The Amazon Princess..... "Dragon Lines"
Wonder Woman #5 - May, Year One	by Des Davies

In most circumstances the man standing at the top of the steps of the Gateway City Museum of Antiquities would have looked comical. He was obviously Oriental from his facial features which included a long, thin moustache that could have easily come from the villain in a Fu Man Chu movie. However, he was wearing a dark black suit that looked like it had belonged to someone six inches shorter and fourty pounds heavier than it's current wearer.

However, as comical as his appearance may have looked, the fact that he was somehow holding a police car in the air in front of him made him dangerous.

The front of the building behind the man was marked by quite a few bullet holes although the man himself was untouched. The police that had first arrived in response to the alarm were being treated for serious broken bones and bleeding but so far no one had been further injured. Crouched down behind the front wing of another police car, Mike Schorr caught his breath after finally getting the idiots around him to stop shooting. Why was it, he thought, that they can't see that they aren't hitting him. No, they had to keep pounding away, hoping for a 'lucky' shot.

With an elegant gesture of his left hand the suspended police car came crashing back to earth. With a glance to make sure that the maniac on the museum steps wasn't going to do something else Schorr sent two emergency medics to get the two officers out of the vehicle. He then watched as the man turned and walked back into the building. He didn't fail to notice the two men left behind to watch the police outside.

A tall man, dressed in black training pants with a dark purple piping down the leg flowed into another kata. The flat of his palm stabbed upwards before being followed with a forward snap kick. The movements flowed like water from one into another. Only those trained in several martial forms would have realized that in fact, the four katas that had been displayed so far came from three different schools. Fortunately, those watching were very knowledgeable of every form of combat.

"You still think he was a bad choice?" the tallest of the six figures present asked.

"He shows discipline and skill Nergal, but he is a wild card. We have little to use to mold him as we would wish," replied the man attired in a Japanese kimono.

"You worry too much Amatsu," boomed the black garbed figure clutching a long spear. "If he follows not the path we chose for him we take back the key. Then he is nothing more than a skilled mortal once more."

"This one may be more than you think," cackled the old hunched over hag that stood slightly apart from the others. "He has more potential that any of the other pawns we have made. But be warned, he stands close to the edge of madness and it would take little to topple him over. Killing his parents in front of him Set may have made him hate order, but it has also made him reckless."

The golden skinned, tall, slim man looked at the source of the comment and an expression of distaste replaced the look of satisfaction that had been there. "Hate is what drives him Morrigan not madness. It is what led him to seek learning and what ultimately allowed him to follow the trail we left to the key to the Armory that he now has access to. Even I am surprised by how much he has discerned of the items we placed there. The only thing that concerns me is his over-confidence. His plan is good but it is not foolproof. Especially now that Ares favorite target has entered the picture."

Set turned to look at the one person who had not yet spoken.

"Diana has long been a thorn in my side, but her message would prove equally troublesome for each of you. The Council of War should not discount her so quickly. As for her presence within the city that our agent plots against, it will allow us to evaluate his potential more completely."

Looking into the red eyes hidden behind the full face helm, the black garbed figure asked, "So even with your personal enemy present you think we should not interfere?"

"No Svantovit. We must continue to learn whether our new plan of using unwitting human pawns will serve our purpose. I will take care of Diana at some other time."

With that the six figures turned back to the scrying portal they had created and watched the man continue his training.

Daryn Phillips looked up from the book he was examining as his assistant walked into the room.

"Yes Teresa?"

"Sorry to interrupt Daryn but I think you should turn on the radio. There's trouble at the museum."

With a smile Daryn gestured to the tall, blonde-haired older woman to turn the radio on. The smile soon disappeared as he listened to the reporter.

"It appears that the two police officers whose car was dropped from a height of approximately twenty feet escaped with minor injuries. The strangely dressed individual has now re-entered the Gateway Museum of Antiquities although two of his associates are visible in the entranceway. It would appear that the police are out of their league with this situation and this reporter wonders when Gateway new resident super-hero will arrive."

"Please turn the television on to a local news channel Teresa. I'd like to see what pictures they have of this situation."

Teresa turned and switched on the television and they both watched as the local news station displayed replays of the drama that had occurred at the museum. When they displayed a still picture of the man that had caused all the damage Daryn's eyes narrowed and he walked over to the shelves running the length of one side of the room. He quickly selected one of the books and took it back to his desk. Quickly but with obvious care, he flipped through the book and stopped on a particular page.

When his assistant came over to see what he was looking at he quietly said, "The Crown of Wan-Li."

His hand reached for the telephone cradled on the desk and, after consulting his pocketbook, dialed.

Wonder Woman sped into the night sky leaving her new home and the ringing telephone behind. She had heard the reports of the trouble at the Museum on the radio after she had returned home from the fight between the two gangs. Without pausing, she had taken to the air once more.

Within moments she reached the Museum and floated high in the air looking down at the destruction that had accompanied the arrival of the police. Her eagle sharp eyesight made out the figure of the detective she had saved a week previously. He appeared to be in charge of the situation and she made her way down to him.

"Can someone tell me who Fu Manchu was? "

Diana heard the question as she approached and the expletives that followed it. She frowned as she listened to the reply made by an older officer crouched behind his own cruiser.

"Never seen him before Mike, but I know the two goons hiding in the doorway. They're both Jimmy Hung's boys."

"What are Jimmy Hung's boys doing so far from their neighborhood?" Schorr voiced in return. When he saw the other officers were all now looking skyward he turned his own gaze in that direction expecting the worse.

His lips arched into a grim smile as he saw Wonder Woman descending towards him.

"Can I be of some assistance officer?" Diana asked tightly.

"In most cases I'd say no but with the things this maniac did I think we're going to need some help."

"A wise man knows when he is over his head and accepts help. A fool continues to stumble," she stated with calm dignity as she alighted on the ground.

Schorr's face showed that he was having trouble deciding if it should be showing annoyance or humor at her comments and before it could settle on one another officer shouted, "Sir, we have only one guard. The other just ducked back into the building."

"Well I guess they know you're here. Hopefully they won't decide to do something about it."

Diana turned as the detective was talking and sized up the building. She took in the guard stationed at the entranceway and considered the layout of the building from her memory.

"Sit tight a moment Wonder Woman while I work out how we need to play this."

Stefan Holliday leaned back in his chair and blew smoke around the fine Cuban cigar gripped carefully in his mouth.

"So Billy. You haven't completed your end of the deal? How do you suppose that makes me look? Well, let me tell you how it makes me look. Bad. It makes me look like a small time punk who can't control his own people. So tell me Billy, do you suppose I like looking bad?"

Holliday looked down the length of the cigar at the young man standing in front of his table. He was no older than twenty two and was trying to grow a beard. With his pale yellow hair it was hardly worth the effort.

"No Mr.Holliday."

Billy had been here before and knew better than to say anything more than was asked of him. The last time he had, he'd ended up with bruised kidneys for two weeks afterwards. He remembered how hard it was to go to the bathroom with kidneys that hurt.

"Billy I'm tired of having to explain to you twice what I want done. Eric take Billy outside and explain it for me please. And have Rogers come see me on your way out."

Holliday looked down at the newspaper on the table so he didn't see the terrified look on Billy's face or the sadistic grin on Eric's face. The black man sitting at the table to Holliday's right, who could easily have played for the Conquistadors, noticed however.

He'd been invited to join Mr.Holliday at the club this evening and as usual he had been the loyal employee and had come. He didn't care for the fate of the youth being led out of the club but he did recognize the looks of dislike that many of the people in Holliday's organization gave their boss when he wasn't looking. Not many people liked him obviously. However, he had surrounded himself with several good bodyguards and those he kept happy. Holliday was no ones fool the black man had come to realize but he also had no idea of how disliked he was.

The black man reached up and brushed his left hand through his dreadlocked hair. The tinkling sound of metal on metal caused a nearby waitress to look over. She saw the small metal slivers attached to the end of each dreadlock and on his shoulder she noticed the tattoo of the letters RX. The X was descending from the leg of the R and a blade pierced both with a single drop of blood hanging from its tip.

She looked away quickly not wanting to upset someone in Mr.Holliday's group but was relieved to see the large smile on the black man's face.

Diana strode purposefully down the hall leading away from the Museum's main entrance. She had talked with the police detective about what had happened before she had arrived but she knew of no one matching the description he had given her. Nevertheless, given the abilities that had been displayed Diana knew that he was well beyond the capabilities of the Gateway City police department. It had taken her only a few moments to convince the detective of that fact and he had agreed to allow her to attempt to resolve the situation.

She had entered through the main doors and after she had dealt with the one guard she had taken examined the area before determining the direction she needed to go. The hallway she was now in led to the ancient cultures wing of the museum. An area that she was familiar with as it contained the Ancient Greek rooms that she acted as a guide for. However, those rooms were still several hallways distant. The one directly at the end of this hallway was being redecorated for a new exhibit and Diana had not had the time over the last few weeks to pay much attention to what that was going to be.

As she reached the half way point of the hall a man dressed in a suit that was at least two sizes to big for him stepped into view at the other end. She stopped and waited for him to approach her but he continued to stand where he had first entered. Diana began to walk towards the lone figure as it quickly became apparent that he was not going to move towards her.

When she was twenty feet away she halted once more as he said, "I am honored that such a beautiful emissary has been sent."

Diana considered the comment. "Greetings, I am hopeful that we will be able to resolve this without further violence."

"The incident with the guards outside and their… cars was unfortunate. I would prefer that such an incident did not take place again. However, I will not tolerate disrespect."

Diana noticed his use of 'guards' rather than police and his pause before 'cars'.

"What is it you want?"

"It would appear that people of this time have forgotten how to address their betters."

There was irritation in his clipped voice that carried the subtle phrasing of the Orient.

"How is it that I should address you?"

"I was, and am now once more, Emperor Wan-Li. Light of the Heavens. Lord of the Dynasties. Guide to Paradise."

"Then I bring you greetings from the people of Gateway City. I am Princess Diana of Themyscira."

Diana noted the slight inclination of an eyebrow as she introduced herself.

"It is good to know that someone chose wisely when they selected their emissary. Are you married Princess Diana?"

"No. I have duties that have prevented me from taking the time to find a husband."

"You would make a fine consort once I have resumed my place."

"You know that you are no longer in the East?"

"Yes. I am in a place called… America. No matter. There are descendants of my people here and from what I have understood so far, it appears that my own country has lost its way over the intervening centuries. It appears that I have much to do."

"What of the man whose body you have stolen?"

Diana realized her mistake quickly. "Stolen? You insult me. Am I some thief that comes in the night? No! I am Wan-Li. The wretch that once occupied this shell was searching for power. Power that only I may wield. He sealed his own fate when he allowed me in."

"Nevertheless, you, or the body you now possess, entered these premises unlawfully and I suspect that he stole the crown that you wear on your head. As such you cannot be allowed to leave without the situation being resolved."

"His doings are not my concern. Neither are your petty laws. You may inform your leaders that I will leave this building."

With that pronouncement he turned and began to move into the room beyond and Diana saw her chance to end this without further injuries. Ignoring the fact that she was attacking from behind she ran towards him. She was about to reach out and grab the crown from his head when the floor beneath her feet buckled and she found herself passing by out of arms length.

She turned and halted her run. Even though she had tried to attack him he was still ignoring her. Feeling anger at the dismissal she was receiving Diana threw herself into the air and using her gift from Hermes was instantly within grasping distance of the crown. As she reached for it with hands moving faster than the eye could see she felt them move away from it on their own accord. She tried again with the same result. Then again, and again, faster and faster, but each time her hands found ways to slide past the crown. Finally she sent a fist towards the body of Wan-Li.

Diana felt her arm begin to slide to one side once more and exerted her strength to fight the pressure. Suddenly the force moving her arm changed direction and she flew towards the ground and impacted with all the strength she had been exerting. It was enough to rattle her thoughts for a moment and when she looked up she saw that Wan-Li was now looking down at her. There was annoyance in his eyes.

As she began to roll to her feet she felt her motion being continued and she slammed hard into a wall. Pushing herself to her feet she turned and faced the strange man. An unexpected blow to her midriff doubled her over and then she found herself hanging in midair upside down.

"You are flawed child. You have the gifts of heaven but even at their fullest extent they are insignificant compared to the forces I command. In your current condition it is a simple matter to defeat you."

Diana attempted to right herself but could feel her strength failing. Sweat began to pour down her face and in moments her hair was a soaking mass. Still she struggled to break free of the grip holding her but found that she was unable to do anything as she was slammed once more into the ground.

Cassie Sandsmark looked out from behind the statue of a Chinese soldier where she had hidden herself. She looked at the crown she held in her hands and wondered why she had taken the chance on retrieving it. It was a simple thing made of plain gold, not like the ones that Princess Diana had worn.

As a guard entered the main room and spoke to the man in the too big suit she listened carefully. She had caught the words 'Wonder Woman' and couldn't stop the big grin spreading across her face. She could see her mother being held near one of the display cases and she didn't seem to be in any immediate danger. Cassie grimaced a little as she knew that her mother would not have approved of her being out here. Calling the police like she had, maybe, but putting herself into this situation could easily get her grounded for a month.

However, if she was going to get to see Wonder Woman beat up on these jokes it was certainly going to be worth it. She didn't notice the way her hands gently caressed the crown they held.

As she watched the little man walked to the hallway and confronted Diana, Cassie had watched and was dismayed when they spent so much time talking. She was too far away to catch what was being said but she almost gasped out loud when she saw Wonder Woman lunge for the crown and obviously miss it. She felt the statue rock a little as Wonder Woman was slammed into the ground and then into a wall. She gripped the crown tightly as she saw her hung upside down and wasn't aware that as Wonder Woman was slammed once more into the ground and unconsciousness that she was slipping the crown onto her head.

When the world began to fade before her eyes she knew that something was wrong.

When Cassie opened her eyes again she knew that not much time had passed as the room was still filled with the thugs and her mother. She put her hands to her head in an effort to stop the colors from exploding in front of her eyes. It was then that she realized that she was wearing the crown she had taken earlier. Her first instinct was to remove it, but she stayed her hands and decided that it felt comfortable where it was.

She looked around the room again and tried to blink away the patterns of color but they stubbornly refused to move. Or rather they remained in her vision but continued to move lazily in what appeared to be defined paths. Slowly, she was able to focus past the colors and took in the room.

It was obvious that the man, Wan-Li she knew was his name, was preparing to leave. Her mother was still standing near one of the display cases but now she could see shimmering reds and golds wrapped around her like silken scarves. Looking further around the room she saw Wonder Woman laying down on the floor where she had been slammed. She was also wrapped in colored bands but these were browns and grays and looked more like spider silk.

She wanted to reach out and help. Wonder Woman looked so drained where she lay and Cassie could just make out beneath the brown and gray bands a network of pale blue lines that covered her body. "She is cursed" a voice whispered in her mind.

As she watched she saw Wonder Woman begin to move and saw her strain against bonds which Cassie knew she could not see. The effort brought looks from several of the men with Wan-Li which in turn brought laughs. Cassie felt anger bubbling to the surface and was about to reach out in a way that she only half understood when the voice in her mind whispered "No. He will sense you. It is better to work this way."

Moments later Cassie was whispering silently to an almost invisible breeze that was wafting past her. She watched as it wended its way towards Wonder Woman. As it slipped past her she stopped struggling and looked pointedly in Cassie's direction.

The breeze circled around Wonder Woman and then slid back to Cassie. Once more she whispered to it and sent it curling back towards Wonder Woman.

Diana continued to work her strength against whatever was binding her but she had had more luck wrestling against Kal-El. She listened as the breeze spoke into her ear once more.

"He's bound you with the Earth lines. Wan-Li is a master of Feng Shui. He can sense you even when he's not looking at you. I put one of the other crowns on and I can see the lines too but I don't have the strength to be able to fight him. What should I do Wonder Woman?"

It circled away from her again then returned. "Oh, I am such a dunce. If you whisper to the breeze it'll bring your words back to me."

Diana thought for a moment and then her eyes flashed as an idea came to her. Quietly she explained her thoughts to the breeze.

Cassie watched from her hiding place keeping her attention split between Wonder Woman and Wan-Li. As she noticed a slight nod from Wonder Woman she called to the little breeze and it floated back to her. As she listened to Wonder Woman's plan she began to smile at first and then looked back at the bound hero.

The breeze that returned to Diana carried the worried voice of Cassie perfectly.

"Wonder Woman you're hurt. Isn't there something else I can do? He's done something else to you…"

Diana didn't wait for the voice to finish. She looked over to Cassie's hiding place and shook her head once.

Cassie took a deep breath and reached out to touch the lines binding Wonder Woman. As she released them from the pattern they had been folded into she noticed that Wan-Li had turned and was looking in her direction.

"Come out Lin-Tse. I feel your touch on the Dragon Lines and would know it anywhere."

When no one came forth he said more imperiously, "Come out now. Bow down as you did those many centuries ago and learn at my..."

He stopped short and reached to his head to find the crown no longer sitting there.

Turning around he watched as Diana halted at the far end of the room away from him.

"How?" he began but Diana cut him short.

"I have your object of power. It would be better if you surrender yourself."

"Wonder Woman," Cassie cried out, "the power is in him not the crown."

Diana didn't hesitate and began to run with the speed of Hermes. She was almost invisible to the human eye and she arced round and hit Wan-Li from the side. The blow broke his concentration and sent him sprawling across the floor. Diana continued to move although she could feel her strength slipping away from her.

She heard the retort of a gun but as she spun to defend herself she saw the bullet twist in the air and impact on the floor. Not stopping to consider her fortune she accelerated once more towards Wan-Li who was picking himself up off the floor. She heard several muffled thumps and grunts as Cassie used her new power to attack the other thugs. Diana caught Wan-Li with a glancing blow to the temple and he tumbled gracelessly to the floor again.

Breathing hard Diana slowed to a stop and looked at the man lying on the floor. He picked his head up and looked around the room. Finally finding Wonder Woman he scowled.

"I do not know how you have made yourself invisible to my Earth sense but this will not be the final reckoning. You have made yourself an enemy today. As have you Lin-Tse."

As Diana watched, his form began to fade from sight and then he was gone.

Cassie rushed out from behind the statue and with a gesture released the bonds that held her mother. She rushed in the direction of Wonder Woman just in time to catch her as her legs gave way.

"Wonder Woman I've got you," she said as she lowered her gently to the ground. "Wan-Li has gone. He used the Dragon Lines to transport himself away. Just lie still a moment and I think that we can help you."

"Cassandra what in heavens name do you think you are doing?" stormed a very angry Helena.

"Not now mom. I have to help Wonder Woman."

Cassie laid her hands on Diana and guided by the voice in her head she sent the water in the room flowing back into her. The effect was quick and Diana slowly sat herself up and reached out a hand to touch Cassie's cheek.

"What you did today was very brave child. I thank you. I could not have freed myself without your help and would not have though of using Demeter's gift. Gateway City, and I, owe you a debt."

Helena looked down at the two and couldn't quite believe what she was hearing. When Cassie turned and looked up and her mother with a huge grin plastered across her face she was surprised by the gasp that greeted her.

"Cassie what's happened to you?"

"What do you mean?"

Helena grabbed her daughter by the arm and hauled her over to one of the display cases.

Looking back at Cassie Sandsmark was a face she didn't immediately recognize. Certainly the hair that she had dyed blonde that weekend was the same and the gold crown was different. But her features had changed. Her eyes had developed an oriental tilt and it seemed that her entire face was slimmer and her nose more upturned.

"Wait till the girls see this makeover," she breathed excitedly.

Orin Scrivello sat at his breakfast bar and finished pouring himself a cup of coffee. Reaching out with his good arm he snagged the first envelop from his pile of mail.

He looked with surprise at the Gateway City seal on the envelope and wondered what it could contain. It was too early in the week for a pay check. Maybe it's a commendation for my bravery he thought with a smile. He slipped a finger inside and ripped it open.

His mouth compressed into a thin line as he read the letter inside and with anger evident he threw it at the wall. Reaching over he picked up the telephone and began to dial.

Next Issue:

Diana's dealings in South America come home to haunt her even as Gateway City seems to be facing its own problems.

Mail this time comes from Derrick Ferguson.

Doesn't look like the gang war is over to me! Matter of fact, it looks like things are just about to really get interesting. I loved your description of the fight between the two gang champions. Very cinematic and I could visualize it very easily. The only problem I had with this issue is that there wasn't enough Daryn!

Well, I'd be letting several cats out of the bag if I said too much about future plans coming from the gang war but suffice to say that there will be fall out from the events of the last issue. As for the fight scene I've had that in my head ever since #1 and was very glad to finally get it onto paper. It turned out exactly how I wanted it to and I'm glad it worked well. As for Daryn, I'm still trying to work out the fascination with him but at least I managed to get him into this issue so you should have gotten enough of a fix to last at least until next issue.