Strangers In Paradise
Chapter 5: Heartbreak
Themyscira
After a fairly restless night, Diana woke up before sunrise, as she often did, to train on her own. That usually involved a quick flight around the island and a few exercises along the beach. She avoided contact with Aleka and most of her sisters. No doubt word had spread about her sparring match the other day. That meant the next few days would be filled with suspicion and concern.
While most of the Amazons refrained from discussing it with her, Diana sensed that it occupied their minds. It was one of those unspoken rules on Themyscira. On the outside, they showed the princess respect and loyalty. On the inside, however, they remained conflicted. There was no doubt that some probably agreed with Aleka's sentiment. Even those that didn't probably still thought about it constantly. It was like an obstacle nobody wanted to confront. With all this talk about her becoming queen one day, it didn't exactly establish a foundation for new leadership.
'I can't keep doing this to myself. I can't keep claiming to be an honorable Amazon when I'm not sure what an honorable Amazon even entails. How can I expect to become a true Amazon, let alone their queen, while having these doubts? I can only hide behind my strength and skills for so long. At some point, I need to confront my mother and my sisters. Something must change. I just hope it doesn't come too soon. Nobody is ready for it…especially me.'
Diana once again shut out this internal struggle that had plagued her for four years now. She had a long day ahead of her. She and some of her sisters planned to do some scouting missions through Tartarus. More often than not, those ended in harpy attacks and the occasional Minotaur stampede. Combat and training often provided the best distraction from these issues and she needed that now more than ever.
As the sun began to rise over Themyscira, Diana returned to her quarters so she could prepare for battle. But to her surprise, somebody was already in her room sitting on her bed.
"Mother? What are you doing here?" asked Diana, taken aback by her presence.
The queen didn't respond. She wasn't even facing her. She was just sitting on Diana's bed, hunched over something. She lacked her usual regal poise. She wasn't usually up this early and she never just barged into her room without her permission. It was more than enough to turn Diana's surprise into dread.
"Mother…is something wrong?" she asked anxiously.
"I honestly don't know, Diana. I was hoping you could tell me," her mother replied in the flattest tone she had ever heard.
When Hippolyta turned around, she had a look on her face that could have frozen Hades itself. In doing so, she revealed that one of Diana's worst fears had come true. In front of her, the chest she hid under her bed lay open and its forbidden contents exposed. This alone was damning enough for any Amazon. But for the princess, it was something far worse.
For the first time since she was a child, Diana trembled. She actually took a step back as her mother rose up from the bed, her expression wrought with a mix of anger and pain. In one hand, she had the magazine she had been reading last night. In the other, she had the glass orb that Kal-El had made her. It looked like she had actually been crying. Diana had seen her mother in the heat of battle, but she had never seen her this upset before.
"Tell me this is a cruel trick of the gods! Tell me this isn't what I think it is!" shouted Hippolyta as she held up the magazine, "Because if it is, you've just spent the last four years conspiring to break my heart!"
Syria – One Day Ago
"So how are you holding up, Superman? It looked like Corben had you on the ropes for a while," said Lois as she passed Superman a bottle of water.
"I'll be fine, Lois. I've taken far worse punishment than this," assured Superman.
"Don't I know it. Just thought I'd make sure. Someone in this crazy world has to worry about you."
Superman smiled at Lois' coy remark as he accepted the bottle of water. A few moments ago, he finished giving her an exclusive statement. It was part of the unique relationship they had built since he became Superman. He trusted her to report the pure, unfiltered truth and she always did. Her efforts were a big reason why Superman had become such a global icon. For that, Lois was very special to him. At times, this unique relationship took on other, more personal dynamics.
As she sat with him near the bunker where this conflict had ended, they watched a sizable contingent of UN peacekeepers haul off the now comatose Jonathan Corben and the prototype. The members of Luthor's tech team were detained as well. Their very presence in a war zone roused plenty of suspicions. Not surprisingly, they refused to say a word. That was probably how Lex Luthor planned out. He made sure everyone who worked for him had plenty of incentive to keep their mouth shut. That made pinning this incident on him exceedingly difficult, but they had more than enough facts to further discredit him.
"Looks like only part of the story here is going to get told," commented Lois as several UN troops loaded Sergeant Corben into a transport. "The medic said something went insanely wrong in that gizmo. Apparently, the kryptonite coupled with that ridiculously invasive interface did some real damage."
"I can't help but feel sorry for him. I doubt Luthor warned him it would get this bad," said Superman.
"Don't feel too sorry for him. I've read up on this guy's record. He deserves only slightly more sympathy than Lex Luthor. This story won't bring him down or send him to jail, but it will get people talking."
"We'll need more than that. The longer we allow Lex Luthor to operate, the worse these incidents will be. The man may be a megalomaniacal narcissist, but he's no fool. He's also getting better at making ungodly monstrosities that can hurt me."
"If only it were as simple as catching him making stupid comments on Twitter," sighed Lois.
"At some point, he's going to cross a line. That's when a lot more people start getting hurt. I hope we can stop him before that happens."
"We will. You've got the muscle. I've got the truth. How can we possibly lose?"
She affectionately latched onto his arm, which helped set Superman at ease. He had come to appreciate her touch. Lois could be a harsh personality at times, but she was still capable of great compassion. At times, it helped keep him anchored. The care and affection of someone like Lois Lane reminded him that while he might not be from this world, he was still human. At the same time, however, it also evoked complicated feelings that were difficult to confront. And lately, Lois had been more vocal about it.
"While we're on the subject of talking, I was hoping to discuss something before you flew off on me again," said Lois, her tone taking on a very different subtext.
"What about?" asked Superman, although he already had a pretty good idea.
"I know you're tough, but don't be dense," she told him. "You and I have made a lot of news together these past few years. I like to think we've gotten to know each other pretty well."
"We have," he told her sincerely.
"So then why don't we try to learn a little more? I look at you and I see both a man and a Superman. I already know Superman. But I want to know more about the man. And I'm not talking the kind of things that make the news either. I'm talking about other things…the kinds of things you share with someone you worry about."
She then reached for his hand and briefly took it in hers. Again, her touch was so soothing. It would have been easy to just hold on and let Lois say what had been on both their minds for quite some time now. However, Superman forced himself to let go and part from her embrace to avoid more conflicting emotions entered the equation.
"I'm sorry, Lois. But I…I can't do that," he said to her in a strained tone.
"Wait! Maybe that didn't come out right. Or maybe a desert war zone isn't the best place to have this conversation," said Lois quickly.
"No, it's not that. There are reasons why we don't share these things. And I think we need to remind ourselves of that."
"I don't need to be reminded. Some of those reasons are too stupid to forget," said Lois with folded arms.
"Maybe they are, but that doesn't make them wrong."
Lois remained unconvinced. There was an awful lot this man wasn't telling her. She understood early on why he kept certain details of his life private. He had to in order to be the Superman that the world needed him to be. That didn't mean he couldn't connect with people. In fact, he needed connect with people to be a better Superman, but he refused to do it.
Sensing she was getting upset, Superman placed a hand on her shoulder and cupped her chin. There were a lot of things he wanted to say to her. There were things he needed to get out of his system because keeping them bottled up wasn't making these feelings go away. His thoughts drifted back the experience he had on Paradise Island with Diana. The hard lessons he learned still affected him to this day, both as Clark Kent and as Superman, and one of those lessons involved dealing with difficult emotions.
"I really care about you, Lois. Don't think for a second that I don't," he told her.
"Skip the part where you soften the blow. If I want to listen to a man beat around the bush, I'll talk to Clark Kent," sighed Lois.
"Well I'm sure he has his reasons too, but I can only tell you mine," said Superman, ignoring the irony in mentioning Clark Kent. "You see, a number of years ago I learned the hard what happens when emotions get us untangled in things we can't control. It doesn't just put us in danger. It makes it next to impossible to do the right thing."
"So you think the only solution is to avoid emotional entanglement altogether?" questioned Lois. "I don't know if that counts as logic on Krypton, but here on Earth we call that bullshit."
"It's not a solution because emotional entanglements are not usually a problem for most people. But those people aren't Superman. They're not the last of their kind, living in a world that so few understand and even fewer can relate to."
"Sounds lonely as hell," muttered Lois.
"It is. But this is how it has to be. Superman can't afford to have emotional entanglements. I can't put myself or anyone else through that."
"But why? Is it because you think I'm not strong enough?"
"No Lois…it's because this is what I choose."
That effectively ended the argument. Superman took it beyond circumstances, emotional barriers, and potential danger. He made it a matter of choice and he chose to stop this before it became too painful for both of them. It struck Lois in a way that left her feeling a hard twinge in her heart. However, his every word still echoed with the truth. Being a champion of the truth, she didn't bother avoiding it.
He continued to caress her chin, casting her a solemn gaze. He offered a slight smile in an effort to not end this on a bad note. Superman then let go, having said everything that needed to be said.
"I'm sorry, Lois," he told her.
"Don't be. If you really believe you're making the right choice, then don't apologize for it," said Lois solemnly.
"Just know that I won't stop caring about you. And I won't let complicated emotions keep me from doing the right thing."
"Of course you won't. You're Superman," she said, managing a slight smile.
With those reassuring words, Superman flew off into the sky, kicking up a sharp gust of wind in his wake. Lois watched as he disappeared in a reddish blue blur. For a moment, she hugged her shoulders and sighed. This wasn't how she hoped the conversation would end, but perhaps it was for the best. Otherwise, it would have just been more painful for the both of them down the line.
As she swallowed her emotions, she couldn't help but wonder what led Superman to making this choice. He claimed he wanted to do the right thing, but she suspected there was something else influencing that choice.
'He always makes the hard choices, but did it have to be THIS hard? He can't possibly have that many good reasons for remaining unattached. There has to be something else at work here. He's too human for it to be this simple…relatively speaking. Even if it is better this way, that doesn't mean I have to like it.'
Lois continued scrutinizing everything that had just happened. She didn't usually get this worked up, even in a war zone. This felt like one of those things that just needed time and maybe a few additional distractions. As Lois stood lost in thought, she barely noticed Jonathan Carroll walking up to her.
"You okay, Ms. Lane? You look pretty down for someone who just got the most sought-after exclusive in the world," he said.
"Believe it or not, the thrill of interviewing Superman wears off fairly quickly," said Lois. "He only ever gives what people need of him. Nothing more. Nothing less."
"Sounds to me like your excitement for this story has worn off. It also sounds to me like you could use a drink and a hot meal. If you want, I know where we can get one, even in a war zone like this."
Jonathan had a suggestive yet sincere undertone. It should have been inappropriate for a moment like this, but for some reason Lois found herself smiling. She hadn't forgotten that this man had braved a war zone and helped stop the prototype. She also hadn't forgotten that he had a handsome face. Seeing as how Superman had made his choice, it was only fair that she make one of her own.
"Sure," she said to him. "I'd like that."
Syria – Present Time
Their work in this war zone complete, Clark spent most of the day preparing for the trip back to Metropolis. It promised to be a bittersweet flight. His conversation with Lois led to a restless night and a lonely morning. In between packing and making various calls back to Perry, he kept second-guessing the choice he made with Lois. It may have been the right thing to do, but it left him with many wrong feelings.
'You did what you had to do, Clark. Quit tormenting yourself over the details. It would never work between you and Lois. Superman can't get attached. He can't let emotions cloud his judgment. It's better this way.'
That's what he kept telling himself, hoping it would sink in faster. Right now, he needed to focus less on Superman's personal affairs and more on Clark Kent's professional affairs.
After gathering as many facts and footage as they could from the front lines, they hitched a ride with a UN convoy back to a hotel in the demilitarized zone. He had a chance to meet up with Lois as Clark Kent, who said Jonathan Carroll had some footage they could share for the story. After being debriefed by the UN and going over the story, they went their separate ways for the evening. Clark managed to maintain his composure around Lois. It would probably be awkward for a while, even when he was out of costume. But he expected it to get easier as time went on.
Once all the equipment was packed, he left his hotel room and made his way down the hall towards Lois' room. Their flight was scheduled to take off in a little under two hours and Perry expected them to be finished with the story before they landed.
"Lois! Are you ready to go?" Clark called out as he knocked on the door. "I've got everything packed. Our taxi should be here in twenty minutes."
There was no response at first, but he heard footsteps behind the door. Lois was usually pretty punctual. Most of the time, she was the one who ended up knocking on his door to remind him of the schedule. With a touch of concern, he knocked again.
"Hey Lois! Are you okay?" he called out.
This time, the door opened, revealing Lois in a white bathrobe with wet hair.
"Cool your jets, Smallville. I heard you the first time," she said. "I'll be ready in a few."
"Well don't take too long. Perry's not being very flexible with this deadline."
"Don't worry. If he gets moody, I'll set him straight," said Lois confidently.
Her tone and demeanor surprised him, especially after the conversation she had with him as Superman the other day. It further heightened his suspicions. Something was definitely amiss here.
"You sound unusually bold this morning. Are you sure everything's alright?" he asked her.
Before she could answer, a voice rang out from the bathroom. In being so lost in his own thoughts, Clark didn't realize that there was someone else in the room with her.
"Hey Lois! I'm done shaving. The sink's all yours," said Jonathan as he stepped out of the bathroom, wearing only a towel.
At that moment, his suspicions turned to awkwardness. No further words were necessary now. Clark was able to piece together the situation using none of his superpowers and only his basic reporting skills. He noticed Lois and Jonathan's clothes messily strewn along the hotel room floor. Somehow, Lois' bra ended up draped over the TV, hinting that it had been discarded quite recklessly. In addition, the sheets of the bed had been noticeably wrinkled. It had all the tell-tale signs of a rather passionate night.
Naturally, Clark shifted uncomfortably as he made the connections. Jonathan shifted somewhat as well when he saw him. The only one who didn't seem uncomfortable was Lois, who just kept grinning.
"Oh…hello Clark," said Jonathan sheepishly while drying his hair.
"Good morning, Mr. Carroll," said Clark awkwardly.
"Don't make this more hilarious than it needs to be, Smallville," said Lois curtly. "I'll meet you downstairs in a bit. I'm sure you have plenty of questions."
"Not as many as you think," he said under his breath.
"I'll answer them anyways. Now go. We've got a deadline to meet, remember?"
She then closed the door, leaving Clark in a state of stunned silence. He had enough to process already. This only added to the strain. It didn't help that he could still hear them talking with his super-hearing.
"Well that was more awkward than it needed to be," he heard Jonathan say. "Clark looked like someone just ran over his dog. Did you two have a thing or something?"
"What? Me and Clark? Of course not," he heard Lois reply. "He's a friend…a really good friend. If he wanted to lift my spirits the way you did last night, he had more than his share of chances. He wouldn't be the first guy either."
"So what does that make me?" he asked her.
"Depends on how you look at it. Right now, I see you as the lucky guy who chose to take a chance – and in a war zone no less. But that's just my opinion."
"Mmm…I'll take it."
He then heard their lips touch. Clark had to turn away before he was tempted to look with his X-ray vision. With his head held low and his hands in his pockets, he made his way towards the back to his room to gather his things. He didn't need to see Lois kissing another man. That was her business. But after seeing how vulnerable she had been yesterday, it surprised him that she made a choice like this so quickly. Given the circumstances, maybe he shouldn't have been.
'Well, it's official now. I've made my choice. Lois made hers. You're a lucky man, Jonathan Carroll…you and so many others like you. You get to take a chance on someone. But Superman…he can't take that chance. Superman – and Clark Kent by default – has to be alone.'
Themyscira - Diana's Quarters
"How could you do this, Diana? How could you make such a reckless decision again?!" exclaimed a furious Queen Hippolyta.
Diana could offer no response that wouldn't have enraged her mother even more. She remained silent, paralyzed by her mother's harsh gaze and outraged words. All those earlier concerns she had about confronting her sisters now took on a much more pressing tone. Now the idea of becoming queen was the least of her worries.
Hippolyta now stood only a few feet away from her daughter, still angrily clutching the magazine and the glass orb. She looked down on Diana the same way she looked down on a wounded harpy. She knew what she did was an affront to the Amazon code. She also knew it directly contradicted her commitment to winning back the respect of her sisters and becoming a true Amazon. But the worst part of all – and the part that wounded Hippolyta the most – was that Diana had to know on some levels how much this would hurt her mother.
"Well?! Are you going to explain yourself?" the queen yelled.
"What's there to explain? I can't tell you what you want to hear. Even if I did, you wouldn't believe me," said Diana flatly.
"So you're not even going to attempt to lie? Even when you've clearly become so good at it these past four years?" she scoffed.
"This isn't about lies. Do you honestly think I would hoard these forbidden artifacts just to hurt you?"
"Collecting forbidden artifacts is hardly the worst crime I see before me," said Hippolyta, "But doing so after you promised me you would commit yourself to becoming a true Amazon? A promise you made to me and all your sisters?"
"I never intended to break that promise."
"Well it's too late now!" the queen shouted.
In an angry fit, she threw the magazine across the room. She was a mother betrayed, hurt by the daughter she cherished so dearly. She believed Diana when she committed to atoning for her transgression. She supported her as she fought and struggled to become the greatest warrior in Themyscira. Now she found out that she never truly atoned. Her daughter's heart and mind had been tainted by man's world. And this time, she had no excuses.
"I can't believe this! I don't want to believe it, but you won't even try to deny it!" yelled Hippolyta. "One encounter with one man – an accident of fate four years ago – and that's all it took to corrupt my daughter!"
"Mother, stop for a moment and calm yourself. I know what I've done. Yelling at me isn't going to change that," said Diana.
"Well what am I supposed to do? You still haven't even tried to apologize!" her mother explained.
"On the honor of my sword, I was going to confront you about this. I swear!"
"Don't belittle your mother, Diana. Am I to believe you intended to just sit down one day and reveal that you never meant what you said four years ago? That your curiosity about man's world was more important than your own mother?"
"My love for you and my sisters has never been in doubt. This doesn't change that."
"And when were you going to bring this up? After you had been crowned queen?" Hippolyta went on. "Was that your endgame? Wait until you had the authority to get away with your crimes?"
"Damn it, stop assuming I think that little of my family!" said Diana, now getting frustrated as well.
"Well you clearly think highly of the corrupt world that every Amazons has sworn to oppose. Clearly, I wasn't detailed enough when I described the many reasons why we oppose that world. I thought I had articulated clearly why your experience with one man was an anomaly and nothing more. I even prayed to Athena that she would show you the wisdom to understand this. I suppose my prayers weren't answered. For all I know, you would have rejected them too."
Hippolyta's outrage gave way to a sterner demeanor. Diana was once again at a loss, unable to say anything that could possibly temper her mother's state. There were so many issues she wanted to talk about. These issues had been plaguing her since before Kal-El ever arrived on their shores. This code she swore to uphold and these values the Amazons championed left her so conflicted and she believed that the love she had for her mother and sisters could resolve that conflict. It was now clear to her that she had been wrong.
Finally, as despair set in, Diana held her head low. She still couldn't bring herself to apologize. She also couldn't bring herself to argue with her mother any further. It felt like her heart, spirit, and mind had betrayed her. Whatever punishment her mother administered this time could never do justice to the sorrow she now felt.
"Then what are we to do, mother? What can we do?" asked Diana solemnly.
Seeing her daughter bow her head in shame only reaffirmed all the terrible feelings Hippolyta endured. She desperately wanted to purge her daughter of this corruption. It wasn't fair that these acts could undermine all these years of love and support.
As she fumed in anger, her gaze shifted towards the glass orb she still had in her hand. She remembered that Diana told her that the man she encountered created this with his god-like powers. It must have been an impressive feat to a young, vulnerable mind. It was more than enough to corrupt her daughter to the point that she would betray her sisters and everything they stood for.
Now holding up the glass orb in front of Diana, she turned her attention to the man that she never got to confront. This man might not have been Hercules, but he still found a way to wound her in the worst possible way. As a mother and a queen, his corruption had to end now.
"This cannot stand, Diana. You need to make a choice – your sisters or this man," said Hippolyta in a low, menacing tone, "And since I can no longer trust you to act as a true Amazon, I suppose I'll have to make part of that choice for you!"
Then, in a show of blind anger and pent up anguish, Hippolyta threw the glass orb down on the floor, shattering it right before Diana. When she saw this, her despair turned to horror.
"Mother no!" Diana cried out.
"Be silent, Diana," said Hippolyta coldly. "You are an Amazon. It's high time you accept what that entails."
As the echoes of the shattered glass orb reverberated with her mother's harsh words, Diana fell to her knees in a fit of shock. Her whole world stopped. Every overwhelming emotion ceased and her thoughts froze. With a distant gaze, she gathered some of the shattered glass and held it in her hand.
This innocuous object, which had come to symbolize the connection she forged with Kal-El that fateful day they met, lay broken and lost. Her own mother, who she had always loved and trusted, took something from her that meant so much. For a moment, she couldn't process how this made her feel. It was only when she clutched the broken shards in her hand and let them crumble to dust that a new range of feelings came over her.
"An Amazon…is that all I'm meant to become?" said Diana in her daze.
As she watched the dust fall from her hands, a powerful new emotion gripped Diana. Anger, outrage, despair, and sorrow took on a whole new dimension in light of a new feeling. In seeing her mother destroy this precious relic, Diana realized something that she should have realized long ago. Looking up at her mother, she no longer saw the nurturing woman who inspired her to become a great warrior. She saw a woman who personified the very antithesis of what she strived to be.
"Don't bother answering. I already know what you'll say," she said with more disdain than she had ever dared. "I always knew you were tough with your values, mother. But I never thought you would be this dense."
"Be careful with your words, Diana. You are not just speaking to your mother. You are speaking to your queen!" said Hippolyta firmly.
"No. I'm not. You don't deserve that title. You don't deserve to be called queen any more than the Amazons deserve to call themselves warriors," said Diana as she rose up to confront her mother.
"You're only making this worse for yourself. Quit now and spare yourself further indignation!" Hippolyta demanded.
"Stop talking to me like I'm a child!" spat Diana.
"Then quit acting like one by insulting your heritage!"
"I'd rather be a child than a hypocrite," scoffed Diana, "Because as far as I'm concerned, that's all our heritage affords us. If you can't see that, then you're just deluding to yourself."
Hippolyta's regal demeanor faltered at her daughter's cold words. Her authority as her mother and her queen no longer carried any weight. Diana now looked at her with a level of disgust that caught her off-guard. It was one thing to throw around petty insults, but this was something far more egregious. Even the strongest, toughest queen could only handle so much.
In seeing her mother falter, Diana became bolder. This new sense of clarity completely changed her outlook on who she was, where she came from, and what she aspired to be. It felt so obvious. Someone should have realized it sooner. It only revealed the depths of her mother's hypocrisy and that of her sisters.
"Every day, from the moment I could wield a sword, you and my sisters preach the values of an Amazon warrior. You speak of compassion, love, respect, and honor," said Diana, speaking over her mother with unrelenting scorn. "I embraced all those values with all my heart. I wanted nothing more than to be the greatest champion of our sisters and our legacy."
"And you still can," said Hippolyta, now trying to salvage this growing restatement.
"You've just proven I can't…because you've just proven that the Amazons never actually practiced those values. They only ever applied them to each other, never the world beyond them."
"That world is corrupt!" Hippolyta argued.
"It doesn't matter!" Diana retorted with greater fervor. "Either they apply to everyone or they apply to no one. Now maybe I'd have accepted this if I didn't know there were parts of man's world that weren't corrupt. But I do know. Kal-El is living proof that there are parts of that world which deserve those values. Neither you nor any of my sisters will acknowledge that. You're too clouded by your hatred of all men and for what reason? Because of crimes that one man and his army committed?"
"Don't you dare make light of those crimes."
"Speak for yourself, mother. You're the one using them as an excuse cling to your hatred and further your hypocrisy! For just one moment, let go of that hatred and think about those values that we're supposed to uphold. Can you truly say that you champion those values when you apply them only to those you see fit? Who are you to determine who is worthy? And who are we to blindly trust your judgment?"
These were questions that no Amazon had dared ask. Growing up, Diana often confounded Hippolyta with questions of man's world and the traditions the Amazons had in dealing with it. For years, she had been able to navigate those questions, providing her daughter only with what she deemed necessary for understanding. She had been willing to attribute these questions to those of a curious child, but the woman standing before her was no child.
The traditions that insulated Themyscira from man's world had been maintained for centuries. Hippolyta had a long list of reasons why such traditions had propagated. She could've spent a week listing them all. But without even listing one, she came to a painful yet inescapable conclusion. None of these reasons were justified. She might not have agreed with Diana's new interpretation of Amazon values, but she couldn't disagree with it. As a result, the queen of the Amazons responded only with silence, further adding to the tension.
A tipping point had been reached. This time, Hippolyta could not or would not give Diana the answers she sought. Faced with such painful revelations, a difficult decision awaited them both. Her mother had made a decision before she even entered her room. Now Diana had a choice to make and, as Kal-El had shown her, she needed to make the right one.
"I see. If this is how it's going to be, so be it. I can no longer be a part of it," said Diana with a mixture of anger and sorrow.
"What are you saying, Diana?" asked Hippolyta. "Are you not even going to try and understand why we do what we do?"
"Why should I bother? You and the rest of my sisters are unable to see through your past pain. And so long as that pain guides your judgment, there can be no understanding…only excuses."
Rather than waste her time arguing with her mother, Diana turned this difficult choice into difficult actions. She casually removed her Amazon attire and discarded it like a dirty rag. Now fully nude, she stormed past her mother, lightly shoving her along the way. Once she arrived at her dresser, she opened it to reveal the uniform that she wore into battle. It set her apart from her sisters, which earned her plenty of criticism. Now she no longer cared what they thought or how they felt.
With her mother's harsh eye watching her every step of the way, she put on the uniform along with the tiara and the Bracelets of Submission. She also retrieved her magic lasso and sword, both of which she earned for herself. In her eyes, these were no longer Amazon weapons. These were the weapons of a different kind of warrior. She could not be the warrior her mother wanted her to be. Instead, Diana would have to become her own warrior.
"Whatever you're thinking of doing, Diana – I assure you it's a mistake," said Hippolyta sternly, still trying to sound more like a queen rather than an anxious mother.
"It would be an even bigger mistake for me to stay here and surround myself with more hypocrisy," said Diana.
"You cannot run from your transgressions, Diana!" said her mother with increasing desperation.
"I'm not running. I'm saving you and our sisters the trouble. I'm leaving. There's no need to hold a tribunal. There's no need to seek council with the gods. I'm exiling myself from Themyscira."
"Are you listening to yourself? This is your home. I am your mother. The Amazons are your sisters. You cannot just reject your fate!"
"I don't know what my fate is anymore, mother. And you don't know either. But I know it isn't here. It's out there…in man's world."
The idea of her daughter flying off into the unknown, venturing into a world where devious men ruled without and vulnerable women were exploited, terrified the Queen of the Amazons. Visions of men like Hercules taking Diana and tormenting her in the way she had been tormented was too much to bear. It filled her with such dread that she abandoned her regal poise and tried to confront Diana only as a worried mother. But it was too late.
Hippolyta tried to reach out to her, but Diana shook off her gesture. Now armed with her weapons and attire, she retrieved a simple sack from under her bed and stuffed it with various supplies, including bread and booklets. She then opened the door to the balcony adjacent to her room and stood near the edge. This balcony gave her a clear view of the only home she had ever known. But now she looked at it with such disgust. It made clear to Hippolyta that Diana was not just running off to fume. She was really leaving her home and she had no intention of coming back.
"Please Diana…that world will only destroy you," cried Hippolyta, her emotions overwhelming her tone.
"I am a warrior. I am not easily destroyed," said Diana strongly as she looked out over Themyscira for what might be the last time.
"This isn't just some battle against monsters, demons, or undead armies. This is the world of man! You have no idea the horrors you'll see!"
"Then I will confront them. But I'm going to do something that no Amazon has dared to do for centuries. I'm going to have faith that the good I see in man's world will overshadow the bad."
"And if it doesn't?" questioned Hippolyta.
"Then I'll fight it the same way I've learned to fight everything that stands to taint all that is good," said Diana without hesitation. "I may be leaving Themyscira, but I am still a warrior."
"You don't fully know what you are, Diana. You may think your heart is in the right place, but you have no idea the consequences of your actions!"
"I'll fight those too. I'll fight whoever and whatever I must to be the warrior I want to be. It doesn't matter what I don't know. It only matters what I do with the knowledge I have. And I'm going to do the right thing, regardless of the consequences."
Every word she spoke felt so right and so just. For the first time in her life, Diana was seeking her own answers to the burning questions that once plagued her. It was a powerful moment that filled her with such determination and drive.
At the same time, it tore at her heart in a way nothing else had. She was essentially saying goodbye to her mother and her home. As angry as she was, she couldn't stop loving them. She looked back from the balcony and saw that her mother's outrage had given way to sorrow. She in turn shared that sorrow, but she wouldn't let it slow her down. This had to be done and she couldn't afford to second-guess herself. With her heart still breaking, she did her best to convey these difficult emotions to her mother.
"I'm sorry, mother. I really am," said Diana solemnly. "I'll always love you and my sisters, but I cannot be the warrior you want me to be. Maybe one day you'll understand. But right now, this is my choice. Goodbye."
After casting her mother one last glance of sorrow, Diana turned around and flew off. Hippolyta made a half-hearted attempt to reach out to her, knowing that it wouldn't have made a difference. All she could do was step out onto the balcony and watch her daughter leave.
"Goodbye, my darling princess," said Hippolyta through heavy sobs. "Be safe. Be strong. If the gods have any mercy at all, they'll continue to protect you."
Metropolis – Daily Planet
"Not bad, Kent. Not great, but not bad," said the always critical Perry White.
"Thank you, Chief. That might be the highest compliment you've given me all year," said Clark as he stood across from the editor-in-chief's desk.
"Don't let it go to your head. This isn't the smoking gun we were hoping for," said Perry. "Lex Luthor won't need an army of lawyers to deny any involvement in this clusterfuck, but he'll need more than a good PR team to deal with the backlash. Lexcorp's stock has already taken a hefty hit and a lot of people are asking questions he doesn't want them asking. It won't put him behind bars, but it will piss him off and that's the next best thing."
He stopped short of calling this story a success. Perry didn't like using words like that when it came to Lex Luthor. All too often, that egotistical madman found a way to avoid justice. There could be no success until Luthor was behind bars for the rest of his life. As Clark Kent, it was a frustrating standard by which to operate. But as Superman, he understood better than Perry the importance of succeeding.
Clark did what he could with the facts. Upon returning from Syria, he detailed everything that he and Lois found with respect to the chemical attack, the deployment of the prototype, the involvement of Sergeant John Corben, and the tech team that Lexcorp sent into the field. In addition, Jonathan Carroll provided some detailed video footage that had already gone viral with every major news outlet. There was officially a connection between Lexcorp and the development of dangerous weapons that had been deployed illegally. This should have been a devastating blow for Lex Luthor and his interests, but Clark didn't expect it to put him out of business. At the very least, it would slow him down.
Having done his part, Clark left the story in Perry's hands and trusted him to do what he did best with it. He was ready to move onto the next story, hoping that this would be the one that would take Lex Luthor down.
"Wait a sec, Clark. There's one more thing I need to mention. It's about Lois," said Perry, stopping Clark before he could leave his office.
"What about her?" he asked incredulously.
"Don't play dumb. You're too damn smart and too damn decent. Now I usually don't like to get involved in the personal affairs of my employees, but Lois hooking up with some hotshot war correspondent was a heck of a curveball."
"I understand completely, sir. That's why I avoided the subject. I figured you would want to discuss that with her privately," said Clark.
"I already have. But that's not what concerns me," said Perry, now speaking to Clark on a more personal level. "Clark, you and Lois have been joined at the hip since you started here. But I've known her longer. I know what kind of woman she is and you probably know as well as I do that she's in a league all her own."
"I'm not sure what you're implying," said Clark, his discomfort with the subject now painfully apparent.
"I don't mean to imply anything. It's just that…Lois has always walked to the beat of her own drum. She's fearless, tough, and determined to a fault. That's probably why Superman gives her so many exclusives."
Clark had to stop himself from reacting. There was a good reason why Perry White was such a good news man. He could pick up on things others couldn't. He just listed all the traits that drew him to Lois when he first made Superman public. Those same traits drew him to her in ways he never acknowledged. Now those traits had led her on a path that would ensure they would never be more than friends.
"Now I don't know nearly as much about this Jonathan Carroll guy," Perry continued. "A friend of mine at the Star told me he's a pretty standup guy. He's a bit dense at times and doesn't play well with authority, but his heart is always in the right place in everything he does. That's a big deal for Lois. And I know when she finds something – or in this case, someone – that she really wants, she'll go for it. She won't apologize, make excuses, or let anything stand in her way. Since you two work so closely, I need to know if this is going to be an issue. If so, let's talk about it now and be done with it."
Clark had been hoping to avoid this conversation. He had heard enough about this subject since he got back. Word around the office spread quickly about Lois' new boyfriend and with his hearing, he couldn't easily ignore it. He tried not to let it affect him. But Perry White, while not known for involving himself in the personal affairs of others, could pick up on the subtleties that even his super hearing could not.
Everyone at the office knew that he and Lois had a close working relationship. They worked so closely together that some suspected that there was something going on, but they usually laughed it off. Those same people also speculated Lois' had something going with Superman. For a time, Clark even entertained some of those assumptions. But he made a choice, both as Superman and as Clark Kent. Lois made her choice as well with Jonathan Carroll. Now people would have to entertain different suspicions.
"What Lois does in her personal life is none of my business," said Clark, plain and simply. "I don't know much about Jonathan, but I trust Lois' judgment so I don't think it'll be a problem."
"Are you sure about that? Lois does have a history of questionable judgment," asked Perry, still not convinced.
"Yes, Mr. White. I'm sure. And so is she. That's all there is to it. Now if you'll excuse me, I have work to do."
Clark didn't expect Perry to be convinced, but he had earned enough trust to convince him that he didn't need to worry about this. He chose not to belabor the issue, letting Clark leave the office. He didn't expect Perry to bring it up again. He had enough on his plate in dealing with Lex Luthor. That was fine with Clark. The less he had to dwell on this, the better.
However, as soon as he left Perry's office, Jimmy Olsen was there waiting for him. Unlike Perry, Jimmy didn't mind belaboring difficult issues.
"There you are, Clark. I was hoping to catch up before you buried yourself in your computer screen again," said Jimmy as he followed Clark back to his desk.
"You don't have to lie to me, Jimmy. I know you were eavesdropping. So skip the part where you pretend you've got photos you want to go over," said Clark curtly.
"Good because that saves me the trouble of wasting a roll of film. I just need to make sure my ears weren't playing tricks on me. Did you really just say that Lois hooking up with some guy doesn't bother you?"
"He's not just some guy, Jimmy. His name is Jonathan and he's a big reason why we got this story in the first place," said Clark, trying to use the same tone he had with Perry.
"I don't usually like to steal Perry's thunder, but don't play dumb!" said Jimmy, now standing in front of him so that he couldn't walk away. "Seriously, Clark, you can't be this casual about it. I know you. I've seen the way you look at her. It's kind of like the way she looks at Superman…no offence."
"None taken," said Clark, the irony of Jimmy's words not lost on him.
"With that in mind, I know for a fact this can't sit well with you. If not for personal reasons, then definitely for professional reasons. She's now with some guy and you're basically a walking third wheel. Are you really just going to let this happen and not say a word?"
"It is what it is, Jimmy," said Clark. "It doesn't have to be a big deal. It doesn't have to be a big story. And right now, I'd rather not talk about it."
Much to Jimmy Olsen's dismay, Clark walked around him and back towards his desk. This issue had already caused him too much distress. Right now, he needed to distract himself with work. He couldn't let himself think about Lois, her relationships, or whatever relationship he might have had with her. At this point, it wouldn't be right of him to go back on his choice. He had to live with it and so did everybody else.
"So that's really how it's going to be?" said Jimmy, casting his friend a bemused look.
"Like I said, Jimmy, it is what it is," said Clark.
"And it's like I said, it's a load of crap," he retorted. "I'm starting to really worry about you, Clark. Lois is one of only a handful of people you actually talk to on a non-professional basis. It's like you actively go out of your way to having as few friends as possible. I may just be a freelance photographer with a high school education and way too much student loan debt, but I know that's not healthy. And you of all people don't deserve that."
"I appreciate your concern, Jimmy."
"I'm actually more confused than concerned. You've got a lot going for yourself, Clark…way more than most people working at a newspaper in the internet age. Don't waste it by shutting everybody out. It's not fair to you or your friends for that matter."
It probably came off harsher than he expected, but it got the point across. Clark didn't respond, which was enough to make Jimmy shake his head in frustration and leave him to his work. When he got to his desk, he finally let his dismay show.
Letting out a solemn sigh, Clark turned his attention to the pictures he had on his desk. He had only two, one of his parents and another of him and Lois. Seeing them helped remind him of the importance of his decision. Being alone might have been the right thing to do in order to be the Superman he needed to be. That still didn't make it any less strenuous. But with men like Lex Luthor in the world, he might have to cope. It was the only way he could be ready for whatever challenges awaited him.
Themyscira – Temple of Hera
"Oh great goddess, Hera! Hear my prayers! Feel my sorrow! I humbly request the aid of the gods!"
Hippolyta had never prayed so hard before in her life. Not since her darkest hour at the hands of Hercules had she felt so weak and lost. The anger she felt towards her daughter had given way to overwhelming sorrow. It still burned her heart, knowing her daughter had strayed from the path of the Amazons. Now she was gone, taking with her any hope she had left that one day she would lead her sisters into the coming battles. Beyond the burden of her legacy, it hurt Hippolyta even more that she had failed. The love she had as a mother just wasn't enough to keep her daughter from leaving.
At this point, there was nothing more she could do. She hadn't even announced Diana's departure to the rest of the Amazons. Many would be undoubtedly devastated while some like Aleka would be vindicated. Nothing like this had ever happened to the Amazons. There had been sisters in the past who defied the Amazon code and were subsequently exiled, but none had ever willingly exiled themselves. None had ever been expected to succeed the queen one day either. This loss and this burden was too great, even for a queen to bear.
The Queen of the Amazons spent all night in the Temple of Hera, sealing herself in the central shrine where a statue of Hera stood adorned with numerous Amazonian artifacts. Few Amazons were ever permitted into this shrine. Only those who needed to communicate directly with the gods could enter and right now, only the gods could guide Hippolyta in her hour of need.
"Please, my goddess," cried Hippolyta, "My heart is broken and my spirit is wounded. Take pity on me, for I have failed you. Now I need your help to rectify that failure."
With every ounce of faith and piety in her soul, she prayed at the foot of the statue. The various candles and torches illuminating the shrine flickered. For hours, she received no response. The gods had been unusually silent lately, which had triggered rumors of unrest on Olympus. None of that mattered to Hippolyta. Only her lost daughter concerned her.
Just when it felt like she had no tears left to shed, she felt a familiar gust of air through the chamber. Moments later, the flickering flames changed color, shifting from orange to blue. They also began sparking with miniature thunderbolts. Hippolyta soon heard footsteps near the statue.
"Hera? Is that you?" said Hippolyta desperately.
"No. It is not," said a deep, masculine tone.
The queen shot up and saw the King of the Gods himself emerge from the shadow of the statue. She gasped at his imposing presence. Zeus only rarely appeared before the Amazons. Hera was supposed to be the one responsible for their blessings. However, every Amazon understood that Zeus' authority trumped all others on Olympus.
"Lord Zeus," she said Hippolyta, instinctively bowing in the presence of a god.
"Please rise, Hippolyta. There's no need for that," said the King of the Gods.
"Forgive me, my Lord. My heart is too wounded to stand before you as Queen of the Amazons."
"I know. Hera has already informed me of what has transpired. She and the rest of the gods are quite upset. That is why I saw fit to tend to this matter personally. I think I might be the only one on Olympus that understands your plight."
He spoke with a subtle undertone, one intended to avoid scrutiny from any god or mortal. In this sacred shrine, every word and every thought was strictly between worshipper and god. Hippolyta understood why it needed to be this way and bowed her head solemnly again.
The King of the Gods offered Hippolyta his hand to help her up, which she solemnly took. She returned to her feet and attempted to stand before Zeus as a queen should. This proved difficult, but she was still an Amazon. She still had a strength that put her above mortal women. That same strength is part of what had earned her the respect of Zeus and every other god on Olympus. However, she would need more than strength to get through this.
"I know how precious Diana is to you, Hippolyta. I have watched you raise her since the moment she drew breath," said Zeus. "I've never seen a mother give more love to her daughter."
"But it wasn't enough. I…I lost her. I pushed her away," said Hippolyta, choking on her every word.
"You didn't push her away. Diana was a victim of circumstance. You could not control how that man she met influenced her. You also could not control the decisions she made that led her to this moment. Take it from someone who has seen many of his children make questionable decisions. It is something even gods struggle with."
"So it's too late? Is my daughter truly lost to me?" asked Hippolyta sadly.
"Your daughter still breathes and still wields the spirit of an Amazon. She is not lost. However, she has made her choice and it cannot be unmade."
Hippolyta tried to hide her sobs, but more tears still formed in her eyes. Zeus, in a rare show of compassion, wiped them away. For a moment, even his mighty demeanor faltered. Were this any other Amazon, he would have had no issue delivering his divine judgment. But Diana was no ordinary Amazon, nor was she an ordinary woman by any measure. Even she had no idea how special she was.
"What must I do, Lord Zeus? What can I do?" asked Hippolyta, finally gathering herself.
"Were the circumstances more favorable, I would organize a mission into man's world to convince Diana to return. However, you know as well as every other god on Olympus that our circumstances are far from favorable," said Zeus.
"Yes, this growing chaos you speak of," sighed the queen. "I know it takes precedent."
"Not by much, mind you. I'm afraid it is getting worse. I even suspect there might be discord among my fellow gods that seeks to fuel the chaos. While I am unable to divert my energies to address it, I suspect it will incur more threats. As such, I need the Amazons to remain on Themyscira. They are still Olympus' best line of defense."
"In other words, I'm just let Diana wander about in man's world? Worrying endlessly that she'll be the victim of mortal man's cruelty?"
"Diana can take care of herself. She has demonstrated that time and again through combat and training. She can handle the dangers of man's world," said Zeus confidently.
"It's not just the dangers that worry me. Tell me in your infinite wisdom that you are not concerned about the harm she might incur. And I'm not just talking about physical harm either. You and I both know that the circumstances of Diana's upbringing make her especially vulnerable."
The air throughout the shrine grew colder and the sparking flames flickered, revealing a distinct unease within Zeus. He still hid it behind his godly demeanor, but Hippolyta knew it was there. She almost tried reaching out to embrace him. However, she knew that could have dangerous consequences, none of which they were prepared to deal with at the moment.
"Those circumstances you speak of must remain between us and us alone," said Zeus sternly.
"I know. And I have every intention of doing so, even if it means lying to her and to every other god I worship," said Hippolyta solemnly.
"For that reason, you are to announce Diana's self-exile in the morning. Hera and I will be there. We will tell your sisters that Diana's spirit has led her away from her home, at least for now. She is welcome to return, although she will still be subject to judgment. Do you understand?"
"I understand, my Lord," said Hippolyta, "Although given the extent of our argument, I doubt Diana will return anytime soon."
"Have faith in her, Hippolyta. She will not abandon you or her sisters. It just isn't in her nature," assured Zeus. "But for now, the Amazons must press on. They must continue battling the growing chaos emanating from Tartarus. I know you were hoping that Diana would lead the charge into this battle, but this is how it must be."
Zeus made it clear to Hippolyta that she could not continue to wallow in sorrow. She had to accept the situation. Diana had left. There was no bringing her back. In addition, she still had duties as Queen of the Amazons. So with the strength she had gained from centuries of hardship, Hippolyta swallowed her sorrow and regained her poise.
"If that is the will of fate and the gods, so be it," she said. "I'll carry on, as you wish…despite my failings."
"Your heart may be heavy and your spirit may be wounded, but make no mistake, Hippolyta – you are still as great a warrior as you've ever been," said Zeus. "Continue fighting and one day, your path will cross with Diana again. I'm sure of it."
"Even if it does, could we ever be mother and daughter again?"
"You are her mother and she is your daughter. Don't forget that. She certainly won't," said Zeus.
"I want to believe that. But now there's so much distance between us. With all this growing chaos, it can only get worse. What if it only drives us further apart? What if it ends up exposing some of the secrets that I…that we have been keeping from her?"
Zeus scolded Hippolyta for even contemplating such a possibility. The mere mention of such secrets was enough to worry even the King of the Gods. He knew the consequences of revealing those secrets even better than Hippolyta. That was why he had no intention of ever letting them come out. He made sure Hippolyta understood that.
"That will not happen. I won't allow it," said Zeus, placing his hands on her shoulders so that he could feel the power radiating from his being.
"I apologize, Lord Zeus," said Hippolyta. "I didn't mean to…"
"No more apologies. No more brooding. You are an Amazon, Hippolyta. Through loss and hardship, you will continue to fight as the warrior you are. By that same merit, the gods will continue to instill order in a world that has long since stopped worshipping us. I will see to it that Olympus remains intact. You must see to it that your world stays intact as well. That is how it must be…with or without Diana's presence."
Having made his divine will clear, Zeus stepped back from Hippolyta and disappeared in a blinding burst of lightning. Hippolyta only nodded to acknowledge his wishes. She had every intention of seeing them through, regardless of the festering scar on her heart.
She had no other choice and neither did Zeus. The Amazons must continue fighting and the gods must continue ruling. The growing chaos, fueled by growing upheavals in the world of man, would only grow. And if Zeus' suspicions regarding a possible plot from within Olympus, then it could only get worse.
Lexcorp Corporate Headquarters – R&D Lab
'I suppose I should be furious. I go through the trouble of developing this brilliant prototype and it makes an international spectacle in a war zone. My stocks are down, my lawyers are working overtime, and the Daily Planet is once again giving me migraines. But as disappointing as this failure might be, it is none-the-less informative. A lesser genius would despair, but I'm hardly a lesser genius.'
There was a lot to be learned and a lot to be desired from the events in Syria. Lex Luthor went to great lengths to ensure his latest creation had the perfect environment to demonstrate its capabilities. For the most part, it went as expected. His prototype left quite an impression. While it would have been nice to see it humiliate Superman, this might have been hoping for too much. Since that alien showed up, he came to expect this sort of frustration. He was still learning how to channel it and this latest ordeal presented a unique set of challenges.
After receiving news of the prototype's failure, Lex ordered his overseas team and some contacts within the UN to retrieve what they could. This included the very wounded body of Sergeant John Corben, who his doctors told him was suffering from some sort of radiation poisoning due to the kryptonite. Now he remained in a chemically induced coma within a special containment chamber that Lex set up in his private lab. This chamber had arrived at his lab earlier this morning. While it took quite a bit of extortion and bribery to keep him from being tried on war crimes, he believed there was still plenty to be gained from investing in John Corben.
He spent the last few hours analyzing his current state. Within the containment chamber, the sergeant remained deathly still and surrounded by a special cocktail of fluids meant to keep his body going. His skin was now tinted green and most of his organs had failed. By all accounts, this man should be dead. His ability to cling to life hinted that he had discovered something.
"Interesting. The radiation from the kryptonite triggered a reaction from the chemical agents deployed by the rebels," said Luthor as he crunched the numbers in his head and on a computer. "Now your cells have been saturated with radiation, but they're not dying. I don't know if that makes you a lucky man, Sergeant. But it certainly makes you useful."
Lex began developing ways in which to exploit this new discovery. It may leave Sergeant Corben in a great deal of discomfort, but he would surely embrace the chance to use it to crush Superman. The man's hatred for that alien rivaled only his.
Sergeant Corben blamed Superman for being dishonorably discharged. He told him all about the secret operation that Superman obstructed. He prevented a drone strike that would have killed a major terror cell, but he stopped it because it would have also killed civilians. Corben took it upon himself to complete the mission, even after his superiors told him to pull out. He was among a growing number of military men who saw Superman as a threat. They were all trying to develop countermeasures, but they were all painfully insufficient. As it stood, Lex Luthor was the only one with the genius and drive to take down that alien.
"At the very least, you proved that metallo could withstand a fight against Superman," Lex continued as he finished his analysis. "He went right for you rather than attack the outer armor. He must have figured that he could not break it. That means I now have a foundation for my next weapon against Superman."
He then turned his attention to the center of his lab where the remains of the prototype had been laid out. Most of the lesser components had been confiscated by the UN, but he made sure he salvaged the most important pieces. This included the fragment of kryptonite that he used as a power source. But it also included a very special component that was not of this world.
He carefully sifted through the remnants of the prototype, casting aside the less valuable materials. The various shards of metallo could be reused. The wires and computer chips could be replaced. However, the core of the main interface could not be thrown away.
He called it the neuro-mechanical accelerator. It was no bigger than a guitar and shaped like a messy array of gears and wires. Lex managed to retrieve it from a mess of burned out wires. He had to wear special gloves to hold it. When he held it up to the light, it radiated with an ominous purple energy. The nature of this energy was the key to neutralizing Superman. He just needed to create a more effective platform for it.
"I already have the hardware. It's the software that needs refinement," said Lex. "The next prototype will be far more effective."
"For your sake and mine, it had better be," came a deep voice.
Lex didn't bother turning around. He just grinned smugly while clinging to the device. The Daily Planet often claimed he would make a deal with the devil himself to further his agenda. Ironically, that wasn't wholly inaccurate.
"Hello to you too, Mr. Arenas. Or do you prefer I call you Ares when you're not pretending to be an overpaid consultant?" said Lex.
"Call me whatever you want, but you had best say it with respect because you're not in a position to be coy."
"You're not in a position to complain about it, unless your overbearing father who pretends to be a god has somehow stopped caring about your activities," retorted Lex.
"My father is a god and so am I. And I stillfind your tendency to make light of that infuriating."
"Sorry Ares, but I don't believe in gods, demigods, or whatever else you prefer to call yourself. I'm a man of science. I believe only in powers that lesser minds cannot understand – if they care to understand it at all. Now I know you didn't come for me for false worship so state your business. As you can see, I'm very busy."
Lex continued working, taking the component to his work bench where he began analyzing it with his tools. Ares had to restrain himself as he emerged from the shadows near John Corben's containment tank. He had encountered many annoying mortals in his time, but none like Lex Luthor. This man took narcissism to a level that surprised even the gods. He held in his hands components forged by Hephaestus using remnants of Zeus's legendary Aegis, yet he wielded it as if it were a dirty hammer. Any other god would have struck him down for such disrespect. Unfortunately, he needed this man's resources, genius, and ego to wage his war.
"Believe it or not, I come bearing good news," said Ares. "While your latest attempt to integrate Olympian hardware with your mortal gadgets had mixed results, it did show promise."
"Don't tell me what I already know, Ares. Either yell at me for not making a prototype capable of killing Superman or give me whatever qualifies as good news for gods," said Lex, who was now looking at the hardware through a special microscope.
"I cannot give the full details to a mortal, but I can say that Olympus has encountered a new distraction of sorts."
"What kind of distraction?" asked Lex with only mild curiosity.
"None you need concern yourself with," answered Ares. "All you need to know is that someone who stands to benefit from our success has uncovered a few things that will keep Olympus frustrated."
"Gods getting frustrated? How petty," scoffed Lex.
"This is good for us because it now means we can afford to be bolder. Zeus must now concern himself with matters unrelated to my activities. It should allow me to obtain more materials that will accelerate our progress."
"Good, because the materials you've given me so far will hardly suffice," said Lex, still focusing on the component. "This material managed to break a few laws of physics and biology to make my prototype functional. I'll need to break a few more to make the next one more efficient."
"And you'll have it," said Ares. "Just make sure these prototypes of yours are able to fully utilize the powers of the gods. They'll clearly need to if they're to stand a chance against this so-called Superman."
Ares made it clear that he remained skeptical of Lex Luthor's ability. This finally got Lex to look up from his workbench. Without a hint of fear, he walked up to Ares. No mortal had ever looked at the God of War in such a way, but this was no mere mortal.
"If you're really that skeptical, then by all means…find someone capable of turning your godly resources into functioning weapons," said Lex sternly, "But let's get something straight here, Ares. The man we're both trying to neutralize is a Superman. He is a being of great power."
"Careful Luthor. You almost sound like you're defending him," scoffed Ares.
"I'm merely stating facts to one who clearly is uncomfortable with the concept. This is exactly why I don't believe in gods. They see everyone around them as insects. Some, like the Olympians, treat them like a child treats ants in an ant farm. Some, like Superman, treat them as pets to be tamed. But we're neither of those. And if you think being a god sets you apart, you're sadly mistaken."
"This from a man who claims to be superior to all other mortals," retorted Ares.
"Unlike you, I can prove my superiority. I can quantify my genius. And you need that genius more than I need your resources. We both want the same thing with respect to Superman, but we can only achieve that if we see him for what he is and not what we wish he were. Surely a god in their vast wisdom can understand that."
Once again, Ares had to restrain himself. This mortal kept tempting his wrath. However, so long as he needed his resources, he had to put up with him. He was not wrong either, even though he would not allow himself to admit it. The destruction of this prototype was another impressive display of Superman's power. That display was sure to have an effect on all those who heard of it, which made this war he sought all the more important.
"Right now, I understand that we have a window in which to operate," said Ares. "We would both be wise to use it."
"Then I think we're done here," said Lex as he went back to his workbench. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have work to do. Between the metallo armor I've salvaged and Mr. Corben's condition, I have a few burning ideas for my next prototype."
London, England
Diana had never been this far from home before. She had never been this alone either. She had really done it. She left her home, her sisters, and her mother. It was like ripping out a piece of her own heart and leaving it behind as she ventured into the unknown. But at no point did she dare look back. Diana had made her decision. Now lost, heartbroken, and confused, she had to find a new place in an unforgiving world.
At first, she just flew to get away. She flew for hours, heading north until she reached a chain of mountains. She ended up just landing on the summit so she could collect her thoughts and wipe whatever tears remained from her eyes. Diana found herself punching rocks in frustration and crying out in anger at what had just transpired. She was angry at the gods, her mother, her sisters, and herself. She dared question what it meant to be a warrior and it cost her everything. It felt right on some levels and wrong on others. It left her spirit so torn that she spent the rest of the day just dealing with her anguish.
When the sun finally set, Diana gathered herself enough to formulate a plan. There weren't a whole lot of places she could go. Her knowledge of man's world extended only to what Kal-El had told her and what she had read in magazines. At first, she thought about seeking out Kal-El. However, she dispensed that idea quickly. She was in no state to see him again. She wouldn't want him to see her like this anyway, confused and angry at a world she didn't understand. She didn't need her already chaotic feelings getting any worse. She needed a place where she could step back, absorb this new world, and find her place within it.
To do this, she sought out the only woman on the planet who could help her. This was the same woman who helped her acquire the illicit artifacts that inspired her mother's outrage. She warned her that if her mother found out, she would be in a great deal of trouble. She also told her that if she ever found herself lost in man's world, she would aid her. So on the first day they met, she gave her a set of coordinates marked by certain stars that led her to a particular city. She then showed her pictures of a building where she could be found. Diana hoped to never have to take her up on this offer, but fate had once again trumped hope.
This led her to travel to the city called London, England. Flying over the city, she was amazed at what she saw. She had only seen pictures of the great cities of man's world. But those pictures hardly did justice to seeing it first-hand.
'So this is what man's world has created over the centuries. It's beautiful…chaotic and disorganized, but beautiful. All these men and women, living together in such close quarters, yet able to function. Such grandeur alone shows that they're capable of coexisting on some levels. But to what extent? Will I only end up proving my mother right? I cannot know for sure until I can explore man's world.'
After flying around the city, taking in various sights and sounds, Diana eventually located her destination. It was what man's world called an apartment complex. Near as she could tell, this was a fairly typical dwelling for men and women alike in man's world. She landed on the balcony on the top floor penthouse. She saw no lights within the dwelling. Diana couldn't tell if anyone was inside so she opened the door and entered.
"Hello? Is anyone here? I'm in need of assistance," she called out.
Diana got no response at first. She continued scanning the darkness for any noticeable presence. She took a few more steps into the dwelling. Then, she sensed a faint shadow from the moonlight pass over her. Less than a second later, she felt the distinct cold of an Amazonian sword against her throat.
"Who the hell dares enter my home?" said an imposing female voice.
"Someone who doesn't intend to fight you," answered Diana, having already recognizing the tone, "Although it is refreshing to see that you haven't lost your Amazon abilities."
The female figure turned on a nearby light, revealing that she attempted to attack wearing only a bathrobe. It would have been so fitting had she not gasped at the identity of the intruder.
"By the gods…Princess Diana?" she gasped.
"Calm yourself, Hessia. I am not worthy of that title anymore. I am just another sister," said Diana.
"This is…unexpected. What are you doing here? Have those illicit items I've been sending you finally caught up with me?"
"Actually, this isn't about you. It's about me. A lot has happened since we last spoke. Without going over all the painful details, I'll just say that my mother and I no longer see eye-to-eye over what it means to be an Amazon. So I've exiled myself from Themyscira."
"What do you mean you've exiled yourself? What in Athena's name happened?"
"More than I care to reveal at the moment," sighed Diana. "Right now, I need sanctuary. I'm in a difficult predicament and I need help from a sister to get me through it."
Hessia remained in a state of disbelief. She set aside her sword and embraced the princess, but not with her usual formality. If what she said was true, then something very serious had transpired. She had been uninvolved with Amazon affairs for a while now. It seemed things had become quite complicated.
Diana accepted her embrace. She needed the love of a sister right now and Hessia was probably the only one who could sympathize with her situation. For centuries, she had been a healer who specialized in treating the various wounds that Amazons incurred over the course of battle. As time went on, her passion for healing exceeded her passion for combat. She began negating her training in order to study the arts of medicine. Sometimes this involved conjuring illegal potions, which earned her plenty of discipline. It only got worse when she began importing illegal materials from man's world to further her studies. Ten years ago she had been discovered. As a result, her mother and a tribunal exiled her.
She had been living in man's world ever since. She had since forged a new identity and established herself as a field medic for the Red Cross. She was supposed to have ceased all contact with her sisters. However, Diana managed to get in touch with her when she began seeking similar illegal materials from man's world. Hessia had been reluctant at first, but she could not say no to a sister, especially the princess. It felt good to embrace a fellow Amazon again. However, it appeared she had a lot of catching up to do.
"Say no more, sister. My home is at yours for as long as you need it," said Hessia as they parted.
"Thank you. I apologize for intruding," said Diana.
"Think nothing of it. I find it somewhat refreshing to employ my Amazon training again. But I have a lot of questions that'll need answering if you what you say is true."
"I fully intend to answer them all. It involves a man, an argument, and a whole web of lies that I managed to keep for four years. It got so bad that…"
Hessia held her hand up to stop Diana. She had never heard her get this worked up. She hadn't heard any Amazon get this worked up outside of combat. Those answers she sought were clearly more complicated than she imagined.
"That's okay, Diana. You don't need to answer them right away," she told her.
"But you need to know how bad it is," said Diana as she began pacing. "I never planned to exile myself. I just couldn't live under the Amazon Code anymore. Everything they say about man's world and why we must isolate ourselves from it…I just couldn't accept it anymore."
"You wouldn't be the first, but you would be among the few," said Hessia.
"I tried to talk it out with my mother, but that only made things worse! She and every other Amazon refuse to even consider what I know in my heart to be true. I cannot live in that world anymore. I don't even know if I can live in man's world. For all I know, I've completely disrupted the balance between Olympus and Themyscira!"
At this point, Diana wasn't even addressing Hessia. She was basically talking out loud, putting all her conflicting thoughts into words. It sounded even more complicated when she heard herself say it. She ended up hugging her shoulders as the feeling of what she had done continued to sink in.
Hessia did her best to console her sister. She remembered feeling the same way when she left her home. That isolation and uncertainty was the worst part of exile. That was why it was considered the worst punishment an Amazon could receive. However, it didn't have to be that way. She managed to turn it into a new life and there was no reason why the princess couldn't do the same.
"Don't allow yourself to think like that, Diana. Trust me, it won't make the first night of exile any easier," Hessia told her.
"I suppose I'll have to take your word for it. I'm just…not used to being this overwhelmed," said Diana distantly. "I left my home. I'm in a world I don't fully understand. I'm not even sure what sort of life I can live at this point."
"Nobody is sure. That applies to Amazons and mortals alike," she retorted with a touch of humor, "But that doesn't mean we can't figure it out."
"I'm not even sure I'm ready to think that far ahead. Just seeing this city as I flew in was so breathtaking. I wouldn't know where to begin."
"We'll figure that out too. It's going to be easier than you think in some ways, but harder in others."
"How can you be so sure?" asked Diana.
"Because I'm going to help you. Just sit down while I make us some tea. We clearly have a lot to discuss. I can't promise I'll make this less overwhelming, but I can promise you won't be alone in dealing with it."
It was the first bit of comfort that Diana had felt since she left Themyscira. It felt fitting in some respects, taking comfort in a sister that had been scorned by her fellow Amazons. It gave her hope that she could turn this despair and inner conflict into something greater. Her spirit may have been wounded, but her heart had already convinced her that this could be the start of something wonderful.
Up next: Secret Connections