The Evil Long Forgotten
Chapter 4
By Christopher W. Blaine
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DISCLAIMER: All of the characters and situations contained in this story are ©2003 by DC Comics Inc. and are used without permission for non-profit, fan related entertainment purposes only. This original work of fiction is ©2003 by Christopher W. Blaine and may not be reproduced in any manner, in part or as a whole, without the express permission of the author.
The two dark-haired women sitting next to each other were the center of attention for most of the male passengers on the airliner. Several boyfriends and husbands were busy receiving sinister looks and slaps as their attention was instinctively drawn to the women.
"I guess we should be happy we aren't flying in costume," Donna Troy said.
Diana smiled and sipped from her tonic water. "I have found that it really doesn't matter. Women are designed to be appealing to a man whether we are naked or dressed in a parka. You either learn to accept it or allow it to rule you."
"That's quite a philosophy for the only woman in the Justice League. So you don't think that the boys at the Watchtower wouldn't stare just a little bit more if you came to the meeting in the buff?" Donna looked inside the empty package of peanuts and was instantly disgusted. How they could call eight peanuts a snack, she would never know.
"Well, you might have a point," Diana replied with a wicked grin. She did briefly have a flash of amusement as she imagined the looks on Superman and Batman as she strolled into a meeting with nothing on but her magic lasso. "It's important not to draw too much attention to ourselves for this mission."
"Diana, we're celebrities. I can't even begin to imagine the reason why we haven't been recognized." Donna glanced to her right, where two teenage boys had been whispering and giggling to each other for an hour. Donna was inclined to go over and smack them silly, but she realized she would be breaking several international laws, not to mention raising the ire of the sky marshall.
As Troia, she was a member of the Titans, and therefore a super-hero, which meant she wasn't allowed to hit boys with overactive hormones just for looking. That didn't stop her from fantasizing about it.
"Probably because most of them aren't looking at our faces when we're in costume," Diana replied. She was also annoyed at the two young men. She understood that puberty was a difficult time for young men, but did it have to be so difficult for grown women as well? She decided that the best approach was to be direct. Men seemed to shy away from direct women. "Excuse me boys?" she started, leaning forward and tossing her hair back. "My sister and I were wondering if you were interested in us?"
Donna didn't say anything although she almost choked. The boy nearest her smirked and rubbed the three hairs growing on his chin. "Yeah, we'd like to get into the both of ya," he replied. Donna was immediately reminded of her teammate Roy Harper and how he had used to act when he was that age. It had been so charming when she was younger and dumber.
"Well, can you tell me why we should let you?"
The two boys lost their smiles and stammered for a few moments. Donna caught on and spoke next. "Yes, I mean what can you offer us that other men can't?"
The other boy cracked out a reply. "We can make you feel good…"
Diana nodded and then bit her bottom lip. "What if you get us pregnant? You do have jobs, right? My sister and I are used to a certain lifestyle."
"What about medical insurance? Retirement?"
"We'll need a place to stay…"
"Whoa! Look, we're just talking about sex," the first teenager said.
Diana shook her head. "No, we're not. We're talking about people. You look at us like we're pieces of meat, as if we were put here on this planet just to sexually satisfy you. But we breathe, we love, we cry and we feel. We are not objects. We deserve to be treated with dignity. All people do. When you sleep with a woman, you become a part of her life. A little piece of you, at the very least, is imbedded into her soul. That's a huge responsibility."
"Worse yet, you could die," Donna added. "Have you ever heard of AIDS?"
"We have condoms," the second boy offered lamely.
"We have condoms," Donna mocked in a squeaking voice. "You might think its all fun and games and maybe for a time it is, but eventually you pay a price.."
The two boys started laughing. "You're lesbians, right?"
Donna's anger got the best of her and she squeezed too hard on the armrest of her seat. It shattered like porcelain under her Amazon strength. The boys stopped laughing.
"Of course," Diana said with a shrug, "if you don't shut up, I might tell my sister to give you a little pinch."
"Hallo, mein Name ist Steven Hinkle (Hello, my name is Steven Hinkle)," the man said, extending his hand to both women. Both Diana and Donna found themselves checking the man out despite the fact it was rude. He was tall and muscular, which was apparent by the cut of his suit. Broad shoulders and large biceps were contrasted by deep set blue eyes and a disarming smile.
Both women spoke German, but Diana, being the mission leader, spoke for the both of them. "Danke. Ich bin Diana und dies ist meine Schwester, Donna, besser bekannt als Wonder Woman und Troja (Thank you. I'm Diana and this is my sister, Donna, better known as Wonder Woman and Troia)."
He switched to English and Donna noted the Gotham accent. "Your grasp of German is flawless, Princess," he said. All three sat down at the small table in the hotel restaurant. "I was not aware that the two of you were related. I can see the resemblance," he said, giving them both a careful look over.
They were dressed like tourists but he bet somewhere under the clothes were their costumes. They had to be skintight suits in order to prevent any sort of lines showing. "You're not German?" Donna asked. She leaned slightly forward, pushing her breasts tighter to form more abundant cleavage. Diana almost rose to the challenge and then wondered what the problem was.
Then she guessed. Sibling rivalry. Like two children fighting over a favorite doll, they both knew that they were at least physically attracted to Steven and they were competing on some level for his attention.
"I was born in the United States, but I'm German by birth. My parents both came from West Germany and the family returned here after the unification of the country." A waiter came up and Steven asked if he could order. Both women agreed. "Mineralwasser fuer die Dame zu meiner linken, eine Pepsi Light für die Andere und einen Eistee fuer mich selbst (Mineral water for the lady on my left, a Diet Pepsi for the other and an iced tea for myself)," he ordered.
"Sehr wohl, mein Herr (Very good, sir)," the waiter said before leaving.
"Did I guess correctly?" he asked.
"Very good; how did you know?" Diana asked.
"I wish I could say that I am a man who understands the needs of beautiful women," he said with a slight grin, "but the truth is that I took a peak at your airline bill before coming here."
Donna chuckled. "Quite the detective, aren't you?"
He shrugged. "Because I lived in America, my superiors believe I understand super-heroes. I'm nobody special."
"On the contrary," Diana countered, "your credentials showed you to be a special agent with the Abteilung fuer Metahumane Aktivitaeten (Department of Metahuman Activities)."
He nodded. "We have five members in the entire department and I'm the only special agent. There are very few of your kind here in Europe…ah! Our drinks have arrived!" The waiter served them and then left after Steven gave him a generous tip. "I look forward to working with both of you."
"Will we be able to see the body?" Donna asked. The scant information that she and Diana received had described a man who had been beat to death. There had also been mention of some severe laser burns as well. Very few metahumans could do anything like that if it was a natural power.
"It is being held at the Israeli embassy in Berlin; I will take you there tomorrow. The body is scheduled to be shipped back to Tel Aviv for burial before Saturday." He swirled his tea. "My supervisor is very upset about this, as are several other key governmental officials. You can't imagine the political time bomb this could turn into."
"I thought Israel was not blaming the German government." Diana said as she sipped her water. She leaned a little closer as well but remembered she had decided to wear a blouse that buttoned up to the neck. Donna seemed to be smirking.
"They aren't, but there are several governments around the world that would pounce upon this opportunity to elevate their own political position. Relations between my country and the government of the United States, for example, have been strained of late." He sighed and took a small drink. His brow showed his true concern. "I remember politics in the states…"
"I have found that politics are the same no matter where you are," Diana said. "Be you German, American, Amazon…it does not matter."
"I just find it hard to believe that anyone could bring up something that happened decades ago and use it as ammunition for a political assault," Donna remarked. Steven gave her a wide smile and she could not help but respond in kind.
"Many of my countrymen believe the same thing. I am a student of history," Steven said, turning his attention to Diana, "and I have found that over the ages, all great cultures have done things that historians record as wrong. Would you not agree, Princess?"
"My people witnessed the horror of the Spartans, yet we do not blame the current government of Greece," Diana told them.
"Six million Jews died here during World War Two," Donna pointed out.
"Ah, but Stalin killed 22 million of his people! What about Mussolini? Franco? What about the slaughter of Native Americans during the expansion of the United States? It seems to me that we all have skeletons in the closet," Steven told them. He finished his tea. "I've often thought about it, why what happened under the Nazis still resonates with such…horror."
"And your conclusion?" Diana asked him, intrigued.
"Guilt. It comes down to guilt. Not just the guilt of the Germans, but of everyone else. The concentration camps were not hidden. British and American intelligence were aware of what was going on, but history only records the anti-Semetic attitude of Europe during that time." He stood up. "I must be boring the two of you with my thoughts."
"Not at all," Donna said as she picked up her pocketbook. "I have a friend named Roy who I think you would like. He brought up the same point about the Native Americans."
He arched an eyebrow. "Your boyfriend sounds very interesting."
She returned the look. "Oh, he's not my boyfriend…"
"Not this week at least," Diana chimed in as she also stood. "We must be keeping you from your wife, though."
He laughed. "Divorced for two years. She was an American soldier. She wanted to go home and I was already there. I figure it is her loss."
Both women agreed but neither said anything, each trying to size up the other's interest in Steven. Donna was the more adventurous, but she did not want to stand in the way of what might be the beginning of something beautiful for her sister. She also didn't want to come off looking like a slut. "I've got to make a phone call," she said finally.
"Then perhaps I could interest Ambassador Diana in dinner?" he asked with a small bow.
Diana wasn't sure how to respond but then she noticed that Donna's eyes were urging her to go ahead. "Ich wuerde mich sehr geehrt fuehlen wenn der gutaussehende Regierungsagent mich zum Abendessen geleiten wuerde (I would be most honored if the handsome government agent escorted me to dinner)," she said.
"I'll see if I can find him," he laughed.
"Sprichst Du Deutsch, Hund (Do you speak German, dog)?" Baron Blitzkrieg asked, his rage-filled face hidden behind the golden mask of his armor. He leaned in a little closer to the frightened and beaten old man. The look in his eyes told the Baron that he did understand what he was saying, but part of the interrogation was getting him to admit to it, to get used to answering questions.
"Ja, ich spreche Deutsch (Yes, I speak German)," the man replied. The Baron nodded and stepped back.
"Was ist Deine Verbindung zum Atoman Projekt (What is your connection to the Atoman Project)?"
"Mein Vater war Teil der KGB-Gruppe die die Unterlangen nach dem Fall Berlins beschlagnahmt hat (My father was part of the KGB group that confiscated the records after the fall of Berlin)," the man told him in a hurried tone. "Er hat einen der Aufpasser verhoert bevor er ihn nach Sibirien geschickt hat (He debriefed one of the guards before sending him to Siberia)."
The Baron nodded and sat down on a heavy desk. The old man could not know it, but they were inside one of Hitler's secret bunkers in what was once the Soviet side of Berlin. It had never been discovered much to the Baron's surprise and it was now his base of operations in Germany. "Und ist es, was der Juedische Wissenschaftler von Dir wollte, als Du Dich kuerzlich mit ihm getroffen hast? Ja, Herr Diplomat, ich habe Dich seit mehreren Woche unter Beobachtung (And what was it that the Jewish scientist wanted from you that you recently met with in secret? Yes, Herr Diplomat, I have been keeping tabs on you for several weeks now)." The Baron did not bother to mention that Ra's Al Ghul's contacts had put him on the trail of this minor member of the Russian embassy.
"Er wollte etwas ueber Dr. Simon Teufel erfahren… (He wanted to know about Dr. Simon Teufel…)"
The Baron betrayed nothing as his mind dragged up the picture of the scientist, head of the Atoman Project. "Und was hast Du ihm gesagt (And what did you tell him)?"
"Ich habe ihn mit freigegebenen Kopien der KGB-Berichte ueber ihn versorgt. Er war tot bevor die Sowjetischen Einheiten ankamen. Wir wissen nicht, wer ihn getoetet hat (I provided him with declassified copies of the reports the KGB drew up on him. He was dead when the Soviet forces arrived. We don't know who killed him)." The man started to breathe a little heavier and the Baron wondered if that last blow had broken a rib. Perhaps the man's lung was punctured. It would only hasten the inevitable if it was true.
"Und was hat der Jude dazu gesagt (And what did the Jew say about it)?"
The man coughed. He seemed not to notice the blood that came with it and the Baron did not tell him about it. "Er hat ueber Teufel und ein Geheimprojekt geredet, das das Ende der Juden bedeutet haette. Als ich erwaehnte, dass Teufel einen Assistenten, Dr. Melch, hatte, schienen seine Augen aufzuleuchten (He kept going on and on about Teufel and a secret project that would have meant the end of the Jewish people. When I mentioned that Teufel had an assistant, Dr. Melch, his eyes seemed to light up)."
The Baron stood back up. "Wieso (Why is that)?"
Swallowing hard, the man spoke slowly. "Ihm war nicht bewusst gewesen, dass Melch jemals fuer Teufel gearbeitet hat, nur meine Regierung wusste davon (He was not aware that Melch had ever worked with Teufel; it was only known to my government)." The Baron nodded and asked of there was any information regarding Melch. "Ja, Melch saß eine lange Gefaengnisstrafe ab und wurde dann vor zwei Jahren entlassen (Yes, Melch served a lengthy prison sentence and was then released two years ago)."
"Er lebt (He lives)?"
"Nein, er starb kurz nach seiner Entlassung an Krebs, aber sein Besitz existiert noch (No, he died of cancer shortly after his release, but his estate still remains)!"
The Baron slowly moved out of the light, his voice now somewhat disembodied in the fading eyesight. "Ist dies von Bedeutung oder nicht (This is significant is it not)?"
"Es ist! Der KGB vermutet das Melch einen Teil seiner Projekte auf seinem Besitzt verborgen hatte, aber der befand sich in West-Deutschland (It is! The KGB thought that Melch had hidden some of his projects on his property, but it existed in Western Germany)! Ahhhhhh!"
There was a snapping sound and then the man slouched in the chair, dead at the hands of his captor. The man in the golden armor with the swastika adornments looked over at a map of Germany and flipped on the light as he moved over to it. This was new information and it was a matter of personal embarrassment that he had not known about Melch.
He remembered that scientist well.
He had been the Baron's uncle.