Chapter 8 – Resolute

"Oh brilliant move, Smallville!" Lois grumbled. "Now how are we supposed to steer the Perth?" Zatanna frantically flipped through the spell book. "There must be something…" she muttered as Clark got his temper under control, picking up the damaged wheel.

He pounded the wheel back onto its stand, and lucky for them it still controlled the rudder. As the Dark Angel sped away, she fired two more rounds at the pursuit craft. One cannonball did take out a lower sail mast, substantially slowing the second ship.

Clark angrily brushed the hair from his eyes and forehead. "Come on, Lois! You and I are going to aim the Perth's cannons at the upper mainsails of the ships. I can't trust the Amazons to listen to what I say. Zina, can you take the wheel?" The ancient warrior princess didn't quite know what to make of him. "Sure, Clark." She edged onto the captain's deck.

Zina reexamined his clothes as he passed her by. Admittedly, she had never seen anything like them, and still couldn't place what part of the world their unusual visitors were from. Granted it had been eighteen plus centuries since Zina and Gabrielle had first walked the Earth, but these people were very different. The cultures seemed familiar, yet completely unique.

Gabrielle had followed her best friend's gaze. "They're not from this time or ours, are they?" She guessed correctly. "No, I don't think so." Zina replied. "The obvious question is why are they here, then?" Gabrielle shrugged. "Do you think that the gods of Olympus have returned?"

Zina shook her head, allowing her raven black hair to scatter in the brisk sea breezes. "No, that's very doubtful, yet something still isn't adding up." Gabrielle watched longingly as Clark and Lois disappeared below deck. Zina kept the Perth faced directly at the two pursuit craft. Sooner or later they would have to face a firefight, despite what Clark hoped.

Clark and Lois completed adjusting the cannons to aim high at the assault vessels. Before they could set them, three booms were heard as the pursuit craft returned fire at the Dark Angel. All shots missed the small speedy schooner, which was nearly out of range.

Two more volleys hit the Perth directly, smashing through the starboard side, across the keel, and shattered timbers until they finally blew out the port side. The shots were high above the water line, but one or two good waves, and the Perth would begin to take on water.

The Perth had been partially loaded with barrels of gunpowder, wine, and other provisions. By sheer luck, the shots had missed everything of importance. "This powder is damp." Lois said, rubbing it between her thin fingers. It left a slightly filmy residue. "It may cause a misfire."

Clark nodded, turning his back purposely on Lois to hide her view. He tried to dry the powder with his heat vision, which was tricky. It would be difficult to do without igniting it. If it blew, Lois could be injured, or his secret could be revealed to her.

Diana continued to sulk, surprised that Clark had rejected her advances. Gabrielle tried to comfort her. "Diana, you're a leader of the Amazon nation. Clark may not be part of your destiny." Diana glanced tearfully, first at the Dark Angel's departure, and then at Gabrielle. "I know. My mother has reminded me of my duties and responsibilities frequently. It makes it no easier to understand."
"We used to have a saying in ancient Greece. If the fates allow…" Gabrielle added. "If the fates do still exist, they may be steering you and Clark in opposite directions." Diana sniffled, and nodded her head. "Thank you, Gabrielle."

This would make a great scroll, the ancient bard thought as two more cannonballs rocketed overhead, startling her. "Zina! They've adjusted the targets! We're going to get hit!" As the words left Gabrielle's mouth, two cannonballs were fired from the Perth. The shots took out two mainsail masts on the closest ship. "Nice shooting, Clark!" Zina praised loudly.

Zatanna wasn't convinced. "Zina! Those previous shots came from behind us!" She exclaimed. Sure enough, the French Army had lined up along the beach with two to four cannons at the ready. "We're trapped!" Gabrielle shrieked.

Quickly thereafter, the Perth fired three more successive shots, knocking out two masts on the second ship, and one ripped right through the center of a mainsail. The Dark Angel watched from a distance as her profile began to fade into the horizon.

The young Amazon warriors chanted and stomped their feet as they watched the largest mast on the pursuit schooner fall to the deck, scattering the crew. Everyone joined in the victory celebration except Hypolita and D'Jenna. The damaged ships weren't going anywhere soon, but the Perth was still well within cannon fire range. It was just a matter of time.

"I will avenge you my daughter." Hypolita vowed quietly as D'Jenna wiped a tear from her eye.

Back on the Perth, a keg of wine toppled over, and a chunk of the barrel shattered, spraying bright red wine all over the filthy, greasy, cargo hold. "It's a shame to waste some fresh wine." Lois joked, quickly grabbing a nearby soup ladle and letting the wine spill into it.

"Lois! This isn't a vacation cruise!" Clark chastised. "We're in the middle of a battle here!" Lois sipped a good portion of it, wrinkling her nose. "Wow! That's really fermented!" She grabbed a piece of the strange reddish fruit that Diana brought out, and squeezed it into the wine like a lemon.

Clark rolled his eyes as she finished the ladle, adding another. "That's better! Sweetens it up a bit!" She helped Clark prepare another volley of cannon fire, aiming the cannons at the pursuit craft. The schooners slowed their pace to a crawl. They fired in tandem, each hitting a schooner's mast.

Lois glanced over Clark's shoulder, following the waves of the churning sea. The small viewport beside the cannon muzzle forced them closer together. The attack craft continued to flounder, still within cannon fire range. Lois licked her lips from the pungent sweet taste of the wine and fruit.

Clark had to admit that being this close to Lois still made him nervous. She suddenly kissed him on the neck, startling him. "What was that for?" He complained. "That's a goodbye kiss in case we end up at the bottom of the sea. Besides, its my fantasy, my rules!" She quipped playfully.

"Lois, we are not going to die." Clark reassured her. "There's just a complicated way to get out of this mess." Lois listened intently as another round of whistling cannonballs were fired from the attack frigates. "Incoming!" She yelled, clinging tightly to Clark, and turning away from the ordinance.

Sure enough, one cannonball found its mark, skewering the planks between the Perth's aft cannons. This time the ball hit a keg of gunpowder. Lois closed her eyes. "That's it then!" She cried. As she screamed, Clark zipped past her with his lightning speed, and physically tossed the exploding keg through the port wall. Wood splinters, water, and supplies scattered in every direction.

The explosion had left a gaping six-foot hole in the side of the ship. Clark brushed some of the powder, and muck off of him, and sped back beside Lois. She carefully opened one eye. "We're not dead?" She asked. "Apparently not." Clark gibed.

"That was too close!" Lois said as she gazed at the open sea through the burned out hole. "Uh oh!" She added as Clark nodded. "Yeah. Uh oh!" Zatanna and Diana rushed down the damaged stairs into the cargo bay. "By the Gods!" Diana exclaimed.

Zatanna examined the breach. "We can't survive another hit like that." She hurriedly thumbed through the spell book. "Here it is!" The young sorceress concentrated hard on the ship. She placed the book under one arm, extending both hands toward the hull rupture.

"Reducto repairem!" She uttered the magical command. Immediately, the wooden planks began to creak and squeal as they stretched out across the gap. Rusty nails popped, and soon the planks had covered most of the hole. You could still see daylight between them.

"That will hold for a bit." Zatanna hoped aloud. "Magical repairs are spotty at best. Clark, we need to get out of here before the Perth takes another hit." Diana's eyes went wide as she examined Zatanna's repair job. "I have never seen magic used like this before."

"Everyone get topside." Clark directed. "I'm not leaving you." Lois pleaded. "Lois, just go. I'll let the crew out and we'll take to the rowboats. They can have the Perth if they really want it." Diana and Zatanna exchanged glances. "What's stopping anyone from firing on us?" Lois asked.

"Nothing." Clark answered dejectedly. "Great!" Lois grumbled, as she reluctantly followed the other girls upstairs. Lois glanced back over her shoulder at him. "I love…" Her statement was interrupted by another volley of cannonballs. The attack craft were relentless.

"Sons of Bacchae!" Zina yelled angrily as she piloted the sluggish Perth out of the way, barely avoiding the ordinance. As it was, one cannonball sliced through a smaller mast. It collapsed with a sickening crack, missing Diana and Lois by mere feet.

Clark unlocked the lower deck cells, freeing the original crew of the Perth. They waved their arms, cursing vehemently, and reluctantly followed each other up the stairs, chained to one another. He led them topside. More of the crew cussed, realizing the dangerous situation they were in.

A few ogled Diana in her scant Amazon outfit, still others watched curiously as Zina steered the Perth against the curling waves, presenting a smaller target to the assault frigates. "Here's the deal…" Clark began as the crew silenced. "You can have your ship back, but we're leaving."

A sharp-eyed crewmember spotted the Dark Angel speeding away from the fray. "Here's your white flag of truce." Gabrielle handed the captain the huge surrender signal. "Maybe they won't kill you." Lois snickered. "I wouldn't rule out a mutiny though, after all you were bested by a bunch of girls."

"Lois!" Clark snapped as Diana and Zina laughed. The remaining crewmen of the Dark Angel had rowed steadily towards the Perth and were now on board. Now the odds were in their favor. Only the five girls and Clark stood against them. "What if we refuse?" The captain snarled.

"I wouldn't if I were you." Zina menaced. "Your ship will need massive repairs." Clark took a moment to raise the rowboat to deck level, inspecting it for damage. Lois sprinted downstairs, back to the wine, and after collecting several ale mugs from the captain's quarters, fixed up a number of cocktails including the strange Amazonian fruit as garnish. She put them in a large carry bag, securing their covers.

"I'm not leaving without my booty." Lois chuckled, returning to the top deck with her souvenirs. "Ready?" Clark asked the girls. "What's the plan, again?" Gabrielle queried. "We'll take the rowboat and catch the Dark Angel. The crewmen will have to argue among themselves who does what." Clark replied.

"I know you're strong, Clark, but the Dark Angel is a few kilometers away by now." Lois pointed out. "I believe that I can handle that." Diana boasted, smiling brightly. "It's settled then. We abandon ship!" Zatanna said with relief. "Lois? What's all that?" Clark asked. "Supplies." Lois smirked, repositioning the bag of ale mugs on her shoulder.

After the girls were loaded into the rowboat, Zina and Clark went around freeing the crew. A couple of them feigned a move at Zina. "I wouldn't!" She sneered, and deftly leapt over their heads and onto the secondary deck. Clark still had to shove down one unruly crewman, silencing the others.

The Perth's captain stood at the highest point of the deck and waved the white flag of surrender. This, however, did nothing to dissuade the French Army, posted along the beach, from firing. Clearly, the captain of the Perth was in no mood to be toyed with. He gave the order to fire starboard cannons at Napoleon's soldiers, scattering them away from the forward guns.

Clark and Zina joined the others, as Diana made sure that the rowboat was lowered properly. After which, she executed a perfect dive into the sea, surfacing behind the rowboat. Clark had already begun to row, when Diana gave them a major push towards the Dark Angel.

The Amazon princess flew high into the air, startling everyone, as she circled back down like a bird of prey. "Wow! That's impressive!" Gabrielle admired the young superhero. "Watch this!" Diana laughed as she picked up the rowboat, occupants and all, and carried them away.

Lois gawked. "Man! I wish I could fly! Don't you, Clark?" He nodded, and teased her: "I could always throw you overboard from here." Diana soared roughly twenty feet above the water level. "Not if you value your life you won't!" She returned his gibe.

They reached the Dark Angel swiftly, amid cheers, hoots, and gasps by the Amazons on the overcrowded ship. Diana dropped the rowboat carefully onto the deck, as Zina and Gabrielle stepped out. Clark helped Lois and Zatanna exit next. Diana flew in a cocky, celebratory loop, landing beside her mother. "Thank Hera! You are alright!" Hypolita hugged Diana.

"You have donned the sacred armor of the ages!" Hypolita exclaimed. "Sorry mother, but I saw no other alternative." Diana defended. "It suits you well my sun, moon, and stars!" Hypolita stayed any anger towards her daughter. "Clark Kent, you have proven yourself a worthy ally of the Amazon Empire." The queen continued. "I do not approve of your methods, but the result is sound."

"Thanks." Clark reddened, suddenly feeling a thousand Amazons eyes upon him. Lois walked behind him with her bag of ale mugs. "I come bearing gifts." She joshed, removing a mug of wine and handing it to Queen Hypolita, who took a ceremonious first drink, and the others followed.

Clark rolled his eyes again. "Sorry I don't have enough for everyone." Lois apologized to the rowdy crowd. "It is good." Hypolita critiqued. "I recognize the wine grapes, but I can't quite place the other berry taste." Zina, Gabrielle, Zatanna, Diana, and Clark also took ceremonious sips.

Zina immediately chugged down the ale. She felt a familiar adrenaline surge. "What?" She exclaimed as Gabrielle took a healthy swig. "You don't suppose…" Zina cut her friend off. "Lois, where did you get this wine?" Lois shrugged. "On board the Perth, where else?" She was puzzled.

"Are you sure that it's only wine?" Gabrielle questioned. "Yeah." Lois answered. "I also garnished it with the sweet red fruit that Diana found." Clark was at a loss to explain why everyone was so obsessed with the overly sweet wine. "Lois, you mixed the wine with Ambrosia!" Zina accused.

"Is that what it's called?" Lois was puzzled. "Never heard of it." Zina groaned. "Do you realize what you've done?" Lois shrugged. "What? You don't like it?" Zina faced Hypolita. "Ambrosia is the Food of the Gods!" Lois frowned. "Well, it was good, but I wouldn't say…"

Diana cut her off. "Lois, Ambrosia is a magical fruit that gives mortals the power of a God." Zatanna finished her ale. "Whatever! I thought beans were magical fruits." She commented. "No, that's musical fruit." Lois corrected. "Anyway, what's the big deal?"

"Mother, isn't the Ambrosia just a legend?" Diana inquired. "No." Zina answered for her. "We personally have experienced its effect." Gabrielle nodded her agreement. "I don't see any gods around here." Lois defended. "I mean sometimes Clark thinks he is…"

Clark scowled at Lois's ribbing. "Maybe it doesn't work, or its freshness has expired." Zatanna pointed out, though she began to feel a bit woozy. Zina was worried. "I can vouch for its effects." She explained. "That's how Gabrielle and I came to be here."

Diana had her suspicions, but she'd decided to hold their words in confidence. Hypolita narrowed her eyes. "Can you explain that, Zina?"

"Yes. Zina and I were born…in roughly twenty five B.C. give or take a century." Gabrielle's admission had shocked everyone into silence, including Clark, who openly gaped. "That's right. Gabrielle and I walked the Earth over eighteen centuries ago." Zina confessed.

"By the Gods!" Hypolita gasped. "No, actually it was because of the Gods." Gabrielle elaborated. "The Pantheon of Gods cursed us to walk the Earth for all eternity. Actually, I think that they unwittingly did us a favor. We're here now, ready to help in any way we can."

"You're immortal? Both of you?" Zatanna scoffed. "As far as we know." Zina admitted. Lois reddened. "Well, you look good for your age." She flashed them a thin embarrassed smile.

If we don't get a move on, your immortality will be put to the test." D'Jenna pointed out from the steering deck of the Dark Angel. "The French Army has decided to fire on us again." Two cannonballs splashed into the aquamarine Mediterranean just behind the speeding schooner.
"Do you want me to discourage them, mother?" Diana asked. "No, my daughter. We must push ever forward. This is man's war, not ours. Sorceress, do you have Themyscira in your second sight?" Zatanna gulped. "Yes. According to my scrying glass we are heading straight for it. There's no way to know how far, or how long we'll have to travel."

"I can help with that." Diana said as she stretched leisurely. Clark was concerned that the sudden burst of power would be too much for the young princess to handle. She'd already gone from a timid, well-grounded young woman, into a confident, cocky, superhero with extraordinary abilities, in the short time that she'd known them.

In Clark's experience, this type of transition was never smooth, and often bad, with overreaching consequences. He silently wondered if the Ambrosia, and if the Amazonian Armor had been planted by ancient Kryptonians. He eventually dismissed that idea as rampant paranoia.

Per Queen Hypolita's instructions, the Amazons busied themselves running the Dark Angel, and she even insisted that the youngest Amazons clean the sleek schooner from bow to stern. It was mostly to keep them occupied and out of everyone else's way. This was a mark of a true, experienced leader.

Lois sighed and relaxed for the first time on this fantasy turned nightmare gone awry. Stripping off her soiled blouse and revealing her black sports bra, she caught some rays under the late afternoon sun. Clark began a discussion with Diana, Zina, and Gabrielle.

The devout historian grilled them about the past, especially referring to ancient Greece. Zina and Gabrielle had many stories to tell. Lois quickly grew bored and strolled over beside Clark, leaning heavily into his arms. Clark, in turn, gave her a good once over.

Lois's hair had lightened considerably in the baking Mediterranean sun, nearly going dark blonde in the process. Her skin reddened quickly as some initial sunburn began to set in. "I take it no one has invented suntan lotion yet." She commented, as Diana stared at her blankly. "I thought not."

Lois listened to one of Gabrielle's stories called 'The Downfall of the Gods' with fascination. "That was a great retelling, Gabrielle, you should put that on the Internet." She remarked, before thoroughly thinking it out. "The what?" Gabrielle's big blue eyes widened. "Internet. Think of it as a big storybook with moving pictures." Lois dug herself in deeper.

Zina, ever vigilant, picked up on Lois's loose lips. "You, Zatanna, and Clark Kent, aren't from our time, are you?" She asked Lois directly, though Clark answered for her. "No. We're from the future. Now keep in mind that the less you know about the future, the better off you are. Every day that we're here, we risk changing or destroying our own future."

Zina and Gabrielle agreed with that assessment. "At least we know that mankind makes it into the future from here, though sometimes I wonder, what with all of the wars we've faced." Gabrielle was feeling philosophical. "Are the gods in control in the future?" Zina couldn't resist pressing Clark.

"Actually, everyone has religious freedom to some degree." Lois informed them. "No one religion has control over the others. It varies from country to country of course." Gabrielle smiled. "It sounds wonderful." She added wistfully. Clark sighed. "The world is far from perfect, but its better than things here are now. For one thing, many diseases have been eliminated."

"How far into the future are you from?" Diana questioned, overhearing their budding philosophical discussion. "Two hundred years or so." Zatanna answered. "So we're all dead, I take it?" Gabrielle said depressingly. "I wouldn't be too sure." Zatanna responded. "By our actions now, we are most likely guaranteeing the survival of the Amazon nation. Add to that the Ambrosia…"

Clark considered that. Was this what he and Lois were supposed to do before they left this time period? Zatanna seemed to think that this fantasy had a purpose. "Onto the future, then!" Diana smiled brightly. She flew back behind the Dark Angel, and in moments, had shoved the ship forward a good distance.

"A few more jolts like that, and we'll run smack into this mysterious island." Lois complained. Prophetically, within the hour the Dark Angel suddenly sailed into shallower water. "Sorceress! How close are we to Themyscira?" D'Jenna barked from atop the captain's deck.

The ship scraped its bottom on the sand bar, and skidded to a halt. The sails drooped and dropped, as the wind grew silent. Stagnant humid air began to rise up from the Dark Angel's bow. The schooner, for all practical purposes, was dead in the water. "Very close!" Zatanna answered vaguely.

At the moment, they were near the center of the great Mediterranean Sea. No land was yet visible, save for a few dots on the starboard horizon.