[center][img]https://66.media.tumblr.com/486b167e474e3de106cc39dfccf7f8a9/tumblr_oxiqjx9JhY1w14pp3o3_500.gif[/img][/center][indent][sub][COLOR=FDE384][I]Washington, D.C.[/I][/COLOR][/sub][/indent][indent][sup][right][COLOR=FDE384][i]Present Day[/i][/color][/right][/sup][/indent][hr][indent][sup][COLOR=FDE384][b]Issue #3.04[/b][/color][/sup][/indent][center][color=FDE384]𝗪𝗢𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗥 𝗪𝗢𝗠𝗔𝗡[/color][/center]
[indent][indent]Diana was caught off guard by the knocking on her hotel room's door. It was loud enough to get her full attention despite being in the bathroom, working on her hair. It was kept up by three hair rings forming a high and large top knot bun. The knocking intensified until she got out of the bathroom and made her way to the door. Diana opened the door and saw one of the hotel staffers, a concierge, standing there with a look of relief. The worker smiled faintly and sighed, "Thank God, you haven't left." 

He made his way inside the room and headed towards the window, briefly opening the curtains. Diana approached the staffer with curiosity and asked with a hint of annoyance, [color=FCDA63]"What are you doing?"[/color]

"I am looking for you. And I wanted to see if the crowd has grown." He honestly answered the question. 

[color=FCDA63]"What crowd?"[/color]

Diana walked to the window and opened the silk curtains. There was a crowd of protesters, paparazzi, and journalists eagerly waiting for the person of importance to appear. It seemed that they have been waiting for hours while the reporters had just arrived and began setting up their cameras. The chants were mostly negative with calls for Diana's arrest with the rare supportive sign that cheered her on. Suddenly, flashes from the cameras caught her off guard and the mob began shouting at her as they tried to pass the police barricade. She closed the curtains so fast that it nearly broke.

[color=FCDA63]"Well,"[/color] Diana sighed and turned to the worker, [color=FCDA63]"I am assuming you are here to tell me that the entrance's blocked?"[/color]

"Yes, ma'am. Also, I was told to give you this." The concierge handed her a blank card. She grabbed it and tried to figure out who sent it to her. It wasn't either Candy or Dominguez because they would have just called her. Besides them, she didn't have that many friends who didn't work for the Worlds Veteran Federation. When she opened the card, the bombastic sound of a party horn caused her to drop it. There was a moment of silence in the room while Diana was calming herself down. She looked up and saw the concierge frozen with his eyes closed. 

[color=FCDA63]"What the..."[/color] Diana walked towards him and tried to make him move, but nothing was happening. Then, she realized that something was wrong and immediately tried to figure out a plan; however, she felt someone familiar was with her. 

Aladdin was staring at the window with a smile on his face and chirped, [color=F8BC7E]"Nice to finally see you again, Diana!"[/color]

Diana immediately ran towards with the intent of capturing him, but Aladdin snapped his finger and made her paralyzed in an instant. He laughed and started walking towards her. [color=F8BC7E]"You should know that capturing me is impossible."[/color]

[color=FCDA63]"Nothing's impossible."[/color]

[color=F8BC7E]"You haven't dealt with me before."[/color] Aladdin winked and walked towards her. [color=F8BC7E]"But, this isn't about me. I just wanted to wish you good fortune on this particular day. You will need it, especially with the mob outside and senators inside the hill. It seems that everyone's slowly turning against you, Diana."[/color]

[color=FCDA63]"It doesn't matter if I am alone or not. I will make sure that your plan never triumphs."[/color] Diana barked at Aladdin.

[color=F8BC7E]"It's impressive that your confidence remains strong. I thought it died in Velinsky?"[/color] Aladdin responded.

[color=FCDA63]"It never did."[/color]

[color=F8BC7E]"Well, I hope it remains intact for the foreseeable future. You might be able to have a break, but the storm is still here. It has a chance of tearing you apart."[/color] Aladdin smiled before disappearing. A bright flash blinded her for a moment before she found herself kneeling. The concierge was about to call for help until he saw that she was standing up. He placed the room's phone and ran towards intending to help her up. 

[color=FCDA63]"What happened?"[/color] Diana asked the worker. 

"You opened the card and it a loud enough sound to scare us both. Then, confetti flew all over you and caused you to fall. I genuinely thought that you were going to die." The concierge answered while he started on clearing up the mess. Diana realized that Aladdin was the one that sent the blank card to her. Her suspicions were confirmed once she opened the card and saw a simple message:

	[i]Good luck! :)
   	   - Aladdin and friends.[/i]

Diana crumpled the card and threw it away in anger. She made sure that the confetti was off her and approached the window. Before she had the chance to leave, the worker walked toward her and said good luck. He watched as Wonder Woman opened the window and flew towards the Capitol. During that moment, the crowd beneath began chanting and taking photos while Diana made her to the hill. It was a short flight despite a news helicopter nearly collided her. When she got to her destination, a bigger crowd of supporters and protesters awaited her with signs. Each of them tried to provoke a reaction, but she didn't pay them any attention. Then, flash from cameras began appearing while she made her descent to the concrete ground. Police presence and barricades kept the area safe from unsuspected attacks.

Once on the ground, Wonder Woman was met with cheers and boos while news reporters excitedly proclaimed that she showed up. She made her way up the stairs and entered the Capitol. Police escorted her to one of the hearing rooms where the committee was residing. The sergeant-at-arms saw Wonder Woman and announced that she was coming. The senators gathered around each other to talk for a moment before going to their seats. Senator Swanwick seemed surprised that she was actually attending while Senator Finch sat down and began examining her questions. People were still talking to each other and moving around until Wonder Woman entered the room. Everyone got quiet as they went to their seats, looking at the hero. Diana looked back at them and made her way towards the podium. 

When Diana arrived at the podium, she noticed the journalists sitting on the ground, taking pictures of her. Senator Swanwick greeted Diana with a judgmental stare and said boldly, [color=45709B]"Before I make my opening statement, I want to address the elephant in the room. The Velinsky incident is an essential reminder of why this committee was formed. I told you that it was time to take responsibility. And it seems that my words fell on deaf ears as you brutality killed those soldiers. All of us saw the footage of your actions on that day. You claim to be a hero of the people, but your activities in that town contradict it. In fact, it shows us that you act more like the villains you fought against."[/color]

[color=FCDA63]"I am sorr-"[/color] Diana tried to apologize, but Swanwick interrupted.

[color=45709B]"It isn't your time to talk, Diana."[/color] Swanwick remarked and then took a quick sip of water. [color=45709B]"Once you have been sworn and the opening statements have been delivered, you will be able to talk."[/color]

Diana nodded and stood there, waiting for her chance to apologize and defend this generation of heroes. Even if it meant losing everything she built.[/indent][/indent]
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