Strangers In Paradise
Chapter 13: Crown of Thorns
Metropolis – Clark's Apartment
It used to be that when Diana visited the United States during her travels for the Red Cross, she stayed in a hotel or got a short-term lease on an apartment. After being with Clark for just a few months, she just stayed at his place. It made sense from a purely pragmatic perspective. They were able to spend more time together, she didn't have to go through the hassle of staying in a hotel or apartment, and she had another place from which Wonder Woman could operate. It also gave her a chance to learn the intricacies of living with a man.
The learning curve had been steep to say the least. The mere act of sharing a bathroom had been subject to trial and error. She and Kal had their share of frustrations and missteps, but they were always quick to learn from them. Among the most important lessons she learned was that it was the difficulty of sharing her thoughts and feelings with a romantic partner.
It was something Diana took for granted on Themyscira. It was also something she noticed about people of the opposite sex in general. Sharing something with a woman was easier in many ways. It involved feelings and emotions that were more familiar. With men, there were more subtleties. There was this wall of innate differences between genders they just couldn't overcome. Adding romantic feelings to the mix only made it more complicated. At the same time, it added more incentive to make those connections work in a way that strengthened those feelings.
'Hera, give me strength. No amount of training could prepare me for this. How do I convince Kal to take this step? Maybe a better question would be how do I convince him in a way that won't seem absurd?'
Diana had been obsessing over these questions since her chat with Lois. Shortly after finishing some tasks for the Red Cross, she bought herself a bottle of wine and returned to Clark's apartment. He left her a voicemail saying he had to travel to some research lab for a story and would be home late. That was fine with her because it gave her time to think.
For the past hour, she had been sitting out on the balcony, drinking wine and watching the sun set over Metropolis. Diana accepted from the moment her exile began that she would have to confront her mother again at some point, but Lois convinced her that it didn't have to devolve into another bitter argument. She was willing to give her mother a chance. Diana believed her mother would see the error of her ways if she opened her heart up to this world. The challenge was getting Clark to share that belief.
'He remembers as well as I do how hostile the Amazons were to him years ago. I'm sure he especially remembers how hostile my mother was. I know he would do anything for me, but I can't do this unless he believes my mother will give him a chance. If we can get her to see beyond her innate mistrust of mankind, then surely others will follow. It feels like one of those things we have to do together, even if neither of us feels ready for it.'
As she contemplated how she would even discuss this challenge, she felt a familiar breeze blow past her. Had she blinked at the wrong moment, she would have missed the distinct bluish blur that flew past her. It still didn't stop her from smiling or even from finishing her glass of wine as she felt her lover's warm gaze upon her.
"Hey. Sorry I'm late," said Clark as he landed behind her.
"Are you ever going to stop apologizing for being late? Even after all the times I've said that being Clark Kent and Superman is a perfectly valid excuse?" said Diana.
"When you're as fast as I am, you have no excuses – especially for my girlfriend."
This man just kept finding new ways to make her love him. No matter how good a reason he had for not being on time, he never used it to justify making her wait. It said a lot about the kind of man he was. It also made bringing up this issue about her mother even more difficult.
However, Clark skipped the part where he made up for his tardiness this time. He carried himself with a sense of urgency and Diana recognized it as the kind of urgency that meant something had gone wrong for both Superman and Clark Kent.
"I know I promised you a romantic evening before you left for London and I'm still going to give you that evening. But something's come up and it really can't wait," said Clark.
"Is it more urgent than a night of snuggling on the couch with a bottle of wine and Netflix?" asked Diana.
"Just barely, I'm afraid," sighed Clark, making it clear which activity he preferred. "I just spent an entire afternoon dealing with a story for Perry. I was hoping this would be one of those stories that I could hammer out and earn some extra overtime, but that wasn't the case."
"When is it ever?" she sighed.
"I'll spare you the details because my ears are still ringing when I told him he needed to print a retraction. That came after I spent an hour at the Fortress feeling like I just took a bath in liquid kryptonite."
"I was going to say you looked a little pale, but I've learned not to assume. It must have been pretty bad."
"It was," he affirmed. "I don't know for sure what I'm dealing with, but it might involve some kind of magic that can really hurt me. And since you know more about magic than me, I think you understand how bad it can get."
And just like that, the conversation she hoped to have about her mother became a secondary concern. Since she began working with Superman as Wonder Woman, she learned that there were some conflicts they were just not equipped to handle on their own. Magic was one of them.
It was one of the only forces besides kryptonite capable of harming him. She remembered all too well the wounds he endured when he attempted to assist Dr. Fate against some creature that escaped from a swamp in Louisiana. After that encounter, he promised to defer to her expertise on all matters pertaining to magic. Having dealt with more than her share on Themyscira, she knew better than most how destructive it could be.
"I suppose the couch and the wine will be here for us later," said Diana as she set her glass aside. "I did have something else I wanted to discuss with you, but it can wait."
"Are you sure?" he asked. "You know I'll always take the time to be Kal when you need him more than Superman."
"I'm sure," she told him, already taking on the demeanor of Wonder Woman. "Tell me more about this magic you experienced. If necessary, I can get Hessia on the phone and she can…"
Suddenly, a strange feeling came over Diana that froze her where she stood. It struck like the aftermath of a dozen battles. Her muscles grew weak, her heart leapt up into her throat, and a sick feeling emerged in the pit of her stomach. She quickly became dizzy and disoriented, so much so that she would've fallen to her knees had a worried Clark not caught her.
"Diana? Diana, what's wrong?" he asked, now holding her protectively in his arms.
"I…I don't know. Something strange just…came over me," she stammered. "It's like an alarm just went off in my head."
"Have you ever felt it before?"
"No, I…don't think so."
She didn't convince herself or Clark, for that matter. The feeling only got worse, even after he helped her back to her feet. She kept clutching her chest. It felt as though her heart was trying to leap out and yell at her that something was terribly wrong. An overwhelming sense of anxiety and dread soon came over her. Being a hardened warrior, it was a feeling she hadn't felt often. However, she had definitely felt it before.
As Diana attempted to steady her heart, she recalled the nightmares she had been having lately. The sight of so much death, the pain of losing so much, and the despair utter defeat filled her with so many overwhelming emotions, but she had never felt them like this before. This felt far worse than a nightmare. Her heart and her spirit were crying out to her and she couldn't figure out why. Then, it finally struck her.
"Aagh!" she exclaimed.
"Diana?" gasped Clark
To his shock and hers, her eyes shot open and started glowing bright yellow. It was as though somebody had shot a lightning bolt down her spine. Along with the discomfort, Diana was bombarded by visions that went beyond even her worst nightmares.
"Mother…Hera…my home," she gasped.
First, she saw her home consumed by flames. Then, she saw her mother bound and imprisoned surrounded by monsters. She then saw all her sisters turn into hideous beasts before her eyes. Guiding all these horrors was a massive figure that stood over her island like a titan. She couldn't make out who he was, but she recognized him as being the same figure from her nightmare. Everything she held dear now lay in ruin and from these ruins, she heard her mother's solemn voice call out to her.
"Diana…help me," she cried.
That voice was enough to jolt her from her overwhelmed state. In an instant, she shook off her lover's grasp and stood ready to do battle with every monster between Olympus and the Underworld.
"I…I must return to Themyscira," said Diana strongly. "Something is terribly wrong with my home!"
"You're home? You mean the home you've been exiled from for over a year?" said Clark anxiously.
"It's just like my nightmares, only worse," she dreaded. "It's my fault. I shouldn't have ignored them. I can't – I won't let my mother and my sisters suffer because of me!"
Having made it clear that she would not be dissuaded, Diana donned her Wonder Woman attire by using the quick-transformation trick she learned from Hessia. Had anyone other than Kal been standing in front of her, she would have already taken to the air and flown towards Themyscira as speeds rivaling Hermes himself. His worried gaze and vivid recollection of her status with Themyscira led him to grasp her arm, if only to keep her from running off before he could give her the strength to come back to him safely.
"Diana wait!" he urged. "You know I'm not going to keep you from helping your family, but this feels like something you shouldn't rush into by yourself."
"I share that feeling and it's probably right," Diana conceded, "And I know you won't like it, but I cannot accept your help. I must go alone."
"You're right. I don't like it. Do you really expect me to just stay back and worry that I'll lose you all over again?"
"You won't lose me. I promise," she told him.
"After what happened the last time you walked into this kind of conflict? Please don't make me a promise like that, Diana. I'm willing to fight every one of my enemies with both hands tied behind my back and without my powers. I'm not willing to feel that powerless when the woman I love is throwing herself into a battle that she might not come back from."
He gave her that desperate look again. It was identical to the one he gave her that fateful day they parted ways the first time. Now it carried with it all the love and dedication he had given her over these past six months, making it impossible for her to turn away from.
This was another difficult lesson she had learned in being with a man. She could no longer think in terms of whether or not she could win a battle. She had to consider the feelings and concerns of another. Unlike her sisters on Themyscira, she and Clark did not always fight the same battles. It constantly tested their hearts and their capacity to trust that they would come back to one another. Not knowing the extent of the horrors that awaited her, she didn't dare put this man through such heartache.
"I want to ask that you trust me, but I know that's too much – even for Superman," said Diana.
"More so for Clark Kent," he added.
"But I still cannot let you come with me – not in this capacity anyways," she continued. "I don't know what I'll encounter, but I'll probably make it worse if I bring a man with me – especially a man who already has a history with Themyscira."
"I don't want to make it worse, but there must be something I can do. Tell me and I'll do it. That's a promise we can make."
As much as she wanted to get to her sisters, Diana embraced her lover lightly and caressed his face with her hands. This was one of those moments where Kal-El, Clark Kent, and Superman became the same person. All the qualities that made him so noble and honorable merged into one amazing man that she loved so dearly. She needed that love and that honor to get her through this and she knew of only one way to do this.
"There is something you can do for me," she told him.
"Name it," said Clark without hesitation.
"Fly to London and meet with Hessia. Tell her that I'm going back to Themyscira. For all I know, she just felt what I felt. Then, ask her to retrieve the lockbox I have stored in safe."
"Does this lockbox contain what I think it does?" he asked.
"That and more," Diana affirmed. "Once you have it, you'll know what to do. But what I need more than anything is your trust. Trust that I'll do what I need to do so I can trust that you'll do the right thing if and when the time comes. Is that another promise you can make me?"
"Of course I can," he said.
She smiled at him and sealed that trust with a kiss. For a love like theirs, trust had to supersede reservation.
"I love you," said Clark the moment their lips parted.
"I love you too, Kal," said Diana.
"Be careful and be strong."
"I will."
They reluctantly broke their embrace and Diana took off at high speeds. This promised to test their love and their spirits in ways they had never experienced. The life she created in man's world and the life she had on Themyscira were now in peril. She refused to let one life suffer for the sake of the other. If these terrible visions were any indication, then this could be a conflict where both would suffer should she fail.
'Hera…if I needed your guidance before, I most certainly need it now. Please – for the sake of my home and all those I love – give me the strength to see this through.'
Mount Olympus – Zeus' Chamber
"YOU LYING, CHEATING, PITIFUL EXCUSE FOR A HUSBAND! YOU CALL YOURSELF A GOD? YOU'RE NOTHING BUT A DIVINE WRETCH!"
The foundations of Olympus trembled in wake of Hippolyta's jealous rage. It was even worse than Zeus had feared. His wife was on a warpath like no other. All the precautions he took and all the safeguards he installed had failed him. Once again, his infidelity had been uncovered and this time the circumstances were far more egregious.
"Lower your voice, Hera. You will not speak to me with such disrespect!" demanded the King of Olympus.
"I'll speak to you in whatever tone I damn well please!" Hera spat.
"This is the worst possible time for another one of your jealous outbursts. You cannot fathom the kind of destruction you'll bring upon Olympus. The chaos you'll create…"
"To hell with your chaos! And to hell with Olympus!" she exclaimed, unwilling to hear more lies.
In a jealous rage, attempted to strike her husband in a way he had forbidden for any god. He caught her arm before she could reach him. She tried to strike him again. He caught that one too. She still attempted to attack him, summoning every ounce of godly power she had. Zeus had to summon his as well to keep her at bay. Before long, an aura of energy surrounded them, creating a volatile clash that caused the entire chamber to shake.
Hera had already destroyed anything breakable within his quarters. As soon as he sensed the revelation about Princess Diana's heritage, Zeus rushed to confront his angry wife. He ordered Hades and Poseidon to convene with the other gods in case their assistance was necessary. He intended to take care of this matter himself, but Hera made that exceedingly difficult. Looking at her gaze, he saw more than just jealous hatred. He also saw genuine sorrow.
His history of infidelity was no secret among gods or mortals, nor was the troubled circumstances of their marriage. Theirs was a marriage of propriety rather than love, a union meant to establish order on Olympus. Due to this lack of love, Zeus had indulged in numerous affairs with gods and mortals alike to exercise his immense lusts. Sometimes he did it for personal gain. Sometimes he did it for tactical gain. Sometimes he just did it because he wanted to. On many occasions, Hera had voiced her displeasure. But because of his authority as King of the Gods, she could do little about it.
This time was different. This time he crossed a line with his infidelity that even he could not evade. Even as Zeus held her back, Hera's jealous rage continued.
"I don't know what's more pathetic – the fact that it took me this long to find out or the fact I actually trusted you to keep your promise this time!" said Hera.
"Do not assume facts without reason. Your jealousy blinds you to the whole truth," said Zeus firmly.
"How many others have there been? How many other sordid affairs did you carry out after you made me that promise?"
"Cease your accusations woman!" he demanded. "Make no mistake. I took my promise seriously. For centuries, I reserved my lusts only for you."
"More lies! More deceit!" spat Hera.
"It's true. After the ordeal with Hercules, it was a promise I could no longer afford to break. I saw what my recklessness had wrought. I saw that I was putting Olympus and everything we had fought for at risk."
"So you cared more about preserving Olympus than doing better by your wife? That's just as bad as deceit!"
"This is bigger than our marriage. Without Olympus, we all perish. Even you must understand that," said Zeus firmly.
"I only understand you jumping at the opportunity to bed another woman. And of all the harlots you could've seduced, you chose the one woman that embodied everything I stand for!"
For a moment, Hera's outrage escalated to a point where even the Father of Olympus struggled to hold her back. There were now tears of anguish in her eyes. There were so many aspects of this affair that disgusted her, but Hippolyta being involved was definitely one of the worst.
Zeus understood better than most the connection Hera had to the Amazons. That connection ran especially deep with Hippolyta, the woman who prayed to her in her darkest hour. By delivering on that prayer, Hera held this woman up as an ideal of feminine strength. She gave her all the blessings of Olympus, creating with her the greatest army the gods could've hoped for. Establishing the Amazons had been among Hera's proudest achievements. It went a long ways towards helping her cope with the jealousy and indignation she endured from her husband's affairs. Now even this had been tainted.
"I don't know why I even bother to ask, but why? Why her!" exclaimed Hera.
"For the very reason you just stated," answered Zeus. "She embodies everything you stand for – a woman of strength, courage, and spirit."
"And somehow that ignites you're loins? You just have to find a way to further my indignation!"
"It had nothing to do with hurting you or the Amazons for that matter. It had everything to do with preserving Olympus. Call it whatever you want. Insult me all you want. It doesn't change the intent or purpose of my actions. In this instance, preserving Olympus meant breaking my promise to you, if only once. For that indignation, I apologize. But as ruler of Olympus, know that I will do whatever I must to protect our world and others."
Hera's outrage faded briefly. Her body continued to glow as she kept pushing back against Zeus. She was still fuming, scorning her husband with centuries worth of rage. A part of her was actually shocked that Zeus attempted to apologize for his indiscretion. In all his previous affairs, he never showed a trace of regret. This affair was different. She believed him when he said that. However, such a weak apology followed by another tired excuse did nothing to quell her jealous rage.
"Enough!" she yelled. "No more excuses. This time, you will face justice for your actions!"
This time, Hera didn't wait for him to make another excuse. The attacked with all her might, pushing back against him as hard as her godly form could. For the first time since the war with the titans, Zeus fell back. He was actually surprised by the sheer force she exacted. Any other god on Olympus would have succumbed, but Zeus was still the King of the Gods.
With a grunt of frustration and a sliver of regret, Zeus pushed back and this time he used more than just his strength. In a display of power fit for the Father of Olympus, his eyes erupted in a bluish glow and a burst of lightning-like energy shot up from under him. Bolts of lightning began swirling around him, creating a powerful field of energy that pushed back against Hera's onslaught. She attempted to fight it, but she could not overcome it.
After a brief struggle, the swirling lightning pushed her back, allowing Zeus released his grip on her arms. The force of the push sent her crashing against a nearby. Hera then fell to one knee, now forced to look up at her powerful husband and the wrath he stood ready to impart.
"Silence, woman!" barked Zeus with the authority of both a king and a husband. "I will not tolerate your hysterical ravings any further. Such chaos will not reign under my watch, especially within my own domicile!"
"So this is how you're going to address this? Flex your power and hide behind your decrees?" scoffed Hera.
"My word is still law here on Olympus and you will respect it," he said forcefully. "Regardless of whatever retribution you seek, you are still my wife. We will not and cannot undermine this order. Is that clear?"
Had Hera been any other woman, mortal or goddess, she would've trembled. In centuries past, she would've accepted this insufferable decree. She knew the kind of wrath Zeus was capable of inflicting. Her being his wife was the only thing sparing her from such wrath. No matter how much she hated him for his indiscretions, she knew she could not oppose or overpower him. He knew it too and expected her to find another outlet for her rage. But this time, she had no intention of abiding by this insufferable order.
As he loomed over her with his domineering presence, a series of deep tremors shook the room. These tremors soon escalated, causing the walls to crack and windows to break. Zeus remained vigilant, clenching his fists defensively as he looked around with his powerful gaze. He eventually picked up on the source of these tremors. When he realized where they were coming from, his anger turned to dread.
"Hera…what did you do?" he demanded.
"What's the matter, dear husband? Has the weight of your loins finally become too much for you?" taunted Hera with a sneer.
Only so many forces could shake the very foundations of Olympus like this and Zeus made sure he controlled nearly all of them. However, one in particular remained only loosely controlled. It also happened to be a force powerful enough to shatter Olympus, the Underworld, and every realm in between. For the first time in centuries, the King of the Gods felt an overwhelming fear once reserved for mortals.
"You foolish bitch! Do you have any idea what you've done?" exclaimed Zeus.
"Make no mistake, dear husband. I know exactly what I'm doing," said Hera. "I might not be powerful enough to exact the justice I seek, but I can see to it that you regret your many misdeeds. If that means undermining the very foundations of Olympus…so be it."
The Oblivion Dungeon – Earlier
Ares didn't smile often. In fact, nobody had ever smiled in the Oblivion Dungeon. Zeus and Hades worked together to make sure its prisoners had few reasons to feel joy, comfort, or anything that might give them hope. But no matter how ambitious their efforts, even their power had limits. That made this moment for Ares all the more satisfying.
"Dear mother, you must be utterly incensed to do come to me like this," said Ares in bemusement. "I don't know if I should be proud or nervous."
"Don't patronize me, Ares. I've had quite enough of that," said Hera, her every word dripping with hatred.
"That would be an understatement for the ages," he said under his breath.
"You can also stop pretending to be so damn surprised," she spat. "I know this is the highest level of foolishness. I also know my unrelenting anger is clouding my judgment. But I honestly don't give a damn anymore. I cannot…I will not digest this latest indignation. Zeus' arrogance has reigned supreme long enough. It's time to end it!"
Ares' smile widened. This had turned out better than he ever could've hoped. He knew at some point the secret of Diana's heritage would be exposed. Apollo made sure of it and was probably enjoying this almost as much as him. Zeus might have made certain that none of the gods could ever reveal this information to Hera or anyone for that matter. But when an Amazon just happened to uncover it while searching for something unrelated, then it just became an incredibly inconvenient outrageous coincidence.
This was what led Hera into the Oblivion Dungeon. One moment he was floating in his cell within an endless abyss. The next he felt himself pulled towards a presence. It would've startled him had he not been anticipating it. He felt the sudden instability in the balance of forces between Olympus and the Underworld. It was now set to get much worse.
The God of War could already picture the look on his father's face. He was probably so outraged and paranoid that he couldn't possibly make the connections linking him and Apollo to this revelation. He could already see in Hera's outrage that she couldn't make those connections either. Zeus only cared about preventing further chaos and Hera only cared about making her husband suffer for his latest dalliance. It all promised to serve his plan perfectly.
"I know you're always planning your next war, Ares. For all I know, this is something you've actually planned for on numerous occasions," Hera went on.
"Let me guess – you don't give a damn about that either," surmised Ares.
"I wouldn't have defied Zeus and broken the elaborate seals he placed on this prison if I did. As I see it, you're the only other god on Olympus who has as much reason to despise Zeus as I do."
"Which is saying quite a lot, mind you," he added.
"You're also the only god capable of waging the kind of war that will make Zeus finally suffer for his crimes. In centuries past, I could only unleash my wrath on whoever or whatever mortal scum Zeus managed to seduce. I've already made exacted my wrath on Hippolyta. But to make only her pay for the sins of my husband – I cannot accept that this time."
"I don't blame you. Zeus really went for the jugular this time, seducing the woman who you made your greatest champion."
"Don't pretend to have sympathy. You're incredibly bad at it," scoffed Hera. "Don't pretend you didn't know about it either. I'm sure Zeus decreed that you and everyone on Olympus was not to so much as whisper it. I would feel outrage for my own children keeping such a secret, but I intend to focus all my rage on those most deserving!"
This was exactly what Ares had hoped to hear. Hera might have been prone to emotional outbursts, but she was no fool. She had to have known that other gods had been keeping this from her. She also had to know on some levels that one of them probably had a hand in exposing this secret. But she just didn't care. She was so upset and outraged that she couldn't give more than a passing thought to such possibilities. That promised to be quite useful.
"You and I both know that we can't possibly wage war against Zeus on our own. He's still too powerful and too many other gods respect his authority," Hera continued.
"That in and of itself is quite unsettling," commented Ares.
"We also both know that there has been unusual activity within Tartarus lately. I've spent these past few months looking into it, if only to give myself something better to do than loath my husband. In that time, I've figured out – and you might already know this – that someone has been tampering with the Tomb of Erebus."
"You don't say?" said Ares, pretending to be surprised. "That would be even more unsettling."
"Since I'm too enraged to speculate, I'll just assume you know a thing or two about it. I'll also assume that Persephone knows more than she claimed when I asked her about it."
"She would certainly have incentive to frustrate the gods."
"As do you," Hera pointed out, "Which brings me to why I came here first instead of seeking my husband's overdue punishment."
This marked the point of no return for the Queen of the Gods. Once she crossed this line, there would be no going back. None of the gods, including Zeus, would be able to undo the damage inflicted by the actions she sought. A part of Hera urged her to pull back, but she remained too upset. She had accepted her place in Zeus' order for too long. It had to change, no matter what the cost.
Ares listened intently, gazing at her from behind his cell. He could only expect so much strategy from a woman so scorned, but her methods didn't matter. She just had to put him in a position to finally launch his war.
"If Zeus loves his precious order so much, I want to see that he burns with it. And I'm willing to put you – my son, who has also suffered greatly under this order – in a position to make that happen," Hera continued. "I will free you from your cell and lead you out of this accursed prison. After that, I expect you to do as your title suggests. Start a war. Wage it to your heart's content. Rally an army, release Erebus, and raze the Underworld for all I care. Do whatever you wish to destroy Zeus."
"How kind and generous of you, mother. I'd hug you if I didn't suspect the mere scent of a man would further enrage you," said Ares.
"You'd also be mad if you thought I would just let you out and expect you to do as you please," scoffed Hera. "My assistance comes with one non-negotiable condition."
"Name it. I'm not exactly in a position or mood to negotiate anyhow."
Hera paused for a moment as she glared cautiously at her son. Despite her rage towards Zeus, she would not allow herself to blindly trust Ares. She understood better than most that the God of War did not repay favors, even for his mother. Once unleashed, he would follow his own plan and would crush her the moment she became a hindrance. She needed to make sure she had a contingency. That way she could put herself in a position to enjoy her husband's downfall.
"The Amazons – they are to have no part in this war," she said.
"Keep the Amazons from participating in a war?" said Ares, pretending to be surprised once more. "That might be difficult to abide, even if I agreed."
"It's non-negotiable, Ares," Hera reiterated forcefully. "The moment we leave this realm, we will part ways and it's entirely possible our paths will never cross again. You'll go wage your war. And after I have a parting chat with my husband, I'll make my way to Themyscira. With Hippolyta imprisoned, I am now their queen. I intend to take them far from Olympus and from whatever conflict this will bring."
"For what I have planned, you'll have to go pretty far."
"There are a number of realms in which we can seek shelter. I'm sure we can find one that suits us. I just need to see to it that my husband finally faces justice for his many crimes. While I cannot trust you to exact my preferred brand of justice, I do trust that you'll make Zeus suffer. That is the deal you have before you. Take it now or remain here while Olympus crumbles."
It wasn't quite the deal Ares expected. Ideally, Hera would be so upset that she would just bust open his cell, free him, and let him do as he pleased to carry out the rest of his plan. That would be expecting too much from his embittered mother
This condition of hers was not surprising. As much as she despised Hippolyta, she still cherished her Amazons as the feminine ideal. They still prayed to her and would continue to pray to her, especially in the absence of their fallen queen. This still meant that he would have to tweak certain portions of his battle plan, but he expected to do so anyways. It made his decision that much easier.
"Very well. I'd say your offer is more than reasonable," said Ares with a grin. "It's a far better deal than I'd get from a lesser god."
"And you would be wise to not make light of it," added Hera in a menacing tone. "If, at any point, you decide it's not reasonable enough…I'll see to it that you suffer just as much as your father."
"No need to make threats, mother. I might be the God of War, but even I know when to pick my battles."
Hera continued to scorn Ares, studying and scrutinizing him with her simmering rage. That grin on his face didn't sit well for a second. She could already tell he had a battle plan in mind. It might even be a plan that would put her and the Amazons in the crossfire. She was still willing to risk it. At this point, anything that ensured her husband's suffering was worth it.
"Then let's get this over with. The reign of Zeus cannot end fast enough," said Hera.
Having made certain that she got her point across, Hera retrieved a special artifact she had stolen from Hephaestus' chamber. He called it the Oblivion Key, a simple device that could unlock the cells. Only a select few even knew of it and Hera always made sure she was among those select few. By simply holding it up over the cell, the barrier that had imprisoned the God of War disappeared.
"Ah! It feels good to be free again," said Ares as he stretched his limbs feely for the first time in months.
"Enjoy it on your own time," said Hera. "Follow me. There's a back entrance that'll take you to a juncture between the Underworld and Olympus. This way you can meet up with any associates you've been conspiring with."
"I want to be offended, but you know me too well, mother," teased Ares.
"Shut up. I don't want to know any details. I don't want to know any names. I just want all of Olympus trembling under a new wave of chaos."
"That, my dear mother, I can most certainly promise you."
Neither of them said another word as Hera led him out of this vast abyss. The beginning of the end for Zeus and his order had officially begun. Hera had her plan in place. Ares had his. Regardless of how little they trusted one another, they promised to aid one another in changing Olympus forever.
Metropolis – Lois and Jonathan's Condo
"Lois? I hope your there. We need to talk. It's urgent!"
This was the message Clark Kent sent Lois Lane via text message a few minutes ago. He sent another one seconds later saying he was on his way. It was one of only a handful of times when he contacted her late in the evening outside the office. And in every one of those cases, it had been pretty serious.
'He's never one to overreact. Hell, he's got a poker face that would give a hardened mobster a run for his money. What could possibly get him this worked up? Could it have something to do with what Diana and I talked about earlier?'
Lois had been pondering the possibilities since she got the message. She had been cooking a nice romantic meal for her and Jonathan when she got the message. It was supposed to be their first in nearly a month. She intended to take full advantage of it when he got home, which would be in about a half-hour. But this sounded like something she couldn't put off.
As soon as Clark arrived at her building, she buzzed him in and waited by the door. A few minutes later, she heard a frantic knock on her door and she opened to see a Clark in a dark jacket with a packed suitcase in hand. He looked more than a little tense, a clear sign that this had to do with Diana.
"Sorry to drop in you like this, Lois. Jonathan's not here, is he? I should probably apologize to him too while I'm at it," said Clark as he entered, speaking much faster than usual.
"He's not here, but he will be soon," she answered. "He wouldn't accept it anyways because he would be just as worried as I am right now about you showing up out of the blue like this."
"And I would explain myself if I had time, but I've got a flight to catch. Something's come up with Diana and I need to help her. Unfortunately, helping her means flying out to London and meeting with a relative of hers. I know that raises way more questions than it answers, but I need you to trust me when I say…"
Lois held her hand up to silence him before went any further. He was talking with such urgency that he began stammering in ways she had never heard from him. For that reason, she decided to make it easier on both of them.
"Stop right there, Clark. I know what you're about to do," she told him. "You're going to say as much as you can without revealing more than you need. Then, you're going to apologize again for not being able to say enough. So let's just skip that part and I'll just take your word for it."
"Really? My word is enough?" said a pleasantly surprised Clark.
"Are you kidding? For all the times you've trusted me and all the favors I owe you, this doesn't even cover the interest. Plus, it involves Diana. You don't need to explain yourself when it involves your girlfriend."
Clark shifted awkwardly. He came here expecting to endure Lois' usual barrage of concern and suspicion. One of the reasons he didn't liked asking Lois for favors was because he didn't like lying to her more than he already did with him being Superman. And whenever he did make a request, he had to frame it in an ambiguous way that often roused her suspicions. Lois was a very smart woman and usually never hesitated to ask questions that were difficult to answer. This time, she didn't give him the usual scrutiny. Just mentioning Diana's name was enough.
"I uh…appreciate that, Lois. Thank you for being so understanding," he said with an awkward grin.
"Don't let it go to your head, Smallville," she replied with folded arms. "Now what do you need that's going to make you calm the hell down?"
Clark shifted again to regain his composure. He hadn't forgotten why he came here. He also hadn't forgotten that time was still a factor.
"It's nothing too reasonable…I hope," Clark continued. "While I'm gone, I need you to finish tying up the loose ends with the Helion Solar story."
"You mean the same story that had Perry banging his head against the wall this afternoon?" said Lois.
"The very same, I'm afraid. I know it's a tall order, dealing with Perry when he's in his retraction mood. Most of the work is already done, but I need you to make sure it goes through without making him any angrier."
"You're right. That is a tall order, but not one you couldn't have requested with a phone call or an email. There's something else, isn't there?"
Once again, Lois' reporter instincts proved sharp. She knew him and Perry well enough to understand when a task wasn't as simple as it sounded. This was the part of the request that Clark wasn't sure about, but couldn't think of anyone else better to carry it out.
"There is and it has nothing to do with Perry," he went on.
"I want to say I'm relieved, but I have a feeling it'll be short-lived," said Lois.
"This story – I know I told Perry it needed a retraction and it does. Trust me on that. But while I was at Helion Solar, I picked up on something…strange. I can't quite describe it without putting us both in a difficult position, but it's something that someone needs to look into while I'm gone."
"By someone you mean me," she surmised.
"And by you, I also mean someone willing to look beyond the story," he continued. "This is a company that does and says all the right things to avert suspicion. They're like the anti-Lexcorp. They don't pretend to be anything other than what they are."
"Sounds like they've got something to hide and are actually good at it."
"They do. It involves research on this exotic form of energy that they claim is helping them build better solar panels, but I don't believe that. Based on what I saw, this strikes me as the kind of energy that will lead to more Metallos or Living Parasites. It would make sense of their efforts to remain so anonymous. We might not be able to make it into a story right now, but this has all the makings of a major threat and it would do everyone a favor if we got ahead of the curve."
It might not have been a Pulitzer-level story, but it definitely peaked Lois' interest. She was no stranger to big companies tampering with exotic energy. The last time somebody made a breakthrough in that area, Lex Luthor uncovered a way to channel kryptonite into a deadly Superman-killing force. She didn't know if these Helion Solar people were quite as bad, but their secrecy raised way too many red flags.
Clark already knew from the look on her face that Lois intended to dig into this with the unrelenting drive that made her such a great reporter. Right now, helping Diana was his top priority. He had no idea if this issue with Helion Solar was related. He had no reason to suspect as such. If there were indeed connections to anyone or anything that could be a threat, Lois Lane would find out.
"So essentially, you're asking me to leave my press pass at home and investigate this shady – and possibly dangerous – company as if it were the second coming of Lexcorp. Is that right?" asked Lois.
"I'm not sure I would frame it like that, but the fact you say that with a smile on your face makes me reluctant to rephrase it," said Clark.
"Like I said, I owe you way too many favors. Plus, you know how much I enjoy exposing dirty secrets of corrupt institutions. I bet I can even get Jonathan to make a date of it."
"Thank you, Lois. Really…this means a lot to me."
"Quit waste time thanking me. Stop worrying about Helion, exotic energy, and retractions already and focus on helping your girlfriend. She lets you see her naked. She has priority."
Lois rushed Clark out the door, practically shoving him at one point. She didn't give the impression she was joking when she said that Diana should be his top priority. Lois had become pretty supportive of his relationship with Diana since it began, but never this supportive. He was almost tempted to ask what triggered this sudden shift, but chose not to. Lois was right. Diana was his top priority.
Assured that this story with Helion Solar was in good hands, Clark left Lois' condo and shut out any further distractions. In a blur, he changed into his Superman costume and flew out into the cloudy skies with every intention of doing whatever he had to do to aid his lover. He didn't know what this could entail, but if it involved going up against her hostile family and the gods they worshiped, so be it.
Northern Greece – Excavation Site
"Mr. Luthor! Mr. Luthor! Come quick! We've found something!" exclaimed a lone worker in a heavily accented voice.
It was the frantic call that Lex Luthor had been waiting months to hear. After weeks of living in tents, staying in makeshift shacks, and working out of under-equipped labs, he should've been elated. However, this announcement did little to excite him. If anything, he was annoyed that it hadn't happened sooner.
It was almost midnight at the excavation site. After months of digging, they had carved a pretty deep pit within this fairly rough terrain. Maintaining the desired progress required more resources than Lex had calculated. He also had to push these migrant workers much harder, extending their shifts and conducting digging operations around the clock. It took a toll on them, but they did as they were told. Over the course of these past six months, they learned on multiple occasions that it was in their best interests not to disappoint him.
Lex finally arose from his work bench, the Dagger of Deimos still at his side as he greeted the breathless worker. He had been working on a series of mathematical and physics calculations in his notebook for the past several hours. He refused to share this man's excitement until he confirmed that this was exactly what he had been searching for.
"Catch your breath later. Tell me what you found so I can decide how satisfied I should be," demanded Luthor in an authoritative tone.
"It…it was exactly where you said it would be," said the man, having to bend over while breathing heavily. "The coordinates you gave us – the same coordinates that everyone else said meant nothing – it was hiding something big."
"No need to remind me how right I was. The coordinates were never in doubt," scoffed Luthor. "Tell me how big it is and confirm how right about the rest of my calculations."
"That…that's just it. We…have no idea. None of us has ever seen anything like it. I wish I could describe it, but…"
"Don't bother. I'll see for myself."
He callously shoved the worker aside and snapped his fingers to summon Mercy, who had been standing just outside his tent like a good body guard should. She followed him down into the excavation pit, which was now illuminated by a series of industrial light posts that surrounded the perimeter of the site. The discovery triggered a fairly significant reaction amongst the workers. Many were running around, trying to get a good look into the pit to see what they discovered. A few private guards kept them from crowding the area. Others got shoved aside to make way for Lex Luthor.
They were understandably curious to see what they had been working so hard to uncover. Lex could hear them having all sorts of heated discussions in a variety of languages. Some appeared worried. Some were even praying as though they had uncovered some holy artifact. Luthor sneered at their reactions. Their feeble minds couldn't even imagine the power they had just uncovered. They were even less likely to appreciate it.
"Everybody stand back!" ordered Lex as soon as he reached the bottom of the pit. "Nobody else touches the artifact but me."
"You heard him. Get back or lose a limb," said Mercy, shoving aside a few more workers trying to get in closer.
Luthor made his way past the crowd and commotion until he reached his destination, which happened to be a large outcropping of solid granite protruding from the rock layers. Within this rock was what appeared to be the top of a large black casket that stood nearly ten feet tall and several feet wide. The casket was clearly manmade because it was composed of a smooth, polished dark metal. It also had a series of etchings on the top that none of the workers were qualified to read.
From a purely scientific perspective, it was a geological impossibility. Granite was not the kind of rock capable of containing manmade artifacts. For something to be buried within it broke a long list of what modern science understood about the natural world. As always, however, modern science was lagging behind the genius that was Lex Luthor.
Upon approaching the casket, he ran his hands over the metal while Mercy guarded him. Everyone in the pit got a lot quieter as they watched Lex read over the engravings. Months of painstaking research and calculations had finally paid off.
"Beware, mighty warriors, who seek the weapons of the gods. For even mighty Zeus himself cannot always wield the horrors they create," Lex read, translating the ancient Greek perfectly. "Tell me, Mercy, are you familiar with the prevailing themes of Greco-Roman Mythology?"
"I dropped out of school the day it ceased being useful to me, Mr. Luthor. So no, I'm not," answered Mercy Graves flatly.
"You're not missing much. All you need to know is that every tale acted as a warning to us lowly mortals. We were never to seek the power of the gods or wield their tools. To do so would only lead to hubris, that most damnable sin that seeks to remind humanity that they are incapable of handling such power. It's actually pretty pathetic. It's intended to teach everyone that they're better off being weak, subservient, and feeble. By championing these pathetic traits, they condition people to remain weak. That way the gods can never be challenged."
Lex wiped away some of the rocky dust, exposing more lines of the engravings. Some were illegible or too difficult to read, but he didn't need to read them to know what they entailed.
"Like everything else from arrogant gods who neither earn nor deserve their power, they overlook one crucial detail," he continued. "The gods themselves are just as inept. They create tools, weapons, and monsters they cannot wield or control. They impose rules and standards they do not abide by themselves. These gods and every being like them are embodiments of true hypocrisy. They try to convince us that we are not worthy, but only succeed in revealing themselves to be unworthy."
After blowing away more dust and shining a light on the casket, Lex made out another coherent line. This time it actually offered something other than the mindless ranting of pious men or arrogant gods.
"In the hottest fires of war, the heavenly Annihilator remains unburned. Let no soul provoke its wrath, for even the gods dare not unleash it," read Luthor. "I remember the first time Felix Foust described this 'Annihilator Armor' as he called it. He claimed it was real, just as the gods of old were real. He said that when the war against the titans appeared to turn against the gods, Ares ordered Hephaestus to craft a weapon so powerful that even he couldn't stop it. According to his research, Zeus ordered its destruction after the war. However, Ares defied his father – as he so often did – and hid it within the realm of mortals."
"Is that what this is? Is this what he wanted you to find for him?" asked Mercy.
"Yes and no," answered Lex. "It is what it claims to be. Foust went so far as to identify a possible location, tracking folk tales about some cult of old warriors burying it in a volcano on Ares' behalf. But I don't think Ares wanted me to find this for him. He only expected me to play into his hands if his first plan failed. It would actually be brilliant if I were some gullible pawn from the mythos of old. Instead, I intend to give him a much-needed lesson in hubris."
Lex Luthor finally allowed himself to smile. This was the part where Felix Foust offered his most dire warnings and Luthor had no intention of heeding them. The man still foolishly believed, as did many others, that no man was equipped to tap into the powers of gods. He was going to prove him and every phony hero of myth wrong. What would make it all the more ingenious was that in order to do this, he had to give the impression that he was just as foolish.
Having already worked out the details in his mind, he turned towards the lead foreman of the pit who had been standing just in front of Mercy trying to get a look. He seemed just as concerned and curious as everybody else, which might end up working to his benefit.
"How long will it take to completely remove the casket from the rock?" asked Luthor.
"Um…since it's in solid granite, I imagine it would take a couple of days at the least," the foreman answered.
"You have only one. And as soon as it's done, you have even less time to get it out of this pit and onto the back of a truck. Now before you begin pointing out the logistical challenges, let me remind you…"
Before Luthor could finish his threat, a strange reaction from the Dagger of Deimos silenced him and shocked everyone else within view. This mysterious artifact, which he had been holding firmly in his hand, began glowing with an ominous purple energy. A fresh commotion came over the crowd as they pointed at the dagger and began a new round of prayers. When Lex looked down at it and scrutinized the glowing weapon, his brilliant mind began making connections.
Another smile soon formed on his face. He could actually feel the energy from the dagger coursing through his body. He imagined that this was what a low battery felt like while being supercharged. His meticulous calculations and painstaking research over the past six months helped him piece together what this reaction meant. It wouldn't change the core of his plan, but it did require that he adjust his time-table.
"What's happening, Lex? Are you okay?" asked Mercy nervously.
"I'm fine, Mercy…better than fine," he said. "It would seem our associate has finally decided to be useful again. He's even ahead of schedule. That'll make a few things easier."
To demonstrate his point, Lex turned towards the casket again, which was still mostly covered in granite. He then lightly tapped the tip of the dagger against the exposed metal, triggering another ominous reaction that caused some of the workers to turn around and run.
The second the dagger touched the exotic metal, the ominous purplish energy spread right into the casket until it was fully engulfed. The rock surrounding it began to shake, causing major cracks in the rocky shell surrounding the large relic. It did in seconds what would've taken days for these workers to do, chipping away the rocky shell and freeing the casket from its confines. This process was so efficient it cause a tremor that rocked the entire excavation site. Some of the lighting equipment even shorted out and curiosity among the workers turned to full-blown dread. But Lex Luthor remained unafraid as he watched the spectacle before him unfold.
"Scratch that request to dig out the artifact. I don't believe such services will be necessary," said Lex to the foreman, who had already run away.
Once all the granite broke off from the casket, the engravings etched on the casket began glowing with the same purplish energy. In addition, the removal of the rocky shell revealed a slot in the mid-section of the casket that had been previously covered. Lex then felt the dagger in his hand rise up on its own, guiding itself towards the slot. It was like the opposing poles of a magnet being attracted to one another. In following it, he felt the dagger enter the slot and turn like a key to unlock the contents within.
"He made the Dagger of Deimos the key to opening it," Lex surmised. "Clever…using one forbidden weapon to unlock the other. It's either a double failsafe or laughably redundant."
Everyone except him took another step back as the large casket opened itself, releasing a gust of dusty air that hadn't been disturbed for millennia. Once the dust cleared, it revealed a forbidden wonder that no mortal eyes had ever seen.
"The Annihilator Armor," said Lex distantly. "Foust, your drawings didn't do it justice."
It was truly a marvel to behold. The armor itself had a humanoid shape, consistent with that of an ordinary man. It stood nearly ten feet tall, bearing a hulking frame that no ordinary man could ever hope to fit. It also consisted of the same exotic black metal as the casket, only much more polished. There weren't any engravings or ominous warnings, bearing only the emblem of the God of War on the breastplate. But it's most distinguishing feature of all was the bowl-shaped head. There was no mask or helmet of any kind. It looked more like a window. As Luthor looked at his reflection, he prepared himself for the next step.
"Mercy, I have a favor to ask of you. I'm fairly certain that I won't be in a position to do it myself," he said, not taking his eyes off the armor.
"I have a long list of concerns I'd like to voice first, but something tells me they're trivial at this point," said Mercy, hiding her astonishment.
"And you'd be right," said Lex in a humored tone. "I'm about to take a long nap so I'll need you to take me and this dagger back to the secondary lab I set up in Zurich. There's a set of instructions waiting for you on my laptop. Type in, 'DivinePlan3289,' to log in. It'll tell you who you need to call, what you need to do, and how you'll go about getting it done. Once complete – well, I'd rather not spoil it!"
Mercy nodded obediently, not asking any questions or daring to interfere in any way. She just kept watching along with the workers bold enough to remain. At this point, the tremors had intensified, causing more cracks to form in the surrounding rocks. The glowing in the dagger and the Annihilator armor got brighter. Eventually, it completely consumed Lex. His body tensed, his every muscle throbbing with the new power. Then, in one swift motion, he pulled the Dagger of Deimos out of the slot in the armor to complete the process.
In doing so, a blinding burst of light erupted from the armor, momentarily blinding everyone that had been watching. The moment it faded, Lex Luthor's eyes rolled into the back of his head and his body went completely limp. At first, Mercy and some of the workers showed concern. Then they noticed that the bowl-shaped head of the Annihilator armor was now glowing a darker shade of purple. This ominous glow eventually took the shape of a head and face, specifically Lex Luthor's.
Once fully formed, his ominous grin remained and the limbs of the armor came to life. Now being guided by the whim of Lex Luthor, it took its first step. Its mere movement caused more tremors, a telling sign of the raw power dwelling within. As he got a feel for his powerful new form, Lex flexed the arms of the armor and clenched his fists. He now possessed in him a power that even the gods of old had feared.
"So this is what it feels like to be as strong as a god," said Lex's voice from within the armor. "I must admit, it's not quite as invigorating as I had hoped. But I suppose it'll do."
For a moment, he just took in the shocked and horrified glances of the workers and guards. It would've been so amusing if it weren't so warranted. He also looked down at his now unconscious body and back towards Mercy, who remained as bold as he expected her to be. It was a bit odd, seeing his own body from afar. It only revealed how unfit it was to house a mind like his.
"I can feel the energy surging through me – like a conduit tapping into a new source," said Lex. "It's like my body was holding my mind back all these years, but not anymore!"
After settling into the armor, the glowing energy surrounding it shifted. It began pulsating like a beacon, as if to reacting to a signal. From within the armor, Lex could feel it too. It was like another much larger magnetic force drawing him to another specific location. He already had a pretty good idea of where it would be. This was the part of the plan where he willingly walked in to the trap Ares had set for him. It was also the part where he got to just enjoy the ride until his moment of triumph approached.
"Ah, right on cue," he said. "You have your instructions, Mercy. Now if you'll excuse me, I've a date with an island of beautiful woman just waiting to be subdued."
Following the whims of this powerful energy, Lex and the Annihilator armor took off like a rocket into the sky. It soared through the air on a trail of unseen energy. It gave Lex Luthor his first taste for what it was like to be Superman. He tried not to enjoy it too much though. Before this ordeal was over, Superman and every phony god like him would know what it felt like to be painfully mortal.
Themyscira – Temple of Hera
The Amazons were in the midst of their darkest hour since their defeat and humiliation at the hands of Hercules. Mere hours ago, it was revealed that their beloved queen Hippolyta had been keeping a secret from her sisters. As a result of that secret, she had been taken by Hera herself and whisked away to parts unknown where she would undoubtable face punishment for her crime. It didn't matter that she was queen. She deceived both her sisters and the gods. For such an egregious offense, she could neither escape punishment nor continue as queen.
It sent waves of shock throughout the island. Every Amazon that had served loyally under Hippolyta for centuries cried in disbelief. The idea that their queen had willingly lain with a man, even if that man happened to be a god, was heart-breaking. The idea that they were now without a queen was almost as devastating. But being the proud warriors they were, the Amazons refused to succumb to despair. So Aleka and a few other high-ranking Amazons ordered that everyone gather at the temple of Hera.
"Hear us, oh Hera…keeper of womanhood and mother to all Amazons! We – your loyal warriors – pray to you with all our hearts," proclaimed Aleka as she and thousands of Amazons knelt piously at the base of the temple.
"With all our hearts, hear us!" repeated every Amazon in perfect harmony.
"Our queen has failed us. Our spirits have been scarred. But we will not despair. We will keep fighting for you," Aleka continued.
"We will keep fighting!" they all repeated with the same determined unity.
"We are warriors."
"We are warriors!" they all said again.
With every prayer she invoked, Aleka still hid the sorrow of what had led them to this point. As she prayed and chanted, centuries of battles played out before her eyes. All the blood, sweat, and tears they shed together came rushing back to her. From the moment she joined Hippolyta's band of female warriors as a teenager to the horrors she suffered under Hercules, she prided herself on fighting harder for her queen. Yet in the end, she had been the one who ended her beloved queen's reign.
It was a cruel twist of fate, her being the one who exposed Hippolyta's secret. She was supposed to be the most dedicated Amazon on Themyscira. Her loyalty to her queen had no equals. It left her with a gaping wound on her heart and her spirit, even as she led these prayers. Were she not a hardened warrior, she would have long since broken down into tears.
But there was no time for sorrow. The Amazons may be heartbroken and lost, but they were still warriors. There were still battles to be fought and glory to be had. With broken hearts and no leader, only the gods could guide them now.
"Hear our prayers, oh Hera, and guide us through this toil that has befallen us," Aleka continued. "Come to us with your wisdom and love. Show us the way and we will fight for you."
"We will fight for you!" her fellow Amazons chanted.
"Embrace us as we embrace you. Guide us to glory with your grace. Let nothing destroy our sisterhood. Let us fight for you until our dying breath!"
"Until our dying breath!"
Their collective voices echoed with a harmony and unity that could only be forged from centuries of sisterhood. It was a voice the gods usually responded to, but it seemed this revelation had shaken them as well. They could feel a tension within the air, like a cold gust coming straight from the peak of Olympus. But they never wavered in their heart-felt prayers. They kept chanting and praying until finally, a booming voice echoed from within the temple.
"Rise, my loyal maidens," said the authoritative voice of Hera.
Every Amazon did as she said instantly. Many had to hide their sense of relief upon seeing their patron goddess emerge from the temple, wearing her traditional peacock gown. Some began to wonder if she would even come after this latest revelation, yet here she was. The Queen of the Gods looked as graceful as ever, but had the distinct poise of a woman deeply scorned. They didn't dare entertain thoughts of how she reacted to the revelation that her husband has fathered another child behind her back. As far as they were concerned, none of that mattered at this point.
"Goddess Hera," said Aleka, bowing loyally as she approached. "Thank you for gracing us with your presence. I…I am not qualified to speak for all my sisters, so forgive me if…"
"Enough, Aleka," said Hera, silencing her and any other Amazon that might have spoken. "There's no need for formality. We've neither the time nor the patience. I've heard your prayers loud and clear. I'd have answered them sooner, but a new conflict has consumed Olympus – one that has every god and goddess drawing battle lines."
"Tell us which line to defend, my Goddess. We will fight for you, with or without our queen," said Aleka strongly.
"Yes…your queen," said Hera, not hiding the hatred that her name evoked. "From here on out, she is not to be mentioned. You're all to expunge Hippolyta and her bastard offspring from your memories. All records and mention of her are to be destroyed or redacted. That is my first decree to you, my Amazons."
None dared voice any opposition. Despite years of love and loyalty for Hippolyta, they now had to bury it within the depths of their spirit. It would be harder for some more than others. Aleka felt her lips quiver at the thought of erasing her former queen from her heart. It was one act that overwhelmed even her strength. The thought shouldn't have pained her in wake of recent revelations, but it did and she dared not reveal it.
Hera could already sense her decree triggering mixed emotions amongst the Amazons. That didn't matter. They were too loyal to let it get the better of them. They might be the only ones between Olympus and the Underworld that still had a shred of loyalty. That made them her only allies in this new order she was set to forge.
"From this day forward, I am your queen. That is my second decree," proclaimed Hera. "The Amazons have served loyally and faithfully for centuries – most of them anyways. You've proven yourselves to be great warriors, worthy of the blessings of Olympus. However, Olympus has not returned the favor. I foolishly believed that after the atrocities of Hercules that the order of Zeus would preserve the justice and dignity that we champion. I come to you today with the solemn news that I was wrong."
No god or goddess ever liked admitting that they were wrong. Even though nobody on Olympus was surprised by Zeus' infidelity, none concede their error. Hera now had every intention of sparing herself from such indignity for the foreseeable future. She had endured enough and so had her Amazons.
"While I take no pleasure in saying this, let it be known now and until our dying breath…Olympus has failed us. There is no longer any honor in defending it. As we speak, the lies and deceit propagated by Zeus are destroying all that the gods have built. You don't need to know the details. You don't even need to know forces behind it. You need only know that Olympus will fall. I barely escaped and now I intend to help you, my faithful maidens, escape this destruction."
"Forgive my interruption, My Goddess…but what of the other gods?" asked Aleka anxiously.
"If they're worthy of worship, they'll escape like I did. If they cannot, then they deserve oblivion," said Hera. "Do not bother praying to them. Focus your spirits on the task at hand."
Few had ever heard their patron goddess speak so coldly about her fellow gods. In her bitterness, she was really willing to let them fall along with Zeus. It was hardly representative of the compassion they championed, but they did not dare question their queen and their goddess.
"For my first act as queen, I give the following orders – every Amazon is to gather their belongings and abandon their dwellings," said Hera. "All high ranking generals and priestesses are to clean out the archives and libraries of only the most precious artifacts. Everything else is to be left behind."
"Left behind? Are we abandoning our home?" asked Aleka, her voice finally cracking under the strain.
"Do not weep for this island. Themyscira will fall like the rest of Olympus and I've no intention of being here when that happens. Together, we will seek a new home – a new domain to call our own. We will finally be free from the tyranny of Zeus' order. We will only fight our own battles and not those of petty gods and men. Rejoice, my Amazons! For on this day, we are all finally free!"
Some Amazons cheered. Others just saluted loyally to their goddess and their new queen. The idea of abandoning the home they had protected and cherished for so many centuries didn't sit well. However, the promise of a new order free from corruption and deceit had plenty of appeal.
For Hera, such an order couldn't come fast enough. At last, she would not be under the thumb of any man or god. With her loyal Amazons, she could be the goddess she wanted to be. For once, she would have the authority to guide her destiny as she saw fit. It would be glorious in ways that even Zeus could never imagine.
Her Amazons stood ready to carry out her orders. Then, this powerful moment was interrupted by the sound of an ominous thunder echoing from the clouds above. But this was no ordinary thunder. When Hera looked up into the sky, she felt a twinge of dread come over her.
"That…shouldn't be," she said distantly.
"What is it, my Goddess? Has Olympus fallen already?" asked Aleka.
"No. This is different."
More thunder echoed. The warrior instincts of the Amazons kicked in and they all took a more defensive poise. There was no enemy present, but it sure felt like one was approaching. As Hera continued looking at the sky, she noticed ominous purple bolts of lightning streaking across the clouds above. She didn't recognize them at first. Then she began making some disturbing connections.
"This is…no, it's not possible!" she said, refusing to assume the worst. "He couldn't have. He wouldn't even be able to…"
Before she could finish her thought, a deafening explosion erupted from the south shore of the island. They then heard a series of ominous footsteps heading towards them at high speeds. It was like a stampede of angry animals and it kept getting louder and louder as it drew closer. Every Amazon turned around and drew their swords. They looked around anxiously, expecting a titan to descend upon them at any moment. But as more lightning flashed above, Hera realized this was worse than a titan.
From the thick tropical flora to the south, a cloud of dust descended upon the temple. The Amazons instinctively formed a line around the base of the temple, protecting their queen and their goddess. They all watched as an imposing humanoid figure emerged from this dust. It wasn't a titan, but it carried itself with the power of one.
"The Annihilator Armor – Ares, what in Hades have you done?" dreaded Hera.
"Stand behind us, my Queen! We will protect you," said Aleka, already set to lead the charge.
"No…you can't."
Neither Aleka nor the Amazons heard her. They were already following their warrior instincts, preparing to charge this lone beast at full strength. Only Hera understood why that would only hasten their doom. While the Amazons didn't realize just how dangerous it was, Hera now knew that she had been betrayed yet again.
"So this is, Themyscira? The so-called Paradise Island of the gods," scoffed Lex Luthor from within the Annihilator armor. "It's not quite as picturesque as I had imagined, but no matter. I'm sure it'll get better once I'm through with it."
"You've already taken your final steps, beast!" barked Aleka as she ran out ahead of the other Amazons. "We will defend our queen. You will not defeat us on this day. We are Amazons!"
"We are warriors!" the rest of her sisters proclaimed.
This didn't intimidate Lex Luthor in the slightest. Staring down an army of immortal female warriors was hardly enough to worry him at this point. In fact, this might end up being the most enjoyable part of his plan.
"Go on," he dared them, the armor already reacting to their hostility. "Please…show me how capable you are at waging war. Try and enjoy it. I know I certainly will!"
Up next: Homeward Bound