Paradise Lost Pt 6

by Arcadia

Chapter Six

"What's the status on Project E?" Richard Moulton sat in the office of his home, listening to the status report of one of his hired scientist on his very special project. It was all part of his plans for his wicked organization to take over the world. "Good," the scientist boasted. "We're close to experimenting on animals. Once that is successful, we'll test it on humans." "Excellent," Richard said. "Once we've tested on humans, shall I work on an antidote?" "Don't work too hard on it. If the people know there is no cure, the more orderly they will fall in line," Richard said. The scientist nodded and left the room and closed the door. Richard assumed he was now alone but Triana stepped out of the shadows of the large room. "How ironic. The group Wonder Woman is after to destroy is right under her nose." "How did you get here?" Richard demanded. "A friend dropped me off." Richard recognized the woman as she strolled to his desk. He carefully opened his desk drawer, reaching for his gun. "I know you. You're Diana's sister." "And you're head of the Aremid operation." She laughed. "I wonder what my sister will do with this information." "Not much since you won't live to tell." Richard pulled out his gun and fired on Triana. She deflected the bullet with her bracelet. Richard froze as Triana stepped forward. Triana placed both hands on his desk and gave him a hard stare. "I'm not here as your enemy but I can make it that way." To show her seriousness, she snatched the gun out of his hand, removed the bullets and broke the gun in half. Richard composed himself as his shock turned into a smile. "Do explain." "For starters, my sister and I don't see eye to eye on how this world should be run but something tells me you and I will." "We can." A revelation came to him. "If you're Diana Prince's sister---" "Yes. It means Diana Prince is Wonder Woman." Triana finished for him. "How stupid you and everyone else in this world are to not see something so obvious." Richard crossed his arms over his chest. This was the person Circe told him about. "I see. You should know your sister has been a thorn in my side. She cost me a billion dollar deal five years ago and ever since ruined deals I've made with contacts in her way of promoting peace and delaying my personal plans of world conquest. I want her dead." Triana smiled. "Then you and I will get along fine. Diana stole what should've been mine. I should've been princess. I should've been Wonder Woman. She gets away with everything while I am punished. It's time she finally pays." "I agree, but how do you plan to help?" Triana looked insulted. "I am an Amazon. I'm just as strong and fast as she." "Just *as* strong and fast isn't stronger and faster," Richard said coolly. At the insult, Triana picked up Richard's desk and threw it against a wall shattering it and everything on it. "You dare insult me when I come to aid you?!" Richard wisely kept his cool at the destruction of his desk. "I am merely stating the obvious. I had no intentions of insulting you." Richard rose and went over to his bar and poured himself a drink. He held a drink to Triana but she shook her head. "Even with your powers, it will be hard to get her since she is close to the league." "Yes, especially with her engagement to Superman," Triana murmured bitterly. Richard's glass nearly slipped from his fingers. "Superman? So the rumors about a romance are true." He saw Diana earlier that day. He did notice a ring on her finger but he didn't think much of it other than Diana finally deciding to light up her plain wardrobe. Another revelation came to him. "If you know Diana Prince is Wonder Woman then you should know Superman's identity as well." "Unfortunately, dear sister fail to mention. She only calls him by his Kryptonian name. She never mentioned what he does outside of being Superman." Richard frowned. "How unfortunate. We could've taken care of him as well." "Why?" Triana asked. "Diana is your enemy." "Her ally is my enemy." He sipped his wine. "And with you as my ally, Wonder Woman won't know what hit her." "Tell me more about your organization. I only have Diana's side." "World power. In the past my group was mercenaries but that was to fund my organization. Those who hired us supported our organization. Those who got in our way, we killed. The world is imperfect and what it needs is a new order and with the two of us, it will be a new order." That Triana agreed on but she had something else in mind. **** Clark laid on the table nervous. Shirtless, he was hooked to machines monitoring his heartbeat and brainwaves. His readings were normal. Well as normal as a Kryptonian gifted by powers from the yellow sun could be. He looked up at Diana who eyes were full of worry. She held a lead case tightly. "Are you sure you want to do this, Kal?" Clark nodded. "If I'm in a situation where I'm exposed to a large dose of kryptonite and I can't get out, I'll need to do something to slow down the affects of Kryptonite radiation." "But Kal, we've only studied this theory, not test it." She frowned, her worry for him apparent. She placed a hand on his chest. "I don't want anything to happen to you." "That's why you will monitor my heart and brain," he explained. "We rehearsed what to do if worse comes to worse. You can do this, Diana." Diana nodded. "I know I can. I'm worried about your health." She sighed. "Ready?" Clark nodded. Diana opened the case revealing a large rock of kryptonite. Diana placed it on Clark's chest. Clark groaned in pain. Diana knew it was going to happen and it took everything in her to not remove the kryptonite. She turned and walked away. She went over to the computer, reading Clark's heartbeat and brainwaves. She took notes down and observed the drop in Clark's heartbeat and brain activity. Before losing all consciousness, Diana noticed Clark placing his arms across his chest like an Egyptian mummy and closed his eyes. He was performing the Kryptonian trance. During his study of Krypton, Clark researched the science and medicine in hopes of his home world. He knew there was no such thing as Kryptonite harming Kryptonians but he figured if there was a cure to a deadly disease on Krypton, he could apply it to his cure of Kryptonite. So far he found nothing but discovered when Kryptonians were poisoned and were delayed being administered health, the victim would place himself in a Kryptonian trance, slowing down the poison in his system. Clark studied this in hopes of using this on Kryptonite. Diana observed the lamps over Clark. Once turned on, the lights would flash solar energy over Clark, curing him of the Kryptonite. It was a gift to Superman from Steel. Two hours passed and Clark's heartbeat dropped to twenty-five a minute, his brainwaves were barely steady and his skin was turning a light green. Diana placed the kryptonite in the lead case and turned on the solar lights. She watched anxiously, jotting down notes of Clark's slow revival. Diana was nervous but she knew he was getting better since his color was returning, his heartbeat was rising and his brainwaves were becoming more active. Still, it nagged her he hadn't opened his eyes yet. After an hour under the lights, Clark slowly opened his eyes. Clark smiled weakly at Diana. "It was a success?" Diana kissed his forehead. "Yes. How do you feel?" "Weak but feeling better. What do your notes say?" "You're right. Before putting yourself in the Kryptonian trance, your heart rate and brainwaves were dropping rapidly but after you put yourself in your trance, it slowed by seventy percent." Diana explained. "It's not a cure for Kryptonite poisoning but it's close enough." "I know, but I hope you never have to do this trance." "You're not the only one." Clark sat up and wrapped his arms around Diana. "Enough with the serious stuff, let's talk about our wedding." "Your mother has agreed to make my dress. She's delighted and we've come up with some wonderful ideas together." Clark smiled. His mother was overjoyed her son was getting married. She loved Diana like her own daughter. His father, too. "You know, Kal, we haven't decided where we shall live." "Oh, I thought we would stay in Metropolis. I was hoping we get a house. If not, we can live in Washington. I can always commute to work. Flying is so much easier than driving," he grinned. "No. We shouldn't do that," Diana decided. "I've been thinking about moving to Metropolis, too." "So, you're commuting to work?" Clark asked. "I've been thinking I step down from the CIA. The work is important but I'm starting to feel stretched out. I have the Embassy and the League to deal with as well. My work as ambassador is growing so much more than when I started. I can only take so many days off before my boss grows suspicious. I think he already is. Too many assignments tie me to Wonder Woman." Clark didn't want to admit how relieve he was. He worried about Diana on assignment and they talked about it on several occasions but he let her do what she felt what was right for her. "If that is what you want, then I support it." Diana looked at Clark and jab him in his sides. "Don't act that way. I know you are relieve, Kal." Clark grinned. "Yeah. I am. When are you going to tell your boss?" "I think I will tell him Monday. I've been doing a lot of paperwork lately, catching up from my field assignments. It'll be best I tell him now before I get another field assignment." **** Triana stared out the window of the BMW Richard's car. She has been in Man's World for three months now and was still amazed at the things she saw. Richard spent time showing her the differences of his world to hers and Triana was impressed with the technology and advances of science. Richard even took her on trips, showing her native Greece, London, Japan, New York and Los Angeles. Triana herself liked this world more than her home Themyscira. She wasn't surprised why her sister Diana didn't want to come back. Triana was also taking a liking to Richard. He spoiled her with fine clothes, jewelry. She indulged herself in the rich delicacies of food, wine. She even allowed himself to lie with him. If it will get him further under her spell, so be it. On this night, they weren't on a tour of the world or enjoying themselves. Instead, they were visiting a laboratory in California. When they stepped inside the facility, Triana noticed men in white coats, some in hazmat suits. They didn't notice her as they worked behind the glass. "What are they doing?" "Creating a virus. This virus will kill anyone within a twenty mile radius. It will start at the White House, descend to Capitol Hill, and wipe out all the federal agencies and Pentagon. When the world sees the most powerful nation in the world crumble, the rest will fall in line." "And if they don't?" Triana questioned. "I have sleepers in every populous country in the world. If they don't follow, they will suffer just as Washington. They`ll fall in line then." "Sounds like the plan will work. Shouldn't you test it first before you attack Washington?" "We've succeed on animals," Richard answered. "Now we have to do a human test. I will have to try out a small town nearby." Triana put a hand on Richard. "No. I have a better place." **** Monday morning, Richard was surprised Diana asked to talk to him privately. He wondered if she was going to ask for another day off. She never had to talk to him privately before. He hoped she hadn't discovered who he was yet but that wasn't possible unless Triana betrayed him and he didn't believe she would do that. Diana entered his office and he was still somewhat amazed at his own stupidly. Behind the glasses, bun hair, unflattering clothes was Wonder Woman. The saying was right. It is harder to find things right under your nose. "Good morning, Diana. Have a seat." "Thank you, sir." Diana sat in her seat and folded her hands in her lap. "What is it you need to tell me?" "I've decided to resign from the CIA." Richard frowned. "What?" "I am leaving the organization." Richard kept his temper in check. First, he finds out Diana is Wonder Woman and now she was leaving before he could put his plan in action. "Why?" "It's time I move on, sir. I've enjoyed my service here but it's time I leave. It's something I have to do." "Like marriage?" Richard guessed. Diana looked surprise. "Excuse me." "Your ring," he indicted the jewel on her left hand. "You never said it but I'm sure it's an engagement ring, is it not. So, who's the lucky guy?" The least he could do out of this is find out who Superman was. Diana's tone was professional. "You yourself said that we should leave our personal business at the door. That is what I intend to do. I respectfully decline answering that question but I promise you, sir, what goes in my personal life has never affected my duties here." "I apologize if I offended you. When do you plan to resign?" "I don't have any field assignments now so I would give the usual two week notice." Richard rose and extended his hand to Diana, his face tight. "Well, it's a shame we're going to lose you, Diana. You've proven to be an exceptional agent. May you be successful at what you do next." Diana nodded. "Thank you, sir." Diana turned to leave and Richard's smile turned into a scowl. He picked up his cell phone and dialed a number. "Yes. Looks like we have to move the schedule. There's been a change in plans." **** There was something amusing watching Clark in his Superman uniform with his feet propped on his desk reading a bridal magazine. This was a side to the Man of Steel only Diana knew. Deciding who to invite wasn't hard but the planning, the decorations was another story. They decided on a small wedding in a church in Metropolis but preparations were was a little overwhelming for Superman and Wonder Woman. Clark closed the magazine frustrated. "I can't believe people have so much for a wedding. Can you believe all this?" "No, but your mother and cousin insisted we think about it." "What part of low key wedding do they not understand?" He tossed the magazine aside. "I may be Clark Kent but I'm also Superman. Superman can't have a big wedding and it would definitely be out of character for Clark." Diana laughed. "You're talking about yourself in third person again, Kal. On Themyscira, we rarely had ceremonies and when we did, it was grand." "You want a grand ceremony, Diana?" Clark asked. Diana shrugged. "Actually, I want a wedding that represents our heritages. If you marry me as Clark, you're denying your Kryptonian heritage and I my Themysciran. In my study of weddings, traditions and heritages are honored. You and I are turning our backs on ours." "What do you mean?" "You're a Kryptonian, I'm a Themyscirian and we're getting married honoring traditions from our adoptive worlds." She placed her hand on his. "There are traditions I like to bring to our wedding. Surely in your research of Krypton, you've must found something." Clark smiled. "In my research, Kryptonian marriages aren't that different from Earth's. My parents wore a gold band over their head. It was their form of a wedding ring. Each Kryptonian has a crest. When the woman's marries, she takes her husband crest as a woman takes a man's name on Earth. During the ceremony, vows are made, and a bell chimes three times, once for love, once for honor, once for a binding union." "Sounds honorable. Let's do that." "You would like to?" Clark asked. "Yes. In fact, why don't we have two ceremonies? It's not uncommon. We can have a private Kryptonian/Themyscirian ceremony with just your parents, Kara, maybe even Bruce and then later that day, we can have a traditional wedding ceremony from Earth." Clark thought this over. "I like it Diana, but are you sure, you know, given your banishment?" "They are my people, Kal, and though they have banished me, I will not banish them or my beliefs, but I am going to live my life my way." **** It was a long fourteen hours for Diana Prince. Today was her last day with the CIA and even though it was a serious organization, a group of her workers spared an hour to celebrate Diana and her work on her last day. Richard was there as well giving her praise and wishing her the best. After work, Diana joined Clark in Metropolis to do some house hunting. They've been at it every day all week. Diana wasn't sure if they were ever going to find a house until the last one they saw tonight. It was perfect for them. The house had four bedrooms, three bathrooms with an office and basement. Not only were the bedrooms spacious, including the master bedroom with its balcony but it had a nice amount of land separating their house from their neighbors in the gated community. All they had to do were a few more negotiations and the house was theirs. After finding their house, Superman went to the Watchtower for his shift. Diana went back to Washington to do some much needed shopping. Her refrigerator was empty. She was an Amazon gifted with amazing powers but she also had to eat. Diana unlocked the door to her apartment and flipped on the lights. Diana put her bags on the counter, removed her glasses and took her hair out of her unsightly bun. She stretched. It was a long week for her and she was looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow. Diana was putting food in the fridge when she suddenly stopped. Something wasn't right. Someone was here. Diana didn't have Clark's super hearing but hers were strong and in the silence of her apartment, she heard something ticking. Immediately, Diana turned transforming into Wonder Woman. She quickly searched for the sound in her apartment. Diana found the source of the sound in her sofa. Diana pulled off the pillows and ripped opened the thin cloth. Inside was a bomb. It was at three seconds. Diana didn't have time to get away so she crossed her arms and braced herself. The bomb exploded setting off car alarms from three blocks away. All the windows from Diana's building were blown and floors caved in on each other. Cars in the neighborhood were crushed from fallen debris from the building. Every floor of Diana's apartment building was in flames and the Amazon Princess herself was flung from her apartment several feet before crashing into a car on the ground below. Diana rose, blood oozed from her legs and arms. Her ears were ringing. Diana touched her head and groaned. She rose to the sky to better assess the situation. It was a disaster and she knew she couldn't handle this alone. The sounds of a helicopter was approaching fast. Diana assumed it was a news chopper but the bomb just went off. The news couldn't have known about it so soon. As she watched the chopper approach, she realized it wasn't a news chopper. A missile fired from the chopper, launching at her. Diana braced herself and was hit hard. She pummeled from the sky onto the concrete ground below. The street rocked upon her impact. Diana sat up, her body racked with pain. She looked up at the helicopter. `They're after me,' she thought and saw the civilians trying to help each other. It was time to call in some help of her own. Diana touched her com link, "Wonder Woman to Watchtower." **** Superman was ending his shift with the Justice League. He was stepping on the teleporter to be transferred to Metropolis when Diana`s call came in. "Wonder Woman to Watchtower." Superman raced back to console with J'onn. J'onn opened communications. "This is J'onn, Diana. What is it?" In the background, Superman could hear the sounds of explosions, sirens and cries of people. "I'm in a situation. My apartment building has been bombed and the people need help. I'm fighting off some attackers who--" Diana screamed and her com went dead. "Diana!" Superman called out. He looked to J'onn. "We have to move fast," J'onn said. Diana pulled herself off a ruined SUV. Another missile hit her as she was talking to J'onn. Diana wanted to stay and help the people but she knew it was in her best interest for the people if she got out of there. Diana took to the skies again, flying away from the apartments. The helicopter continued to follow Diana, firing lasers on her. Diana maneuvered to avoid being hit but she was growing weak. The bomb blast and hit with a missile twice was taking its toll on her amazing body. Soon they were over an empty field. Diana felt it was safe to attack. Diana turned and flew towards the chopper, dodging and holding her bracelets up to avoid being hit. When she got closer enough, she ripped off the guns attached to the helicopter. "She's crazy!" A pilot cried out. Triana rose from her seat. She was wearing a black skin tight outfit and black mask concealing her face. "Leave her to me." Diana ripped open the chopper door. Just as she was about to step inside, she was punched hard and was sent pummeling from the sky. Triana jumped out of the helicopter and let the air currents help glide her towards Diana. When she did, she kicked Diana's stomach hard. Diana cried out and Triana grabbed Diana's head and slammed it with her knee. Triana reached for her again but Diana grabbed hold of Triana's hand and punched her. Triana hit the ground first while Diana landed on her feet. "Who are you?" Diana demanded. Triana rose. "Someone from the Aremid who hates you." Triana came charging on her but this time Diana was ready, even in her weakening state. Diana caught Triana's punch and delivered one of her own to her stomach. Triana returned with an attack of her own. The pilots were able to maintain control in the air and observed the fight. "Through all that, it seems Wonder Woman still has an edge over her," one pilot said. "I agree," the other pilot said, watching the fight below. "We better be prepared to strike." As they fought, Diana felt as if she knew this person. Triana caught her hands and head butted her. "Do I know you?" "If you *knew* me, you wouldn't ask that question." Triana came at Diana. Diana caught her but Triana flipped her over. Diana landed hard on her back. The voice was familiar though slightly muffled through the mask. Diana's body hurting but she wasn't going to let on how badly injured she was. Diana decided to let herself appear more weaken than she was to catch her opponent off guard. Diana slowly rose as she planned and Triana attacked. She kicked, punched and rammed Diana through a tree. Diana staggered and collapsed to the ground unconscious. Triana smiled. She stepped forward. "Amazon Princess," Triana snorted. Diana opened her eyes and kicked Triana's chest hard. Triana fell back. Diana punched her twice before pouncing on her. "I want to see who you are." Diana ripped off the mask. Diana gasped when she saw who it was. "Triana?" With her sister shocked, Triana pushed Diana off her. Behind her, Diana didn't noticed the men in the chopper fire on her, shooting lasers on her back before firing a net over her. Diana struggled to break free but bolts of electricity discharge from the net. Diana screamed as bolts of electricity flowed through her. In her weakened state, it was enough to finally knock her out. Once Diana collapsed, the electric discharges stopped. Triana kicked Diana with her shoe. Diana laid unmoving. "She's out cold." Triana put her mask back on and picked up her sister. It was at this moment, a sonic boom was heard in the sky. Triana didn't have a chance to blink as something blue rammed into her and pulled Diana from her arms. Triana was knocked through a tree. Pain spread through her body. She shook her head and looked up as she saw Superman holding Diana in his arms. "Who are you?" Superman demanded. The helicopter moved in hovering over Triana. "She's badly hurt, Superman. You can either go after us or save your precious Wonder Woman." Triana jumped in the chopper and Superman could only watch as it flew off. He looked at Diana. She *was* badly hurt and right now she was his top priority. **** When Diana opened her eyes, she realized she was in the Fortress. Clark was still in his Superman uniform by her side. "Kal." "You're awake good. You've been out for a while." Diana sat up in Clark's bed. "I feel better." She looked at her arms and legs and noticed her wounds have healed. "What about the people?" "Green Lantern, Flash and I took care of the fire and rescued the people. One of your neighbors saw you leading the helicopter away and I followed the trail." "Triana!" Diana gasped as she remembered the battle. Clark frowned. "What about her?" "I was fighting her Kal. She's joined the Aremid." "What? But I thought you said she was in confinement on Themyscira." "She left Themyscira again. I saw her, Kal. I have to go home and report this to my mother. I'm sure she doesn't know about Triana's departure." "But you're banished from home," Clark reminded her. "They won't accept you." "She will listen to what I have to say," Diana said. **** Early the next morning, Diana flew to Themyscira. Diana was met with resistance but after her plea, she was granted audience with her mother, the queen. Hippolyta sat on her throne. "Daughter, you have returned. Have you changed your mind regarding your place in Man's World?" "My presence has nothing to do with my decision to remain in Man's World." Hippolyta frowned. "Then state your purpose. Quickly." "My queen, it's Triana. She has returned to Patriarch's World once more." "Impossible!" "I was in battle last night and my opponent was Triana. She has sided with my enemies." "Impossible. Triana is in confinement for another three months." Diana shook her head. "No, she is not. Check the tower if your doubt my words." Hippolyta rose from her throne. "Ready my chariot." It didn't take long for Hippolyta and Diana to reach the tower. Hippolyta was surprised while Diana was not when they discovered Triana's room empty. From the looks of it, she has been gone for a long while. "So the temptation of Man's World was too much for her," Hippolyta surmised. "Perhaps, I had more influence over my sister than I thought," Diana admitted guiltily. "If I wasn't in Man's World, Triana wouldn't have turned. Mother, I promise to bring Triana back and rehabilitate her to our Amazon ways myself." Hippolyta looked at her daughter. "To do that, you must be on Themyscira. Are you saying you want to return home and in doing so leave Man's World forever?" Diana paused. Leaving Man's World, meant leaving Kal. She didn't want to leave him but Diana also knew she was a princess and the needs of the people outweighed her own. "I am Princess of Themyscira. Triana is my Sister. I've sworn as Princess to uphold the laws of our peaceful island and protect my Sisters and the Gods above all else." So with a heavy heart she said, "Yes, after I bring Triana back, I will stay on Themyscira forever."