Uncanny Wonder Woman

Chapter 22: Diana's First Day

By

The Uncanny R-Man

Disclaimer- 'I'm going to take a nap. Wake me up when I'm Peter Davison. Better yet, wake me up when I'm Sylvester McCoy.'- Jon Culshaw as Tom Baker's Fourth Doctor (Dead Ringers)

Gotham University-

A rather expensive-looking car pulled up to the parking lot outside Gotham University. A distinguished-looking man dressed in a grey chauffeur's uniform got out and opened the passenger's door. A black-haired woman wearing a sensible grey suit and matching skirt stepped out.

'Now Alfred, I really appreciate what you've done for me, but there really was no need to drive me here.' The incognito Diana, Amazon Princess, thanked her driver. 'I'm sure that a cab would have brought me here with no trouble.'

'Master Bruce insisted, I'm afraid.' Alfred Pennyworth, butler to billionaire Bruce Wayne, responded. 'And I sincerely doubt that a lowly taxi cab would suffice for your first day at work.'

'I'll see you at five o'clock, then.' Diana nodded in understanding. She knew better than to argue with Alfred. The English butler usually knew best.

Diana held her briefcase in her hand as she headed towards the entrance of the university. She had to check in with the dean before she actually started to teach any classes. That was if she was able to find his office first.

Diana stopped just before the main doors and took a look at a large map hanging on the wall. Perhaps that would be able to help her get her bearings.

'Looking for the dean's office, huh?' A kindly-looking young man with short black hair and a neatly-trimmed beard.

'Is it that obvious?' Diana bit her lip nervously.

'Don't worry.' The man reassured her, smiling warmly. 'Everybody's new at something at least once in their lives.' The man offered Diana his hand. 'I'm George Jimenez.'

'Pleasure to meet you, George.' Diana smiled in greeting as she shook his hand. 'I'm Diana Prince. 'I'm the new Greek Art tutor.'

'Whoa. Talk about coincidences.' George chuckled. 'I'm going to be your teaching assistant.'

'I can see that we'll become great friends.' Diana nodded. 'Just as long as I can find the dean's office.'

'Why don't I show you the way?' George offered. 'I'm heading that way myself.'

'Sounds like a great idea.' Diana agreed. 'This place is so big it's a wonder that anybody can ever find their way around.'

'I've heard stories that some tutors disappeared inside never to return.' George joked. 'But that's just a story that was made up to faze new people.'

'You are a strange young man, George.' Diana chuckled slightly. 'Now, come on, let's find the dean…'

Dean Simone's office-

Diana and George were now sitting in the dean's office. Dean Linda Simone was a redheaded woman in her late thirties who wore black-rimmed spectacles.

'It's such a pleasure to have you here, Ms Prince.' Dean Simone smiled kindly. 'I believe you've already met George Jimenez, your teaching assistant?'

'Yes, he was kind enough to show me around.' Diana responded. 'The university is quite spacious.'

'Yes, we have one of the largest campuses in the country.' Dean Simone nodded. 'Finding a way around is usually quite difficult for people not familiar with the campus.'

'It was a good job that George found me in time.' Diana smiled. 'I would have hated to be late on my first day. First impressions are important.'

'And talking of that, your reference was quite interesting.' Dean Simone pointed out as she pushed her glasses onto the bridge of her nose. 'Bruce Wayne himself. Just how do you know the billionaire playboy?'

'He and I are… good friends.' Diana answered. She couldn't tell the dean just how close she and Bruce were. Just imagine all of the press attention.

'Funny. I figured most of Wayne's friends were brainless bimbos and sycophantic Yes Men.' George shrugged. 'Show's you how much I know. I guess the guy's got a more diverse taste in arm-candy than I thought.'

'You'll have to excuse George.' Dean Simone apologised. 'He sometimes tends to run at the mouth. He doesn't mean any harm.'

'That's quite alright.' Diana nodded in understanding, chuckling slightly. 'I didn't take any offence.'

'If you don't have any questions, then George can show you to your first class of the day.' Dean Simone suggested. 'And please, don't hesitate to give me a call if you need anything else.'

'I'll keep that in mind, thank you.' Diana smiled in thanks as she got up and began to follow her teaching assistant out of the office.

'Oh, and before I forget…' Dean Simone piped up. 'Every Friday after classes have finished, several of us go for drinks at the campus pub. You're welcome to join us if you want. It's karaoke this week.'

'I'll be sure to come along.' Diana agreed with a nod. 'Thank you again, Dean Simone.'

'There's no need to be formal.' Dean Simone waved her hand. 'Please, call me Linda.'

Outside the office-

Once Diana and George had stepped out of the office, the teaching assistant grimaced in embarrassment.

'Oh, God! I can't believe what I said in there!' George groaned into his hands. 'You must think that I'm such a tool!'

'Oh, George.' Diana tutted as she gave the young man a comforting pat on the shoulder.' Don't be hard on yourself. I didn't take any offence at all. You'd have to try a lot harder than that to upset me.'

'Then you don't mind what I said?' George asked. 'Really, tell me the truth. I'll understand if you want a new assistant.'

'The only reason that I'll want a new teaching assistant is if you touch my cheese salad.' Diana told him. 'Then I'd have to kill you.'

George stopped in his tracks and blinked in confusion.

'That was a joke wasn't it?'

Unfortunately, George never got an answer as the university was rocked by something that felt like giant footsteps.

'Wonder Woman! Where are you, Wonder Woman?' The redheaded giant known as Giganta bellowed as she kicked over a patrolling police car. 'Show yourself, then we can get down to business!'

'What the hell?' George frowned as he looked out of the nearest window. The dark-haired man's jaw dropped and his eyes went wide. 'Holy crap! That Giganta woman's on a rampage outside! Diana, you'd better…'

George turned around to tell Diana to gather the students together, but she was nowhere to be seen. The black-haired teaching assistant frowned in confusion.

'Who is she, Batman?'

Elsewhere-

Doctor Barbara Minerva, otherwise known as the retired villainess called the Cheetah, woke up to find herself in some sort of dungeon. She felt coarse sand dig into her fur. It would take ages to wash that stuff out.

'Oh, hell. What happened to me?' Doctor Minerva groaned as she unsteadily got up to her feet. 'The last thing I remember…'

'It's about time you woke up, sleepy-head.' A voice chuckled above the feline doctor's head. 'I was starting to think that you were going to sleep for a Gorgon's age, and I know Gorgons.'

Doctor Minerva growled in anger once she recognised the voice.

'Circe!' Doctor Minerva growled as she saw the purple-haired sorceress leering down at her from a large grill in the ceiling. 'Where have you brought me, you witch?'

'Oh, this is just a little summer home of mine in Scotland.' Circe answered. 'Don't worry though, I'm not going to keep you here without entertainment.'

Doctor Minerva spun around as she heard a rusty gate open behind her. A lean, muscular feline man with a great big mane sauntered into the dungeon.

'I don't believe that you've met Sebastian Ballesteros.' Circe continued. 'He's your successor. The problem is that there isn't enough room for two Cheetahs in my scheme of things, so I'm afraid that one of you will have to die.'

'You're sick!' Doctor Minerva snarled. 'I'm not going to fight that… impostor! He's not even worth it! You could have just left me alone and used this idiot instead!'

'Ooh, I love feisty women.' Sebastian chuckled lecherously. It's such a pity that I have to kill you. You would have made such a wonderful mate.'

'Pig!' Doctor Minerva sneered as she lashed out at her male counterpart, leaving deep claw marks in his cheek.

'First blood to you, my dear.' Sebastian growled as he wiped the blood from his wounds and licked his thumb. 'Pity it won't last…'

TBC…

Next: The Harder They Fall

Wonder Woman takes on Giganta in Gotham, while the two Cheetahs fight to the death. Which one will win? Tune in next time to find out…