Multiverse: Deathstroke-Chapter 470: Retrieving Wonder Woman

Can't listen. Sailors ran into this all the time—sirens, enchantresses, masters of illusion. The alien sea clan might have something like that too.

They'd plucked her thoughts, morphed into someone she knew. Step toward it, and bam—trap.

Su Ming smirked. Down below, Wonder Woman was zoning out on her rickety boat, lasso still hooked around a... turtle?

Hadn't anyone told her not to yank a turtle's head? This was a mess to look at.

He'd only poked his head out the ship's hatch to talk—enemy turf, after all. Sneaking in was the play; even an attack should be a ambush.

So he'd had the mystics cast invisibility, cloaking their sailboat-shaped spaceship.

Cyborg locked Wonder Woman's position, and they rolled up to find her spaced out.

Sure, the warrior standing in the misty sea, all dazed, had an artsy vibe. But was this the time for aesthetics?

He hopped out the hatch, cape easing him onto her boat.

First things first—deal with that turtle. Sticking its head out like that? Ridiculous.

"Snap out of it. Get on my ship."

He sliced the turtle's head off with one swipe, tucking the Lasso of Truth back onto Wonder Woman's belt.

"Is that really you, Deathstroke?"

"Uh, if you want me to prove I'm me, let's skip that." Su Ming sighed—impossible task. "We're here to save Aquaman. You in or out?"

Wonder Woman studied him, circling twice, even brushing his armor.

Nth Metal and Promethium alloy—real deal. Godslayer, Nightwing—legit too.

She lit up, then swung a fist at him. "You've got the nerve to show your face!"

Recalling Deathstroke's lies—especially how she'd once been moved by them—fury boiled over.

She didn't care about the rest. She'd knock him out, lock him in a dark cell for a stretch.

Su Ming caught her fist. The clash rippled the sea.

"Earth's about to go down. We'll settle scores later."

He played the "greater good" card again.

She didn't know squat—whatever he said, she'd buy, right?

But Wonder Woman went berserk. She tried headbutting him—blocked by his animated cape.

Fists failed, headbutt flopped—so she kicked. She just needed one hit to vent.

Deathstroke wouldn't let her land it. He snagged her ankle, twisting her into a dancer's backbend, sapping her leverage.

"Quit messing around. I'm serious—Earth's toast."

"I don't care! I'm beating you for tricking me!"

Wonder Woman thrashed her head, lips pursed, clearly pissed.

Tricking her into a hug, peeking up her skirt, everything going sideways from her expectations—thinking back made her flush with shame and rage.

"Diana? What... are you two doing?"

While they tussled, Wonder Girl poked out of the ship. She'd come to check on her sister, only to catch her and Deathstroke in what looked like a "cozy" tangle.

Her feelings got messy, and she couldn't help interrupting.

Wonder Woman shot Deathstroke a glare, straightened up, and pulled free.

In front of Wonder Girl, she had to act the big sister—no more tantrums. She floated up, hugged Wonder Girl, and fixed her hair.

"Your ship? Take me up."

Wonder Girl glanced at Deathstroke, then whisked Wonder Woman into the air.

Su Ming checked the boat, cleaned up the bodies, sank it, and headed back inside.

As a Justice League heavy hitter, Wonder Woman's arrival juiced morale—especially for the Titans. It was like their backbone showed up.

Legs got springier, spines straightened. Garth morphed into a critter, strutting like he owned the place.

But when Deathstroke strode silently onto the bridge, the vibe snapped back to serious. Garth turned human fast, scrounging a stick and rags to mop the floor.

Wonder Girl was filling Wonder Woman in on everything since she'd gone dark—Earth underwater, Paradise Island's state.

She didn't skip Deathstroke—whether on purpose or not, she only said he'd saved Earth and the Titans, leaving her own stuff out.

Wonder Woman was stumped.

Fresh onboard, starving and parched, she hadn't even sat down before Wonder Girl dumped a heap of intel.

What was she supposed to do with that?

She was clueless, and even if she weren't, planning was Batman's old gig. She could lead in battle, but her strategies were patchy or slow to cook.

Besides, Deathstroke was here. No need for her to sweat it, right?

"Same as always—do your thing. I'm saving Aquaman." She eyed Su Ming pointedly. "This time, you're saving him. The sea's the mess now—he's the fix."

Su Ming knew she meant the cosmic tuning fork fiasco. Different times, different stakes. Back then, the universe was at risk—saving Martian Manhunter's muscle made sense.

Now? Atlantis and Poseidon were the problem. If Aquaman didn't get saved, who'd take the fall?

"Save him? You say save, we save."

Su Ming brushed it off. Just then, Beast Boy—sent earlier to boil water—rolled back in.

Wonder Woman had been MIA nearly a day. No water in space, and the sea here wasn't drinkable.

Even superheroes need fuel. The ship had humidifiers—water was easy. Beast Boy just needed a pot.

"Diana, looks like you're back for your pal Chimp again." Beast Boy pulled a shell container from somewhere, handing her fresh water. "It's like my bar's booze—tastes awful, but it'll do."

Wonder Woman liked Deathstroke's answer—felt like her input mattered. She said save Aquaman, he agreed. Sweet.

She was thirsty, gulping from the shell. Honestly, it was tasteless—filtered distilled water.

Oblivion Bar's liquor beat this hands down.

Beast Boy didn't mention Deathstroke was already planning to save Aquaman.

Let her think that—team unity mattered most, right?

If someone blabbed later, what's that to a chimp?

"Aquaman's captured by three sea gods, stuck on a reef a dozen miles ahead," Wonder Woman said, wiping her mouth, jumping to the rescue. "I heard they're heading to Earth. Tons of alien sea folk are converging there too."

Seeing her back to normal, Su Ming relaxed. If she'd clung to old grudges, he'd have sicced Harley on her.

This worked. Past beefs could wait.

"The sea gods? Small fry—I've already smoked one. But digging into the reef to find Aquaman's tricky. I don't wanna hunt while dodging a swarm of alien fish folk."

Starfire stepped up, seizing her moment. "Let me go. My phasing can turn invisible—I'll find Aquaman and report back his spot."

Wonder Woman shook her head. "Thanks, Starfire, but that won't cut it. Three gods—your phasing, even our cloaking, isn't foolproof."

"Yeah, if they spot you, they could shift Aquaman via sea monster or nab you. Bad news either way," Beast Boy agreed.

"Then we blast 'em to kingdom come! Haha!" Harley popped up. She'd been doodling with Poison Ivy's vines on the floor. "Hey, Di-Di!"

"Harley? Why're you here?" Wonder Woman frowned. Harley solo, no Suicide Squad—weird.

Harley grinned, tackling her in a hug. "Batman cut a deal with Amanda—I'm free and clear."

She snuck a wink at Su Ming.

Wonder Woman's confusion deepened. Harley's rap sheet screamed life sentence. Amanda let her walk?

But if it was Batman's move, she dropped it. That guy's plans were always a riddle.

Only Harley, Su Ming, and Poison Ivy knew the truth. No one was spilling.

Batman knew—Deathstroke had posed as him to spring Harley from ARGUS. What Batman said didn't matter anymore.

What counted was Amanda Waller and the U.S. government's take—they'd pin it on Batman.

Ironclad evidence: witnesses, footage of "Batman" taking her. Case closed.

Batman had to eat it this time. As long as Harley steered clear of Gotham, he didn't care.

Su Ming started peeling off his armor. Harley's escape story sparked an idea—he had a plan.