known across the land. You're easy enough to spot, but what are you doing so far from home?>”

Diana raised her eyebrows. “<I...>” A siren wailed outside. The sound of a helicopter passed over head.

“This is the Gateway City Police with a warning for those inside Emerald mall,” the crackle of the mega-phone outside made Diana grit her teeth. “In ten minutes armed police will be accompanying trained animal control specialists in capturing the animals loose in the mall. For your own safety please remain hidden until the all clear is given. We will escort you from the mall when it is safe to do so.”

“<This world is very loud, don't you think?>” The woman smoothly rotated on her high heels, and started to walk away from Diana. “<But so much fun! More men to play with, more animals to tame. Or in your case- hunt. Feel free to continue, young Amazon. I am not one to interrupt the enjoyment of women such as yourself.>”

Diana got to her feet. “<These are human males you transformed?>”

The women's hair changed to purple as she turned. “<So very quick aren't you? Yes at any age, men never change, do they? Except when...>” she gestured around, “<...well you know. But even so, these men are just more honest versions of themselves.>” She pointed to the side of the store where a sorry looking gorilla emerged, face downcast. “<A dirty ape, and those two.>” She pointed to the dog and lion, “<one would think they would become pigs, but the truth is much more fitting...>”

“<Enough!>” Diana pointed the sword out at the woman, “<Change them back! You have no right to make animals of these innocent men.>”

The woman lifted an eyebrow and laughed, “<...innocent? Oh dear little Amazon, they are already animals, trust me.>” She made her way to leave the shop. “<Now you must excuse me, I have to practice more. It has been a while.>” A javelin hit the side of the entrance door and stuck in the wall, vibrating, only two feet from the woman's head. She stopped, her hair swirling and turning blood red.

“<Change them back!>” Diana's voice was gruff with anger.

“<You dare...>” the woman's voice no longer rang with sweetness, “<...give commands...>” her high heeled shoes left the ground as she rose a foot off the ground, “<...to me?>, her body suddenly spun to face her with a blurring speed. Her hands held out at her sides vibrated with a red energy. “<Daughter of the sun and moon...>” She clenched her hands.

Diana fell to her knees in pain. She looked down to see jagged red lines that seemed to be digging through her armour into the flesh of her shoulders. She choked out a note of anguish before clenching her jaws and silencing herself. Shaking with the she brought her foot forward to stand back up.

The woman twisted her hands. Diana fell again, blood now running down her arms. The woman's face now bore a cruel smile. Diana pushed herself back onto feet, leaning forward, her black hair hanging over her face. She lifted her head revealing that she too was smiling. Tears rolled down her cheeks. “<You have never seen Amazon training have you?>” Diana's eyes looked at the woman blazing with determination.

The woman snarled and brought her hands together in a twisting motion. The gesture flipped Diana over in mid air. The woman clenched her hands harder and Diana's eyes widened in pain. The woman's hand moved to the left then to the right. Diana's body followed smacking into one wall and then into a pillar on her other side. Diana then smacked the roof. The woman released her grip, and Diana fell.

The woman's hair turned a lighter shade of pink and relaxed out behind her. She brushed herself down and her sweet smile returned. “<I hope you understand now...>” She looked down by her feet and picked up a handbag. She checked it over for damage and, satisfied, made to leave.

She made a choking sound that stopped her in her place. Something wrapped tightly around her neck. She tried to get her fingers around it but couldn't get a grip. It pulled. She fell backwards, and was dragged along the ground. Diana, blood covered and bruised, stood over her, a golden lasso in hand. Diana wiped the blood from her nose with her fingers. “<Now, who are you?>”

“Circe.” The woman looked shocked at her own admission. “<This rope forces me to tell the truth.>” She realised it wasn't a question.

Diana smiled through bruised lips. “<Forged by Hephaestus himself.>” Pulling the rope tight she asked, “<why are you here?>”

“<Someone came to my Island and asked me to rejoin the world. They gave me something to help me get started.>” Diana looked at Circe's eyes, which flashed orange

She pointed at the animals. “<How do you change them back?>”

Circe glared, pressing her lips together until she spat, “<kill them.>”

Diana's suddenly looked hesitant, and very young. Circe smiled, then frowned as her lips opened again, betraying her. “<Or... I can reverse it easily, with just words.>”

“<Then do it.>” Diana pulled the lasso lifting Circe off her back.

Circe glared at her. “<This rope compels me to tell the truth, not to follow your commands.>” She smiled, “<So how will you make me?>”

Diana frowned, puzzled. She then, biting her bottom lip, leaned in close to Circe. “<How can I make you change them back?>”

Circe looked furious. She struggled on the spot, squeezing her eyes shut and pressed her lips tightly together. “<You could probably beat me enough that I would change her back...>” she blurted. She let out a cry of frustration. “<Torture would work, or blackmail, or seduction even, if done the right wa...>”

“<Ok, ok...>” Diana trying not to blush raised her fist. “<Let's just go with the obvious.>” She smacked Circe's face.

Ancient words spilled from Circe's mouth. The effect was immediate. The animals fell to the floor and their limbs started to shrink and stretch. Circe looked up at her, her face already swelling. “<Understand, I will never forgive you for this. You have made an enemy of me today. Next time a see you I will likely try to kill you.>” She bared her teeth, “<and that's the truth.>”

Diana sighed and nodded, then smacked her in the head. She fell back, unconscious. Diana looked around at the naked men, lying asleep on the floor. Her eyes lingered on the once dog, and she turned red. The sound of boots on the ground floor echoed through the mall. She, averting her eyes from the men’s bodies, made her way around the shop.



Some minutes later.

Sgt. Mike Schorr and Harold Champion sat, side by side, wrapped in blankets. Inside the shop that they sat, three cops stood around the light blue haired woman who was tied up tightly with a number of clothes. One of the cops leaned down to remove the white panties stuffed in her mouth.

“Don't do that,” Mike called out. They all turned to look at him. He tried to seem dignified, “just not yet... she's dangerous.” Harold nodded in agreement. They stood her and escorted her out; she did not seem pleased, having to hop in bare feet.

The Chief walked over to the two sitting cops. “Care to tell me what the fuck happened?” He pulled out a cigarette and stuck it in his mouth. A younger female cop quickly walked up and whispered in his ear. He looked over at the no-smoking sign and threw the cigarette on the ground, “fucking world.” He looked impatiently at them.

“We entered through the front entrance, made our way up the central escalators,” Mike started. “We observed a number of animals in and around the shops, the majority of which seemed to be congregating around the shop behind us. So we made our way over here, guns drawn. We entered the shop and that is when we encountered the woman who is now in custody.” He pointed to the woman who was slowly being half carried out of mall.

“And..?” The Chief crossed his arms, and set his jaw forward.

“And...” Mike had been hoping somehow this part of the conversation wouldn't have come up. “And... that’s it.” Harold looked off to the side, avoiding the Chief's gaze, suddenly finding the summer fashions for over 40's amazingly interesting.

“And what? You were knocked out? You fainted? You were hypnotised? What the hell are we saying happened here!? The lady with the blue hair took out two armed cops of the fucking Gateway City Police Department! Is that the fucking story I have to go out and sell those COCKSUCKING MEDIA PARASITES?!” Mike wiped the spittle from his face. Harold shrugged. The Chiefs eyes blazed with a fury that seemed to have turned his face red. He looked at Mike, then at Harold, his face in a fearsome scowl. He nodded, “fine.” Turning, he stomped off. As he got on the descending escalator he raised his arms, shouting, “And where the fuck are the animals!?”

Harold turned to Mike, “That went well.”

Mike nodded, “We're lucky we got him in a good mood.”

They sat looking at the situation around them. A couple of lab boys were trying to photograph animal tracks under UV light, with animal control personal pointing out discrepancies in the footprints.

Harold lent over. “You remember being a dog right?”

Mike continued facing forward. “If you mean everything being in black and white and smelling really interesting then yes.”

“They're going to see the security footage.”

Mike nodded. “I know.”

Harold scratched his chin. “Do you remember a girl?”

Mike looked at his shoes. Under his breath he said, “...god yes.”

Harold watched at Mike's reaction, never having seen him like this. “Let's get a drink.”



Gateway City Medium Security Prison

Angelo Bend sat in a dark cell. He looked around at the dimly visible scratches that cover the walls. Equations and diagrams, he had mapped out the entire prison, as well as the prison guards paths and rotations. Now he just needed to find his in, his angle. A slight gust of wind touched his face. He suddenly realised he was not alone. He scanned the shadows in his cell. In the darkest corner a form emerged. He focused. Female in shape, some sort of light bending body suit, with over-sized boots and a black helmet.

“Angelo Bend,” the voice croaked, “the Angle Man.” The form stepped forward from the shadow, but seemed to carry the shadow with her.

“What do you want?” Angelo said, keeping his voice level.

“The question is what do you want?” The figure threw an object at his feet. A shimmering black triangular object with a triangular hole within it, some strange 60 degree set square.

“What is it?” He couldn't take his eyes off it. The angles were... perfect.

The voice rumbled around him, “Think of it as a key. A key to anything you could want, to everything you could think of. A key to reality itself.” He reached towards it. His hand stopped inches from it, the dark metal rippled, seeming to be calling him to touch it. “And in exchange there is something I need you to unlock.”

The Angle Man picked up the object.