The the giant ghostly figure of the Spectre emerged from the whirlpool steeping onto the banks of the River Dess, the grey giant was almost invisible against the blue sky, and his cloak merged into verdant greens of the valley. Above the river towered the now abandoned fortress. From the folds of his dark cloak the conquering heroes emerged victorious over the undead world of the Nekropolis. The sunlight, the colour, and fragrance of life, of grass, flowers rising from the meadowland was a welcome confirmation that the bone dry black and white other world was behind them.

Diana gladly breathed in the fresh warm air, as with them the lost souls once held captive by the Red Monks now rejoiced with tears of joy, and happy laughter their return to the land of the living. Yet something troubled her.

"Kal?" She said. Her friend turned to her, his face troubled, Superman's eidetic memory testified to the same signs she saw around her, the coming of summer following spring. He remembered the trees less green, the meadows with fewer flowers in bloom. "It is later than it should be." She told him.

The Man of Tomorrow nodded. "It seems so."

Doctor Fate confirmed their suspicions. "I believe when we sealed the portal doorway between worlds – that his act altered the nature of the pathway that exists between the living world and the Nekropolis, time began to move more slowly for us relative to the wider Earth."

"What date is it then?" The Bat-Man asked.

Fate instructed by the Helm of Nabu. "It is now June."

"Almost two weeks." The human hero noted. "If you would excuse me - I must send a message to my people." With that the Bat-Man hurried across the field to where his unusual Plane was concealed.

The other human prisoners had been for the most part local to the area, and those snatched from near by wasted no time, gladly taking their leave of the meadow making for the road and home. Others were too traumatised, weak from blood loss or injury, and required help; the assembled heroes provided it.

The handful of foreigners, including Julie Madison remained with the Green Lantern who confided in Superman upon his return. "I must return home soon, my power ring must be recharged at regular intervals."

The Man of Tomorrow nodded. "I see." He did not understand how the strange ring functioned, however he felt despite the magical way in which the ring appeared to work, it could perhaps be an advanced form of technology.

It was then Wonder Woman saw among the wounded the reptilian Annunki. The tall creature crouched hidden in the robes of a Red Monk, huddled in the shadow a large tree loathing every moment of daylight.

Diana had been doing her part checking over the people the Green Lantern had rescued, when she had come across the creature which had been secured by the Bat-Man. Suffering from their fight the reptilian had been received basic first aid. Now it sort shadow, and tried to avoid the humans who it had abused.

It hissed as Diana cast back the hood of the robe in which it hit, shielding it's eyes against the sky.

"Hera, what is this!" She called out.

"An Annunki." The Flash told her. Instantly at her side, the fastest feet alive explained. "I think that's what they call themselves. This creature was assisting the Red Monks,.. y'know to get more blood from people without killing them."

Superman joined them. He saw Diana's stern face "Wonder Woman why are you so angry?"

"These creatures – these are Typhon!"

"I'm sure the Spectre called them Annunki." The Flash said.

The Reptilian hissed at the mention of its race.

"That maybe, but to my people we know them as Typhon, the monster Zeus threw down and banished to the Underworld. They are not supposed to leave their caves!" Diana stated.

The Annunki snarled. "The gods have forsaken Earth for Olympus, our time is returning, maybe Typhon will rise again." It spat.

Superman frowned. "It does not surprise me that these creatures are known to the Amazons."

The commotion brought the heroes together once more, even the ever silent Spectre.

"I have long thought the Annunki legends and the tale of the Typhon to be linked." Hawkman observed.

"Agreed Darling." Hawkgirl said. "But what are we to do with this prisoner?"

"I would suggest turning the creature over to Zatana." Fate said. Adding for clarity. "And the FBI."

Superman nodded.

"The Annunki is at least guilty in regard to Julie Madison's kidnap and worse." The Green Lantern observed.

"Justice must be served." Diana said resolutely.

Superman turned to include the other heroes and said. "I have already come to an agreement of sorts with Wonder Woman, and I feel we have together won an important victory, one which will perhaps never be reported or even understood – but important non the less.

I believe we should build on this alliance. Band together when necessary - to do more together than we could achieve alone."

"Certainly." Doctor Fate agreed.

Hawkman and Hawkgirl also added their agreement.

"We kicked ass." The Flash agreed.

As they talked the Bat-Man returned from making his calls by radio. "I shall escort Miss Madison back to Gotham." He said.

"We were discussing coming to an agreement to from a society." Superman informed the human vigilante.

"Each of us brings unique abilities, and experience. Each of us stands for truth and justice, for liberty and freedom, the values of democracy, we should club together in these evil times to do good."

"A society - a club?" The Bat-Man interrupted. "Like the what exactly? The Boy Scouts?"

This comment was dry, but funny, at least the Flash and the Green Lantern found it so.

Hawk Man could not resist a smile.

Wonder Woman looked confused. "What are the Boy Scouts?" She asked, new to Patriarch's World she had not come across them.

"There Motto is 'Be Prepared' – I believe." Hawkgirl told her. "They promise to do good, help others, and keep themselves healthy."

Superman looked at the Bat-Man. "I think you exemplify – at least, the Boy Scouts Motto – 'be prepared' better than any of us."

The Bat-Man folded his arms. "I work alone. My work is in Gotham, I came to this place on Gotham business, only because the Red Monk's Abott came to my city."

"I was only suggesting we meet to discuss the idea." Superman replied. "The Green Lantern must return home also, and I can not linger here either." The Man of Steel noted. "I've responsibilities too, things I've neglected pursuing the Red Monks. I imagine each one of us has our own lives to lead."

"I suggest we arrange to meet at a mutually convenient time and place." Hawkman volunteered. "Doctor Fate I am sure would be able to communicate the details to each of us."

"I shall attend." The Spectre said. His voice echoed across the meadowland, and it was the first time the green cowled angel of vengeance had spoken since they had returned from the Nekropolis. There was a brief pause; the Spectre's ghostly presence had a sobering effect; then each hero agreed with him, except the Bat-Man, who silently turned away from the group leading Julie Madison back to his Plane.

"Perhaps he will reconsider his role when he rested and slept." Superman suggested to Diana.

"We shall see, she agreed, but he is a proud man – with a singular purpose." She replied.

-'S'-

Lois Lane contemplated her decision. She had left Paris following the retreating French forces, and their British allies. Lois had no doubt the headlines across the world would read Paris falls. The defeat of France now seemed inevitable and yet her instincts told her the story lay with the Allies increasingly chaotic withdrawal.

Soldiers were being left to their own devices, making the best way they could to coast. As an act of kindness and solidarity French villagers left pales of water to alleviate the soldiers thirst where they could along the roads west, the Germans in turn toppling these where ever they saw them. All the time the retreating men were harassed by the lethal Luftwaffe.

Lois wrote these things down as she joined the exodus to the coast, leaving behind Paris, a self declared open city.

Perhaps it was her own history that tipped the balance in her mind.

Lois was a military brat and she felt at home with the troops, and instinctively she set herself against the invaders, although German and Nazi were not synonymous in actuality, for the course of the war, for the purpose of fighting and winning her side could not make that distinction.

America remained neutral, but many American's did not. Lois Lane was one of those.

She wondered in the dark of night following the road to the coast, where Clark Kent was, and indeed if he still lived.

Reaching the coast at the beaches of Dunkirk Lane recorded the sights and the sounds of the desperate troops, forced to abandon equipment and ammunition as they fled. She wrote how the soft sands of the beaches saved lives absorbing some of the destructive force of exploding German bombs.

How thousands of men began making their way aboard the flotilla of ships both large and small.

There was no where to hide from the corpses that littered the beaches, and floated in the water. Fighters, dive bombers, E-boats, all attacked the rescue fleet, travelling to and from the French Coast. Lois Lane woman at war found herself escorted by a handsome British officer, his face marred by a bloody cut, his uniform dirty and torn, carried into one on the small boats ferrying the wounded to the larger Destroyers in Dunkirk harbour.

By morning she was in Dover, and by June 4th 1940, the evacuation was over, France was lost, and the Daily Star carried her account in Metropolis of the escape.

Prime Minister Winston Churchill said. "Even though large parts of Europe and many old and famous States have fallen or may fall into the grip of the Gestapo and all the odious apparatus of Nazi rule, we shall not flag or fail.

"We shall go on to the end, we shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our Island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender,

"And if, which I do not for a moment believe, this Island or a large part of it were subjugated and starving, then our Empire beyond the seas, armed and guarded by the British Fleet, would carry on the struggle, until, in God's good time, the New World, with all its power and might, steps forth to the rescue and the liberation of the Old."

As Lois wrote his words down for George Taylor, to further the interventionist cause at home. An ocean away she was aware Britain stood alone, defeated in France, but defiant as the Nazi war machine prepared for invasion.

-'S'-

Superman returned to the skies of Metropolis unobserved moving too quickly for human eyes he stopped only to contact Colonel Lane via the telephone on top of the Daily Star Building, the direct line ran to Metropolis Field Army Air Corps Base, and the brief conversation was sobering.

"Glad to know you are alive. The President wishes to see you. Contact me at 1900 hours I should have details for you then."

Superman took to sky, flying out into the mountains to his Secret Citadel. He had questions for his birth parents avatars. Questions that had remained unanswered too long.

Jor-El and Lara's technological ghosts flickered into holographic reality before him within the central chamber of his fortress.

"Father. I have encountered a magical being who draws power from Kryptonite." Superman explained. Then in detail he recounted the fight over Berlin with Wotan, and the subsequent events. "What puzzles me Father is my suit. It changed colours from it's usual red blue and yellow, to black – why would this happen?"

The artificial intelligence which was patterned after the great Kryptonian scientist calculated and responded.

"Information regarding to Kryptonite and magic is limited as both are not native to the Universe of Krypton, however we know from the data we recorded during the voyage across multiple realities that Kryptonite resulted from the interaction between the magical god-wave and living metal of Kyptonian design. This creature called Wotan only confirms the relationship between Kryptonite, magic and the god-wave event, which by cascading across multiple realities created god beings across this universe and perhaps many others."

"And the reaction of this Kryptonian uniform?"

Lara spoke. "That was entirely appropriate Kal-El – the material construct is designed to react to your physiological condition, when you are seriously injured it should default to a healing matrix mode, which is indicated by the change in colours."

"I don't remember this happening when the first Kryptonite meteor shower passed the Earth?"

"That was because Kryptonite was entirely an unknown, since that event your body has begun to adjust – evolve to the changed circumstances of this universe – in the same way the suit being a Kryptonian construct is capable of evolving – learning, how to deal with unexpected events; initially it was as confused and damaged by K-metal as you were."

"Does that mean I will learn to resist magic?" Superman asked.

"Your physiology is reactive, evolving – after any trauma it will attempt to adjust – to strengthen your defences against what hurt you. However I do not have enough data on magic to compute an answer to such a general question regarding magic.

"However if you encounter Wotan again, providing the nature of his magical power has not changed, you should be better able to resist him."

Superman nodded. There were as ever with magic and kryptonite too many unknowns, and it would be foolhardy to expect Wotan not to have learned or improved his capabilities after their fight.

Superman considered these things as he prepared for a trip to his parents farmstead, readying the Secret Citadel for another special resident.

-'S'-

The invisible plane of Wonder Woman landed on the Island of Themyscira. The Queen and her council of ministers listened to her daughter's tale of bravery and victory, and the successful sealing of the Nekropolis.

"I shall return to the Patriarch's World and recover the Fist of Ares." Wonder Woman stated.

"It is good to know that the Hand cannot be used by the undead to travel through the gateway between worlds." Hippolyta said. "And as frustrating as it must be to have to pursue this kindred to the vrykolakas, at least he has returned to the earthly realm alone, and not at the head of an army of blood drinkers."

Afterwards Princess Diana met Diana Prince.

"There will be much explaining to be done." Prince observed. "Colonel Darnell will want to know where... we've been."

"Yes I imagine so. I trust Wonder Woman's explanation will be satisfactory."

"As do I."

"I sense there is something more troubling you, more than the thought – the fear of going back."

Diana Prince blushed.

"You wish to do something else?" Wonder Woman guessed.

"Oh Princess. Oh so much – I don't want to have anything to do with the Army, or espionage, or anything like that, I've had my fill of such things, I've had enough adventure for a lifetime."

"What do you want?" Diana asked.

"My fiancé has been working in South America since last summer, and I dearly want to see him again.

"I've had time to think about things, about the future, and I realise now that I am ready to marry, to have a family – before, when he left, I wasn't – now I am, and I want to go to him. Can you take me?"

"What of your life as Diana Prince in the United States?"

"I know what I want now, and that life isn't for me. If you want it Wonder Woman it's yours for as long as you need it."

"You want me to continue to use your name?"

"Yes if it's any use to you, I'll be Diana White before too long anyway – if Richard will still have me, that is."

"He'd be a fool not to." Diana said. "Very well, tell me where this Richard White is working and I will take you."

-'S'-

Superman landed in the United States. Maryland, the Farmstead where his parents had farmed since fleeing the Dust Bowl to help his mother recover from her respiratory problems arising from the dirty thirties.

Krypto bounded to him, the dog would have been a blur to human eyes, a rapid patch of white mist and dust as he bounced about his masters feet, briefly coming to rest, before falling out of focus once more.

"Good to see you son." Jonathan Kent shook Superman's hand. "Your mother will be pleased to see you. She said she wasn't worried, but after that editor of yours wrote to us saying you were being listed as missing in a war zone, she was a-worrying whatever she said."

Superman sat at the kitchen table and share a coffee with his family, Krypto by his feet, as his mom fussed bringing him baked treats he recounted the turbulent events of the past weeks.

Jonathan puffed on his pipe as he listened. "I suppose I should not be surprised." He said at last. "But I am concerned. If magic can hurt you – you are going to have to be careful."

Superman smiled. "I know Pa – but people are risking their lives every day to do the right thing."

"I don't like the fact Roosevelt is going to drag us into this war." Jonathan grumbled.

Superman frowned. "There is something I should tell you." He said quietly. His Pa nodded grimly, his mother sat down beside him.

"There is a magic rock, it came from space – it can hurt me." Superman went onto explain the nature and effects of Kryptonite.

"Your telling me that the Nazi's have their hands on this stuff?" Jonathan Kent asked.

"I am certain that was part of Wotan's power yes – I know it has something to do with the reptilian Annunki, the Typhon as Diana calls them."

"Diana is this Wonder Woman?" Martha asked.

Superman nodded.

"And she is as beautiful as the Washington papers say?"

"More so. The Amazon island of Themyscira is a Paradise where the people outshine the scenery – if not for Diana's genius, and the power of the Amazon's purple ray I'm not sure I'd have ever been able to see the light of day again."

"It appears we owe this Princess much." Jonathan noted. Martha took his hand.

"Imagine darling our boy is consorting with Royalty."

Superman nodded. He was all too aware of the differences between the European Princess and the farm-boy from Kansas. "We have common purpose." He said. "And that is a great leveller."

"So son are you interested in this girl?" Martha asked directly.

"Martha Kent." Jonathan said with wry smile. "You should know better than to ask a young man such a question.

"As his mother, I must."

"I really don't have time for such things." Superman replied evasively.

Martha recognised this, and changed tack. "What about Mr Taylor, and the Daily Star, when are you going to tell them you are okay?" His mother asked.

Superman ate another of her cookies. "I haven't decided yet honestly mom."

"It's hardly fair to let your friends and colleagues wonder whether you are dead or alive, maybe never coming back – what about that Lois Lane, I was under the impression you were sweet on each other? Perhaps Diana has changed that?"

Superman waved his hand dismissively. "It's all more complicated for me than boy meets girl."

"How?" She asked. "You deserve some happiness in life." His mother looked hurt.

Pa Kent began working on his pipe. Superman listened to the rhythm of their hearts. He knew how much they cared – understanding they wanted him to be happy. He said. "I don't know mom, when I first encountered kryptonite, there was a brief time when I didn't know if my powers were coming back, and I thought about living an entirely human life as Clark Kent; reporter, but that has it's own problems, because even if I were normal I couldn't sit idly by. However my powers returned, and things been the way they are I have to lie to my colleagues while living a double life.

"At first all I wanted to do was be close to the news, so I could better help people – to be honest it's begun to get complicated. Now with war raging across half the world I could spend every waking moment stopping people killing each other, and bombs dropping – ships being sunk."

"You can't mean..."

"Perhaps Clark Kent – Reporter, is best where he is."

Jonathan stabbed his pipe stem at his son. "Now boy, don't go thinking like that, this war - it's not your responsibility, I thought you'd understood this long ago, you can't be everywhere, save everyone, you need time to be you."

"This is me dad." Superman pointed to the S. "It's always been me, I can't turn it off, I'm always harder than steel, faster than a bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.

"Long ago you told me I should use my powers to assist humanity, allowing Hitler to crush the democracies of Europe isn't helping - ending Nazi tyranny is the best way I can do this."

Jonathan angrily thumped the table his son had made for them after puppy Krypto had used the previous one as a chew toy.

"I understand son; dammit you don't have to quote my words back at me!

"I just don't want you to forget who you are, behind that suit, behind the symbol of hope.

"Clark you are our child; a child of two worlds yes, Kal-El is your name too - but you are our son. I would be betraying myself and you if I didn't urge you to keep that thought – keep close to your humanity."

"I will Pa – Mom, I'm here as often as I can."

Martha put her hand on his. "We won't be here forever. You shouldn't leave yourself alone Clark, everyone needs love."

Superman looked at her uncertainty in his eyes.

"Clark why do you think your parents sent you here, if not to find people that looked like you, loved like you?"

Superman found himself without an answer. Of course Lara wanted him to be happy, Jor-El wanted the house of El to continue; The Kents wanted this for him too.

"Son there is something else we should tell you, your mom and I are going to move back to Smallville. Alfie says after the rains came back last year things are getting better. I think I want to go home."

"That's great Pa, but what will Alfie do?" Superman replied glad to change the subject.

"Oh I don't mean to take up on the farm again, old Bill Patterson writes to me on and off, and he's retiring from running his shop and moving to Metropolis to be nearer his grandkids."

"You father has a hankering to be a store keeper." Martha said.

"Really – that's great."

Jonathan took a long look at Krypto curled around his sons feet. Superman understood, the meaning of the look. "I guess it must have been real tough with me away so long, for you and my puppy."

Jonathan nodded slowly. "He's very obedient, incredibly so, given his strength he has to be, but Krypto needs you son."

"You are right Pa." Superman replied. "I was thinking along those lines and I mean to take Krypto with me this time in any case. I've made a spot for him ready at my place in the Mountains." Then as an after thought he added. "Perhaps I should get somewhere in the city where I can keep a pet."

Martha smiled as Superman stroked his dog. He looked at her catching her expression. "See mom, you don't have to worry - at least someone loves me." He said.

-'S'-

Lex Luthor's finger tapped the dial on the maturation tank. He turned to the tall Annunki Solateedoh, who was hovering over his shoulder, his presence reminded the America defector of a predatory bird, indeed the feathered reptilian claimed to be related both to the dinosaur and the bird.

"Anunnki technology is remarkable." Lex stated. He had learned that the reptilians were a proud race, and flattery was a useful oil with which grease the wheels of their working relationship. The creatures head feathers fluttered ever so slightly, Luthor recognised this as an approximation of human smile.

In the bunkers that served to house Luthor's extensive warren of laboratories and staff that the Nazi military-industrial complex had provided the officers of project Ahnenerbe, it's President Walther Wüst, Karl Willigut, and the beautiful but deadly Baroness Paula Von Gunther were shown the current status of Luthor's Ubermensch program.

"I expect to deliver in mere months rather years mature soldiers cloned from the American Superman's genetic material, super-soldiers – Ubermensch, for the Fuhrer."

Willigut wore an amulet of ancient design, the gold gleamed against the black of uniform. "This magic artefact means Wotan sees and hears these things." The Colonel said.

"I trust Lord Wotan sees the value in this project." Luthor said with a smile. He patted the maturation tank, a cylinder with dials set below a porthole like window, through which the unmistakable form of a baby could be seen floating in a pinkish fluid. There was an odd meeting of worlds, the grey industrial steel of the laboratory equipment provided familiar shapes was joined to tendrils of silver that pulsated with light – the Annunki's living machine.

"Lord Wotan will form an opinion when he can test the metal of these soldiers." Willigut replied.

Luthor nodded, uncertain where the opinions of Karl Willigut ended and Wotan's began, or visa versa, there was something unnatural about the older man.

"How long will this be?" Paula asked. "You said months as opposed to years – how many?"

"I expect 18 months to an adult specimen, the infant you see is only three weeks old in actuality, but already presents at an average birth weight."

"Then the baby is already viable?" Colonel Wüst asked.

"Yes we could if we wished crack open the maturation chamber and the subject would effectively be born, and from that point the child would grow and age normally, provided the cloning process has been successful."

Willigut leapt on the admission. "Herr Doctor, what pray tell do you mean, by successful?"

Luthor's anger became visible in his eyes, but he bit down on his anger. "The cloning process is not a simple one, some of the subjects present early with congenital disorders, and are withdrawn, others do not present until later."

"So you cannot guarantee any subject will achieve the target accelerated maturity? Any – including this one." Willigut pointed to the chamber beside Lex, might exhibit problems as it matures?"

"Nothing is certain." Luthor replied.

Willigut smiled, having made his point.

"However." Luthor continued. "Similar experiments carried out by the Annunki have been successful."

Lord Solateedoh bowed his head, in acknowledgement. "I can assure you that it is only the unusual nature of the American Superman's genetic material, that complicates this process, the principal of accelerated maturation is an old one for my race."

The Baroness looked into the vat once more. "How useful will be a mature man if he has not received instruction, it is one thing to have the body of man, but what of the mind to direct it?"

Luthor nodded. "That is an excellent question, Baroness.

"The Annunki developed the process to breed their warrior-servant caste, I have adapted the technology to suit human learning parameters, as this child rests in the artificial womb you see it is receiving a constant stream of stimulation of all five senses, as time passes the order and nature of that stimulation will alter and reflect the biological age of the growing child."

"You are teaching these... children while they grow?"

"Absolutely, they are being raised as soldiers of the Third Reich, who hear the Fuhrer's voice before any other."

-'S'-

Clark Kent walked into the Cumberland Hotel near Marble Arch, London. Doffing his hat he readied himself for the inevitable.

Lois stood by the reception desk key in hand, she felt her breath catch in her throat, and her fingers loosen, such was the surprise, followed by a metallic clatter as her dropped room key contacted the hard floor.

Clark smiled his goofy grin, adjusted the glasses on the bridge of his nose.

"What's the matter Lois, you look like you've seen a ghost."

Lois leapt on him, wrapping her arms around his ill-fitting jacket and gasping.

"Clark you're alive, I don't believe it, you're alive." Breaking free. She looked up at him, tears brimmed in her eyes, as the violet pools darkened, and she punched his arm, Kent rolled away.

"Ouch, Damn you Kent. Where the hell have you been, what was the idea letting a girl think you were dead, Taylor is going to roast you alive for this one."

"Good to see you too Lois." Clark said.

Sitting down for coffee he explained his long absence.

"I was in Norway and travelling North, as best as I know..."

"What do you mean?" Lois interrupted.

Clark came to the point tapping his head. "Amnesia." He said. "I don't know what happened." He shrugged. "They reckon I may never remember exactly how I got injured..."

"You're hurt?" Lois asked with concern.

"I was, a really good crack to the head - it's all better now."

"Why didn't you get in touch!"

"I didn't remember anything for quite sometime, and then it happened, like the flood gates opened and I remembered, at least most of it. So now I'm here."

"How?"

"The Brits found me, evacuated my with their injured, it's all a bit fuzzy to be honest."

"Typical." Lois muttered. Hitting him again playfully. "Probably the best story you're going to get – ever, and you can't remember what happened to you?"

"Yeah." Kent replied with self depreciating laugh, in his eyes were real regret as he saw Lois buy his misdirection.

"Well you're timing is impeccable, I was just making plans to catch the boat back home."

"Gee that's swell Lois. - It'll be great to see Metropolis again."

-'S'-

Steve Trevor sifted through the intelligence reports that had arrived encoded to the American Consulate in Berlin. Among them a note from his Commanding Officer Colonel Darnell – 'Steve. Please find enclosed the report from Diana Prince explaining the events surrounding her unscheduled absence.'

Steve opened the manilla folder and began reading.

Prince outlined how after being kidnapped by Nazi agents she had assisted Wonder Woman locate an artefact – a Weapon of Magical Dominance - called the Hand of Mars, her account shifted from a first hand account, to the third person as she transcribed Wonder Woman's testimony. Steve recognised her references to the Paradise Island of Themyscira remembering his own visit earlier that year.

Two things were abundantly clear. Wonder Woman, Superman and the other heroes claimed they had averted an invasion of vampires, and more importantly to Steve Trevor, intelligence officer, the Hand of Mars was still in play, returned to Europe by the Red Monk's Abbott.

Leaving the Chancery on Parsier Platz near the Brandenburg Gate, Trevor left the US Embassy slipping unseen into the night. Taking a route that brought him into the Tiergarten park with all the nonchalance of a casual stroll Trevor, weaves his way through the darkness.

"Hello old friend." Steve turns to the German speaker, taking him by the hand. "Hello Blake. What gives?" He asked quietly.

"I was keeping an ear out for anything that might involve our noble lady friend."

"Paula Von Gunther?" Steve asked.

"Yes." Blake replied. "She arrived in Berlin a couple of weeks ago, and since then she's not been seen outside of certain circles. You heard of project Ahenerbe?

"Yeah the search for Weapons of Magical Dominance is there thing." Trevor confirmed he understood.

"Among others." Blake paused. "You know our capes are ganging together?"

"I heard a whisper. Surprised it's made it's way to you."

"Looks like the Germans have a similar idea." Blake replied.

"What have you heard?"

"Reich Knights." Blake whispered. "It' all very hush, hush, but you can bet that Wotan is leading them."

-'S'-

"You wanted to see me sir?" Superman asked the President of the United States.

Roosevelt looked up at the Man of Steel. "Finally you got the message I take it?"

"Yes Sir, I've been busy."

Superman saw the report from Alsos on the President's desk. He had briefed Colonel Lane on his return to Metropolis.

"I gather that." FDR said, his finger tapping on the file. his tone indicating both frustration and displeasure. "You realise the Germans wrote to me complaining about you?"

"I'm sorry."

"You are sorry?" The President lent back in his chair incredulous.

"Yes Sir, I am sorry I didn't succeed in getting my hands on Hitler and ending this war, if I had France might not have fallen, Norway, the Low Countries, might still be free."

"Perhaps." FDR said quietly. "Then again has it occurred to you who might have replaced Herr Hitler – did you think you could cut the head of the Hydra, and it wouldn't just sprout another one as foul as the last?" FDR was not sure this was true, Hitler had lead his country effectively – yet he was not infallible, the German High Command had let the British and French armies for the most part evacuate from the fall of France, a military miscalculation. Churchill was now resolute in the face of a probable invasion, had the troops not escaped across the channel, England would have been gravely weakened.

Superman was honest about his motives. "I was angry at the sights and sounds of war. I admit that anger clouded my judgement."

"I understand that – but you can't allow yourself the luxury of emotional decisions. I can't. America's position has to be a balanced one. If America is to help the British, I have to persuade Congress to support Britain to defend democracy in Europe.

"I need you to understand it, the politics of this situation."

"I do Sir."

"Good. I need you to be clear on this. I don't want you unilaterally attacking the Nazi's – not yet any way. Besides it looks like you had your hands full over the last few weeks anyway." Roosevelt opened the Alsos file.

"I see you captured one of those subterranean reptilians. Good it can perhaps provide valuable intelligence.

"However this business with the Red Monks is troublesome."

"We're confident we shut the door and bolted it Mr President."

FDR nodded, he read the code-names of the superhuman's who had worked together to prevent an invasion of the undead.

"This society you have formed. Do you have a name yet?"

"We have settled upon the Justice Society."

"The Justice Society of America, has a certain ring to it." The President said.

"Superman – the American people can defend these shores against human threats, against men with guns.

"American factories can give Churchill the tools to defend democracy.

"But things like these Reptilians, the Brotherhood." FDR paused, he gestured at Superman.

"It seems to me your role is clear." FDR declared. "There are threats to democracy, and this great republic – the wider world, that cannot be met by mere men bearing arms, by conventional means – the Justice Society - you are our only line of defence against these unspeakable horrors.

"In short son I need you take on the Monsters, and let us mere mortals worry about the war."