A/N: Last update for the next month or two as I focus attention on a collaboration story, also for Wonder Woman. Do enjoy this, and a happy holiday month to all my readers.

"They entered the vast edifice with its marble floors and stairways, and domes floating with watery English sunlight, reminding her (Diana) very little of the council chambers back home..." - Nancy Holder, Wonder Woman movie novelization

"How long do you think it will take him?"

Antiope looked over at her niece. After they had fled the alleyway where those men had attacked them, Captain Trevor had insisted on moving at a more rapid pace towards the building he called his headquarters. Once they'd arrived, he'd sent Etta to the rooms he used as his office, and then led she and Diana through the building referred to as the War Office towards a room with a sign over the door reading Assembly Hall. DIana had been fully prepared to push her way in along with Captain Trevor, even after he'd told them to stay outside while he reported in. She had only been stopped by Antiope grasping her arm, and gently reminding her that they couldn't afford to call more attention to themselves, lest they bring Ares' attention towards them before they were ready. She'd acquiesced, but hadn't been happy about it.

To be honest, the length of time he'd been gone was concerning to Antiope as well, but past experience in giving reports made her fully aware that being gone so long wasn't entirely unheard of in particular situations. Situations that had proven to be exceptionally dangerous, as this one was shaping up to be.

"Diana, he needs to let his superiors know he has returned. He will call for us if we are needed."

Or more specifically, he will call for you, Diana, she thought wryly. Anyone with eyes and experience could see that the mortal man had started to fall for her niece, However, she wasn't sure if he quite realized this. It was also possible that he did and was simply ignoring the fact. Diana, with her lack of experience, certainly hadn't caught on to his behavior yet. And of course, she was focused on her goal of destroying Ares and "saving" humanity. So focused that she didn't see the way Captain Trevor acted towards her.

Right now, that might well be for the best that Diana remained unaware and Captain Trevor didn't acknowledge his own care for her niece, Antiope believed. Perhaps later, should this all end well, there would be time for them to figure out their feelings towards each other. In the meantime, she would keep her silence in this matter. It was a foolish person who meddled in other peoples' matters of the heart.

Right now, she needed to make sure Diana understood the seriousness of the situation they had landed in.

"Diana, those men who attacked us a few hours ago...," she began carefully.

Her niece looked at her. "You mean the ones infected by Ares?"

Antiope sighed inwardly. Perhaps she should call Diana fixated instead of focused, she thought. "Yes, those men," she said aloud.

"What about them?" Diana asked.

Antiope frowned thoughtfully, as she considered the best way to put the information to Diana. Finally she just decided to go for the simple truth.

"Steve Trevor learned of a very dangerous weapon, Diana. One that can kill a large amount of people with very little effort. What is of greater concern is how those men knew where to find Captain Trevor and what he looked like in order to track him. There was no way for them to be certain that he would be returning. Not if those men who invaded Themyscira were unable to return to their vessel or report in," she finished.

Diana frowned thoughtfully. "Then how did they know, then?"

"There is no way to know for sure, Diana. It could be a traitor from Captain Trevor's side, which was known to happen even in my time," Antiope replied. "It is also possible his enemies could have also just made a lucky guess as to his whereabouts, which also can happen. Either way, Diana, knowledge is power, whether it be in battle or an everyday situation. Captain Trevor's enemies know this as well, and know that their own adversaries would potentially be able to stop them once they have this information in hand."

Diana fell silent, considering this, as she and the elder Amazon watched people pass by. A few glanced at them, but paid them no other mind.

Antiope didn't mind this too much. It made for an interesting change from Themyscira, where everyone knew who each other was. There was no true anonymity there. Even with her brief few hours in this city, she had noticed how easy it was to blend in and pass unnoticed. Likely due to the large amount of people, she suspected. She suspected the novelty would wear off for her eventually, however. Still, she would enjoy it while it lasted. New experiences were always something to savor.

Her niece's voice broke into her musings. "Ares has created a monster with this weapon he's provided the mortals." It was steady, full of conviction, something that Antiope would admire under other circumstances. It proved they had done well in raising Zeus' daughter for the task ahead of her.

And yet at the same time, Antiope found herself wondering now if perhaps Diana had been taught too well. That in filling her head with the tales of Ares' betrayal, they had neglected to consider how it would color her beliefs concerning humanity.

Antiope frowned. She didn't want to tarnish Diana's rose-colored views on mortals, but at the same time, she didn't want Diana to learn the hard way that not all mortals were good people, that they were as capable of darkness as of light. Ares had corrupted humanity, yes, but he had only brought out the latent darkness that existed.

"You have a great love for mortals, Diana, and I do believe you will thrive in this world once we have defeated Ares," the Amazon general began carefully. "But there is one thing you need to bear in mind always."

"And that is?" Diana looked at her aunt, the features set so much like Hippolyta's that Antiope felt her heart clench at the memory of the sister left behind on Themyscira.

But she allowed no emotion on her face as she responded, "As powerful as the gods were, Diana, even they could not create something from nothing. Zeus created humanity from the dust and clay of the ground, and commanded the very wind to give them breath. The Amazons he created in similar manner, using the clay and shells from the sea bed and shaped us through the waves of the sea itself. He shaped our bodies from the very elements that existed."

Diana nodded. "I know. Mother has told me that story. She also told me how Ares grew envious of the love Zeus had for them and poisoned their minds, corrupting them."

Antiope smiled sadly. "This is true, Diana. But like Zeus, Ares cannot create something from nothing. Everyone carries a kernel of darkness within them Some are fortunate enough that they can go all their lives without knowing of its existence. Others...are not so fortunate. And Ares takes advantage of the discord these particular individuals create."

Diana's brow furrowed in confusion. "Antiope, what are you saying?"

Antiope's expression didn't change as she replied, "I am saying that as much as one would like to believe otherwise, life is never so black and white as it seems. Do not assume that Ares is responsible for everything that goes wrong in this world."

"But he is the god of War. He has to be responsible for this!"

"War and discord strengthen him, Diana," Antiope said, now sharply. "I would say it more likely that this violence is helping him to survive, more than anything else."

Diana's features seemed troubled by her words, but before her niece could make any reply, Captain Trevor appeared in front of them, his expression also troubled.

"It took some fancy talking," he began, "but I was able to convince some of the higher-ups that I could provide witnesses to back up my story."

Diana stood quickly at Captain Trevor's words, but Antiope frowned. "There is more, isn't there?"

"Something like that," Captain Trevor admitted. "Women aren't usually welcomed in the war room during discussions. There was some argument about the idea of letting you both inside once I mentioned that my witnesses were women."

"I see," Antiope replied, noting as she did the anger that appeared on her niece's face. She felt the same anger, but now was not the time to let it show. It wouldn't help their case. "But that you are standing here telling us this indicates that eventually someone convinced them to allow our presence."

Captain Trevor nodded. "Sir Patrick Morgan. He pointed out that since all you and Diana will be doing is providing corroborative testimony to mine, it would be harmless to allow you to speak."

Antiope's frown deepened. Even in her time, women were forbidden to take part in the affairs of men, regardless of what they were. The Atlanteans as well as a few groups of aliens had been the only exceptions to the rule. That a mortal man was standing up to his peers and insisting on their presence was unusual and puzzling,

Still, she couldn't deny some curiosity about how matters concerning battle were handled nowadays, and if they were being allowed to access a room only men could enter, then the opportunity shouldn't be ignored..

She rose to her feet. "Very well. Show us the way, Captain Trevor."

Antiope felt it the moment she entered the room. A heavy presence, one she hadn't felt in many millennia, but remembered very well.

Ares...he's here...

The God of War was here, in this building.

And an icy prickle on the back of the Amazon's neck indicated to her that he was observing them.

Her jaw clenched, but she forced her features to remain neutral, refusing to allow Ares any pleasure from her reaction.

It was bad enough that he likely suspected her niece's identity. After all, he knew the name of every Amazon that had ever lived. He would never have heard of one called Diana, and no one had ever been sure if Zeus had let slip any hint of what he'd done before he died. For her part, Antiope found that unlikely. Zeus would never have revealed to his traitorous son that he had created one more weapon to use against him.

And aside from the fact that her niece's name was unique to the Amazons, there was also the matter of that energy that Diana had released during her spar with the Amazonian general. He must have felt that somehow, even if he didn't couldn't pinpoint exactly where it originated from.

In any case, whatever he suspected, it was likely now that he'd had said suspicions confirmed now that he'd seen Diana.

And he would act. Perhaps not now, with so many witnesses present; he would have long ago taken on the guise of a mortal, as she and Diana had, and would not wish to reveal himself prematurely. No, he would wait for a more opportune time.

Keeping her head as still as she could manage, her eyes flicked around the room, trying to see if she could pinpoint where Ares stood. Unfortunately, there were too many others in the room for her to discover his exact location. He was likely counting on that, she realized grimly.

Her attention was soon diverted by the officer (introduced as Colonel Darnell) who had been asking her niece questions concerning the story Captain Trevor had given. The man's gaze was now fixed on her.

So it was her turn to be questioned, then. Very well.

"Madame," the man called Colonel Darnell began. "Please state your name for the record."

Antiope drew herself up straight. "Helena Troy," she stated firmly, knowing it would be safer to give a name that wasn't so obviously from ancient times.

Colonel Darnell nodded. "Miss Troy, Captain Trevor has informed us of your and your niece's involvement in getting him to safety."

"That is correct," Antiope replied.

"Your niece has confirmed Captain Trevor's version of events. I assume you can also vouch for this?"

"Yes," Antiope said clearly.

The colonel nodded once more, then began asking several more questions regarding the finer details of the events. Antiope gamely confirmed what she could, keeping her features straight and her voice steady.

Still, she couldn't help but feel a sense of relief when it was done, and Captain Trevor led them out of the room after he'd shown them the journal that he'd risked his life for and arranged for a further discussion on it in another part of the building. She had been through debriefings before, and while she felt satisfied that she'd performed well enough, she also had the sinking feeling that Ares hadn't been fooled. Amused, perhaps, but not fooled.

Soon, she thought resignedly.

It will be soon.

Ares chuckled as he watched the two women leave behind Captain Trevor.

"Well played, Antiope," he murmured as he followed at an easy gait out of the war council.

"Well played indeed."

Unseen by either Amazon, he smirked.

But it won't be enough.

Your time is coming.

A/N2: Yes. I did indeed pull the name Helena Troy from the Greek myths, altering it just slightly. ^_^ Didn't remember until after I'd chosen the name that there was a Donna Troy in the Wonder Woman comics. But since that character doesn't exist in the movies yet (and may not), I decided to keep the surname as is.

As for her picking up on Ares where Diana didn't, I figured that given how the Amazons interacted with the gods in the Wonder Woman canon, they would have learned how to pick up on the presence and power of a god. Diana, having been born after their deaths in the movies, would not have been quite as sensitive to that, even with what she contained.