Warrior Princess Part 2

First Impressions by Hellacre13

Diana turned and halted in the air.She took in a deep breath and waited.Her heart was racing.For years she had been sparring with the best warriors but she had never really engaged in combat.And the adversary was someone who appeared equaled to her in speed and strength.She watched him halt before her.They were three meters apart,several miles up in the air.She could see that they were above sprawling wheat fields.The air currents whipped her hair and skirt. He shouted,"There's no need to run from me.I know you're in some kind of trouble.Let me help......." Diana did not even reply.She went straight  for him.Clark let out a grunt as her fist met his solar plexus and then his jaw.He tumbled over and fell several meters.He stopped himself and held his jaw."Well,that tact didn't work." He saw her coming at him again and lifted his arms to break her punches.He winced and found himself being driven back.She was fast and he could see that she had some sort of martial training.She was also taking him by surprise.He had to block kicks,absorb uppercuts,and deflect chops.Soon they were grappling,pushing at each other,strengths matched. He gritted,"I don't want to hurt you." She asked derisively,"What even makes you think you can?" Diana's fingers were going for a pressure point at his neck,but he anticipated her and grabbed her wrists and brought her bracelets together in a tight hold.She screeched .She could not move her arms! "Now,maybe you will stop fighting like a wildcat and and tell me what Luthor wants with you........."he said impatiently. Diana head-butted him.They both fell back,reeling in pain from the impact.She felt her ears ring and skull throb;she lost the air current and began to fall.She was losing consciousness,and her blurring eyes saw him diving towards her.All went dark. ******************** Diana's eyes opened swiftly and she jerked to a sitting position . A gentle voice said,"Hey,it's okay.You're safe." Her eyes stared around wildly.She was lying on some sort of couch in a strangely decorated room.A woman with auburn hair was sitting in a chair next to her.The woman had a warm smile and  empathetic eyes.Diana looked at her warily."Where am I?" Martha Kent said slowly,"You're in my home.My name is Martha.My son flew you in an hour ago.'' "Your son?" she echoed and winced.Her head still ached;she had to lean back for a moment."Hera,he has a skull made of....of granite." Martha said wryly."I know.He told me you were no push over either." Diana,not recognizing the phrase,looked confused."What?" "He said you were very powerful,"she amended. "He is very powerful."she returned,looking about at the ceiling and television and furniture. Martha got up and poured a drink from a jug for her."Here,this will revive you." Diana looked at it suspiciously."How do I know it isn't...?" Martha smiled."Poisoned?My dear,if we wanted to hurt you my son could have easily done that when you fell.He brought you here to me,and told me you were in some sort of trouble.He could tell that you weren't, let us say, native to our shores...." Diana stared at her uncertainly.Maybe it was because this Martha was a woman and looked at her so kindly that she relaxed her guard.She took the glass of juice,sniffed at it and then sipped.Her eyes widened in appreciation."That is......delicious." "It's my best cranberry punch." She said haltingly,"Thank you.........I am Diana......... of the Amazons of Themyscira." Martha,who was pouring out herself a drink,let the glass pitcher down upon the tray with a clatter.Her eyes grew wide."Amazons?!?" Diana nodded."Yes." Martha looked at her awestruck.If her son had not told her of the flying battle in the skies,she'd have never have believed the girl.She'd have called the mental hospital. She asked, "Amazons exist?I always thought they were part of mythology?" "I am before you...." "Y-yes...so you are."She looked at her tunic,sandals and the metal bracelets."But how did you come here?" Diana looked at her reluctantly,uncertain if to tell the truth.Her hand suddenly went to her pocket to feel for the orb."The Eye!Where is the Eye?' "What do you mean?" "I had it in my pocket......." Martha said,"Oh,that round thing?"" Diana rose to her feet.She put down her glass.She cried,"Where is it?" Martha said confused,"Clark took it out to the barn........." "Clark?" "My son." ***************** Clark had the Eye of Ra wrapped in its cloth on his desk.He had not open it yet.Having brought his unconscious burden home,his first task had been to pick up where he left off with the fence.He had finished putting the tools away and his eyes fell on the thing that he had  found weighing down her pocket.Now he picked it up and was about to untie the knot around it. A voice cried,"NO!" Clark looked up to see the girl run in and hurry up the steps.She grabbed the orb out of his hands.The knot was coming undone,and she grabbed his red jacket and wrapped the orb in it."We cannot let her see where we are!" Clark looked at her once again with a kind of bemused wonder.She was  windswept and untidy.Her tunic was torn and soiled and she had streaks on her cheeks.For the first time since her arrival in the world,Diana realized that she looked a mess and that she had not been the best representative of her nation.She had attacked this Clark without provocation and he had most likely saved her.She was dismayed and embarrassed,but she held her chin high. Clark put his hand out."Let's start over,shall we? I'm Clark Kent." Her hand slowly went into his.The strength in his fingers took her off guard."I am Diana........."she said abruptly. "Just Diana?" She nodded and pulled her hand away,not liking the odd sensation going up her arm nor the way he was studying her. "Just Diana." He seemed to realize that he was staring a little too much longer than was polite and upbraided himself inwardly.Slick,Clark.Gaping like some retard! He said seriously,"Well,Diana,you owe me an explanation.What were you doing in Luthor's mansion and where did you get your abilities?" ****************** She sat on the steps.Clark leaned on the rails and listened as she tried to tell her story.She told him nearly everything:where she came from,how she got the orb,and Lex and Circe's involvement in her arrival into Smallville.What she omitted to tell him was that her mother was Queen of the Amazons.The less people knew the heir to Themyscira was in the outside world the better. "An Amazon?"He said it as if he couldn't believe it. "Yes.We are a race of women that chose to live in isolation after we were betrayed by men.Your kind pillaged,raped and humiliated my sisters.These bracelets are in homage to our imprisonment by men." It made sense now,her over-reaction."No wonder you wanted to scratch my eyes out." "I apologize for that.I did not think. I should know not all your gender are evil.But it is what my sisters have believed and the life they lived for hundreds of years......" "How old are you?" "I am a little over sixty days short of eighteen.How old are you?' "Twenty one and three quarters." "I have not met much men.....in fact none at all....until you and this Lex......"She flushed."He tried to hurt me and I assumed you wanted to do the same." "But how did you get your abilities?" "I was born with them.I was blessed by the gods." Clark said wryly,"A few years ago I'd probably be calling the asylum for you,but having seen a man from Atlantis,a speedster,vampires,and aliens I guess I'll just have to believe you.So this stone is a seeing stone and it transported you here?" Diana said slowly,"No,it acted as a conduit.Only some one with great magical skill could do that.A sorceress brought me here by mistake.She wanted the Eye but did not expect someone would have found it." Clark said distastefully,"I hate magic." Diana said gravely,"She and  Luthor want the Eye to use it with the staff.If they can do this on the next eclipse,then they will be able to control time itself.We cannot let them do this.We must stop them!" Clark looked at her ironically."We?" She nodded."You have great power.How?Did the Gods bless you too?" "No."He got up and walked over to the doorway and stared out at the growing dusk."I'm not from this world.My home planet,Krypton, was destroyed and I was sent here as a baby by my real parents.They chose to save me,as they could not save  themselves.I landed on this farm and was raised by the Kents.My adopted father is dead now.My abilities come from the effect of this system's sun.With it my cells absorb the energy as I grow and age.I become stronger,faster.I can see and hear beyond barriers....My powers of flight came fully last year...when I turned twenty one." It was an odd feeling telling her his secret.But he knew it the minute he saw her,even if she had kicked and punched him,his gut told him that he could trust her.It was as if he had found a kindred spirit .Too often he had to hide,to lie to safeguard his secret. She said," I am sorry about your home world but Apollo has blessed you." Clark turned."Apollo?" "The God of sunlight."She got up and came to stand before him."When do we go after the staff?" Clark looked at her queerly."You're serious!" "I am.We cannot leave them with it.By itself it can vanquish any being...even one as strong as you......." "After today Lex Luthor will have that mansion rigged out with security and alarms.We cannot just go rushing in.And you say there is a sorceress.I think I am vulnerable to magic." "Well,I am not,"she said determinedly."I will do this by myself if you will not help me" He caught her arm."Wait a minute.We'll go but not today.I'm sure the next eclipse is not tomorrow.Please, you're a warrior.Consider your tactics." She swallowed.She looked around her and said,"I must find a way to go home also." He said gently,"I know.We'll do that too.Come on,take the Eye and let's go in." "You will give me shelter?" He said,"My mother will have my hide if she knew I let you go wandering into the night." *************** Lex looked at Circe impatiently."So,we lost her!Can't you track her down with the staff?" "She's hiding the stone.I cannot use the staff alone." "She's way too powerful and knows too much to be on the loose.We have to find her.I'll put out an A.P.B for her.With her looks she won't be able to go far." "That's a good idea." "In the mean time,we must strengthen our defenses.We move on the Beastiamoph project." Circe said,"We need subjects though." "Go to any slum and you'll find what you need." ****************** Clark was in his room.The door was ajar.Dinner had been  finished an hour ago and his mother and Diana were downstairs talking.He was on the Internet,searching for information on the Eye of Ra,the staff of Anubis,Themyscira and the next solar eclipse.He pulled up the staff and saw that it had been stolen from the Cairo museum two years ago.The Eye was assumed to be part of ancient lore.Of Themyscira he found very little.It was more legend than fact.Part of Greek mythology.If he had not seen Diana before him,he would have been prone to discard the notion of immortal Amazons living in isolation.He was more fortunate with the solar eclipse which he discovered was a month away. "May I come in?" Clark looked up to see Diana in one of his mother's jogging bottoms and an old football shirt of his.The jogging bottoms were too short for her and reached her calf,but his old Crows shirt swallowed her. "Yeah,sure." "What are you doing?" "Surfing the net.See,the next eclipse is in one month." She  came towards the computer with wondering eyes."What sort of magic is this?" "Not magic.Science.This stores millions of words and pictures.It's almost like a book that contains information on every conceivable subject.I can type in anything here and search." He typed in the word,"DIANA."and she saw thousands of references come up.She breathed,"That is very impressive.As much as I wish to go home,there are fascinating things to see in the world.I was just watching your t.v?That is an amazing tool." He smiled."I guess it is.How is it you speak English?" "My moth........We amazons believe in the importance of education and communication.....I was taught by my tutor......,"she said hurriedly and went towards his bookshelf."You must lend me a book.I love to read." He got up and pulled down a book."Here's a short piece of fiction to begin with by one of our best.....Hemingway....The Old Man and The Sea." She took it with a laugh."I know the Old Man of the Sea,you know." "What?'' "Nothing."She looked at it thoughtfully."The Old Man and The Sea.Thank you.I am tired and will retire now.Good night,Clark Kent and thank you. ******************* The next day Martha made Clark take Diana into town.Although it was Sunday,some stores would be opened until lunch time,and they could get her some decent clothes.She was in one of Clark's old jeans,which had been belted tightly at the waist and turned up at the ankles, and another of his over sized t-shirts.Martha had tied her hair back in a ponytail,plunked a straw hat on her head and shades over eyes.Diana was not amused but Martha knew she needed something to help obscure features that would turn even the head of a monk.She would have taken her shopping herself but had to go to see a sick friend.She had to rely on Clark's common sense  for now. When Diana stepped out into the yard,Clark was already warming up the pick-up.He began to grin when he saw her.She looked like a tramp.All she needed was the shopping trolley. She stopped."What?I look foolish." "No......" "But you are laughing." "No.I was just remembering a joke.Get in." Diana took her place in the passenger seat.She bumped her head,sighing,"Must I wear these...things on my eyes?" He started the engine."Yep,Mom's orders.Buckle up." She looked confused."What?" "Here."He reached over and pulled the seat belt over her and clicked it in place.Diana felt her pulses quicken as his hair brushed her arm and she could smell a crisp,fresh fragrance on him.His eyes met hers and for the first time in her life she felt as if she couldn't quite breathe.She blurted out the first thing in her head."You smell  beautifully clean for a man" He straightened up and said very solemnly,"I guess I ought to feel flattered by that....er...remark.Was that a compliment?I wasn't sure." She felt her cheeks growing warm.He did have a disarming twinkle in his blue eyes that made her suspect he was amusing himself at her expense.She said a bit tersely,"I never smelled anything like it before....." "It's called aftershave.And it is literally that." "Aftershave?Oh."She let out a gasp as they pulled off,and clutched the dashboard.She asked, after a minute,"I find it strange that you would want to hide your power.You could fly to this....store in minutes........" "Well,apart from the fact that you have Lex Luthor out for you,I learned from a young age that power like mine is better hidden.Not everyone understands it and can cope with the consequences........"He paused thinking regretfully of Lana."Too many times they get caught in the crossfire and can get hurt.It's likely if my parents had gone to the authorities about me they would have taken me away for experiments.........I may look human but I'm an alien..........Human beings at their best are wonderful but at their worst they can be brutal.They might have found a use for me........maybe some sort of weapon.I'm so grateful to my father for having the compassion to hide me and try to bring me up normally." "But you are not normal.No matter what, you will never be with such abilities." "You don't have to tell me that." "Power like ours can be used for good.To change the world." "We can change the world but must we flaunt our powers?I have a difficult line to walk;I grew up as one of them and I cherish my humanity;and yet I know that these  extraordinary powers of mine are a great responsibility on my shoulders.I'm stuck with them." Diana asked perplexed,"Would you give it up if you could?" He looked sombre."Sometimes I feel I could........" Diana felt a strange sense of disappointment.She looked out at the fields and lone farmhouses as they drove along."The Gods blessed me with my powers.I would never be so ungrateful as to reject them." Clark looked at her cynically,"You live in seclusion,amongst women;if you lived one month in this world I bet you'll sing a different tune.You think if you came flying in like some angel of mercy it will make you immune to misunderstanding or prejudice?The media will drive you crazy if nothing else does." "The who?" He shook his head."You're in for a rude awakening,Diana."He looked as they approached a nearby gas station and convenience store.He said,"We need  gas."He turned in and  went to a self service pump.As he waited for the tank to fill,his eyes homed in on a flyer on a post.There was a sketch of a young woman and beneath it was a description that fitted Diana. Clark put the pump back in its bracket and said grimly to Diana,"Get down." "What?!" He waved her down."Get down.I'll be back in one minute." Sighing,she obeyed and waited.Clark went to the post,yanked down the flyer and scrunched it into his pocket.He was about to go pay when a car drove up and a voice called, "Hey,Smallville!" Clark saw Lois and Chloe.He muttered."Damn." The girls parked the car and came up to him.He smiled half heartedly,"Hey.What are you doing here?" "We could ask you the same thing,"said Chloe. "I'm just doing a few errands for Mom......" Lois mused,"On a Sunday?You are a good little boy,aren't you? "What are you guys doing up here?" "We're chasing a story,"said Chloe "Really?" "Yep.Starlabs' top researcher has gone missing and we've been doing our own little investigation.He lives in Smallville,just north of the creek." "So,you two are doing what?" "Hoping to speak to his wife and neighbors.Maybe there's something the police are missing." "Just don't nose around too much,okay?Starlabs main shareholder is one Lex Luthor." "You could come help us nose around,"suggested Lois sweetly."You owe us a favor for helping you arrange that spa day for your mom.Plus you're doing journalism as your major  now,farmboy.You need to get your head out of the hay." He said absently,"Er,yeah,but not today, huh?" Lois rolled her eyes."Always bailing out,Smallville.Hey,you haven't forgotten about Meltdown Madness,have you?" "What?"Clark looked clueless. Lois folded her arms."Party next Friday?We are both dateless and you said you'd come with me." He looked at Chloe,who shrugged,"I'm not getting in between you two.Jimmy's taking me." Clark scratched his head."I guess." Lois said sarcastically,"Try not to look so enthusiastic." Chloe said,"We're going in to get some snacks and water.You coming in?" He glanced back at the pickup.Diana appeared to be keeping low."No.I've got to pay for the gas."He left them to go to the cashier's next to the convenience store. Meanwhile Diana had ventured up and saw Clark chatting with two young women.She frowned.For all his urgency,he seemed remarkably cool and taking his time!!Well,she was not going to sit by whilst he chatted at his leisure!She got out and looked curiously at the convenience store.She walked towards it.Her eyes widened in fascination as she walked in.She took off the shades and stared down the aisle.It was like a treasure trove.She walked along marveling at the glass box whipping cotton candy,the soda machine,the rows of shelves with foodstuff,cosmetics, toiletries and stationary.There was even a D.I.Y section and she was regarding a wall of power tools with fascination when Clark went back to the car and found her missing. For one moment he felt a stab of panic,but took a breath and used his super vision.He swept the area and his eyes saw the tall,slender figure in the back of an aisle in the store.He stalked back in and went  straight for her. He hissed,"I told you to stay down!" Diana looked up and showed him a large chainsaw."Look,at this.Your blacksmiths are very talented.Isn't it wonderful?" He took it out of her hand."Yeah,just fantastic.Diana,you are underestimating the danger you might be in by coming out of the car.They're looking for you."He took out the flyer and showed her.She looked at it guiltily."Oh." He took her arm."Let's get out of here.Where's the shades?" She looked around.She had dropped it. A familiar voice rang down the aisle."Clark?I thought you'd gone?'' They looked up to see Chloe and Lois carrying a basket at the top of the aisle.Clark shoved Diana sideways into the next aisle and she nearly went headlong into a discount bin.She steadied herself and,scowling at him,skirted around a large square of pine wood and hid behind it. Chloe  frowned,"Who were you talking to?" Clark replied hastily,"No one.I was just admiring this, er,chainsaw." Lois remarked,"Talking to yourself.That's the first sign of madness,you know." Chloe looked over his shoulder but saw nothing except a  bin and some pieces of board leaning against a wall."Well,okay.We're going to cash.You coming?'' "Um,no.I think I'll examine the chainsaw some more." Lois wrinkled her nose as she and her cousin walked away.She murmured,"Talking to himself and admiring chainsaws.Clark is such a weirdo,Chloe." Chloe said slyly,"A weirdo you seem to be taking a shine to.Meltdown Madness?" Lois said wryly,"What can I say,he grows on you and I sure as hell won't go as the third wheel with you and Jimmy.Are you sure he and Lana are over?" Chloe sighed."They haven't been together for a while.But who knows with those two." "Well,she's not here,"shrugged Lois."Makes him a free agent." Diana saw the board move and Clark beckon her out.She fumed,"I am getting tired of hiding as if I have some contagious disease.Who are they?'' "They're close friends of mine." "Friends?Then surely if they are that..........." "Come on,"he interrupted,and urged her up the aisle."We can't let them see us."They stopped and peered across at the till.As they waited,a customer walked passed them and the woman stared at Diana suspiciously.The woman went up to floor manager and whispered to him.Clark heard her clearly."That girl in the D.I.Y aisle.I swear, she's the one from the flyer." The manager turned to look at the flyer on the notice board  and came to stare at Diana,who was awkwardly trying to pull the hat further down her face. The man said urgently,"Yes,that's her."He fished out his cell phone."Hello?Smallville police please." Clark grabbed Diana's arm."Let's go!" "But your friends will see us......" "That's the least of our worries now."They ran out the store.Chloe and Lois were packing their purchases and saw the figures run out towards the pickup.Lois peered through the glass window."Isn't that Smallville?!" Chloe nodded bewildered."Yes.Who is that with him!?!" Lois grimaced."I don't know but it sure has the strangest taste in clothes!" ************* They sped off in the pick-up.Clark's ears could detect the sound of a patrol car a mile away coming down the road."This isn't going to work!If they see this vehicle,we're done for."He veered off the road and cut  up a dusty dirt track.They drove past rows of corn,and came to a stop once they were safely away from the road. Clark gave her a stern look."Didn't I tell you to  stay in the car?" She said crossly,"I don't see why we have to keep running away!" "Diana,the body that keeps law and order are after you now.Do you know what that means?That every officer in Smallville  have a description of you and are waiting to take you into custody.I bet it was Lex's doing." She began,"We could go to these officers and explain,tell them the truth........" He said wearily,"Lex has probably bought out half the service,not to mention that the minute you pitch that story,you'll probably be certified as insane." She looked chastened."Oh.I see.Things are not as simple as I thought it was." "No,and if Luthor gets wind I'm helping you......We need to get back to the farm." They drove back and found the farm quiet.Martha was still over at the sick neighbor.He bade her go in and flicked open his cell phone.He dialed Chloe's number. "Hi,it's me.Is Lois there?" "No, do you want to talk to her?" "No.Just  you." "The researcher's wife refused to see us so Lois has gone snooping around the back.I'm waiting in the car.What was that about earlier?" "Chloe,I need some help.I need you to do something for me." "Okay." "I need clothes.Girls clothes." There was silence on the line.He called,"Chloe...?You there?" "Yeah...please,don't tell me my friend is a cross-dresser!" He laughed."No,nothing like that.It's not for me.It's for a girl that was with me today." "That was a girl?Well,she does need some help." "Yeah.She's got nothing decent to wear.I was supposed to take her to town to pick up something but the police got wind of her." "Clark,you know you shouldn't be picking up strays...,''she warned. "No,it's nothing like that.Can you buy her a couple of outfits and maybe,um,underwear?" "Sure.What size is she?" "I....she's about five ten......" "That's height, not size." "Gah,she,er...I don't know.From her weight she's probably about 128 lbs." "Oh,yeah that's a great help.What's her cup size?" "What?" "Come on,Clark,is she an A,B,C,D,E?" "I don't know......."He was glad Chloe was miles away because he was sure he was going red. "Well, go ask her." "I'm not going to ask her!Besides,I'll bet she doesn't even know herself.Look,I'll give you my mother's number.She'll have some idea." Chloe sighed."Your mother knows about the stray?That's alright then.Look,Lois is coming.Give me the number and I'll see you later." Clark gave her Martha's number and switched off.He sighed and went inside to see what Diana was doing.She was looking at pictures of the family on the mantle.She picked up one with Jonathan Kent."Was this your father?" "Yes." "He has kind eyes." "He was the best."He took the frame from her and watched it with a kind of sadness.Diana said,"I am sorry." Clark looked at her."Have you a mother and father?" "I have a mother.I have no  father."she replied abruptly and walked away to the window."Shouldn't we go after Luthor?" "Luthor is probably banking on you doing just that.We need an element of surprise.One of the girls you saw today knows my secret.She has always been of invaluable help to me.I have asked her to get you some clothing and maybe with her help we can work out some sort of plan....." Diana crossed her arms over her chest."Very well.But I am losing patience.I am not used to waiting upon the whims of others." Clark made a mock bow."Well, pardon us lesser mortals,Your Highness." Diana stiffened.He frowned seeing her shoulders grow rigid."What is it?" She said, scarlet cheeked,"Nothing...I...nothing.I will be in my room." Perplexed,he rubbed his chin pensively.She was hiding something.