Yesterday
The bar in downtown Crystal City was like any other. It didn’t stand out in any way. Its clientele consisted of the young D.C. generation, the interns who wanted a quick drink before heading home for the night. They got in, did their business, and left. It was the kind of place that if you wanted to be unnoticed, you could do so very easily.
That was why it had been chosen for the meeting.
Floyd Lawton and Bette San Souci had been waiting for nearly twenty minutes, nursing their third beer each, when she had decided to make her appearance. She strode through the door acting like she owned the place and made her way through the crowd with a look of distain on her face. She stopped before Lawton and San Souci and threw her weight down upon the booth seat opposite them.
“It’s about time you got here.”
“Shut it, Lawton,” Amanda Waller ordered. She reached into her briefcase and extracted a mountain of paperwork. “I’ve had a long fucking day and I don’t need your attitude. Let’s just get this done and we can all go about our business.”
“Sounds great,” Bette replied, with a smile that attempted to lighten Waller’s mood.
It failed. “I’m glad you think so,” the Wall replied with a sneer. She threw a folder to Lawton and one to Bette before opening one for herself. “You’ve both been called here because I need something taken care of and I can’t use certain capacities of my job to get it done.”
“It’s illegal and you want us to do your bitch work,” Lawton muttered. He was flicking through the pages, his face portraying displeasure at the target. “This one is going to cost you, Amanda.”
“And you’ll be well compensated,” she replied. “You all know about the drama going on between the White House and Themyscira. It’s all come to a head with the recent Amazonian invasion in Massachusetts and the President wants it to be over. Wonder Woman has claimed that the invasion was caused by a magically endowed foe of hers, but the President could care less. He wants Wonder Woman taken into custody and Themyscira under American control.”
“Oh, is that all?” Bette asked with sarcasm. “Why don’t we find the Fountain of Youth for him while we’re at it?”
Waller frowned. “Shut the hell up and listen. Themyscira is weak after their recent invasion. Now is the perfect time to strike. When the President assigned me this task, he told me by any means necessary. I’m forwarding that to you now. Bloodshed would be preferred at a minimum but you can use your own discretion to get the job done.”
“How do we get in contact with you when we’re done?” Lawton asked.
“You don’t,” she replied. “Believe me when I say I’ll know when the job has been accomplished or failed.”
“We’ll get started right away,” Bette said.
“Is there anything else that we should know, Amanda?” Lawton asked, eyeing the Wall suspiciously. “I feel like you’re neglecting to tell us something, which wouldn’t be altogether too surprising.”
“You’re on a time crunch,” the Wall said. “The President is sending troops to Themyscira tomorrow, when I don’t know yet. The sooner you get to Themyscira and finish this before the military arrives, the less casualties and political fall out there’ll be.”
“So get in fast, do the deed, and get the fuck out without being seen,” Lawton summarized.
“You can handle that?”
Lawton slid out of the booth and feigned being shot in the heart. “You wound me, Amanda,” he said. “This is going to be fun. And easy. You just have our money waiting for us. We’ll do the rest.”
Amanda Waller smiled for the first time. “Glad to hear it.”
 |
The Amazon Queen.....
Aftershocks Part Two: Targeted
|
|
Wonder
Woman #35 - October,
Year Five
|
by
Matt
Hrubey
|
Themyscira
Today
The force of the explosion knocked her off her feet and Diana was lying on her back before she could even comprehend what had just happened. She sat up, her eyes drifting to the tower of smoke that was billowing up into the sky. Following it to its source, Diana gasped when she saw a gaping hole in the side of the Royal Palace. If instinct told her right, the explosion had taken place right inside the Throne Room.
Pushing herself to her feet, another explosion rocked the palace. A cry of alarm came from Diana as she watched Themyscira come under attack once again. Spinning around toward the ocean, Diana spotted the naval fleet that was massing off in the distance. They had not moved since her visit to the remains of Athena’s temple so that meant the source of the explosions was here on the island.
Silence falling over the island, Diana waited a moment to see if another explosion was forthcoming. When she was confident that the onslaught was over, she took action, flying up into the air and back toward the palace. First order of business was making sure that no one was hurt.
The smoke burned at her eyes as she entered the palace through the hole in its side. Gagging, she looked all around the ruins, her eyes searching for anyone that might have been caught in the explosions.
BLAM!
Diana reacted, but too late. The bullet ripped through her shoulder, causing her to cry out in agony. Diana collapsed to her knees, her hand drifting to the blood covered wound. She heard footsteps behind her and knew her assailant was coming in for the kill. Or was he?
When the footsteps stopped and no other action was taken, Diana turned and found a familiar figure standing in the Throne Room. “Deadshot,” she said, recognizing the head to toe uniform of the man who had often operated with the now debunk Suicide Squad.
“Why hello, queenie,” Deadshot responded. “Did I catch you at a bad time?” The gauntlet on his wrist was aimed between her eyes.
“What are you doing here?” Diana asked. She rose to her feet, the pain subsiding as her shoulder went numb. “Themyscira has done you no wrong.”
“As true as that is, rumor has it that there’s a price on your head,” Deadshot replied. Diana could tell Lawton was smiling beneath his mask. “You’ve pissed off a lot of people, lady, and now they’re waiting for retribution. So if you would please get down on the ground and put your hands behind your head, it would be much appreciated.’
“You’ve come for me,” Diana stated.
“That I have.”
“If you want me, then you have to earn me,” Diana replied, her face set in fury, “and I will not be taken out in handcuffs like a common criminal.”
Deadshot shrugged. “Alright, body bag it is.”
Gateway City
There was a thin layer of dust coating the picture when she plucked it from its place on the fireplace mantle. She used her palm and wiped away the grime so that the picture underneath showed clearly. It showed two women—a mother and daughter pairing. They were both happy, evident by the smiles on their faces. The blonde girl, about nine years old at the time, had her head lying on the older woman’s shoulder.
Cassandra Sandsmark sniffled and replaced the picture on the mantle. She turned around, her eyes drifting around the living room of her home. The only problem was that this place now felt more like a tomb than a place she could call home. Why had she come back here? Closure?
She had been emotional when she left Themyscira. She had half-expected Diana or Donna to chase her and pull her out of the sky so that she couldn’t leave the island. Cassie sighed; this was probably their way of giving her independence to make her own decisions. That wasn’t what she needed right now.
Cassie moved into the kitchen where the scenes of battle were plainly seen. The battle with the Cheetah some hours ago was still fresh in her mind as she walked across damaged property and stuck her head into the refrigerator for something to drink. When she pulled back out, she saw a man’s face staring at her through the nearby window.
“Hera!” Cassie exclaimed, the milk gallon being thrown up in the air. It landed on the ground and burst open, pouring its content all over the kitchen floor. Another look at the man’s face brought recognition and she moved to the back door to let him inside. “Detective Schorr?”
“I hope I didn’t scare you too much,” Mike said.
Cassie glanced down at the last remains of milk. “Nope, didn’t scare me at all. I meant to do that.”
Mike stripped off his jacket, which prominently displayed his police badge, and set it upon the kitchen table. He looked at Cassandra. “How are you?”
Crossing her arms, Cassie asked, “What are you doing here?”
“Huh? I can’t be concerned?”
“Diana called you, didn’t she?” Cassie asked. “How else would you even know I’m here, detective?”
Mike shrugged. “Lucky guess?”
“She couldn’t even come herself,” Cassie whispered underneath her breath. It was a quiet remark but Mike heard it nonetheless.
“Yes, Diana did call me. She appeared in my bathroom mirror while I was in the shower. Scared the shit out of me.”
No laughter from Cassie.
Mike laid a hand on her shoulder. “She would have come, but some things have come up on Themyscira,” he explained. “I take it you haven’t seen the news?” When Cassie shook her head, he continued, “The President is calling for Diana’s head. Themyscira is about to have a lot more trouble than it wants or needs.”
For a second, Cassie felt ashamed at having left Themyscira in such a state. She swallowed it, however. “Is she alright?”
“For now,” Mike responded, “but that’s not why I’m here either. She’s worried about you. And after telling me what happened, I’m worried too.”
“I’m fine,” Cassie responded, moving to the window and looking outside. It was raining. Very fitting.
“I hate to be blunt,” Mike responded, sitting upon the couch, “but your mother is dead. I’m pretty sure the last thing you are is fine. You did run away from Themyscira, after all.”
Cassie turned. “No, I didn’t.” Back to the window. “I flew.”
“Technicality,” Mike replied. “Cassie, I know what you’re going through. I lost my father when I was young and it hurt badly. But I went through a self-destructive period because I had no other outlet for my emotions. I wish somebody would have sat me down and talked to me. That’s what I’m doing for you right now.”
Cassie shook her head. “I don’t need to talk.”
“Then what do you need, Cassandra?”
“That’s an easy one,” she replied. She looked at Mike and replied without a hint of emotion. “Revenge.”
Themyscira
Donna Troy spotted the intruder just as she was about to light the fuse on another bomb.
She had been heading to her quarters when the first bomb had gone off. She had hastily been on her way to the Throne Room when the second had blown. Now, she stood still in a hallway leading to the Throne Room, having stopped when she saw a long haired woman setting what was obviously a third bomb.
“You’re making a huge mistake,” Donna stated. “I’d back away from there right now before you—”
The woman started and spun. A blade that had been concealed flew from her hand, intent on embedding itself in Donna’s jugular. It bounced off an Amazonian bracelet and shattered. The woman’s eyes widened. Donna grimaced.
“Who the hell are you?” Donna asked, taking a step toward the intruder. “And what are you doing here? I mean, besides the obvious.”
“Called me Plastique, darling,” she replied. She placed her hands on her hips. “Maybe you’ve heard of me.”
“Nope,” Donna replied with a shake of the head. “Can’t say I have.”
Plastique frowned. “What a pity.” Unbeknownst to Donna, her hand had reached into her pocket and extracted a small device the size of a lifesaver. She threw it as Donna moved to apprehend her. Then she turned and ran like hell.
The small device connected to Donna’s bracelet when she moved it to protect herself once more. Donna looked at the device and saw it pulsating. She attempted unsuccessfully to dislodge it. When the device turned green, Donna knew she was in trouble. Pulling off the bracelet, she let it fly and ducked for cover.
What followed was an explosion the size of which Donna would never have believed possible from such a small weapon.
The hallway began to rain down all around her.
“This is becoming pointless, Deadshot. All you’re doing is wasting bullets.”
Floyd Lawton was an expert marksman. One would have to be to possess the codename Deadshot and be taken seriously. However, in battling the Amazon Queen, Deadshot was finding his skills not up to the challenge. He was becoming increasingly frustrated as each bullet that he fired off ricocheted from Wonder Woman’s bracelets. “It’s only pointless until you get tired,” he shot back, “and that’s only a matter of time now.”
Thus far, Diana had managed to keep her cool. Themyscira had been invaded once more, this time not by a national government, but by a common, everyday super-villain who had decided to make an even bigger name for himself by taking down the number one most wanted person in America. The disrespect that was directed toward Themyscira was long past annoying and Diana was beginning to have a difficult time controlling her emotions, something she rarely struggled with. But as Deadshot fired off another bullet that grazed Diana’s cheek, she knew that her internal battle to keep calm was over.
Having been the first bullet to strike anywhere near home, Wonder Woman and Deadshot each stopped and stared at each other. Deadshot was smiling underneath the mask. Wonder Woman was gritting her teeth. She wiped a trail of blood from her cheek and grunted like a wild animal. “You should not have done that.”
Diana moved with the Speed of Hermes and made her way behind Deadshot. For a moment, the marksman was stumped. The woman had moved faster than he had ever seen someone move—with the exception of Superman and the Flash—and he had not expected it. When he felt the arm wrap around his neck and cut off his air supply, Deadshot realized that he should have probably read up better on Wonder Woman and not underestimated her. He had been cocky and now he was going to pay for it unless he did something drastic and fast.
Wonder Woman was squeezing tightly and Lawton could see the darkness pressing into his field of vision. He gagged.
“You should not have come here,” Wonder Woman stated, her words full of malice. “My sisters have been through enough.”
Deadshot replied then, his voice barely a whisper, “What makes ::cough:: you think that I came ::cough:: alone?” Even in pain, a smirk contorted his mouth upward.
Wonder Woman’s eyes widened at the revelation. She let up some on the chokehold. “Who else is here, Deadshot? Tell me!”
His only response was to stomp down as hard as he could onto Wonder Woman’s right foot. The attack didn’t hurt the Amazon Queen but she most assuredly was not prepared for it. The grip around his neck lessened even more. Deadshot threw back his head and connected with Wonder Woman’s jaw. The Amazon released the marksman and took a step back, her own vision betraying her now.
Deadshot rubbed his tender neck and snared. “You should have just given up at the beginning,” he stated before raising his wrist pistol up to Wonder Woman’s eye level. “Now, we have to do things the hard way.”
Wonder Woman inhaled, anticipating what was to come—
Deadshot screamed out in pain as an arrow pierced through his arm, right below the wrist. He recoiled from Wonder Woman and turned to find another Amazon staring at him. Her skin was deep ebony and her even darker hair was pulled back into a tight bun. “Outsider,” she muttered with disdain before rushing him. A well placed punch to the sternum and an elbow to the back of the head put Deadshot down for the count.
Witnessing the confrontation, Wonder Woman took the moment to catch her breath. After Deadshot fell, Diana smiled. “Thank you for your aid, Phillipus. I don’t want to think about what would have happened if you hadn’t shown up.”
“You let him nearly best you, Diana,” the Archon responded. “That is most unlike you. You should not let your emotions control you the way they have been recently.”
“Easier said than done,” Wonder Woman said. “Now, I need to get going. Deadshot is not alone. Stay here and restrain him while I deal with the rest of our unwelcome guests.”
Aboard one of the naval cruisers holding position off the coast of Themyscira, the United States Director of Meta-Human Affairs lowered the binoculars from her eyes. Amanda Waller was smiling like a cheshire cat at what she saw. There was a steady flow of smoke emanating from somewhere within the Royal City of Themyscira. That meant that Plastique had struck already. It was a matter of time until this was wrapped up now.
“What are your orders, ma’am?”
Waller cast a second long glance at the uniformed naval officer that was standing on the top of the cruiser with her. Returning her steady gaze to Themyscira, she responded to the question. “Tell the squadron to begin its approach. We’re taking Themyscira down within the hour.”
Helena Kosmatos spotted the woman climbing out of a hole in the side of the palace. She was dressed in a form fitting costume and had a mane of hair that cascaded down her shoulders and across her breasts. The woman was unrecognizable meaning she was the one responsible for the explosions.
That meant the bitch was going down.
Helena’s body began to change then, growing in mass and darkening in skin color. When the pair of wings sprouted from her back, the transformation was complete. She leapt through the air, streaking toward the woman like a javelin.
It wasn’t until the Fury was almost upon her that the woman, Plastique, noticed the trouble she had just walked into. She braced herself for the impact but was still starved of oxygen when they collided. Rolling across the ground, Plastique kneed the Fury in the stomach, knocking them apart.
The Fury hissed. “You will die for what you’ve done.”
Plastique cocked an eyebrow. “And here I thought the Amazons were peaceful.”
“Unfortunately for you, I wasn’t raised on this island. I have no problem ripping your throat out.” She lunged.
Plastique ducked beneath the attack and spun. Plucking a device from her belt, she stabbed the pointed edge between the Fury’s shoulder blades. The Fury cried out in agony as blood rushed down her back. She turned to find Plastique running away. For a moment, she wondered what was happening.
And then the device on her back exploded.
Pain and agony swept through her body as a fireball erupted. The flesh contorted and began to melt and weld together. The Fury grunted as she collapsed to the ground, her senses overloaded with pain.
Plastique stood over her fallen opponent and smiled. She said nothing as she turned and ran to find Deadshot. The mission was still going after all.
She saw a glint of light out of the corner of her eye. As she searched for the cause, pain swept up her leg and she stumbled. Plastique looked down and saw blood seeping from her leg. Closer inspection showed that her Achilles heel had been sliced in half. Gritting her teeth, Plastique saw the glint of light again.
Wonder Woman stood some feet away; her hand extended out as her tiara came spiraling back to her like a boomerang. “You’re not running away from this one,” she said as she replaced the tiara upon her head. “Deadshot is defeated. As are you. Now tell me, woman, who sent you here?”
Plastique’s hand was settled over her wound, trying to stop the bleeding before she bled out. She was already starting to feel weaker than usual. “You’ve…made a lot of…influential enemies, Amazon,” she replied. “We’re here because of them.”
Grabbing her opponent by the jaw, Wonder Woman yanked Plastique’s head up until they were face to face. “I’m going to need you to be more specific.”
“Diana!”
Wonder Woman glanced over her shoulder and saw one of her sisters approaching. The girl was young and breathing heavy.
Still holding Plastique’s face, Wonder Woman asked, “What’s wrong?”
“It’s the ships on the horizon,” the Amazon woman replied, her face showing panic. “They’re coming closer. What should we do?”
“Time is running out,” Wonder Woman muttered under her breath. Looking at her sister, she responded. “Gather everyone together in the square. Also, find one of the healers and have her care for Helena. She’s injured gravely.”
The Amazon girl nodded. “I understand. What are you going to do?”
Turning, Wonder Woman punched Plastique in the jaw, knocking the woman out with one hit. Throwing Plastique over her shoulder, Wonder Woman gave a promising smile to the Amazon. “I’m going to do something that I should have done a long time ago.”
Amanda Waller was all smiles, which was usually a bad sign for somebody else. But why shouldn’t she be at that moment? Wonder Woman, who had been a thorn in her side since Paradise Island had appeared one day in United States territory, was about to be taken into federal custody for her crimes. The naval fleet was almost to Themyscira and the Amazon’s time was ticking away, clock stroke by clock stroke.
From a distance, Themyscira was quiet. After Plastique’s explosions, there had been no sign of the two agents she had sent in. It was possible that they had both been defeated already, but sending Deadshot and Plastique in would send Wonder Woman a message regardless that she would no longer be tolerated.
However, that was when the strangest thing of all happened. Blinking her eyes multiple times as if she had just woken up, Waller stared out over the place that Themyscira had been a moment before. ‘Had been’ was the choice phrase as the island was no longer there. Waller’s eyes looked over her shoulder, searching for an explanation to the disappearance.
“Director Waller?”
“I don’t know,” she answered the captain preemptively. “I—” She squinted her eyes as she spotted figures flying off in the distance. They were too far away to recognize them at the moment, but it was clear they were coming closer.
There were two sets of pairs. Two women, who appeared strangely similar, were holding another pair of individuals with bright colored costumes. Crossing her arms, Waller frowned as the flying women dropped the unconscious Plastique and Deadshot onto the hull of the naval cruiser.
“I figured I would bring you your garbage back,” Wonder Woman told Waller. The queen mimicked the Wall’s motion and crossed her arms.
“You have some balls, Waller,” Donna Troy said. She was covered in cuts and scrapes. “I don’t know how many UN sanctions you broke by sending these two in after Diana. We’re going to crucify you.”
“No, we’re not,” Wonder Woman replied harshly, turning to Donna. “It’s over. All of it.”
Waller was confused, something she didn’t like to be. “Nuh uh, ladies. This is over when I say it is. Now where the hell is your island?” she asked Wonder Woman.
Looking back at the Wall, Diana’s eyes betrayed the intense sadness she was feeling. Wonder Woman replied to the question after a moment of silence. “Where it belongs. In the realm of the Gods where my sisters will not face the persecution they have been witness to here. As I said before, it’s over. Themyscira is gone for good.”
Next Issue: The futures of Wonder Woman, Donna Troy, Wonder Girl, the Amazons, Themyscira, and more are revealed. It all comes down to Wonder Woman #36 where we find out whether or not the Amazons will be living “Unhappily Ever After.”
Story © 2008 Matt Hrubey and may not be reproduced without permission.