The Watchtower

“It seems that I was correct,” the voice said as she awoke to a harsh luminescent light.  “You were pushing yourself too hard.  You needed to sleep before you begin your search for the Cheetah.”

That name snapped Diana out of her post-sleep haze and brought the reality of the last few days back to the forefront of her mind.  She looked around herself, finding that she was in one of the guest rooms aboard the Watchtower.  She had come seeking aid from the Justice League in tracking down Barbara Minerva, the Cheetah.  Diana didn’t remember lying down to rest; certainly sleep was the last thing on her mind when it came to priorities.

The voice that had spoken belonged to J’onn J’onzz.  He was standing near the door to the guest room, apparently having been watching her sleep.  “You looked like you were dead on your feet,” he said, taking a few more steps into the room.

Diana found herself still in uniform, though the shine of her breastplate had diminished after the emotional events of the day.  At J’onn’s comment, she looked up to the Martian and cocked an eyebrow.  “You were responsible for this, weren’t you?  How long was I asleep?”

“The better part of a day,” J’onn replied.  “I had never seen you in such a driven state before, Diana.  I was worried about your safety so I took action.”

“You shouldn’t have done that,” Diana said, her voice barely a whisper.  J’onn had no difficulty hearing her, however.  What volume Diana lacked in her words was made up by the psychic voice screaming at J’onn, repeating what was said verbally.  “You invaded my mind.”

J’onn took a forced step back, his mind on fire.  “Diana, please, you’re causing me pain.  I understand that you’re upset, but you need to calm yourself.”

“I need to do no such thing!”  Wonder Woman was on her feet, her psychic voice all but diminished.  “One of my oldest and dearest friends… the woman who accepted me when I came to this world… is dead.  And Barbara Minerva is responsible.  The Cheetah has pushed my boundaries before but never like this.  She will pay for using an innocent woman against me in her pitiful vendetta.”

The Martian Manhunter could see the hatred taking root inside Diana.  Wonder Woman had always been an advocate of peaceful resolution, a characteristic which had been displayed during the recent invasion of Themyscira, but the woman standing before J’onn had changed.  In that instant, the fun loving woman who loved everyone and everything was gone.  That woman was replaced by a bitter victim of countless tragedies.

The thought scared J’onn.  Diana was a warrior born, one that had fought Superman to a standstill.  She knew how to fight, both offensively and defensively.  She was angry and looking for revenge.  J’onn knew from experience that there was no one more deadly than someone who was desperate.  And, make no mistake, Wonder Woman was such a woman.

“Diana, perhaps you need to talk about what has happened these last few months,” the Martian suggested.  “A single tragedy is enough to deal with on your own.  But to have to deal with several in such a short period of time… Diana, when you were apart of the League, we used to talk constantly.  Now, I feel like I hardly know you.  You lost your mother and took over the duties that she left behind.  Has anyone even asked you how you’re dealing with that?”

“Several, actually,” Diana responded, “but that’s not important right now.  None of my personal matters are.  My mother is dead, I am now queen, and therefore affairs of state fall into my lap.  I won’t pretend that the transition has been an easy one but I refuse to be dominated by heartache.  The time for mourning will come.  When it does, I will deal with my feelings.  Until then, the Cheetah gets my undivided attention.”

“Diana, that’s not how grief works.  You have to—”

“J’onn!”

He stopped.  Diana, already on edge, was being worked up again.  J’onn hung his head.  “You’re a grown woman… a queen.  I’m not going to tell you how to run your life.”

Diana smiled, a bit of her old self shining through in that singular act.  “Thank you.  That means more than you know.”

J’onn gave a half nod and glided across the floor the door.  It was obvious that Diana wanted to be alone.

Just as he was about to pass through the threshold, a woman with emerald hair cut him off, forcing her way into the guest quarters.  She looked to the Amazon Queen, who was red in the face as if she had been crying, and then to the last remaining Martian, who appeared extremely dejected.  “I hope I’m not interrupting anything,” Fire said.

“No,” J’onn replied, a bit more harshly than he had wanted.  “We’re done here.  What is it, Beatriz?”

“I was in the Monitor Womb,” the emerald haired Leaguer explained.  “I received a call from Gateway City.  It was from a girl named Cassandra.  She said she needed to get in urgent contact with Wonder Woman.”

“Cassandra?” Diana asked.  She felt like the air had been ripped from her chest.  “An emergency?  What did she say?”

“The girl was definitely frazzled, but she didn’t say anything about an immediate emergency.  She just asked that I pass on her message and have you contact her as soon as possible.”

Diana glanced to J’onn.  “Thank you for allowing me to stay at the Watchtower, but I must be going.  I’m sure you understand.”  She was reaching for the Golden Lasso that was lying atop the nightstand.

“I do.  You’re welcome here anytime, Diana,” J’onn replied.  “You may not be on active duty but you are still a part of the Justice League.  Remember that.”

Diana gave a quick nod.  “I will.  Thank you.  That means more than you know.”

With that, she ran from the room, heading for the Teleportation Bay.  The Watchtower number that she had given to Cassandra was only to be used in the event of an emergency, a point which she had made clear.  That meant that even though Fire said there was no immediate concern, that wasn’t necessarily the truth.  Wonder Girl had taken over protection of Gateway so who knew what new threat had constituted Cassandra calling for back up.

One thing was for sure, however-

Wonder Woman was definitely ready to hit something.

 

The Amazon Queen.....

Wonder Woman

Masquerade
Wonder Woman #29 - April, Year Five
by Matt Hrubey

Gateway City

It was an unorthodox place to meet, but it served its purpose.  After all, it was virtually impossible that someone could be eavesdropping on a conversation that took place above the clouds.

The city was in the midst of a down pour, but here in the heavens the sun was shining, warming Diana as she broke through the clouds.  She rose in altitude, spotting the girl that had called for her.

Though the sun was warm, Cassandra Sandsmark was shivering from the rain.  Her hair was matted and her uniform was soaked, sticking to her body like a second skin.  It seemed she had just arrived too.

“Cassandra,” Diana said when she was within earshot.

The girl jumped ever so slightly, her ice blue eyes shifting to land upon Wonder Woman.  Cassandra released the breath she had been holding in, a great tension departing.  “Thank the Gods that you’re here,” Wonder Girl muttered before gliding into Diana’s arms.

The action was unexpected and disturbing.  The anxiety that Diana had been feeling increased as Cassandra burrowed her head into the queen’s shoulder socket.  The last time someone had come to Diana in such a fashion had happened only recently, ending with Diana learning of the death of Julia Kapatelis.  Diana wondered what was happening to Cassandra and what it would mean for her.

“Child,” Diana said, pulling away from Cassandra.  She held her protégé at arm’s length.  “You’re scaring me.  You called for me and I came.  Tell me what’s wrong.”

Cassandra’s eyes darted around as if searching for any voyeurs.  “It’s my mother.  Or, at least, whoever is masquerading as my mother.”

“That’s quite a claim,” Diana replied.  “What makes you suggest it?”

“I’ve heard of menopause causing mood swings, but she is nothing like the mother I knew up until a few weeks ago.”  Wonder Girl was shaking her head.  “She skips work, Diana.  Does that sound like her?  She leaves the house in the middle of the night.  I tried to follow her one time but she managed to ditch me.  She’s grumpy all the time and threatened to kick me out of the house.”

Diana could hardly believe what she was being told.  She knew Helena Sandsmark well, having worked with her in the past.  The Helena she knew was caring and considerate.  The two things she loved the most were her daughter and her job.  For her to treat both of her great loves in such a disrespectful manner made Diana question the eldest Sandsmark too.  “When did this start?”

“I can’t give you an exact time frame,” Wonder Girl responded.  “It’s been getting progressively worse though.  I didn’t even notice until a couple of days ago that she was being so strange.  Now, I’m completely convinced that there’s something wrong with her.”

Diana rested a hand on the girl’s shoulder.  “We’ll figure this out.”

“I’m sorry to call you.  I know you’ve been busy but—”

“I’m glad you called me,” Diana interjected.  “I care for you and your mother like family.  If she’s in trouble, I want to help.”

Cassandra nodded.  “Thank you.”

Looking around the sky, Diana flashed a smile.  “This is a strange spot to meet.”

Shrugging, Wonder Girl responded, “I was paranoid.  If it is the worst case scenario and my mother’s been replaced, I didn’t want to be discovered plotting against… whoever she really is.  I didn’t know where else to go.”

“You’re a smart girl, Cassandra,” Wonder Woman complimented as she began to fly back toward the ground, “and a quick learner.  You’re going to be more successful than I first thought.”

The Wonder Women began to descend from the sky; Cassandra all the while trying to disguise the blush that was growing on her cheeks.  The sound of rumbling thunder grew exponentially as they flew back down to the ground.


Cassandra Sandsmark opened the door to the house she had lived in since her birth.  The hinges squeaked from over use.  Cassie felt herself wince and briefly wondered why.  She was entering her home, what she considered the safest place in the world.  Why then, did it feel like she as entering an enemy territory?

She moved inside the house into the kitchen where a wonderful aroma was floating.  Dinner was in the process of being prepared, but the cook was nowhere to be found.  “Mom?”

Behind her, Diana moved into the house, taking care to close the door at her back.  She sniffed the air, a purr coming from her throat.  “That smells heavenly.”

“Yeah,” Cassie responded, moving to the other end of the kitchen.  She looked down the halls that branched from the kitchen, hoping to see her mother.  Or rather, whoever it was that had stolen Helena Sandsmark’s identity.  “This woman can cook.  Almost as good as my mother.”

Cassandra turned and almost ran her nose into Diana’s breastplate.  Diana rested her hands on her protégé’s shoulders.

“Promise me something,” the Amazon Queen said.  “I’ve taught you many lessons, but I have one more for you.  Even in personal matters like the one you find yourself in, do not jump to conclusions.  Assumptions get you into trouble.  You have to be ready for anything.  You believe your mother has been replaced and I am not saying you are wrong.  Realize that maybe your mother has changed.  Or maybe there’s nothing and your imagination has gotten the best of you.”

Cassie crossed her arms, pouting.  “I’m not crazy.”

“I never said you were.”

“Uh huh.”  Cassie turned back in the direction of the hallways.  “MOM!”

There was a shuffle from upstairs.  The teacher and mentor listened as feet padded across the second story to the staircase.  They stood in silence, waiting, until a middle aged brunette woman moved into the kitchen.

“Cassie, there’s no need to yell,” Helena Sandsmark said.  “How was school—?”  She stopped when she saw Diana.  “Oh!  What are you doing here?”

“Diana was in the area, mom,” Cassandra explained.  She was leaned against the countertop.  “I asked her over for dinner.  I hope there’s no problem with that.”

Helena glanced to Diana—

The look was brief but one that Diana knew well.  She saw it frequently on the faces of all the enemies she had gained in her time on Man’s World.  It was a glare of hatred; pure, unadulterated hatred.  However, seeing such a look on the face of Helena Sandsmark was downright surprising.  A red flag went up in Diana’s mind. 

The anger was gone a moment later, replaced by a smile on Helena’s face.  “Of course there’s no problem, sweetie.  Would you be a doll and set another place at the table?  I’m going to change into something presentable and I’ll be right back down.”  Helena had moved from the room before receiving any kind of answer to her request.

Cassandra reached into the cabinets and withdrew silver wear and a clean plate.  She set them down on the counter as her eyes drifted to the monarch of Themyscira.  “Tell me that I haven’t been talking to myself for the last hour.  You did notice something, right?  Wait, I know that look.  You did!  I told you I wasn’t crazy.”

Diana put up her palms and motioned for Cassie to calm down.  “I don’t know what to believe right now, but there is definitely something off about your mother.”

“How about the fact that isn’t my mother?  That would throw off your bloodhound like sense of truth, right?”

Diana chose not to respond to that comment.  “Whatever the case, it would be best to play along until we know anything for sure.  We don’t want to jump the gun and have it backfire in our faces.”

“You want me to play along like nothing is happening?” Wonder Girl asked, her arms thrown into the air.  “Not likely.”

“If you want answers and resolutions, then you will.”  Diana took a seat at the dinner table.  “It’s the only way, Cassie.”

The younger Sandsmark thought on it for a moment and realized that the former Goddess of Truth spoke nothing but her namesake.  She shook her head in frustration.  “Okay, fine.  What should I do?”

“You can start with setting me a place at the table.”


Themyscira

The first thing that Donna Troy felt was pain.  It was a burning sensation that ran throughout her body, unceasing.  Her eyes fluttered open and closed, obscuring the view from where she had been strung up by her wrists and ankles.  As consciousness returned, slowly but surely, the pain that was sweeping through her body relocated solely to her extremities.

Donna’s eyes widened as a white hot flash of agony swept through her body.  She winced but kept from screaming out.  In fact, she wasn’t even sure that she had the capability to do so.  Her throat was dry and her voice hoarse.  She tested calling out for help but all that came out were a few pathetic wheezes.

Her eyes glancing around, Donna immediately recognized the interior of the Throne Room.  Or was it?  The great windows that gave way outside were covered, throwing the Throne Room into near impenetrable darkness.  Despite the dark, however, Donna could see all around her, her eyes having adjusted quickly.  The spotless Greek architecture was obscured by foliage, giving the room a much more sinister tone than usual. 

And then it all came back to her.  She had been searching for the body of a sister Amazon who had allegedly been killed on the shores of Paradise Island.  In the end, no body had been found and a mystery opponent had beaten and kidnapped both Donna and the Archon Phillipus.

Phillipus!

Donna looked around from one end of the room to the other, her heart racing.  She felt a sigh of relief when she spotted Phillipus tied up opposite her.  The Archon was moving, though sluggishly.  It seemed she had just awakened as well.  And as Donna discovered, she wasn’t the only one who noticed.

“I’m glad to see that you’ve both returned to the land of the living,” a voice dripping in honey said.  The speaker was nowhere to be found.  “Though neither of you will believe me, I’m sorry that you had to become involved.  But to make a point, I have to prove that I’m serious.  This will show Diana that I’m serious.”

“Who are you?” Donna asked.

“Who am I?” the voice responded.  There was a finger snap and a flame came to life in the middle of the Throne Room.  The light cut through the dark like a knife, growing in intensity until the speaker was fully illuminated.  “I think you know.”

“Circe.”

The sorceress smiled, her perfect teeth glistening in the light of the flame.  She strode toward the former Titan, her heels clacking on the ground with each step.  Circe stopped at Donna’s feet, the latter wanting nothing more than to kick the smile of the woman’s face.  “Are you truly surprised that I’ve returned.  Diana and I are destined to battle each other until blood stains one of our hands.”

“But you helped Diana when no one else could,” Donna replied.  “Diana told me that you came to her aid.”

Circe shrugged.  “Call it a momentary lapse of judgment.  The death of Wonder Woman will be by my hands and no one else’s.”  She spun and made her way to the throne.  “And now that time has come.  With the death of Hippolyta, the royal blood line is down to one.  When Diana is gone, I will take over this island and transform it into the warrior nation that is was always meant to be.”

“The Amazons are peaceful!”

Circle chuckled.  “Sure they are.  That’s why Diana dreams of murdering the fiend who killed her mother.  That’s why Artemis, when she had taken Diana’s role in Man’s World, used violence as a path to success.  That’s why all of the Amazons train to protect themselves.  Look around you, sheep!  The answers are all there.  The Amazons are peaceful because they hadn’t had the need to defend themselves.  Hippolyta had placed Paradise Isle behind a veil of anonymity where it could not be found by those who didn’t have Amazon blood running through their veins.  However, now Diana has changed all that.”

“You’re sick!”

“I’m honest,” Circe shot back.  “Is it any coincidence that the first thing that happens after the Amazons come to Man’s World is battle?”

“Themyscira was attacked by America,” Donna said.  “We were defending ourselves.”

“At first, that is true,” the sorceress replied.  “But you should have seen the bloodlust in the eyes of your sisters.  However, you had been poisoned by the assassin Cheshire so you could not.  The Amazons were ready to kill.  Strangers had come to Themyscira and the Amazons lashed out.”  Circe sat upon the throne.  “And you know who is to blame for it?  Not the Amazons.  They were only acting out the roles they were born into.”  She smiled.  “It was Diana.”

“You don’t even know what you’re talking about.”

“I don’t?” Circe asked.  “Since the moment Themyscira appeared on this plane of existence, I’ve been on the island, watching and listening to everything that went on around me.  With my magicks, it was easy.  I was there in that meeting when Diana discussed bringing Themyscira to Man’s World.  Phillipus, the representative of the denizen Amazons, was all against it.  Yet Diana pushed forth and won out in the end.”

Donna struggled in her bonds.  “That’s not true.”

“It isn’t?” Circe asked.  “Let’s ask.  Phillipus, I know you’re awake.  You’ve been awfully quiet.”

“I’m plotting your death, sorceress,” the Archon responded vehemently.

“Case in point,” Circe replied.  She moved from the throne until she stood below Phillipus.  “You were against Themyscira coming to Man’s World.  Weren’t you?”

“Go to Hades.”

“Not the answer I was looking for,” Circe replied, deadpan.  Her palms glowed indigo.  “Speak the truth.”

Donna watched a struggle within Phillipus take place.  It was one she had seen many times before when Diana used to lasso to find the truth.  Phillipus was attempting to lie to Circe but looked to be failing.  “Yes,” the Archon finally said.  “I knew that the move would end in tragedy one way or another.  The Amazons were happy with the way things were.  After the manipulations of Darkseid, I believe the Amazons, myself included, were unsure of our future.  After all, our queen was dead.  Diana used that insecurity to goad us into following her path.”

“There you have it,” Circe replied turning to Donna.  “Straight from the horse’s mouth.”

Donna’s jaw had dropped.  None of the Amazons had said anything prior to this day.  They had appeared happy, but apparently looks were deceiving.

“This is just the beginning,” Circe said.  “Diana was right when she said a new age was starting for Themyscira.  Isn’t she going to be surprised when she returns here and finds that I usurped her power?  With me at the helm, the Amazons will get their just desserts. 

“The rein of Wonder Woman is over.”


Gateway City

“Can I get you anything else?”

Diana folded up her napkin and placed it on the table.  “Oh, no thank you, Helena.  That meal was outstanding.”

The older Sandsmark took a mock bow.  “Why thank you, your honor.  Or is it my liege?”

“Either will suffice,” Diana replied with laughter.

Helena rose from the table.  “I’m going to get you a drink.  You look thirsty.”

“Helena, that really isn’t—”

“It’s no trouble at all,” Helena said before disappearing into the kitchen.

Waiting until she heard activity inside the kitchen, Diana turned to Cassandra.  She shrugged.  “I just don’t see it, Cassie.  Maybe your mother is a bit more…quirky that normal, but that doesn’t mean she’s being impersonated.  Maybe you’re just…”

“Put the lasso on her,” Cassie suggested.  She reached down for the golden lariat at Diana’s side.

The Amazon Queen jumped to her feet, stepping out of Wonder Girl’s reach.  “That’s a bit extreme.”

“C’mon, what’s the worst that can happen?”  Cassie reached for the lasso once more and Diana again slid out of her reach.

“What if you’re wrong?” Diana asked. 

Cassie paused.  “Huh?”

“If you ask your mother about this and you are wrong, she will feel horrible that you doubt she is who she is.  However, if you really want to go ahead with this, then I will use the lasso.  You’ll find out your truth, good or bad.  Then you can deal with the consequences.”

Sitting back down in her chair, Cassandra weighed her opinions.  Was it possible that her imagination was just getting the better of her?  Had she seen so many out-of-this-world things that the littlest abnormality was being blown out of proportion?  Did she really want to take the chance that—

Helena pushed her way back into the dinner room, a pair of drinks in hand.  She placed down in front of Diana.  She flashed a debutant smile.  “There you go.  Drink up and enjoy.”

Diana eyed her protégé as she took a gulp of the beverage offered to her.  The liquid was sweet and she savored the taste as she swallowed.  “What’s in this, Helena?  It takes like heaven.”

“Cranberry and a special added ingredient,” Helena responded.  “You should be feeling it any moment now.”

“Feeling?” Diana asked.  She turned once more to Cassie.  And that’s when she felt it.

Her vision blurred quickly, disorienting her.  She rose to her feet but immediately collapsed to the ground, her senses no longer able to tell her which way was up and which was down.  The vertigo kicked up a notch from there, causing her to vomit up everything that she had just eaten.  Diana moaned in agony.

While this was going on, Cassie watched in jaw dropped surprise.  She wanted to help the woman that had turned her into a hero, but could see no way to do so.  Cassie knelt down at Diana’s side and gripped her body as it was wracked by spasms.  She looked up at her mother.  “What did you do?”

“Something I’ve wanted to do for as long as I can remember.”

Wonder Girl rose to her feet, pointing at Helena.  “You are not my mother.  I knew you weren’t my mother!”

“Trust your instincts, kid,” the woman that was not Helena replied.  “I’ve been watching you closely for weeks now.  I thought you would have exposed me long before this.”

“Who are you?  Why are you here?  And where the hell is my mother?” Cassandra asked, a torrent of questions filling her mind.  Diana had fallen silent at her feet, the pain in her body finally knocking her out.

“I was sent here to kill you,” the woman masquerading as Helena Sandsmark explained.  “It’s something that I should have done long ago.  But…now you’ve brought me Wonder Woman.  This means that I owe you.  Instead of killing you slowly and methodically, I’ll do it quickly so that you feel no pain.  It’s the least I can do now that I have Diana.”

“You won’t touch her as long as I’m standing here,” Wonder Girl said, hands on her hips.  She took a step, placing herself before Diana and the woman that wasn’t who she said she was.

“I’m doing you a favor, girl.  Don’t make me regret it.”

“Fuck you,” Wonder Girl replied.

A snarl came over the face that looked like Cassie’s mother.  “If that’s what you want.”

As the snarl turned into a smile, a change began to take place.  The woman that had been Helena Sandsmark until a moment ago began to transform into something different.  Her musculature increased and hair began to grow over her body.  Her teeth grew to points that could rip flesh.  It wasn’t until the transformation was complete that Wonder Girl knew who she was facing.  She gasped.

“Are you ready for this, Wonder Brat?” Barbara Minerva, the Cheetah, asked.  “I’m going to find out what your insides taste like.”

As Wonder Girl looked from the blood thirsty Cheetah to the unconscious Wonder Woman, she asked herself how she was going to survive the next few minutes.

Next issue:  Survival Instincts

Story © 2007 Matt Hrubey and may not be reproduced without permission.