Night in Gateway City
Helena Sandsmark shook her head. She was putting away the dishes
after a satisfying dinner, listening to the sounds of her rather
unusual house guests drifting in from the next room. Artemis --
the Amazon warrior once known as Wonder Woman and now known as
Requiem -- was lecturing Helena's daughter Cassie on the importance
of discipline while Cassie played Final Fantasy VII. Their friendship
was a strange one, but Helena had grown to trust the sometimes
fiery Amazon warrior. It had been very lonely around the house
when it was just herself and Cassie, and Helena was growing to
like the extra conversations.
"May I help you with that?" Diana's sweet voice interrupted
Helena's reverie. The daughter of Hippolyta and recently crowned
Goddess of Truth, Diana was a living piece of history...and a
very good friend.
Helena smiled at Diana, who was dressed in a conservative skirt
and blouse. "No thanks, Diana. I've almost loaded up the
dishwasher. I figured you'd be helping Cassie on her video game."
Diana turned and rested her hip against the side of the counter.
"No, she is doing quite well on her own. I wanted to talk
to you about her, however. You continue to have concerns about
her activities as Wonder Girl?"
Helena nodded. "Of course I do. She's too young for this
-- I'm not sure she'll be old enough when she's 40!You have to
remember, Diana -- she's all I have. I had her when I was 18...no
husband, no boyfriend, nothing. I don't know what I'd do without
her..."
Diana reached out to place a hand on her friend's shoulder. "I
understand, Helena. But she has the powers, nothing can change
that. Zeus himself saw fit to grant them to her. Now it's essential
that she learn how to best utilize them -- to act responsibly
and with forethought."
"I understand that. That's why I'm allowing Artemis to teach
her--"
"But it's painfully obvious, Helena, that you do not support
her in this. She needs your support and encouragment. For better
or for worse, she has adopted the mantle of a hero. She must be
taught well."
Helena sighed. "Okay, okay." She cast an appraising
eye at Diana. "You have something in mind, don't you?"
Diana looked away. "I'd like for her to spend some time
on Themyscira..."
Barbara Minerva stood silently outside the Gateway City Museum
of Cultural Antiquities. She wore only a long trenchcoat, her
long brown hair trailing in the wind behind her. She had left
her attendant, Chuma, at her apartment -- he had been casting
suspicious glances her way ever since her visit with Neron.* Perhaps
the time had come to sever their relationship, she thought. She
was no longer dependant on the sacred plants and herbs which Chuma
cultivated and she no longer felt the need for companionship.
She was at peace with herself. She was at peace with her Cheetah-spirit.
(Barbara Minerva retrieved her soul from the demon Neron last
issue. Hell-Raising-Barry)
Barbara Minerva smiled, dropping her coat to the steps. She was
nude, but only for a moment. Her mouth and chin elongated, stretching
to form a snout. Fur began to cover her entire body, hiding her
supple form. A tail extended out from the base of her spine to
slash at the air. Where a woman once stood, now the Cheetah prowled.
She lept up the steps, her mind already ticking through all the
items she wanted to steal. She coveted treasures, the more historical
the better. And as a bonus, this particular museum served as a
home base for her arch-foe, the Amazon known as Wonder Woman.
Striking here would lure her out into the open, where the Cheetah
could gain her revenge...
Donna Troy stood in the airport, watching as the planes landed
one by one. She fought to keep her mind from drifting to all the
losses she'd suffered of late -- beinging told that she had originally
just been a shade of Diana, created to serve as a playmate; losing
her ex-husand Terry and their infant son; and breaking up with
Kyle Rayner.*
(*Most of this was chronicled, or at least referenced fairly
well, in Wonder Woman v2 # 135-136. Barry)
Donna sighed. For someone so young, she'd experienced so much
-- being raised first on Themyscira with Diana, then being inserted
into so many different lives -- finally coming to rest in one
where she was raised by a runaway Amazon and the Titans of Myth
and served with the Teen Titans. So many pasts, so many conflicting
memories. Now she felt very, very tired. And unsure of what to
do next. Maybe she should call Dick or Wally...or even Kyle...
"Troia?"
Donna jumped. Who...? She turned to see an aged woman standing
behind her. She was dressed strangely, like someone more at home
in ancient Greece than modern day Gateway. She peered at Donna
with dead, blind eyes.
"I'm...Donna Troy."
The woman nodded sagely. "Troia. The heir to the Titans
of myth..."
Donna looked around her, for a moment strangely afraid. "Who
are you? How do you know about...?"
The old woman grabbed Donna's wrists tightly. Smoke curled about
her form, twisting and changing her appearance until a green garbed
young woman stood in her place. "The name's Circe, dear Donna
-- and we've got a date with destiny!"
Donna started to pull back, but it was too late. Circe's spell
of teleportation took them away, leaving only Donna's suitcase
as evidence of her ever having been there.
Diana stood in the back yard of Helena's home, looking up at
the stars. Not too long ago, she'd been declared a Goddess --
saved from death to live on Mount Olympus.* But she'd loved earth
too much to stay away. Seeing the beautiful skies, she knew she'd
made the right decision.
(*in the immortal --heh, heh -- Wonder Woman v2 # 126.)
She wondered if Helena would agree to what she had proposed.
Cassie needed a proper training, more than just what Artemis or
herself could give...
Cassie's voice interrupted her. "Diana? Officer Schorr's
on the phone -- he just told mom that somebody had broken into
the museum..."
Diana turned, smoothly moving into action. She would find her
ceremonial garb inside. It would take her only moments to be at
the museum...
Cassie halted her. "Can I come? You know -- Wonder Woman
and Wonder Girl, team supreme?"
"Not this time, Cassie. I will take you along on the next
mission, I promise."
Cassie watched her enter the house, pouting. She kicked at the
dirt. "That's what you said last time..."
Phillipus stared around her with wide eyes. She was a tall, beautiful
woman -- as were most of the Amazons. She had creamy chocolate
skin and smooth features. But her beauty did not hide the toughness
of her heart. She was a warrior born, one who had trained the
Princess Diana in combat during her youth. Phillipus blinked once
more. "I'm sorry, my Queen, did I hear you correctly?"
Hippolyta leaned forward in her throne. "You did, Phillipus.
During my time as Wonder Woman*, I encountered a young girl named
Cassandra Sandsmark -- she has been gifted with powers by Zeus
himself. Diana wishes her to come to Themyscira for training --
training you are to provide."
(see Wonder Woman v2 # 126-136. Barry)
"But, my Queen..."
"No buts, Phillipus. You are the finest warrior of us all.
The girl needs help."
Phillipus sighed. She remembered the trials that Diana had put
her through and wondered if she had the strength to survive them
again. "Yes, my Queen."
The Cheetah dumped the last of the golden goblets into her bag.
Her claws were still dripping blood from the security guard she'd
killed. Once, she'd only preyed on those whom she considered unworthy
of life, but now she knew that she was above and beyond all other
life. She was the Cheetah.
Behind her, a footstep cracked broken glass. She smiled and turned,
knowing who she would see...
Diana paused. She'd found the slaughtered guard and recognized
the handiwork. Her heart fell as she saw the sight that greeted
her. It was indeed the Cheetah, looking as feral as ever. She
had hoped that Barbara Minerva might find peace after their last
encounter, but that hope was smashed.
"Barbara?"
The Cheetah spat into the air. "Barbara isn't in right now,
Diana. It's only the Cheetah here." She moved closer, swishing
her tail. "I have you to thank for this, by the way. If you
hadn't restored my intellect, I wouldn't have thought to reclaim
my soul from Neron..."
Wonder Woman froze. Neron...that foul black-hearted fiend had
killed Diana in their last meeting. Now, to find that he had once
again corrupted Minerva...She frowned. "Come with me, Barbara.
Neron has obviously tried to sink his claws into you. But you're
stronger than this. I can help you."
The Cheetah flew into the air. "The only one sinking any
claws anywhere is going to be me! The time's come for reckoning,
Diana!"
NEXT ISSUE : The finale of "The
Claws of the Cheetah!" Plus : More on Donna Troy and Circe!
Be here!
AUTHOR'S NOTES
Hope you're enjoying the ride so far. Next ish wraps up our opening
arc, as well as pushing forward our subplots regarding Cassie
and Donna.
I like the positive praise I've received so far, but criticisms
are welcome also! Let me know what characters you want to see
more of and which ones leave you cold. I want this book to succeed
and I need your help to do it.
Thanks for reading.
Barry Reese
07.07.98
