"I disapprove of your tone and your accusations, Batman. They're sheer blasphemy!" Queen Hippolyta angrily turns her back upon the quartet of visitors from the Justice League of America. The royal guard dutifully steps between the monarch and the outsiders. The atmosphere grows testy. The Amazons of Paradise Island harbor deep-rooted distrust towards men. The very presence of two males from Patriarch's world is unsettling enough. For a man to enter the royal hall and levy criminal allegations against Princess Diana is truly unthinkable.

"Your majesty, may I request a private audience?" Black Canary's impassioned plea is seemingly ignored as the queen retreats to her inner chambers. Zatanna, Batman, Black Canary and Superman whisper animatedly amongst themselves as they are escorted out of the royal palace. The Justice League does not wish to incite an incident on Themyscira, but it is paramount that they track down Wonder Woman and find the missing Hawkgirl.

"She's covering for Diana by using her authority to stonewall us!" the Batman growls under his breath so as not to be overheard by the Amazon sentries suspiciously eyeing the foursome. "Not necessarily Bruce." Zatanna retorts. "Your brusque approach works well with the criminal element, but Hippolyta is the leader of a very noble people. Look at it from her perspective. The four of us arrive unexpectedly and you practically charge her daughter with treason against the JLA. How did you expect the queen to react?"

The Batman broods momentarily. He sees a logic in Zatanna's argument. The League had opted upon a small contingent to approach Hippolyta. Hawkman was not included in the party, because he is too emotionally compromised by the potential danger to his wife. Bruce believes that he has maintained his composure and appropriately balanced assertiveness with decorum, but tact is not one of the Batman's fortes.

"The Hawkship is right here on Paradise Island, beyond the scope of our detection methods." Superman summarizes. "My x-ray vision can not penetrate the hull, so I can't tell if Diana or Shayera are on board. Otherwise, I've scanned the entire island and there is no sign of either of them. Wonder Woman has been scheming against us; Hippolyta is our best option for gaining an understanding of her atypical behavior. We must convince the queen that it is in everyone's best interests, including her daughter's, that she cooperate with us!"

As the leaguers contemplate their options, their conversation is interrupted by Hippolyta's chief advisor. "The queen will speak with you now." she declares while looking directly at Black Canary. Although not voiced, it is clear that the monarch will only permit Dinah Lance to be brought into her company. The super heroine nods graciously and accompanies two guards back inside the palace.

*****

"This is a most unusual request, Wonder Woman." His expression is one of consternation and frustration. What had been another routine day in the life of an executive is now suddenly wrought with tension. He must make an uncomfortably quick decision. As he leans forward in his desk chair, light glistens off of his damp and noticeably receding forehead. "You're asking me to violate standard protocol. Can't you at least give me a decent explanation? I need something concrete to justify this action."

Princess Diana has experienced many powerful emotions during her time in man's world. Today, she can add a new one. The heroine feels shame. She is alienated from her Justice League friends, who now consider her a fugitive. To this point, her transgressions have been limited to the JLA itself and can thus be dealt with internally. This is about to change, for now Wonder Woman embarks upon an initiative which will inevitably be viewed as criminal under the law.

"If Circe could see me now, she would rejoice over the disgrace she's induced upon me!" Diana privately laments. The Amazon is utterly ashamed, yet outwardly she projects her customary confidence and presence. She has yet to be publicly branded a villainess; therefore she must take advantage of her good name while it lasts.

"Sir, this is an urgent JLA matter, the specifics of which I am not at liberty to speak." Wonder Woman states sternly. "You've verified my identity through both my fingerprints and retinal scan. Due diligence has been done. Forgive my impatience sir, but may I have what I came for? Time is running short. I have many connections, including in the White House. Please don't make me go over your head on this!"

The beleaguered official groans dejectedly. "That won't be necessary." he responds. "You have the right to give this order; I will reluctantly comply with it." The man motions for his aide to proceed with the heroine's wishes. "Let me say this off-the-record, Wonder Woman." he adds when they are alone. "All along I felt that the president and the United Nations made a big mistake in granting you Justice Leaguers your 'Carte Blanche' martial authority. I feared something like this could happen. Neither you nor anyone else should be able to waltz in here and drop a bombshell on me!"

As they exit the executive's office, Diana ponders grimly to herself. "Merciful Minerva! I'm so focused upon my current plight that this angle totally escaped me! The JLA lobbied for two whole years to get the Carte Blanche Directive passed. We've only had need to invoke it twice, but it's an invaluable asset. Hera help me if my actions here today cost us this vital tool!"

*****

"... and the latest event, which finally revealed Diana's involvement in this whole mystery, occurred only a short while ago aboard the Justice League satellite." Black Canary proceeds to explain how Wonder Woman was exposed in possession of Green Lantern's stolen power ring. Hippolyta listens quietly as Dinah concludes her story with the Amazon desperately fleeing the sentinel headquarters.

"Your majesty," Dinah compassionately implores, "I can't explain what is happening here, but we all believe that Circe is somehow responsible. We know your daughter. Wonder Woman is not only our colleague; she is also our friend. None of us accept that she has suddenly turned evil. You've spoken with Diana recently. Did you notice anything peculiar?"

Hippolyta considers Dinah's question for a brief moment. "I haven't seen much of Diana the past day or so, even though she's spent most of her time here on the island." the monarch explains. "She asked for privacy to work on the Thanagarian vessel. I never imagined it had been stolen."

"Queen Hippolyta," Black Canary queries "is it possible that Circe has managed to control Wonder Woman's mind?" The Amazon ruler shudders at the very thought, but emphatically rejects this notion. "I know my daughter better than anyone else on Earth. Unfortunately, I can say the same thing about Circe. Their personalities are strikingly different. Diana and I conversed at length two nights ago in the aftermath of your combined victory over Circe. The woman I spoke with was unquestionably my daughter. Circe could fool most people with her vile sorcery, but not me. I'd know that witch in any guise!"

"Whatever the cause of my daughter's actions, we must find her at once." the Amazon ruler insists. Attempts to contact Diana via by both radio and telepathy go unanswered; therefore Hippolyta decides to resort to more extensive methods. She leads Black Canary towards a large cabinet adorned with impressive etchings dating back centuries. Dinah can't help but be impressed by the majestic architecture and furnishings of the royal palace, but the brief wandering of her curious eyes is suddenly cut short.

"Great Aphrodite!" Queen Hippolyta exclaims. "My magic sphere ... it's gone!"

*****

A concerned monarch guides the small procession of Justice Leaguers to Olympian Ridge. Joining the group is Hawkman, whose presence is needed to gain entry onto the Hawkship. "I do not wish to believe that Diana has forsaken her responsibilities and ideals," Hippolyta explains, "but other than me she is the only Amazon with free access to my magic sphere." The JLA contingency nods grimly. "Wonder Woman has covered her escape very well." the Batman observes. "The rest of our membership is out searching for her, but so far we've turned up nothing."

"I contacted my other daughter in patriarch's world, Donna Troy." the queen volunteers. "Evidently her Teen Titans organization is heavily immersed in a vital mission at this moment. Donna has taken leave from her allies to help find her sister. The others will likely be indisposed for the next few days."

The group reaches the Hawkship and as expected they find its forcefield defenses firmly in place. Katar Hol utilizes his private access codes, but to no avail. "No! No, dammit!!!" Hawkman snarls as Shayera's personal ID is also rejected. "I can't believe this. She's overridden the personal authorities to our own ship!?"

There is very little that even the ingenious Katar Hol can do at this point. He knows his ship better than anyone. Its protective energy shielding can not be compromised. It would take enormous strength or firepower to breach the hull. In that event, the craft is designed to self destruct so as to avoid falling into an enemy's possession.

"Even at this close range, my x-ray vision can not penetrate the ship's exterior." Superman notes in frustration. Requesting momentary silence, he closes his eyes and concentrates intently. "I seem to detect three distinct heartbeats within the craft." the Man of Steel reports. "I hear no other non-mechanical sounds. There's no activity and the respiration rates seem rather slow, as if those onboard are asleep."

"Diana and Hawkgirl could be on board," Zatanna theorizes, "but who is the other person?" The Justice Leaguers all gaze at Hippolyta, but the queen has no ready answer. "There are over a thousand Amazon women living on Paradise Island." she responds. "I know of no one who is missing, but that is hardly unusual. We Amazons all have various interests which can occupy our minds for days at a time. Depending upon the individual and her pursuits, it's entirely possible that she could go days if not weeks before her absence would noticed." Hippolyta reassures her visitors that she will order an official search to determine if any Amazon is unaccounted for.

Operating under the premise that Diana may be on board the Hawkship, Queen Hippolyta and the JLA implore her to emerge peacefully. They want to understand what is happening and guarantee the princess that she will be given every opportunity to explain her actions. "Diana, if you can hear me, we're all here to help." the Amazon matriarch reasons. "We know Circe's involved in this somehow. Trust me daughter. Work with us to defeat her!"

"I'm afraid your pleas are for naught, your majesty." Black Canary interjects. "Your daughter is not here." Everyone looks anxiously at Dinah Lance. The heroine's expression is a blend of disappointment and astonishment. "I ... I just received word from Ollie." she begins. "Wonder Woman has surfaced twice in the past hour. Apparently she's used her clout to spring Lex Luthor and the Joker from prison!"