Kapitel 50: Defending Themyscira [50]

Hippolyta remained on her throne, her eyes fixed on Clark, evaluating him intensely. After a few moments, she finally broke the silence.

"Now we can talk, Clark."

Clark was visibly surprised to hear his name from the queen's lips. It was the first time Hippolyta called him by his name instead of simply "man." This small gesture indicated, in a way, a recognition of his individuality.

"You asked to be alone with me, so I think you should be the first to speak," Clark replied, maintaining his calm posture but clearly curious about what would come next.

Hippolyta kept her stern gaze, leaning slightly on her throne. "So, Clark, tell me… what do you really want?"

Clark, sensing the intensity of the question, decided to use his ability to read minds. He closed his eyes for a moment and focused on Hippolyta's thoughts. Her words reflected a mix of anger and curiosity. Clark could feel that the queen was aware of his extraordinary strength and his interest in Diana. There was genuine fear in Hippolyta that Clark could become a threat to both Themyscira and her daughter.

Clark opened his eyes, his expression softening a bit. He knew that the only way to gain Hippolyta's trust was by being honest, however risky it might be. With a slight sigh, he answered:

"I want Diana. I like your daughter and want her to be my woman."

The throne room fell silent, and Hippolyta's eyes widened slightly, unable to hide her surprise at Clark's bluntness. She hadn't expected such a direct response. However, the surprise was quickly replaced by an expression of irritation.

"Power and women… in the end, you're just like all men," Hippolyta said, her tone laden with disdain.

Clark couldn't deny Hippolyta's words, but there was more that needed to be said. He decided to speak about the ambitions of the queen's own daughter.

"I understand why you think that, Queen Hippolyta. Many men only think of power and conquest. But Diana… Diana wants more than a limited life here on Themyscira. She wants to see the world beyond the island and help others. She told me that. The island is too small for her."

Hippolyta narrowed her eyes, clearly uncomfortable with the direction of the conversation. She knew Clark was right about her daughter's desires, but she was also aware of the consequences if Diana decided to leave the island. "You don't understand the implications, man. If Diana leaves Themyscira, she can never return. That's the law that preserves our safety."

Clark nodded, respectfully. "I know that. But Diana isn't afraid of the consequences. She's willing to sacrifice everything to fulfill her wish to help others."

Hippolyta seemed increasingly troubled. The love she had for her daughter was clear in her eyes, but so was her fear of losing her. Clark could see the dilemma on the queen's face and decided he needed to go a step further to make her understand that perhaps there was another way.

Clark took a deep breath before continuing. "I know Diana would be banished if she chose to leave the island. That's the consequence of her decision. But… what if she had no choice?"

Hippolyta frowned, clearly confused and irritated by the suggestion. "What do you mean by that?"

Clark chose his words carefully. "If someone strong enough, like me, were to kidnap her and take her off the island, without her 'consent,' Diana could fulfill her wish without suffering the consequences of exile. She could be freed from the responsibility of making that choice herself."

Hippolyta stared at him, her expression darkening. She finally understood what Clark was suggesting.

"You dare to propose such a devious plan? To make it appear as if my daughter was taken by force, so she doesn't suffer the consequences of her actions? Only a man could think of such a thing. A trick, a manipulation, seeking to circumvent our laws and principles."

Clark realized he had taken the worst possible approach. He thought the queen might relent to his idea, but he was completely wrong. Hippolyta rose from her throne, her expression rigid and her gaze filled with determination.

"You need to understand something, Clark," Hippolyta began, her voice resonating through the throne room. "Before being a mother, I am a queen. And my duty is to protect my people, to protect Themyscira from any threat. And you, man, represent a risk I cannot ignore."

She continued, "Doing what is right isn't easy, and being a leader means making sacrifices. Diana is not above the laws of Themyscira, and if she chooses to leave, she knows the consequences. Manipulating the circumstances, as you suggest, not only betrays our principles but also weakens us as a people."

Clark remained silent, listening to the queen's speech. Although he understood her words, he felt frustrated with the situation. He respected Hippolyta's stance, but he still believed there was a way to allow Diana to pursue her own dreams.

During Hippolyta's speech, Clark began hearing a distant sound with his super hearing. It was the noise of planes and boats approaching the island.

Clark looked toward the window, realizing something was happening. He interrupted Hippolyta, inclining his head slightly in an apologetic gesture.

"Forgive me, Queen, but it seems I have urgent business to attend to. Tell Diana I'll be right back."

Hippolyta stared at him with a suspicious and irritated look, but before she could respond, Clark had already moved at super speed.

Whoosh!

Clark leaped through the palace window, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

....

Steve Trevor was in a plane, desperately fleeing from the Turkish army. Behind him, Turkish boats and planes pursued, determined to bring him down.

Brrratatata!

The Turkish soldiers fired incessantly, their weapons spewing bullets as they tried to hit Steve's plane. He dodged as best he could, but the number of enemies made his escape increasingly difficult.

Boom!

Steve's plane was hit, and flames began spreading across the wings. He looked at the control panel, his expression showing a mix of fear and determination.

"Damn… I'm going to need a miracle to get out of this," Steve muttered as he tried to keep control of the burning plane.

Vroooom...

Clark, flying at high speed, spotted the scene of Steve's plane being pursued. He immediately recognized that this was the legendary pilot connected to Diana in another life—and knew he had to act fast.

Clark accelerated even more, leaving a trail of air behind him.

Whoosh!

Clark reached Steve's plane before he lost complete control. Using his super strength, he grabbed the aircraft's fuselage and stabilized it, steering it out of the path of enemy bullets. Steve looked outside the cockpit, his eyes widening in shock and disbelief upon seeing a man literally holding his plane.

"Who… who are you?!" Steve shouted, trying to comprehend what was happening.

Clark didn't respond immediately. With a quick motion, he opened the cockpit and pulled Steve out of the plane. "Hold tight; I'm getting you out of here," Clark said, his voice calm as he carried Steve above the clouds, ignoring the Turkish boats and planes that continued firing.

Steve held onto Clark, his face pale with fear as they rose higher and higher. The air thinned, and the cold wind blew fiercely. "What's happening? Who are you?" Steve asked, his voice trembling with fright.

Clark simply looked into his eyes and, in an instant, used his mind-reading ability. He saw flashes of Steve's memories—he had stolen important notes from Dr. Maru and was attempting to deliver them to British intelligence. These notes were crucial to ending the war.

Clark took the notes from Steve's bag, his hands steady while the pilot looked on, perplexed.

"Hey! Give those back! I need them to end the war!" Steve protested, trying to reach for the notes, but it was futile as he was held in Clark's grip.

Clark looked at Steve, his expression becoming cold and determined. "Thank you for the information, Steve. But I can't allow you to interfere with my plan."

Before Steve could respond or even comprehend what was happening, Clark snapped his neck in one quick, silent movement.

Crack!

Steve's body went limp, and Clark let him fall, disappearing among the clouds below. He then pocketed Dr. Maru's notes, determined to use them for his own benefit.

With Steve out of the way, Clark turned to face the Turkish planes and boats still approaching the island. He knew he couldn't allow them to get close to Themyscira and put the Amazons in danger.

Whoosh!

Clark took off once again, heading toward the enemies. His expression was serious and determined as he activated his heat vision.

Fwoooosh!

The red beams of his heat vision cut through the sky, striking the enemy planes and setting them ablaze. Boats were destroyed as Clark used his strength to bring them down, one by one, without hesitation.

Boom! Boom!

The explosions echoed across the ocean, and the soldiers stood no chance against Clark's overwhelming power. He felt no remorse as he eliminated each of the enemies—he was determined to protect the island and to assume Steve Trevor's role, both in the war and in Diana's heart.

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