Chapter Three: The Pilot, the Mouse, and The Germans.

There was fog, a great mist that made it impossible to see. Then, somehow, and very unexpectedly, there were clear blue skies. An island sat among the clear blue water, lush and beautiful. The pilot had only a few seconds to react, doing his best to reach land before it was too late. Unfortunately, the plane sputtered its last, hoovering for only a moment before descending to the sea. There was a hit, the pilot jolted back and forth form the impact, finding they remained on the surface. With a loud grinding sound, the plane started to fill with water and the cockpit was filled within seconds. The pilot frantically unbuckled and tried to free himself from the submerging plane, only his coat was caught and he was unable to escape, tugging, and struggling to keep his head up.

A brown mouse wearing a pilot outfit, climbed out from the man's pocket and stood on the his shoulder. Frantic to aid his human companion, the mouse set to work, chewing the buckle belt, yet the material was too strong for his teeth to break through.

"Shoot! Steve, what are we going to do, the planes filling with water!" signed the mouse, able to communicate with the trapped man.

Steve hassled to get free, the water rising to the point where the mouse had to jump off. "Jerry, can you reach my knife?" Jerry dove in the water, trying to get Steve's blade, yet it was stuck behind the seat and Steve's rear.

Rising up, Jerry shook his head. He then was astounded to see an island not too far away, knowing they'd never reach it. "We're close to an island at least, and it's in swimming distance. All I have to do is get you lose."

"This doesn't look to good, Jerry." Steve chest sank and his neck crept under, pulled by the heavy machine. "Save yourself, Jerry, go!"

"I won't leave you!"

Steve held his head above as long as he was able, taking one last breath before disappearing under. Jerry swam and became frantic as to what to do, knowing he was too small to aid his taller friend. Suddenly, a shadow fell over him from behind and he turned to see a woman standing on the tail end of the plane. She was tall, strong, and wore roman-like clothes. Squinting, he found it hard to make out the finer details, only guessing she was a inhabitance of the island. Hopefully, they were cannibals, Jerry didn't like the idea of the woman saving Steve only to eat the poor man. She jumped over him and dove down to retrieve Steve, leaving Jerry alone. Jerry swam to the debris and climbed on, looking back to see if she got Steve. He heard another splash, as someone joined him on the tail end. When Jerry recognized the shape of the shadow, he froze. Behind Jerry stood a cat, who looked on with wide green-yellow eyes.

Seeing a cat, Jerry panicked even more. "Oh my god! A cat! He's probably going to try and eat me." Jerry thought to himself before he went to jump off, only to be picked up by the tail and lifted. Throwing several punches, Jerry did his best to defend himself. Held in one hand, another came and grabbed him in the cat's fist. Able to still move his arms, Jerry signed. "Oh, please, just kill me and get it over with."

Tom set the mouse down, raising his own arms. "Eat ya, why would I do that?"

"Because you're a cat, I'm a mouse." Jerry took a good look at the tall feline, finding he was far from those Jerry had seen before. The cat wore a gladiator type outfit, making the mouse raise a brow, unsure how this cat was different from many of his own kind.

Tom looked down to the wide eyed rodent, noticing the mouse was a male, though his long eyelashes could confuse someone as to his true gender. All Tom could do was give the tiny male a half smirk, thinking he was obviously not your typical mouse. He stood upright, wore mini human clothes and knew sign, clearly he was intelligent. Out of nowhere, Tom laughed. "Hah, hah!" Slapping his fist to the metal, Tom signed. "I don't eat mice."

"Wha-what?" Jerry wondered, looking Tom over. They turned as Diana emerged from the water, pulling Steve's unconscious form beside her. Seeing Steve was alive, Jerry smiled and breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh, thank god he's okay."

"Tom, come on," said Diana, looking back over her shoulder to the cat.

On the tail end of the plane Tom stood and picked a shocked Jerry up before diving into the water, swimming to the shore. The force of Tom sent the tail fin drifting back to the boarder, floating out and into the fog. Outside the force field, a German cruiser cut through the waves, several light shinned among the dark. The ship stopped and two life boats were dropped into the water, the men on board looking for the plane. With flash lights, they skimmed the waters and the rowers went back and forth, pulling the oars in and out of the water. They spotted some debris and saw the tail end of the plane, just out of reach. A man leaned over to grab it, and when he did, he passed through the fog and saw an island not too far away. It was bright and sunny there compared to the gloomy and dreary sea they crossed. He turned to the others and then looked back to make sure he wasn't hallucinating or imagined it. Speaking German, he pointed ahead, knowing that was their destination.

Back at shore of the island, Diana lay Steve down to examine him, running her fingers to his neck, trying to find a pulse. Behind her came Tom, swimming with one arm while his other held Jerry. Jerry's little heart beat in his chest as he didn't know what to make of the whole ordeal. On the beach, Tom joined Diana, leaning his ear to Steve's chest, listening for a heartbeat.

"He's alive, but need help breathing." Diana exclaimed. "Tom, press on his chest, I'll give him mouth to mouth."

"No way, Diana. I'll give him mouth to mouth. His a man, and he might try to do more."

"So protective Tom."

"Yes, not let's save him."

Diana made a fist with her to hand and applied pressure to Steve's chest, while Tom pitched his nose, lifting his chin. Jerry watched with a gaped mouth, unable to believe what he was seeing. Tom leaned in, his muzzle only inches from Steve's open mouth. Jerry at this point closed his eyes, not wanting to see Steve lock lips with the feline. Before Tom could give Steve the kiss of life, he coughed water up, causing Tom to sit back. Steve rose up, confused as to where he was, finding he was face to face with a cat, who was uncomfortable close. Beside him, was a beautiful woman, who was most likely the one who saved home from a watery grave. Then again, he might've died and she was an angle guiding him to the pearly gates of heaven.

"I-is this the after life? A-am I d-dead?" Steve asked with worry.

"If this is your version of heaven, boy do you have some issues. I mean, I know I'm a good looking fella," signed Tom.

"You're a man?" said Diana. She was amazed to see him, eyeing up all his features. He had dirty blond hair and tan skin, making his bright blue eyes stand out.

"Yes, don't I look like one?" Steve said, sounding a bit confused and slightly hurt by the comment.

Diana laughed a little and was going to speak when Steve gasped, his eyes looking to the horizon. Jerry tapped Tom, trying to get his attention. Tom saw this and turned to see a boat coming across the water, appearing from behind the shield. Two more came and a large cruiser followed, black smoke rising from it steam stack. Steve picked up Jerry and began to back up, doing his best to stand.

"Oh no, the Germans! They must've followed us!"

"You think?" Jerry responded.

"Germans?" repeated Diana.

"You led them here!" Tom gazed out over to the lifeboat and realized the man in it wore the same colors as the pilot. Baring his fangs, Tom got between Diana and Steve, releasing his claws and hiss for him to stay back. "After she saved you, you would betray our hospitality?"

"Are you a German? Are you one of them?"

"No, no, I'm a good guy, and those guys." Steve chuckled nervously, reaching for his gun, only to see it was wet and useless. "They're the bad guys."

"Yeah, we may look like them, but we are not among their kind." signed Jerry, frowning to Tom. "Shame on you for jumping to conclusion. Clearly you're not smarter than the other foolish cats I've encountered."

"You know what, mouse, I might make an exception and eat you." Tom signed with a hiss, eyeing up Jerry and swelling with rage.

"Someone's got a temper."

"I'll show you temper!"

"Tom!"

"Jerry!"

Jerry dove into Steve's coat pocket while Diana held Tom back, preventing him from reaching Steve. Clawing madly, Tom stopped when the threat closed in. A trumpeting horn from above sounded off, letting everyone on the island know they were being invaded. Steve and Jerry looked up to see several women line up along the cliff side, wearing armor, and drawing back flaming arrows. They were used to army men and uniforms, and the sight of gladiator weapons, and outfit made them do a double take.

"Hole crap, who the cuss are these women?"

"We're Amazons," signed Tom, holding a cocky smile across his muzzle.

"You're one of these Amazons?" asked Jerry, looking to the armored cat with an arched brow.

"Dang straight I am." retorted Tom with a proud smile.

The cat and mouse's conversation broke up when a voice from a above rang out. "Archers, steady your bows!"

"They have guns, right?" questioned Steve.

"Guns?" Diana inquired, never hearing of such a thing.

"No, they sound like thunder and shoot out smoke and sparks." Steve showed her his gun. "They look like this."

"Are you sure you're not talking about a cannon?" Tom wondered. "Heh, that's a tiny little cannon."

The German's boat came to the beach and the men leaped out of the life boat, making their way through the shallow water with their guns drawn. The woman from above saw this and once again shouted, pointing her blade down to the men on the beach. "Now!" A rain of flaming arrows flew up and over, hitting a few Germans, and lighting the boat up in flames. Steve, Diana, Tom, and Jerry took shelter behind a couple of boulders, while guns fired around them. Diana and Tom never saw the so called guns, that spat smoke and made thunderous sounds.

"So those are gun?" signed Tom, kneeling behind Diana, not wanting to get hit by the little pebbles that bounced off the stone. He pressed closer to the rock and wanted to look out, but couldn't because of the danger of being struck.

"Bullets fired from those guns. If they hit you it's all over," signed Jerry, perched on Steve's shoulder. Jerry looked over to Tom, who nodded to this information.

A woman leaped through the air from above and shot an arrow with a rope tied to it, letting it dig into the stone as she swung down to fight. Other women leaped over like spiders, dropping down the ropes to the sandy beach. With shields and swords at their side, the women went forward, yelling out with fury.

"Those Germans should give up we're unbeatable." signed Tom, seeing them charge out to the enemy.

Jerry was sitting on Steve's shoulder as a bullet came at them, making Steve lunge forward to push Diana down. The bullet passed the four, who hit the dirt, catching the sound of someone being hit. Glancing up from the ground, Diana and Tom saw their friend hanging dead as blood dripped down her side from where the bullet made impact. Tom was horrified to see one of the warriors dead, unable to comprehend it. "No, no it cant be? It's impossible."

Another horn sounded as women on horse back came out onto the beach, yelling as sand flew up from the horse's hooves. Hippolyta lead the army and charged at the Germans, both groups running for each other and raising their weapons. The General rode ahead and dug her spear into the ground, sending sand up to blind the men, making it easier for the women to attack. The men shot off their rifles and hit a hose, but it's rider leaped off and flipped about, sending her sword into another man. Antiope leaped off her horse and stuck her arrows into the sand, grabbing one after another and shooting man after man who came at her. It was a spectacle to see, women fighting with only swords and shield, beating the Germans back. Hippolyta jumped from her saddle and spun a flew times drawing her sword and cutting down two men.

Watching from their spot behind the rocks, Tom wanted to spring out and fight. He was going when he felt someone hold him back by the tail. "Wait here!" said Steve, setting Tom beside Diana. He ran out and jumped a German soldier, killing and taking his weapon.

"We're not seriously going to sit on the side line while pretty boy has all the fun, right?"

"No, we're not, let's go Tom." Diana, followed by Tom, began to fight as well. Diana blocked their bullets with her cuffs and took out a man, using her fighting skills.

A man saw Tom and only laughed, looking to his comrade. "Hey, get a load of this, a pussy cat." Said the man, only he was unaware Tom knew all languages. With a snort, Tom punched and broke one of the men's legs by the force at which he hit it, knocking the men down in an instant, gripping his shirt collar and hissing, bearing his fangs.

In the minds of battle, Antiope saw three men huddled behind a great rock and yelled out to a fellow Amazonian. "Shield!" The woman with the shield held it steady for the General to jump on, giving her a boost. Into the air Antiope went, swooping over the men. She drew her bow string back and sent three arrows to kill each man, who hit the sand with a thud. Landing, the General stood and saw Diana was about to get hit by one of the men's bullets. "Diana, No!" Running forward as fast as she could, she leaped in its path, bracing herself for the hit.

Diana turned and saw this out of the corner of her eye, Antiope getting struck by a bullet and falling to the sand. Tom heard Antiope call Diana's name and released the man he was about to punch, seeing the awful scene, seeing Antiope get hit by the black pebble. Antiope slumped to the earth and lay motionless, Tom was unsure is she were dead or alive. Either way, his anger got the better of him and he saw red, charging at some men with fury. "You son of a-!" Tom in anguish, wanted revenge and pulled a gun from a dead German. He raised it and aimed, his finger so close to puling the trigger. Before he could slaughter the man, a bang went off and the man dropped dead before him. Tom peered back over his shoulder and saw Steve, holding up a smoking gun. Tom looked down and dropped the weapon, feeling regret for using such a thing. "What am I doing. I would be no better than them if I were to use this." He let the gun slip from his paw and rushed to Antiope's side, seeing Diana hold her close as others joined her. The General gasped for air as she lay bleeding out on the sandy beach, turning the ground beneath her bright red. Tom was filled with sorry, seeing their trainer, their mighty General, his aunt slowly die before his eyes. And he, helpless to heal her.

"You, must go. You must," said Antiope, placing her hand on Diana's shoulder, tightening her grip on Diana, who cried. "Ares, you must stop him."

"What do you mean? What are you telling me?"

"The both of you must go and stop Ares." Antiope said with her dying breath, becoming still.

"Antiope?" Diana said.

Tom placed his paw to his mouth as tears fell down his cheeks, not caring who saw him weep. When Steve came over, Tom frowned at the taller man, who the other Amazons took notice to as well. "He's one of them, look at how he's dressed. I say we kill him." said a woman, getting ready to strike him down.

Steve looked frightened and backed up, placing his arms up, surrendering to them. Jerry gasped and remained in Steve's coat pocket, not wanting to get stepped on, or stabbed. "No, he's not with them. He fought with us, and killed the others to protect us." said Diana, standing and protecting Steve from the others, including Tom, who blamed the man for the misfortune, for the death of Antiope.

"It's his fault our great General is dead." Tom put in, the Amazons nodding to this.

"We must find out more from him. Why these Germans attacked us?" Diana said, looking Tom over. "I'm sad too, but now is not the time for revenge Now is the time to learn of the outer world."

"Yes, let's use the Lasso of Hesstia to find out who he really is." said a woman, raising her spear, making both Steve and Jerry gulp.

Diana went to Tom while two soldiers escorted Steven away. "Tom, I umm."

"You're right, I let my anger get to me, again."

"I'll miss her too." Diana said with sorrow, placing her hand to his shoulder.

They went and helped carrying the body away, wanting to hold a service before they interrogate Steve. Antiope's wishes were to be wrapped in fine silk and burned, her ashes spread on the beach. Through the burning of the body all were quite and when it came time to toss the ashes, Hippolyta was the one to spread them. Tom took Diana's hand and watched with glassy eyes, seeing the partials thrown and blow in the soft breeze. Loss, it was something Tom didn't want to ever feel again.