Wonder Woman #30: "Potential"

Her skin itched. Not because of the fur, that was something she was used to, but her skin itched. She knew it was all in her head, as much as something like this should be in one’s head, but still, her skin itched and nothing she could do helped. Chuma knew the reason why she felt this way. He knew that it was because Barbara Minerva, current consort and wife of Urzkartaga, was impure, and unlike those who carried the mantle in the forests where he and his tribe had once existed peacefully, she was no virgin. She was soiled goods, and that meant that Urzkartaga was angry. “Mistress--” He moved toward the cage where she was pawing at her fur, and she glanced up at her in an instant, poised and prepared, like a spring ready to be released. “--Can you hear me?”

She rushed up against the bars, her claws clashing at the metal, sparks flying as razor sharp talons crashed against them. She howled and hissed and Chuma faltered backward. She tried as hard as she could to reach him, tongue slathered with saliva in expectation of the kill.

He fell to his knees, and shook his head. “Mistress, I owe you my life, and so I must preserve yours against all that would seek to do you harm, but this has to stop.”

There was no understandable answer. She clawed and she hissed, and when she realized, after much persuasion from the metal bars, that she could not reach the small, bronzed elder before her, she receded back into the darkness, leaving Chuma silent in the dungeon basement of one of Barbara Minvera’s many properties. He shook his head regretfully, and turned off the light, leaving the Cheetah trapped in the cage.





Diana didn’t have to be Wonder Woman for this part of the job. Before her were dignitaries, religious leaders, philosophers and scholars from across the world, and they were all here to talk. Themyscira House was the embassy of Paradise Island, home of the Amazons, and the world had come a long way since she’d first attempted one of these meetings. She continued her speech: “--we try to accept all religions, across the world. Everyone has the right to practice their own beliefs, be them new or old, and we as human beings, citizens of a shared Earth, do our best to accept what our neighbor believes in. For some of us, that is a struggle, but in a world where men and women can walk on water, or cause rain to fall with but a thought, faith in each other’s beliefs is not much of a leap in and of itself, is it?” She paused, and allowed her words to sink into the assorted crowd. She was standing atop a podium in the main hall of the House, and all around were those people she tried to reach out to across the world. “Regardless, I know it can be a struggle. I know war can break out through a misinterpretation, or one’s differing belief meeting another’s, but all we can hope for is unity, because of the shared fact that we all walk this Earth together, and if we cannot live together in harmony, then chaos is inevitable.” She paused. “I thank you for your time.” She bowed forward slightly, and the room filled with applause, and she descended from the stage and began to mingle with the crowds.

“Very interesting speech there, Queen Diana,” she turned and smiled as President Jeb Stuart, Commander-In-Chief of the United States of America, flanked by two secret service agents, continued to speak as he gained her full attention. “A lot of hope there in your message.”

“President Stuart, I hadn’t expected to see you here.” She took his hand, and they shared a mutual moment of friendship. “Your predecessor was never one to make his presence known at these,” she searched for the word, “functions.”

“Well, former President Lord, Max, he was never the kind of President to show favoritism to anyone but his favorite football team.” He laughed, and Diana continued to smile warmly. “Anyway, I see you have mini-quiches. We’ll have to do a state dinner some time. I’ll have my guy call your guy.” He bowed to her, as was Themysciran unofficial custom when meeting one of ruling class, and then departed, followed swiftly by shuffling bodyguards. Stuart had come a long way since the Justice League had been made criminals and hunted by the United States of America. She only hoped this feeling of good will would continue to pervade the world.

“I have to agree with the man-in-charge, Angel, very interesting speech.” She froze in place, her eyes wide at the words. “Long time no see, blue-eyes.” She spun around and embraced the man who had spoken, gripping him as tight as she could without breaking him. Steve Trevor returned the gesture, holding on to her as if he could never let go. “Long time no see.”

“Steve, where have you been?” She broke contact, and looked him straight in the eye. He was in a black suit and red tie, his hair was longer than it had before but he had the air of distinction about him.

He shrugged. “That’s classified. Basically, my country has been keeping me busy the past few months, and I thought I’d use this occasion to touch base with an old friend.”

Diana smiled. “Classified? That’s very interesting, Steve, very interesting indeed. Join me outside?” He nodded, and she lead him to the patio in the back garden of the House.

“It’s been a long time since I was out here, Diana.” He looked around the garden, taking in the sight. He knew that the finest horticulturists (way ahead of their time) of Themyscira visited the gardens weekly, and there were innumerable charms and glamours in effect to prevent the flowers from dying in their absence and from trespassers' attempts to climb the walls. “Long time since I saw you too.”

“Too long,” stated Diana, as she cupped a rose and breathed in, taking in the aroma. “Apollo posed as you, then you continued your absence… Now you’re working for the government?” She laughed. “These lives we lead, spiralling us way from each other.”

His lips formed a regretful smile, and he looked at her from across where they stood, the scant metres between them seeming like an eternity. “I had an ulterior motive for coming tonight.”

“Yes, I assumed so.” Diana released the flower, and turned to him. She looked so sad. He had been away for so long. His responsibilities to his government, as White King of Checkmate, had prevented him from seeing her, and that’s all he had ever wanted to do since they had parted months ago. But that sadness… He wished he had been there for her, to help go through the traumas life had dealt out. The death of Hippolytus was merely a bulletin on the wall where he worked. “I mean, what has changed since the last time we met?”

“Yeah,” whispered Steve. “Well, I’ve got some information for you. Weird stuff, we’ve had reports of a rogue metahuman in Africa, someone you might be intimately familiar with.” He handed her a dossier, the first page a satellite photo, and her mouth opened a fraction. “Yeah. Exactly.”

“Zenobia? I had thought--” She laughed nervously. “Last time I checked she had been taken into custody by the DEO for the crimes she committed as Wonder Woman. What is she doing in Africa?”

“Murder mostly. Not indiscriminately though, mainly killing the rebels that were slaughtering men, women and children without any reason at all but a sheer wanting. She’s become a defender of the disenfranchised. The oppressed.” He shrugged casually. “She’s a hero. Of sorts.”

Diana replied in a disgusted tone. “A murderer, using the teachings of the Amazons to preach war instead of peace. Even without his blessing, still a follower of Ares.” She moved her hair out of her eyes, and then her expression turned to one of confusion. “I thought Ares had withdrawn his power from her after her failing to kill me and besmirch the title of Wonder Woman. Interesting.”

“Yeah, your gods are fickle creatures, Diana.” He tapped his legs. “I’m destined for greatness, and I owe my legs working to Apollo. Of what kind of greatness, I’m still unsure.”

“Then it seems I’m due for a trip to Africa--” Diana handed the dossier back to Steve, but his hand was already out, and their fingers gently brushed against each others. “--I--”

“You can keep the--” Diana dropped the file and Steve took a step forward, embracing the Queen of the Amazons once more, moving in close enough that he could feel her breath upon his face, and he hers. Their lips were mere centimetres apart when Donna Troy’s voice broke their silence. They parted quickly, Trevor blushing and Diana straightening her robes hastily.

“Diana? Diana, where are… Ah.” Donna appeared on the patio, and nodded at Steve. “Colonel Trevor.” He nodded in return, not wanting to point out he was no longer a Colonel and had been promoted to King, and scratched the back of his head awkwardly, unsure of what to do with himself. “Diana, there’s someone at the door, it’s urgent, I think you should come quickly…”

“Alright. Steve, I hope we can, um, catch up some other time. I’ll have to ask you to rejoin the party while we take care of this.”

Steve nodded. “Yeah. ‘Kay.”

Diana and Donna quickly walked down the back corridor of the House in silence, though it didn’t take long for Donna to break it. “‘Um’?”

“Excuse me?”

“‘Um’. I cannot believe you said ‘um’. I am both sickened and appalled.” She laughed nervously. “I’m sorry I had to interrupt what could surely count as a moment totally deserving of your ‘um’, but Diana--” Diana froze as Donna motioned for the man who had arrived at the door of Themyscira House. “This is Chuma. Page boy of--”

“The Cheetah.” Diana sized up the small man and then turned to Donna. “Chuma snuck a vial of the potion that Barbara Minerva uses to transform into the Cheetah into Stryker’s metahuman wing. Why are you here?”

“My mistress, she is afflicted by something that has removed her humanity and I am at a loss as to what to do to help her. She is nothing but the animal now, Wonder Woman. I need you to save her.”

Diana stared down the elder. “Where is she?”



“Barrrrrbara…” The tall man, his silver hair glistening in the dim light flickering about in the darkness of the basement, stepped forward. “…Where arrrre you…?” He hit a switch and white sterile light filled the dungeon. “Oh. There you are.”

The Cheetah threw herself against the bars of her cage, and the man laughed. “You’ll have to excuse my English, it is not my first language. I try though, you understand?”

She shrieked in anger and frustration, the itch clawing at her skin like nothing before. “You are avatar of Urzkartaga, yes?” He shook his head. “My name is Sebastian Ballesteros. I am the keeper of your humanity.” His hand opened up and revealed a white sphere of glowing light. “Beautiful, is it not?” He smiled, and sat, cross-legged before the cage. “I always wondered why Urzkartaga chose a female as the vessel of his fury and vengeance. Ah, regardless, that will be ending soon.” He laid the bauble before him, and removed his clothes, his naked body revealing the black tattoos that Barbara Minerva had applied to herself before her transformation. “I see you fascinated by my marks? These are a sign of my loyalty to my God. My dedication. My defiance in face of all other false deities.” He opened himself up to the Cheetah. “I am willing. Wanting. Pure and open. Purged and cleaned and waiting.”

The Cheetah screamed. Her flesh seemed to rise up, ripple outwards, and move toward Sebastian. He grinned, his teeth warping as the essence of the Cheetah rode into him. Barbara hollered and howled and he laughed, his voice shifting into something horrific and bestial. “Yessssssssss…”

“Stop what you’re doing.” Sebastian span around, his cat-like eyes slits in the bright light. “And step away from her.” Wonder Woman stormed toward Sebastian, whose flesh was now fur, whose teeth were now fangs and fingers claws, and she leaped at him, and he her. His talons clashed against her bracelets, and she drove him back. “You rape her body and her mind, and you expect greatness from it?” She punched him hard in the nose, and he reeled back into the bars of the cage. “Wrong.” He rubbed the blood way from his face with his paw, and then leaped forward once more.

“His power… surges through… my veins…” He clawed at her shoulder, and she pulled back to prevent it being rent open, but her blood sprayed outwards. She grunted, but continued to fight, ignoring her wound. “I can smell your blood! Your fear!”

“Stolen power.” She smashed her fist into his face, and a gash opened up above his eyes. “And that’s not fear.” She drove forward, punches flying, the male Cheetah shrieking in pain. “That’s anger.”

“Life blood!” howled Sebastian, as he crouched down, “Need. All my life… Wanting… More… Life stolen from me and now I need… More… You… Sacrifice… For my lord…”

Dis is madness, thought Chuma as he began to remove the chain from the cage, A male Cheetah? Doesn’t that defy the will of Urzkartaga himself? The door swung open and the snarling from within became louder. He was suddenly thrown to the floor, and her teeth were at his neck. “No, mistress, no! Him! The pretender, he steal your power. Only way you get it back, receive Urzkartaga’s blessings in full, is by killing him!”

She sniffed him completely, pawed at his face, and then growled, before leaping atop the cage and vanishing in the darkness.

“Woman… Standing in my way…” Sebastian’s claws bared open , and he leaped at her once more. Diana simply swatted him aside.

“I’m getting bored by this, Ballesteros. Stand down. I’ll help you. I do not wish to fight you.”

“Woman!” He prepared to pounce once more, and then froze as a sound echoed out from behind him. His head snapped backward, and the Cheetah licked the blood from her claws. There was a bloody hole in his back, and he collapsed, leaving the Cheetah grinning as much as a cat-woman can, her blood lust satiated. Diana froze as Sebastian twitched back to human form, his back a gaping wound, and then looked to the Cheetah, whose hands were now stained red. “Barbara…” The Cheetah’s foot moved forward, crushing the white, glowing sphere that contained her humanity, and the light ricocheted into her. “Barbara!”

“Good.” Barbara transformed back to her human form, naked and whole, and stared at Diana. “I thank you. Without your help, Amazon, I would not be here today. Complete.”

“Barbara, I’m going to have to place your under arrest.” Wonder Woman’s lasso was free in her hand, and she prepared it to loop around Minerva’s arms. “I can help you.”

“You have. Urzkatarga’s power is not for murder, it’s for protection. I protect my own, and you yours. And there’s a reason I’m refereed to as the bride of Urzkatarga. A bride. A wife. Ballesteros could never stand at the heights I have, merely because his gender prevents it. This is a woman’s world we live in, Diana. Thanks to you, I have realized the full potential of my empowerment.”

“Stand. Down.”

“Please.” Barbara shifted into her Cheetah form and rammed into Diana, sending them both flying. “You see, I finally figured it out...” She grabbed Diana’s lasso and tossed it aside. “It’s not about murder. Or revenge. It’s about loyalty. And if there is one thing I’m loyal to, it’s myself.” She cracked Diana’s skull with her own head, but Diana grabbed her by the throat, and Minerva froze.

“Stand… Down…”

“No.” She punched Wonder Woman in the face, and Diana grabbed her fist with the hand which had previously been around Minerva’s throat, but the Cheetah kneed Wonder Woman in the face, leapt backwards, and Wonder Woman was left momentarily dazed. As the hero finally pulled herself up, she was suddenly alone, and the darkness was haunting. CHuma was gone, as was the Cheetah. She wished that she had brought Donna with her, but someone had to entertain the guests at Themyscira House. She regretted that engagement now. She had allowed herself to be distracted by her many faceted life. Ambassador, hero, warrior, queen. She climbed up, and smelled the air, and burst out of the building, hot on the tail of the feline villainess. Cheetah was faster than ever, and strangely… intelligent. Sharper than ever. Wonder Woman’s body was dealing with the damage dealt by her opponent, but pain was pain. She dismissed the signals racing through her body, placed them in a box, and locked them to the back of her head.

“I said--” She slammed her body into Minerva’s, “stand down.” The two of them skidded across the cold concrete, and Wonder Woman got up fast, and grabbed the Cheetah round her throat. “And I won’t ask again.”

“Get off me!” Claws slashed up, but Wonder Woman’s wrist moved faster than even her feline eyes could follow.

“I don’t think so.” Diana slammed the magically-enhanced woman’s head into the floor. “You taught me a lesson back there, Barbara, and I thank you.”

The Cheetah’s head swayed, balancing atop Wonder Woman’s grip. “Wh, wha, what?”

“I went easy on you.” Her lasso was around the woman’s arms in an instant, binding her tightly. “And I shouldn’t have. I’ve spent too long adhering to what was expected of me. That was a mistake. You helped me remember my potential.” She stood up, and pulled the Cheetah with her. “So now you go back to prison. You were the victim here, Barbara, but you had to murder. You can’t help yourself.”



So much carnage. Wonder Woman, her wounds tended to, watched as the DEO swarmed over the crime scene. Sebastian Ballesteros was dead, a bloody hole in his back, and photos were being taken. She gave her statement, handed over the Cheetah, who was refusing to transform back into her human form. Prometheum restraints had to be rustled up, and so the wait continued, Wonder Woman looked over to the small, chestnut skinned Chuma, who was handcuffed. She approached him, and he looked up. “Why did you do this, friend? Why do you continue to aid Barbara Minerva and her insanity?”

“You would not understand, Wonder Woman,” he replied.

“I could not know that unless you tell me, Chuma.”

“She is my all,” he whispered. “My god in form of flesh. Dis is the life I chose for myself, and I live it, because dere is no other way.”

She did not reply. Instead, she looked to the lead DEO agent, a tall, blonde man in a shirt and suit jacket, flanked by his partner, a scrawny looking character with a dark beard, who nodded back at her with a wink. The lead investigator shook his head and then smiled as Wonder Woman left.

And then she headed back home, for all that was worth. Maybe Steve was still there. Maybe the night wasn’t as much a failure as she thought earlier. Maybe. Wonder Woman soared up into the sky, and moments later…

… Queen Diana of Themyscira landed back at the House, and showered quickly, cleaning the already healing wound inflicted upon her by the Cheetah. She dressed it, changed into her ceremonial robes and then proceeded to descend back into the reception hall of the House, which was all but empty. Steve Trevor leaned against the wall sipping a soda, and Donna Troy chatted to him casually. When Diana entered, they both turned to her. “I saved her.”

“And?” Donna stepped forward.

“The man who stole her humanity is dead. Barbara murdered him. Or the Cheetah did.” She shook her head. “I captured her, she’s in DEO custody But a man died, I was unable to save him.”

“You caught her, Diana, and that’ll prevent the deaths of countless others at her hand. She’s locked up, and I’ll have my people take a good hard look at her new lodgings. She isn’t going to get out any time soon.” mused Steve Trevor. A buzzing from his hip alerted him, and he looked to the others regretfully. “Ah, crap, duty calls. I’ve got to go, Angel, but I’ll keep in touch.”

Diana nodded, and Steve headed for the door. “Wait…” Diana walked up to him, and kissed him on the lips. Donna turned, smiling, and the two old friends held onto each other as tightly as they could, fearing they’d be torn apart. Finally, Diana moved backwards, and looked in Steve’s eyes. “I’ve missed you. I know our lives lead us down different paths, how we aren’t able to see each other as much as we’d want to, but I missed you. I don’t want to go through that again. Not with all that’s happened over the past few months.”

“I understand.” He hugged her again, and then whispered in her ear: “I’ll always be there when you need me. Whenever you want me to be, even when you don’t, I’ll always be there when you need me.” He broke contact. “Besides, I’m empowered by a god too, remember?” He laughed, and then waved at Donna. “So yeah. I’ve got my eye on you, Angel.”

Steve Trevor left Themyscira House, and Donna Troy and Diana Prince looked at each other. “So...,” grinned Donna. “Ice cream?”

“Ice cream,” agreed Diana.



Apollo watched as Steve Trevor left Themyscira House. He watched, as gods often do, and he felt a rumble of a familiar feeling in the pit of his chest. “What is that?” he whispered, clutching his stomach. “Jealousy?” He shook his head, and waved his hand across the scrying pool, dismissing the vision of the world below.

Unknown to him, behind him, in the unnatural shadows formed by his presence, Ares smiled, nodding. “Yes, brother. Jealousy.”