Waves

Metropolis

Clark had been working hard on his latest story. It was about a subject most would consider rather ill advised and not the sort of thing an up and coming reporter should be working on, if he wanted to remain up and coming. It started with two events unrelated in most people's minds but telling when thought of them in tandem.

Event One: On his way to work one morning, Clark noticed a small group of protesters picketing in front of one of the larger banks in Metropolis.

Event Two: Activists in the city had organized something called Media Day. Groups with compelling causes from around the city came to the park in the middle of the downtown well prepared for news conferences only to find no one there from the press other than Clark.

Both nights Clark went home and flipped through the channels. There was no coverage of either event. He began to wonder if this was happening in Metropolis, was it happening in other places? It didn't take much research to find that it was. While the fate of the local sports teams or the latest gossip of about some celebrity received ample coverage, in fact too much coverage for their insignificance, real ordinary people and their concerns were being pushed out in favor of the trivial.

The Huffington Post if their coverage is any indication, has someone on staff that does nothing but look for side boob at every red carpet affair. Yes, a wonderful job for whoever has it, but not really news.

In the meantime, valiant Americans were striving to reduce or prevent the pain, anguish and costs of preventable tragedies – poverty, repression, marginalization, exclusion and the chronic indifference to posterity in favor of vested pressures for instant gratification. The press releases, reports, accomplishments and testimonies of those striving for justice receive very little coverage from the mass media.

Without media coverage, the civic community cannot, even if it demonstrates in the streets and squares, expand its audience of concern. Clark realized that with the consolidation of the media everywhere, it meant more and more of these small, grassroots movements would be ignored and marginalized. Yes, some might be frivolous, but without being exposed to them, the general public has no way of knowing which are worthless and which are worthy.

He decided that at least once a week, he would write about one of these smaller, grassroots organizations. In an unbiased way, he would present their concerns and get the oppositions response. So far no government or big business had been willing to comment, other than threaten to sue Clark and the Independent.

None of the other papers or televisions stations in Metropolis reported on any of it.

"Kent!"

Henry Cameron bellowed from his office. Most of the staff called this the "summons from God', but only when Cameron couldn't hear them. As strange as it was, for all Clark's amazing abilities, he was still intimidated by the older man. He was a veteran of the industry Clark was trying to make a name in. Cameron had probably forgotten more about the news business than Clark would ever know. Maybe it was just at 21, anyone over fifty seemed ancient to Clark and to have survived in the business that long commanded respect.

Clark quickly made his way to Cameron's office, closed the door and sat down. Cameron had his latest article in his hand. He gave it one more look and then dropped it on the top of his desk.

"Not bad, it will be in tomorrow's edition."

Clark knew by now that was all Cameron would say about the article. It was almost high praise that he didn't dissect in front of Clark. Cameron seemed to sort through the papers on his desk for moment and then sat back and looked at Clark.

"You got a girl, Kent?"

"I'm sorry, what?" Clark replied, completely caught off guard by the question.

"A girl, Kent you got a one?" Cameron asked again.

"Yeah, yes, I do,' Clark fumbled to say.

"Good, good,' Cameron replied, nodding his head. "You're young, you should have a life other than work."

"Okay."

"You going to marry her?' Cameron suddenly asked.

Clark squirmed a bit; uncomfortable with the trend this conversation was taking.

"It's a little soon for that, Mr. Cameron,' he offered. "We've only been dating a short time."

"You like her don't you?"

"Yes, very much,' Clark said.

"Have you told her that?"

"Yes."

"Good, keep doing it,' Cameron advised. "Women like the guy they're dating to tell them."

"Okay, if you say so,' Clark feebly replied.

"Here's the thing, Kent,' Cameron said, sitting up and resting his elbows on his desk. "Mrs. Harrow has a policy here at the Independent. When a new reporter finally gets the front page, she likes to reward them. Me, I think that's your job so why should you be rewarded for doing your job? Mrs. Harrow feels differently and since she owns the paper and doesn't interfere with how it's run, she gets her way on this."

Clark just sat across from his boss, having no idea where this was going.

"You got the front page, Kent, so you get the reward,' Cameron informed Clark. He held up a set of keys. "Mrs. Harrow's family has a house on the Jersey shore in a town called Avalon. You get to use it for the weekend. No wild parties or anything stupid, Kent, is that clear?"

"Ye-Yes."

"Good, take your girl with you,' Cameron advised. "Spend some time alone together. Get to know each other."

Cameron tossed the keys to Clark.

"Now get out of here, I've got a paper to run."

Clark quickly got up and started for the door. He was almost out when Cameron stopped him.

"Tell your girl how much you like her, Kent."

Themyscira

What had started as a reform had slowly broken down into competing factions. While the essential functions were still being run, a government was far from being formed. The original two sides, the traditionalist and the reformers had splintered amongst themselves and a power vacuum had formed. General Phillipus had watched all this happen with growing concern. While she was a staunch supporter of bringing back the Queen, she was also a realist. Things had gone too far to go back to how it had been.

Phillipus was a student of history. She knew that in situations like the one developing on Themyscira, the longer it went on the worse the consequences. More extreme positions would be taken on all sides and it could easily turned to violence. Once that happened it would be easy for someone to grab control and power. Dictators don't rise from tranquility, but chaos. She had fought too long and sacrificed too much for her island home to allow that to happen.

It was why she'd come to this small tavern on the outskirts of the capital. She was here to speak with Artemis, one of the young, reform minded Amazons. She was a member of the Bana tribe, sharp tongued, aggressive and ill mannered, but she had a good head on her shoulders. Phillipus believed she could work out a bargain with the young firebrand.

There was a hush that fell over the tavern as Phillipus entered and went to the bar. She ordered a drink and tossed a few coins on the counter. No one said anything as she got her drink and took a swallow.

"You lost old woman?"

A voice from the back called out. Artemis

"You think me old?" Phillipus replied. "My steel says otherwise."

A rumble went through the small crowd as every eye turned to watch as Artemis stood. Her flaming red hair offset her piercing green eyes. Her bow hung casually from her back and her hand rested on the hilt of her sword. She was tall, even for an Amazon. She moved gracefully through the crowd towards Phillipus. When she got close, Artemis looked at Phillipus' sword for a moment.

"It seems your steel does a lot of talking, can it back it up?"

"Those that learned the answer to that question can't reply, but you can find a large number of them in the graveyard,' Phillipus replied. "There's always room for more."

A smile came to Artemis' face. She looked at the bartender and pointed to the counter.

"Two more here." She said and then returned her gaze to Phillipus. "Still as ornery as ever, I see, Phillipus."

"And you're still as charming as always, Artemis."

Artemis laughed. The rest of the patrons seemed to relax, as there didn't appear to be a fight imminent. Artemis took a great pull on her drink and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.

"So what brings the Queen's general to this humble establishment?"

"You do, Artemis,' Phillipus replied.

"Me? Why me?"

"I thought we could talk,' Phillipus offered. "Perhaps reach an understanding."

"Politics,' Artemis said with disgust. "I've had my fill of it."

"Yes, but you can see the signs of danger as clear as I can,' Phillipus countered.

Artemis considered this for a moment. She had been one of the original Amazons that pushed for a more democratic system, but the endless squabbling had soured her to the whole process. Still she was concerned where the island was heading.

"Let's talk then, general, but some place with a little more privacy."

Phillipus nodded and Artemis led her towards the back of the tavern. She pulled back the cover to a smaller room and the two women entered. They sat opposite each other, their drinks in hand.

"So talk,' Artemis began.

"Things are spiraling in a dangerous directions, Artemis,' Phillipus stated. "The extremes are becoming the loudest voices on both sides. For the good of all Amazons this can't be allowed to go on much longer."

"How do you propose to stop it?" Artemis asked.

"You and I make a deal, here, tonight."

"What kind of deal, Phillipus?"

"The best kind,' Phillipus said. "The kind where neither of us is happy, but both of us can live with it."

Artemis considered this for a moment.

"We should order more drinks, I think it's going to be a long night."

Avalon, New Jersey

Clark and Diana walked down the main road checking out the sights in the small community. They'd been having a running conversation since they arrived.

"Why didn't he want to meet me again?' Diana asked.

"Somebody named the Riddler was pulling off a string of bank robberies and he wanted to concentrate on that,' Clark replied. "He sent his apologies."

"Did you tell him we could fly down and help? And then meet him?" Diana offered.

"Yeah, he didn't like that idea."

"Are you sure he's not avoiding me?" Diana inquired. "He seems to talk to you, Kal."

"That's because I asked him if he wouldn't mind looking into something for me,' Clark replied. "As a detective, he's really good. He was just getting back to me, that's why we spoke."

"Still, I'd like to meet him,' Diana offered.

"I'm sure you will, Diana,' Clark stated. "He just has a lot on his hands right now. It does give us a chance to take Mrs. Harrow up on her offer to use her beach house though. That's a nice break, isn't it?"

"Yes it was,' Diana admitted. "I guess I just don't like the idea that he would tell you who he was and not me."

"Well, technically he didn't tell me,' Clark absently replied.

'What do you mean, technically he didn't tell you?"

"I looked through his mask and saw who he was."

Clark had been looking at all the little shops, but now realized Diana had stopped walking along side of him. He turned and saw she had a surprised look on her face.

"You can do that?" She asked.

"Yeah,' he replied with a smile.

Diana crossed her arms in front of herself.

"Have you done it before?"

"Sure."

Clark's smile got a little bigger as he turned and continued walking. Diana caught up with him almost instantly. While she wasn't ashamed of her body, she was a little uncomfortable with the idea of him looking through her clothes. It just felt different somehow.

"You haven't done it with me, have you?" She asked.

"No, of course not," Clark replied. "Why ruin the surprise."

"The surprise?"

"When we're both ready, I imagine we'll both see each other without our clothes,' Clark offered. "Can't think of a nicer surprise than that."

While he was talking, Diana let her eyes move over Clark's body. He was dressed in shorts and a loose white shirt, but she could imagine what he looked like underneath them. In fact, she had been imagining it quite a bit lately.

"Yes, that would be,' she murmured in reply.

"Why do you want to meet Batman so bad, anyway?" Clark asked, not noticing the look Diana was giving him.

"Wh-What? Oh, Batman, right,' she replied, pulling her train of thought back to the original topic. "Well, on Themyscira we organized ourselves to defend the island. Since I've arrived in the outside world, I keep thinking that if something were to threaten the whole planet there should be a group to defend it."

"Like an army? I don't think many countries are going to go for that, Diana."

"No, not an army, a small group of heroes if you will, that band together in time of crisis to overcome threats they can't deal with alone,' Diana explained. "It would include you and me, of course, but there should be others. The Batman for example, would be perfect for the group."

"I mentioned your idea to him,' Clark said. "He seemed to think it had merit, but he's not sure about joining an formal group."

"That's why I should talk to him,' Diana stated.

"Right."

They walked a little further down the main thoroughfair. Diana noticed Clark seemed to look at everyone and everything. This made her wonder.

"So are you saying you can look through everyone's clothes?"

"If I wanted to, yeah, I guess,' He replied.

"How would one tell if you were doing that?" She inquired.

"You wouldn't,' he said with big smile.

"So you're telling me you could conceivably being doing it right now?"

"Yep."

They took two more steps before Diana slapped him.

"Ow! What was that for?" He asked.

"I don't like the idea of you looking at other women like that,' She stated.

"I wasn't,' he replied.

"How do I know that?" She pointed out.

Clark smiled and put his arm around her.

"You have to trust me,' he said. "You're the only woman I want to look at like that, Diana."

"Good.' she said flatly, but then thought about it. "I'm not sure how to take that, Kal."

"As a compliment, Diana."

Clark started walking, but Diana didn't. She looking at him with a questioning expression on her face.

"It means I like you Diana, I really like you."

Diana smiled and started walking with him again.

Washington

Steve had to admit he was intrigued by Amanda Waller's request for a meeting. He knew her from a few years before. They had worked in the field together. She was young, brilliant, and ruthless. Perhaps her best talents were as a strategist and a manipulator. The higher ups must have realized this too, as she had been promoted many times since they worked together.

He arrived at the address she gave him. The building had no name. Security was tight and it took him several minutes to make it through. He was shown to her office. It was nondescript for the most part, the only personal touch a picture of her mother.

"Come in, Steve, sit down,' Amanda said.

"Amanda.' he replied and the took a seat opposite her. "So what do I owe the privilege of this meeting too?'

"Straight to business, huh? Okay, we can do it that way,' she said. "I think you're wasting your time and talents babysitting the Amazons."

"You're not still against them, are you, Amanda?" Steve asked. "Hippolyta and Diana aren't the leaders of some global threat to security. If things are handled right, they could be our allies and benevolent to the rest of the world."

"Always an idealist,' Amanda replied. "Still defending the Princess even after everything that's happened."

"What are you talking about?" Steve said defensively.

"Oh, just rumors,' Amanda said with a smile. "You know how this town likes to gossip. The talk is she gave you your walking papers."

'Our personal relationship is none of your business, Amanda."

"Still too loyal, Steve, you always were."

"I wish I could say the same about you, Amanda,' Steve sarcastically replied.

"I get the job done."

"Yes, you do,' Steve admitted. "No matter who you have to risk."

"I thought you didn't want to talk about old times, Steve?' She countered. "We're getting off track here. I asked you in today to offer you a job."

"You can't be serious?"

"I'm very serious,' Amanda replied. "These superheroes are a reality now and the government wants a response. I've been charged with forming a group called A.R.G.U.S, (Advanced Research Group for Uniting Superhumans). I want you to be on point, Steve."

"Your serious?"

"Absolutely."

"I already have a job, Amanda, you know that,' Steve said. "If this is some sort of game you're playing to screw up the Amazons relationship with this country, it's not going to work."

"Believe it or not, Steve, I have bigger concerns than your precious Amazons,' Amanda replied. "With these metas the world's a much more dangerous place now than it ever has been. I need someone with field and leadership experience to head this unit up. There are a lot of dangerous things out there, alien technologies and magic artifacts, you name it. We need to get our hands on them before the bad guys do."

As he listened to her, Steve had to admit she was making sense. He did miss being out in the field, but he had commitments.

"I don't know, Amanda."

"If this is about your precious Amazon princess, Steve, hire her,' Amanda offered. "What better way for her to prove she's on the right side than helping get these dangerous weapons out of circulation? I'll set you up with experts, everything you need. You'll be running the show, Steve. Oh, and there is a promotion too. How does Colonel Steve Trevor sound?"

Avalon, New Jersey

The beach house had to be close to a hundred years old, but it was still spectacular. Clark set their bags down and just stood in the main room looking at the remarkable craftsmanship that seemed to go into every part of the house. Diana went immediately to the huge glass doors. They opened onto a large deck that sat right on the beach.

"Wow." Clark said.

"I love it!" Diana called. "I haven't been to the beach since I left Themyscira!" This is perfect!"

"I'm going to have to thank Mrs. Harrow again for this."

"Let's not wait and unpack, Kal, let's go down to the water."

"Okay.' Clark agreed, still a little stunned by the beach house. "Do you have a swimsuit?"

"Back home we don't wear any, Kal,' Diana offered.

That got Clark's attention. He turned quickly to look at her and saw she had a huge smile on her face. She was teasing him.

"Oh, ha-ha, very funny, Diana." Clark replied. "You would have started a riot if you went down without a suit."

"Please, Kal, I may not know everything about the outside world, but I do know most of its customs,' Diana stated. "When you invited me, I went shopping and bought a bathing suit. The clerk was very helpful. I was going to buy a one piece, but she insisted I buy a bikini. She said it would be perfect, although I think it might be a bit small. Why don't I try it on and you can give me your opinion?"

"Great,' Clark said with a smile plastered on his face. In his mind he was thinking, I hope this is a secluded beach or she'll still cause a riot.

Diana gestured for him to put his suit on too and then headed into the bedroom. Clark tried to push the image of Diana in a bikini out of his mind and began slipping out of his clothes. He was wearing his suit under his shorts. It was just a baggy pair of trunks, but they were comfortable. Diana hadn't come back out yet, so he decided to explore the beach house a little more.

The kitchen wasn't huge, but it had all the modern conveniences. He checked the refrigerator. It was on, but there was nothing in it.

"Kal?"

"I'll be out in a moment,' he replied.

He did a quick check of the oven just in case they wanted to cook anything and then went back out to the main room. His feet stopped so quickly in their tracks he almost stumbled and fell.

What he imagined she'd look like was nothing compared to what she actually looked like. It wasn't as if her armor didn't display what an amazing figure she had, but the bikini took it up a level. His mouth and throat seemed to go dry all of a sudden and he gulped.

"So what do you think?" Diana asked.

"Nice." He managed to get out. "Very, very, very nice."

"So you like it?"

"Yes."

Diana may have been naïve about some things, but the look Clark was giving her wasn't one of them. That she could have this reaction from him pleased her very much. She let her eyes skim over his body and realized he had the same effect on her. This part of courting, she was going to enjoy, Diana thought. Looking him over again, it was clear just how much of a reaction he was having to her. She liked that very much, too. She couldn't help teasing him just a bit.

"You don't think it's too small do you?" She innocently asked.

"No."

"If you say so, Kal,' Diana replied. She turned and started out onto the deck. Glancing back over her shoulder, she smiled. "Are you coming, Kal?'"

She's going to start a riot whether she's walking towards you or away. Wait, did Diana just make a double entendre? No, she wouldn't, he told himself, would she? The sound of her laughter drifting in through the doors made Clark wonder.