Chapter 16: Holding On
It was another perfect day on Themyscira. The sun shone in the clear blue sky upon tall trees and green pastures. But this serene scene was punctuated by the shouts of women and clangs of steel. In the center of one of these pastures was a large pit of sand, where two warriors, clad head to toe in armor and wearing masks, were sparring. The warrior in blue armor hacked away at the shield of the woman with red armor. The blue woman swung her sword again, but the red woman jumped out of the way. The blue woman continued to attack, paying no mind to either her position or her enemy's.
As the two women fought, a group of women watched from a distance. "I must say," said the one called Avra, "this is quite the thrilling fight!"
"Oh, I wouldn't say that," said the one called Irida. "She's just toying with her. Watch".
Eventually, the red woman jumped over the blue woman as she lunged with her sword. The red woman hit the back of the blue woman's legs, sending her to the ground. The blue woman spun to her side, only to be met by the red woman pointing her sword at the other's neck. The fallen warrior remained still as the other one lifted the helmet off of her with her sword. Golden locks fell out as her helmet was taken off. This woman was the Amazon Dalma, thought to be the toughest of all of the Amazons. Her strength was feared by many of her own sisters, and she was capable of unleashing it in the blink of an eye. But it was not enough to win this session.
The women watching the battle cheered. Irida smirked. "See, I told you. There was no way that cow could win".
The woman in red reached down and offered her hand. Dalma, nursing a wounded ego, slowly grabbed it. "You got lucky," she remarked, her head turned away from her sparring partner.
The other woman laughed. "This was your eighth loss in a row, Dalma," she said, removing her helmet. Wonderous black hair was unleashed as Diana, Princess of the Amazons, took a deep breath and appreciated the cool breeze. "I may be blessed by the gods," she said, "but I am not that lucky".
Dalma's brow furrowed. "Hardly," she replied. "You are most extremely blessed, princess. And it would take the will of Zeus to overcome my assault".
"Granted, it is most powerful," Diana replied, "but strength is not the single determinative factor when it comes to war. For Zeus was not my patron today, but rather Hermes".
"Pfft," said Dalma. "Mere trickery. Your acrobatics would have no place in a true battle. If we were to go to war, like in the days of old, you would be begging for me to protect you".
Diana became worried. "Dalma, you don't really mean for us to go to war?".
"Well, why not?" Dalma asked. "We Amazons have a reputation to uphold. Aren't you tired of living on this boring island?"
Diana paused. "I admit that I've grown weary of the island, yes, but that doesn't mean we should leave in the name of domination. We should come in the name of peace and equality".
"And do you think the world will respond in kind?" Dalma shot back. "No, they will endeavor to enslave us again. War is the way of the world, princess, and you should remember that, if you are indeed to be our leader one day".
"That is a long way away," Diana said, trying to redirect the conversation. "And while war may be a recurring state of affairs, it is only a temporary one. There are many ways to avoid it and many ways to live without it".
Dalma scoffed at her words. "You can believe that, princess, but there will come a time where you are faced with a crisis that you cannot talk your way out of".
Diana smiled. "Well, I'm sure if and when it comes, I am sure I can count on your protection". Diana turned and walked away. She was soon mobbed by the audience.
"You were incredible," Avra said, her heart aflutter. "I wish I could fight like you".
"Well, thank you, Avra," Diana said, "but you shouldn't ignore your own talents. I certainly cannot sew as well as you".
"You know," Irida said, "seeing the way you dispatched Dalma reminds me of how Odysseus killed the cyclops. Of course, you had it easier, as you did not have to see Dalma's ugly face".
The girls laughed, but Diana calmed them down. "My sisters, just because she is different from us does not mean we should ridicule her. She is just as worthy of respect as any of you, and perhaps even more so".
Irida smiled. "Well, Diana, it is good to see you treat your future subjects with kindness and grace, no matter how dim or ill-tempered or plodding they may be".
Diana grimaced. "Let me just get back to the barracks so I can get this sweaty armor off. Then we can continue our time together".
The others giggled as Diana left them to get changed. But as she did this, Dalma looked on, continuing to seethe. One day, you sanctimonious airhead, you will see my power, she thought. You will know who deserves to be the favorite of the Amazons.
In the dim brig of the ship, Wonder Woman rested uncomfortably on her knees, her arms shackled to the steel wall. As she had surrendered, Wonder Woman no longer had her superstrength. Wonder Woman looked at her chains. If Sandra was here, she could get out of these, Wonder Woman thought. Tears began to form in her eyes. Sandra Knight, the woman who had allowed her to see the world for the first time, was quite possibly dead. And even if she wasn't dead, Diana had no idea if Sandra would recover from what had happened. Wonder Woman was the prisoner of the Nazis and had to prepare for the horrors that awaited her. Meanwhile, the dagger, the weapon that was supposed to defeat the rogue Amazon, was in their hands as well. It appears as though Mother was right, Diana thought. How could I be such a fool as to think I could succeed?
Just then, the brig door opened. In walked Brünnhilde, with Diana's lasso on her hip. "Well, princess," she said with a sneer, "I finally get to see you in a position more fitting for someone of your ilk".
"Dalma," Diana said, "I would have enjoyed being chained like this in times past on Themyscira, even with you. But those feelings have passed, and I no longer have any desire to be in your company".
Dalma laughed. "Ha, even now, stripped of your royal airs and privileges, you still feign superiority".
"'Feign superiority?" You laugh at me?" Diana shot back. "You have killed innocents. You have betrayed your own sisters. How can I not be disgusted with you?"
"Again, you use your morality as a shield. I have captured you and killed all others who have stood in my way. I should have all the honor deserving of a warrior queen".
"Honor? You deem your actions worthy of honor? You believe yourself worthy of the title of queen? You must have gone mad".
Dalma approached the prisoner. "Mad?! I am not mad! No, I am angry. I am vengeful. I am full of righteous fury, and I intend on everyone to know it!"
"Dalma, I know this isn't you," said Diana. "You are being manipulated by the ring. You must-"
Dalma struck Diana in the face. The ring left a mark on the princess's face. "This ring? I like this ring, actually. It has made my status as the most powerful of all women on the Earth undeniable".
"But it has warped your mind! You were a soldier of Themyscira. You would have never killed your own sisters like that!"
"Oh, but did they not deserve it?" asked Dalma. "Were they not mean little gnats who would speak nasty things when they thought I wasn't around?" Diana's eyes grew wide. "Were they not the same women who said I was as agile as a cow? Who said I smelled so bad, a blind woman would mistake me for fertilizer? Who said my face was as if Madusa had already frozen me in stone?"
"Dalma, I don't know what you're talking about," Diana said curtly.
"Oh really?" Dalma replied. "You never heard about any of this?"
"Dalma, that doesn't matter-"
"Oh yes it does matter!" In a flash, Dalma unhooked the lasso from her side and wrapped it around Diana's neck. "Now tell me: did you know how they mocked me?! Did you know how jealous they were of me?!"
Diana felt the pressure on her neck. "Y...yes," she blurted out.
"And what did you do?" Dalma asked.
"I... tried... to," Diana gritted through her teeth.
"You did what?!"
"I... ignored it," Diana admitted. "I just hoped it would go away".
"Of course you did! You took the easy way out. You couldn't deal with being unpopular in front of your adoring fans. Even though you are the damn princess and the sovereign of us all, you couldn't bring yourself to care about me. All my life, I was made to feel like I didn't belong on your island. But I was powerful. And I loved it. And I knew the more I had, the more I could protect myself. When I left for man's world, I saw the war they had waged. It invigorated me, though I eventually realized it was a rather paltry affair. But then I saw the one they called Overman. He was as if all the gods of Olympus had come down as one person. The others were horrified by our first battle, but I was intrigued. At night, I followed him to their camp, when I met the colonel. He offered me unimaginable power if I swore loyalty to him. It was all quite simple: for just a little bit of my time, I am able to do whatever to whomever I want". Dalma released the rope from around Diana's neck, tears falling from her eyes.
"Dalma," Diana said. "I am so sorry for what they did. You never deserved it. You are so strong, but you were more than that. You were kind. You were fun. You were someone people could rely on. And it breaks my heart to see you like this".
"Now you cry, as your hubris and your negligence come to complete your downfall," said Dalma.
"Maybe you're right," Diana replied, "but tell me: are you happy with what you have done?"
"Why wouldn't I be?" Dalma answered.
"With all of the murders, with all of your orders from the colonel, are you really satisfied with all that you have done?"
Dalma became defensive. "Who are you to deny-"
"Dalma, hold the lasso in your hands and answer the question! I need to know who it is I am really talking to".
"Oh, I'll show you who you're talking to!" Dalma dropped the rope and wrapped her hands around Diana's neck. Diana felt her opponent try to crush her windpipe. Blood was blocked from reaching her head. Still, she looked directly into Dalma's eyes. Dalma stared back at her, continuing her assault. The ring increased her strength, allowing her to squeeze harder. Diana's vision became blurry, and she felt searing pain across her throat. Still, she stared defiantly at her jailer.
Finally, Dalma snapped out of her haze and released her grasp. Diana made loud, low, gasping sounds as she was finally able to breathe. "No," Dalma said, "the colonel said he wants you alive. Be thankful knowing that, if not for his orders, I could – and I would – kill you easily".
Dalma picked up the lasso and turned to leave, when she heard Diana softly speaking. "Dalma, if you killing me would mean you would return to Themyscira," she said, "then I would gladly give my life for you. You are my sister, and I exist to serve you". Before she could respond, Dalma ran out of the room. Diana slumped forward, physically and emotionally destroyed.
In the middle of the Norwegian Sea, miles from land, a small boat floated along the current. The boat was a small, overturned, wooden lifeboat that had belonged to a ferry where nearly all aboard had died. Out of the 657 souls that were on the boat, only two remained among the living. One had left before the tragedy and was miles away. The other was right here. The lifeboat, whose purpose was to save lives, was now fulfilling its purpose for a single person. On the hull of boat rested a pale, solitary figure. Her skin was as an unhealthy white. Her hair was as black as night and was splayed across the back of the boat. She wore a dark robe which flowed outwards and which revealed the shape of her beautiful body. Her hands rested on her chest, holding a device she hoped would be her salvation. On first glance, you may mistake this as a sort of funeral bed. Indeed, the woman had but the faintest spark of life left in her. And while her given name was Sandra Knight, most of the world knew her by another name, one which she seemed to embody right now better than at any time before. As she floated through the night, on the edge of life and death, Sandra Knight was truly a phantom lady.
Sandra was feeling like she would fall asleep. This terrified her, for it was a symptom of hypothermia. Falling asleep at this point, in this condition, could be a death sentence. But tried as she might, she couldn't stay awake. It had been hours since the ferry sank, and yet there was still no response from the Freedom Fighters. The weather continued to have its effect on her. For a moment, Sandra had actually considered swimming to shore. There was a compass in her emergency bag, and she knew – given they were traveling along the western shore of Norway – which direction she needed to go. Her mind drifted to a story she had read long ago, about a woman who was at the Battle of Dunkirk. Her transport boat sank and she had to swim the English Channel to safety. Sandra gave a weak smile. Soon, her mind was off wandering through various memories of her past: the time she saved her father from assassins, her first night as a costumed crusader, the first time she met Don Borden, the times she spent with Raven and Spider Widow, the time she was asked to join the Freedom Fighters. All these thoughts blended together in her mind's eye. For a moment, Sandra thought she was reliving her life before she died. But the fear quickly passed. Soon, the darkness had overtaken her.
But in the infinite blackness of her own mind, Sandra heard a sound. HOOT-HOOT . Sandra's eyes opened to see an owl looking directly at her. The bird was perched on her hands, its head tilting from one side to another. Sandra felt the talons on her hands and shook it off in response. The bird flapped its wings and flew up, only to land at the other end of the boat. Sandra continued to look at the bird. The animal had triggered something within Sandra's memory, but she couldn't quite place it. Sandra was still suffering from the elements and was having a hard time doing anything. Suddenly, Sandra's memory became clear. "You're... you're the bird that was spying on Diana a while back, right?" she muttered. The owl remained motionless. Sandra got on her hands and knees to crawl to the owl. "Is she ok? Is... is she alive?"
The owl walked to the side of the boat and took off. "Wait!" yelled Sandra. "Where... where are you... going?" But the owl was gone in the night. Was that real? she thought. Was that actually from the Amazons? Sandra collapsed again. While her mind was functioning, it felt like her body was already dead. Sandra's eyes became unfocused. Maybe it was just an omen. A sign of death. Sandra started to see a light. It was small at first, but it quickly grew. This is it. Sandra had accepted her death: not a heroic one, not an amazing one, not even a quiet one at the end of a long and prosperous life. Her death was a pathetic release after an agonizing ordeal culminating in monumental failure.
But the light that had been coming for her suddenly changed. It swung out of sight of the dying heroine. Soon, Sandra saw a brown and blue shape in front of her. There were letters and numbers in front of her. Sandra lifted her head. A boat had come to her rescue. The boat was plain, appearing like a fishing boat. Sandra couldn't tell if this was a part of the resistance and had come to save her, or if it was some random boat that had just happened upon her.
A man walked to the side of the boat. With a smile, the man spoke some words in Norwegian. Sandra spoke several different languages well enough to converse, but Norwegian was not one of them. "I'm sorry, I don't know what you're saying," she replied.
The man began speaking in English. "Need help?" he said. Sandra nodded her head. The man continued. "Would you say this is a new experience for you?" This seemed like a rude question to ask someone, though not odd enough to trigger any alarms. It was actually a coded phrase, used by resistance members to determine if someone was a legitimate member and was not compromised.
In a labored voice, Sandra gave the appropriate reply. "Actually, I've done this 25 times before". The man nodded his head and signaled to his fellow sailors. A pair emerged with a portable ladder. They set it down on the side of the boat by the shipwrecked woman. Sandra slowly reached out and grabbed it. The men reached down to pull her up. With their help, Sandra got on the deck of the ship. She tried standing on her own, but was too weak. The sailors held her up as the captain looked at her.
"Phantom Lady, I presume?" he said. Sandra nodded. "I can't say I expected to see you out here, like this". Sandra wanted to deliver some witty quip regarding her situation, but she couldn't. She felt like she was in a dream, going through the motions, just hoping she'll end up someplace good. The captain noticed the woman's visible weakness. "Let's get her downstairs and into some dry clothes. We'll have plenty of time to discuss our next steps". The sailors took Sandra below deck into a warm cabin. The inconspicuous fishing boat turned on its engines and headed back to shore, leaving the lifeboat alone in the darkness.