Chapter 6: Diplomacy and Distrust
Diana was more impressed when Steve escorted her into what he described as a "mall". Looking around, Diana was intrigued by the stores for clothing, the toy shops, the hair cuttery and multiple salons, the food court, and all else that was around her. She thought, If this is the agora for New York City, its goods must be of the highest quality.
When Steve brought her to a suitable store for clothes, Diana quickly became the center of attention. She was ogled by a number of men and heard whispers, most of which were curious, but two or three rough-looking men smirked and stared at her until they saw Steve glaring at them and backed away.
"There was no need for that, Steve," Diana insisted. "I could've taken them if they tried anything."
"I wouldn't doubt it, Your Highness. But it's necessary for a gentleman to defend a lady's honor in this day and age, more so than it was hundreds of years ago," said Steve.
Diana put the matter aside as she was led to the women's aisle and spent the next few minutes trying on outfits that would help her fit in with man's world. While she was so engaged, Steve purchased a duffel to hide Diana's Amazonian outfit except for emergencies. When he approached the fitting rooms to explain this, he stopped short when he saw Diana emerge in a blue dress under a blue-and-black striped blazer and red kitten heels.
"This is definitely a look befitting you, Diana," said Steve.
"I'm glad you approve," she replied with a warm smile.
Steve paid over five hundred dollars for a set of ten outfits for Diana, and then he purchased a large suitcase for the luggage. As they were leaving the mall, Diana inquired, "So where do your nation's leaders base the government?"
"Washington," Steve replied. "But it's not anywhere close to here. We'll have to take the plane."
…
Diana had found man's world intriguing the moment she arrived, but she was utterly bewildered when Steve brought her to the airport after purchasing tickets to Washington. She was impressed with how luggage was tagged to be brought aboard and how the security measures worked. Diana was nervous when the guards questioned her about her Amazonian uniform and her bracelets and the lasso, but Steve had a cover story prepared and explained that these were accouterments with which Diana would represent her home.
It took another twenty minutes of waiting at the terminal, but Diana and Steve found seats in the coach section of the plane, where Steve explained the safety procedures to her after the safety check had officially been shared with the passengers. Once the plane was in the air, Diana said to Steve, "Do you remember what you called me when I stopped those criminals who rampaged into the park? You said… 'wonder woman'?"
"Uh-huh," Steve replied nervously, wondering if Diana took offense to the title.
"If I'm going to be protecting man's world and spreading peace here, perhaps I could use it as my name when facing the wrongdoers here."
Steve smiled and laid his hand on his companion's shoulder and smiled. He was hoping that Diana would prove herself the great woman he knew she was, and if she was going to take the role he thought she was, "Wonder Woman" seemed like a fitting title.
"I honestly think it works for you, Diana," he replied. "I've met a lot of women in my military and in civilian life and a lot of them aren't as unafraid to speak their minds as you. I guess your coming here may promote some equality as well as peace."
Diana had a feeling that Steve meant that he had loved many women before he met her, but she pushed the idea from her mind and said, "Let's hope so, Steve."
…
When the plane touched down at Reagan National Airport, Steve and Diana picked up the luggage at "baggage claim", which Diana found amusing if not convenient. They took a bus through Arlington, Virginia and into the downtown area and upon their arrival, Steve said, "Welcome, princess, to Washington D.C."
This city was not as tall or as bustling with activity as New York had been, but Diana could see people walking to their homes or businesses, more of these cars and trucks moving along, and there were several buildings here that reminded her of home. They found a suitable hotel for the evening, and Steve contacted the Department of State to inform them of Diana and explain that she was a diplomatic envoy from her home nation. In a short while, a meeting was set to introduce her to America's leaders and establish contact between the U.S. and Themyscira.
That evening, Steve decided to treat Diana to a tour of Washington like he had done in New York only hours before. He showed her the National Archives, the Gallery Art, the Natural History Museum, and the tour ended with a view of the National Mall. When they returned to the hotel that evening, Diana was enthralled by the wonders that she had seen in this "United States of America". She only hoped that the ones who led this nation would be open to her diplomatic outreach and receive her as a friend.
But there was another feeling that was stirring within her, one that she hadn't felt before now. She sensed it each time she looked at Steve Trevor, each time he smiled at her and spoke with her, and whenever she asked him about his life in this America. Diana felt butterflies in her stomach, goosebumps running down her skin, and her heart beating like a war drum the more she thought about the matter.
It can't mean anything, she thought. I'm here as a diplomatic envoy, nothing more. Whether I choose to stay is a matter for the future.
For now, Diana decided to say nothing on the matter and the evening ended with a quiet dinner and a peaceful night's sleep.
…
The next morning, Diana was awakened by Steve, who beamed warmly at her and said, "Better get dressed, Diana. Today's your meeting with the President."
After bathing and combing her hair and dressing in the garments Steve had provided her, the Amazon princess was treated to breakfast in the hotel lounge with Steve. As usual, the food was surprisingly pleasant and Diana was impressed with how politely the staff spoke with her and with the other guests there. She had never been quite sure if Steve was truthful about how much things had changed in man's world, but her opinions were quickly changing. However, the big test was coming today, and Diana had to be ready.
When Diana and Steve left the hotel, they took a cab to the White House and then worked to receive the passes they needed to enter. It was a painstaking process that intrigued Diana as much as it made her uncomfortable, but when it was done, she and Steve had their entrance passes and were escorted through the halls of the Presidential residence. They were eventually led to a room that was entitled "State Room", where Diana was told the President would see her.
"Wait here," said one of the guards, and he entered the chamber.
Diana waited with Steve for another few seconds before the guard returned and said to Steve, "The President will see you and the ambassador, Colonel Trevor."
Steve saluted and then led Diana into the State Room, where she saw a number of men and some women in finely tailored suits sitting around a table that was circular at the head and foot. At the head of the table was a middle-aged man in a blue suit and a black tie, his hair neatly combed and his expression welcoming but firm. Looking upon this man, Diana couldn't help but wonder if she should bow to him or how she should address him.
"Welcome home, Colonel," said the President as Steve Trevor saluted him. "At ease."
He noticed Diana next and said, "So, you are the visiting diplomat we were told about?"
Diana bowed her head in response and replied, "Yes, Your Honor. I am Diana, heiress to the throne of my nation. It is an honor to stand before you."
The President introduced himself as George W. Bush, and then politely offered a seat to Diana and then to Steve Trevor. He questioned Trevor first, asking why he had gone missing and where. As Steve explained his encounter with the Amazons on Themyscira and how he had met Diana and learned of her island home, the President could not contain his surprise at how a phenomenon such as an island hidden from the world of men could have been hidden for so long and how Steve just happened to arrive there when no one had found it before. When Diana explained her part in this tale, she made no secret of her heritage as an Amazon and how she had been permitted to come to the U.S. as her people's emissary.
"Curious," said President Bush. "In our nation's history, we have never had any diplomat come to us so peacefully or through such circumstances as you have described. I'll contact the Department of State and see about the possibility of setting up diplomatic ties with your island nation. However, we will need confirmation that we will face no unpleasant consequences should those in our Congress refuse to accept your invitation of diplomacy."
"Amazons don't make war on other nations. It's against our code of law. But we will not hesitate to defend ourselves if any threat from man's world draws near," replied Diana.
President Bush nodded at this and then contacted the Vice President to inform him of what had occurred at the White House. In the meantime, Diana was permitted to stay at the White House as the President's guest. For the rest of the day, she toured the White House and thanks to her access to the library, she read through books on the Presidents of the United States and many Americans who impacted the country's history. It was very gratifying to know that America's great individuals included women who had given the country poetry and art, stood for social justice, and helped bring whole groups of people to freedom.
"Alexa would just love to learn of this," said Diana to herself.
That evening, she and Steve shared their first state banquet with the President of the United States, and thus Diana was introduced to the food and drink of man's world. She was intrigued by the concept of a dinner served in small courses, for such a thing was unknown on Themyscira, and in the midst of the meal, she made the President laugh by saying "Zeus himself would be jealous". After an hour of dinner and greeting the members of the Presidential Cabinet, Diana was escorted to her quarters for the evening, hoping for success in establishing a peace between man's world and her homeland.
…
Diana and Steve Trevor arrived at the U.S. Department of State promptly at ten in the morning. After another round of going through security checks and receiving the necessary passes, they entered the meeting room to discuss the terms of diplomacy to be made. Once there, Diana gave her name to the department members and explained who she was and where she came from, and Steve Trevor explained how he had ended up on Themyscira and how the Amazons received him, making no secret of the law that forbade men from setting foot on their island. Unfortunately, the response of the department was far from diplomatic and less than friendly despite the fact that the Amazons had chosen to send Diana to man's world and allowed Steve Trevor to return home.
One of the department members stormed, "First you hold an American citizen hostage for no other reason than coming to your island, and yet you saunter onto our shores asking for peace with us?! Who gave you that right?!"
Diana replied, "My mother and sisters did not hold Steve Trevor hostage. They questioned him to ensure that he was no threat to us and then chose a representative to bring him back to his country according to Amazonian law."
"And I suppose you'd do the same if it were a woman who landed on your island!" cried one female department member. "Who do you think you are?!"
Reeling in her shock at the accusation, Diana responded, "I am the heiress to the throne of Themyscira."
Another department member answered, "A country we do not even recognize!"
Diana was beginning to grow impatient, especially due to there being mostly men refuting her claims, and so she said, "My people have no quarrel with your nation or any other. We have handled the unexpected arrival of one of your people according to our laws, and now we seek to connect with man's world according to your law."
Most of the State Department members only looked at the Amazon princess with disapproval and others with scorn while a few seemed to be considering her words. However, the Secretary of State only frowned and said, "There is no proof that your nation intends peace or war with us. We have heard both arguments too many times today and are getting tired of this bickering. If your country exists, we will not sanction an alliance with it until a commission is sent to your island to ascertain the truth."
Diana was appalled at this statement and would have stated that it was truthful, but she had been advised by Steve to leave her magic lasso back at the White House in his chamber, so there was no chance of her using the lasso on herself to admit the truth. With a disappointed expression, she left the Department of State that afternoon with Steve following close behind. It was now probable that Diana was rethinking her choice to come to man's world.