RETURN OF WONDER WOMAN

Chapter 4

St Theresa's Girls' Academy was a prestigious private school for well to do teens,and it was located in a quiet,suburban part of Boston. Diana Prince had been fortunate to be recommended for the position of Literature and Languages teacher by one Mrs Kapatelis a few months ago. After passing an interview that would have intimidated the most learned of scholars,Miss Prince began her stint at the school with some modicum of success. The headmistress and the rest of teachers liked the well spoken,gentle and slightly clumsy woman immediately and what she lacked in fashion sense,she made up for with her knowledge and dedication.

The students,mainly from well-to-do families,were less accommodating. A portion of them felt that there was little a teacher who looked like the latest fashion victim could teach them and it was enough just attending St Theresa's because it had a history of alumini from the best of Boston. This did not faze Diana. Optimistic by nature,she saw this as only part of her challenge in the Patriach's world. She saw nothing more worthy than teaching young women that the improvement of one's mind and and character was more important than physical beauty or the latest fashion trends.

Today Miss Prince and Mrs Holmes, the History teacher, were taking the two sophomore classes on the annual Museum visit. The visit coincided with an exhibition of Egyptian artifacts and treasure that had been part of the tenth Kingdom. The exhibition had been officially opened two days before but had been mainly for the benefit of the media and the scientists. This day was for the benefit of school children and from tomorrow the public would get their chance.

Miss Prince counted the thirty heads as they went into the hired bus,whilst Mrs Holmes, who was already inside,was delivering a firm warning to the largely unenthusiastic faces about the need for good behaviour. Once all were aboard,Diana took her place along side Mrs Holmes and the bus pulled out. Mrs Holmes was studying the press release of the exhibition and was enthusing about what was in store for them. Diana barely heard her. She was eying the teenagers before her.

They were an interesting group to say the least. There were the fashion plates,who sat at the front, preening or on their cell phones. They were all dressed in the most up-to-date designer clothes,and the ring-leader was a bored looking blonde called Georgiana Howard. In the middle were those girls who were inclined to be what the fashionistas called 'wannabes'.They were aspirants to Georgiana's style and although they tried hard,they fell just short and were simply content to worship and wait puppy-dog like for some notice from the queen-bee herself. At the back were a couple of girls dressed in goth-like makeup and black nail polish,along with their designer jeans and sneakers. They took pride in being different and rebelling against everything .One had jet black hair; she was called Jena Jones and her tall,lanky fox-haired friend,Kate Gregory. They were already doodling on the seats and the windows with marker pens.

Then there was the handful of girls that were actually happy to be going to the museum. They were Rachel Stein,whose family was a proud one and came from a line of physicians;the very sweet and painfully shy Christina Lopez,who was not from a rich family but had a wealthy patron; the daughters of two diplomats,Grace Chen and Doris Mutamba and the dreamy,almost ditzy Sophia Butler,daughter to Boston's most visionary architect.

It took them half an hour to drive into the city and secure parking. The group was then led towards the Museum compound,which on arrival,one could see was overrun with children from the ages of eight to eighteen. St Theresa's girls caused a bit of a sensation with several of the all-boy and co-ed schools .But Mrs Holmes was having none of it.

"We are not here to flirt but learn something or two,Miss Howard!" she barked loudly, ushering the indignant girl and her cronies along through the security gates and into the large foyer.

Diana took charge of half of the group."I think with thirty girls,we'll surely lose some in this crowd,"she said to the peeved History teacher."Let me take half."

Mrs Holmes agreed."Yes and let's split them up. That way they won't be able to gang up."

So to the girl's disgust, the teachers isolated the queen-bee from her entourage,separated the goths,and sent the more even tempered girls with Mrs Holmes. Diana had amongst her group, Georgiana,Jena and Sophy and some of the wannabes. She beckoned to them."Let's go. We'll be meeting up with the others for lunch."

They went up to the Egyptian Hall and began with the exhibit. Georgiana was not interested in the sword of Osiris nor the eye of Ra. She stood looking bored;a few of the wannabes followed suit. Jena stood outside the circle,waiting for her chance to slip away and take a smoke somewhere. Sophy was fascinated by the mummies and the process of mummification.

As a museum guide explained the macabre process,Diana stood at the back of her girls to ensure she knew where they all were. A voice sounded behind her.

"Diana?"

Diana turned and to her surprise saw the tall bespectacled figure of Clark Kent. He had a media pass about his neck and appeared to have been taking notes from the pen and note book in his hand. He had his head cocked at her with an almost pensive look,as if still reconciling himself with the disparity in the appearance of Miss Prince and Princess Diana.

"Clark!" She self consciously pushed back the stray hairs off her brow and smoothed her skirt. She knew she looked plain, lightly rumpled and her bun wind-blown. Despite his disguise,Clark Kent actually looked casually comfortable in his own skin.

"What are you doing here?" Both blurted out the same question simultaneously. Diana flushed. Clark smiled,"You go first."

She indicated to the group of school girls."School trip. We are here to see the 10th Kingdom exhibition...Excuse me,Clark...Jena,get back here!Don't think you can sneak off...Miss Howard put away that cell phone!"Diana waved the scowling goth girl back into the group and took the queen-bee's cellphone off her when she appeared to ignore her.

"Hey,that's mine you can't take it!"cried Georgiana petulantly.

"I can and will. You'll get it back at lunch."

"I'll tell my dad..."

"Go ahead. Now be quiet and listen."

Diana turned back to the reporter at the back. She looked a bit rueful."Sorry about that.''

He looked at her sympathetically."If I remember what my friends and I use to be like on these trips,I feel for you."

She laughed."Oh,they aren't so bad. Just spoiled rotten. I thought the media got their bylines two days ago.'

'Yeah we did,but it isn't the same getting the feel of the place with people who are not experts nor bigwigs. I thought it'd be refreshing to get the views of the younger impressionable minds. I see so many excited faces here."

Diana looked pained."Not from my lot..."

Clark chuckled but before he could reply,an impatient voice was heard."Clark! There you are!I thought I'd lost you. It's like a zoo in here. Have you seen so many kids in one place. Imagine, one of them tried to get my phone number. I bet he's sixteen if he's a day! I've had enough...are you finished ?"

Clark took hold of Lois Lane's hand as it grasped his lapel."Oh, there you are. Where did you go to?"

"I was talking to the curator about the security arrangements. You know there are pieces here that any villain would love to get his or her dirty mits on..." Lois turned and noticed the frumpy looking woman beside them. She looked to Clark and then to Diana questioningly. Clark said obligingly,"Lois this is...an old college acquaintance...Diana Prince. She is a teacher...she's here with her kids. Miss Prince,this is Lois Lane, investigative star reporter."

Lois smiled and shook her hand."A pleasure,Miss Prince. Smallville elected to forget to add:and girlfriend to Clark Kent. So,Mr Kent, what shall we do?"

"I've got to talk to a few more people. It'll take me half an hour."

"Tell you what. I have some friends at the Boston Star who I haven't seen for a while. I'll go hang with them and you can meet me when you're finished and we'll er,fly back to Metropolis."

Clark nodded."Sounds good."

"Okay. Don't dawdle. I know you are loving this exhibition more than half the kids here." She gave him a swift kiss on the lips and nodded at Diana who had turned away slightly in deference to this interaction."See you,Miss Prince. You must have the patience of a Job to take on these adolescents.'' Lois vanished amongst the crowd.

The lecture on mummification was over and the girls were crowding around her. Sophy asked,"Can we go see the eye of Ra now?"

Diana looked at Clark apologetically."I've got to move on. Nice seeing you though."

He nodded,smiled and agreed."Yeah."

As he walked away,the still annoyed Georgiana looked at her maliciously."You got a boyfriend Miss Prince?"

Diana ignored her and led the group towards the the other gallery where the eye of Ra,a golden orb,sat encased in a glass case with laser sensors.

Sophy sighed."It looks like the sun itself. Did you know that it's alleged to give the the bearer power over the elements and if wielded at the right time with the staff of Anubis,power over creation itself ?"

"That's a load of baloney,"declared Jena.

"It could be true,you know. It's just that no one has ever found the staff of Anubis and it's a good thing to...but evil can be done with it with the Eye itself.."

Georgiana yawned."Who cares. Who would want to go to the trouble to take that gold ball to make it snow or rain more than it already does?If that stick thing is lost,then it makes no sense..."

Diana beckoned."Come on girls,it's time we meet with the others in the restaurant. We'll come back to see the rest."

As they walked away,they would be shocked if they knew that someone was coveting the eye of Ra from a perch above. A violet haired ,red-eyed woman in green diaphanous robes took off her cloaking spell as Diana turned away from the artifact.


Circe's power had been on the wane for the last few months. After wandering realms and different countries in various guises,she had come to America once more. Her self a sorceress,she could feel the pull of latent power and the news that the eye of Ra was coming out of its safety net from its private owner to be presented to the world had given her the motivation she needed.

Her source of magic had to be renewed ever so often and the eye of Ra would be the perfect device to do just that. She had power but not enough to go toe to toe with the likes of the League;so she had to consider what her plan of action would be should any heroes try to foil her. She had come in via a high vent above the room and now looked upon the humans with a smile. Even the league would be careful if they knew that it was children in the cross fire.

With a lightning bolt,the glass case shattered. Diana's group screamed as splinters showered upon them. She tried to shield Georgiana and Sophy. Jena gasped and pointed.

"Look!"

Descending as from a cloud was Circe. She reached out and picked up the eye of Ra. Alarms began to ring.

Diana stiffened at once and shouted to her class and the confused looking onlookers."Get out!"

There was a mad scramble and screams as guards rushed in carrying sub-machine guns. They began to shoot at the hovering Circe,who dived and ducked every bullet. She laughed and waved her hand and the guards. Their machine guns began to writhe like serpents and grow fangs. The men were soon dropping their weapons and running.

Circe twirled,the eye of Ra in hand."Foolish mortals."

Diana had pushed her students out the room."Out!Find Mrs Holmes and go!"

Jena took the lead,dragging a wailing Georgiana,who was suffering several cuts."I can't move. Oh,I'm bleeding to death." She paused to look at herself in her compact and moaned."I am disfigured for life!"

Jena cried,"Oh for heavens sakes...you spoiled brat...stay there then. Come on,Sophy!We have to find the others!"

Diana ducked behind a large iron jackal and in seconds Wonder Woman emerged. She ripped the tall spear from the jackal's grasp and flew in to see Circe looking at a guard that had been bit by one of the serpents."You think you can shoot at me and live to tell the tale?"

The spear came at Circe with alarming speed. It caught the sleeve of the enchantress and pinned her to the wall. Circe let out a snarl;the spear had nicked her skin and drawn blood. Her eyes narrowed. "Well,well. Princess,when did you emerge from your self imposed exile?"

Diana said icily,"Drop the Eye."

Circe yanked the spear out and threw it aside. She said airily,"Not a chance. You want it,come and get it."

Diana flew at her. She vanished and reappeared behind Diana. Diana looked at her curiously."You can't transmigrate can you?"

Circe looked impressed."You are very astute."

Diana unhitched her lasso."That means I can catch you.''

Circe smiled."You can't catch me if you have other pressing matters." She flew out the room. Diana followed and paused in the large foyer,where students were running towards the exits due to the sound of the alarms. Circe began to mutter some words and to Diana's dismay,she saw every human remaining under the roof of the museum transmutate into animals. Georgiana and her fashionistas were turned into a group of apes that began to groom each other. The wannabes were turned into sheep that bleated and circled aimlessly. Jena turned into a raven and Sophy,a rabbit. The others into mice.

A group of ten year old boys turned into stomping wilder-beasts;some of their eighteen year old counterparts into wolves and hyenas. The guards became bad tempered bears.

There were mules,big cats,several snakes,a charging rhino,squealing pigs and poultry of every variety.

Circe looked at Wonder Woman's dismayed face."I think you'd need to keep them from running away or tearing each other and the museum apart before you can do anything like catching me,my dear."

"You...you...witch!"

Circe waved and floated away."Tell me something I don't know."

Diana could not follow. She had to keep the animals from leaving the confines of the museum. She flew to the doors and pushed them shut before anything could escape. As she did so there was a crash and she could see the rhino coming at her. Diana unfurled her lasso."Might as well start with you ."

The lasso went around the rhino's horn and it pulled her towards it..She felt it pull and toss her and she landed hard against a wall. Picking herself up she hovered into the air and pulled hard. The rhino came to a grinding halt as it hit the doors with a loud bang. Diana lifted the dazed animal and looked to see where she could put it. She broke the metal gates that closed of sections of the exhibits and made a cage of sorts for the Rhino in a corner,careful to tether its feet together with a bent lance.

The stampeding wilder-beast came next and she herded then into the restaurant and looked to find some way to lock them in. As she did this, apes climbing the walls began screeching and throwing plates and food at her.

Diana cursed Circe as she wiped bits of salad off her hair and tomato sauce from her uniform."By Hera,witch,when I get my hands on you,you'll wish you were caught between Sylla and Charybidis!"

Diana locked the animals in and pressed her JLA transmitter.

The Martian Manhunter's voice sounded."Diana?"

"J'onn,I need back up!At once!"

"What's wrong?"

She briefly filled him in as she flew back to the main foyer,on the way plucking a terrified rabbit and putting it in an enclosed exhibit with Native American Indians. J'onn was silent for a moment. He said,"Sounds as if you need someone with magical skill to help you as well as someone with speed..."

She began eagerly,"Yes,you can send Wally..."

"And strength to help you capture and confine those creatures."

They both knew who he meant. Diana said uneasily,"I...I'm not sure."

"Help will be dispatched soon."


Clark Kent was into the foyer of the Boston Star and was waiting for Lois to come down. He sat down and picked up a magazine. As he flicked through it,he glanced up at the television overhead. He could see pictures of the very museum he had just left. News crews were talking to people who had ran out the building when they had heard alarms going off.

"I tell you what,I ain't waiting for no bomb to go off. I heard an explosion"

"My teacher said run, so I ran!"

"There was this woman in green,floating in the air...She came for the Eye and she attacked me and my men!''

"She turned our guns into snakes...She's some kind of witch,I tell ya!"

The reporter turned to the camera."It is unclear as to what is transpiring inside the museum but from early accounts it looks as if someone has broken in and taken the Eye of Ra,hence the alarms. So far the doors to the museum are locked down tightly and the police and bomb squads are on their way and warning civilians to keep away. It appears dozens of children and staff are still inside and no one has any idea what is going on..."

Clark stood up at once,dropping the magazine,he was about to head outside when his JLA com beeped. He pressed it and murmured,"Yes J'onn?"

"Kal. Diana needs your help. I am sending further back-up. Get yourself to the museum. I'll brief you on the way."

He hurried towards the doors only to be waylaid by Lois' voice coming from the elevator. "Hey,Smallville,where are you off to?"

He looked over his shoulder."Have you seen the news?"

"Something is going on at the museum...I was just coming to tell you!"

"J'onn has contacted me. I have to go."

"Okay. Okay. Go on then. I'll see if I can hitch a taxi and get down there!"

He nodded and vanished through the revolving doors.


Wonder Woman was trying to drag the a stubborn mule away from the corridor;the animal simply sank upon its haunches and refused to move despite the hyenas prowling down the end of the passageway. Neither the mule nor the Amazon was conscious of a lion crouching from the staircase above.

She bent to lift the animal in order to take it to join the wilder-beasts in the restaurant. The animal brayed in protest. Diana said irately,"Oh be quiet. Do you want to be lunch for those hyenas?"

The lion suddenly snarled and pounced. Diana looked up with a gasp of surprise to see the huge cat coming at her. Before she could put her burden down,a gust of wind blew her hair in her face and she blinked to see the lion's jaws sink into the biceps of the Man of Steel.

"Superman!" Diana sagged with relief.

He held the lion at the scruff of the neck like a kitten and said,"Let's put this guy where he can't eat his classmates." He flew off to find a suitable room to confine the carnivore.

Diana saw a pretty brunette in tails and a top hat apparate before her."Zatanna!"

Zatanna looked around."You have your hands full,Wonder Woman.''

Diana ,put the mule back down and pushed her hair from her face."Tell me about it."

Zatanna looked at the mule."Maybe I can help. Where do you want this guy?"

"The restaurant on the ground floor seems the safest place for the herbivores."

Zatanna waved her wand."OT EHT TNARUATSER!"

The mule was lifted into the air and sailed on its own towards the ground floor. Wonder Woman sighed in relief.

Zatanna said,"J'onn said Circe has been at work here."

"She stole the Eye of Ra but before I could go after her she turned all the students and staff in the building into animals .She knew that if they got out and ran off we wouldn't be able to locate them all to change them back and that their mere presence would cause chaos."

Zatanna looked at the damage the marauding animals had caused."Yes,I see what you mean."

"I had hoped the lasso would transform them into humans,it being a circle of truth,but it has not been able to undo Circe's spell."

Zatanna looked at the birds hovering above and waved her hand." DRIB EGAC!"A large cage appeared in the foyer and every bird was confined. She said wryly,"Only Circe can undo this spell."

Superman returned."I managed to confine all the cats in the African gallery. I see we have wolves and hyenas down the corridor. I'll see to them."As he flew off Zatanna and Diana went in search of the rest of the animals. They found the sheep and locked them in a conference hall along with the poultry and pigs. The snakes were tossed into an empty sarcophagus;the mice into boxes and the bears tethered to iron bars with chains conjured up by Zatanna.

Superman joined them in the middle of the room where the Eye of Ra had been exhibited. Zatanna was searching for any essence left by Circe;they needed to see if they could find a trail .She concentrated on the esoteric fields whilst Diana looked at the broken glass case with misgiving.

He asked,"Any luck with Circe?"

Wonder Woman turned to look at him."No. She's vanished. There is very little of her left behind to follow."

He asked,"Can Zatanna turn these kids back?"

"No,only Circe can do that."

"Well,we need to do something because the swat teams and bomb squads are outside and getting their battering rams ready."

Zatanna announced."I can put a barrier up to keep them out. But I can't find anything of her. If only we had something of hers to home in onto..."

Wonder Woman's eyes fell on a spear on the floor. She ran to it and picked it up. Sure enough there was dried blood on it. She said hopefully,"Will this work?"

The petite magician took it with bright eyes."Oh yes that will do."

She used her wand and uttered some arcane words and sure enough the spear began to spin in the air like the needle of a compass. It pointed north. Zatanna's eyes glowed.

"I think we have a trail."


The three heroes flew out of the city,with the spear leading the way. Zatanna had cast a spell over the museum to ensure no outsiders could breach its walls and Superman had alerted J'onn to give Lois some clue as to what was happening so at least one media house would not go wild with speculation and panic the public.

They were being led north and when the saw the town of Salem on the sign post,Zatanna commented, "Typical witch to come to Salem. There is a great history of black magics here. She probably feels very safe within its confines."

The spear was pointing towards the hills,where an old abandoned mansion house stood,hidden in vines and boughs. They landed at the back of the overgrown garden.

Wonder Woman looked at Superman worriedly."Kal,you are vulnerable to magic,maybe you ought to stay until we call you."

He shook his head."No,I'm coming with you."

"But if your powers are nullified,she can hurt you..." Her eyes looked into his with real consternation.

He had forgotten how vivid those blue eyes were;how they could scorch with the fire of her scorn and anger or soothe with her compassion and gentility. Despite being harassed and slightly unkempt, (one could not miss the food in her hair and on her uniform) he had no choice but to stare at her for a few seconds in his first sight of her undisguised since she left all those years ago. It did not surprise him to see that she had not aged at all;but it shocked him that her beauty could still take his breath away.

"I'll have to be careful then,"he said abruptly,moving to speak to Zatanna. He folded his arms."What do we do?"

Zatanna said,"Go in and take her by surprise."


Circe had made herself very comfortable by transfiguring the old crumbled living room into one of opulence. A fire burned in the old grate and the rotting couch before it had been into a velvet divan. She was holding the Eye of Ra in her hands,her eyes were closed and she was muttering an incantation to waken its power in order to regenerate her own. The Eye began to glow and Circe felt the raw power seep like quicksilver into her veins. She laughed and cried,"Yes!Yes!"

A bolt of energy hit her hands and she heard the voice of a woman cry,"POTS!"

The Eye was knocked out of her hands and rolled towards the fire place. Circe spun around to see Zatanna,Wonder Woman and Superman on the threshold.

She sneered, "Well,well,you found me!That was clever,however you did it...but you won't see me for long..."She held her hand out but Superman was faster. He dashed in and grabbed the Eye.

"Zee,catch!'' He tossed it at her before Circe could send him sprawling to the floor. Zatanna caught the Eye and it vanished in her hat. Circe's eyes glowed and she snapped,"Never mind,I got to renew my power. Here,magician,have a taste of it!"

She sent a bolt of energy at her that sent her crashing through the boarded up windows. Wonder Woman came at her. Circe summoned up winds that whipped the Amazon up into the air and through the roof of the mansion. She then went to where Superman was sitting up,shaking his head,and took him by the chin and said,"Teach the Amazon some humility,Superman."

Superman's eyes hazed over and he stood up like a robot. "Yes mistress." He took off straight up and went after Wonder Woman. Zatanna ,meanwhile, appeared through the window and the battle between the two sorceress' began in earnest.


Wonder Woman tumbled through the air helplessly. She grabbed onto a tree and held on as the winds blew up into the atmosphere,She gasped and straightened up. She had been tossed a mile away. She was about to head back to the mansion when her eyes saw the flutter of the red cape. It was Superman coming straight for her. Before she could utter a word,she was being pushed backwards,and slammed against a thick tree trunk. She looked into the cold empty eyes and had a sense of had been mind-controlled!

She fumbled for her lasso,but he swung her about and flung her into the undergrowth below them. Diana fell heavily into brambles and nettles. She gritted her teeth and hovered out of them,all the while unfurling her lasso. He was waiting for her with a whole tree trunk he had uprooted. Diana punched it apart and launched herself at him,the golden loop going for him. It captured his right wrist and he sent her flying over his head with a bowling action of his fist. She held onto the lasso and somersaulted into the air and yanked him towards her.

Both got entangled in the lasso and fell into a glade. She fell with him atop her. His eyes seemed to be glowing red and he had his hands about her throat. She gasped and held his shoulders. "Kal...Clark..it's me...It's Diana...you know me...


Zatanna rebuffed Circe's flying knives by changing them into flowers. The enchantress turned the brass candlelabra into six serpents. Zatanna struck their heads with flames from the fireplace and they squealed and turned into melted candle wax. Circe sent a bolt of lightning at her and she did the same. It soon became a battle of will and stamina. Circe's violet energy pulsing against Zantanna's blue. Circe was pushing her out onto the landing.

The enchantress looked at the floor and diverted her eyes to the place the diminutive brunette stood. Zatanna felt the floorboards cracking beneath her and she cried out as the floor splintered and she spiraled down into darkness. Circe laughed."Stupid girl .I wouldn't stay here without booby trapping it for my own benefit!"

Circe called."You'll find you won't be able to climb out of that pit without my help,so you'd best give me the Eye or I let you starve to death."

The sound of feet landing in the living room made Circe turn. Superman had returned and he carried the unconscious body of Wonder Woman over his shoulder. Circe looked at him with obvious delight."You are a good boy,aren't you?Put Miss Prunes and Prisms down and come here."

Superman unceremoniously dumped his burden onto the divan and came around to look at Circe with expressionless eyes. She ran a marveling hand over his chest."I'm of a mind to keep you for my pet. What do you say,you big blue beefcake?Would you like to be Circe's lapdog ?"

Superman looked at her vacantly."As you wish."

Circe smiled and took his face to her own. Her lips commanded,"Kiss me."

With a robot-like obedience Superman obeyed and pressed his lips against hers. Circe let out a purr and then a screech of displeasure. A golden loop from behind her came over her head and yanked her away from Superman."You're enjoying that a little too much,witch."

She recognized the voice and the girdle of Gaea. She instantly spun about and said in accents of loathing."YOU!"

Wonder Woman stood before her holding the lasso, saying, "Yes,me. You are compelled to speak the truth and obey me,Circe."

Circe looked to Superman."Get her!"

To her dismay Superman's eyes lost their empty look and the twinkle of intelligence returned."I don't think so. I've done more than enough in the cause of duty today,"he said humorously.

"You tricked me!" she cried looking from Superman's amused face to Wonder Woman's smug expression.

Diana said,"You will free Zatanna,then help us turn back all those people you transfigured at the museum."

Circe glared but there was very little she could do otherwise.


Superman,Wonder Woman and Zatanna returned with the bound Circe to the museum and with the right incantation,all the animals were changed back into humans. Zatanna used her own magic to try to salvage some of the damage done to the exhibits;and crowned the day off by returning the Eye of Ra to the grateful curator. J'onn called in Dr Fate and Captain Marvel to help her take Circe to a place where she could be held accountable for her actions.

The media went crazy with the story despite all the victims of Circe's magic having no recollection of their time as animals and the only proof,the museum video footage,was not available for public viewing. The bigger headline of the day was going to be the return of Wonder Woman. As she headed out with Superman to gave a statement to the media on the steps of the museum,she was stunned to see the swarm of photographers and cameras.

She looked at Superman in dismay and whispered,"I don't know if I can do this."

The almost girlish look of anxiety made his heart go out to her. Without a thought,he felt for her fingers and gave them a squeeze."You can. Come on,I'm here. You're not alone. We'll face them together...like old times."

She smiled at him and together they took their place before the cameras.

Lois Lane stood at the back of the press line and folded her arms. Her fellow Boston Star colleague enthused."God,that angel is back! Isn't it great to see her,Lois?"

"Yeah,"said Lois dryly."Just great."