Wonder Woman

The Menace of Dr. Poison

Steve Trevor leaned against the rough bark of the old tree and waited. His orders were simple, but it was always the simplest ones that turned into the hardest. A faint hum filled the night sky. He checked his automatic purely out of habit.

He thought back to a few days before. His superiors were aghast when he suggested his plan. The status of Diana Prince was still a concern, but so far he had plenty of reason to believe she was still alive. He had heard a few recordings of Prince's voice. His superiors were barely convinced, but it was treated as official. The story was fantastic, of course, but then again this was quickly becoming the age of the fantastic.

Before him an airplane appeared. The canopy opened as the pilot jumped out. He had to restrain himself from whistling. "Angel."

Wonder Woman nodded. "Trevor. I found your message, but why here?" She gestured to the empty field around them.

"What can I say, I like romantic getaways." Her expression told him to change tactics. "The brass thought it best to keep this quiet. You have been causing quite the stir, you know."

"I go where I am needed the most." She seemed to grow taller before his eyes. "Now what would you have of me?"

"Angel, we're in a mess." Reaching into his jacket, he pulled out a small folder. "In the past two weeks we've lost two generals. Good men too."

She thumbed through the photos. "Suffering Sappho, what could have caused this?" Trevor didn't elaborate on the men's deaths.

"We have a few leads, but nothing concrete. Our agents in the Pacific got word that a guy with the handle of 'Dr. Poison' was smuggled in through Canada. Nobody's seen him, but word is the man is a master of anything that kills."

"And you suspect that he is responsible for these men's deaths?"

"That's the kicker, we can't really link them together. None of these men were ever in the same room together, they were all in the top shape of their lives, there is just no way of connecting them at all!"

"And you would have me do you hunting for you?" She handed the folder back.

"Not exactly like that, no. We've tried to go after this bum, but we just can't make headway. Any lead dies, and every tip points us to an empty building. As an outsider, you're still fairly unknown. We have a lead on where the he might be, but we can't send in anyone."

"Thus you would have me go into the lion's den?" Trevor nodded. Wonder Woman grimly smiled. "I'll do it!"

Meanwhile, on Paradise Island

Mala looked down at the prone figure before her. "How long has she been asleep?"

Venelia stepped forward. The unmoving body of Diana Prince was placed on the bed some time ago. The healer had personally overseen her treatment, but the prognosis puzzled her. "Ever since we stopped the Purple Ray treatment. Her wounds were healed, but her body was so badly damaged. Her prognosis has been improving, but I'm not sure we can do anymore."

"Let us leave then. Have some guards assigned here, just in case." Mala shook her head. Her burden seemed to grow greater every time the queen left on another adventure. Antiope, the queen's sister, made no secret of her resentment. Her words seem to draw more followers with each passing day. "My queen, I understand why you go, but surely Man's world can survive without you for more than a week."

Rushing back to the palace, she was long gone as Diana's eyes fluttered open. "Where am I?"

Rising from the slab, she shakily stood to her feet. Waves of nausea and pain forced her to sit down again. When the world seemed to slow its rotations she got back to her feet. "I was shot down, but I wasn't anywhere near the coast. I remember bright lights and people talking. Did they bring me back to Germany?"

Stepping outside, she gasped at the sight. Surrounding her were massive pillars of purest white marble. She was on a hill and spread out before her were domes and open aired buildings the likes of which mankind hadn't seen in thousands of years. "Am I dead?" The stone felt real enough. She took stock of her clothing.

Her uniform was gone. Draped across her frame was a light tunic. The material was thin but seemed stronger than anything she knew. "They go to the trouble of patching me up and dressing me like a DeMille extra. Not the Germans clearly, but who?" Her bare feet patted across the stones and down the steps. The light sea breeze and warm air made her dizziness return in force. "Still weak, but," She felt her stomach. "I know I took at least a few slugs to the gut, but where is the scar? No doctor could have patched me up that fast." An idea came to her, giving her pause. "Unless I was out longer than I thought." Moving as fast as her legs would allow, she hurried down the steps and towards a cobbled stone street. "Maybe if I could fine a radio, or at least a map."

~WW

Polly tugged at her collar. The clothing was unusual to her, but she understood the purpose well enough. The starched white nurse's uniform helped her blend into the bland beige and white walls of the hospital. Walking slowly towards the nurse's station, she flashed a badge Trevor had given her. "Nurse Polly Walters, reporting for special assignment."

The older matron eyed her identification badge carefully. At length she jerked a nicotine-stained finger down the hall. "The general is in room 218. Give this to the guards before you enter."

Polly nodded and made her way towards the room. The set-up had been planned well in advance. A minor general had recently been admitted due to a small mishap at his home. Trevor would be admitted and switched out with the general, hopefully to discover just who was behind the killing. Her role was simply backup.

She patted her waist. She knew she couldn't carry any weapons into the hospital without fear of discovery, but old Amazon tricks die very hard. Wrapping her Golden Lasso around her stomach, she made she sure could unwrap it in case she needed it.

When she rounded the corner, she jumped back. The door to Trevor's room was ajar. The guard posted out front was sprawled out on the linoleum, foam flecking his lips. She thought about ditching the disguise, but decided to play out her role just a bit longer. After checking the guard, and finding him dead, she swung the door open. "What is going on here?"

Trevor was in the process of being lowered out through the window. Two black- garbed men turned their pistols on her. "The boss didn't say anything about no nurses!" One of them snarled.

Polly felt a pistol barrel being pressed into her spine. "Give it up dolly. One shout and I plug you, got it?" The man behind her closed the door.

She felt the butt of the gun slam down against the back of her head. It barely registered, but if she attacked now Trevor's life would be forfeit. Sighing heavily, she pitched forward. Hearing the hammer being clicked, she tensed.

"What are you doing? You kill her here and you'd wake up the whole floor you mook!"

"Then what do you suggest?"

"Eh, take her with us. The boss could always use another nurse, right?" The third man chimed in. The one who struck agreed with a great deal of grumbling. She felt him pick her up and carry her outside.

~D

Diana walked carefully down the road. Seeing an open aired market before her, she ducked behind a stall as a group of armed women went past her. She noticed that each woman was wearing armor that suggested Ancient Greece and carrying shields and spears. "One thing's for sure, I'm not in Germany. Heck, I may not even be in the twentieth century anymore!"

Snagging a wrap and a pair of sandals from a basket, she slipped them on and tried to blend into the crowd. An angry voice from behind her made her freeze. A large heavyset woman stormed out towards, angrily shouting in what might have been Greek. Diana freed her hair and tossed the wrap at the woman before breaking into a run. "Great, first time I steal and it's right in front of the owner."

The woman's shouts brought the attention of the patrol she saw earlier. The crowd parted like the Red Sea. Stalls closed and people ran, leaving her utterly exposed. The guards, or police, marched toward her. The leader spoke calmly, but there was an edge to her voice. Diana tapped her ears and held up her hands.

One of the guards suddenly leaned forward and threw her spear. The deadly shaft pierced the side of her tunic, pinning her to the ground. She tried to tear the fabric and escape, but it wouldn't budge. "What is this stuff made of, steel?"

The apparent leader spoke harshly to the other guard. She then approached Diana and lowered her weapon. Diana never saw the blow coming. In less than the blink of an eye, the woman backhanded her, knocking her out.

~WW

Once she was convinced she was alone, Polly opened her eyes and sat up. She was in a cell. A quick feeling told her that the lasso was still there. "They captured me and Trevor, but why keep us in separate cells?"

"Hey, Sleeping Beauty's awake!" A voice buzzed over a hidden speaker.

Rising to her feet, she braced herself against the wall. "Who's there?"

"Just the local welfare office. We've found you a nice job, see? The boss wants you ready in five. Any monkey business, and your patient gets iced."

She nodded, unsure if they could see her or not. "So, they have Trevor. Very well, I'll play it safe until then."

Five minutes later, the door opened. Two armed men stepped inside. "Come with us." She followed without comment.

They walked to a decently sized operating theater. Trevor was strapped down to a stretcher, his disguise removed. A portly man loomed over him. His green smock suggested a medic of some kind. Polly couldn't help but state at his face.

Flabby jowls were pushed out and bunched up by the rubber cowl. She noticed what appeared to be appliqués running around his eyes and mouth, drawing the lids and lips back. His teeth were exposed. She noticed his lips drawn back in a permanent expression of neither happiness nor anything else. Polly couldn't but feel revulsion at the very sight of the man. "Good evening." His voice was wet. Salvia dripped freely from his mouth.

"Who are you?" She tried to act scared, but she cursed herself inwardly as it came across as a demand.

"Bravery will not become you my dear." The man gestured to Trevor. "The name men like him have given me is Dr. Poison. It suits me and my purpose, so that is what you shall call me as well."

Pointing to a nearby sink, he slipped on a pair of rubber gloves. "Since the fools I have hired know nothing about basic medicine, I am afraid that I will be needing your services nurse. Assist me and I assure you will be freed."

Playing it cool, Polly walked over to the sink and began to scrub her hands. "Tell me Dr. Poison, who is that man, if you don't mind me asking?"

Poison giggled. "This fool was my target. To think, they actually thought I would be interested in getting a mere two star general when I could have one of the better American agents." The man picked up a hypodermic needle and pressed the plunger. A clear liquid dribbled out. Polly dried her hands and stood by him.

"Very well nurse, I want you to follow my instructions exactly. Any mistake, and I have Rocky over there kill you. Understand?"

Polly nodded as she stepped closer to the instrument tray. Glancing at Trevor, she gasped. His eyes darted back and forth as his face tensed. "He's still awake!"

"Of course, how else will I get information from him?" Poison swabbed Trevor's inner elbow with alcohol. "Hold his legs. This sedative will relax his muscles further and allow me access to his mind."

"What if it doesn't?"

"Then we move to the other tools." He gestured to a row of knives and instruments that she couldn't even name. Acting quickly, she gripped Poison's wrist the instant the needle touched Trevor's arm. "What are you doing?" He screamed as she tightened her grip. Spinning him in front of her, she brought her knee up and slammed it into the small of the fat man's back. Pushing him forward, she rammed him into Rocky, pinning the gunman to the ground under Poison's bulk.

Rushing over to the stretcher, she snapped the chain holding it to the floor and pushed it through the double doors. The shouts of Poison and the guards were quickly followed by shots. Increasing her speed, she quickly jumped on as the stretcher bounced down a short set of stairs.

Crashing into a heap, Polly slung Trevor over her shoulders and carried him outside. A car was parked in front of them. "Do you know how to operate this?" A bullet shattered the window next to them.

"Can't feel my legs." Trevor mumbled.

Uttering several oaths to several gods, Polly tore the driver side door off and flung at the two gunmen. Tossing Trevor inside, she followed suit. "How do you operate this?" Trevor mumbled some instructions, but she focused on the other thugs arriving. Holding her arm up, she blocked their shots with her bracelet as she turned the key. The engine roared to life.

Switching gears, after some difficulty, she put the car in reverse and promptly slammed it into a tree. "Hades' eyes, who designed this infernal contraption?" Putting it in drive, she slammed on the gas pedal, after identifying it and the brake, and lurched forward. Seeing the assembled men of Dr. Poison rushing towards them, and ignoring their gunfire, she aimed the car at them and drove straight.

Most of the men jumped out of the way, save for one unlucky soul who impacted hard against the windshield, nearly knocking it out of the frame. Spinning around in the driveway, she saw a road before them and headed towards it and freedom. A few final shots took out the rear window.

"Angel," Trevor slurred as the feeling slowly returned to him, "Where the blue blazes did you learn how to drive?"

"Self taught." She did have to admit, once she got the hang of it, it wasn't much different from driving a chariot. "How are you feeling?"

"Better" he sat up in the seat. "They pumped full of sedatives when I entered the room. They were waiting for me, Wonder Woman, for me! Not my cover identity and not even the real general. They wanted me!"

"Clearly Poison has more spies than you thought." She entered the highway and increased the speed. "Any suggestions?"

"None. If I radio it in, they might know. Dr. Poison is a threat to every man, woman, and child in this country. If he slips away, we may never catch him!" He was thrown against his side door as Polly pulled a u-turn and drove over the median. "What are you doing?"

"Going someplace safe." She pointed to a small sign. "Holliday College, I have friends there who can help."

"Friends from back home?"

"Not quite." Polly wistfully looked at the blacktop. "My army is home, but I'd never get there in time to stop Dr. Poison. No, our army must be raised here." She silently added as they pulled off the main road, "Although they may not be the forces I'm used to, we have to make do with what we have available."

~D

Diana slowly opened her eyes. Her head throbbed. Her teeth felt like little pinpricks of pain, and she was sure at least two of them had been knocked loose. "Where am I?"

A woman suddenly appeared in her line of vision. "Awake?" Diana couldn't focus on the woman's features, but she knew the woman was easily taller than her. Chestnut brown hair spilled out of a black headdress. Her features betrayed an arrogance befitting royalty. "I see my captain was too harsh n you. For that, I apologize. As to where you are, you are in my home."

"Who are you?" Diana felt like someone had shoved a sock full of pennies into her mouth and nose.

The woman gave a grim smile. "I am Antiope, leader of the Bana and current protector of this paradise."

"Pleased to meet you." Diana tried to move, but found her wrists and ankles bound.

"No doubt, but I've taken the precaution of binding you." She stepped back. "Odd, but then I suppose Man's world has progressed somewhat since we last roamed." She held up a pistol Diana recognized as hers.

Seeing the expression on her face, Antiope lowered the weapon. "I suppose I should explain why you are here. You see my sister, Queen" she spat the word out, "Hippolyta, found you on our shores. Rather than letting you rot, she healed your wounds and as best as I can deduce went utterly mad." She casually tossed the gun down and stepped on it. To Diana's horror, she flattened the barrel under her heel. "She has abandoned her people, put a pretender on the throne, and now runs around in Man's world like a fool."

Diana tried to speak, but Antiope gripped her jaw painfully. "Ah, I wasn't finished. What ever my dear sister does is her business and I'm thankfully she left." Drawing herself closer, she chuckled darkly. "You see, this allows me the perfect opportunity to redress some wrongs that have been committed since she took the throne, and you, my strange sister, are going to help."

~WW

Polly kicked open the door. The Holliday campus was mostly deserted at this time of night. Leaving the car parked under and partial around a tree, she dragged Trevor from the front seat and hauled him towards the women's dormitory. "You have friends here?" He wheezed as she sat him down on a nearby sofa in the lounge.

"Close enough. I know they have a telephone, could you summon more agents?"

"No time angel. Going through an unrestricted line would take too long, plus I doubt we have the luxury."

"Then the Holliday Girls it is." She rounded the corner and ran headlong into a shorter matronly woman.

"What's the meaning of this?" Mrs. Brown was the resident housemother. She had been a fixture of the school since Wilson, and she had been equally known for her insistence on decorum. She sputtered with rage at the sight of Polly in her torn uniform and Steve's nude chest. "I demand you explain yourselves this instant!"

"Ma'am, I'm with the government," Steve's explanation was lost on the older woman as Polly gripped her neck and lightly squeezed. Mrs. Brown's eyes rolled up in her head. Polly caught her before she fell and placed her on a sturdy looking coffee table. He gave a low whistle. "Angel, what the heck did you do?"

"Old Amazon trick. Stay here, I'm going to get help." Steve nodded without argument.

Polly ducked into the nearest stairwell when a thought struck her. "Etta may not recognize me, and I'd prefer to keep Polly Prince and Wonder Woman separate, at least for the time being."

Rubbing her wrists, and undoing the invisibility charm over them, she clashed them together. The stairs around her seemed to spin. Opening her eyes, she smiled in satisfaction. Her uniform had been magically replaced with her armor. "Hera bless Mala for that design." She continued up the stairs two at a time.

Reaching Etta's floor, she darted down the hallway. Each knock of the door only brought her confused stares, but she hit the right one midway. "Etta?"

"Huh?" The shorter gal rubbed the sleep from her eyes. "Holy Hannah, Wonder Woman! What are you doing here?"

"I need your help. Can you rouse the rest of the Holliday Girls?"

Etta was awake at once. "Sure thing!"

Downstairs, five minutes later

Steve glanced over the assembled group. Mrs. Brown had been tucked away in one of the girl's rooms. The rest of the Holliday Girls were dressed and ready. Wonder Woman marched before them as smaller groups put up streamers and readied a record player. "I realize this is a bit much to ask, I wouldn't blame anyone if they walked away, but what I am asking for is your help to save this country."

"Dangerous men are following us. We are unable to rouse the authorities in time, and I can't attack them myself just yet. All I ask is that you distract them."

Billie raised a hand. "But by having a party?"

Wonder Woman smiled. "True, this isn't the battlefield I'm used to, but you have to use one's environment. Be loud, distracting, annoying if you must, but the spies will see a well-lit gathering. They wouldn't dare use their weapons for fear of discovery, but they will come here."

"I see some guys coming up the lane!" Etta squeaked in excitement.

"Take your positions!" Wonder Woman slipped outside. Jumping to the second story, she crouched in a window as four men made their way to the building.

"Gee Rocky, sounds like a party." Slugs pocketed his gun. "Think we ought to crash it?"

"If we don't find those two, the boss will crash us." Rocky began to plan. "Slugs, you're with me." Pointing to the other two, he drew out his plan on the air. "Roper, you go around the back way and sneak in, and Jacks, you stay here in case anyone tries to slip away."

Wonder Woman waited. Listening closely, she heard Slugs and Rocky using the door and Roper walking away. When the sound of footsteps was down to one pair, she uncoiled her lasso. Seeing Jacks stepping away from the door and lighting a match, she dropped the lasso over the side. It looped around Jacks neck and with one tug tightened. She hauled him up quickly.

Loosening the noose, she gripped his arm. "Tell me, where is Dr. Poison?"

Jacks coughed. "Still at old hospital, won't leave until we bring Trevor and that dame back alive."

"Good." Lightly cuffing him on the head, she dropped down to the grass and dumped him in the shadows. "Now to take care of the other three." Racing around the to the back, she spied Roper waiting under a tree with his gun drawn.

Coiling her lasso, she jumped to the second story. Nimbly leaping window to window, she stopped when she drew close to the tree limbs. Slipping her lasso free, she tossed it around the nearest branch and pulled back on it. The wood gave with some resistance, but she managed to hold it without breaking it.

When Roper passed under it, she released the branch. It swung down and struck the man squarely in the face. Leaping, she hit the ground and rolled to the gun. Knocking it away, she slammed a fist into Roper's midsection. He coughed and collapsed. A quick pinch of the neck knocked him out.

She emptied the pistol and bent the barrel before slipping inside the building. The party's crescendo had been building steadily. More lights were turned on from irate students. She spied Slugs and Rocky trying to move past the Holliday Girls, but both men found their way blocked.

"Excuse me!" Slugs was shouting over the music. A stray foot hooked his shin, sending him crashing down onto Rocky.

The shorter man hollered as the heavier Slugs effectively pinned him to the floor. "Will one of you nutty dames give us a hand?"

The girls formed a circle. Wonder Woman had to suppress laughing when they began to clap. Stepping forward, the group parted and allowed her in. Before the two men could protest, she had roped her lasso around both of them. "You are going to tell me what Dr. Poison is planning and what to expect. Then you are both going to sleep for five hours."

Rocky did most of the talking. He spoke of passwords and bobby traps, of hidden passages and caches of poisons. When he was finished, he closed his eyes and went to sleep. The girls were in awe. "How did you do that?"

"Amazon trick." She flicked her wrist and coiled the lasso. "It's all in the wrist."

A few phone calls were made. Wonder Woman and Steve left and took the goons' car before the police showed up. All four men were bound and gagged in the lobby. The girls concocted a suitable story for the cops.

~D

Diana was in trouble. She knew that before Anitope had dragged her to another chamber and bound her with ropes, but now it just seemed worse. Her wounds had been treated, but she felt the panic start to build when she felt her hair on her bare shoulders. It had been cut and smeared with some form of oil. The smell was sickly sweet and made her eyes itch.

Antiope entered the chamber. Diana held her head up as far as she could manage. "I won't help you."

"I would be surprised if you did." The Amazon pulled a small pair of scissors from her girdle. Diana flinched, despite her efforts. Antiope smiled as she approached. "Fear not, if I wanted you dead we wouldn't be having this moment." She began to take locks from Diana's head and cut them.

"Then what the blazes are you doing?"

"Simple. My dear sister Hippolyta is going to make a surprise return. She will give a brief statement before seceding all of her power to her dear sister, who will reluctantly accept such a high honor."

"So you want me to be the stand in, right?" Diana caught on to the idea. "But what happens when I start speaking English?"

"Oh, I have that planned out, don't worry. In the mean time, just sit back and enjoy the artistry of the Bana." She finished cut her hair as several more women entered the room. "My servants are quite skilled at make-up and disguise. Once they get through with you, your own mother wouldn't recognize you."

~WW

The black sedan pulled up near the old hospital. Wonder Woman and Steve exited the front seat. "I still think this is crazy." Steve checked the pistol he lifted from Slugs.

"Just wait five minutes. Those men told the truth, but only as far as they knew. Dr. Poison must have some secrets he kept to himself." She eyed the backseat carefully.

"Yeah, but five minutes can be a long time." Steve groused as they went on foot towards the old building. Silently nodding, Steve slipped around to the side while Wonder Woman went in through the front.

She easily slipped past the spring-loaded traps and makeshift explosives that dotted the main hallway. When she approached the operating theater, a voice cackled over the modified speakers. "Well done Wonder Woman, but I fear your friend was not as careful as you were. Leave that infernal rope on the floor and enter the room." There was no threat in the man's voice, as she knew he held all the cards. Following the orders, she barged into the theater.

Steve was trapped inside a large glass tube. He was slumped down at the bottom. Dr. Poison was seated in the theater seats with a small array of monitors spread out before him. "I must say, you two have been my most challenging assignment yet." Standing up, he pulled out a large dart gun from his smock. "I will enjoy seeing what your body can teach me."

Making his way to the railing, he steadied his aim as the Amazonian Queen stood silently defiant. Poison's expression never changed when a voice rang out. "Not so fast you bum!"

Spinning around, Poison brought the gun to bear on the intruder. Aiming high, he squeezed the trigger, but the shape bounding towards him merely ducked and leaped. Etta Candy slammed into the doctor with her full weight behind her. The impact sent him flying over the railing and into the operating floor. Crashing with a thud, he tried to rise to his feet. "Impressive, but it won't do you any good" he stopped cold when he looked up.

Steve Trevor was on his feet and pointing a gun at him. "How?" Poison shrieked. Steve fired his pistol, shattering the glass and hitting Poison in the leg.

"Rocky was a bit paranoid and had antidotes to all the poisons you had around here. I just took the right one before 'accidentally' setting off that bobby trap."

Wonder Woman loomed over Poison's prone form, her lasso held tight. "Hold, there is something amiss." Yanking Poison's hand free from the wound, she eyed the spy's wrist.

"Get away from me! I need a doctor!" Poison whined and tried to slip free of her grip.

Wonder Woman wrapped her lasso around Poison's hand. "I want you to tell me who you really are."

Poison's voice suddenly changed. It became much higher and feminine. The previously accent-less English effortlessly changed to perfect Japanese. "My name is Lady Maru, peasant, and you will unhand me."

"Holy smokes, Dr. Poison is a dame?" Steve was dumbstruck. "All this time, and our killer was a woman?"

"You sound surprised." Wonder Woman reached down and grabbed a handful of Poison's face. With a solid yank, the rubbery flesh gave way to reveal a face of such delicate beauty that even Wonder Woman had give pause. Maru's face was flawless, her skin creamy and slightly pale. Her hate filled eyes were the only feature that marred her complexion. "I thought something was off when I felt her wrist. It felt far too slender for a man."

"Unhand me!" She swore in a most common fashion. Wonder Woman undid the lasso and stepped back.

"There is your killer." She turned and started to walk away. Steve reached out and touched her arm.

"Wait, where are you going?"

"Our deal was that I was to help apprehend Dr. Poison, and I did." She none too gently shrugged off Steve's hand. "Feel free to contact me when you have more foes to fight."

"Hey, what just a minute!" Steve tried to dart in front of her. Meanwhile, unseen by the pair, Maru slipped a hand inside her smock and pulled out a small pistol. She sat up to take the shot.

"Foolish Americans! At least I'll complete my assignment!" She cocked the hammer just as a shadow loomed overhead. "What?" She had just enough time to look up when a large bowling ball crashed down, knocking her senseless.

Steve and Wonder Woman spun around at once at the sound. "Etta?" Wonder Woman was amazed as the shorter woman hoped down from the railing and retrieved her ball.

Lightly blowing on it, she smiled at the amazed looks. "Three time Holliday bowling champ. I always carry a extra one."

~D

Diana opened her eyes. She was startled by the stranger in front of her before she realized it was her reflection. Antiope stepped out from behind the mirror. "Excellent work, wouldn't you agree?"

"It can't possibly work, you know that!"

"It can and will." Antiope removed a small compact from behind the mirror and opened it. "A small whiff of this powder and even Hippolyta couldn't tell the difference."

"What happens after that?" Diana tried to stall for time.

"After that? That won't be a concern for you." Before Diana could protest, Antiope blew a strange green powder into her face. She coughed and tried to stand up, but found her muscles wouldn't respond. She slumped foward as Anitope laughed.

~WW

Polly, now dressed in regular clothing, stood in the shadows as Steve and Etta told their story to the FBI agents. She was quite happy to let them take all the credit. Seeing Maru being loaded into the back of the ambulance, however, made her think. Once Steve finally finished his report, he made his way over to her. "A penny for your thoughts?"

"What will become of her?" The ambulance's siren wailed as it pulled away.

"Right now, I'd say quite a few years in a maximum security prison, unless she spills, then we probably hand her over to the Japanese in some kind of cockamamie exchange program."

"Exchange program?"

Steve spat with disgust. "Yeah, we capture a few of their guys, they capture a few of ours then we trade like baseball cards."

"I think I may have a solution then. " She began to walk back through the woods, Steve behind her. "There is an island we Amazons used for the rehabilitation of insurgents. It's isolated and well guarded. Perhaps she could be transferred there?"

Steve stopped in his tracks. "That is an idea, but I'm not sure." Looking around the woods, he suddenly realized his whereabouts. "Where are you going?"

"Home." She stepped out into a clearing. She placed her hand on her ear. Before them the air shimmed. Steve still blinked when the airplane reappeared.

"I'll never get used to that." He muttered. As Wonder Woman opened the cockpit, Steve reached out to stop her. "You know, we made a pretty good team tonight."

She continued to climb. Sitting down, she wryly smiled. "I admit, it has been far too long since I was in the thick of battle."

"I'm glad to hear that. My superiors would like to meet you."

Her smile faded. "Really."

"Well, you are a rather interesting person." Steve tried to joke. "And what about Diana Prince? It has been several weeks."

"She'll be returned. My people are simply treating her wounds."

"And," he approached the plane, "what are your people? Where are they, are-" he was cut off as the propellers increased speed.

"She will be returned, shortly. Tell your leaders they have nothing to fear from my people or myself."

"I'd like to believe that, I really would, but face it, all this talk of people is making Uncle Sam nervous. Maybe we could all sit down and talk?"

"Perhaps." She closed the canopy, forcing Steve to step back. "Your problems found us, I should point out. We owe you nothing." She shouted over the engine. Steve moved away as the plane rolled on and took to the air.

"Brother!" Steve shook his head. "How am I going to explain this?"

~D

Mala rubbed her eyes. She always wondered why the queen said 'heavy is the head that wears the crown', and now she knew. Before her were blueprints and requests. The papers had consumed the surface of the table. "By the gods, how did she manage all these years?" Mala stood up and popped her back as a frenzied knocking at her chamber door made her jump. "Who's there?" She opened the door before the wood splintered.

"Mala! Come quick!" Venelia stumbled inside. "Antiope and the queen!" She panted from exhaustion.

"Hippolyta? What has Antiope done?" Mala's stomach fluttered.

"She's given the crown over to Antiope! The ceremony is being performed as we speak?"

"What?" Mala rushed from her room. Racing outside, she left Venelia behind as she hopped onto a nearby kanga. Pushing the mount as hard as she dared, she made her way to the center of the island.

Before her disbelieving eyes was a massive crowd. In the center on a raised platform were Antiope, surrounded by the Bana, and to her left a figure that appeared to be Queen Hippolyta. Antiope spoke loudly of her sister's mistake and the cruel crime of abandoning her people in their time of need. The figure next to her, who sounded and looked like Hippolyta enough to almost convince Mala, confirmed Antiope's words. She renounced herself and spoke at length of being a fool and traitor to the ideals of the Amazons. She bowed low and was lead off the stage. The crowd let out a massive cheer as Antiope held up a crown before Hippolyta vanished completely. Mala removed the badge of office from her head and quietly moved back towards her mount. "A fake! Hippolyta has not yet returned from Man's World. Even if she did hand over power, she would have taken the crown back!" She slipped the metal headband into her robes and slipped away. "Has Queen Hippolyta really fallen out of favor that much, or has Antiope deceived us?"

No answers came as she rode back to the palace. "My queen, where are you?" The crown felt heavy in her robes, threatening to rip itself free as she rode.

The end

Loosely based "The Menace of Dr. Poison", which was first published in Sensation Comics#2 (February 1942) with credits to William Marston (script) and Harry G. Peter (pencils/inks).

Wonder Wonderings

And we kick off the New Year with a bang, eh? Well, let's get to the fan mail first:

From They Call Me Bruce

Love the idea D. Have you read DC/Marvel the Merging? In one of their fanfics they have Queen Hipplyta as Wonder Woman during World War II.

No, can't say as I have. Do you have a link?

From Tiffani

Tremendous job on your latest. You did a great job on establishing the
tone and feel. Excellent work.
Thanks for sharing

And thank you for reading!

From colt131

Cool story. I almost thought Amelia Earhart was going to become
Wonder Woman.

That idea has been tossed around a bit.

Concept created by PFP and Wonder Woman owned by DC/Time Warner. All rights reserved.

Be here next time when Wonder Woman faces spies, lies, and jives!

Upcoming issues:

Action Comics#2-Revoultion!

Detective Comics#2-The Case of the Curious Cat