A/N: Sorry about the delay. RL got in the way, and there was also some general laziness mixed in there.
"This is a terrible idea...We're going to need reinforcements." (Steve Trevor) - Nancy Holder, Wonder Woman movie novelization
"This is taking too long."
Antiope shot a sidelong glance towards her niece. "Diana," she began softly.
"No, Antiope!" the Amazonian princess whispered heatedly. "We're supposed to be going to the front to find Ares, but all they are doing is trying to translate a journal."
Antiope heaved an inward sigh, knowing full well that there was no need to go so far, but suspecting strongly that Ares would choke the words in her throat the moment she tried to say a word along those lines.
"The journal will tell them where to look for this weapon, Diana. That is also important. Don't forget, the humans haven't believed in gods for many millennia now. To them, Ares is just a legend, while the poison gas is real."
Diana's features tensed with anger. "I know, but...when we finally have a chance to bring peace to humankind, all they do is ignore us. They've treated us as though our words don't matter, Antiope."
"Men will always believe they know better, Diana," Antiope replied softly. "And sometimes, they actually do. Are they correct in this instance? No. But as I just said, Ares is little more than a story to them, with no basis in fact. We can't just push our way into this."
Diana subsided, but Antiope noted how her niece's hands had clenched into fists and were trembling with suppressed anger. It wouldn't be much longer before she reached the end of her patience, Antiope knew.
She turned her gaze towards the front of the room where they'd been led following their interview. At first, the other officers had wanted to leave them outside while they took the journal to the Intelligence Office. Captain Trevor, however, had insisted on their presence, and was backed up by the man called Sir Patrick Morgan, so they'd been allowed to enter.
After which, they'd been completely ignored for the following two hours. During that time, Antiope had been making great efforts to ignore Ares' presence, while at the same time trying to keep Diana reined in. She could well understand her niece's frustration, though on a different level, knowing Ares was closer than Diana knew, but understanding all too well that revealing him now would not be allowed. Not here, where he could silence her all too quickly.
No, Antiope concluded. Ares intended to choose his moment to strike, Antiope knew. And it would come at a moment Diana least suspected. It was how he operated. It was how he'd been able to strike down so many of his brethren…
How he'd managed to hide his true intentions for so long, hiding behind a mask of affability, never letting anyone see the jealousy and rage simmering within.
The Amazonian general was distracted from her darkening thoughts as movement caught her eyes. Captain Trevor was approaching them with the man called Colonel Darnell. The other man's features were sour, as though he'd eaten something that didn't agree with him.
Interesting , Antiope thought, raising an eyebrow. Aloud, she asked, "Is something wrong, Captain Trevor?"
"Our cryptographers haven't been able to translate these notes," Colonel Darnell answered sullenly. "Captain Trevor said you might be able to read these, Miss Troy. Though he wouldn't explain how he knew that."
Well, that explains the irritation , Antiope thought with some amusement. No man liked hearing a woman could do something they couldn't. Even in a serious situation like this.
Still, there was no reason to sink to his level, not with so much at stake. "An uncle of mine dabbled in learning various languages," Antiope responded smoothly. "He taught me to read a handful of some of those he was interested in.."
The sour look seemed to drop just slightly. "Huh," was all he replied, however. He handed over the journal. "Well, here you go, then. I should tell you, though, that while our cryptographers weren't able to decipher the notes, they did state that they were written in two separate languages. Couldn't identify them, though."
Antiope took the journal from Colonel Darnell, and began to flip through the pages. As she read, she couldn't help but feel slightly disturbed by how analytical and cold this woman seemed. Doctor Maru seemed to be one of those people who was fully aware of the core of darkness within her, and embraced it entirely. A human with no moral compass whatsoever, who delighted in causing pain.
This was one person Antiope would certainly kill and lose no sleep over doing so.
"I take it you can understand what is written there, Miss Troy?" Colonel Darnell asked now. This time, there was genuine curiosity in his voice.
"Aye," Antiope replied, closing the journal and handing it back to the colonel. "Sumerian and Ottoman. Though how your Doctor Maru learned those particular languages would be beyond me. I would guess she apparently seemed to understand well the possibility that her notes would be found, and took steps to prevent anyone from stealing her work."
"I'm guessing by the look on your face that what she wrote isn't very good news," Captain Trevor said warily.
Antiope's mouth became a thin line. "It isn't, no. She writes of a poison gas she's created. One that can overpower a gas mask." Whatever that was. "Composed of hydrogen.."
"Did she say where she planned to release it?"
The Amazonian general nodded. "The Front, she said."
"Did she say when?"
"No."
Colonel Darnell muttered something under his breath that Antiope couldn't quite catch, but she suspected was not particularly complimentary concerning the doctor.
Captain Trevor now spoke up. "Sir, that is the evidence we need. You have to find out where they're making this gas. Burn it to the ground. Destroy it."
"Likely in Belgium, Trevor. Maru is known to travel with Ludendorff and he was last seen there," Colonel Darnell replied grimly. "But I can tell you right now that you won't get Haig to agree with sending troops over there to do that."
Antiope shot a quick glance over to Diana, who was now staring in utter shock at the man. The rage seemed to have slipped away, but something told her that this wouldn't last long.
Captain Trevor seemed just as startled. "May I ask why, Sir?"
Colonel Darnell's features didn't lose the grim cast as he replied, "While you've been gone, negotiations were begun regarding Germany's surrender. There's also the possibility of an armistice, as you heard when you arrived."
"They were dismissing it, if I recall," the captain replied.
"Yes, but it's still very much on the table, Trevor," the colonel returned. "Which means the bottom line is that Haig won't want to risk jeopardizing the end of the war."
Once more, Captain Trevor seemed disturbed. "Sir, you know what I saw there. Even if Germany does surrender, which they haven't done yet, they could simply stockpile the gas for future use. Or retaliate, if they don't like the terms they're given. I've seen this gas with my own eyes. It will kill everyone, Colonel. Our men and theirs."
"Haig won't agree, Trevor," Colonel Darnell replied, this time wearily. "I believe you, I do. But you know damn well what the general is like. You also know what's said about him."
Antiope frowned, but before she could ask what the colonel meant by that statement, Trevor spoke up once more. "Send me in then, Colonel. Give me logistical support. We can't lose this chance to take out Ludendorff and his operation.."
"You know I have to get permission from the general for such a mission, and you know he won't agree to such a thing, either, Trevor," Colonel Darnell said. "Particularly now, when the end of the war seems close."
Antiope glanced at Diana and saw her features harden. Glancing back at the two men in front of her, she saw Captain Trevor's features stiffen in resolution. "It doesn't have to be an official mission, Sir," he said quietly, but no less firmly than he had before. "You know we won't have another chance at this."
Colonel Darnell seemed for a moment like he might refuse, Antiope thought. And to an extent, she could understand it. Rogue elements introduced into a situation, particularly one as volatile as this one was, could end up creating more problems than they solved. But at the same time, with a very real threat in existence, options could be very limited.
To do him credit, though, Colonel Darnell seemed to realize this, because he let out a heavy sigh. "Trevor, if you get caught, you know I won't be able to help you."
"I know, Sir." His words were hard, resolved. Antiope felt her respect for Captain Trevor shoot up another notch.
Colonel Darnell shook his head, finally seeming to understand there would be no changing the other man's mind. "Just be careful out there, Trevor," he stated. "Ludendorff isn't known for being merciful."
"I will, Sir."
Colonel Darnell started to turn away, pausing only to say, "I'll tell Haig I dismissed you so that you could escort these women home, and advised you to take a few days to recuperate from the mission. With the talks underway, he won't question that too closely."
"Thank you, Sir," Captain Trevor replied.
For a moment, it seemed to Antiope that the colonel wanted to say something more, but he just shook his head one more time and walked away.
As he departed their company, the Amazonian general turned her attention back to Captain Trevor. The man had a pensive expression on his face, and Antiope couldn't quite blame him for that. She suspected he'd been hoping for more support than what they'd gotten.
Unfortunately, that couldn't be helped. Long experience had taught Antiope that sometimes one just had to work with what one had. And at least Captain Trevor's superior had agreed to buy them some time. Time was the most important asset they needed right now.
"That general…," Diana's angry voice broke into Antiope's musings. "That's you leader? How can he behave like that, with so much at stake?" She whirled back to Antiope. "And how could you give back that book? You know what's in it!"
"Diana…" It was Captain Trevor who replied. "There was no chance at convincing General Haig to allow us to go, or even send troops. Numbers don't matter to him. The colonel was right to remind me of the fact."
"And right now, the journal is of no use to them either, Diana," Antiope said quietly. "They aren't familiar with the languages, so they won't be able to recreate the gas."
"Not for now!" Diana spoke heatedly. "But what of the future?"
In truth, that worried Antiope as well. There would always be someone who would be willing to create and use such a dangerous weapon. It was inevitable. Unfortunately, it was not something they could do anything about right now. They had another, greater, priority.
"We'll deal with that once we've finished our business at the Front," .Antiope replied, hoping it would be enough to placate her niece. Glancing over to see Colonel Darnell talking with Sir Patrick Morgan and General Haig, she suspected their window of opportunity to leave without notice was fast closing. "And speaking of that, I think it's time we were on our way."
The captain followed her gaze. "I think you're right," he agreed.
The three of them began to head out of the building. As they walked, Diana asked, "So what now?"
The captain did something then which startled both her and Antiope. He grabbed Diana's lasso of Hestia off her belt and wrapped a loop around his wrist and looked straight into her niece's eyes. As the rope began to glow, he spoke:
"I'm taking you to the Front as promised. And we're probably going to die."
He seemed surprised by those last words, and for her part, Antiope couldn't help but feel a sense of unease as he spoke them.
Once more, she recalled her dream…
She is running towards a strange looking craft...
"Failure is not an option! We need to stop that plane from taking off!"
Unaware of her aunt's worry, Diana just smiled slightly and shook her head.
Captain Trevor's surprise also shifted to a slight uneasiness. Before removing the rope from his wrist, he said, "We can't do this alone; we're going to need help.
"And I know just where to get it."
A/N2: Sorry about no section breaks this time around. Couldn't find a good place to fit them in.