Synopsis
Annoyed by their fighting, Wonder Woman’s new-found half-brother Milan unleashes a massive swarm of carrion flies to envelope those present in the bowels of the Manhattan subway system. Suffocating, his half-brother Lennox tries to beg him to stop, but his mouth and nose are soon filled by the insects and he is silenced. From behind Milan, the A4 robot unleashes a flash of light that sends the flies returning to their master.
In Antarctica, Cassandra and the Olympian giant she unearthed there are on the run from three massive ice-giants, intending to kill him. Despite their threats and stature, the giants are not impervious to the Olympian son’s attacks, as he smashes through their ice shells and makes them bleed. The ice-giants have been sent by the Olympian’s uncle Hades, who hopes to kill him.
Meanwhile, Zola and Hera have broken their promise to stay in their hotel room, and are getting a drink at a nearby Manhattan restaurant. Hera, however, has never walked in the mortal world like this, and has no idea which drink to get. A voice from behind them recommends gin. It is Ares, who decides to join Zola and his mother at the bar, ordering one for himself.
Conforming to his friend’s desire for no more fighting, Orion introduces himself to Diana and Lennox, admitting to having come from another planet. Though he usually comes to Earth to relax, he recently learned of a threat to the universe originating there, with the end of time beginning with the last of the Olympian line, at the hands of a new god. Diana and Lennox both assume that this new god is Zola’s child, who was kidnapped soon after birth by Hermes.
One of the ice-giants turns its attention to Cassandra, tearing the parka from her back. It is surprised to see that she has been enhanced with cybernetics, which means that, somehow, she managed to cheat death once already. The Olympian son warns that she will cheat Hades once again, here. The ice-giant growls that Zeus’ bargain was a fool’s errand. The Olympian responds that his presence now means that Zeus is no more, and now, he will be coming to take his place on Mount Olympus.
Finally, Diana manages to persuade Milan that she is his sister, and despite her warlike attitudes, she does mean well. She begs him for his help in finding the child, explaining that she does not believe that any child is born bad – badness is learnt. She hopes that if they can find the child now, they can prevent it from being taught to live badly. Sympathising, Milan agrees, removing his blindfold to reveal that his eye sockets are filled with live maggots. Without his blindfold, Milan’s senses are overcome by his ability to see everything at once. Through the eyes of his flies, he manages to spot the child, nursed in the arms of Demeter in her castle of roots. The child, he notes, has starry eyes, which seem to be able to see through the fly, all the way back to Milan. With the knowledge that the babe is with Demeter, Wonder Woman determines that they can use Hera’s knowledge to find out where Demeter is.
At the bar, Ares explains that despite the fact that his mother dislikes him, the most, her other children likely think that they are the most hated. Disinterested with their conversation, Zola excuses herself to the bathroom, where she meets a handsome young man who flirts with her. Grinning, the man reveals that he is also an Olympian, and that Ares is there to kill Wonder Woman. Smirking, he promises to tell Zola of what Ares is really capable of, and whispers it into her ear.
What Zola hears disturbs her so much that she rushes into the bathroom and vomits into the sink. Her vomiting is overheard by Strife, who promises to make whatever is bothering her subside.