"We need to turn this boat around," Peggy said when she got her wits about her. Sousa had instantly caved to her leadership when the had regained consciousness after fainting. The Amazon had struggled at first to the new authority, but it soon became clear to her that Daniel trusted Peggy's opinion over hers and that working together seamlessly would be the only way to get off the boat and back to Themyscira.
Peggy fretted over the controls of the ship. She had been trained as a pilot as part of her military training, not for the navy, and so had Sousa. Diana as well had no nautical knowledge and there were so many buttons and levers all on one long board. How could one person operate it all? At least, in the fighter jets, she was used to flying, there had been buttons and levers at all angles so that operating it alone was possible. Also, there had been a visible logic to the placement of the things.
"I think I know what to do," Daniel said, "I haven't had much naval training, but I was stationed on a boat similar to this one for a few months. I might be able to figure it out."
Peggy nodded and left him alone in the cockpit, or whatever it was called on a ship. She walked over to Diana, biting her lip. As much as she was dreading it, Peggy knew that she had to tell Diana of her visions in the Oracle's cave. She just needed to make sure that Daniel was out of earshot. He wasn't going to like what she believed the Amazon would say, and, for the first time in a while, Peggy felt glad that she did not remember the past two years, for knowledge of them would make them harder to leave behind.
The Amazon was standing on the bow, the wind making her long black locks dance and flutter about her face. Diana turned on her heel, like a hawk when it sees prey, to face the agent when she heard Peggy approach.
Peggy broke the topic slowly, watching the other woman's reactions. Peggy was, after all, admitting that she knew that Diana's homeland would be destroyed and that Peggy's interests lined up with them never making it back to Themiscyra. "I... I haven't told Daniel this, he's still trying to turn the boat around. But you said yourself the place was in flames and the Oracle showed me in the rowboat. There may be nothing we can do now." Peggy looked up at Diana, her lower lip quivering. This woman was everything Hippolyta was and more. Terrifying even without a magical lasso and an army of trained super women.
Diana took Peggy's arm and led her to some stairs where they then sat. "I am glad you shared this with me," she said once they were seated. "The Oracle is never wrong, but it seems that she did not give you an outright prediction of how the events must go for either scenario."
"It could have already passed," Peggy said, "and there's nothing we can do-"
"But trap you and your fiancee here."
A chill ran down Peggy's spine at fiancee, the same shiver that had happened when Daniel had asked about the ring. She barely knew him, yet he claimed to know all about her. In her mind, they had shared but one simple kiss, one passionate kiss, but still one singular kiss. In his mind, they had spent two years planning a life out together.
Peggy just nodded
"Ultimately, it seems this is your decision," the Amazon said. "It would seem that I am powerless against your will, the Oracle has foreseen it. But I would like you to consider keeping this vision between us; entertain the idea that there might yet be a way off the island, perhaps with the man in clouds the Oracle cannot see. Themiscyra is, of course, my homeland and it could very well be yours. It will also be better for you than your world has been." This Peggy already knew.
"Then why did you leave?" Peggy asked timidly.
"Because I thought I could save your world from Ares. I was wrong, now I have put mine in jeopardy and I am asking you to save it." They locked gazes, nearly frozen in time.
Peggy's head was spinning. Her mind wandered between Aliena's smiling face and those of all the other young girls who had found refuge on the island. What would happen to them? Would they die, simply cease to exists, or would they be forced back into the world they had escaped? On the other hand, she could practically feel Daniel's hand on her, one pressed into the small of her back and the other near her shoulders, both pulling her closer.
Then another question hit her. Could she live out her life on Themisycra? Could she go back to being underappreciated and undervalued by those around her? Did leaving Daniel behind outway leaving behind every bloody Thompson?
"You need time alone," Diana said before walking away.
No, Peggy thought, I need time, period. Time to rationalize, time to think. There was no time. "Wait!" she called out. Diana turned. "We are going to save Themiscyra."
Diana nodded. "When this is all over Margaret Carter, I will owe you a debt, and should you wish to return home, I will work tirelessly to find a way for you."
Peggy nodded, her face grim and thoughts heavy. The matter was settled, they just needed to know what they were going up against. She walked back to the captain area where Daniel seemed to have figured a few things out.
"Daniel," she started, "I need to ask you about that mission. What exactly happened?"
