Prelude to War: Amazons Artemis smiled as the tall, brown haired warrior stood by one of the great buildings on Paradise Island, looking up to the sky patiently. Her toga like garb swirled around her legs, her body athletic and strong. As the figure descended from the blue sky she called, “Welcome home, Donna Troy.” Donna Troy, the sister of Diana and former princess of the island touched down beside her gracefully, her short black hair swirling around her face. Her own expression was somewhat more grave as she said, “I’m sorry it’s business that brings me home now.” Artemis held up a hand, “You don’t need to explain, the United Nations has already issued an appeal for all nations to offer assistance in this current crisis.” “Thank Athena,” Donna sighed. She wore street clothes, a T-shirt and jeans along with a plain blue jacket and leather boots, a combination that looked quite good on the slim young woman. “I have information for you,” Donna added, reaching into her coat and drawing out several documents. “Then it’s best we shared it,” Artemis said. They walked into the building together as she added, “Nice clothes.” Donna blushed faintly, knowing that residents of the island disapproved of modern clothes. “Things were sufficiently urgent that it seemed a waste to change,” she admitted. Artemis raised her eyebrows as they strode the halls of the roman style villa then out into a larger room. “When Circe talked to the American ambassador it didn’t come across as quite so urgent,” she said with a frown. “Bruce is doing his best to hammer the urgency of this into the President,” Donna made a face, “but some officials in his administration think that this is all a stunt of some kind.” “Even with their own telescopes showing that Warworld is coming?” Artemis sounded surprised anyone could be so blind. “Politics,” Donna shrugged in explanation as they moved through a second chamber. “Oh,” she remembered something else important, “Bruce privately told me he knows about Harley and Ivy being offered citizenship on the island.” Artemis grimaced a bit, “How angry is he?” “Not that bad, actually,” Donna mused, “I think he’s happier having both of them here so that the Amazons can keep them out of trouble.” “Easier said than done,” Artemis chuckled softly as they reached a inner door. “I called our war council together when I heard you were coming, that includes...” “Circe,” Donna nodded, “it’s all right, Artemis. We buried the hatchet long ago.” “Good enough,” and Athena pushed open the door. Conversation around the table barely stopped as the women standing there noted the two women’s arrival. Liri Lee bent over a table studying world maps, the former time traveler’s cyborg body gleaming beneath her robes. Circe was talking to Ivy and Harley, the purple haired sorceress’ expression faintly amused. Lady Marvel’s brown hair looked beautiful as the red and gold clad figure smiled in welcome. Finally Donna saw a figure who made her catch her breath, Raven Azarath, the black haired woman looking up with a shy smile hello. All of these women had made Paradise their home over the years, and in return for that hospitality they offered their help in times of need. ‘Which this certainly is now,’ Donna admitted. “Welcome back, Troia,” Circe said with a slightly remote smile on her face. “How’s your daughter?” Donna asked, knowing from past experience that was a perfect way to charm the other woman. Circe chuckled, “Lyta has her first girlfriend, it seems.” “That must be fun,” Donna joined in the fond laughter. “All right everyone,” Athena said crisply, “Donna’s arrived with more information for our informal alliance.” Taking out the documents she had obtained Donna moved to lay them out on the table. “The latest hard data the Justice League has,” she said, “along with the D.E.O., Checkmate and other agencies. We’ve also tossed in our best guesses as to what we might expect, based on prior encounters with alien species.” “Summary?” Liri Lee asked thoughtfully, bending over to study the papers intently. “Warworld arrives in a week or so,” Donna said frankly, “and armed to the teeth with alien weapons. They have Thangar, Khund and other species as foot soldiers, and data collected from the first wave of alien refuges implies that they have a race leading them that is at least Superman-classed in power.” “We have fighters that can match Superman, too,” Ivy nodded to Lady Marvel, the redheaded plant mistress sticking close to Harley’s side. “Thank you,” Lady Marvel said warmly, “but we of the Marvel Family have always had magic to help, too.” “Any luck getting Shazam himself involved?” Artemis asked. “He won’t intervene in mortal matters, not any more,” Marvel shook her head regretfully. “So why are Red an’ I here?” Harley asked curiously, chewing gum. “I asked for you to be here,” Artemis smiled, “because I’m hoping you two and Circe can put out a call to arms in the criminal underworld.” “Seriously?” Ivy blinked, looking intrigued. “It... might be worth pursuing,” Circe admitted after a moment. “I know at least some criminals won’t care, but the majority are at least interested in self preservation. We can rally them using their own self interest.” Donna looked up to see Raven giving her a searching look, then the black haired woman quietly slipped out of the room. Making an instant decision Donna turned to the group, “I’ll leave you to go over the data for awhile... I need some air.” With that she moved off confidently, slipping out the door to the meditation space maintained outside. Standing amid the greenery Raven’s black cloak swirled around her legs, her simple blue jumpsuit hugging her slim form. She looked between nineteen and twenty five but in truth was ageless, much like Donna herself. “Donna?” she sounded surprised. “Are you all right?” Donna asked as she moved over to Raven’s side. “I should be asking you that,” Raven reached out to gently touch Donna’s arm, “you must be so worried about your sister.” “You picked up on that with your empathy?” Donna asked softly. “No,” Raven squeezed comfortingly, “because I know you.” “Thank you,” Donna sighed happily. They stood there in comfortable silence for a long moment, a slight blush coloring Donna’s cheeks. “And how about you?” “I’m fine,” Raven reassured her warmly, “I didn’t mean to worry you.” She paused a moment, “I didn’t mean to intrude, but I felt such a spike of... joy when you entered the room. Who did that to you?” Donna bit down a moment of stark terror. ‘Thank god she can’t read minds,’ Donna thought as she answered, “Just glad to see a old friend.” “I’m glad to have you here, too, no matter the circumstances,” Raven said as she put her head on Donna’s shoulder. ‘Playing dumb about her feelings is getting harder than I thought,’ Raven mused, ‘I hope she decides to tell me soon.’ To be continued... Notes: As a long time fan of the Titans I should note there’s only a tiny degree of subtext between the two of them. They clearly are quite good friends, but romance has eluded them for the time being. Artemis, Harley and Ivy were all featured in my last Paradise Island chapter, and I mentioned Circe being ambassador of the island earlier, too.
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