Warrior Princess Part 3

Settling In by Hellacre13

Chloe drove into the Kent yard and saw three people come out to greet her.There was Clark,Mrs Kent,and a tall,strikingly beautiful girl.Chloe got out and waved at them. Clark smiled."I'm so glad to see you.This is Diana.Diana,meet Chloe Sullivan." Chloe's brows rose at Diana when she came forward to meet her."Hello,it is an honor to meet you.Clark has said much about you." Chloe stared at her and shook her hand."Er,yeah,nice to meet you too." Martha asked,"Have you managed to pick up anything,Chloe?" Chloe opened the car and pulled out two shopping bags."Yeah,I hope they'll do.I got her a pair of sneakers as well." Martha peeped into the bag  and pulled out a blue, and white Converse."Okay,I'll reserve judgment.You guys know what's in fashion.Come on, Diana,let's go get you out of Clark's clothes." As they went in,Chloe and Clark followed slowly.She folded her arms and murmured to Clark,"Well,I see why you decided to help her." He frowned."Meaning?" "She's quite a knockout." He said wryly,"That'd be funny if she knew she was a knockout." "You're kidding,right?' "Nope.She thinks she can just go sauntering about Smallville without being noticed." Clark briefly filled Chloe in on the problem with Lex.Chloe gave him a worried look."Are you running a fever?" "It's the truth." "Yeah,but Amazons?Magical artifacts?It's outrageous!" "You're telling me an alien from Krypton, isn't?" "Okay,you have a point.So,she really flies?"asked Chloe."Wow.Must be a nice feeling for you." He began defensively,"Chloe......" She nudged him."Nice to know you're not the only one with abilities,I mean." They went inside to see Martha coming down the steps."Well?''asked Chloe."Do they fit?" "Perfect.But she's not too impressed with the clothes.Thinks the jeans are too confining.She likes the Converse,said it's very comfortable.I left her deciding between a shirt and t-shirt top.Would you like something to drink,Chloe?"Martha headed for the kitchen. "That'll be great, Mrs Kent."She looked at Clark."So,she expects you to help her break into the Luthor mansion?It's crazy,Clark.You know how bitter Lex has become since last year with Lana and...........Sorry,I didn't mean to bring that up." "It's okay.Lana and I are over.If it was meant to be it would never be so hard.But I agree with you,we won't be able to just break into the mansion.There is the little matter of a sorceress that bothers me also." Chloe knew of his vulnerability with magic.She said grimly,"We can't risk anyone knowing your secret.Can't she just hide this orb thing and that way no one can do anything with the staff?Look,Clark,I don't want to sound like I'm paranoid,but what do you know of this girl,other than what she says?Supposed she really stole the orb from Lex and there's no sorceress or eclipse?Have you seen this Eye in action?" "Well,no......" "Clark!You're a journalist in the making!When are you going to start dealing with facts and not your heart?!" As they were talking,Diana was coming down the stairs.She halted on the landing as she heard them.Her fingers clenched into a fist and she turned around and went back up. Clark answered his friend's question."Call it instinct if you must.I know Diana is telling the truth." Martha appeared with a tray."Here are some nice smoothies I made up.Isn't Diana down yet?It doesn't take that long to put on a top." Chloe commented,"Maybe she thinks it too confining as well." Clark suddenly frowned."No,I can't hear any movement."He looked upwards and let out a low oath."Damn!She's gone!" Mrs Kent looked dismayed."What?!Why would she go?" Chloe looked concerned."Clark,you don't suppose?" "To Lex's?It looks that way.'' Chloe cried,"Wait!You can't just go rushing.........."But Clark had gone before she could finish her sentence.She looked at Martha."Don't you hate it when he does that?" Martha sighed."You get use to it.I hope he stops her before she hurts herself." Chloe sighed."Always the knight in shining armor.Mrs Kent,you two have taken this girl in without a question.A little over twenty four hours have passed since you've met her.I hope she is what she appears to be." Martha said softly,"That maybe,Chloe.But apart from her powers,she's got something about her.It's in her eyes.It's so.......truthful." Chloe's cell phone rang.She answered swiftly,"Clark?" "I'm outside Lex's house.There's no sign of her inside.She's not here." "Wait for me.I'm coming!"Chloe pocketed her phone and grabbed her keys."See you later,Mrs Kent!" "Be careful!"Martha shouted after her. ******************* Diana flew above the roadways,her eyes searching for a sign of the law enforcement vehicles that she had previously seen.Her eye caught sight of a highway patrol parked off the road.She alighted behind it and proceeded to come around to the front.The two officers had been watching the road with some semblance of boredowm.One was chewing on a doughnut,whilst the other whistled to himself.Diana's appearance in the rear view mirror made the former choke."Where the hell did she come from?" His partner's eyes goggled."From heaven it looks like." She stood before them and said,"I surrender myself." ******************** Lex Luthor was in his den when the phone rang and the sheriff's office reported that the girl had been apprehended.Luthor snapped,"Keep her there!I'm coming over!" He grabbed up his phone and dialed a Metropolis number."They found her.She's in the cells." "I can get there before you." "No.Wait for me.We wouldn't want the authorities to get suspicious." ********************* Chloe and Clark were watching the house from the road.They saw Lex's car speed out of the compound.Clark frowned."He's in a hurry." Chloe started the engine."Let's follow." They tailed Lex's silver Jaguar carefully.It was fifteen minutes later when they realized that the car was heading into town and going towards the jail. Clark used his x-ray vision as they pulled up."She's inside in a cell." ************** Circe had transmigrated from Metropolis the moment she got the call  from Lex.She had no intention of waiting for him.She was not going to let him get to the Eye and seek all the glory!She apparated in the backroom of the jail before the row of cells.A drunk and disorderly blinked at her and slapped himself.She walked past a vagrant,who was clearly psychotic from the way he was drawing in the air and talking to himself.Then she paused before Diana's cell.The young Amazon was sitting on the bed.She rose as she saw the sorceress. Circe folded her arms."Where is the Eye?" Diana replied,"I don't have it,Witch.It is hidden and will remain so." Circe frowned."You are very arrogant for a Bana.You ought to be kissing the hems of my gown for saving your tribe." "I am not Bana."she retorted. Circe's eyes glowed.She raised her hand and the iron bars cracked at the corners and the entire door fell with a clang."You had better tell me where the orb is,child,else I will be very angry." An officer came running in."Hey,what is going on in here!?"He saw Circe and the broken door and cried,"Who  the hell are you?"He moved to pull out his revolver. Circe waved her hand."Freeze!" The man and everyone else under the roof,with the exception of Diana,were encased in ice.Diana used the opportunity to come at the sorceress hard and fast.They rammed into a  wall and crashed into the foyer.Circe picked herself up,and wiped her cut lips."Damn,you're fast.No one has ever been able to do that." She sent an energy bolt that sent Diana smashing into a filing cabinet.Diana rolled beneath a table to avoid a follow up blast.Circe growled,"If you don't give it up,I will kill you." Diana lifted the desk and threw it at her."You won't.You want the Eye and I will not give it up." Circe ducked as the desk smashed through the glass window and tumbled onto the street.Circe sent objects flying at her.Diana hovered and somersaulted in the air and landed behind her.Circe's eyes widened."You can fly?!?" Diana put her in a headlock and gritted,"Surprise.Now you will send me back!" Circe's fingers moved and grabbed Diana's hair and she sent a shock of pain through her.Diana screamed and fell to the floor.Circe snarled,"You want to bargain,do you?Okay,we will.On my terms!"She sent magical tendrils to bind her limbs."Tell me where the Eye is,you wretch!" Diana gasped,"Never!" Circe looked at the broken shards of glass on the ground and summoned one to her.She pressed it into Diana's throat."You little,vixen,you think you can defeat me?I am as old as the gods these humans call their own.You are but an infant.If you will not give me the orb,no matter.I will not leave here without some satisfaction." Circe was about to slit her throat when there was the sound of a voice shouting,"Circe,no!" They looked up to see Lex at the door."Put her down.We can use her." Circe cried,"She's little use to us if we can't get the Eye!" "She's valuable.It would be a waste to kill her......." Circe gave him a venomous look."Don't be stupid,Lex.You can't trust her.Not whilst she has the Eye!"Lex moved his arm and from behind his back produced the staff.He said,"You said it can kill anything.Let's be sure.You said she's unnaturally powerful." Her red eyes glowed and she threw the shard aside."Yes...yes....." He said,"How does it work?" Circe threw Diana to the floor."As the wielder you just have to point it and command your enemy to be destroyed." Lex pointed swiftly and said,"Destroy!"The red blast went straight at Circe.She shrieked as the energy blasted a hole in her chest.She snarled,"You tricked me!" He said coldly,"No one double crosses me." Her body crumbled like dust.Her voice echoed,"This is not the end." Luthor looked at Diana.The tendrils had vanished from her limbs.He held out his hand."I just saved your life.Join me.With the staff and the Eye we can access great power.You can even go back to your home,though I suspect when you see what can be accomplished you might just want to remain here than in some lost desert province." Diana said bitterly,"I would rather die." Lex looked taken aback,but said amused,"A bit young to be a martyr,aren't we?But if that's what you want,it can be arranged."He pointed the staff,and let out a yelp of pain.The staff seemed to grow burning hot.He had to drop it. Then a force unlike anything Lex felt, moved in and the windows around him were blowing out and the walls seemed to expand and contract.He had to hit the floor as plaster,glass and brick fell around him.Before Lex knew it the girl kneeling before him was gone and he was lying,covered in debris.The other officers and prisoners snapped out of their cases of ice and looked around in bewilderment.Lex pounded the floor in anger. ****************** Diana did not realize what had happened until seconds later when she felt the cool rush of air about her.She was in Clark Kent's arms being flown away from the town.She struggled and  jerked away,her blue eyes flashing with dismay and disbelief. "The staff!You should have taken the staff!" "Oh,I'm sorry,"he said sarcastically,"I thought it better to grab you first instead of the stick that turns people into dust." "But I need it to get home!And now Circe is gone!She was my only hope!" The real consternation in her voice made him say gently,"I'm sorry,Diana.But it was unlikely she would have helped you willingly.And it's better Circe is gone.Lex can't use the staff to manipulate time without her help." Diana had to concede that he had a point but it did not help that she saw her chances of going home diminish.They alighted on the top of a water tower.Clark used the opportunity to call Chloe to inform her that they were safe.After he came off the phone,he said,"You know you shouldn't have run off alone like that." She muttered,"You were too busy debating with your friend whether you should go or not!I thought to take the decision out of your hands." "Yeah and what did you think to achieve alone?If it weren't for their trying to double cross each other you'd have been in real trouble back there." She tossed her head."It was not my time to die.The Gods did not bless me to die prematurely." "Are all Amazons as arrogant as you?" "Arrogant?"Circe had accused her of the same thing and now Clark also.What her sisters would view as resourceful and courageous,he was calling arrogant?!"I am not arrogant." "You are.Too proud for you own good.You think it and so it must be.It doesn't work like that.Those poor men in there who got caught up in the crossfire...they could have been killed!Rescuing you nearly brought that entire structure down.Or are you really like the Gods who bless you?Mortals are just pawns in a part of the greater game being played?" She paled.She had never thought of that.She bit her lips and said penitently,"I ...am sorry.It..is just that my sisters taught me in combat one cannot worry about one's surroundings but must keep both eyes on the opponent." Clark asked pointedly,"You said we could  use our gifts to better the world....who would you be bettering it for?Would dead men and women be able to enjoy it?" She seemed to struggle for a moment but then shook her head."No.You are right.Forgive me,Clark." He said wearily,"It's okay." She said forlornly,"If you feel you cannot abide with me,I will find somewhere else......." "No,I don't want you to leave......I mean until we find out a way to get you home...you can stay......"he said hurriedly, trying not to blush,like some prepubescent schoolboy. Her smile was dazzling.He winced internally.This is going to be tough,tougher than Kara .Kara was at least a Kryptonian like himself.He grew up on earth and had some idea of his heritage.So mentoring his younger cousin wasn't so tough.Kara had settled in nicely and two years later since her arrival was in the care of Martha Kent's sister in New York .But Diana.She was a different kettle of fish.And she's not your cousin,an inner voice added. He said abruptly,"Let's go home.It's getting late and I have to go back to Metropolis this evening ." "Why?" "I attend a...what you would call an educational facility...Metropolis University.I stay there during the week." "You mean you will not be here?Oh."She felt a curious sense of disappointment she couldn't explain,but she obeyed him and they took to the air to get back to the farm. ************************* Clark had packed his bag and went to see his mother in the kitchen. "Where's Diana?"he asked. "In the barn,no doubt checking  the orb thing again." "Mom,you have to make sure she's kept out of sight.We can't let anyone see her." Martha sighed."I'll try,sweetheart,but it will be terrible for her, being cooped in here all day,waiting for the hired hands to go in the afternoon." "Until we can find some way to get her home,it'll have to do." "And if we can't,do we keep her hidden for ever?" He had not even considered that.He said slowly,"It's all I got for now.Look,I'll do some research of my own and  it won't be long before the semester ends." "Yes,but you'll be going to intern at the Planet ........." He looked at his watch."I've got to go meet Chloe and Lois in town.They offered to give me a lift back.We'll talk about this when I get back this weekend." She gave him a bag."It's some sandwiches for you guys for the drive.You  going to say good-bye to her?" **************** Clark walked into the barn quietly.She had taken the handle off a broom  and was in the middle of the floor and doing some sort of exercise with it.She twirled it with the grace and skill of any swordsman.He watched her quietly.He had to remember she was a warrior and this was no doubt a normal thing she did daily.He sighed regretfully.Confining her was going to be cruel. "Impressive." She halted in mid thrust and  put the handle down."You are ready to go?" "Yes." "When will you be back?" "On the weekend.Diana,you need to understand how important it is for you to keep yourself concealed.Not only your welfare depends on this but my mother's as well." She said gravely,"I understand." "Well,then,I will see you later."He turned to leave.Diana blurted out,"Clark........" He turned."Yes?" "Thank you for saving my life  today.I owe you a debt of gratitude which I swear to repay." "Try to follow orders for a change and we'll call the debt fulfilled." They  shared a brief smile and he left. ******************* Lex Luthor was flying to Metropolis.He had a meeting with his newly appointed researcher.A Miss Cale.It seemed Miss Doe's solution was not easy to replicate and Burke had evolved back into a human.There was only a limited amount of the solution.Miss Cale had  tried to discover what was in the solution but was unable to identify one main component.Lex stepped off the private jet to see the blond haired woman waiting for him on the tarmac. Veronica Cale was a tall, attractive, elegant woman.Lex knew her from their university days together.She was a brilliant scientist but very ambitious like himself and inclined to be impatient with waiting for things to happen.Like Lex she believed in taking the bull by the horns and leaving her mark upon the world.She had been kicked out of her job in a major pharmaceutical company last year for trying to sell the formula of a new drug to a rival firm. "Lex,darling." He took her hand and kissed it."You look good,Ron." She smiled and took his arm.They walked towards the chauffeur driven car."What do we do now?I have Burke drugged.We have four test subjects you got your men to pick up from Suicide Slum.There are only three vials left." "You checked her office and work area?" "Yes,and there isn't anything." "Well,there's one spot we didn't check.Her apartment in Metropolis.There must be something there." "You sure you want to do this?I mean, we have no idea of the side effects and it looks like the solution is not permanent.Who will  invest in soldiers that are human mutations?" "You'd be surprised.But there are other factors to consider,"he said,remembering Diana and the blur of motion that removed her from his sight before he could even blink. Veronica shrugged."Okay.Let's go." They arrived at what use to be the apartment of Miss Doe.She had lived there for over a year now and according to the landlord had been very aloof.One hardly saw her.Lex informed the man that the woman in question had passed away,and as her employer,he had come to see to having her things moved out.The landlord was very happy to let him go up after Lex  pushed a hundred dollar bill towards him for "his trouble''.The landlord escorted them to the apartment,opened up and left them to it. Veronica opened the blinds of the room.She looked around at the apartment."It hardly looks lived in." Lex was aware it was for mainly for appearances that Circe maintained the trappings that went with being human.He sniffed and began to pull out draws and open up cupboards. "Just see if you find anything." They had rifled the bedroom and kitchen and found nothing.Veronica grimaced."I could use a drink." She opened the fridge and let out a shriek.Lex came behind her."What did you find?" She pointed distastefully to a litre sized jar.Inside amber colored liquid was the remains of a what appeared to be an alien looking creature,whose limbs appeared to have been amputated. Lex's eyes brightened as he took up the jar and surveyed the carcass."Want to bet this is our missing ingredient?" ****************** Clark rang home every other day to check with his mother on their guest.Martha was happy to report that she was being very cooperative.In fact she was so consumed with curiosity,that it didn't matter about being confined to the farm.She ravenously consumed the books in the house  and watched television,fascinated by the Discovery,History,News and Learning Channels.Martha even went to the library and picked up some  films and novels for her.She especially liked the epics like Gladiator and Ben Hur,and the fantasy Lord Of the Rings,but got a bit impatient with a couple of the chick flicks.Martha actually got her to sit through one of her favorites "Roman Holiday" and Diana was very pensive after the movie. "Did you like the movie?"asked Mrs Kent. "It was very interesting.She was a princess,he was just a reporter,is that right?They were never meant to be together.It seems almost pointless,because in the end they had to go back to their own lives." Martha gave her a patient but knowing smile."True, they were very different socially and maybe philosophically but they shared a common love of the ridiculous and adventure.They connected intellectually as well as emotionally.And what matters was the time they had together.They had a sense of belonging together despite it all.There is a saying in our world,it is better to have loved and lost,than never love at all." Diana said confused,"It seems a very inconvenient and irrational  kind of emotion if you ask me.I don't quite understand it." Martha predicted wisely,"One day you will." ******************** Diana couldn't sleep.She was tossing and turning.She was having a recurrent dream since coming to the outside world six days ago;she was flying towards Themyscira and yet unable to reach it.She could see its high peaks,the clouds surrounding it,the sentinels as she was flying hard towards it.Yet it seemed to be moving further and further away.She felt something grab her wrist.When she turned around,she saw it was Clark.He was pulling her towards him.She felt a sense of panic and pushed him back and was soon falling.She tried to save herself but was plummeting fast.She couldn't fly! Diana jerked up in bed and held her pounding heart.What was the matter with her?And why did she dream of Clark?It was confusing.She sighed and flicked on the lamp.The house was silent.She looked at the clock and saw it was only ten past midnight.She had only been asleep for half and hour.She got up and changed out of her nightwear into jeans,a top and her sneakers.She needed to clear her head. She opened the window and jumped lightly to the ground.She went towards the barn.She didn't know why,but she needed to see that the Eye was safe.She went inside,and flew up to the loft.Pulling up a plank,she peered in at the orb,now wrapped in a kitchen towel Martha had given to her.She picked it up and undid the cloth.With no Circe around,it made it safer  to look into the seeing stone.She whispered to it and images began to form.Diana saw Luthor.Then a blond woman in a white coat.Diana's eyes widened as the woman was seen directing men to throw a struggling group of people into a cell.One of the victims was then being injected.He morphed into a monster.Then Diana saw the outside of the building and the name Starlabs. She held her cheek in consternation."Hera!"From her history lessons,she had learned of Circe's deeds.It was long before she was born.For centuries Circe had lived on the island of Aeaea,and had lured sailors to their death.Those that she didn't kill,she had transformed into monsters or Beastiamorphs,to do her evil bidding.It seemed although she was dead,her potion had been discovered and was being used by Luthor.Circe had to be very foolish to share her secret.Diana looked at the Eye.She must have never expected to contend with an Amazon prodigy having the Eye.Nor Luthor being smart enough to keep hold of the staff.Fate had not worked in her favor. Diana wrapped the Eye and took it with her.She then flew back into the house and went into Clark's room.She had seen a book,an atlas of North America.She opened the book and searched out the map of Kansas and Smallville in proximity to Metropolis.She tore the pages put and folded it carefully.Map reading was one off the first skills she learned as a child.Getting to the city should be easy enough.She also managed to get the address of the University of Metropolis and she could get Clark's address by picking up one of the postcards he had sent to his mother.She looked around thoughtfully.One couldn't just fly out without being prepared.She saw an old schoolbag of Clark's hanging on a hook and took  it down.It was perfect. She put the orb,and map inside.She then sneaked downstairs and went into the kitchen.She picked up an apple,two muffins,a bottle of water and a chocolate bar.Chocolate was one of the things she had been very impressed with.She stuffed them in the bag.Her eyes fell on the knife block and she took the largest one.It was no sword but it would have to do.She slipped it into a side pocket of the bag.She saw one of the post cards stuck on the fridge and memorized the address.Finally she picked up a note pad from the counter and scrawled a hasty note to Mrs Kent. Dear Mrs Kent, I have to go find Clark.It is a matter of urgency.Of life and death.The lives of innocents are at stake.I took the last two muffins.And your big knife.Don't worry, I will be fine. Diana. She then quietly went out the back door and took to the skies.