Cyber Joke 45: Sailing to War

With the help of Scorn and her crew and a lot of self motivation, the Lost Tribe had assembled and prepared for sail just past midnight. Not surprisingly, Circe showed up at that time and walked out of the shadows to Scorn and Antiope. The two women were together and discussing final preparations with one of Antiope's Amazons and one of the women of Scorn's crew.

“Good evening ladies. It seems you have gotten ready in record time. You must be truly motivated to regain your former home.”

Neither woman was startled or surprised at Circe's appearance. “Good evening Circe.” Antiope said flatly.

“Circe.” Scorn said with a slight smile of welcome.

“We are ready. Are you?” Antiope asked

“That's why I'm here. Antiope, my dear, please have a little more trust. We have been on the same side before, there is no need to be so hostile. I want what you want.”

“Actions speak volumes where words may be dust. When this is done and we have regained our home, then we will see how your actions speak. Until then you will have to accept my cautious thanks.”

Circe gave a smile of resolve. “Very well. I understand. Our relationship is indeed long and complicated. So, is it time then?”

Scorn and Antiope looked at each other and then to the crowd of women hustling and finishing up their duties. “Let us see.” Said Scorn, who was acknowledged by a nod from Antiope.

Scorn shouted out. Her voice seeming to be amplified despite the heavy foliage and humidity that surrounded and clung to everything. “Women! Amazons! My Crew! Hear me!”

Everyone stopped and turned to the trio, with Scorn speaking first. “You have all gone above and beyond your duties and have all performed and worked well together. I am glad to see the warrior sisters of Antiope trust and work alongside my own warriors, human and mech. For all intents and purposes we are ready to go and way ahead of schedule. I ask Antiope to speak.” And Scorn waved a hand to the ancient Amazon Princess.

“My sisters of old. We are on the cusp of finally fulfilling our wish and returning to Themyscira. We go in peace, but I fear my old sister and Queen, Hippolyta, will have other ideas. She has never accepted us in the past and I do not see her accepting us now. So if they do not welcome us, then we will take back what belongs to us. Those sisters who side with us, we will embrace. Those who do not...This time they shall fall. The time for mercy is long past.”

There was a cheer that went round the huge camp. Birds and other critters hooted and cried in response to the sudden roar in the night.

“Sisters that have come to us now through Scorn. We welcome you and accept you as our own in this time of change and redemption. Together we begin a new era of immortality and the beginning of the end for the Patriarch's world. It is time to return the rule to the women.”

More cheers.

“I know you are tired, but if we leave now, we will be that much closer to our goal and we will arrive at Themyscira in the dark of early morning where we will have the advantage of landing unopposed. We will then enter the city and take the central temple. I will confront Hippolyta in front of all and she will have her chance to join us or be executed for betraying her own sisters over and over again. Are you with me now?! Are you ready to sail?!”

There was a huge cheer and cry of “Aye” and “let us set sail” and “kill the betrayers”. Antiope had her answer.

The powerful trio smiled at the small army before them and Antiope finished. “Then make it so!”

After another brief cheer, the women got back to work and began boarding the patchwork fleet of ships from Earth's history.

“This is good.” Scorn said. “The sooner we're out of here the better.”

“You seem concerned Scorn. What is the problem?” Antiope asked.

“Batman.”

Antiope's gaze narrowed and looked a little confused. “Batman? I seem to remember a Batman from many years ago in the Northeast United States, but he was only a mortal, was he not? He would be dead by now.”

“It seems someone has taken up the persona again and is friends with Diana. He has been looking for us, but we have always been three steps ahead. He is very smart and clever and udging from what I know so far, it will only be a matter of time before he finds this place.”

“Hmm. This is news you did not share before.” Antiope looked disturbed.

“If we leave now, then it will not matter. Once we have Themyscira, even the Kryptonian, the Lantern and Manhunter wont be able to stop us.”

Circe chimed in. “Scorn is right. Don't let this news compromise your resolve. My magic is ready and in less than a half hour we can be under way.”

Scorn added. “Believe me, if I thought he was a real threat I would have dealt with him myself by now.”

Antiope smiled again. “Very well. Let it begin.” In front of Circe and a couple of her own women and Scorn's crew, Antiope took Scorn's hand and embraced her and gave her a light kiss on the lips. Scorn did not pull away, but rather embraced the moment herself. She now had Antiope openly, which, in her mind, only gave her more power over the tribe. Antiope broke away with her women in tow. One looked back over her shoulder at Scorn and did not hide a scowl of disapproval.

Circe spoke up. “So, love and politics mingle.”

“Drop it!” Scorn said adamantly. “It's time for your part in this. I trust you to get us there unscathed and safely. I know you want a war between tribes most of all. But once we arrive, I'll be watching you.”

Circe smiled again. “So much distrust among allies is unhealthy. But I will follow Antiope's advice and prove myself through action. You will see. By the way. If Diana is friends with this new Batman, do you know his identity?”

Scorn's face did not relax but only grew more sour. “No! Diana is still able to hide some of her thoughts and memories. If I pry hard at one place I can sometimes distract her and learn something new from another part of her mind, but despite my dominant position, her will is still quite strong. It takes a fair amount of meditation and concentration to chip away at her. Day by day, her will fades just a little, but I need to save enough of her until we get to Themyscira. Then I will be able to unlock all her knowledge and be rid of her at the same time.” She smiled at the thought.

“And how will you do that?” Circe asked

“You will see.” Scorn smiled and walked away. Circe smiled too as the powerful, yet shapely figure sashayed away.

Circe went to work when the ships were all boarded. The ships needed to sail out of proximity of the anti-magic shell for her to be able to cast her magic.

The ships were rather crowded, but the sisters were comfortable with each other and would support one another for the possibly two day journey. If the weather held and Circe's spell worked well, they might even shave off some time at sea. The integrity of the ships would play a role in that as well.

The ships moved through the homemade canal and to an inlet with a long channel. There Circe worked her charms, yet when the spell was finished, everyone was a bit perplexed. They did not go invisible as they thought they would. Circe explained.

“It is not a spell of invisibility as much as a spell of misdirection. It is hard to hide a group so large and the wake they can leave. Should you be observed, it will look more like a pod of whales, or possibly school of fish or a fleet of regular fishing boats. Some of it depends on the observer and who speaks first.”

Antiope already knew this and encouraged her Amazons and called for their trust.

“Besides,” Circe added. “If you couldn't see one another, your ships might collide.”

With that, everyone relaxed and the ships made their way out of harbor and to the open sea.

The few large structures of their temporary home were left to the swamp, and anything else that was mobile, was taken or destroyed. All that was left was a few shells of buildings that would be taken over by nature in a short time. The land has a way of reclaiming everything back to its own.

By mid morning, Antiope was at the fore of her own ship enjoying the wind in her face. The other ships stayed close and rose and fell gently on the rather calm seas. It was if the goddesses themselves approved of this journey of reclamation. She looked skyward and could see the small black dot of Scorn's airship as it moved slowly in pace with their own ships. Though they were sailed wooden ships, they moved quickly, part of Circe's magic, and the only encounters were a few fishing boats and a couple of private sailboats and yachts along the way. Some stared in awe as they passed by at a distance, but Antiope never really knew what those people saw when they looked their way. None were interested for very long, however, so she relaxed.

The seas were calm and they made good time. Everyone was holding up well, with only a couple cases of sea sickness. Antiope pondered what was ahead. She had faith in her Amazons and in Scorn. She did not trust Circe to be of help when things got heated, but she needed her now and trusted that Circe hated Hippolyta more than she hated her. If Circe came through, Antiope fully intended to keep her word and offer Circe sanctuary on the island.

Her mind raced and her stomach churned at the thought of confronting her betraying sister again. This time it would be face to face. Something that had not happened in over a thousand years. Despite their previous fights and encounters, neither sister had been able to get close enough to the other to even speak a word. Something always interfered. Lately that had been Wonder Woman, Diana. Now Diana was gone, practically, yet they had her strength and an even greater cunning on their side with Scorn. She smiled and relished the thought. Her mind went back to their dalliance from a couple of nights ago and her smile broadened even more. Sometime after midnight tonight they will arrive at the barrier and then the island itself. Hopefully Circe's disguise will enable them to make land. If not, this could all be over before it could begin.

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Some characters owned by DC Comics. Original story arc by me.