100.jpg)
“This is all quite impressive Mr. Rich," Major Trevor said as they walked around the chemical plant.
Peter Rich was leading the group from the War Department around personally. General Blankenship had sent his people to check out the Rich Chemical & Research Works, and Rich had no intention of giving his guests a bad impression of his operation. Major Steve Trevor would have a lot of say with Blankenship plus he was sure the Yeoman who was with the USAAF officer was taking detailed notes.
"Thank you major, but I know this isn't why you're here,” Rich's company was supplying tons of specialized chemicals to the US armed forces.
Trevor nodded, “You’re right about that Mr. Rich.”
He shared a glance with Diana who smiled back, though kept her thoughts to herself. Steve perhaps we shouldn’t talk about the secret project so much. Yeoman Diana Prince of course knew better about keeping secrets than most, because she was actually Princess Diana of Paradise Island; known to America as Wonder Woman. Of course no one could tell that now as she was dressed in her Navy standard dark blue uniform and some thick black framed glasses.
Steve and Diana followed Mr. Rich to a more secured wing of his chemical plant. A pair of armed guard signed them in and gave everyone in the group a badge, after checking both Steve and Diana’s military IDs. The security precautions were not just window dressing Diana knew, the Axis spies would do anything to get their hands on what was being developed here. After passing through the security checkpoint they were met by an Army officer.
“Major Trevor, Yeoman Prince,” he began. “I’m Captain Powers, welcome to Project Blockbuster.”
Trevor shook the younger Army officer’s hand, followed by Diana. Rich smiled warmly, “Daniel, things going well I take it?”
“Yes Mr. Rich,” Powers answered. He led the trio into the lab area proper where they saw white lab coat wearing scientists working with what looked like an even more elaborate kid’s chemistry set.”
Steve put his hands in his pockets and whistled, “That’s a lot of bunsen burners.”
Diana smiled at the joke but looked at the scientists working to craft Project Blockbuster. Captain Powers explained the basics that Diana and Steve were familiar with. The Allies were looking for any edge they could get. Even before Wonder Woman had appeared the Allies had been researching the idea of ‘super-soldiers’. To that end, Rich C&R was looking into a serum to give a person super-strength. Progress had been slow but reportedly Rich’s company was close now to having a working formula.
“As you can see our animal tests have proven quite successful,” Powers gestured to a set of cages.
“Oh my,” Diana said seeing mice that were easily overturning bricks and a monkey bending a steel bar.
Powers grinned, “As you can see the results have been impressive, we’re going to being human trials soon.”
“Amazing,” Steve breathed, “I mean I’ve seen Wonder Woman in action but to imagine a whole platoon with that kind of strength…”
Rich nodded enthusiastically, “Exactly colonel, we’ll put those Nazi ‘supermen’ in their place. I’d like to see one of their faces when one of our boys flips over a Nazi tank!”
Diana felt the machismo in the room was getting a bit out of hand. Changing the subject she said, “Captain Powers, when will the human trials begin?”
“Soon Yeoman Prince,” Daniel answered, “In fact if you can stay a few days you and the major will be able to observe the tests.”
They completed the tour of the lab and headed back out to the security desk. Waiting for them there was a blonde woman who leaned on the security desk. She had shoulder length blonde curls, starlet style looks, an expensive sleeveless dress which went down to her knees. Her legs were dressed in tanned stockings and wore black heels on her feet. The woman looked bored but perked up as the group came out the door.
“Daddy!” she smiled and then a bit more friendly, “Daniel…”
Captain Powers looked a little embarrassed, “Priscilla, you’re early for lunch.”
Rich handled introductions for Steve and Diana, “Major, Yeoman, this is my daughter Priscilla. How are you my dear?”
“Waiting for my fiance,” she said with a pout.
“Sorry my dear but, duty calls.” He gestured to Diana and Steve.
“Oh I think we’re done here…” Steve started to say before suddenly an explosion rocked the building. Everyone was rocked on their feet and Rich looked to protect his daughter. Powers had beaten him to it, covering Priscilla who shrieked with fear. Steven tried to shield Diana but she was more focused on trying to locate the source of the explosion.
Looking out a window she saw a rising column of smoke and people running from the research building. The serum! Steve was getting up and looked to check on Mr. Rich, Captain Powers, and Priscilla. Turning he looked to Diana, “Diana, we need to call….”
But Diana was gone.
……………….
Damn Berlin and their orders!
Hans had spent nearly a year infiltrating Rich C&R. He originally had been trying to put himself in position to sabotage the plant, but when he learned about the super-strength serum, the German spy had cabled for instructions. Of course Berlin had decided not only to take drastic action to stop the project but had expected him to do everything by himself. Cursed bureaucrats sitting in their comfy offices!
He had managed to arrange for a small explosion that would allow him to sneak into the research building to grab a sample of the formula. Surprisingly things had been going well. He managed to sneak his way in, feigning interest in helping others escape. It took a few minutes but he now was in the main lab which worked on Project Blockbuster. Hans looked for the secure locker which held the samples, there! He spotted it attached to the wall. Regretfully it was padlocked so he was forced to take out his pistol.
Shooting off the lock, he then reached inside seeing rows of blue vials. Smiling he snagged a couple and slipped them inside his coat pocket. Then he took his gun and fired it into the remaining vials. There, that should make Reich happy, he thought sarcastically. Making his way back out of the building he hoped to just be one more of the feeling people trying to escape it. Hans shifted the Luger into a coat pocket just as he stepped outside.
“Stop right there!”
The commanding voice caused the German agent to turn and his eyes widened seeing, “WONDER WOMAN!”
The Amazon Princess stood proudly before the German agent. Rich brown hair went down to her shoulders. A golden tiara with a red star in the center graced her forehead. Wonder Woman wore a red bustier with a golden eagle stylized across her chest. Around Diana’s waist was a golden belt which granted her powers away from her home. Hanging from that was the Lasso of Truth, her greatest weapon weaved from unbreakable golden threads. Blue star spangled bottoms completed her swimsuit style costume. Diana’s legs were dressed in silken tights, which made her legs look smooth and sexy while her feet wore red and white boots. On her wrists, silver bracelets that could repel any attack.
“I saw that pistol you're carrying, now you can come quietly…”
Wonder Woman didn’t get a chance to finish as the German agent pulled out his gun and tried to fire it at her. Diana’s arms moved in a flash and with her wrists she blocked the volley of 9mm bullets. They sparked off her bracelets and soon the German ran out of bullets for his pistol. Cursing in his native tongue, the German dropped the gun and tried to run. Wonder Woman shook her head. She started running after him, her long powerful strides quickly catching up with the German agent.
Hans needing a distraction reached for his last remaining weapon. Diana gasped as she saw him pull out a small hand grenade. However the German didn’t toss at her but towards a group of wounded people. Abandoning her chase of the enemy agent, Wonder Woman ran over to the helpless civilians. One of them screamed seeing the bomb but it had just landed right as Wonder Woman was there to scoop it up. Diana tossed the grenade up into the air with her strength. It soared high up before exploding harmlessly.
Wonder Woman looked for the German agent, she couldn’t let him get away with the formula. Her sharp eyes picked up the German’s light brown hair as he climbed into a car. Diana pumped her legs and with a push, leapt the huge distance between her and the German’s car. Hans saw the superheroine coming and gunned the engine hoping to squash the fraulein flat when she landed. Aiming his car right at her, he was amazed when Wonder Woman stood her ground. Her arms outstretched Diana let the car hit hit her.
Hans was slammed forwards as Wonder Woman’s herculean strength caused his car to slow and then come to a stop. He regained his senses and tried pushing hard down on the accelerator. Smoke burned from his tires but Wonder Woman held his car there with ease. He let off the gas and stared dumbfounded at her. I know what the Amis papers said about her...but still! He tried get out of the car but Wonder Woman was on him.
Grabbing him by the collar with a single hand, Diana used her other to detach her lasso and wrap it tightly around the German agent. “I command you to surrender,” Wonder Woman ordered.
Hans gasped and felt something overriding his will. He wanted to resist to escape out of this heroine’s grip but something compelled him to obey. The German stopped struggling and Wonder Woman secured him more properly with the lasso.
“Wonder Woman!” Steve yelled as he came across to her. He was joined by Rich, Powers, and Priscilla.
“Steve, nice to see you again,” Wonder Woman warmly replied. She noticed the group was looking at her with amazement. Diana saw that Captain Powers was nearly dropping his jaw looking. Focusing on Steve she said, “I’m guessing he’s the cause of this explosion.”
“You traitor!” Rich snapped, his anger at his business, people, and own life being threatened coming to surface.
“He’s a German agent,” Wonder Woman told them. Diana removed the Luger pistol for them to see. She then commanded, holding the lasso tight, “Aren’t you?”
“Yes...I am Hans Gruber,” the man admitted, “Agent of the Abwehr.”
“German military intelligence,” Powers said for the benefit of Rich. He looked at Wonder Woman and asked, “That lasso really makes him tell the truth?”
Wonder Woman nodded in confirmation, “That it does.”
“Amazing,” the officer said dazzled by Wonder Woman’s powers and looks. No one noticed Priscilla looking more annoyed and jealous.
“Wait...what happened to Diana?” Steve asked suddenly remembering that his friend and woman under his command was missing.
Diana covered her tracks, “I saw her helping with some of the injured, don’t worry major she’s alright.”
Relieved Steve sighed and Rich came forwards, “Wonder Woman you saved my company and maybe this country, thank you!”
“It was nothing Mr. Rich,” Diana tried to reply by Rich wouldn’t have such modesty.
“Nonsense! I want to thank you in public. Listen I’m having a fun party to raise money for War Bonds. It’s a costumed galla and I can imagine that having you there would raise quite a lot of money.”
Wonder Woman smiled, but remembered the last time she had showed up at a rally, “That’s quite nice Mr. Rich but….”
“Wonder Woman please, I want to tell everyone what you did here today...within reason of course,” Rich added so that Major Trevor nor Captain Powers wouldn’t lecture him about exposing more of Project Blockbuster than already had occurred.
“But Daddy, I’ve already sent out all the invitations…” Priscilla protested. Organizing the costume gala had been work. In fact the party was less about raising money for the war but Priscilla showing off her proud soon to be Army husband.
“Nothing to worry about my little girl, we’ll spring Wonder Woman as a surprise!” Rich said excitedly.
“Well if it is to raise money for the war effort,” Wonder Woman conceded, seeing that Rich wasn’t going to take no for an answer. Hera’s laughing at me now, Diana thought as she wondered how she would explain another disappearance by Diana Prince.
“Wow, Wonder Woman will be at the party,” Daniel said in a half dreamy voice. Priscilla's skin bristled at hearing the tone in his voice. He should be dreamy over me being at the party! Priscilla had even gotten a special costume made for the event to make Daniel blush when he saw it. Now he’s suddenly infatuated with this...star spangled harlett! In fact everyone including her father was so enthralled with Wonder Woman that the group started walking off without anyone noticing she was not with them.
“That...that,” Priscilla boiled with jealousy. She wanted to scream but to do so with everyone around them would be so improper. The blonde turned her cheeks red though with the anger she still felt. Her foot touched something though as she turned to walk back inside.
What’s that? Looking down at her expensive shoe, a blue fluid fill vial was on the ground. She bent down to pick it up. Looking at the label she saw BLOCKBUSTER on the side. Priscilla knew this was related to the hush hush secret project her father was working on. Must be what the German wanted to steal, she concluded. That meant whatever the stuff in the vial was important, powerful, her mind recognized.
Taking a quick glance, she slipped the vial into a pocket in her dress.
TBC
This is an idea I've been kicking around a bit. Why didn't some characters come up in the original WW series? Cheetah especially her classic version seems like a good idea for Lynda Carter's classic show. So I've written this story to take place in the Season One Universe of Wonder Woman. Hence the Lost Episode title.
Thanks to Tallyho for helping out with this idea
It feels good to be writing something again. Part II will be coming soon, where we see what the jealous Priscilla does next.
