Chapter 18: Entering Man's World
In the Themysciran Embassy in New York, Diana Prince sat at her desk, working on some paperwork. She adjusted her glasses as she examined the papers in front of her before setting down her pen and sighing. As she slumped back in her chair, a knock emanated from her office door.
"Come in." She called out.
The door opened and a woman with red hair in short curls walked in. She was dressed in a nice blouse with a pencil skirt, carrying a stack of papers.
"Miss Prince-"
"Gretta, I've told you a thousand times, you can just call me Diana." Diana insisted. "It's what your mother and your grandmother called me."
"Sorry, Diana." Gretta apologized. "Force of habit. I just wanted to tell you that we just got a call from the city planner. He wanted to confirm your participation in the Veteren's Day Parade."
"Oh yes, I forgot about that." Diana realized. "Tell him I'll be there."
"Of course." Gretta nodded. "Also, I made sure to cancel any appointments for after the parade. I know you like to spend the rest of the day… well, that's none of my business."
Gretta took her leave at that. Diana went to resume her work, but found her focus gone. She slid off her glasses, rubbing her eyes as her gaze fell on the photo on her desk. She picked it up, her fingers dancing along the glass surface as her mind began to travel back…
…
Waters beyond Themyscira, 1918
It had only been a day since Diana and Steve Trevor took off from Themyscira towards the war. As they continued sailing forward, Diana couldn't help but look back towards home, something Steve took notice of.
"You doing alright?" He asked.
"This is the first time in centuries that any Amazon has left the island." she explained. "It is… strange being so distant from its enchanted shores."
"I can understand that." Steve replied. "I haven't been on American soil for God knows how long. But, still got a job to do, you know?"
"I do." Diana concurred. "Now, how long until we reach this 'London'?"
"A few more days, at least." Steve answered, tending to the rigging of the boat. "Flew out a long way, so I suggest we both get comfortable."
Diana sat back in the boat, gazing out to the stars.
"So…" Steve let out, trying to find a topic of discussion. "What did you know about man's world before I arrived?"
"Only what has been passed down by my mother and the elder Amazons." Diana answered. "It was Man's cruelty that drove us to the enchanted isle in the first place."
"Really?" Steve replied, intrigued.
"You have heard of the Legend of Hercules?" Diana asked. "How he was granted many impossible tasks, including taking an enchanted girdle from my mother?"
"Yeah?" Steve answered.
"What many do not know is the truth behind the legend." She explained. "My mother met met Hercules in personal combat, because she knew that with her magic girdle, given to her by Aphrodite, Goddess of Love, she could not lose. Though she defeated Hercules, he tricked her and stole the girdle. Without it, we were defenseless and were enslaved. For many decades we toiled under their heels, pleading for Aphrodite to aid us. Soon, she answered our prayers and freed us. We freed ourselves from our captors and came to this isle, where we trained to ensure none will ever subjugate us again."
She held up her wrists, showing her bracelets.
"These are a constant reminder of our past, and of our pledge to never fall victim to the wiles of men again." she informed him. "By Aphrodite's law, should we ever allow a man to bind us, we will be powerless to fight back, our strength reduced to that or a mortal."
"Wow…" Steve let out. "So… you've never seen another man before me?"
"Only Ares, who is a prisoner of Themyscira." Diana answered. "No mortal man has ever stepped foot on Themyscira and lived… until you."
"Honored to be the first." Steve remarked. "But if you've never seen a man, does that mean you've never met your father?"
"I was sculpted from clay and given life by the Pantheon." Diana explained. "I have no father."
"Well… that's neat." Steve replied. "I mean it's cool and all, it's just not… not how kids are made where I'm from."
"I see." Diana nodded. "Well, I fear we will have little time to discuss this matter further. We will reach our destination soon, and we will need to be well rested for the trials ahead."
"Right." Steve agreed. "So, you wanna get some rest first?"
"You rest. I will take first watch." Diana volunteered.
"You sure?" Steve asked.
"Positive." she insisted. "I am not the one who recently crashed their aircraft."
"Touche." Steve replied, lying down on the boat. "See ya in a few hours I guess."
With that, Steve closed his eyes to get some rest. Diana then took some of the rigging and looked out onto the horizon.
…
A few hours later, Steve woke up to the sound of a ship horn.
"How's that for an alarm clock." He let out with a groan, sitting up on the ship.
As he looked up, he found Diana arranging some ropes on the decks, and saw a tugboat leading the way.
"This boat offered us passage through the river, and since the winds died down, I accepted the aid." She informed him.
"Good call." Steve replied. "Well, welcome to Jolly old London!"
The entire area seemed to be surrounded by an aura of dismal grey. Smoke gathered in the sky from various factories and ships in the area. Even the river itself was murky.
"It's hideous." Diana announced.
"Yeah, it's not for everyone." Steve admitted.
…
Later, they managed to get their ship docked and proceeded into the city. Diana made sure to follow Steve closely, since he knew the city better than her. The sights and sounds were almost overwhelming for her, soldiers marching all around, people shouting and various entertainers out on the streets. It was certainly a sharp contrast to her quiet and peaceful island, something that didn't go unnoticed by Steve as he did his best to usher her along. As the two continued walking down the street, she saw a man and a woman holding hands as they passed by.
"Why are those two holding hands?" She inquired.
"Probably because they're together." Steve answered.
Diana gave a nod, then promptly took Steve's hand in hers
"No, we're not," he tried to explain. "We're not together. Not like that."
"Like what?" Diana questioned.
"Like…" Steve replied trying to explain. "Never mind. Let's just go."
"To your superiors, right?" Diana recalled. "So we can find the next place to fight in the war?"
"Right." Steve confirmed. "But we need to make a stop first."
"Why?" She asked. "I thought you told me that you would head straight to the warfront once you returned to London."
"Well, that was before I ended up with an Amazonian as a partner." he explained. "Besides, if you're going to be accompanying me, you're going to need something to wear other than… well… your armor."
"You told me my armor was good." Diana reminded him.
"Good for battle, yes." Steve reassured. "For everyday wear, it's… a little revealing. People around here don't do… revealing well."
Diana looked down at herself, then pulled her cloak a bit tighter.
"Very well." she relented. "Lead the way."
Steve then moved forward with Diana following close behind. As they walked down the street, Diana glanced to the side and saw a woman holding a baby in her arms. Smiling, Diana went over and took a closer look.
"Oh, how cute!" She gushed. "You have a beautiful child."
"Thank you." the woman replied as Steve came up.
"Diana, this way." he urged, taking her arm. "New clothes, remember?"
"Steve, I've never seen a baby before." Diana reminded as they walked off. "What would you expect me to do?"
"Fair enough." Steve admitted.
…
At a boutique in the city, Steve and Diana walked inside, where they were greeted by the sight of several well dressed women walking around. All of them had large coats, long dresses, and large hats with either feathers, flowers, or both. A piano played in the background as everyone milled about, Steve and Diana continuing their trek inside. As they walked further inside, they were greeted by a short, pleasantly plump woman. She had curly red hair under a blue hat and wore a blue checkered dress with a white collar and a black coat. When she laid eyes on Steve, her entire form seemed to brighten up with glee.
"Oh thank god!" She let out. "You're not dead!"
She ran forward and hugged him, much to Diana's surprise. After the woman finally released him, she began to ramble.
"I did think you were dead until you got your call." she began before turning to Diana. "He's been gone for weeks and not a single word. Very unlike him."
"He was well cared for, I assure you." Diana told her.
"So I see." The woman remarked, looking Diana up and down before offering her hand. "I'm Etta Candy, Mr. Trevor's secretary."
"Diana." She greeted back, taking the hand and shaking it. "What is a 'secretary'?"
"Essentially, I do everything." Etta answered. "I go where he tells me to go, and I do what he tells me to do."
Diana's eyes narrow as she released Etta's hand.
"Where I come from, that's called slavery." she remarked.
"Wow, I really like this one." Etta announced.
"This is, uh…" Steve stepped in. "a little different. Besides, Etta, we need to fix our… y'know, wardrobe issue."
"Right." Etta replied. "Shall we, then?"
The three then went on to the dress department, Etta chatting as they walked.
"We certainly have our work cut out for us." she admitted. "Making someone as beautiful as you not stand out in a crowd will be hard."
"Was that meant as a compliment?" Diana asked.
"Very much so." Etta told her. "Trust me, most of the women in London would kill to have your figure. Most of us have to rely on corsets to look that good."
Diana then saw some of the aforementioned corsets on display and looked utterly appalled.
"Are these supposed to be some sort of armor?" she questioned.
"Not really, they're just fashion." Etta answered. "They keep our tummies in."
"Why would you need to keep your tummies in?" Diana asked.
"Only someone with no tummy would ask that." Etta remarked, steering Diana away from the corsets. "This way dear. I have a dressing room ready."
…
After a few minutes, Diana emerged from the dressing room, wearing an oversized gown and a hat with a feather on it. She was walking awkwardly in a pair of heeled boots, struggling to get up onto the stand in front of a mirror. She gathered up the skirt and tried to move, Etta struggling to help her maintain decency as Diana performed a few kicks.
"How would a woman possibly fight in this?" Diana asked, trying to strike some fighting stances.
"Well, we mostly rely on our principles." Etta replied. "Although, I am not opposed to a bit of fistacuffs, should the need arise."
…
Later, Diana was in a pale pink blouse with a darker pink neckerchief and a brown pencil skirt that situated itself around her waist. Etta had done her hair up in a bun, giving her the look of a school teacher of some sort. Diana kept bending, getting a feel for her mobility. However, she tried one kick and the skirt ripped.
"I do not believe this will work." Diana decided.
…
"It's itchy." Diana complained as she tugged on the extremely high collar of a dark blue shirt. "It's choking me."
"Can't say I blame it." Etta remarked, holding up one more outfit. "Here, try this one. God willing and the creek don't rise, this will be a winner."
Diana gladly took the outfit and went into the dressing room, practically ripping the blue shirt off to alleviate her throat. As Diana put the outfit on, Steve came up now in a suit, jacket, and hat. He found Etta waiting by the dressing room, perched neatly on a lounge chair.
"Hey, is Diana doing alright?" He asked.
"Hopefully, I've just about run out of outfits for her to try on." Etta answered.
Eventually, Diana emerged, now wearing a long grey skirt, a grey coat with a thick belt around the middle, a white collared blouse underneath, and a simple hat perched on her head.
"Well?" Diana inquired.
"You look… nice." Steve commended.
"Well, I say you just need one more thing." Etta spoke up, rising to her feet.
She walked over to a glasses counter, plucking a simple pair of spectacles and handing them to Diana. She put them on, then looked at herself in the mirror as Steve turned to Etta.
"Really?" he questioned. "Specs?"
"I say they work." Etta insisted. "Ties the outfit together. Besides, now she doesn't entirely look like the most beautiful woman you've ever seen."
"Alright." Steve relented. "We'd better get going then."
Diana nodded as she collected her sword, lasso, and shield from the dressing room before following her two companions towards the door. As she tried to go through, her shield got caught in the door, preventing her from leaving. She tried a second time, and managed to get outside. Still, Steve looked a bit worried at Diana's blatant display of her arms.
"Yeah, that's probably not going to work." Steve admitted.
"I need my shield, and my sword." Diana insisted.
"I know but people tend to take other people running around with swords and shields the wrong way." Steve told her. "So, for now, why don't you let Etta handle the weapons?"
Diana looked down at her weapons before looking over at Etta.
"Promise me, you will protect these with your life." she insisted.
Etta looked more than a bit shocked as she took the sword and shield.
"You have my word." Etta promised.
"Very well." Diana relented before turning to Steve. "Shall we?"
"Right." Steve agreed, starting to head off. "Right this way."
The two then walked down the street towards Steve's superiors.
…
At the offices of British Intelligence, Steve and Diana walked in and went straight up to a war council that was in session. It was incredibly loud with several men shouting over one another, one man standing at a podium struggling to speak over the chatter.
"Gentlemen, gentlemen, please!" the man spoke. "I insist you reconsider. This armistice is the only chance we have of procuring peace in this turbulent time."
The crowds just continued their upheaval, much to Diana's confusion.
"This man is trying to push for peace." Diana recognized. "Why do they not let him?"
"Because men are idiots, that's why." Steve answered. "Just stay out here, please. I need to grab the Colonel. Won't take but a minute."
Steve then heads inside, leaving Diana to look inside as the meeting continued. Curious, she slipped inside, standing by the door. As the discussion continued, some of the men notices Diana in the doorway.
"A woman?"
"What is she doing here?"
"Get her out of here!"
Steve looked over and saw Diana, instinctively moving over to her.
"Sorry about that." He apologized. "My, uh… companion is from out of town and isn't… aware of the rules. Colonel, a word, please?"
"Not now." the Colonel snapped. "Now get her out of here!"
They were then forced to make a hasty exit from the room, all eyes on them as they left.
…
A few minutes later, the Colonel emerged from the meeting, still looking livid.
"Trevor, what the hell were you thinking, bringing a woman into the counsel?" he demanded.
"So sorry about that." Steve told him. "But I promise you, this is important."
"You do not just barge into the war room like some sort of-"
"Captain Trevor!" a new voice interjected.
Steve, the Colonel, and Diana all turned to see the man who had been speaking approaching the trio.
"I heard we lost you off the coast of Italy, and yet here you are, back from the dead." His eyes then fell on Diana and he smiled. "I see you brought a friend with you."
"Like I told the Colonel, I'm sorry she-"
"Actually, I'm quite grateful to your friend." the man interjected. "It allowed me to get a few words in."
Realizing that their actions had been excused, the Colonel stomped off and left the three alone.
"Those men in there." Diana spoke up. "Do they not want this war to end?"
"They do, just on their terms." the man replied. "Sir Patrick Morgan, ma'am.I don't believe I got your name."
"I am Diana." she introduced. "Princess of-"
"Prince." Steve cut off. "Diana Prince. She's my, uh… new secretary."
Diana glared at Steve with a look that would have reduced him to ash if it had the power.
"I am no one's secretary." she snapped.
"At any rate, I am glad you're here, Trevor." Patrick told him. "There is a special assignment that requires your attention."
"Lead the way." Steve replied.
Patrick lead them down the hall, with Diana glaring at Steve the entire way.
"We'll talk later." He insisted.
…
Later, Patrick lead them into a room where several other generals and intelligence officers.
"So, what have you got that's so important?" Steve asked.
"Well, a few days after you disappeared, we received word that the leader of the German Army, General Ludendorff, would be visiting a secret military installation in the Ottoman empire. I sent a young man to pose as one of their pilots and fly in with them. According to our reports, the Germans had no troops left, no money, no munitions of any kind. But our information was wrong."
This threw Steve for a loop as he looked up.
"The German had the Turks building bombs for them." Patrick went on. "And not just bombs, but a top secret project that's manned by Ludendorff's chief scientist, Dr. Isabel Maru, better known by her rather colorful moniker, Dr. Poison."
"Dr. Poison?" Diana asked.
"Nickname the boys in the trenches gave her." Steve explained. "Due to her talent for creating the deadliest concoctions in the war."
"Our agent risked his life in order to send us this intelligence, as well as this." Sir Patrick said as he reached onto the table, picking up a black, leatherbound journal. "Dr. Maru's personal journal containing all of her notes and formulas.
"That's… that's huge." Steve let out.
"Unfortunately, we cannot read it." Sir Patrick admitted. "It's in a language we don't recognize."
"We'll take it down to Cryptography to see what they can make out of it." Steve replied, taking the journal.
"Just be careful." Sir Patrick warned. "We don't know who we can and cannot trust these days."
"Don't worry. I'm sure we can handle ourselves." Steve remarked, turning to Diana.
…
Meanwhile, in Germany, a dark skinned, well dressed General with three scars across his face walked through a military compound to a laboratory where a young woman wearing a mask covering half her face was working. He slammed the door behind him, making the woman jump. She was surrounded by crumbled pieces of paper with various notes and calculations scribbled on them.
"We are running out of time, Doctor." he warned. "Germany's resolve is crumbling. They could surrender any day now, especially with Von Hindenburg pushing the Kaiser to sign the Armistice."
"I am working as hard as I can." Dr. Poison insisted. "Without my journal, progress has been-"
"We do not have time for such uncertainties!" The General cut off, slamming his fist on a table. "Your journal is in the process of being recovered. It should be back in days. In the meantime, we will have to rely on your mind. After all, everything in that journal stemmed from your own ideas."
Dr. Poison took a deep breath to steady herself, then her eyes fell on one of her crumpled notes. She opened the paper, her eyes going wide as she realized something.
"I have it..." she realized. "And if it works… it will be… terrible."
…
Back in England, Diana and Steve were off to Cryptography as Diana decided to air her grievances.
"Mother was right about men." she snarled. "You oppress women at every turn, making them secretaries or second class citizens. We cannot speak, we cannot even be in rooms with other men, and you continued to interrupt me at every turn, not allowing me to even introduce myself!"
"Well, not everyone here is going to believe that you're a princess from a race of immortal warriors on a secret island secluded from the world for centuries." Steve insisted. "Hell, I'm still trying to wrap my head around it."
"So, what am I supposed to say?" Diana questioned. "I refuse to be seen as your secretary, and honestly I am amazed Etta allows you to address her as such."
"Well one, that's her job. It's what she signed up for." Steve reasoned. "Two, what should I call you?"
"I am your traveling companion and a fighter." She answered. "Concede to that, and I will concede to the name 'Diana Prince'."
"Fine." Steve relented. "Just, hold off on mentioning Themyscira until they warm up to you."
Very well." Diana allowed. "Now, onto your Cryptography."
The two continued walking down the street, seemingly unaware of the shady looking men tailing them from behind. Steve managed to catch them out of the corner of his eye, prompting him to pull Diana into an alleyway.
"What is it?" Diana asked.
"Don't look, but I think we're being followed." Steve told her.
Diana discretely looked in the glass of a window, seeing the men Steve was referring to.
"Do you think they are after the journal?" Diana presumed.
"That'd be my guess." Steve replied as they rounded a corner, only to be greeted with a gun to the face.
It was being held by one man who was joined by another next to him
"Mr. Trevor." the man greeted in a thick German accent. "You have something that belongs to Dr. Maru."
Diana and Steve looked back down the alley to see their path blocked off by two more men.
"Yeah, well tell Dr. Poison she's not getting it." Steve remarked.
"We'll see." the man remarked, looking like he was about to shoot.
The shot rang out and Steve cringed, expecting to feel a sudden burning pain. However, nothing came. He cracked open an eye, seeing Diana's hand in front of him, her bracelet in full view and a smashed bullet now on the ground. The men were dumbstruck by this, but tried shooting again. Diana then used her bracelets to deflect the bullets all along the alley. Steven even had to duck to avoid a ricochet shot. One of the bullets hit one of the men in the shoulder, knocking him to the ground and allowing Diana to move forward and punch one across the face. Steve did the same for another as the final man tried to make a break for it. Diana quickly took out her lasso and threw it at the man, wrapping it around his legs and pulling him to the ground.
"Nice shot." Steve remarked as the two ran over to him.
They knelt over the man as Steve turned him over.
"Alright, talk." Steve demanded. "What's in this journal that Ludendorf's going to so much trouble to get it back."
"Please," Diana asked. "Tell us, and no harm will come to you."
The man said nothing, only dislodging one of his teeth before crunching down on it, causing him to foam at the mouth.
"What is happening?" Diana questioned.
The man went still in a matter of seconds, his eyes lifeless and dull.
"Cyanide pill." Steve lamented. "He's dead."
Diana stepped back in surprise.
"Dead?" Diana repeated. "He'd rather die than talk?"
"You'd be surprised how dedicated some people can be." Steve remarked. "Come on, we need to keep moving."
Diana looked at the body once more, then walked off with Steve as they made their way to Cryptography.
…
Back in Germany, Dr. Poison brought a canister of gas into her lab, the gas itself a thick orange color.
"I'm impressed you got this done so quickly." Ludendorff commended.
"There was little time to waste." Dr. Poison reminded him. "Besides, I was eager to see the results."
She screwed the canister into place on a gas dome where a gasmask was situated. The gas quickly filled the dome, and started cracking the eye glass on the mask. The mask itself even began to shrivel up, as if being burned by acid
"It's working." she gasped, letting out a small, surprised laugh. "It's working..."
All of a sudden, the mask burst into flames, much to the surprise and delight of the two. Dr. Poison quickly lit the gas alight, killing it just as the glass of the dome itself began to crack.
"My dear," Ludendorff spoke. "I believe you have done it."
…
Back in England, Steve and Diana made it to Cryptography to try and decipher the journal. The men all around them were arguing over it, unable to make heads or tails of it.
"You guys get anything out of this thing?" Steve asked.
"Sadly not." one of the cryptographers lamented. "From what we can tell, it's written in not just one language, but two. Unfortunately, we have no idea which two it-"
"Ottoman and Sumarian." Diana surmised.
The room fell silent as they turned to her, finding her flipping through the book. She looked up when she realized all eyes were on her.
"I'm… sure someone else would've guessed that." Diana replied.
"And you are?" another one of the cryptographers asked.
"My partner." Steve answered, earning a smile from Diana. "And the best asset we have right now."
"You expect us to believe this woman can read Ottoman and Sumerian?" the first cryptographer scoffed.
"Believe what you will, it is true." Diana insisted.
"And unless you can learn two new languages in a day, I say we hear what she has to say." Steve offered.
There was a bit more sputtering, but the cryptographers waved for Diana to go then began flipping through the book, piecing together the thoughts of the mad woman behind it.
"They are… formulas." Diana reported. "Formulas for a new kind of gas."
"Gas?" Steve repeated.
"A 'mustard gas'." Diana clarified. "One that is hydrogen based instead of sulfur based."
"Hydrogen…" Steve let out.
"Our masks will be useless." one of the men realized.
"The book says they plan to release the gas at… the front." Diana continued. "What front?"
"The front lines." Steve answered. "They plan on using this gas to take out our troops. When are they releasing it?"
"It doesn't say." Diana replied.
"Then we have to act fast." Steve decided. "We need to find where they're keeping the gas and destroy it.
"Ludendorff was last seen in Belgium." one of the men recalled.
"We are in the middle of negotiating Germany's surrender." the Colonel spoke up, drawing everyone's attention. "If we send more troops into occupied Belgium, the entire armistice is put at risk."
"Then send me in." Steve volunteered. "Limited support and a few men. We can be in and out without anyone even knowing."
"Absolutely not." The Colonel declared. "We cannot risk it."
"Colonel please." Steve pleaded. "If we do nothing, countless lives will be lost."
"Captain Trevor, I forbid you from going to the front line." The Colonel snapped. "That is final!"
Steve flinched, then sighed in resignation.
"Yes sir." He replied, much to Diana's horror.
"How can you say these things?!" Diana let out. "Innocent lives are being threatened, and you do nothing?!"
"Diana." Steve tried to call back.
"You speak of preserving peace, and yet, you willingly turn your back on countless innocents?!"
"Trevor, get this hysterical woman out of here!" the Colonel demanded. "Now!"
"Diana, let's go." Steve told her, ushering her out.
The two managed to get out the door as Diana pulled herself free.
"Are those the leaders you serve?!" Diana snapped. "Men who would rather stand aside while the men who fight for them are led to the slaughter?! You should all be ashamed of yourselves! Where I come from, Generals fight and die with their soldiers instead of cowering in their offices!"
"I know, it's not ideal, but-"
"And you!" She went on. "I thought you were willing to do anything to protect your fellow man, and yet you just bow down to them?! You know this is wrong! Why didn't you say something or stand up to them?!"
"Because I knew there would be no changing his mind." Steve replied. "But that doesn't mean we have to listen."
"Why should I believe you?" Diana demanded. "Huh? Why should I believe anything you say?!"
Steve opened his mouth to answer, then just grabbed her lasso off his belt and wrapped it around his own arm. It began glowing instantly.
"We are going to the Front." he told her. "We will find Dr. Poison's gas. We will most certainly die trying and this is an absolutely terrible plan."
Diana was speechless by the realization.
"You continue to fascinate me Steve Trevor." Diana told him. "Anything else I should know?"
"... god, you're beautiful." Steve let out.
He then quickly dislodged the lasso from his arm, giving said arm a shake.
"Also, if we want to do this, we're going to need reinforcements." he finished.
Diana mulled this over, then gave a small nod.
"Alright then." Diana decided. "Let's go."
"Just promise me the Amazons are never gonna mass produce these things." Steve insisted, gesturing to the lasso.
"The Lasso of Truth is a one of a kind artifact granted to us by Hestia." Diana explained. "There is no other like it."
"Okay." Steve let out, taking a deep breath. "Good to know."
The two then set out to collect their team.
I promised Diana's WWI adventure, and here it is. Hopefully this won't go as long as the Aquaman arc. Stay tuned for more
