Issue 26: X, Loss.

(General P.O.V)

In the softly illuminated War Room in Washington, Colonel Robert Thornton, a seasoned military strategist, faced the President and a group of high-ranking officials.

An understated gravity pervaded the table as they quietly pondered the developments unfolding in Europe.

And the amount of shit fucked mess Ukraine had landed itself in.

The choices before them spanned from delicate diplomatic mediation between Russia and Ukraine, to the prospect of a frontal assault on the German Western Front.

The latter was a risk. The best outcome would be an end to The Great War. The most likely outcome however, would be the US getting embroiled in a war they never started.

The other consideration was extending a humanitarian hand to Ukraine by dispatching relief food and weapons.

This added another layer to the somber discussion. In simpler terms, it wouldn't be cheap.

The 28th President, Woodrow Wilson had a stern countenance and a contemplative demeanor as he listened to each official's perspective.

For instance, General Mitchell advocated for a prudent diplomatic approach, emphasizing the imperative of forging strategic alliances. Preferably with the Russians, to stabilize the volatile region.

Admiral Reynolds, one of the oldest serving admirals, on the other hand pressed for a display of military might, suggesting that a direct intervention could curtail further escalation.

Who they would attack, whether the Russians or Central Powers remained another subject of discourse.

Since entering the room, Colonel Thornton had listened aptly to the differing opinions.

However, for anyone who knew him, the rhythmic tap of his pen on the wooden table showed his impatience.

And when he'd exhausted that impatience, he spoke up.

"Mr. President, large scale involvement in the war imperils American lives. We must explore other alternatives."

It was a credit to his pragmatic sensibilities and capacity to deviate from conventional military strategies, that no one interrupted him. Or called him out on the same.

The president, fingers interlocked under his chin gazed at him expectantly.

"What do you have to add Robert?"

Clearing his throat, Colonel Thornton motioned at the aide near the door.

The other top military officials looked on in confusion as the aide walked out of the room.

Then their attention was pulled to the colonel as he got to his feet, a folder in his hands.

"Mr.President, as differing as every opinion in this room is, one thing I've gathered...is that we all want to be involved."

No one denied it.

"To that end, You should know exactly what it is we're getting into."

As if on cue, there was a small knock on the door.

Then the door swing open and in walked the aide.

Behind him however, was another figure.

A tall man with sideburns and a sharp, experienced glint in his eyes walked into the room.

Three scars ran across his face from the top left to the bottom right, parralel to each other.

"I've been observing this...great war," he began, his gaze piercing through the somber atmosphere.

"And you cannot win it without me. Not when Gods and monsters have joined the fray."

Vandal Savage informed the room.

"Allow me to explain the situation."

(Themiscyra)

(Diana's P.O.V)

A man.

On the island.

I'd never seen one before him. Never seen One like him.

`~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

The tip of my blade comes to rest under his chin.

"Talk, intruder. Who in Hades are you?"

I demand with hostility, prepared to take him down as the law demands.

"Watch your words."

I hastily add. Who knows what convicing lie he has on the tip of his tongue?

Mother and Pillyphus have warned me of their honey buttered words.

"I witnessed what you did to my sisters, and my patience is wearing thin today."

I let him know that he holds no sway with me.

And then...he laughs, saying,

"How...scary."

`~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

Looking down at the awning pit, all we can see is green fire and mist.

At least the ritual is confined to the arena. The island will be safe. I don't care what happens to me. But Kane doesn't deserve this.

I turn to him. To apologize for bringing him into a fight not his own.

"I'm-"

I begin, only for Kane to snake a powerful hand and hold me close to the side of his bare chest.

He's sweaty and covered in dust.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

But his warmth makes me flush in embarrassment. I've never been this close to a man before.

"None of that sorry stuff."

He says in a strong tone, a sharp glint in his eyes.

"Hold on tight to me. It's not over yet. I've survived your Island's discrimination, bad food and mosquitos the size of cockroaches. How bad could the underworld be?"

He jokes.

But...it helps. I feel secure knowing he fights at my side.

`~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

Everything goes badly.

I feel so helpless as Athena carries me away.

I'm forced to watch as Kane falls to his death.

Hi name freezes in my mouth. My strength, the same strength I have always been proud of, fails me.

Had it not, I would have broken Athena's talons, torn the claws apart just to get to him.

I owe him a life.

And now I can't eve-

`~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

Diana woke up, gasping for air, her whole body shaking.

"Shh daughter, let it all out."

Her mother was there, at the side of her bed, arms wrapped around her shoulders as she gently rubbed her back.

"Cry it out. It's not shame for a warrior to mourn a fallen comrade."

Diana, strong as she was, could not help but break down in tears at the loss of Kane.

The loss of her friend.

(A week later)

At the palace training grounds, a flash of steel and black filled the open field.

Diana- the godslayer sword in hand, a weapon created from Zeus' shield and gifted to the strongest Amazonian warrior, clashed steel with her own mother, Hippolyta.

It was a spectacle, a common one, as Hippolyta had been the one to finish Diana's training after her Aunt Aintiope left Themiscyra.

Pillyphus had the same feeling now.

Back then, sister and sister had fought.

Back then, Hippolyta had lost. A queen, a daughter of War had lost to a warrior.

Fitting.

Antiope had proceeded to take her squad and venture out into the world.

Loyal Amazons at her side...they all knew she would be fine.

But Diana was alone now. More than that: That man, had meant a lot to her.

And perhaps that's what gave her strength to fight her much more experienced mother and push her back.

Because Diana now knew as Antiope had...what was out there.

If only...

A flash of blue fire bloomed close to Pillyphus.

The general immediately found herself kneeling before...

"Lady Persephone, to what do we owe your company?"

She smoothly greeted.

Persephone walked out of the rift of blue flames with a small smile on her radiant face.

The queen of the underworld was now dressed in a white gown with a crown made of lyre circling her forehead.

And around her, she carried a scent of morning dew and freshly baked bread.

"Pillyphus, a delight as usual. Please stand up. You know I don't like all that formality."

Persephone ushered her up.

Pillyphus accepted the gesture, noting the two twin hellhounds besides Persephone, casting a shadow over her.

She stood up even straighter.

"I shall get the queen immedia-"

Persephone cut the Amazonian General off by pushing right past, and walking towards the balcony, attention on the spar between mother and daughter.

"Out of all children of Zeus, Diana's potential is...truly limitless."

The goddess of spring noted.

"Even after being broken. After laying eyes on things reserved to an unfortunate few, she's still hopeful."

Persephone crooned.

"Then again...the hopeful ones never last."

"I'd like to differ."

Pillyphus spoke out of station.

"Enlighten me."

Persephone allowed it.

"She's lost something, Yes. But Unlike us, Diana has never had to face a life or death situation, or even rely on anyone, especially a man to save her life before. So all this is new to her."

"And?"

Persephone asked, intrigued.

"It's not tainted. Her heart. She can love a man. And that is not the worst thing...maybe that can destroy the circle of hatred that has dictated our fate for millenia."

Pillyphus said it in a straight face.

No emotion.

"And if the pride of Themiscyra can accept a man, with all their flaws, maybe there's hope for the rest of us."

She added.

Persephone nodded.

"You're right. But whether...she can remain hopeful after being exposed to the ugliness of our side of the family..."

"You don't have to worry about that Lady Persephone."

Pillyphus said in a strong tone.

"We Amazons were created for one purpose. To keep the God of War in check. And now...Ares has to worry. For hell hath no fury like an angry Amazon."

At that moment, down on the sparring ground, Hippolyta's blade was cut clean through by Diana, officially ending the spar.

Diana was the victor.

A closer look showed the blade of the God-killer sword in her hand, sparking with white lightning.

"I liked Kane. As did my husband. He was...interesting."

Persephone quietly muttered, studying Diana's hardened expression with pity.

"On a more serious note."

The Spring Goddess said, turning around to face the general.

"I didn't come here for a casual visit."

With that, her gaze moved past Pillyphus and onto the woman who formed out of the flames burning around the hellhounds.

"Pillyphus, meet Hebe, the goddess of youth. She's here to return Diana's lost lifespan."

(Elsewhere)

"Come on. One last game. I'll let you beat me this time."

Thanatos whined.

Kane, seated on the other side of the board, could barely keep his anger and frustration in check.

He thought he'd met insufferable deities before. Like Minos(fuck that guy), but Thanatos took the cake.

How could a God be so...needy and whiny?

Didn't he have almost unlimited power on his his side to entertain himself?

It had been a week! A full fledged week! Since he found himself in Thanatos' realm.

A place of perpetual darkness(how he could see anything was an enigma, but so were the flames burning around his body 24/7)

"Fine. One last game but..."

He held up a finger.

"You'll keep your word and take me back to the palace."

Kane gave a condition.

Like many times before, Thanatos readily and willingly agreed.

"Yes. One more game and we'll see."

Bam!

Kane slammed his hands on the table between them. Finally having had enough.

"Swear it. On the Styxx."

Thanatos' brows rose up in surprise.

"The Styxx huh?"

The God of Death considered it for a scant second before shrugging.

"Fine. I swear on the Styxx that after one more game...you'll be free to leave this place and come back anytime you want."

Kane could have pushed to fully understand what that final part meant, but he was too relieved to bother.

Not to mention,

He was bust using his very analytical eye to read every move Thanatos made on the board.

All to make sure the God would not try to extend the game(like he had done before. A single game could last 2 days) or pull a trick.

And so they played.

Thanatos was terrible at chess.

That was one thing Kane had come to learn.

The other thing he'd learned over the course of the week?

The God of Death was also terribly bored and lonely. It was one of the reasons Kane hadn't pushed to leave as hard as he could.

The other reason...was the trauma that had stayed with him. The trauma from the lake.

He'd used every hypnotic skill in his assassin repertoire to lock those memories as far deep and away as possible.

The screaming of the dead- spirits full of hate and regret, clawing at his soul, at his body...

Only venom blast had kept him going. He could remember unleashing blasts after blast of bio-electric energy at relentless wave after wave of the dead.

Spider Sense at a constant heightened level of activation, warning him that if he stopped for just a single second...he was done for.

And so he kept on doing it, all the while pumping his hands through the water, all in hopes of swimming up and shooting a web onto something to pull himself out.

Yet, inches from breaking through, the lake itself would pull him down.

Tons of water pushing on his shoulders. A weight he couldn't shed off or carry.

At least yet...

He had trained to hold his breath for 10 minutes. With his enhanced constitution, he held out until 20.

Then...he exhausted his bio-energy reserves...

The hands around his limbs begun to overpower him and he sank.

And sank.

The surface of the water growing further and further, his vision blurrier.

Mere inches away from true death, his chest started itching, then it straight up burned.

Blue flames spread out across his body despite the fact he was underwater.

All the spirits around him shrieked in pain. Kane pulled on more of the flames within him, forming a sphere of blue flames.

Then following an instinct he was only just now realizing he had, he wished to be somewhere else.

The sphere of flames imploded upon him, and he popped out in Thanatos' Realm. The death realm.

That was a week ago.

Since then, they had been playing chess. Kane trying to center himself after his ordeal, while Thanatos talked to him about anything and everything.

Through that Kane learned about Thanatos' 10 year suspension.

But the God mostly spoke about his family.

As a consequence and maybe a benefit, Kane now knew more about the power dynamics in the Underworld than before.

Like the fact while Hades was the undisputed sovereign leader, he wasn't the most powerful being in his own realm.

Leave alone Tartarus,( Thanatos called it a jail for those who were too powerful or too bad to be punished any other way) the Underworld was it's own universe.

With places that not even the Olympian Gods dared approach. Even Zeus would have to seek audience.

One of those places was the primordial castle of Nox. Where Thanatos had grown up in.

Nyx and Erebus, Chiron, his sisters, The Kerez, his cousins, The Erinyes, the God of Death was liberal with information.

And as they played the final game between them, Kane finally took the chance to ask a question that had been on his mind.

And as the God of Death, who else was more appropriate to ask.

"Hey Thanatos, without a divine weapon or power on par with one, how would a mortal go about killing a God?"