Legends of Wonder Woman #4

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Legends of Wonder Woman #4
Creating Her Destiny Part Four

Written by Dean Grey (Circe55)
Edited by Daniel Dyer (Spider-Man Beyond)

(*All dialogue translated from the Greek language)

I’ve never seen my island home in such a commotion before. Almost all of my Amazon sisters have undoubtedly heard the news by now. That a man from the outside world had crashed his aircraft on Themyscira and was still alive!

By the time Drusilla and I arrived at the scene of the crash, several Amazons had already taken the male pilot to the hospital on the east end of the island. He should be in good hands... I hoped. I worried that Mother and the others might not take kindly to him. As soon as I was done here I intended to make sure he was being treated properly.

<“A little higher, Princess,”> one of the other Amazons directed as she surveyed the damage from afar. <“The northeast end of the roof is slipping. It needs to be held a little higher.”>

It all happened so fast. First word of the crash, then Athena’s temple beginning to buckle. The aircraft collided into one of the oldest and largest of our temples on Paradise Island. The temple dedicated to Athena, our patron goddess of warfare and wisdom. Could this be an omen perhaps?

I know why my fellow “sisters” want it saved, but right now I’m more concerned about that pilot. I’m the only one here never to have seen a male in the flesh before. I wonder what he looks li--

<“Perfect, Princess. Hold the corner of the roof right there.”>

<“How much longer, Hellene?”> I impatiently asked as I hovered high into the air and braced the temple’s ceiling.

<“Euboea and some others are cutting down trees as we speak, Princess. Once the logs are ready we can use them as makeshift supports until new columns can be made.”>

<“That will take too long,”> I said under my breath.

When I first saw the damage to Athena’s temple, it looked like an explosion had blown out part of the structure’s side. It was engulfed in flames with several main Corinthian columns knocked down. Thankfully, the other Amazons had put the fire out and prevented anymore of the marble interior from burning.

From this vantage point I could see the tail end of the demolished plane as it poked through the smoking temple’s side. It looked similar to pictures of aircraft I’d seen in the great library. Like the types of planes my mother encountered during her brief stay in America during World War II. Except this plane looked larger, sleeker, more efficient, and much deadlier.

Down below where the temple was at its weakest, nearly two dozen Amazons tried to brace the quavering columns. With the addition of eight buttresses destroyed, the soaring structure was no longer sound. Two of my “sisters” braced up one column, three more held up another and so on and so on. I wish I could help but none of them even come close to matching my strength and none could dare hold up the roof but me. The ceiling alone must weigh close to sixty tons! If I leave this spot without the replacement beams in place, the entire temple could come crashing down.

At that moment, I saw a column come loose and start to fall. All I could do was shout a warning. To my surprise, my younger sister, Drusilla, not only caught the column by herself but managed to push it back up into place. With the exception of myself, normally all Amazons are up to five times stronger and faster than the average mortal. But Drusilla still being so young and able to accomplish what it takes two or three trained Amazons to do is quite impressive. As I smiled down at my younger sister, I turned, made contact with Hellene again, and called down to her.

<“Have the others brought the beams yet?”>

<“No, Princess, but they’ll--”>

<“--I must make sure the pilot is okay,”> I explained.

Hellene’s tone changed. She was noticeably agitated and bitter in her response. <“The male is being looked after. The temple is what’s important now, Princess.”>

This is what I was afraid of. My fellow Amazons had been terribly mistreated by men during the times of Ancient Greece. Unspeakable acts done to them which I felt uncomfortable thinking about and I feared they might take that frustration out on the man that crashed here today. My reply to Hellene was clear and direct.

<“This temple can be rebuilt. The gods only know we have all the time in the world. There are more important--”>

<“--Princess, this is one of the first temples we’ve built on Paradise Island. It is most sacred.”>

I looked down towards Hellene straight in her eyes and immediately responded, <“And human life is sacred too, regardless whether it’s a woman or not.”>

In an instant, I was gone from sight. Just as the temple’s massive ceiling looked like it was about to shift and fall, it stopped completely motionless. Tiny cracks could be seen all along the roofline and the splintering of marble could be heard.

All the Amazons gasped as Athena’s grand roof did not descend but ascended high into the air. Underneath the floating structure was myself with outstretched hands as I carefully brought the temple’s roof towards the ground. With relative ease, I placed the rooftop on the green clearing next to the damaged temple.

I smiled at Hellene and said, <“Now we don’t have to worry about it falling on anyone.”> Before Hellene could even argue, I was gone. having flown away.

~*~

[Spider-Man Beyond]

The hospital on the eastern end of Paradise Island...

As Queen of the Amazons, all the women on the island heed my every word. Today was not the case. Of the 15 of us crowded around the male pilot who was dressed in a military aviation uniform, I’m the only one that remained calm. Epione, who was the head physician, and her assistants scrambled around the room for supplies. The rest of my “sisters”, members of the royal guard, angrily poked and prodded the man on the ground with their axe hilts as they discussed amongst themselves.

<“What does this man want with our island?”>

<“Did you see what he did to Athena’s temple?”>

<“All they do is cause us trouble.”>

He had to be in his early 40’s but was still quite handsome. His bright blonde hair receded a bit and his athletic body looked worn out. He wore army dog tags around his neck and a gold ring on his wedding finger. I completely understood the others’ frustration over him but I had to take control of the situation.

<“Calm yourselves, my sisters,”> I said in a commanding, yet as soft a tone as possible. <“Look how still he lies. He can do us no harm at the moment.”>

<“But My Queen, this is the first time a male has found his way to our island that is still alive.”>

Before I could even reply to Philippus’ words, I heard my oldest daughter, Diana, at the hospital’s entrance. I peered around the corner as she stood at the outside trying to get in. One of the armored guards saw to it that she didn’t.

<“I’m sorry, Princess. Queen Hippolyta gave strict orders that no more visitors were allowed to see the male. There’s too many Amazons already trying to get in here and see what’s going on.”>

I know my oldest daughter too well and listened for her response.

<“I just want to make sure he’s all right,”> Diana explained as she began to walk towards the doorway.

The Amazon guard held out her spear and blocked the rest of the opening with her body. <“I’m sorry, Princess... I have my orders.”>

I watched my daughter while she stood a little straighter, raised her chin, and looked the guard square in the face. In a stern voice, Diana replied, <“As the Queen’s daughter, I command that you let me pass... now.”>

The Amazon guard paused for a moment, withdrew her spear, and moved to the side. <“At once, Princess.”>

I didn’t think my daughter had it in her. Before I knew it Diana was next to me in the marbled hallway.

<“I’ve come to make sure that the man is all right, Mother. Is he--?”>

<“He’s fine, Daughter. Unconscious, but fine.”> As I tried to block Diana’s view into the main room, I added, <“There’s nothing more to see here. The male is being well taken care--”>

My daughter looked past me, over my shoulder, at the small crowd huddled around the man dressed in his tattered clothing. <“Taken care of, Mother? Why is he crumpled up on the floor and still bleeding?”>

Diana was so focused on the male’s well being that she pushed right past me. So forcefully that I almost fell over. Normally an act of disrespect such as that would not go without reprimand. But there was something about the way my daughter acted right now that pleased me. She was being direct and commanding, like a true leader. No longer a naive princess, no, at this moment she acted like a queen.

<“Move aside, Philippus,”> Diana ordered while she kneeled down and gingerly scooped up the male in her toned arms. She placed him on the nearest hospital bed as if he were a fragile Grecian vase.

<“Stand back from him, all of you,”> my daughter chastised. <“Epione, I want his wounds cleaned and bandaged immediately.”>

<“At once, Princess.”>

Amazing. The others haven’t even asked for my approval. My daughter had taken on such a forceful demeanor that they’re doing everything they are told. I didn’t know whether to be upset or proud.

One of the chief physician’s assistants came running into the sunlit room with something in her hand and a sense of urgency on her face.

<“My Queen. Princess. We’ve examined the male’s belongings and we found out his name.”>

My daughter looked a bit annoyed as if that weren’t relevant right now. <“This man’s health is what we should be concerned--”>

<“--Forgive me, Princess, but his name is Trevor. Stephen Trevor.”>

My daughter turned to me and she saw my face drop. <“By the gods,”> I said. <“Another ‘Trevor’ crashed onto our island?”>

~*~

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Mount Olympus, the royal chambers...

This plan must be carefully crafted and well thought out. The Amazons have put their faith in us ever since we helped create them. They are a special race of warrior women unlike any other and deserve to be treated so. Their fate rests in our hands. As my father, Zeus, and the other Olympians congregated around the massive hearth, Aphrodite gently walked into the room, a pleased look on her most beautiful face.

<“It is done. I have created the catalyst,”> Aphrodite told us.

I worried about my sister. We all have our own personal motives for wanting to use the Amazons right now, but with Aphrodite it’s different. At one time she and Ares used to be lovers and I know the guilt she must be feeling. Now that Ares became out of control and had to be stopped, Aphrodite was torn between what must be done and her old loyalties.

She turned to me, saw that I was in deep thought and said, <“Athena, when you are ready the plan can begin.”>

~*~

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Paradise Island, the waiting rooms of the hospital...

Once my “sisters” heard the name “Trevor” they instantly stopped and referred back to me, their Queen, for what to do. My oldest daughter, Diana, looked perplexed.

<“Trevor?”> she asked. <“That’s the surname of the American woman that crashed on our island before I was born, right?”>

<“Correct, Daughter. Around two decades before the gods gave you to me, a female pilot named Diana Rockwell Trevor crashed here and sacrificed her life to save us.”>

Both my daughters had heard this tale before. It’s one of the few stories of “man’s world” that I allowed to be mentioned.

Diana Rockwell Trevor worked for the United States military as a transport pilot. Over a long and difficult flight, her plane lost its course and malfunctioned. Far removed from help and deep in the Atlantic ocean, she flew her plane for as long as it would let her.

Her airplane crashed on our island paradise and she was on the verge of death. In those next two weeks we nursed her back to health. At that same time, the imprisoned witch Circe managed to partially open “Doom’s Doorway” in an attempt to set the monstrous Cottus upon our island home.

Even though the other Amazons and I defended the dangerous exit from Tartarus with all our might, it wasn’t enough. Just when we thought Cottus would finally escape his captivity it was Diana Trevor that helped stop him. She shot him so many times with her firearm but it wasn’t enough to save her. We lost so many “sisters” that day and I considered her to be one of them.

We helped save Diana Trevor’s life when she first crashed here so she was determined to do the same for us. And she did. By aiding us in our attack against Cottus, she severely wounded him. Enough that we were able to force the him back beyond “Doom’s Doorway” and reseal the massive door underneath Paradise Island.

And today this man carrying the same last name had also crashed onto our island home. I must know if these two are connected or the name “Trevor” was merely a coincidence. The handful of royal guards stood relaxed in their bulky armor and my oldest daughter waited patiently just outside Steve Trevor’s room. It had been nearly a half hour and the waiting was driving me mad. Thankfully, Epione entered the waiting area with the news.

<“The hypnosis session was a success, My Queen,”> Epione explained. <“The male pilot revealed sensitive information while in his relaxed state, including his mother’s name.”>

<“Well?”> I impatiently asked her.

<“My Queen, the name of the male pilot’s mother... is Diana Rockwell Trevor.”>

The nearly dozen of us made our way into Steve Trevor’s room and watched him as he deeply slept. To think that a short while ago we were ready to let him die just because he was a male. Even being 3,000-years-old I realized at this moment that I still have much to learn. Diana Trevor’s son. What are the odds?

Once I learned who this man really was my commands were clear. Steve Trevor was instructed to be given the best care possible. The finest bedding, nourishing meals, his wounds tended to throughout each passing day. But Diana Trevor’s son was still a man and our island must be kept a secret at all costs. I told Epione that Steve Trevor must be lightly sedated at all times and that his eyes remained covered.

By now Diana was at the foot of his bed. She gazed at him longingly and inquisitively. A man for the first time. I saw to it to put an end to that right away.

<“Leave him be, Daughter. Now that we know he is Diana Trevor’s son, he will be treated with great care. You have my word.”>

<“I trust you, Mother, but... I have a request. I’d like to assist in his recovery. I’d like to help Epione and be his personal nurse.”>

<“Nurse?”> I asked a bit shocked and irritated. <“Daughter, as princess you have more pressing matters to deal with. Epione has her assistants, it really isn’t necessary--”>

<“--I know it’s not necessary to you, Mother, but to me it is. I just want to--”>

<“--I know what you want,”> I replied a bit heatedly. <“Anytime there is something connected with “man’s world” you must always be the first one to find out. I have had this discussion with you too many times in the past, Daughter.”>

<“But, Mother, what’s the harm–?”>

I know the tone in my response was angry now. <“Because the more you learn about “man’s world” the more you want to go there.”>

Diana looked quite serious as she challenged back, <“Then maybe I should be allowed to go already.”>

For the life of me, I knew I had a temper and at times it could get out of control. The words just spoken to me by my daughter made my blood boil. She had always listened to me except on matters about “man’s world”. I don’t know if it was having Steve Trevor crash on our island, Athena’s temple being damaged, the location of Paradise Island possibly no longer a secret, or all three, but at that moment I just snapped.

<“Every damn time we have the same damn argument, Daughter! I grow tired of it. One day you will fill my role as Amazon Queen. That should be your main concern. You will never leave this island... ever!!”>

I felt like a terrible mother at that point. The look on Diana’s face killed me, like I had just stabbed her in the heart a thousand times. She stood there silently as her blue eyes welled up. She turned and ran from the hospital room. Before I could even try to apologize she was already outside and gone.

But there were more urgent matters at the moment. I looked at the sleeping Steve Trevor. We can’t exactly keep him on our island forever. What will we do when he finally recovers? By the gods, what will we do?

~*~

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Nightfall, the damaged temple of Athena, Paradise Island...

My older sister was so upset. The worst I’ve seen. I heard about the argument Diana and Mom had earlier in the day. Even though I wasn’t there at the hospital, I knew what it had to be about.

Diana’s the only one never to have seen the outside world. To be honest, it’s what she daydreams and talks about most of the time. I know somehow, someway, she’ll eventually get to see it.

After a tense morning and after an even tenser afternoon, the island was pretty quiet tonight. Most of the Amazons were resting but some were out for a late swim near the shores while others went on a moonlit jog around the many trails. The sky was especially clear. Mom always said that means the gods must be watching us. All the stars are out and the crescent moon made all the Greek monuments stand out against the many trees.

I always waited for Diana when she prayed. Sometimes she could take up to two hours but I always waited. She spent all afternoon picking fresh fruit and flowers for the sacrificial offering. She insisted on praying in one of the temples that’s dedicated to Athena, the one that got damaged earlier in the day.

It’s strange. As I sat outside near the entrance, the temple looked so odd now. I must have seen this place a thousand times but now that it’s in ruins it just looked out of place among the perfectly manicured landscape and the fully intact temples that surrounded it.

I usually couldn’t hear what Diana said when she prayed alone, but with the temple’s roof removed that’s not the case this time. Her melodic voice echoed in the temple’s halls, what’s left of them anyway. She sounded tensed and upset.

I didn’t want to pry but she’s my big sister. I just wanted to make sure she’s okay, that’s all. I pushed my ears against the large metal doors and listened.

<“Please let me be great,”> I heard Diana say. She cleared her throat several times almost as if she was crying. <“A chance to prove myself, to show the rest of the world what I can do.”>

Diana stopped for a moment. She was crying now, I’m sure of it. Once again I heard her clear her throat. This time she shouted out to the night sky in a raised voice. A passionate plea that sent chills up my spine.

<“O mighty gods of Olympus, let me be great, that I may do great things, and have great things brought unto me. Hear your spirit daughter’s prayers! A chance, even just a moment is all I ask. Please... let me be great!!”>

I quickly wiped the tears from my eyes once I knew Diana was finished and about to leave Athena’s temple. I didn’t want her to know I was crying. I had already stood up by then and once Diana emerged from the doorway I gave her as big a hug as I possibly could. She embraced me back and even though we didn’t say a word, we both knew what the the other was feeling right then.

I love her with all my heart. Of all the women on the island, she’s the one I’m closest to. Blood-related or not, she’ll always be my big sister.

At that moment a stirring could be heard on the island. First it came from one area, then another. Pretty soon all of Paradise Island was abuzz with the sounds of female voices. They sounded excited about something. What, we weren’t sure.

As Diana and I raced towards the joyous commotion, Penelope, Euboea, and several other Amazons ran up to us and filled us in.

<“Princess Diana, Princess Drusilla, have you two heard the news?”>

<“What news?”> Diana asked wide-eyed.

Penelope, still in her bed robes stepped forward and in an enthusiastic tone said, <“It’s Menalippe. She’s had a vision... directly from the gods themselves! The Olympians decreed that a great tournament is to be held. A contest like none we’ve ever had, in which the winner will be sent to thwart Ares’ schemes and return Steve Trevor back to the outside world.”>

Diana and I looked at each other in amazement. Nothing like this had ever happened before. While the other Amazons gossiped among themselves, I noticed Diana looked away towards the ground. She was thinking about something.

A discreet smile spread across my older sister’s face and she muttered something under her breath. Even though I couldn’t hear it, I could read Diana’s lips as she whispered to herself, <“By the gods... a chance to see the outside world.”>

...To be continued.