Strangers In Paradise
Chapter 7: Divine Tools
Metropolis – East Side Dam
The daring video message from Metallo quickly went viral after the major news feeds picked it up. Once Superman saw that dagger being held to Lois Lane's neck, he went into super-speed mode, slipping into a stairwell at the Daily Planet and donning his Superman costume in a fraction of a second. As soon as he was out of the building, he took to the air and headed east, leaving a miniature sonic boom in his wake.
'This is a trap. It has to be a trap and Lex Luthor is probably behind it. This Metallo is also packing kryptonite. He made that obvious with those glowing green eyes of his. I should head back to the Fortress, fix my lead-lined suit, and take the kryptonite out of the equation. But that would take too long. I let that thing take way too much punishment during the Titano battle last month. I can't risk Lois' life. After what she did for me today, I can't let her get hurt.'
Lois had gotten into trouble before. In fact, she had gotten into way worse trouble than this. However, Superman had more incentive than usual to save her life. Lois Lane wasn't just a dear friend now. She also had someone in Jonathan Carroll who loved her dearly and wanted to see her return to their new home safely. Superman wasn't about to let Luthor, Metallo, or anyone deny them that. Lois deserved that life, even if he could only be part of it as her friend.
It took less than a minute to reach the site of the East Side Dam. This site had been scheduled for demolition for nearly four months now. The river it once held back had since been diverted to a much larger reservoir, leaving only a huge slab of concrete between two rocky hills and a dried up riverbed full of construction equipment. Superman did a quick scan of the area with his telescopic and X-ray vision. Near as he could tell, there were no workers or bystanders nearby. Someone managed to get the whole site cordoned off by police tape. He should have been relieved because that meant he wouldn't have to worry about more innocent people getting caught in the crossfire. However, he had a feeling this was just Metallo's way of showing that he could beat him in a fair fight.
'He wants to piss me off. He wants me to be reckless so that I'll fight him on his terms. But he also wants to show that he can beat me one-on-one. I'm not sure how much of this is Metallo or how much of this is Lex Luthor. It's probably both. For all I know, they've got cameras hidden all over the area so they can document it. They want to the world to see that they can beat me. This will either be the greatest publicity Superman has ever received or the worst.'
After assessing the surrounding area, Superman turned his attention to the dam itself. Metallo was standing atop its highest point, which happened to be an observation deck built right in the center of the wedge-like structure. He still had Lois at his mercy, having bound her wrists behind her back while he held the dagger to her throat. He also stood only a few feet away from the edge so he could throw her off the side if slitting her throat wasn't enough.
Superman's vision narrowed on the menacing robot humanoid and flew in closer, stopping about 25 feet from the edge of the deck. He had not officially entered the trap, but he expected Metallo and Lex Luthor to find some devious way to make this an unfair fight.
"You wanted to get my attention, Metallo? Well, you've got it," said Superman menacingly.
"And thank you for responding so quickly," said Metallo snidely. "For a moment, I thought I was going to have to take an eye out."
"If you're trying to upset me, you're succeeding in that too."
"Good. I want you to be upset. I want you to show the world the kind of alien you really are!"
"I take that to mean you've still got cameras rolling somewhere," said Superman.
"What's the point of defeating the world's biggest fraud if it can't be documented? Assume that every humiliating moment from this point forward will be preserved for generations to come!"
He spoke like a man rather than a robot, like a showman trying to stir up the audience. His voice also sounded familiar, despite having a mechanical undertone. This man/machine really believed that he was capable of defeating him and he wanted to make a spectacle out of it.
"You clearly have a personal vendetta against me. I'm willing to settle it, but not if you're going to hide behind hostages," said Superman strongly.
"Me? Hide behind hostages? You just keep finding other ways to insult me," scoffed Metallo. "The lovely Ms. Lane here was just bait. She has served her purpose. I've no further use for her."
"Then let her go! Trust me when I say you don't want to make me too angry," he threatened.
"Oh trust me, Superman…I do. I really, really do."
With the edge of the dagger still pressed up against Lois' neck, Metallo made good on his intentions and threw the barely conscious woman off the edge of the dam and right towards Superman. The Man of Steel could hear the horrified gasps of the millions of people watching this event unfold live. He shut them out as he instinctively flew over to catch Lois in his arms. But before he caught her, Metallo had jumped off the edge of the dam in the same direction. So the moment he had Lois in his arms, Metallo arrived and delivered a punch to the jaw that he couldn't avoid.
The impact hurt in ways Superman wasn't used to and sent him plummeting to the dried up riverbed below. Despite the pain, his first priority was protecting Lois. He shifted his body in mid-air, making it so his back took the brunt of the impact. Again, he did what he could to cushion the impact on Lois, holding her in his arms even as he tumbled through the mud. He managed to keep her from incurring any serious injuries, adding to his own in the process.
'That hurt…a lot. It's just like I thought. That glowing in his eyes…it's from kryptonite. I need to get some distance…need to get Lois to safety.'
He tried taking to the sky again and flying Lois away, but Metallo landed only a few feet from him and delivered another punishing blow that sent him flying toward a tractor. This time, by taking the impact for Lois, she fell out of his arms and onto the mud. The hit was hard enough to make flying too painful. Just returning to his feet was a challenge and Metallo was already closing in for another strike.
"Are you angry yet, Superman? I can't really tell," taunted Metallo, "But I can tell you're uncomfortable. You must not be used to it. I'll bet it's downright alien, feeling as vulnerable an ordinary human."
"Tough talk for someone willing to fight this dirty," said Superman as he wiped some of the mud off his hands.
"There's nothing dirty about it. I can't have you flying away with the pretty girl to regain your strength. You're going to stay this vulnerable! You're going to fight me until there's only one of us left standing!"
As Metallo approached, he opened a compartment on his chest to reveal the sizable chunk of kryptonite that powered his strength. With every step he took, Superman felt weaker. It wasn't a fair fight by any stretch and that was probably the point.
As the imposing robot humanoid prepared for the attack, Lois finally stirred from her disheveled state. Her wrists were still bound behind her back and she was still very dazed from the knock-out gas. But when she saw Metallo approaching Superman armed with kryptonite and superhuman strength, she worried more for his safety than her own.
"Superman…you need to get away," urged Lois.
"I can handle him, Lois. Just get somewhere safe!" Superman replied. "I'll try to…"
"You'll fight me and you'll die!" barked Metallo.
Superman didn't get a chance to aid Lois. Metallo launched another relentless attack, striking him with a punishing right cross that knocked him and the tractor behind him back even farther. Lois had to crawl away through the mud, but Metallo paid no attention to her. Now, he focused only on Superman.
The kryptonite was already having a noticeable effect. Superman couldn't fly or move at high speeds. Everything around him slowed down as his vision became blurred. Between the pain of the attack and the nausea caused by the kryptonite, this fight was getting lopsided.
'That hurt even more than the last one. Can't afford to take too many. But he's not hiding behind Lois anymore. She convinced me that I need to learn to trust more. I need to trust that she can get away while I take care of Mr. Roboto here.'
Metallo went in for another strike. This time, Superman fought back. He blocked the attack with his arm and struck the side of Metallo's neck with the hardest part of his elbow. It was one of the counter-techniques that Diana had taught him years ago and it left Metallo stunned, allowing him time to push away and get some distance between them.
"Ah, so you actually do plan on fighting," said Metallo, quickly shaking it off. "Good. I was getting bored."
"This is usually the point where I would try to reason with you, but I think I'll skip that step today," said Superman, now clenching his fists in preparation for another attack.
"That's right. Ditch the annoying boy scout routine. Show me who you really are, Superman!"
Metallo launched another attack, this time going for the knock-out punch. Superman went on the evasive, ducking and avoiding the initial onslaught. He tried to keep his distance to avoid the effects of the kryptonite. It didn't help that the skies were still cloudy, ensuring he couldn't replenish his strength with yellow sunlight. He had to take Metallo down quickly before he lost too much strength.
Lexcorp Corporate Headquarters – Executive Suite
"That's it, Sergeant. Wear him down. Humiliate him in front of the whole world!" said Lex Luthor eagerly.
So far, this spectacle was going just as he planned. Lois Lane provided the bait, the East Side Dam provided the arena, and Metallo provided the edge. Lex even made sure that he was back in his office, sitting comfortably in his opulent executive suite so he could watch it unfold on the 70-inch flat-screen TV he had mounted next to his desk. It made for perfect theater, witnessing the downfall of an arrogant god. It was long overdue and he intended to enjoy every second of it.
Having cancelled his meetings and turned off his phone, Lex watched as the fight unfolded through a series of hidden video cameras that he had set up throughout the site. Superman had taken some early shots, but was still on his feet. He managed to get in a few counter-blows against Metallo, hitting him with a hard kick to the torso and knocking him back against a nearby bulldozer. Superman then tried hitting him with a couple of wheelbarrows and concrete dividers, but this proved ineffective against the sturdy metallo shell. At one point, Superman attempted to fly again, but he remained too weakened from the kryptonite. This ensured he stayed grounded, allowing Metallo to launch another round of attacks.
Lex had every intention of savoring every moment of this. He wanted to take in every bloody detail of Superman's defeat. He was so focused on watching Superman suffer that he barely noticed a familiar gust of cold wind blow through his office.
"What the hell is that oversized gizmo doing? Why hasn't he struck Superman with the dagger?" said a very agitated God of War.
"Ares…do gods not know the concept of knocking?" said an equally annoyed Lex Luthor.
"He shouldn't waste his time trying to bloody the creature. I gave you the Dagger of Deimos specifically so this wouldn't be necessary!" said Ares as he approached Lex's desk.
"There's a wide gap between what is necessary and what is satisfying. Can't you just sit back and let Metallo enjoy defeating his enemy?"
"Don't you dare patronize me, Luthor! I took a considerable risk just to obtain that dagger. By Zeus's decree, it should still be locked in a safe in the deepest bowels of Olympus."
"He'll get around to it. Just relax. Surely that's not outside the purview of a god," chided Luthor.
"Why must you insist on making light of this? Have you forgotten what's at stake?"
"Oh I understand perfectly what's at stake for you, Ares. But I think it's you who doesn't understand," Luthor retorted. "It's not enough to just defeat Superman. He's not some ill-equipped army that can be crushed with brute force. His defeat must send a message. The world must see that he is not this ideal of truth, justice, and the American way. It needs to crumble before him in a way he can no longer defend, regardless of whether he lives or dies."
He made it sound so personal, like he was trying to get Superman and the world to acknowledge that he was right. The gods of Olympus had more than their share of arrogance, but this mortal matched them in every way. It was annoying, but Ares was used to dealing with god-sized egos. It didn't matter if Luthor got the vindication he so desperately craved. What mattered to him was that this battle ended with Metallo stabbing Superman with the Dagger of Deimos.
"Do what you need to do to satisfy your insatiable ego, Lex Luthor. Just make sure it ends soon," said Ares, still fuming as he watched the TV impatiently. "Take it from someone who knows a lot about battles. The longer they're drawn out, the more time there is for something to go horribly wrong."
"Nothing will go wrong. I've accounted for every variable. Metallo will defeat Superman," said Luthor with the utmost certainly.
"I hope you're right. For both our sake, you better be."
Metropolis – East Side Dam
"I'm getting bored again, Superman. You're either not trying very hard or you're even more pathetic than I thought!" said an increasingly confident Metallo.
"You talk a lot…for a robot," said an increasingly drained Superman.
"I'm not just a robot. I am what you drove me to be!"
Everything in this battle was going wrong for Superman. The tide of this battle had turned against him once more and this time he might not have the strength to fight through it. He defended against every one of Metallo's attacks as best he could. He managed to pull off some counterstrikes, but it wasn't nearly enough.
Not only did Metallo demonstrate a level of strength that nearly matched his own, he also showed that his new robotic form had some exotic features, such as an ability to repair himself. He was also not following some sort of pre-determined program. He fought like a man and a well-trained man at that. Now Superman was down on one knee, blood seeping from his mouth as the crippling effects of the kryptonite kept weakening him. His was running out of strength. At this point, he had thrown nearly every piece of heavy machinery and debris he could at Metallo. It slowed him down, but did little to stop him. With the rain now falling harder and Metallo closing in for another attack, Superman knew his time was running out.
'Don't have much left in me. Need to get above the clouds…get some yellow sunlight in my system. I have to end this now!'
Metallo moved in for another deadly attack. But before he could get within reach, Superman unleashed his super-breath and hit him with an arctic blast that froze the mud and rain around him. Within seconds, he was encased in a layer of ice and rendered immobile.
"You think…this will stop me?" said Metallo, already using his strength to break through the ice.
"No. But maybe this will!" said a determined Superman.
Grabbing a nearby steel beam, Superman swung it like a bat and struck Metallo with enough force to send him crashing back against the dam. Before he could get up, Superman threw the beam at him like a javelin so that it hit him head on, creating a sizable dent in the thick concrete. By knocking him away and putting some distance between him and the kryptonite, he felt some of his strength return to him. It allowed him to catch his breath and re-focus himself.
"I don't know what I did to drive you to this, but it's stop today!" proclaimed Superman.
As Metallo attempted to dislodge himself from the dent in the dam, Superman unleashed his heat vision. He melted both the steel from the metal beam he had used and the concrete from the old dam, tempering it a way that liquefied it on the spot. Metallo kept attempting to free himself, but ended up getting stuck in the liquefied materials until he became entombed in the dam. Now Superman could hear the people watching this cheer because it looked like he had defeated this robot humanoid.
"It's over Metallo. I'd ask you to come along quietly, but I'd rather skip that part too," said Superman.
"That's where you're wrong, Superman. You will not leave me wounded and humiliated again!" said Metallo.
"Again? Why do you keep pretending like we've met before?"
"Look closer, Superman. Look beyond the metal. Listen to my voice. Don't you remember? You destroyed my life in a way that made me only think of killing you every second I'm still alive…relatively speaking."
"You'll have to be more specific. I hear that a lot from people who blame me for their problems," said Superman.
"I didn't fail! I was just a soldier serving my country, trying to protect this world in a way you'll never understand. Because of you, I was dishonorably discharged and everything I ever worked for fell apart. Because of you, I was left wounded and disfigured. But you could never appreciate that. You…a powerful alien who never has to worry about being vulnerable."
Superman took a moment to scrutinize Metallo's angry words. He listened closer to his voice and found that he did indeed recognize it. He had heard it before. The mention of a soldier who served his country only to be dishonorably discharged also jarred his memory. One name in particular came to mind and that name helped make a few troubling connections.
"Good Lord…Sergeant Corben?" he gasped.
"I used to be…until you killed him!" Metallo replied. "I still remember how it felt, being so weak and wounded. Now that I'm Metallo, I'll see to it that you know that feeling as well!"
While Superman stood in shock at the transformation that he had undergone, Metallo unleashed an unexpected attack. He channeled the energy from the kryptonite in his chest up into his eyes. Then, with his gaze narrowed on the Man of Steel, he unleashed a concentrated beam of green energy that struck Superman right in the chest. As soon as it hit him, he fell to one knee and cringed.
"Argh!" he cried out as he clutched his chest.
"Was saving that for just the right moment," said Metallo with smug satisfaction.
As Superman recovered from the sting, Metallo channeled more of his strength and broke from the concrete/metal shell around him. It shattered like glass, freeing him from the brink of defeat and giving him the perfect window to take Superman down once and for all.
While Superman was still clutching his chest, Metallo grabbed a piece of the now warped steel beam and threw it back at him. Superman attempted to dodge it, but still ended up getting hit in a way that sent him crashing to the muddy riverbed once more. As he struggled to return to his feet, Metallo sprinted towards him as fast as he could and delivered a punishing kick that further added to his pain. Now he laid flat on his back in a big puddle of mud, the Man of Steel was battered, bruised, and on the brink of defeat.
'Get up, Clark. Don't pass out. Ignore the stabbing pain in your chest…and your torso…and your head…everywhere. You need to get up. You need to…keep fighting.'
His mind kept urging him, but his body wouldn't listen. The unfamiliar taste of blood and the stabbing pain kept him on his back.
"Ungh…so weak," was all he could get out.
The rain continued pouring down his face as Metallo approached. He was now in position to deliver the final blow. The kryptonite kept him weak, but he had no intention of watching him just wither. His defeat needed to be as absolute as the defeat he suffered as John Corben.
As he walked up to the weakened Man of Steel, he retrieved the dagger that Luthor had given him. He had kept it stored away in a compartment in his leg, waiting for just the right moment to use it. Luthor told him that this dagger had the power to end Superman once and for all. While it would have been nice to draw out his humiliation, Metallo had a mission to complete. And unlike before, Superman wasn't going to stop him from completing it.
"Was saving this for just the right moment as well," he said, now standing over the weakened Man of Steel. "Smile for the camera's Superman. You're about to die in front of a global audience."
"Don't do this…Sergeant," said Superman in an effort to reach the man behind the machine. "You don't have…to be a murderer."
"That's where you're wrong. I might go down in history as a murderer, but I like to think I'll leave a more profound legacy. You come to our world, meddle in our affairs, and carry yourself like a god who cannot be stopped. Well guess what? I'm a man, living inside a machine built by another man, who can stop you. Men don't need aliens, gods, or saviors like you. You're only holding us back. That ends today!"
Metallo raised the dagger and prepared to stab it right into his chest. Superman, still weak and unable to move, could only brace himself. With millions of horrified people watching all over the world, everything seemed to slow down for both of them.
Then, seemingly out of nowhere, a yellow lasso wrapped itself around Metallo's arm and stopped his arm before it could even get halfway to Superman.
"What the…" he began.
"Enough of your babble! This fight is not over yet," said a powerful female voice.
Before Metallo could even turn around, something tugged the lasso with the kind of strength that couldn't have come from an ordinary human. He soon found himself flying back, as though gravity itself had turned against him, until he crashed into the face of the dam again, not far from where he hit earlier. This time he hit with even more force than before, causing large cracks to form in the concrete. It was enough to disrupt his systems, leaving him stunned.
"No! Have to get back…to Superman. I have to finish him off!" he exclaimed.
With the dagger still in hand and the lasso still around his arm, he attempted to crawl out from the dent in the dam once more. He didn't get very far. As soon as his arm reached out onto the muddy riverbed, a boot stepped on his wrist and pinned him. Metallo then looked up to see the one who had been wielding the lasso.
It was a woman and a very imposing woman from the looks of it. She wore a golden tiara, red boots, silver wrist bands, and unique attire that highlighted her strong feminine figure in every possible way. Showing that she had the kind of strength that could match his, she gave the lasso a hard tug to throw him off-balance again.
"You wish to slay an innocent, Metallo? You'll have to go through me!" she proclaimed.
"And just who are you supposed to be?" said Metallo.
"I am Diana, Princess of Themyscira. Now prepare yourself. The world is about to see you for the pathetic man you really are!"
London – Earlier
Diana returned to her apartment in London at speeds that rivaled Hermes himself, taking to the skies the moment she stepped out of the airport in Turkey. She probably attracted plenty of attention in the process. For all she knew, she raised red flags with every airport radar station and military satellite in Europe. She promised Hessia that she would minimize the use of her powers in order to blend in with man's world and see it from their perspective. Now, she couldn't just be an ordinary woman anymore. She had to be an Amazon again.
'Mother, I know you wouldn't approve of this. I'm sure every one of my sisters would scold me just as harshly. But I've been putting this off long enough.'
She entered her walk-in closet, which was lined mostly with the traditional attire of a well-traveled woman who worked for an international organization. But in the back of the closet, there was a false wall that she installed shortly after she moved in. It was so heavy that only an Amazon had the strength to unlock it. Armed with this strength, Diana opened it to reveal the distinct Amazonian attire that she once wore into battle.
Her thoughts raced faster as she looked upon the tiara, bracelets, lasso, and battle armor for the first time in nearly a year. Diana swore to herself that she would not wear it again until she gained a sufficient understanding of man's world. Hessia convinced her that this world was not ready for an Amazon warrior to join the growing pantheon of superheroes, nor was she ready to be that warrior. Hessia might still be right on many levels, but now the gods were involved and man's world was not equipped to deal with that. Only an Amazon could.
'I might not be ready to completely embrace man's world, but they had better be ready to embrace me.'
Diana undressed and donned her attire once more, her thoughts still racing at the implications of what she had seen. The gods were supposed to have ceased their involvement in the affairs of man. Seeing the Dagger of Deimos revealed that at least one of the gods had broken that unspoken decree. If there was a larger conflict on Olympus unfolding, then it would likely affect many outside the shores of Themyscira. And Superman might end up being the first victim. She couldn't let that happen. Even if she had to battle the gods themselves, she would not let them slay an innocent, honorable man.
"Time to be a warrior again," she said to herself as she put on her bracelets and strapped on her lasso. "The will of the gods might be strong, but fate is always stronger. I'm coming to help you again, Kal-El. This time, I hope fate is kinder to us."
Metropolis – East Side Dam
"You abomination of a man! I will end you on this day!" exclaimed Diana, now on an unstoppable war path.
The battle against Metallo had once again become lopsided, but in a way neither he nor Superman ever could have expected. Once Diana went on the attack, there was no holding back. She unleashed her wrath on Metallo as if he were a titan from the deepest pits of Tartarus.
As she expected, he refused to submit after she initially subdued him. Metallo pushed back, freeing himself from her lasso and attempting to shove her aside so that he could try again to finish Superman. She didn't allow him to take more than a few steps before she struck him again, this time with her bare hands. Her strength caught Metallo off guard again, knocking him right into a large mound of mud. This time, Diana didn't demand his submission. She just attacked, punching and striking him in an unstoppable bombardment. While his metal form was durable, it sustained significant damage as a result.
Metallo still attempted to fight back. With the Dagger of Deimos still in hand, he attempted to strike her with it. He had significant combat skill, holding the dagger with a firm grip and going for her neck and shoulder area. But his skill was no match for that of a trained Amazon.
"You're not fit to wield such a weapon," said Diana as she easily evaded the attacks. "You think yourself a warrior, but you lack the heart and skill."
"I don't know who you're supposed to be, but you're pissing me off!" yelled Metallo with growing frustration.
His attacks with the dagger became more aggressive. Diana deflected every one of them with her bracelets. Since they were also forged by the gods, it effectively countered its power. Knowing such power was too much for the hands of any man, she made sure he didn't get a chance to use it. When he tried to stab her again, she skillfully evaded the attack, grabbed his arm, and hit the elbow joint so hard that it severed the limb completely.
"Ahhh! You stupid bitch! You're ruining everything!" exclaimed Metallo.
"No. Just you!" spat the Amazonian warrior.
Now with only one arm, Metallo was at an even greater disadvantage and Diana exploited it fully. She struck him again with a hard kick to the torso, sending him back into the big pile of mud. She then went onto hit him again with an onslaught of punches, slugging him across the face again and again. Since he couldn't block, he sustained heavy damage. Wires and circuits were exposed. Sparks shot out from his inner components. And unlike Superman, the kryptonite was not making her weaker.
This battle, which was still being streamed live all over the world, left Superman in a state of shock. Even though he was still weak and sore from Metallo's attacks, seeing Diana again triggered a range of feelings that he was not equipped to process. This woman who had only existed in brief memories and vague dreams was actually here, aiding him again in his time of need.
"Diana…it's really you," he said, smiling despite his pain.
She was a sight to behold, especially while subduing a dangerous enemy like Metallo. She kept on punching him, so much so that the sturdy metal shell began to warp. Metallo now had the appearance of a boxer who had gone too many rounds against a superior fighter. His every attempt to fight back failed, leaving him prone and damaged in a thick layer of mud.
Eventually, Diana let up once it appeared that Metallo had sustained critical damage. With so many inner components exposed and so much damage to his systems, he couldn't possibly continue fighting. Diana stopped short of ending him where he stood. She needed this monstrosity alive so she could find out who gave him the Dagger of Deimos. Once Metallo appeared on the brink of shutting down, she put her foot on his neck and stood over him triumphantly.
"Yield," she said firmly. "If you cooperate, I will show you mercy."
Metallo responded with incoherent static at first. He was still conscious, but heavily damaged. He kept struggling under her strength, but she made sure he stayed pinned in defeat.
With his systems failing, Metallo only briefly considered her offer. However, the soldier in him refused to accept defeat. He still had a mission. He came here to defeat Superman and he wasn't going to let some strange woman get in his way. As the rain continued to fall, he sought one last attack. Looking briefly at his damaged arm and back at Diana, he saw an opportunity.
"You're…underdressed for battle. That's not wise for a woman," he said, his voice still laced with static.
"You would be wise to refrain from misogynistic remarks," scolded Diana.
"And you would be wise…to wear pants."
Using her choice of attire to his advantage, Metallo jammed the sparking end of his severed arm into her exposed thigh. He then overloaded the circuits going into the wires in the arm, sending a powerful jolt of electricity into the woman.
"Aagh!" Diana exclaimed as a paralyzing shock shot up through her body.
She ended up stumbling back, releasing Metallo in the process. He then shot up from the mud and grabbed her by the neck with his remaining arm. He would have loved to choke the life out of her for what she just did to him, but he chose to save his wrath for Superman. While she was stunned, he threw her back towards the face of the dam as hard as he could. She ended up impacting near the same spot he had hit earlier. He doubted it would subdue her, but it should leave her subdued long enough for him to finish the job.
"If only I could've done that with my ex-wife," said Metallo, damaged yet determined.
Metallo then retrieved the arm that had been knocked off earlier, which still had the dagger in hand. He hooked it back into his system, which quickly reintegrated it. He then set his sights on Superman, who still hadn't returned to his feet, and sprinted towards him at full speed. He didn't bother letting the rest of his systems repair themselves. He didn't need to be intact to complete his mission.
"Your girlfriend can't save you, Superman. Now you die!" yelled Metallo.
He moved in for the killing blow, going straight for his neck before Superman could fully regain his composure. But had he seen Superman's expression when he made his threat, he would have seen a much angrier foe. After seeing what he did to Diana, all the complicated feelings that emerged from seeing her again became much more focused.
Superman waited until Metallo began his attack, letting him get even closer than before. At the last possible second, he evaded the slash, getting lightly grazed by the dagger along his shoulder in the process. He then employed yet another tactic Diana taught him during their time together, deflecting Metallo's arm and slipping behind him so that he could pull him into a choke hold. He made sure to apply extra pressure to his neck and lower back, doing more damage to his already damaged systems. He was still weak due to the kryptonite and the lack of sunlight, but he was still plenty strong enough to make Metallo regret what he just did.
"A real man does not hit a lady," said Superman in a deep, angry tone.
"Errr! Kill you!" roared Metallo.
He tried freeing the arm wielding the dagger. Superman didn't let it go. For a moment, they struggled. When Metallo attempted to stab him again, he ended up losing his grip on the dagger and it went flying into the thick woods to the east of the site. Now disarmed and unable to direct the kryptonite towards him, Superman delivered another devastating blow. First, he struck Metallo in the lower back with his knee, nearly breaking his metal spinal column in the process and leaving him stunned. He then delivered a punishing haymaker that sent him flying back towards the face of the dam.
Diana recovered quickly as this attack unfolded, shaking off the impact just in time to see what Superman was doing. She immediately joined in, taking to the air before Metallo was even halfway to the dam. Flying at high speeds, she met him in midair where she threw one last devastating punch that sent him crashing to the ground like a meteor.
"And a wise man does not hit a lady who can hit back," said Diana upon delivering the blow.
Metallo never heard her words. All he heard was his metal form hitting the muddy riverbed with a loud thud that shook the entire site and left a sizable crater. He also felt more damaged being done to his systems. He was now that his inner components began sparking erratically. He could barely move, let alone fight back. He still saw Diana hovering over him and noticed Superman approaching. Between losing the dagger and dealing with a woman every bit as strong as Superman, his mission now seemed doomed to failure. However, he remained defiant.
"You think…I'm defeated? I will…fix myself! I will…kill you both!" yelled Metallo.
"Why don't you shut up first?" said another voice that he had completely forgotten about.
Superman and Diana were already grinning. They knew who that voiced belonged to and before Metallo could recall, the sound of a steamroller being turned on gave him more immediate concerns. He attempted to crawl out of the muddy crater while repairing his systems as much as he could. He only made it a few feet before he felt the shadow of the steamroller approaching. When he turned to face it, he saw Lois Lane in the driver's seat. He tried to escape, but it was too late.
Superman and Diana watched with supreme satisfaction as Lois ran Metallo over with the steamroller, crushing his damaged legs and completely severing his cybernetic spine to ensure he wouldn't be getting up this time. Lois made sure to stop just before it reached his chest. Just crushing this man/machine to death after what he had just done would have been too easy.
"Couldn't let you guys have all the fun now, could I?" said Lois as she hopped down from the driver's seat.
"And here I was hoping that you would run to safety and get help," chided Superman.
"Now aren't you glad I didn't?" said Lois, "Although if you had told me your girlfriend was in town, I'd have been a little more tactful."
Superman and Diana exchanged awkward glances. Diana coming to his aid during his time of need certainly sent some mixed messages. Since this whole struggle had been streamed live all over the world, people were going to start making conclusions. That didn't even begin to cover the many feelings they had been struggling with over the past six years. It still didn't make seeing each other again any less meaningful. It would have made for a fitting reunion had Metallo not ruined it.
"This…isn't over. I…will not…be humiliated again. Not by Superman…or his friends!" barked Metallo as he writhed under the head of the steamroller.
Lois shifted her attention from Superman and Diana, having not forgotten that there was a story here.
"Hold that thought. I have some burning questions for the walking erector set here," said Lois.
"As do I," said Diana. "This man is wielding weapons he shouldn't be wielding. I demand to know where you got them!"
"I'll tell you…nothing," said Metallo defiantly.
"Why don't we plug your ass into a few car batteries and see if we can't change your mind?" threatened Lois.
"I'm…a soldier. Do your worst."
"That won't be necessary," said Diana.
Now standing next to Lois over the defeated Metallo, Diana retrieved her lasso and wrapped it around his neck. The rope briefly glowed as the magic within went to work.
"You are now bound by my Lasso of Truth. You are now compelled by the Fires of Hestia to respond to every question truthfully," she proclaimed.
"Seriously? That thing will magically make him tell the truth?" said Lois with a raised eyebrow.
"He might be a machine, but he is still a man," replied Diana. "Now answer me this man – who gave you the dagger you were wielding?"
Metallo resisted answering at first, but the glowing lasso forced him to blurt out the answer.
"Lex Luthor," he said bitterly. "He gave it to me."
"And where did he get it?" Diana demanded
"I don't know. He just told me it had the power to kill Superman."
It was not the answer Diana hoped for. It raised more disturbing questions than it answered. Only the gods could have possibly put the Dagger of Deimos in the hands of a mortal. If the gods were involved somehow, they made sure to cover their tracks. She expected as such, leaving her with little else to go on.
However, Lois Lane had plenty of questions as well. Magic aside, this might be the only opportunity she would get to uncover her story.
"Okay, I'm impressed and extremely jealous," said Lois. "Mind if I dig a little deeper?"
"By all means," said Diana, tightening the lasso a bit.
"First off, say for the cameras that you are Sergeant John Corben – as in the same John Corben who's supposed to be dead," said Lois.
"I am…Sergeant John Corben…United States Army Special Forces," he answered. "I served for seven years…until I was dishonorably discharged for conducting an illegal operation in South America that…killed 431 civilians."
"Thanks for confirming what that joke of a military court decided to throw out. Now answer me this – do you work for Lex Luthor?"
"Yes. I do," said Metallo, hating every moment of this.
"And as his loyal soldier turned fancy toy, was he responsible for the incident in Syria a year ago involving your oversized predecessor?"
This could be the break that finally took down Lex Luthor. A confession from the man who had been in the driver's seat of that conflict, who was also supposed to be dead, would do more than just discredit Lexcorp. It would reverberate with all his allies and supporters. And this time, his lawyers and charisma couldn't protect them.
Metallo understood the ramifications as well and had been ordered not to divulge such information under any circumstances. He tried resisting again, but the glowing lasso would not allow him to remain silent. He had no other recourse than to tell the truth.
"I…" he began.
But his ability to talk unexpectedly ceased. He opened his mouth, but no words came out. Metallo tried again, but his systems wouldn't allow him. Then, he felt all his systems freeze and saw an ominous message flash before his eyes.
"Emergency Protocols Alpha activated. Self-destruct sequence initiated."
As this sequence was initiated, every one of Metallo's functions froze and Sergeant John Corben was effectively shut down. Once offline, every exposed wire began sparking erratically, giving off intense energy outbursts. His green glowing eyes flashed with greater intensity and the kryptonite fragment became unstable.
"Is that the magic again?" asked Lois anxiously as she watched the process unfold.
"No. It is not," dreaded Diana.
Then, as if following one last program, Metallo turned towards Superman, who had kept his distance due to the kryptonite. And in one last desperate attack, he fired a concentrated beam of kryptonite energy before going completely offline.
"Superman must die!" he exclaimed in a pre-recorded death cry.
"Ahhhhhhh!" exclaimed Superman as the beam struck him point blank.
"No!" cried Lois.
In an instant, the concentrated kryptonite energy surged through his system. It felt like a double dose of poison being dumped into his veins, rendering him so weak and sickly that he fell to his knees and keeled over. His skin also became discolored, turning a shade of light green. He would have fallen face-first into the mud had Diana not been there to catch him.
"Superman!" she gasped. "What's happening to him?"
"Kryptonite poisoning," said Lois angrily as she scolded Metallo's now unmoving form. "I've seen it before. It's not something he can just walk off. Luthor probably knew that and programmed it as a failsafe."
"So how do we help him?!" said Diana desperately.
Both women panicked as they watched Superman get sicker by the second. Lex Luthor really had gone to every possible length to make sure he won. Now they didn't even have anything or anyone to fight against.
But Superman didn't stop struggling, even as he struggled to remain conscious. As Diana cradled his head in her arms, he reached for her hand and grasped it. He still had a touch of strength left. Lex Luthor could not be allowed to win.
"The sun. Get me…above the clouds," he said to her.
"You heard the man. Fly him up outta here!" barked Lois, still hovering over Metallo.
"Hang on, Kal-El. I will save you," said Diana strongly.
"Wouldn't be the first time," said Superman under his breath.
Diana swiftly retrieved her lasso and hitched Superman's arm around her neck, taking great care not to add to his discomfort. She saw in his eyes the same gaze that she had seen six years ago. Ironically, fate once again required that she save him in the face of dire circumstances. And this time, she had even more reasons to save this man.
Once he was secure, Diana ascended into the rainy skies. Before she got too far, she turned back towards Lois.
"Thank you for aiding me in this battle, sister. I promise I'll save him!" said Diana.
"Be sure that you do," said Lois, "And you can thank me by coming back and granting me an interview. I have a feeling you just became the second biggest part of this story."
Lois wasn't sure that she heard that last part. She had a feeling that this mystery woman wouldn't be coming back to answer her burning questions. A woman running around in what amounted to a one-piece swimsuit, a tiara, and boots wasn't just news. It was a spectacle. Even though there were super-powered women who ran around in much less, none of them demonstrated strength on par with Superman and had the skill to go along with it. She had a feeling this wouldn't be the last anyone saw of that woman and she would definitely become news in her own right.
"She's not coming back," sighed Lois. "I don't know who you are or why you think I'm your sister, but you ruined Lex Luthor's elaborate plan. That makes you okay in my book."
Since she wouldn't be getting any additional information on this mystery woman, Lois turned her attention back to the story that got her involved in this mess. She looked down at the unmoving Metallo. His eyes had stopped glowing and many of his exposed components were still sparking erratically under the pouring rain. He clearly had insight into Lex Luthor's operations, but now he wasn't in any condition to reveal the details she needed to bury that man once and for all. In a fit of frustration, she kicked his lifeless metal head.
"Next time, I'll run you over head-first," she said bitterly.
As Lois fumed over the story had been ripped from her grasp, she heard the distinct sound of helicopter blades in the distance. Being the daughter of a General who grew up on an army base, she recognized this sound as not belonging to any military hardware. She looked back towards the area south of the dam and saw a small news helicopter descend through the dreary weather and land in a clearing near the riverbed.
At first, Lois was suspicious. For all she knew, these were Lex Luthor's people coming to detain her. But when she saw the familiar figure of Jonathan Carroll exit the passenger's side, she abandoned her usual reluctance and ran to him as fast as her legs would carry her.
"Jonathan!" exclaimed Lois. "My God, you've never looked more beautiful with your shirt on."
As soon as she reached him, she threw her arms around him and crashed her lips against his in a way that almost knocked Jonathan off his feet. But he didn't hesitate to embrace her, even in the pouring rain.
"Lois…you're okay, personality and all," said Jonathan.
"Glad to see you took a break from unpacking," she said curtly. "How the hell did you manage to get out here before the cavalry?"
"The traffic guy owes me a few favors. As soon as I saw that crazy robot holding a knife to your neck, I cashed it in. I even brought my tool kit so I can rip that thing apart bolt-by-bolt."
"You're sweet, but I'm afraid Luthor beat you to it," said Lois. "He's just a glorified manikin now, but I at least got him to confess to the Syria debacle before someone shut him down."
Jonathan's demeanor shifted. He had a look in his eyes that Lois recognized in everybody she knew in that it hinted at some very discouraging news.
"Yeah, about that…" he began.
"Don't tell me. For once, be like all my other boyfriends and lie to me," groaned Lois.
"Sorry, but I can't do that for a woman I just moved in with. Luthor must have sensed the battle turning against him so he cut the feed," said Jonathan. "Shortly after that woman in the tiara threw him into the dam, everything turned to static. It damn near crashed every social media site on the planet."
"So that means Metallo's big confession might as well have never happened," she said bitterly. "Just when I thought I couldn't hate Luthor any worse, he has to be so goddamn cunning again!"
"Hold on, Lois. Before you get into another one of your Luthor-hating moods, there's one other tidbit I need to tell you."
"I'm not sure I can stomach any more bad news after a day like this," groaned Lois.
"Actually, I think you'll appreciate this. I said Luthor cut the feed. I didn't say there was no footage of everything that happened afterwards."
"What do you mean?" she asked intently.
Jonathan flashed her that proud grin that he knew drove Lois so crazy. He briefly turned back towards the helicopter and signaled the pilot, who gave him a thumbs-up and a nod to confirm what he needed. So much of this story had gone horribly wrong, but that didn't mean it had to be a total loss.
"Remember that new high-definition news camera I bought? The one you said I paid way too much for?" said Jonathan.
"Seriously Jonathan, if you don't skip the part where you act like a smart ass, you'll never see me naked again," threatened Lois.
"I'll assume you remember because we flew in low to get some extras that Luthor probably doesn't want in the theatrical cut. I even tweaked the sound system on the chopper to get some audio. It'll take a little creative editing, but I think we can salvage Terminator-light here's statement."
Lois stood in a rare state of shock as she processed the implications. She looked back towards Metallo. Then she looked back at Jonathan, who kept grinning as though he knew exactly what was going through her mind. It didn't take long to make all the right connections. Lex Luthor probably took plenty of precautions to ensure Metallo didn't say anything incriminating, but he couldn't have accounted for her having such a resourceful lover. Despite the pouring rain, Lois skipped the part where she called Perry and kissed her boyfriend again. This time, she made sure it contained more than just gratitude.
"God damn it, Jonathan Carroll. Only you could make a day like this feel so worth it," said Lois, her arms still wrapped securely around his neck.
"You're welcome," he said curtly.
"Please tell me you brought that wine with you."
"I kept it on ice. I even brought those new glasses you gave me. But what about Superman?"
"I wouldn't worry about him," said Lois, ready to start celebrating. "From what I saw, he's in good hands."
Above The Clouds
'Fate keeps finding new ways to strain my heart. My path crossed with this man when he was in peril. In doing so, he evoked in me so many strange thoughts and feelings. Now here I am, again aiding him in his time of need. What sort of feelings will I have this time? How much more strain will my heart endure before my fate with this man is revealed?'
Diana ascended through the thick clouds and sharp winds as quickly as the power of the gods would allow her. She never doubted for a second that she would be unable to save Kal-El. He was too strong and she was too determined. Fate would simply not allow this to be the end. It could only be the beginning of something much more profound.
As soon as she broke through the top of the thick clouds, she felt the hot rays of the afternoon sun. It was warm and refreshing in wake of the dreary conditions on the ground. Diana made sure that Superman was facing it directly, ensuring he could absorb as much of its nourishing light as possible. He was still weak and sickly. He remained incoherent and his skin was green. But as soon as he faced the sun, his breathing steadied and his condition stopped deteriorating.
"Hnn…Diana," he said in a dazed tone.
"I'm here, Kal. I'm not going to leave you this time. I'm going to make sure you're okay," said Diana.
She wasn't sure if he heard him, but it was something she needed to hear herself say. She hadn't forgotten the circumstances under which they parted ways. They never got a chance to talk and reflect on what they experienced together during those fateful days on the shores of Themyscira. There were so many things left unsaid and so many feelings left unfelt. She wasn't sure how these last six years had affected Kal, but she needed to let him know just how much the experiences they shared affected her.
"Just relax, breathe, and listen to my voice," she said to him in a soothing tone. "A lot has happened since the day you left. There are so many stories I have to tell you. After meeting you, my life was never the same. You opened my eyes to a much bigger world. You made me feel things things I never once dared. Because of you, my life became so much more complicated. At the same time, it became so much more meaningful."
Superman remained in daze. He had entered a meditative state of sorts, allowing him to absorb more sunlight and heal accordingly. Diana already noticed the color returning to his skin. She also felt his strength returning, but she didn't let go of him. Just feeling him in her arms reminded her of all the ways her life had changed because of this man.
"You've grown since the last time we met. That youthful spirit has given way to a powerful, mature man," said Diana with deep affection. "I know of your exploits. You've gone from a warrior of opportunity to a warrior of vision. You've become everything a good man could strive to be and you inspire others to become even more. But I can say without a shred of doubt that you inspired me the most, Kal-El. You encouraged me to achieve such amazing wonders."
Diana kept watching and smiling as the sickly green faded completely from Superman's complexion. His skin now felt as warm and lively as he had the day she last embraced him. His eyes remained closed and he continued his deep breaths, maintaining his meditative state. Diana couldn't even tell if he had heard what she said, but that didn't matter. Just saying it out loud felt so refreshing.
As she held him under the light of the sun, more of those old feelings she felt as a teenager came rushing back. On Themyscira, she had to suppress these feelings. She either didn't understand them or thought they were unbefitting of an Amazon. But she was not an immature teenager anymore. She was a grown woman and she was not on Themyscira anymore. So rather than suppress, she let these feelings guide her. This led her face to drift closer to his. But just before their lips touched, Superman's eyes opened.
"It's great to see you again, Diana. You've grown too," he said.
Startled from her daze, Diana pulled back. In doing so, she released her grip on him. He could now hover on his own, the sun having healed him fully from the kryptonite. He could also finally take in the sight of seeing Diana again after wondering if she would only ever exist in his memories.
"Um…I'm sorry. I didn't mean to get ahead of myself," said Diana with a sheepish grin.
"Don't be sorry," he said. "You saved me…again. I'm not used to that, but I don't mind it in the slightest."
Superman hovered closer so he could caress her face and feel her warm flesh. She welcomed his touch again, placing her hands on his arms to feel his warmth as well. She felt just as warm and welcoming as he remembered. All the strain from the Metallo fight faded in wake of this moment. It was a moment that had been six years in the making, yet it still wasn't enough time to prepare him for this.
"I uh…love your new uniform," said Superman, blurting out the first thing that came to mind.
"Really Kal? Six years and that's the first thing you notice?" teased Diana.
"Well I um…" he stammered.
"It's okay. There are far less appropriate comments you could've made," she said with a friendly smile. "I like your new uniform too. It's much more refined than the jeans. It shows how you've grown into a handsome man while preserving that boyish charm."
"Wish I could tap some of that charm right now. Because honestly, I'm at a bit of a loss here."
"That makes two of us," said Diana, hiding her own awkward disposition.
"The day I left, I had no idea what would happen to you. I didn't think I would ever see you again. There were times I worried that…"
His words trailed off, not wanting to describe all the horrible possibilities he once contemplated. He just kept caressing her warm skin, assuring himself that she was here now and still as stunning as ever.
"I actually tried looking for Themyscira, if only to make sure you were okay," Superman continued, "I scanned every square mile of the Mediterranean, but I couldn't find it."
"I'm not surprised. Shortly after you left, my mother had our mystics strengthen the magical cloak that shrouds Themyscira," said Diana. "She became much more protective and my sisters much less trusting."
"How bad did it get? Were you…hurt?" he asked, choosing his words carefully.
"I was punished for helping you, but rest assured I was not harmed and I have no regrets. If faced with the same decision, I would do it again gladly and endure far worse. That's how much you affected me, Kal. And it's because of you that I became a better warrior than I ever could have dreamed."
Hearing this made him smile in ways that negated any lingering awkwardness. Diana still had the tone and poise of the compassionate, head-strong girl he remembered so fondly. But now she was a woman and he had a major influence on the woman she became. He affected her just as she affected him. Even after six years, those effects were still sinking in.
For a moment, they just hovered together in the warm rays of the sun, allowing time for all these dormant feelings to come rushing back to them. It felt so unexpected yet so right. It was only recently that they began contemplating those feelings again. Now here they were, drawn together once more by a twisted combination of fate and circumstances.
"It sounds like you've been through a lot," said Superman.
"Speak for yourself, Superman," said Diana as she fondly trailed her hand over the big red S on his chest. "You've become quite an icon – a god in the eyes of some and a hero in the eyes of many."
"A lot of that started after I met you. I've made a lot of tough decisions, met a lot of amazing people, and been through plenty of battles."
"As have I," she said. "It would seem we've done a lot with ourselves over the past six years."
"And I don't want to wait another six years to tell you all about it. I don't know what your situation is now with your family, but I'd like to catch up before something else tears us apart."
"Kal, I didn't fly across the world and battle some mechanical monstrosity just to leave you again," said Diana. "There's no one to hide from, no secrets to keep, and nothing to tear us apart. I promise."
"Then come with me," said Superman, taking her hand and flying with her through the afternoon sky. "I trust Lois to handle the situation down below. There are a lot of things I want to show you. And at some point, we'll also have to discuss what you just showed the world."
Lexcorp Corporate Headquarters – Executive Suite
No matter how brilliant a plan may be, it was still always be subject to a certain level of chaos. Many of Lex Luthor's achievements were due to his ability to navigate that chaos in ways no lesser mind ever could. He thought he had succeeded with Metallo. He took every precaution, factored in every variable, and accounted for every possible anomaly. But in the end, it had been ruined. Worst of all, it had been ruined by something he never could have accounted for.
"God damn it!" cursed Luthor as he threw what was supposed to be a victory bottle of champagne at his TV. "Everything was going perfectly. Superman was defeated. Then some bitch with a lasso shows up and ruins it?"
"It's worse than that, Luthor…much worse," dreaded Ares, who could only share so much of Luthor's outburst. "I had feared this might happen. I suspected the Dagger of Deimos might draw unwanted attention."
"You mean you knew? And you didn't think to tell me?" yelled Luthor.
"I had no idea it would draw her attention."
"So you know her."
"She's supposed to be in exile. She's supposed to be shamed and uninvolved in Olympian affairs. This changes things significantly," said Ares with a rare touch of nervousness in his tone. "One missing relic from Olympus' arsenal isn't usually enough to draw Zeus' ire. But this along with the presence of Diana is more than enough to…"
The God of War unexpectedly froze in mid-sentence. His whole body went stiff like a statue, becoming paralyzed where he stood. Then, a bright blue shroud of energy surrounded him, causing the lights throughout the office to flicker and any nearby electronics to spark. Luthor, still in a rage, took a step back and looked around in confusion.
"What the hell is going on?" Luthor demanded.
"My father…he knows," he said, barely able to get the words out.
"By your father, I take it you mean a god more powerful than you?"
Ares expected little sympathy from Lex Luthor, but he also understood that his situation was dire. With his father now enraged, he could expect even less sympathy. But that didn't mean his war had to end. It just meant he would have to fight a different kind of battle.
"Luthor…my temple…armor…find it…must release," he stammered, but that was all he could manage.
The God of War disappeared in a burst of sparks, knocking out a few desk lights in the process. Luthor had to shield his eyes, but he had heard what Ares said. He had a feeling this so-called god had other resources he hoped to tap. If his father was the vindictive type, then he couldn't expect to tap them on his own. That meant they were up for grabs and after what had just transpired in front of a global audience, he might need them.
"You gods are so useless," scoffed Luthor. "You demand our prayers, but expect us to do all the work."
Lex Luthor now had even fewer reasons to trust Ares than before, but he saw an opportunity that he couldn't afford to squander. Despite his frustration, he formulated another plan. This time, he couldn't just focus on Superman. He had other pseudo-gods running around, looking to disrupt his plans. He had to think bigger and strike harder. Ares probably expected him to only do so much, but now he had more than just his ego at stake. These gods thought he was just another mortal they could manipulate. He was about to prove them wrong.
Knowing that the clock was now ticking, Luthor took out his cell phone and made a call he hoped wouldn't be necessary. Carrying out any new plan at this point would prove difficult, but he always made sure he had a contingency in place. As soon as he got an answer, he put this plan into action.
"What's the story, Mr. Luthor? How bad is it?" answered a female voice on the other end.
"Not as bad as it could be, Mercy. Did you ensure that Metallo's emergency shut-down was complete?" asked Luthor.
"Affirmative. His systems are purged. There's no way the authorities will glean anything from his memory banks. I managed to stop the broadcast as well, but I think Lois Lane still might have something."
"I'm going to assume it's incriminating. The FBI and Interpol will probably be at my front door by morning so we'll need to act fast. Tell me, did you retrieve the dagger?"
"I had to wade through some mud and ruin some perfectly good heels, but I got it. Not sure why, but the thing started glowing a few moments ago and hasn't stopped. Should I be worried?"
"Not in the slightest," said Luthor with greater intrigue. "Make sure the dagger is secure and meet me at my private airfield. We're going on an extended trip and that dagger is our ticket to making it a success."
"I'll be there," Mercy responded. "What kind of trip are we talking about here?"
"The kind that will require time and tact, something I'm not at all used to. But the potential payoff this time – well, let's just say it would make the gods themselves envious."
Olympus – The Oblivion Dungeon
"My son – I thought you were done disappointing me like this," said cold, powerful voice.
The God of War wasn't used to being ripped from a battlefield and thrown into a cage like an animal. Unfortunately, he was used to his father's condescending tone whenever he scolded him for doing something he deemed unacceptable by his utterly arbitrary standards. He knew better than most that Zeus' wrath was harsh and swift, but sometimes it was too swift.
One moment, he stood paralyzed in the presence of Lex Luthor. The next, he stood paralyzed in a small, cube-like cell hovering over a vast pit in the depths of Mount Olympus. Ares recognized these surroundings all too well. This was the Oblivion Dungeon, constructed by Daedalus himself in the narrow realm between Olympus and the Underworld. It was typically reserved for the most dangerous of creatures that could neither be tamed nor destroyed. Each cell had the power to contain a god and over the centuries, some gods had even been imprisoned here. Until now, Ares had never been one of them.
As the God of War stood paralyzed within his cell, Zeus hovered close by with folded arms and a harsh scowl. He didn't expect much remorse from his son. Ares rarely apologized for anything he did. While this latest act was probably not the worst transgression he ever committed, the Father of Olympus could not afford him such patience.
"You came down more swiftly than usual, Father. Were you just looking for someone to take your frustrations out on?" said Ares, still partially paralyzed.
"Don't speak to me as though I'm ignorant of your many crimes," said Zeus. "I warned you, Ares. I warned you more times than I should have. We are not to involve ourselves in the affairs of the mortal world. We needed you here to aid your fellow gods. Your father needed you here to protect the very foundations of Olympus."
"Don't pretend your desires are so noble, father. You needed me to protect your precious throne. You're no longer powerful enough to protect it yourself so you need us – your lowly minions and offspring – to aid you."
"What I need are sons and daughters capable of seeing beyond their own selfish endeavors," retorted Zeus. "You're always conspiring to spark your next war, even as one rages here in your own home."
"It's not my war. You would never let it be my war," said Ares.
"Yet you would undermine it and everyone on Olympus for your own selfish war. I thought I sent a clear enough message when I forbid you from seeking Diana as a pupil. Apparently, I was not clear enough."
"Perhaps you should be less vague next time. I'm not one of the gullible mortals who used to pray to you," said the God of War dryly. "I cannot rely on false oracles or blind faith."
"Be careful with your insolence, Ares. I'm certainly capable of making your time here less pleasant," said Zeus.
"Then let's skip the part where you try to get me to apologize for taking the Dagger of Deimos out from under your nose and say what you need to say. I know you're only capable of being so just. Quit expecting me to be intimidated by it."
Zeus' gaze narrowed. The cube-shaped cell shrank briefly, making it even more uncomfortable for Ares. The God of War only showed minor discomfort. Given all the torment he had inflicted over the ages, he was hardened to it. Zeus had every reason to cast his son down into the deepest pit of Tartarus where he could never wage war again. Unfortunately, extenuating circumstances forced the Father of Olympus to temper his judgment.
"It's one thing to meddle in the affairs of mortals, Ares. It's quite another to steal dangerous weapons from your own kin," said Zeus, now speaking with more authority. "Mixing the two is a crime that cannot be overlooked, even in these chaotic times."
"I only took what was rightfully mine in the first place. How is that stealing?" said Ares casually.
"The dagger was forged for you ages ago to win the war against the Titans. That age has long since passed and that is why I decreed time and again that these weapons were to never be used again. Yet you dared to use it against a mortal."
"He's hardly a mortal. You've seen him, father. His power is nothing to scoff at," Ares pointed out.
"All the more reason not to tamper with him," said Zeus strongly. "I can surmise any number of devious ways you would use the power of that dagger against the mortal they call Superman. I'm confident in assuming that few of those ways would have served Olympus."
"I guess we'll never know now, will we?" quipped the God of War.
"Which is why you are to remain here until I say otherwise," said the Father of Olympus. "Consider yourself lucky, Ares. I cannot afford to cast away a fellow god at a time when the growing chaos is becoming more difficult to contain. As much as I detest the notion, I must keep you here in case Olympus is in dire straits."
"I want to say I'm touched, but I know you'll find a way to belittle me."
"You've already caused us too many distractions. It was bad enough you stole the Dagger of Deimos. But to give it to a mortal and allow them to lose it will only strain the few resources we can afford to spare. Keep that in mind if and when that chaos consumes Olympus. That burden will be on your shoulders. If you have any sense of honor, you'll find a way to make up for it. Pray for our sake and yours that it doesn't come to that. You'll have plenty of time to do so."
Zeus disappeared in a flash of sparks, leaving Ares in his cell as it drifted through the void of the vast dungeon. There was nothing but darkness above and the faint fiery glow of the underworld below. There were no wars for him to wage here. It might have been the worst possible punishment the God of War could face. However, the moment Zeus left, Ares grinned mischievously.
Whether he intended to or not, his father revealed that his prayers had already been answered. Every warrior, soldier, and general throughout history understood that battles were going to be lost and wars were going to turn against them. Nobody, god or mortal, ever succeeded in war without planning for the possibility that a battle could be lost. Ares had taken precautions, as he always did whenever his battles flew in the face of his father's wishes, and Zeus had just confirmed that the next battle had begun.
"You lost the Dagger of Deimos," said the God of War, shaking his head in bemusement. "Oh father, I expected more from you."
Ares sat down in his cell and laughed. His father had no idea what was unfolding right under his nose. He was too obsessed with protecting his precious throne to realize it. He thought the chaos in Tartarus was bad. Clearly, he had never worked with the likes of Lex Luthor. Neither Zeus nor any other god on Olympus had any idea that a much bigger war was about to begin. The sad part was that it could have been easily avoided if his father had just listened to him.
'I guess this will be easier than I thought. A pity – I was hoping for a challenge. Lex Luthor has the dagger, the ego to wield it fully, and the incentive to abuse its power. He's essentially fighting all the minor battles for me, allowing me to prepare myself for the coming war. And this time, I'm going to make sure that Diana is the first casualty.'
The Daily Planet – Later That Evening
The moment the battle between Metallo and Superman ended, everyone in the Daily Planet knew they would be working overtime. It happened every time there was a Superman-related story. Perry White made it clear to everyone that they had to be the first ones to break every newsworthy moment involving Superman. It often led to late nights and plenty of frustration, but some had grown used to it.
However, this was no ordinary Superman story, which in and of itself was saying something. This wasn't another instance of Superman defeating some killer robot or malevolent alien. This wasn't even another instance of a scandal involving Lexcorp. The big story here was the woman who aided Superman. She had taken over the story, much to the dismay of others.
"What do you mean Lex Luthor isn't the main story anymore?" exclaimed Lois, pounding her fists upon the conference table with Perry and the rest of the editorial staff.
"Don't make me repeat myself, Lois. You heard what I said," said Perry, already on his third cigar.
"I heard it. I just can't believe you, of all people, have been reduced to following Twitter trends. We have actual evidence that ties Lex Luthor to the Syria incident a year ago and you want to stick that on page eight with Cat's column on faulty breast implants?"
"Hey! I'm sitting right here, you know?" said Cat Grant, who was as restless as everyone else.
"I'm not saying this isn't big," said Perry, trying his best to keep a level tone. "You got what we needed, Lane. You and your boyfriend are going to make Lex Luthor's life miserable and you should be proud of that. But that's not the first story people want to know about. They want to know about this woman in the swimsuit with the lasso."
"So this is what the Planet has been reduced to? Favoring stories that have more T&A over actual news?" said Lois.
"You gotta give the people what they want and they want to know about this woman," said Jimmy Olson, who had his laptop opened so he could monitor web traffic. "They're calling her everything from Warrior Gal to Mighty Woman. She's already got her own fan page on Facebook."
"And it's only a matter of time before she has her own porn parodies," said Cat.
"I'm all for powerful women inspiring feminists and titillating the male demographic, but that doesn't mean she should be the top headline," said Lois defiantly. "Besides, it's not like there aren't female superheroes out there. What about that woman with the bird wings?"
"Except no female superhero has gone toe-to-toe with killer robot and shown Superman-level strength," said Cat.
"And no female superhero ever looked that hot in a tiara," said Jimmy with a goofy grin.
Lois was ready to bang her head against the table. There was no winning this argument. It had gone from a serious news story to a case study in juvenile gossip. Perry was usually good at avoiding this sort of thing, catering to the shallowest possible angle. She had been as shocked as anyone that this woman showed up. She was just as curious about who she was and where she came from. But she had put her life on the line to take down Lex Luthor and now that story was being overshadowed.
Perry put out his cigar and reached for another one. He had known Lois long enough not to argue the merits of news with her. That was an argument that nobody could win. He had also been in the news business long enough to understand when the real story had to take a backseat to something more superficial.
"Let's not make this about the current state of female superheroes," began Perry.
"Or lack thereof," made Jimmy.
"The point is that we have two important news stories here and we're going to print both. Lois, you have the Luthor story. You've got everything you need to make sure that story gets told."
"But that's not going to be the headline, is it?" said Lois bitterly.
"It'll be part of the headline," said Perry in an authoritative tone, "But we need an angle on this woman and we need something the competition doesn't have. I guarantee you that every paper, blog, and news channel is going to have a theory and they're going to pretend their theory actually means something. We need something we haven't pulled out of our asses."
"How exactly are we going to do that? It's not like that woman stuck around for an interview," said Lois.
"Like it or not, you were still the closest one there, Lane. You're the only one who can provide us with any insight. And we're not leaving this room until we have something we can send to the printer."
Everyone in the conference room groaned, knowing that Lois would continue opposing Perry until he ran out of cigars. She was not going to let this go until she got her way. She was just that stubborn. She also didn't have what Perry was looking for. She might have been the only one besides Superman to meet up with this woman, but she didn't get much information from her. If she had, then they would be having an entirely different argument.
The Daily Planet staff settled in for what was sure to be a long evening and knowing Perry, they couldn't expect much in terms of overtime pay. They had so little to go on and Lois wasn't going to stop fuming anytime soon so they started to get comfortable. Then, the door to the conference room burst open and Clark Kent came stumbling in with his usual clumsy demeanor.
"Sorry to barge in, Mr. White. But I've got a story here that can't wait," he said breathlessly.
"Damn it, Kent! Could your timing be any more off?" groaned Perry.
"And where the hell have you been anyways?" asked Lois. "Don't tell me you've spent all day working on fluff pieces to cheer yourself up."
"This is relevant. And it's going to cheer everyone up, I promise," said Clark confidently.
He then placed a draft article in front of Perry and Lois, complete with a picture that immediately caught their attention. It depicted the woman from the battle against Metallo, but it hadn't been taken from a distance or Photoshopped from video footage of the fight. It looked like she actually posed for the picture, taking an iconic stance not unlike Superman's. She had a beautiful smile, a strong poise, and a regal demeanor that was worthy of the front page.
As the staff crowded around to look at the picture, Perry looked over the article. He actually dropped his cigar when he read over the first few lines. He quickly realized that he had something special here. This promised to be the biggest story since Superman's arrival.
"This is an exclusive interview," said Perry in amazement. "You actually found this woman and got her to talk with you?"
"Yes. We had a very nice discussion," said Clark proudly.
"Clark…dude, tell me you took more pictures. I must see more of this woman," said Jimmy as he ogled the picture.
"You and every other guy in Metropolis," said Cat, who swiped it from him before he could run off with it.
"Wait…you got an exclusive? How the hell did you manage that?" exclaimed Lois.
"Actually, you deserve partial credit for this, Lois. You pointed me in the right direction without knowing it," said Clark.
"What do you mean?"
"Remember that fluff piece you gave me about that warrior woman from the Red Cross?"
Lois had almost forgotten. She gave Clark that piece because she thought he needed something to keep him busy. She suspected that story involved someone with superhuman abilities, but for it to be the same person who showed up today was just too crazy, even by Metropolis standards.
"Don't say it. There's no way you could possibly get that lucky," said Lois, shaking her head in disbelief.
"Luck had nothing to do with it…until a few hours ago, that is. It turns out there were some pretty astounding connections," he said, being as subtle with his words as possible. "This woman has been traveling all over the world, being her own warrior on a lot of small battlefields."
"So what changed? Why now?" asked Perry as he read over more of the article.
Clark couldn't stop himself from smiling. He already knew more intimate details to this story than would ever be revealed in the article. Diana hadn't just returned to his life. She had entered his world. And in a world that once felt so lonely, she promised to make it wonderful in so many ways.
"That's a question she's not yet ready to answer," he said, "But she did answer one important question that's sure to get her story rolling. She's ready to step onto a much bigger battlefield and she even has a name…Wonder Woman."
Up next: Personal Angles