THIRTEEN
The winged furry mammal swooped in, down, up and through the narrow-spaced pathways of the rocky cave. It exited into a mammoth, open cavern of stalactites and stalagmites. The brown bat careened downward swooping over metal platforms and structures to find a perching spot upside down on a stairway. Attentive shiny eyes focused on the woman below.
"Victor actually reached out already," she said. "With congratulations on our upcoming. He invited me up to Watchtower, but I like it here. Alfred, so sweet. He's doting on me constantly. Right now, he's up in the kitchen preparing a dish I've never heard of."
"He's quite taken with you," Bruce said. "Should I be worried in my absence?"
Selina Kyle sat in Batman's chair located in the Batcave below Wayne Manor. Before her was a static-riddled, holographic image of her fiancée.
"But of course, Mr. Wayne, you should always be worried," Selina teased. "I'm happy, even though you're so far away. Being down here makes me feel closer to you. Your scent is really strong."
"I may have left some dirty towels over by the workout bag," Bruce said with not a hint of humor.
"Oh, the sweet things you whisper in my ear," Selina said. "How long will you be gone?"
Selina watched Bruce pause as if he were looking to someone else or something on the alien ship.
"The short answer is I don't know," Bruce responded.
"And the long answer?" Selina asked hugging her knees up in the chair.
"We're going after Hal and J'onn," Bruce said. "Against an unknown enemy and we've allied ourselves with an almost as unknown entity."
"Typical stuff for the League," Selina wanly smiled. "You gonna' take off the cowl?"
"I'm not ready to have them see my face," Bruce stated.
"Well then, Batman," Selina said leaning closer to Bruce's image. "I'll say good hunting to the mask, and wait to say, I love you to the face. When you return."
Bruce managed a slight smile. "I love you."
"Bruce?" Selina called.
"Yeah?" he responded wishing she was on the alien ship with him.
"One ask, directive, is all I have - stay alive," she ordered.
"And you stay legal," Bruce said.
"How much trouble can a girl get in without Batman keeping her in check?" Selina challenged.
"Have I ever held you in check?" Bruce asked.
"Yeah," Selina answered. "You have. I know it sounds ridiculous, but, but I want to be a better person with you in my life."
"Never give a person that power over you," Bruce responded. "It should be your decision that leads you to that."
"Fair enough, silly," Selina said. "But there is something to be said about inspiring someone, wouldn't you agree?"
Selina saw, even through the cowl, Bruce took a gulp. A sure sign he was ambivalent about emotional discussions they would get into.
"You know I'm not good with this," he managed.
Selina took her hand up to Batman's in-flux, deconstructing hologram face.
"The transmission is horrible," she observed. "I know you don't like exposing the gentler demeanor of yourself. But, just for me. Right now. Remove your cowl. Tell me you love me. And you will see me soon."
Selina edged her face closer to Batman's image. She traced one side of his face with her finger. Bruce removed the Batman cowl. Selina fiddled with the engagement ring Bruce placed on her finger two weeks ago. A quick love smile bloomed in her heart realizing how well he knows her.
"I love you, Selina Kyle," he said. "See you soon."
Batman's image faded away leaving Selina alone, but only for a few seconds as one of her Ragdoll cats - that had invaded the Batcave, hopped up onto her lap. It purred curling into Selina's body. She stroked the cat's head while reaching for a nearby, half-filled glass of wine. She leaned back into the leather chair listening to the comms chatter of Batman's extended family and friends patrolling America's two largest cities, Gotham and Metropolis.
"Mommy has to get out there," she said to the white-haired cat with brown face markings. "While the Bat's away, the cat watches over his city. Our city. But, first, let's see what Alfred's cooking."
Selina, for no particular reason, leapt upward while holding the cat. She grabbed the underbar of a stairway sending the spying bat flapping away. She swung back-and-forth several times before letting go as her body sailed further up to a high landing. A few meters away was an elevator that she and the cat disappeared into as the doors slid closed.
Forty-seven minutes later, Batman stands rod-still in an extremely wide empty corridor of the Oa ship, looking out through a window into the seemingly empty void of space. There are no stars to be seen. Only complete blackness with momentary splashes of light in a rhythmic manner. His cape wraps around the front of his body obscuring his arms. A steady, low hum is the only noise. A nearly unperceived vibration is the only sense of movement. The mammoth ship's ability to travel great distances at such an incredibly rapid speed leaves him feeling vulnerable. How many other groups of aliens outside of Earth's awareness have similar abilities?
"I've been standing behind you for the last minute," Clark interrupts the silence.
"I know," Bruce says.
"Of course you do," Clark responds standing next to Bruce.
"You lost the cape," Bruce observes.
"I did," Clark says.
Bruce grunts leaving Clark a moment to smile.
"As far as I can tell, they are the only ones on board," Clark says.
"You believe Apsa's story?" Bruce asks.
"Diana's lasso believes it. That's good enough for me," Clark answers.
Bruce grunts again.
"You know, learning the language of Batman is one of my greater accomplishments," Clark says as he mimics a wide range of grunts and mumble noises.
Bruce cracks the slightest of smiles barely noticeable, except to Clark.
"Work this out with me?" Bruce solicits.
Clark regains a semblance of composure reading his friend's seriousness.
"You and Di are the two most powerful people on Earth, due respect to Arthur," Bruce opens. "Powers that could, at one time in our history only be imagined. You both, assured me that being rulers of the world was not your goal. An assurance I realized I didn't need to hear. You've proven yourselves over and over again. Hell, I might not have been born, if not for the actions you've taken in the past."
"Your point, Bruce?" Clark wonders.
"Braniac's goal. Obviously based in power. The description of that power is, daunting. What was the lever that made him decide he would be that ruler, deciding and ending the lives of millions?" Bruce asks.
"You fear such a lever pulling Diana and me to the dark side?" Clark asks.
"The friend, colleague in me, of course not," Bruce responds. "Yet, shit happens in life, I don't have to tell you never say never. My overriding point, question; is that lever as simple as nature versus nurture? From the Joker to Ra's, I have dealt with this and I've yet to come to a conclusion. I'm trying to read the room now, Clark. This ever-evolving room where powerful aliens are now becoming a new reality to Earth's existence. No offense."
"None taken," Clark responds. "This Braniac is what the Guardians' deem as the Corp's mission. Maintain a peaceful co-existence amongst the sectors it monitors."
"And who keeps the Guardians in check?" Bruce follow-ups.
"You are without a doubt, the most paranoid, suspicious person I have ever met," Clark says. "No offense."
Clark shrugs as Bruce throws him a Batman glare.
"Down this rabbit hole a bit more, no malice," Bruce continues. "You have little to fear when it comes to your physical well-being. Ninety-nine, point nine, nine percent of the world's population does not have that luxury. I'm one of those. On the spectrum of hardest to kill, you're at the top of the food chain and I'm floating around a four. I'm here, with you now, because I'm the wealthiest person on Earth, afforded me the ability to hone my abilities, human abilities to a level I will never be satisfied with."
"Don't forget the cool tools," Clark interjects.
"Yes," Bruce says. "Cool tools. Is Earth prepared for what's out here?"
"I honestly don't know," Clark says. "Pragmatism has carried the day for me many times. Leave it at this, I'll walk in the light leaving myself open to any perceived or real threat while knowing, you will be there in the shadows watching my back. And, please, you're at least a six."
"Damn you," Bruce growls hiding a smile.
"Seriously, Bruce, your money may have helped set up the League, but next to my lovely wife, you are the most dangerously capable person I know," Clark says. "Other than her, there's no one I would trust more with my life, and hers."
"So, we hug now or something?" Bruce throws out.
Clark tilts his head. "You look like you need one."
"Okay, okay," Bruce relents. "So, bottom line, we do what we do as the League."
"Yep," Clark says.
"So, you're the biggest tech brain Earth has to offer," Bruce opines. "You understand this ship?"
"Slander to a large group of people there," Clark observes.
"All capable individuals, but no need for modesty," Bruce says.
Clark raises an eyebrow. "Well, my comprehension is rudimentary. I understand the concept, still trying to figure out the how specifics of it all. I've compartmentalized a section of my mind on just the incredible things I have seen. Am seeing. But, think about this for a second, Bruce. Take a step back. A moment. This moment is nothing short of surreal, don't you think? We're in an alien spaceship, over five hundred light years from Earth. You ever think you would be doing such a thing?"
"Yippee," Bruce mocks. "However they're doing this, there are no stars. It's just darkness."
"I thought bats loved the dark," Clark pokes.
Bruce lets out a heavy sigh as Clark turns leaning against the ship's window.
"If you've investigated my life as much as I believe you have," Clark begins. "You know the extent to which I have faced war mongers, powered and non-powered. And now facing this unknown. Be prepared? Of course. Be paralyzed by what we yet to have information on? Not me. I've seen too much."
"Being prepared means what?" Bruce counters. "If you don't know what to be prepared for?"
"A mindset," Clark says. "I only have three expectations – one, meeting up with Hal; two – getting J'onn; and three – all seven of us getting safely back home. How that plays out? We'll obviously see."
"And what is your mindset about Oa's red sun?" Bruce asks looking down either end of the corridor. As soon as he was aware of Clark's approachment, Bruce activated a signal scrambler hoping it would keep any prying alien, listening devices at bay.
"I've spent time, a lot of time studying, analyzing a yellow sun's effect upon me," Clark says. "Kelex and I have simulated red sun properties to build up a tempered immunity within my body. Maybe, not so much an immunity really, but rather a delay in the release of yellow sun energy stored in my body's cells. Bottomline, it doesn't become a factor for at least several days."
"You're sure?" Bruce asks.
"Didn't you call me the smartest person but a moment ago?" Clark responds.
Batman grunts. "And did you ever think of building a machine that could simulate yellow sun energy?"
Clark pinches his lips together. "Yeah, I kinda' made one of those. Totally low level compared to the real thing. But, umm, it's at the fortress."
Bruce attempts and fails to stifle a loud laugh. That goes on. And on.
"It was a time crunch," Clark attempts to explain. "Like I said, seventy-two hours. I'll be good."
Bruce regains his Batman composure despite fighting a laugh still wanting to continue as he looks to Clark.
"You done?" Clark asks. "Because Barry will be here in three…"
Clark hears Barry's feet touching the ship's floor several hundred yards away.
"…two," Clark continues.
He hears the loudening crinkle of Barry's suit moving in formation with super-fast arms and limbs.
"…one," Clark concludes.
Bruce detects a hint of movement far down the corridor, and within a second, Barry is in front of him and Clark.
"Hey guys," Barry says. "We're about six minutes out. Triple A wants us in the control room."
"Really?" Clark asks Barry. "Triple A?"
"Easier than always saying Appa Ali Apsa," Barry says.
"Appa Ali Apsa," Bruce says without fail.
"Okay, okay," Barry responds. "Triple A is cooler."
"No," Bruce says. "It isn't"
Bruce starts walking down the corridor.
"Clark?" Barry questions himself.
Clark sigh laughs. "Do you, Barry. I wouldn't have it any other way."
"Thank you, sir," Barry responds and then catches his verbal faux pas. "Clark, Clark, sorry. It's just, you look like you're in your thirties, maybe forty, but you're a quarter over one hundred years. You're like the second oldest person on the planet, and your wife is the oldest."
"It's okay, Barry," Clark says. "I get it."
Barry's face shows utter relief. "Yeah, you know, you're like six, seven times older than me?"
"Yep, got it," Clark says. "We should be going."
Barry throws a wink and a finger at Clark, and he is gone. Clark catches sight of Bruce's cape flapping upwards as Barry passes and exits the corridor.
"My team," Clark smiles.
He begins to follow his teammates when he looks out through the window into the void that is space. Stars begin to come back dotting the blackness. The ship is not moving as fast. He ponders a moment to take in the majesty of space. Do the races in this quadrant look up from their planets and see constellations as they do on Earth? The unrecognized star formations leave him transfixed and in awe.
At least until the body of a once large, Green Lantern member slams into the ship's window from the other side. The body is missing its head and maybe an arm. There are still several arms attached to the scorched body that is now frozen. Its Green Lantern ring, strapped on a pale, white finger, appears to be seeping green light energy. After bouncing off the window, the icy corpse floats back out leaving a green, meandering tendril of energy behind. Clark scans the surrounding area outside the window. He sees several destroyed ships, much smaller than the Oa ship. He counts at least twelve more bodies. A planet looms in the distance. From what he can see of the planet, there are no evident bodies of water on the surface.
He feels a minor twinge, similar to goosebumps, roll across his back. The red sun. Its fiery brightness, beyond the planet that must be Oa, begins an internal countdown within his cellular structure.
Clark flies down the corridor into the Oa ship's main control room. Several large monitors show carnage and on-going war without any context or sounds. Aliens that Clark could little imagine come and move out of view. Some are wearing Green Lantern uniforms. He sees burning structures. The green glow of Lantern rings being used in the distance. And then there are the bodies. Some alone. Other in fallen piles. Streaks of coagulated blue liquid. Red liquid, upon their faces, arms and chests. Smoke emanating everywhere.
"Where's Braniac?" Clark demands of Apsa.
Apsa, Kilowog, and the League are surrounding a huge three-dimensional, hologram representation of the planet Oa. Smaller green dots litter an orbiting trajectory around the planet. A larger red dot sits further away from the planet.
"He is there," Apsa points to the red, stationary dot.
"What's the status?" Clark asks landing next to Diana.
"Braniac's ground forces are nearing the Planetary Citadel," Apsa says.
"How many people you have on planet?" Arthur asks.
"Usually less than five thousand," Apsa replies. "But, we had coordinated an exodus of citizens from a nearby planet that was in atmospheric peril."
"Wait," Diana says. "You were moving an entire race of people off-planet?"
"Yes," Apsa says. "Just over one billion. Kilowog and I were dropping off supplies and construction machines to their new home when we received word of Braniac's attack on Oa."
"How many of these people are left on Oa?" Clark asks.
"Oa temporarily sustained one hundred million of them," Apsa says. "The others have been spread out amongst several worlds, until a viable planet was ready for inhabitation. There are three million, two hundred thousand, three hundred and thirty-one left on Oa."
"Confirm again for me, this isn't a warship, correct?" Batman asks.
"Correct," Kilowog responds. "But we have smaller vessels aboard that have armament capabilities."
"Braniac will detect this ship?" Batman continues.
"He already has," Apsa says. "So far, obviously, he has done nothing."
"So, we're on borrowed time?" Clark believes.
"This may not be a warship," Apsa says. "But it does have shields."
"Not much comfort considering your planet is under siege," Arthur observes.
"Hal?" Diana asks. "Is he out there somewhere?"
Apsa floats his hands over panels that light up.
"Hal Jordan is reading. He is there," Apsa says pointing at the planet's holographic image to a green dot that is flickering on and off. "At the Citadel."
"Can you transport us down?" Diana says.
"Yes," Apsa says. "The nearest hangar is just down the left access corridor."
The League exchanges bewildered looks.
"Appa?" Clark asks. "Are you not capable of teleportation? Transmitting molecular matter of people, objects from one place to another?"
Apsa looks to Kilowog, who stands as if a secret was revealed at the worst time possible.
"We have not, mastered that technology," Apsa states. "To be blunt, since time is of the essence, it was not a coincidence when we first reached out to Earth when we did. One of our Green Lanterns picked up a stray Earth signal that carried your voice, Superman and several others discussing teleportation technology. Not just discussing, but running successful tests. The Guardians sent a Green Lantern envoy to Earth. One of our finest. We still do not know what happened. His ship crashed as Hal Jordan relayed to us. The Green Lantern envoy died, but not before he and the ring deemed Jordan worthy."
"That was five years ago. Why have you not asked us about teleportation?" Bruce asked.
"A probationary period," Apsa says. "We needed to be sure of who you were as a planet."
"Don't need politics right now. We discuss this later," Clark says. "Can you contact, Hal?"
"I've been trying," Apsa says. "Nothing so far. It could be a Braniac machination or something else."
Clark eyes his fellow League members over to him.
"Bruce, you, Arthur and Barry head down to the Citadel," Clark says. "Kilowog will be able to guide you there."
"You and Di going to Braniac?" Bruce asks.
Clark looks to his wife, who gives him the wife nod. "Yeah, we are," he says. "He has our friend, and he needs to be stopped."
"What if Braniac overpowers you guys?" Arthur asks.
"Then we're screwed," Bruce says. "Let's move out. Good hunting, you two."
"Find Hal," Clark says. "Be prepared, we are in, definitely hitting the fan times."
"Don't be paralyzed," Bruce says revisiting his and Clark's earlier conversation. "Also, you don't believe that story Apsa was shoveling about the teleportation, do you?"
"No, I don't," Clark says. "But for now, he is an ally. Be Batman, always. Get out of here."
Bruce and Diana clink bracelet and gauntlet, respectively.
"I still want those two minutes when we get back," Bruce says.
"You know my address," Diana smiles.
"Kilowog, you have those atmosphere suits you spoke of?" Clark asks.
"They become wearable once activated. There are some on the shuttle we're taking down," Kilowog says. "We shouldn't need them. The air on Oa is breathable. Hal had no issues."
Clark nods, unable to take his vision off the monitors. People are dying by the second.
"Kick ass, guys," Arthur says to Clark and Diana.
"Wield your trident with purpose," Diana says.
"And you, Athena," responds Arthur. "You did bring it?"
"Of course," Diana responds.
"Innocents are being harmed down there. Slaughtered," Clark says to Bruce, Arthur and Barry. "Do what you can. First time the League is off-world. Watch out for each other."
Arthur and Barry shake some cobwebs off their bodies with neck stretches, shoulder rolls and feet stepping. Bruce, stoic per Batman usual.
"Till we see each other again," Bruce says to Clark and Diana."
"Till then," Clark and Diana respond.
Bruce, Arthur and Barry, along with Kilowog, exit the control room. Two minutes later, Clark and Diana watch on a monitor the shuttle making its way towards Oa. They each exhale a sigh of relief as there are no enemy ships or attacks in waiting.
"So much wreckage out there," Clark says observing the field of ship debris.
"That stage of the war appears to be over, won by Braniac," Apsa says.
"Still nothing on transmission? Nothing with other the Guardians?" Diana asks.
"Two were killed before I left for Earth," Apsa says. "The other nine I have been unable to contact."
"I'm sorry, Appa," Diana says. "We will hold Braniac accountable for all of this. All that he has done."
Clark places a hand on Diana's arm. "You ready?" he asks.
Diana nods.
"Appa, things go the way we hope," Clark begins. "How do we get back to Earth?"
"I cannot trust there to be any salvageable ships on Oa," Apsa says. "I will remote a ship to a location not too far away. Wait here."
Apsa moves toward a storage looking compartment located across the room.
"Game plan?" Clark asks Diana.
"Going in blind," Diana says. "We get J'onn. Everything that this Braniac has done and is doing, negotiating is not a tactic. He will see that as weakness and go in for a kill shot. He needs to be put down."
"Agreed," Clark says holding Diana's hands. "Into battle we go again."
"I got you," Diana says.
Clark pulls Diana close to him. Closer. Her lips feel like warm, yellow sun feeding every corner and crevice of his body.
"How do we get over to Braniac?" Diana asks, her hands linked behind Clark's head.
"I fly us there. Knock, knock, we go in," Clark says. "I'm certain a ship that large won't de-pressurize if we have to make a forced entryway."
"Excuse me," Apsa says handing Clark a device that looks like a small, remote control key fob. "Please slide the small compartment up and press the button inside."
Clark does. There is a clicking noise and nothing else.
"Now you," Apsa says intimating for Clark to hand Diana the fob.
Diana clicks down on the button.
"Okay," Apsa says. "The shuttle is now programmed to remotely pilot itself to that fob, when pressed by either one of you."
"Through walls?" Clark asks.
"No," Apsa clarifies. "If there is no direct line, the shuttle will remain outside of whatever the remote is in."
"And piloting back to Earth?" Diana asks.
"Automatic," Apsa explains. "Verbal authority by either one of you will get the ship on its way. Better yet, if Jordan is with you, he can pilot."
"Thank you, Appa," Clark says.
"Thank you for what you are and about to do," Apsa says handing additional devices to Clark and Diana. "It attaches anywhere on your skin. Place it there now so it can acquire a baseline of your physiology and body temperature. It will be activated in two circumstances, one, if there is no breathable atmosphere; and two, your external body temperature drops or increases significantly."
"Won't ask the context of significantly," Clark says placing the half-dollar shaped device under his forearm sleeve. "Impressive technology, Appa."
"It is," he replies.
"Is it inexhaustible?" Diana asks sliding it under one of her bracelets.
"No, but unless you're stranded without breathable air for days, you should be okay," Apsa replies. "Once activated, a transparent film will crawl from the device over your body providing air and protection. It has been tested on beings many times your size. It lasted many hours before needing recharging."
"I guess recharging is a no-go due to the battery being off-line," Clark says.
"Indeed," Apsa.
"Ready?" Clark asks of Diana.
"Yes," Diana says. "Just need my…"
Clark leaves so quickly, Diana's long ponytail swings behind her head. Clark returns with Diana's shield, battle tiara and Sword of Athena.
"...stuff," Diana finishes.
She gears up placing the shield and sword behind her back.
"I see you have the cape on," Diana says.
"No guarantee we'll be back on this ship," Clark says.
"Well, Appa," Clark says. "Regardless of my last statement, I do hope we meet again."
"As do I, Superman," Apsa says.
"Appa," Diana says holding out her hand.
"Thank you, Wonder Woman," he says shaking her hand.
"It's Diana," she corrects. "My name."
"Thank you, Diana," he responds.
The married couple walks off to battle as Apsa scans the monitors and holograms of the control room. Clark stops and turns.
"Appa," he calls out.
Apsa turns his attention to the dynamic duo before him.
Clark raises a finger twirling it around. "The translator system you have here. Is it omnipresent? Will we have any trouble communicating with anyone?"
"Every space-faring ship and station I'm aware of has it. Every planet the Corps monitors, has it," Apsa continues. "You should be fine."
Clark gives a semi-okay hand gesture.
"Notice how many times he says the word, should?" Clark asks Diana.
"Dear husband," Diana says as they exit the room into a corridor. "We focus now."
Clark momentarily takes his wife's hand. He then saddles up to her placing his right arm just above her hip. They lift off floating quickly through the Oa ship corridors.
"Show off," she says placing the side of her head against Clark's face.
They arrive inside a similar looking, but different space docking hangar from the one they arrived in via the League shuttle.
"Ready?" they hear Apsa's voice over the ship's intercom.
Clark and Diana touch their foreheads together.
"Into the breach we go," Diana says.
"With you at my side," they say in unison.
"Ready," Clark says loudly.
They stand in front of an extremely wide and tall metal wall. Clanking noises and expelling gas fill their hearing and vision. A thin, vertical seam, running from the ceiling to the floor, appears on the middle of the wall.
Diana takes Clark's hand.
The seam expands as the wall becomes two separate doors sliding away from each other exposing the boundless, coldness of space.
It beckons Clark and Diana. They see a translucent protective field keeping the hangar from depressurization. A technology that Clark would love to spend a great deal of time studying.
"We just go through it, right?" Diana asks.
"Yep," Clark says. "It'll take a few seconds to get through, but then we're clear."
"Okay," Diana says resolutely. She swings behind Clark and gently leaps on his back, wrapping her legs around his waist. "I've never done this with the cape before."
"You good?" he asks.
"I'm good," Diana responds.
"Take a deep breath just in case these suits don't click on," Clark says.
"…and with that, Superman bent his legs slightly and pushed off the Earth heading upwards into the sky. His destination unknown but carrying a promise to do all that he can to protect our planet and its people," Diana finished reading from the "Estia" newspaper.
Diana handed the newspaper to her mother, Hippolyta. They, along with Phillipus and several other Amazons – Menalippe, Epione, Mnemosyne, and Artemis, were in the rotund, Amazon hall where important matters were discussed, debated and decided over. Four arching entry ways led in and out. An expansive, open air window beautifully looked upon the Aegean Sea far below and in the distance. Large marble and limestone statues circled the room, inclusive of Otrera, the first Queen of the Amazons.
A warm breeze danced in and out of Diana's long, white toga flowing dress.
"Mother?" she asked. "Is Zeus this Superman, or possibly some other God?"
Hippolyta passed the newspaper to the other Amazons.
"I don't believe so, daughter," Hippolyta responded. "The Gods would not be this forthright in their actions."
"So his story," Diana said. "From a different planet. Krypton. And these powers."
"Whatever they may be," Hippolyta responded. "Is not our concern."
Diana could not believe her mother would say such a thing. She looked to the other Amazons who were not ready to disagree with their Queen.
"We cannot remain a literal island," Diana argued to Hippolyta and her sisters. "The outside world continues to make it smaller. It is inevitable that one day they'll discover us."
"If such a day, should occur," Hippolyta said. "We will act accordingly."
"What does that mean, mother?" Diana asked.
Diana feels Menalippe's hand on her shoulders.
"Diana," she said. "My sister is correct; you are not even a millennium old yet. Themyscira has faced invasions before. They were repelled and any in the future will be repelled again."
"The weapons in the outside world grow more destructive every day," Diana pleaded. "Turning a blind eye to that may be dangerous."
"But what can we do?" Artemis chimed in. "Only you can leave this island and return without harm."
Diana walked over to Artemis who stood the same height as Diana. They were close enough in age to have grown up as rivals. Artemis never quite being good enough to ever best Diana in a physical or skilled competition.
"You are correct, sister," Diana answered. "I should confront this Clark Kent. Superman."
"No," Hippolyta stated. "Steve Trevor led you to Ares. What or who do you think this Clark Kent will lead you to?"
"Whether he is to be a friend or an enemy," Diana responded.
Hippolyta walked regally over to her daughter. She was silent for what seemed like an eternity inside Diana's head.
"I can forbid you going," Hippolyta said. "But I know how that will end. So, I ask you, as an Amazon. As my daughter. For now, not forever, do not confront this man. You have gone to the outside world to learn about its people, their ways, history, culture. Dangers. I will admit that I have more than a passing interest in these stories. Continue them if you must, but will you give your mother this one qualification?"
Diana slowly shook her head side to side not sure she heard Hippolyta's words correctly. A pang of deep love, mixed with guilt, fed its way from her heart, up her throat, to a reply.
"You are not only my mother," Diana said. "You are also my Queen. And I should not have disobeyed your decree despite you letting me go. As such Queen Hippolyta, I will remain on Themyscira for the next ten years as my penance to you."
"Daughter?" Hippolyta asked not sure she heard Diana's correctly.
"Do you accept my penance?" Diana asked looking without yield to her mother.
"I do."