Chapter Twelve

The Multiverse - Realm of Equal Opportunity Growth Potential
System Sol - Planet Earth (Alt Franklin 1754 CE)
North American Confederation
Province of Deseret - ANS Desert Range Complex
Time Zone: Atomic Age - Circa 21st CE

"And that's all of it?" asked Colonel Nicole Powers.

"Yes, that's about it. Your people arrived about an hour later, not much to tell about that part other then Dr Dexter, Princess Diana and the other Amazons made their farewells to us and vanished from our sight."

"Goddess Giselle," added Tanya, "arranged their transportation and even moved all of Dr Dexter's laboratory to the Imperial Republic of Themiscyra."

"Well, I think this wraps this all up for now. You both understand that you might have to answer some more questions before the Select Congress on State Security of Parliament."

"In regards to all of this?" asked Kevin.

"Yes, that - but also as to how you two fit into the scheme of things. No doubt you'll be public celebrities, but, I'm personally curious - how do you plan to use your enormous gifts of super empowerment?"

"Just a suggestion, but if you'll talk to your superiors and they are amiable to the concept, we'd like to follow the example of the Justice Avengers. Goddess Giselle informed us, that although we're the first, by no means will we be the only ones to evolve into Metahumans - and without question some of them will be of the evil variety."

"Interesting, I will do what I can to help endorse your request - perhaps," she winked, "by the next time we meet I'll even be placed in command of this world's version of SWORD."

Suddenly, a starlight flash occurred and Giselle was towering over all of us.

"Excuse me, Colonel Powers are you done with my people now?"

"Yes, Goddess Giselle, for the time being. They've been very helpful and explained everything to us."

"Good - I was certainly they'd be. Now its time that the three of us were off, there are others that would like the honor of your presence."

It seemed so different being shorter then someone now. We were so use to being the tallest and the largest, but then Giselle was a Goddess and it was expected of her to be so.

**********

The Multiverse - Realm of Equal Opportunity Growth Potential
System Atalanta - Planet Archonia (Alt Zero-Zero)
Continent of Washington
Megalithic Mountains - Mount MacLeod
The High Castle - Royal Throne Room

"To be treated in this manner," Rowena huffed, "I'm a Goddess, I have my rights."

"Rest assured," pronounced AlexG, "your rights under The Contract of the Alliance of Good Gods and Goddesses, The Compact of the Commonwealth, The Constitution of the Realm and The IRT Treaty of Service will be preserved. However, I for one, do question your honest reciprocation of those selfsame rights towards others, Mortals or no."

"As do I," stated DeniseH. "The peacetime protocols are clearly posted at the CHI Ports of Entry and Exit. Deity or no, by entering the Realm you agreed to abide by our laws, respect our peoples and their various cultures regardless of your personal opinions or unfounded biases."

"Which is exactly what I did do," she declared - exasperated, "as a Goddess of the IRT."

"That's what we're here to find out," replied AlexG. "For if so, then you are free to leave."

"But if not," added DeniseH, "then the scales of justice will be balanced."

**********

While they patiently waited by the entrance, the scene spread before them looked like something out of an ultra high-tech version of a Medieval Royal Court. At the far end of the Mega-sized Throne Room was a seated couple in high-backed chairs upon a carpeted dais, one a red-blonde haired male, the other a brown-reddish haired female. Each of them looked like serious followers of physical culture with tapering masculine and feminine forms. Yet, for all of their powerfully built size, both of them appeared to be highly symmetrical in proper proportion as befitted their different genders as a male and female. By contrast standing directly before the two of them was a Goddess similar in size and structure to Giselle. However, both Kevin and Tanya instinctively sensed that this particular being was not one to be lovingly trusted in kind.

"In answer to your questions, they are Deities and very special in nature - the Overlord AlexG as the Warrior King and the Overlady DeniseH as the Ruling Queen. Together, they are known by friends and foes alike throughout all of the Multiverse as The Two Who Jointly Rule.

"I see, sort of like a Knight and his noble Lady. And the other one - is that Rowena?"

"Well, they are much more then that as Guardian-Knight and Civil Administrator . . . and as such you two are here for a very important purpose as the representatives of your people."

"Us? But Giselle I though you . . ."

"Oh my very dear ones - I cannot. I'm only a Goddess of the IRT and not a Guardian-Knight, much less a Civil Administrator. I can advise, but not rule over your people - it's not part of my suzerain . . . and it's now time, they are asking for your presence."

As we came forward, we suddenly realized with a start that if this room was Mega in scale that that could only mean that we were also Mega - but how was that possible.

"Yes, Kevin and Tanya," answered a smiling DeniseH, "by our grace, for the moment you are Mega-sized, even if you are shorter still then Goddess Giselle your sponsor and teacher."

"Interesting," said Tanya, "I didn't feel the change - at least consciously. But now that I think about it, I did. Like a strange sensation running though my body."

"As did I. It must have been when we materialized in the courtyard outside. Timed to the millisecond."

"What are they doing here?" Rowena said, half-suspicious, half concerned now.

"They are here," AlexG dryly commented, "at our request - as witnesses to your conduct towards their people."

Rowena gasped, "They cannot testify against me - I'm above the laws of their world laws as a Deity and a Goddess of the IRT."

"Yes - true," DeniseH replied, "but you aren't above ours. Or for that matter of your IRT Sisterhood as well."

On cue, a Goddess far larger then Giselle or Rowena in athletic development came into the room. Yet even for all of her well-built size, this mysterious Muscle Goddess had a special magical aura about her of intoxicating erotic femininity and moved with the grace of a tiger.

"Ah," nodded AlexG, "so good of you to join us Goddess Andrulla. It's not every day the Iron Goddess of the IRT visits The High Castle."

"The honor is all mine God AlexG, Goddess DeniseH," she bowed slightly, "and it is ever a pleasure to visit your Domain, but for the moment this a matter of business and of state."

She turned towards Rowena with an almost evil smirk on her face.

"The Sisterhood has inspected the Infonet IRT transcripts and logs provided by Realm Force Intel in this matter Rowena. You tried most carefully to skirt the IRT Terms of Service as well as the Laws of the Realm in carrying out your operation. I should call it a feud, as many of us now know of the conflict that you and Giselle have - philosophically - over enhancement."

"Yes we do - what more do you want?" asked Rowena in a surly tone. "She beat me in the Game of Settlement - we followed the IRT Rules of Engagement to the last jot and tittle. I didn't cheat or otherwise commit harm after losing, though Zed knows I certainly did want to on that fireplug of a Mortal scientist. Burn him and his precious Amazon slut to the ground."

"Yes you did - but we cannot have you continuing to run a private war against another of our order. It is one thing to have an accidental conflict - it does happen from time to time and we try our best to avoid it. Flames and Flaming never profit anyone - and we all suffer for it. You on the other hand purposely and with malice intention set out to fight with Giselle and if possible ruin her newly enhanced beings, and in all place here, within the Realm. I can't tell you just how much Goddess Cashia was, shall we say, disappointed in your behavior. This is a Domain that she personally took upon herself to mediate with in allowing our Guild to have access to when such seemed all but impossible. This sorry incident is precisely what we swore in our sacred entreaty to The Two Who Jointly Rule would never happen. Now that it has our collective honor is on the line and we cannot permit this incident to go unpunished. As such, and with the full support of the Governing Board, I represent the entire guild in this matter."

"And," asked DeniseH, "what have your sisters decided in amending this breach in your agreement with the Realm?"

"My Overlady, to be certain there were vocal comments from Goddesses Saraa, Brigid, and Sabra about removing of all her room privileges - not less then an age of Mortal time. Goddess Lynn - well, she came up with some rather highly creative pummel-twisting suggestions as punishment, but then as all know the Pec Panther is very much into wrestling. Goddess Cashia was the most outspoken in the belief that nothing less then a total and irrevocable stripping of her Charter of Operatorship would suffice - but in the end we compromised and came up an unprecedented solution. We want these two new Metahumans of the Realm to decide her fate - for who better then they that suffered first hand at her handiwork should come up with an appropriate punishment."

Rowena was shocked to her core, this had never happened in the long history of the Sisterhood. The very Mortals she had dominion over punishing a Goddess for abuse of powers.

"Wait Andrulla, what about Giselle? If I'm guilty what about her? She's no less a lawbreaker then I am in this matter!"

"On the contrary, she is no such thing. Giselle acted accordingly and honored the traditions of the Goddesses of the IRT by first reporting to the Governing Board and getting approval before acting. Further, God AlexG as Overlord of the Realm even granted her special dispensation to defend her charges from acts of willful aggression by any hostile Deity. Most important of all - she never sought a conflict with you, but you most certainly did with her and her people."

"But . . ."

"Shut up, you're an embarrassment Rowena. You've brought shame down upon us all. We exist to help the Mortals, sometimes playfully, sometimes with well-meaning intentions like Giselle here - all in the goal of restoring a sense of wonder and of magic to the Multiverse. Outside of IRT renegade collectors, we never willfully act in an evil manner as you have done. Mandark under your influence could have been rehabilitated into a Giant of Power - as a benevolent dictator ruling over a distant world or even as a gentle lover of some special woman. Instead you made him your tool in this mess and now he's forever lost to us. We your sisters now remove any protection and turn you over to The Two Who Jointly Rule for justice."

"Very well," stated DeniseH, "how say you, Kevin and Tanya, what is to be done?"

At this, Tanya let go of my hand and walked up to the Rowena. Looking her in the face Tanya could see the look of arrogance with just the trace of defeat. In some ways, she felt sorry for Rowena, a Goddess with so much power to do good and yet had used her great abilities for so base a thing as petty revenge over the difference of an opinion. So many lives had been lost - and to what end? Nothing was gained, and much was now lost.

"You cannot judge me," she smugly stated, "no matter what you do I'll still be here and dancing on your graves even when all of your children's children are dust."

At that statement, Tanya with her large hand slapped Rowena's face once, then twice.

"You maybe a Goddess, but in my eyes you're nothing but scum bag bitch. How you ever got to be a Goddess I'll never know - but you've sealed your fate as far as I'm concerned."

"How so?" she smirked while rubbing her face with her right hand. "You can't kill me, not even The Two Who Jointly Rule have that kind of power."

"No," Tanya said, "but we can do something far worse. I'm told you Goddesses of the IRT greatly pride yourselves on your ability to travel freely anywhere in the Multiverse. Well, I say for what this Goddess has done and what she might do in the future, warrants her being Perma Banned from the Realm - one of, if not the greatest, places in all of the Multiverse!"

"I concur with my wife. If you truly want a way to punish one like her then Perma Ban the Goddess Rowena. To deny her the privilege of entry in any form or manner would be a very great punishment."

"Very well," DeniseH nodded, "as you have judged, so it shall be."

"Goddess Rowena of the IRT," declared AlexG, "for violating The IRT Treaty of Service with the Realm, for attempting to do willful harm and other mayhem to our peoples, you are hereby Perma Banned from the Realm. Until such time as we feel that you can be trusted to move unescorted within our territories this restriction will remain in effect indefinitely."

"What - you cannot do this!" she shouted in shock. "Not to me!"

Two aristocratic-looking beings came into the room, one a large blonde haired male, the other a shorter dark haired female Hispanic - they were dressed similar to AlexG and DeniseH in ruling manner as nobles. To Kevin and Tanya's questions, Giselle explained they there were Deity Vassals of the Realm - The Landsraad - who had pledged their unwavering loyalty and devoted service to the Overlord and Overlady. Thus, they performed such duties like removals whenever deemed necessary. Especially these two for they had encountered a similar event on their world and insisted on performing this task once they heard about the misdeeds of Rowena.

"Oh yes we can," retorted AlexG. "Don't forget the recent war and what we're both capable of doing - if pushed to the limit. Lord James, Lady Carmen, please escort Lady Rowena to the Interdomain Multiverse Border and deport her from our Realm."

"My Overlord and Overlady - as always, it will be our pleasure."

James took one of Rowena's arms, while Carmen took the other. Rowena didn't want to move at first, she couldn't believe this was happening - she was being Perma Banned!

"Oh please do resist," Carmen wryly smiled, "I've not had my workout today and I'm just dying to nuke one such as you."

**********

After Rowena left along with her escorts, things seemed to settle down. Goddess Andrulla excused herself as well and left the room. However, she promised to be back later in the day to visit with AlexG and DeniseH - they all had so much to catch up on.