Chapter Nine
Vision
The busy day led into an introspective night as three of the new additions to the Justice League lay in their respective cots while Diana kept watch over Maya in Clark's room as the girl slept fitfully.
A broad prairie washed for miles in every direction. Byhalia grass stood tall and she let her fingers brush the tops as she walked in no particular direction. A light breeze fell across the field brushing her shoulder-length black hair into the air in small tufts.
"Echo," a strong male voice let itself be known.
Maya turned around and found nobody behind her. She completed the circle of rotation finding a broad-shouldered man in front of her clothed in a dark red jacket and black jeans.
She knew she should have been startled, but in a way Maya had been expecting the figure.
"You would have died today, Echo."
Maya dropped her head. "If I would have let the fight continue she would have had the advantage. Her stamina is well beyond mine"
The man shook his head. "Then you should have found another way than to injure yourself by grabbing the damn staff."
"Who are you?"
He narrowed his eyes and she looked away. "You know who I am and you know who you are."
"My name is Maya Lopez," she spat back.
The man smile grimly. "Perhaps once. You are of my bloodline, Echo; carried down through my son, Deimos. You are the daughter of dread, you are the daughter of Ares."
Maya turned see the truth in his eyes and then she ran. She turned her head back and saw that the man was gone but she still ran.
"You cannot run from your destiny, Echo," the voice sounded around her. "Your opponents will feel what it means to face the daughter of Ares, bringer of dread, the eternal loss. When they face you in battle they will face their worst fear and they will know that you are there to bring it to life."
Maya stopped and fell to the grass clasping her hands over her ears. "NO!"
"Revel in their blood, Echo. For it is in my glory that I send you forward!"
"NOOoooo!"
Diana held her down as she tried to bolt out of the bed. "Maya, look at me."
The deaf girl struggled against superior strength and after a moment she relented.
"You will never escape his reach, Maya. Do not try," Diana calmly explained.
The deaf girl grabbed onto Diana in desperation. "Please tell me I won't do what he says," she begged. "Please."
Diana's eyes closed. "I cannot do that."
Maya swallowed harshly.
"You can choose to rebel against your heritage and your nature, but it will always be a part of you. The only advice I can manage is to learn to control the gifts that are yours and do not use them for evil acts otherwise Ares will always control you as he did in our battle today."
0
The next morning was somber until everyone was gathered in the kitchen partaking of breakfast that Talia and Clark had prepared. Chloe sipped at her coffee as she leaned against the counter by the sink. Her eyes roved the table and watched as the girls followed Diana around to the orange juice sitting in a pitcher next to the refrigerator.
Chloe let her hand drift to Clark's wrist to get his attention.
"Morning, Diana," he said on acknowledgement.
"Good morning, Clark."
He turned around and brought the skillet full of scrambled eggs to the table to refill the empty bowl.
"I think we need to talk about what happened yesterday."
Maya moved her plate close to the bowl and spooned out some eggs to her plate. "There's nothing to talk about. Diana and I worked through what happened and what needs to be done about it."
Undeterred, Clark pushed on. "Was I wrong when I heard you call for Ares, Diana?"
"No," she responded. "I recognized his power in Maya."
"You said she was his daughter," Chloe interjected. "You said the same thing about me when we first met, that I was the daughter of Demeter."
Diana looked into the glass she was holding. "We are all in one way or another sons and daughters of the gods. It is your most prevalent aspect that determines under who you fall."
"You'll have to excuse me, I'm not really up on all my Greek Mythology," Chloe added.
"Have you never wondered the origin of your name, Chloe?"
She nodded. "It means green shoot."
"Correct," Diana acknowledged. "Chloe is also an aspect of the Goddess Demeter and it is a very apt name that was chosen for you."
"An aspect?" asked Dead Girl.
Diana continued. "Certain gods possess different powers. Sometimes when a mortal preys to a god they ask for something specific. The Goddess Demeter is a fertility goddess in every aspect: farmers prey to her to bless their crops, families for a child, and so on. The aspect of Chloe is fertility and eternal youth."
"So you're saying that I'm going to be young looking forever?"
Diana smiled. "No, I'm saying that you will age well; you will always be beautiful even in your elder years. And you will always be able to bear the children of your beloved. Only the children of Demeter will be able to do so."
Chloe thought on it for a moment. "So who is Clark a son of?"
Diana's eyes tracked to the imposing figure of the Kryptonian. "This was a very easy deduction. Clark embodies several aspects of a single god. Xenios-for his hospitality and protection of strangers, Horkios-exposer of lies and betrayers, Agoraious-punisher of the dishonest, Aegiduchos-he who strikes terror into the hearts of his enemies, and Olympious-leader and guide over all others, he is a son of Zeus, king of the gods."
Dead girl hopped in her seat. "Do me! Do me!"
Diana laughed. "Another time, Dee."
The pale girl slumped in her seat.
"However," Diana started and her eyes met Maya's. "One of us, other than me, is descended from the true blood of Ares and Aphrodite through their son Deimos."
Maya stopped in mid bite and the eggs fell form her fork.
"As an aspect of her natural gifts her grandfather through dozens of generations has renamed our Maya as befits her station."
"What?" Clark asked with some amount of curiosity about what had happened that he had missed.
"She was visited with a vision last evening."
A sudden nervousness overcame the deaf girl.
Talia leaned into the table, her arms on either side of her plate. "A vision … of what."
Diana interfered before Maya said anything. "That is between her and Ares."
0
"Don't you think it's a little creepy having someone we know being a… a…," Dead Girl stammered as they walked out to the front yard to continue their training.
Mary reared back and guffawed. "You're actually calling someone else creepy? You're a zombie for christ's sake."
Dead Girl stopped and open-jawed Mary. "I am not a zombie! I'm just—I just—my power—I mean I'm just dead, it's my power!"
Mary nodded. "Right, you're dead and you're up walking around. Look at the black circles around your eyes. I'm just waiting for you to start trying to take a bite out of someone."
Dee's face transferred into the epitome of frustration. "Just 'cause you don't have a power doesn't mean you can make fun of mine."
Mary laughed again. "I have a power. I'm strong!"
Dee sneered back. "Smelling maybe. When's the last time you took a shower anyway."
Mary's eyes widened and she grabbed Dee's shirt. "Why you little …"
"Mary!" yelled Clark.
She looked back at the porch and the sight of the Kryptonian stopped her from imposing a little payback.
0
Lex Luthor sat, stewing, on his prison bed. He leaned up against the wall as he stared off seven feet ahead of him at the pattern of the cinder blocks that lined the wall of his cell when he heard the tell-tale sound of the barred door at the end of the hall opening.
It was followed by the sound of cheap Wal-Mart sneakers and a pair of a little less cheap Payless loafers making their way down the hall to his cell.
"Fifteen minutes," the guard said as he checked the time on his watch and walked away.
"Dr. Williams," Lex said with an air of aloofness. "To what do I owe the pleasure?"
Williams leaned in and whispered. "Janus is a bust. The subject is in a coma."
Lex smiled in defeat and shook his head. "Clark Kent strikes again," he said to himself.
He leaned his head back and sighed. "And your progress of Project Remus?"
Williams looked to the side to check on the guard. "We can proceed whenever you want. The subject is prepared and we can have it in Smallville by tonight."
"Excellent, Dr. Williams. Now I don't have to have you killed."
Williams head snapped back around with worry.
Without a thought about the doctor's mental stability after his life had been threatened Lex asked his last question. "Were you able to salvage anything from Project Ares?"
Williams nodded fervently. "We only suffered a thirity percent loss. The subjects have had the serum introduced and are responding better than expected."
Lex almost jumped from his bed. "It worked?"
Williams backed away from the cell door when Lex approached. "Just as I said it would. If we can…"
"Have Project Remus activated after you leave here. I want to be out of here no later than tomorrow noon. Do you understand?"
He leaned into the bars, his eyes aflame with intent. "Have my lawyers and the police at the mansion as soon as possible and introduce Remus."
"Mr. Luthor …"
Lex grabbed Williams' shirt. "GO NOW!"
0
Clark took a step back prepared for the onslaught. Mary pulled her fist back and released everything she had. Clark countered by grabbing her fist.
"Would you stop doing that!" Mary screamed in frustration.
He crooked an eyebrow. "I saw that coming from a mile off."
Then she did something that he wasn't expecting and gave him a left uppercut landing him on his butt.
"She cheated!" Dead Girl shouted from the porch.
Diana shook her head. "Clark was unprepared."
"Hmph. It was still unfair."
"Dee," Diana said getting the young girl's attention. "If I took out my knife and stabbed you would it be fair considering that you are unarmed?"
"Stab away, Wonder Chick, "she responded with impudence.
Diana narrowed her eyes. "Very well."
She took a step back and unsheathed her Falcata. "I wonder if I were to dismember you if you'd be able to heal back to normal."
"Clark!" Dee yelled as she ran from Diana.
She hopped the fence and dashed behind who she had no doubt was her protector. "She's gone all Freddie Kruger!"
Diana closed with the look of determination still on her face. "Step aside, Clark."
He held out a hand. "Put the blade away, first."
Diana's eyes ripped away from Dee's and found Clark's. "Step aside, Kryptonian."
Clark pushed Dee away. "I don't want to hurt you, Diana."
The Amazonian grasped the hilt of the Falcata and shocked everyone there when it separated into two identical blades. "Kryptonian, these blades have been tempered in the River Styx. They will penetrate even your skin." She pointed one of them at Dee. "My goal is that girl. She seems to think that war is unfair. I plan to educate her."
Clark stepped between them again as he saw Diana tried to sidestep him. "She's twelve!"
"I killed seven people by the time I was twelve."
"Then I'm sorry for you."
The Amazon's eyes flashed. "I protected my people from the Russian Cossacks. I have nothing but pride in my actions. Because I was trained properly others did not have to die."
She looked around Clark to Dee. "Is that what you want, little one? Do you want all your friends to die because you are afraid that things are a little unfair?"
"Nobody's going to die," Clark said with conviction.
Diana looked up in the air and waved her blades, laughing sardonically. "It's war, Kryptonian! I have seen what will happen if this 'Justice League' is not prepared properly. When I told you I'd walk through the deepest pits of Hades, Clark, I meant what I said. We will swim in the blood of our opponents."
Clark took a horrific look at the woman in front of him. "You're insane."
Diana laughed deeper, tears crawling down her cheeks. "I wish I was." Her arms dropped to her side. "I was visited with a vision more than six months ago and every night I relive the vision in my mind's eye."
"Diana," Clark said softly.
She lifted her right arm and turned around finding everyone staring at her. "I have seen all of you … all of you…," she choked up and cried out. "I've seen all of you rendered limb from limb in that field. Your bodies lay broken and lifeless as Clark and I fight to our own deaths."
She turned around and pointed at Dee. "You will be the first, Moonbeam."
Dee's eyes widened and her pupils went from black to red. "No, no, no, no!"
"Yes," Diana turned again and pointed at Mary. "You wondered how I knew your full name, Mary Walker." She paused a moment and pointed to Maya. "And you Maya Lopez, do you wonder how I know your true name given to you by Ares himself is Echo. And you Talia Josephine never giving a reason for people to call you T.J."
She turned lastly to Dee. "You, Moonbeam Robromawithz. And you Kal-el last son of Krypton how do think I know all that I know?"
With the heel of her hand she wiped at her cheek. "I have stood before your grave markers."
Dee was on her knees openly crying.
"I have seen what will happen if you do not take this training seriously." She brought in a lung full of air. "I have given up my life with my people. Once I was found missing I will have been forever cast out, never to return. I will never see my mother's face again. However, I was chosen out of thousands of my people. I was given the choice of staying in the lands of my birth and letting fate have her way, or under cover of night, steal away from my bed and forever be banished into the world of man.
"The Goddess Demeter granted to me a destiny to change the course of this war. If I were to travel to a far away land and train four young women in the Amazonian ways, then the webs of fate would be forestalled."
Her breath was haggard at the end, but quickly coming under control. The Amazon watched Clark as he gazed at his fiancé with fear in his eyes; fear for her and their unborn child.
"If it is your will, Clark, I will die by your side in battle, or if it your will we shall prepare and destroy the enemy in glorious battle."
Mary stepped off the porch and started down the driveway. "Or we can say kiss my lily white butt and get out of dodge."
"They will hunt you down, Mary Walker."
Mary spun around. "So it's either die here or somewhere else?"
Diana nodded her head.
"Then I choose to die on my own terms," the brunette said and turned once again to walk away.
"Coward," Diana spat.
Mary jerked back and swung a roundhouse at Diana's head watching as the Amazon dropped her blades and grabbed the fist out of the air as Clark had done earlier. The left uppercut came next which was caught as well.
Mary screamed in aggravation. They stood together as Diana held her fists tight in her own watching Mary's face redden with the effort.
"You abandon those that sheltered you and she that made your release from that torturous laboratory possible. You are truly a coward of the worst sort, Mary Walker."
Mary twisted and tried to pull away. "Shut up! SHUT UP!"
The Amazon pressed on. "You run away from everyone that has ever helped you. Whenever the outlook is not as you like you run like the simpering, sniveling, pitiful coward that you are."
Mary lost it, whatever control she once had and funneled every bit of strength she had in her hatred toward the Amazon. Her hands were the first to ignite in flame followed by her arms and she pushed that flame at Diana engulfing the Amazon from head to foot as they continued to test their wills.
"That's all you have, Mary?" Diana screamed out from the flames. "I've danced in the fires of Apollo's race across the sky. Pitiful!"
In a rage Mary pulled her right fist free and slammed it into Diana's chest with a burst of flame behind. The Amazon was tossed in the air and came down thirty feet away in a tumble. She stood on shaky legs and faced the still burning anger of her opponent.
"Better!"
The flames around Diana died away as she raced to continue the fight and pulled her fist back as she did. Mary stepped to the side pushing another blast of flame through her punch. The Amazon staggered to the side but kept her feet.
"Again!"
Mary pulled back but stopped. She looked at her arms, each in turn and then started whipping them.
"I'M ON FIRE!"
"YES!" yelled Diana. "Revel in it, Mary. Recognize the feeling that it took to call that fire. The bloodlust you felt when we struggled!"
She looked at her the woman that antagonized her. A smile came to her face. "You freakin' crack whore. You pissed me off on purpose!"
Diana approached her with her hand held out. Mary grabbed it and Diana pulled her in kissing either side of her cheek. "Revel in the bloodlust, Bloody Mary."
The fire eased down and extinguished itself.
Dee still knelt behind Clark when a much calmer Diana stepped around Clark and they dropped to their knees together.
"I don't wanna die," cried Dead Girl.
"Then train with me, child."
Clark took Dee's hand and held it in his own. "I'll do my best to make sure nothing happens to you."
"You cannot protect her, Clark, neither can I," Diana stated plainly. "The only thing we can do is help her develop into the hero that I know lays behind those red eyes."
Dee sniffed. "Hero?"
The Amazon nodded. "I have seen your powers, little one. They are devastating."
