Watching the defeated Diana vanish into the distant waves, Menalippe's heart sank. From the shattered ruins of the palace, Jack Kadere rose from the throne and began walking toward them, step by deliberate step.
Menalippe's hope crumbled with each footfall. She had believed that Diana's sudden burst of divine power—Athena's light blazing in her veins—would turn the tide. Instead, Jack Kadere had stood firm, overpowering her with terrifying ease. The Queen had fallen, General Antiope had been defeated, and now even Diana—Princess of Themyscira, champion of the Amazons—had been cast down.
Who could possibly stand against him now?
Menalippe gripped her spear tightly. If death was inevitable, then the Amazons would at least meet it without kneeling. She took a breath, steadying herself. They would never surrender.
But before she could move, another figure rushed past her.
Artemis.
The name itself carried weight among the Amazons—not just for the Olympian goddess it recalled, but for the warrior who bore it. Artemis of Bana-Mighdall was one of the fiercest fighters on the island, her skill with bow and blade nearly unmatched. Menalippe braced herself to join her in the fight—
—only to freeze as Artemis stopped a few paces in front of Jack Kadere.
And knelt.
"Master," she said plainly.
The word rippled through the crowd like a cold wind. Menalippe stared, stunned. So did the other Amazons. Even Jack Kadere raised an eyebrow at the sight of the proud warrior kneeling before him.
She was tall, her long black hair spilling over silver-plated Amazonian armor, her features sharp and battle-hardened. Yet now she knelt with a calm, unreadable expression.
"You want to save them?" Jack asked, his tone almost casual.
"No," Artemis replied without hesitation. "I want you to understand that I am not the same as these Amazons. I am of the Lost Tribe—the Bana-Mighdall."
Jack tilted his head, curious, as she continued.
"A long time ago, my people rejected the gods of Olympus and instead served another—one who gave us protection and freedom from outside interference. For centuries we lived apart, hidden by storms and shielded from the world. But conflict with the Themyscirans led to our home's destruction, and we were forced to merge with them to survive."
Her gaze sharpened. "I offer you my loyalty. Let me be the one to ensure that every Amazon here bends the knee to you. I will make them your most obedient servants." She bowed her head.
Jack studied her in silence for a moment. Then a faint smile crossed his face.
"You'll make all of Themyscira my slaves?"
"Yes," Artemis said firmly. "I swear it."
"And in doing so… they live?" Jack's eyes narrowed.
Artemis hesitated—just for a heartbeat—then said nothing.
Finally, Jack gave a low chuckle. "Go. Send the Queen and your General for treatment. If they die, your offer means nothing. And bring Diana back to me."
"Yes, Master." Artemis rose and turned sharply. "You there—carry the Queen and General to the healers. The rest of you—search the coast and find Diana. Move!"
Her commanding voice snapped the stunned guards into action. Menalippe, still shaken, finally obeyed, helping lift Hippolyta and Antiope. Others sprinted toward the shore where Diana had been flung.
Once she had Jack's blessing, Artemis moved quickly. She summoned the warriors still loyal to her and gathered every Amazon in the city square. There she declared the island's new reality—Themyscira now belonged to Jack Kadere. Those who resisted were met with swift and ruthless suppression.
The defiant were shackled, their weapons confiscated, and many were bound in iron chains. Some were hung in the courtyard for punishment, a public warning to any who still dreamed of rebellion.
"Master," Artemis said at last, returning to Jack's side. "The island is secure. Do you have further orders?"
"What you've done… it's going to make it impossible for you to stay on Themyscira after all this is over, isn't it?" Jack observed. Although Artemis had acted to preserve the lives of her people, many Amazons would rather die than submit. And in order to earn Jack's trust, she had indeed been merciless. When freedom was restored, even if some could understand her choices, she would likely no longer be welcome among them.
"As long as you are satisfied with me, that's enough," Artemis replied softly.
"You remind me of someone named Helena," Jack said, his tone thoughtful. "She would sacrifice herself completely for her goals, without caring about how others saw her." He patted Artemis on the shoulder. "I'm not one to linger in one place for long. As long as they don't provoke me, I'll leave them free once I move on."
He smiled faintly. "Different times, different places—there's always something new to see. When that happens, you're welcome to come with me."
"So I won't need to use the Lasso of Truth to verify your loyalty. Don't disappoint me."
"Yes," Artemis answered quietly, her expression unreadable.
Before long, Diana—who had fallen into the sea earlier—was brought back. She remained unconscious, her breathing steady but shallow.
"Bring me the Lasso of Truth. Have someone clean her up and take her to her room," Jack instructed.
Artemis nodded and left, returning shortly after with the fabled weapon in her hands.
The Lasso of Truth was one of Wonder Woman's signature tools, said to have been forged by the god Hephaestus from the golden girdle of the Earth goddess Gaea. Indestructible and nearly impossible to resist, the Lasso compelled absolute honesty from those it bound. While it was uncertain whether it affected gods, when Diana herself was ensnared, her divine powers weakened—similar to the way kryptonite affected Superman, though far less severely.
Jack took the Lasso from Artemis, smiling faintly. "Want to try it on me? Though I'll warn you, your chances of winning are zero."
Artemis shook her head without a word.
Jack casually tossed the Lasso back to her. "Come with me to see Diana. She's… my greatest source of amusement."
Artemis froze, surprised to be trusted with such a weapon. After a brief hesitation, she hooked the Lasso to her belt and then led Jack toward Diana's room.