With a sadistic grin, the Juggernaut thundered down on the helpless mutant, but Glenn sprang at Juan's prone form, his leap carrying both boys out of harm's way.

"I'll tear your bloody mind apart!" Siobhan cried. A halo of crackling energy formed around her head as she telepathically hammered at the behemoth's mind. The Juggernaut laughed at her attempts.

"Sorry Brit chick! My helmet stops your little mind games!"

"Let's see if you can handle this, you danged mule!" Sue cried. Her coppery toxic mist had no effect on the Juggernaut, who laughed off her attacks as well.

"I got a better idea; let's see if you can handle this!" He inhaled deeply, sucking Sue into his massive lungs. He blew, then, and she poured out in a stream of copper colored fog, before solidifying in a dazed heap on the floor.

Shaking his head at the pathetic attacks, the Juggernaut turned back to Siobhan, grinning as she backed away, eyes wide.

"Heh. Pretty little broads like Wondy over there are bad enough . . . but rich ones like you are even worse! We'll see if Daddy's precious money will be enough to fix your face after I'm through with it!"

"Shut up already!" A sparkling stream of multi-colored energy slammed into the Juggernaut's broad back with an explosion like a firecracker, sending the massive mercenary sailing into the wall.

The blast had issued from Glenn, who knelt, cradling Juan's dazed form protectively. Siobhan stared in shock at his power.

"Sometimes you gotta take the direct approach," he replied with a smirk.

"Glenn! Try and get this bugger's helmet off!" Siobhan cried. Glenn fired a thinner, concentrated blast that struck Juggernaut between the shoulder blades. He stumbled to his massive knees, but his helmet clung stubbornly to his armor.

"Thank you, Asquith. I can trust you to take care of my mutant problem, correct?"

"Yes mistress," the White Magician replied. A wave of his hands sent Ororo into a mystic sleep, lowering her gently to the ground and another dispelled her tempest.

"Now . . . a little of my own magic!" Paula crowed. She produced from her pocket a small golden object, and pitched it baseball style towards Ororo. It clattered across the floor to stop a few yards away from the stunned mutant goddess. The object registered in Diana's horrified eyes.

"Great Hera!" the bound Amazon cried. "Paula! That's an Apple of Discord!"

"Yes, you silly pagan fool!" the Baroness snapped. "I know exactly what it is! I have my own private orchard of them."

"By Gaea, Paula, that belongs in the hands of the gods! No mortal can handle its power!" Wonder Woman cried.

The Baroness groaned. "I grow tired of this rabble . . . The true God smiles upon me; your pagan deities are powerless. Asquith, phase two of our plan!"

"Yes, mistress," the White Magician replied. A wave of his hands caused Diana's bonds to vanish, but before she could react, the board she lay on snapped up, flicking her towards Ororo. Wonder Woman flipped in midair, alighting gracefully next to her stunned companion.

"Sister, are you well?" she asked, keeping a wary eye on Paula and the Magician.

"What do you care?" Ororo replied. "You're too involved in yourself! You were off fooling around with your friends while I was captured!"

Son of a Sire! It is the apple's influence . . . it is amplifying Ororo's already suspicious and aggressive nature, Diana thought, glancing at the apple. Already I can feel its arcane power, pulling at the edge of my mind! I better try and keep my mind clear . . . What would Mother do in this situation? Even before we migrated to Paradise Isle, I led a sheltered life as the Amazons' princess . . . I have little experience dealing with the deadlier aspects of my mythology! Maybe if I remove the apple . . .

Diana moved slowly towards the glittering prize. "Now, Sister, just let me remove this . . . "

"How dare you call me 'sister', you fame-drunk witch?!" Ororo snarled. "You have to claim any and all treasure you see, do you not? A princess's power has its bounds, while a goddess's does not!"

Lightning danced through the air, surging into Diana's body. The Amazon shrieked in pain, but did not fall. Wisps of smoke floated up from her body, and she glared at Ororo, murder glinting like a sword's blade in her cerulean blue eyes. The mutant's electrical attack had burned away Wonder Woman's careful control over her temper.

"Even a goddess has her boundaries, especially a false one such as yourself! It's time you learned them!"

Wonder Woman sprung.

"I am Baron Blitzkrieg!" the masked man proclaimed. He charged at Sue, but a sparkling burst of energy knocked him to the ground.

"You look like you should've been throwing it down with the JSA back in WWII," Glenn commented, raising an eyebrow. "Retro looks are supposed bring back good memories . . . I just feel sick looking at you. Personally, I'd recommend something in black . . . "

With a snarl, the Baron sprang at Glenn, but was yet again smashed away, this time by a scarlet mace.

"Somehow, sweetie, I don't think he's interested in your fashion tips," Juan laughed. "You go help Siobhan, Sue and I will take care of this forties reject!"

"I doubt that!" Blitzkrieg replied, catching the swinging mace with both hands. "I am the supreme potential of man unleashed! I am STRONGER than Wonder Woman!"

"Attack me, will you?! Spawn of Circe, you'll regret that!" Diana hissed. Ororo weakly grabbed Diana's bare arms, sending thousands of volts of electricity coursing through her body. Storm fell to the ground as her stunned opponent stumbled back, cursing in pain. Winds battered Diana, defending their mistress with a fury. The Princess of Themyscira was lifted up and hurled the entire length of the control room, slamming into the far wall with incredible force.

"Oof!" Wonder Woman landed shakily on her feet, fists raised in a ready stance. Gaea has never seen winds like that whistling o'er her earthen bosom! That tempest-bending witch will meet her . . . Aphrodite help me, what am I thinking?! I am letting the apple take over . . . damn that thing to Hades! I will cram it down the Baroness's accursed throat! There I go again . . . I better get the apple out of here!

Diana snatched her tiara from her head, and threw it at a precise angle. Its bladed edge struck the apple, digging into its golden skin. Continuing its arc, it made a wide turn, rebounding off the wall and smashing into the White Magician's temple. The sorcerer was knocked to the ground, unconscious, the pierced apple rolling past his head while the tiara clattered away.

The Amazon Princess felt the agitation caused by the apple already fading from her mind.

"Thank Aphrodite!"

Floating high above, Ororo shook her head, clearing the cobwebs of discord from her mind, and focused her righteous fury upon the awakening guards.

Free to fight, Diana glanced around. Capturing the Baroness was definitely a top priority, but an oddly clad Neo-Nazi was battling with a young man over to the side. A woman lay unconscious nearby, and the boy seemed well on his way to defeat. Wonder Woman leapt across the control room, nailing Baron Blitzkrieg with a flying kick. To her shock, he barely flinched, and she was knocked away.

"Oomph!" The Amazon rolled with the Baron's strike, landing on her feet.

"Ah . . . Wonder Woman! You didn't put up much of a fight last time we battled . . . but then again, one swift punch to the head took you out! I don't expect this battle to be much longer . . . "

Wonder Woman raised her fists as she prepared to meet her adversary. "Big words, but attacking someone from behind and fighting them face to face are two different things!"

"The full potential of my strength and speed was unleashed by the Baroness's scientific genius. Not even you can stop me!"

The Baron charged, a powerful fist swinging towards Wonder Woman's head. She diverted it, but another strike sent her sailing.

Black Hounds of Hades! He is powerful! The Baron claims that his might is his full potential . . . I know well of such things; Amazon Training is the unleashing of a woman's potential. People nowadays are not even a fraction of what they could be! But we Amazons are ever growing stronger and quicker . . . have I reached Baron Blitzkrieg's level yet?

Diana crossed her bracelets as the Baron launched another punch. His fist hammered against the unbreakable metal with a dull thud, nearly knocking Princess Diana from her feet. Hissing between his teeth, Blitzkrieg leapt away, struggling not to show the pain in his knuckles. Wonder Woman pressed her advantage, landing a sidekick to his stomach. The Baron was thrown backwards with the force of Wonder Woman's powerful strike, sending him smashing through the nearby wall.

The daughter of Hippolyta didn't stop her assault there. She sprang at the stunned Neo-Nazi, kicking him solidly in the jaw. "Hiyaa!"

Energy slashed from Baron Blitzkrieg's eyes. Wonder Woman diverted it with a silver bracelet, but it forced her to stop her attack. The Baron launched himself upward, slamming into Wonder Woman's torso. The duo was lifted up and back. Blitzkrieg swung down, slamming Diana into the floor and creating a large crater. Wonder Woman had to think quickly. With her beneath him, the Baron had the strength and the leverage to crush her where she was!

"Get off of her!" A glowing scarlet mallet smashed into Blitzkrieg's skull, causing him to weaken his grip for a fraction of a second. It was enough. Diana's knee swung up, slamming into Blitzkrieg's groin.

"Gaah!"

Wonder Woman smirked. "You might be the 'full potential of man unleashed' . . . but you're still a man!"

A swift maneuver switched their positions. Wonder Woman straddled Blitzkrieg's back, twisting his thick arms behind him.

"Gaea . . . grant me strength!" she grunted.

"And Troia grant you your weapons!"

Diana looked up to see Donna leaping by, tossing her tiara and her lasso towards her. How she freed herself would have to be something she explained to Diana later. Wonder Woman looped her lasso around Blitzkrieg's wrists, pinning his powerful arms behind his back. Slim fingers danced outward, pinching his brow with superhuman strength. The Baron stopped thrashing, falling into unconsciousness.

"Thank Hera for the Vulcan Nerve Pinch," Diana murmured under her breath. She placed her tiara atop her forehead and unwound her lasso, attaching it to her girdle once more. "Now . . . who's next?"

Telekinetic energy barely swept Glenn out of the Juggernaut's path. He responded with a volley of blinding bursts of energy that staggered the Juggernaut.

"Got 'em!"

The smoke cleared, and the Juggernaut was only madder.

"Oh bloody hell!"

"Damn! What does it take to knock his helmet off?!" Glenn demanded. Suddenly, a white blur lodged itself firmly onto the Juggernaut's massive shoulders. A flashing sword cut at the base of the helmet, slightly dislodging it. The Juggernaut twisted, tossing Troia from her perch. Quickly she rolled, bouncing to her feet, before a brilliant flash knocked his helmet away, revealing an angry countenance.

"I don't need this helmet to squash you puny . . . gah!"

Siobhan's telepathic probe tore through the behemoth's mind with a vengeance, battering his psyche. He collapsed with an echoing thud.

"Ah . . . who are you?" Paula asked, eyeing her new opponent warily.

"The name's Troia," the martial artist replied. "That's what you get to tell all the other prisoners on death row!"

Troia leapt, aiming a punch at Paula's solar plexus. The Neo-Nazi moved swifter than Troia expected, however, and used a judo throw to send the fighter rolling off of the throne's pedestal. Donna flipped to her feet, before launching herself at Paula again. Troia's blow hit home; a flying sidekick that knocked Von Gunther back into her throne. Quick as a cat, Paula reached into a compartment in the throne's arm and drew a pistol, firing at Donna. Half by her own skill and half by chance, Troia managed to deflect the bullet with her sword. Before Paula could fire another shot, she found the barrel of her gun sliced in twain, and the deadly edge of Donna's blade hovering centimeters away from her quivering throat.

"I wouldn't recommend moving!" Troia warned, touching the cold blade to Paula's throat to emphasize her threat.

"Ha! You American 'superheroes' . . . you cannot stomach killing!" Paula laughed. A growl rumbled deep in Troia's throat. In a blur of motion, Troia twisted, pulling her sword away from the Baroness's throat. In the same motion, her leg whipped upward, snapping Paula across the face. Von Gunther dropped, unconscious.

Glenn walked up to her. "No . . . there are hundreds of mutants here. Evil as she is, Paula Von Gunther appears to be an avid, and skilled, scientist. Thankfully, our guard was stupid AND arrogant . . . he was on a total power trip with us, and couldn't resist rubbing their plan into our faces. Apparently, the Baroness wants to extract our DNA, and see if she can reduplicate our powers in 'super soldiers'."

Wonder Woman shook her head in disgust and horror. "Great Hera . . . I can't believe someone could treat a living creature like that!"

"I've done some research on this group, as they're most active in Atlanta," Troia walked over to Diana. "Paula Von Gunther's main goal at the moment seems to be gathering means to create her own group, or possibly army, of super-beings. The Juggernaut, the White Magician, Baron Blitzkrieg . . . they're just the start of this. Thankfully we seem to have thrown a wrench in this latest plan."

Wonder Woman walked over to the computers. Miraculously, they hadn't been destroyed in any of the fighting, or Ororo's tempest. Swiftly, her fingers danced over the keys.

"I think I can open the cells with these computers. As a result of our cultural exchange with Atlantis, we Amazons gained many advanced technologies. I've spent most of the last half century learning to use, adapt, and improve them, and I can apply that knowledge here."

Minutes later and the Amazon had unlocked the cells. Already the sounds of hundreds of footsteps in the hallways echoed into the control room.

"All of you, go out and lead them here. Ororo, consult them to see if they have anyone with teleportation powers. Such abilities would be invaluable to Paula's super soldiers, so I'm sure someone possesses them."

They nodded and ran off into the hallways.

"Look at you . . . a sea of scum!"

Wonder Woman spun, to see Paula Von Gunther, alongside her elite super humans,

"You beat me this time, Wonder Woman . . . but my rule will come to fruition. One day, the Schutze Der Menschheit will rule over the world. We will exterminate the rubbish that infests our planet and finish the task set to us by my grandfather!"

"You witch!" Troia spat, raising her sword. Paula laughed.

"I am not foolish to attack you and your pagan friend with that demonic horde of mutants backing you . . . Farewell!"

The Neo-Nazis vanished in an electric flash.

Ororo floated across the night sky, riding the gentle breezes towards her home. Ever since the incident with the Schutze Der Menschheit, she and her four former cellmates had kept in contact. All lived in Atlanta; apparently Paula had simply grouped five to a cell based on where they were captured. She rode home from another outing, a strange feeling in her heart. It was the feeling of acceptance. The void that had formed in her soul when her home was destroyed was beginning to fill.