Unprecedented Beginnings.
Part IV.
Back to the present:
Wonder Woman sighed. A long sigh of resignation. A sigh that can only come from age. She resolved to reveal as little about Perseus as possible. After all, she immensely respected him. Although, she should seek retribution. Righteous fury coursed through her. Now, she had to reveal her most guarded secret forcing Batman's unbounded paranoia to extend farther than the known cosmos. Frustration bubbled to the top and mixed with her hot-tempered nature, her eyes began to pulsate and power waves began to roll off her. Then, she heard Canary calling out to her. "Diana. Calm down. We are in a cave. We do not want to be crushed." Chiding herself for loosing control and cursing her cousin for being the cause, she felt she owed them an explanation. So, she began her tale.
"I am sorry for loosing control. I am partly happy but mostly angry to see Percy alive. I- "
"Percy, you say? Seems like you know him personally." The boy wonder callously interrupted disregarding the irate temperament of the Amazonian powerhouse. The glare he was delivered with, by all the room's inhabitants including the androids (surprisingly), instantly shut him up. Muttering, he apologised to Wonder Woman.
"After I defeated Ares in WW2 and beheaded him, the celestial energies that we both exerted combined to form a portal to the pit and he was banished into eternal damnation. Unfortunately, someone escaped at the same time Ares went in. For four months, I searched for this creature and finally, I found him in Perseus.
"Well, more like he got tired of me chasing him relentlessly and gave himself up without a fight. I figured he was a coward as he refused to fight. However, that day he embodied all the qualities preached in Themiscyra – peace, not war, was the only way to live. I was charged by the gods of Olympus, with keeping him in check while he was allowed to roam free on earth.
"His origins, I cannot speak without his consent as I have been sworn to secrecy. In time, I came to consider him a brave hero, a good-hearted mortal, who just wished to do the right thing and left in peace. He was the closest thing I have ever had to a male friend and family. Perhaps a brother.
"He trained me in various ways of power control and taught me how to pull my punches to not grievously injure normal people, withhold my killing instincts and corrected my unbridled hate for men. He helped me get over my losses, taught me to seek pleasure in even the smallest things of life.
"For 17 years, 4 months and 23 days, we roamed the earth together. Without him, I would have left man's world to the dogs. But I stayed after I believed he… died. I wanted to continue our good work to keep in line with the ideals we both aspired to achieve. Eventually, his absence filled me with too much sadness, and I left to return to Themiscyra, until the alien invasion that brought us together."
Everybody stayed silent throughout her heavily summarized story. Zatara then spoke, "So, I was right? He just kept lying to us all the time he was here. Except for his name, he didn't give us anything of value. And his 'cover story' about being 'Humanity's guiding hand' was an exquisite fabrication. This is too much to handle in one day."
"Zatanna. Come. We must leave. And you are grounded indefinitely." Zatanna looked ashamed and outraged at the same time. "But, father. We-"
"Do not say another world, daughter. I am not in the mood to entertain your reasons." (Towards Canary) "They are good kids, Zatara. Don't worry, Giovanni." He mockingly intoned. "She is never joining the team".
"Emoh su ekat." And Zatara and his daughter vanished in a purple flash.
Batman spoke, "We will discuss this individual further with the council. Sleep team. You did an admirable job for an unsanctioned mission. Nonetheless, the next time you undertake such foolhardy endeavours, the result will not be like when you started with Cadmus. Do I make myself clear?" The glare was out in full force and all members shied away.
Kaldur spoke, "Sorry, Batman. I disagree. We did what we needed to do and did well given the circumstances. We have been seeking to look for Tornado for the past few weeks. Red Tornado was and still remains, our guide and mentor. If he had gone over to the dark side, he was our responsibility. But, we proved that he hadn't. We are happy to have him back with us. No offence to you Canary. And we would do it all over again. We should probably have warned some leaguer but you would have prohibited us from getting the job done. I apologise for things getting out of hand, but had we not found them when we did, Volcano might have been successful with his plan. "
Batman analysed his words carefully. He realised the truth behind these words. Deciding to tackle this in the morning, "Rest now. It has been a long day. We shall discuss this later on." Then he and the rest of the non-permanent residents left the cave.
Athens, Greece.
Diana got his message. It was their code – a meeting place if they were separated on a mission. A rendezvous and a backup safehouse. After all, he could be severely injured. He was only mortal. She decided to meet him as he asked – above the dilapidated, ancient monuments.
As she began to descend from the sky, she saw him watching over the bustling early hours of Athens. He never took his eyes off them but spoke loud and clear, "I am glad you came Di." Emotions ran rampant, ravaging her core. On one hand, she was beyond ecstatic to know he was alive, safe and healthy. On the other, she wanted to kill him for putting her through immense grief over the past half-century. She had mourned him, missed him thoroughly. She loved him too much to cause permanent damage, but boy oh boy was he going to get it. A few blows to the solar plexus, perhaps the jaw and maybe tie him up until he promised never to do that to her. Yah. That should do it.
She gently touched down behind him, folded her hands, readied her annoyed and angry stance, put a passive-aggressive expression on her face and let her emotions flow through her eyes. If Percy could have been incinerated by her, he would have been by now. Alas, only Superfamily and immortals had that power. Oh right. She had it too. He should trudge ahead very carefully from now.
Percy turned around to look at her. "Aren't you happy to see me?". Receiving no response, he dejectedly sighed, "I see." Before he could comprehend, Diana had executed her planned blows to his delicate body features. He lay on the ground, groaning in pain. His jaw was dislocated, huge bruises were forming on his chest and he needed to catch his breath properly after being pummelled in the stomach.
"That is for all the pain and sorrow you caused me over the past half-century." A pregnant pause filled the air. He couldn't respond to her even if he wanted to. He was still recovering from the beatdown his feisty sister carried through with. "I mourned you for twenty years before I even began to move on. I, the princess of a man-hating, all-female race mourned the only male I called a brother and best friend. Do you know how hard it was for me to move ahead? Knowing that my loss of control eviscerated you? I was devasted. There were days when I wondered why I even tried.
"All the males I have ever cared about, up until then had died. First, Steve died to save the world. I was in pain but I hadn't known him that well. Then you came along. I found, for the first time in my five millennia-long life, what it was like to have male companionship – a brother who would be by my side and help me through difficult times.
"And you have been prancing and thriving about in man's world for however long since then. Was I really that bad company? The first chance you got, you fled? I considered you my family Perce. I was in a similar situation as you. Exiled from the only world I had known. Given immense responsibility and had no control over my powers. I thought we had something unique. It hurts so much to know you were alive and didn't make an effort to contact me." The sorrow was profusely flowing off of her. Her words pierced his heart and the despair shattered whatever reluctance remained since. He refused to see his sister hurting this bad. He will make amends. But, he must explain it to her first.
"I am truly sorry I left you Di. But, please listen to my side of the story before you make any other assumptions." Percy pleaded with a truly apologetic tone. Diana sighed. "You have until breakfast to convince me. Else, do not contact me ever again."
"I will do my best. I did die. Well, death of whatever mortality I had left. I was buried under the rubble, deep underground for about eight years. However, I was not dead in the truest sense of the word. With all my quests and… adventures, many celestial beings had infused my being with their essence. The energy of immortals is fatal to mortals. Even demigods. I, however, am a weird case. I do not know why, but whenever I came in contact with a celestial being, I absorbed some of their essences. At least, that is how 'The Being' explained it to me."
"The Being?" Diana interrupted. "I do not know his name or have not seen his form. But, he is responsible for my reappearance on this plane. He is a disembodied voice I have come to rely on."
"That is why I survived so long in the pit. Their combined essence is what kept me alive and ageless. After all, the pit in my world was where immortals and monsters alike reconfigured their essence and came back into existence. My millennia-long stay in the pit slowly eroded my mortality, bit by bit. I would have exploded once the last bit of my mortality vanished if I remained in the pit.
"Fortune never favours me. I was pulled into yet another world. This world is thrumming with energy Di. That is why there are so many sorcerers. That is why humans have been evolving far more rapidly. It even manages to pull a lot of aliens as well. I am a walking anomaly. I shouldn't exist. The portal that allowed me to exit from the pit, required the loss of divine essence to keep it stable for me to get through. It seems, all the conflicting celestial essence left my body and I was completely mortal once again.
"I knew none of this at that time. In fact, I do not understand how any of this happened. Yet, another curveball threw my life into a tizzy. While I was completely mortal, I was left with all their and my own powers but ageless. Fixed to my current age forever. I was doomed to be seventeen. In a way, I was partly immortal. I would never die of age. But I could die of disease or wounds. So, I decided to live my life the best I could till death's sweet embrace engulfed me.
"And I did, Di. I loved travelling the world and helping people. I loved guiding you to your true power. I loved teaching you about our world, man's world and telling you all my adventures. I would not take away a single moment we shared together. Alas. It just was never meant to be. In our last encounter with that monster, I asked you to let loose because you needed to learn to be at full power, Di. I didn't want to die as collateral damage. It did happen and I couldn't fault you. I hoped you would move on. Find your true purpose. Learn to live within the balance of your two extremes.
"When I thought I had closed my eyes for the final time, I was whisked away to an ethereal plane. I wanted to finally have the peace I longed for. I craved for it for so many years. Yet, I was denied once again. For eight long years, I was trapped in the ethereal plane – in a dark, black void. I went insane. I couldn't hold back my sadness, anguish and hopelessness any longer. No matter what I did, I just couldn't get a break.
"It was horrible to watch nothing. Feel and sense nothing. The emotional turmoil took its toll on me. And I let go and embraced the darkness. When I opened my eyes, I saw darkness. But, I was able to feel. I was able to sense. Breathe. Smell. I was overjoyed. I didn't know how I survived. But I did. I was still trapped underground. I reached out with my senses and found a source of water below me. The thing was, I felt so much more powerful. Like I had been the one time I sat on my father's throne on Olympus. Then, the power almost burnt me to a speck. But this time, it seemed to embrace me. The painful gut sensations I used to have when I used my powers were absent. I was able to call on the water to pull me into itself and I was trapped in the underground water system. I travelled the entire system till I was pulled out through a hot water geyser.
"It had been ten years since my demise. I didn't know where you were. I had thought you left. Back to your island. Your twenty-years exile period had ended. Nonetheless, I came to our place. I came here every day since then. Hoping to get a glimpse of you and perhaps surprise you, if ever you came back here. But, you didn't return and I… I had to move on. Then, the alien invasion happened and you came back to help save the earth. I had almost confronted you and told you then. Until I saw you kissing the alien. I was happy and a bit sad. You had healed and moved on, is what I thought. I shouldn't impose myself on you any longer. You had a team. A family. So, with a heavy heart, I decided to not… trouble you any longer.
"I am sorry Di. I never meant for any of this to happen. I understand if you truly do not want to see me again. Gods know that I am a self-indulgent, insufferable bastard." Percy finished his tale without looking at her. He turned away from her and began to walk away. He didn't get far though. A lasso bound him and pulled him back towards her. "I forgive you, Percy. But, if you ever pull anything like that ever again, I will kill you myself. You understand me?" From the edge in Diana's voice, he knew should a situation like this ever happen, she was not kidding. "Crystal, Di. Crystal."
And in a massive hug, the taller and older woman pulled her brother into a bone-crushing hug. "Di. You are killing me. I already have massive bruises from your hits before." Diana blushed. "Sorry, kiddo. I didn't want to pull back my punches this time around. Besides, I knew you could take it short stuff."
Percy raised an eyebrow, "You do realize that I do not have your gifts of super strength or invulnerability. Just because I am ageless, I cannot take the blows you dish out. I am still just an enhanced human when it comes to strength and invulnerability. Besides, what's with the short thing. I am about two inches shorter. And honestly, I haven't even reached my full growth potential. Stuck in a blasted seventeen-year old's body."
Diana let out a full-blown laugh. She and Percy settled into their comfortable dynamic as if nothing had changed. But, they both realized that and smiled. "Well, at least we know we still have our strong familial bonds, Di."
"It is good to have you back as well, Perce." A comfortable silence enveloped them and as they watched the sunrise, they knew that they had come out stronger and closer than ever before. Still, Diana had a lingering question in her mind. "What brought you back to life, Perce? I mean. I saw you die. Your body was completely charred and you weren't even breathing. Unless Apollo intervened, I do not see how you survived."
"I have three theories Di. You know about Zoe Nightshade?" Receiving a terse nod, he continued. "I told you before that Riptide belonged to her. It was made from her immortal essence. Apollo was detecting this essence as I left the pit. Well, it seems the magic of this world bound me to the essence of Riptide Di. If no one can break Riptide or can claim it as a worthy successor, I will be alive. If someone can take this sword away from me and bind it to them, I can die. The immortal essence of Zoe is what helped me extend and push the boundaries of my power. She was an immortal water nymph. If I were to plot my power over my father's powers now, I would say I could hold my own, in a battle with the essence of the oceans, himself. But, if the sword were to leave me, I would be just as powerful as any other demigod son of Poseidon. The essence gives me other capabilities as well, but that is for another time.
"The part about being ageless was because of the celestial essences. I think the unintended consequence of that, they made me similar to a Gigante. To kill me, you would need both, a mortal and an immortal. You were only an immortal and thus couldn't kill me.
"Finally, it has to do with my curse Di. I was banished from the realms of the Greek World, I belong to. Even from the underworld. I can no longer go back to Tartarus or Elysium. So, my soul stays in limbo till my body fully heals. Then, I may wake up.
"These are all theories, I and 'The Being' talked about. Couldn't really figure out which was responsible." Percy said. The sun had risen far enough to cover the entirety of Athens in a warm golden bath. "It is getting late. Want me to buy you breakfast? I know a good diner in a few blocks."
Diana was finally feeling happy. Her little brother was back from the dead. The guilt that weighed on her constantly in the past half-century had left her. She felt light and exhilarated. If anything would make it better, it was Percy and his breakfast choices. Eagerly she spoke, "If that's the case, you may need to shell out a lot more than you may have. (A little more seriously) Understand this little brother. From today, we are having lunch every day near the Themiscyran embassy in New York. If you try to squelch your way out of this, I will not hesitate to get in a few punches. Also, this 'being' I keep hearing about, you will tell me about it in detail later on. Am I clear?"
Percy smiled. Di was back fully. With all her abrasive, over-protective, sweet nature. "Anything for you Di. By the way, you should introduce me to your boyfriend. I am sure…" And his voice trailed off as Diana carried him towards the direction he pointed. While leaving, he made a crushing gesture with his hand and a black bot hovering in the air fell on the ground, crushed. He hadn't noticed it until then. He was angry. He should have been more careful. Yet, the silver lining is batman knew. So, whatever he told Diana should sate his curiosity and possibly demystify his origins a bit.
Athens, a small breakfast joint.
"So, Di. How are the overlords? Still pissed with you eclipsing their power?". The reply came swiftly. "You know how it is Perce. Paranoia runs amok them. Only Uncle Poseidon, Aunt Hestia, Cousins Hermes and Athena, and Mother are on good terms with me."
"The Moon Goddess still mad at the beatdown she received huh? I guess her twin was bound to follow in her footsteps. The rest shouldn't really have a problem, except for Drama King."
"She should have known better than try to turn you into a critter and hunt you. You were in my care. They commanded it. Besides, you are my little brother. Did she think I would let her get away with it? She deserved every bit what she got."
"I love you too Di, but please stop calling me little. I am after all more than a millennium old. Just because you are ancient, doesn't mean I am little." The crack at her age made her look at Percy with narrowed eyes. She saw the amusement dancing in his eyes and decided to get back at him the only way she knew he would shut up. "Keep that short stuff and I will dump you in the middle of the huntresses' camp. Then a few silver arrows might change your attitude." Percy laughingly brought his hand up, in the universal sign of surrender, "Okay. Geez. One crack about your age and you go ballistic. One would wonder if you truly preach peace." Not missing a beat, "When it comes to your Perce, Peace is but a concept. You understand only pain."
Calming down from her highs of laughter, Diana decided to hit the bedrock of the problem nagging her mind. "So, Perce. Tell me who this 'being' is." Percy scrunched up his eyebrows and had a look of intense conversation. "To be honest, I don't exactly know. It was always there to guide me through… the tougher times. It taught me to control my powers enhanced by the sword's celestial essence. I have a lot of abilities now, Di. But, I can only use them if I have Riptide. The advantage for me - Riptide always returns to me. So, I am not going anywhere for a while. Hopefully. Coming back to 'The Being'. My guess, it is someone who wishes to manipulate the current universal equilibrium. It could be to re-establish it or pull it to one side. I don't know. I, however, know that it will affect you the most. You Di, are both yin and yang. War and Peace. Your bracelets, that I helped enchant can only do so much. Now that I am here, we can focus on your power control. Besides, I can't die now. You can let loose."
Diana took in the information and processed what he was saying. It was a bad occurrence at best and possibly catastrophic if this 'Being' had mal-intentions. "And you are okay with this ambiguity of this 'Being'?"
Percy looked surprised. "Why would I worry Di? If the guy is bad, no matter what happens, history will course correct. If not now, then in the future. If the guy is good, evil will rise up to oppose his good no matter what he does. It is just the way life is. I have learnt too many times to count, no matter how much good is done, balance will always be re-established. So, I am not worried. I will play my role though in whatever is to come. (Pause) Enough shop talk. Let me take you shopping. As usual, you have an unusual fashion sense – with less armour than even the most provocative public dresses worn today. My treat to you. Besides, I know you are short on funds while I am a successful bakery chain owner and investor."
"Now you insult my clothing choices. Do you really wish to end up in the infirmary again?"
"You know me Di. Always pulling a fast one on my big sister. Now, chop. Chop. We don't want to get you too fat. Or you may not fit into the dresses at the trial centre." He ducked under the sandwich that came his way. He left a hefty tip and settled the bills with. And he began to stroll out of the diner to the amazement of all around them as Wonder Woman was at his side.
Batcave.
Unknown till then, they had been under observation the entire time. A transmitter recorded and relayed their entire conversation to the Batcave. Batman was dumbfounded. In all the weirdness that existed day-to-day, one thing he thought he knew was Diana and her history.
Being from Themiscyra, he assumed she had come to 'man's world', as she calls it, for the very first time. And to think her loss of control killed the only male she had a familial bond with caused his paranoia to jump a few notches. The kid was millennia old too. He is not invulnerable or invincible, but he has the power of the Greek Pantheon.
On a more positive note, he did list out a number of ways to possibly contain or terminate him. That should at the very least provide a proper basis for future containment strategies. There is too much to do. Superman was no longer the biggest threat to Earth. And even if he was, he had a pretty simple, exploitable weakness.
Wonder Woman, on the other hand, had no decipherable and obvious weakness. To bind her bracelets and invoke Aphrodite's law would work if someone can tame her in the first place. Perhaps tying her with her own lasso, but the above problem persists. This is without her obviously hidden power control issues. Which they didn't know about. What else was she hiding? How much more dangerous can she get?
Maybe, her Achilles heel lies in her family. This Percy character is quite powerful. Even if he doesn't have the superstrength, invulnerability, flight and then general mojo of metas, his control over water, earth and air is terrifying. Perhaps, his need to remain peaceful and still help Diana could be used as a mitigating factor against her? He clearly let her beat him down. He didn't make any effort to hurt her back. He calmed her and made her display far more affection than he witnessed even with Clark. Needs to be tested and refined.
If necessary, Diana could be convinced to let him join the team? They would benefit incredibly from his experience while he could remain under constant supervision. Unlikely. Shouldn't hurt to propose though.
Thank you guys for waiting patiently. This month will have irregular updates due to my rather hectic schedule. June will see more normlized update cycles. I hope you enjoy this chapter. Constructive criticism is appreciated. Cheers.