The rest of the afternoon at Trinity site was filled with anxious tension. For a few brief hours, both Steve and Diana found their mutual antagonism superseded by the impressive spectacle of the plutonium components being mated to the bomb known as 'Fat Man'. And then, the even more impressive sight of the destructive behemoth being lifted up into the shot tower. It was enough to cow them both into awed silence for the rest of the afternoon, choosing instead to let the Los Alamos scientists explain everything to them.

But when the long, tedious and tension-filled process of putting Fat Man into place for its pending detonation, over and done with, the roles became reversed.

As darkness settled over the New Mexican desert, Steve and Wonder Woman both found themselves as the guests of honor at a special VIP dinner. Throughout the evening, the chief officers and scientists of the Manhattan Project focused their attention on Wonder Woman, with question after question about her famous exploits.

Slowly, she got to know all the other scientists. Edward Teller, an imposing figure with thick eyebrows and an equally thick Hungarian accent. Hans Bethe, who seemed to share many of the doubts that Robert Oppenheimer had earlier voiced.

Only one of the scientists was unusually quiet, and seemingly uninterested in the two of them. The frail, owlish looking man named Klaus Fuchs.

Despite an outward composure that was all smiles, inside Diana felt only misery. Misery over the bomb. Misery over Steve.

It was well after ten, when the party began to break up. But just then, everyone's attention was diverted by a new arrival. General Leslie Groves, the commander of the Manhattan Project.

"Wonder Woman it's an honor to meet you," the general shook hands with her. He was a short, stocky unimposing figure, and it was hard to picture him as being in charge of the most important project of the entire war.

"I'm glad to be here, General," she smiled politely.

"Steve, it's good to see you again. It's been too long." he shook hands with Trevor.

"Good to see you again, sir." Steve smiled, "But it was my understanding you weren't going to be back from the West coast until tomorrow."

"Well, circumstances have caused a change," he said, and his tone grew more serious, "And I'd like to talk to both of you in my office about it."

Five minutes later they were in Groves' makeshift office.

"I heard about what happened in Albuquerque last night," Groves said as he drank from a coffee cup, "And that's why I decided to cut short my inspection of the west coast nuclear facilities. I need to know if this attack on the two of you means that the project is somehow in danger."

"I wish I had a definite answer sir," Steve said, "But right now, we only have a hunch about who might have done it, and no clue as to who he's working for."

"Someone named Dietrich Bolle?"

"Yes," Steve frowned, puzzled that Groves knew the name.

The general smiled, "I spoke to General Blankenship on the phone and he gave me the basic details."

"We really don't know who Bolle is working for, General," Wonder Woman spoke up, "But Steve and I both think that he's more involved in a personal vendetta against the two of us and is not specifically concerned with the project."

"That's hardly reassuring," Groves said, "Because even if that's true, Colonel Bolle might decide to extract his revenge by sabotaging the project, knowing that it would kill you as well."

"General," Steve said patiently, "I believe Major Reynolds has told you how strong I feel about witnessing the test?"

"He has," the general sighed, "And I don't blame you for that. It wasn't my idea to leave you and General Blankenship in the dark about this project, and I told Secretary Stimson a hundred times that it was rotten. But you understand of course, that if I chose to have you away from Site Y at the time of the test, it would only be for the best of reasons."

"General," Wonder Woman spoke with a hint of frost in her tone, "Don't treat either one of us as fools. If there is an attempt on us, it's not going to come in the form of sabotaging the Project. When we watch that explosion, we'll all be six miles away, and any sabotage at the scene isn't capable of harming us."

Groves stared at her for a moment, taken aback by her bluntness. Then, he leaned back in his chair and smiled disarmingly, "My compliments Wonder Woman," he said, "You've learned the principles very fast."

There was little warmth in the smile she returned to him.

"Well you can relax on that point," he went on, "Since Fat Man is already in place without a hitch, and since the weather prognosis looks good, I've decided the best thing is to have the test moved up 24 hours to Saturday morning."

The two of them took a minute to digest that information before Steve spoke, "That's probably a good idea because if there is a genuine sabotage threat against the Project, then moving it up will probably disrupt their time element."

"That's what I'm hoping," Groves said, "This way, no one will have a chance at it, whether they're German, Japanese, or even Russian."

"Russian?" Wonder Woman frowned, "Why would they be involved?"

"Well, let me amend that slightly. I wouldn't say the Russians are interested in sabotage, but they'd damn well be interested in spying."

"I don't understand this," she went on, "Why is there this obsession that the Russians are already our enemies? I don't even understand why we've never told them about this project anyway."

The director of the Manhattan Project smiled thinly, "There's a very compelling reason for that, Wonder Woman. The bottom-line is that Stalin is an almost equally despicable dictator as Hitler was. Anyone who thinks we can get along with him in peace is living in a fantasyland that will never come to reality."

"So we exacerbate the situation by antagonizing him," she was unconvinced, "How do you think he'll react when he finds out about this?"

"He'll have more respect for our capability and be dissuaded from making any imperialistic moves in Europe," Groves responded, "I would think Wonder Woman, that the sad experience of Mr. Chamberlain proclaiming the discovery of 'peace in our time' at Munich, would illustrate the need for firmness with a potential adversary."

"Well--," she started and then stopped when she saw Steve glancing at her in annoyance, as if saying to her, Not now Diana. Please, not now.

She took the hint and smoothly steered away from the subject, "Well whatever the case, General, I think your decision is the right one. And as far as my safety and Colonel Trevor's is concerned, I know that we'll be able to take care of ourselves."

"Of that I'm sure," Groves grinned, "In the meantime, you should also know that this decision moves everything else up by 24 hours. That means the personal appearance for the men will be tomorrow night instead of Saturday."

"That will be fine," Wonder Woman nodded, "I look forward to that."

"As do all of us," he rose, "I'll let you get back to what's left of the party now. If we get any information about Bolle, we'll let you know."

"Thank you General," Steve rose and they shook hands, "We appreciate your consideration."

Alone, Steve and Diana walked back across the compound toward the VIP complex, largely in silence.

Finally, she broke it, "I'm sorry I nearly lost control of myself."

"No problem," he said curtly, "Just remember to keep your political opinions to yourself, Diana."

"It has nothing to do with politics," she said, "I've always known that Communism isn't a particularly noble ideology. My whole concerns have been about common-sense, and if we're going to show any of it in dealing with atomic weapons after the war."

"Let me ask you something Diana," he stopped and looked at her, "What would be worse, atomic destruction, which is a very remote possibility, or living in slavery under one empire's tyranny?"

"Isn't history filled with examples of people who learned to escape from tyranny?" she retorted, "Even your Bible talks about the Hebrews, who needed five hundred years to escape from the Egyptians. But atomic destruction leaves the world with no hope. None whatsoever."

"So why throw in the towel?" he tried another track as they came to their adjacent quarters, "If you feel so strongly about all this Diana, then why is it impossible for you to stay? Dammit, if you want to, then join the first anti-bomb organization or something. I don't care what kind of political activism you get involved with as long as it means we could still be together."

She sighed and put her hand on the door to her quarters, "Steve, we've already been over this and there's no point in arguing it any further."

"I don't think so," he said with determination, "So help me God, Diana, I'm not going to let you get away from me."

"I am not your slave," she wrinkled her nose at him, "If I choose to go home to Paradise Island, then that will be my decision."

"I'm only trying to tell you how much I love you," Steve's tone grew exasperated, "I love you more than anything in the world, Diana. I don't want to lose you."

"Neither do I," she put her hand on his cheek, "Try not to walk away in a huff again when I tell you this, Steve. My heart is breaking as much as yours is. But the sad fact is that world events are creating a permanent impasse between us.

"You have too much fear of the world," he kept himself calm, "Can the atomic bomb really wipe out everything you've learned about the world in the last three years?"

"I'm afraid it has," she said sadly and then looked about the empty compound, "Can we continue this inside? I don't want some soldier wandering by and noticing us."

"Sure," Steve struggled to keep himself composed as he followed her in to her quarters.

A bored Klaus Fuchs walked across the compound headed for his own quarters on the base camp, grateful that the dinner party had finally broken up. He couldn't for the life of him understand the fascination his colleagues had shown for that silly Wonder Woman. Nothing but a cheap, gaudy symbol of bourgeois decadence, as far as he was concerned. He'd never believed for one moment any of the stories written about Wonder Woman that had been in all the newspapers and magazines for the last three years. All along, he'd dismissed it as some cheap stunt to boost Allied morale. There was no harm in that while the war had been going on, he would have favored anything that contributed even the tiniest bit to the Nazi defeat, but with that part done, he found the whole idea of her thoroughly ridiculous.

He drew closer to his quarters and noticed a uniformed corporal coming up the other way. As they passed each other underneath one of the overhead lights that illuminated the compound, he nodded his head in polite acknowledgment.

He had walked several feet beyond, when he suddenly stopped in his tracks.

"Hey," he turned around, "Corporal, come here."

The corporal stopped but did not turn around.

Slowly, Fuchs made his way up to him. When he reached him, he looked into his face, long and hard.

"I thought so," he whispered, "Are you mad?"

Bolle allowed himself a faint smile, "It is nice to see you again Herr Doktor. Although I think it would be in your interest to walk away and pay no attention to me."

"You are mad," the scientist hissed, "We should have known better than to trust a Nazi hund like you. Now your true intentions become clear."

"Relax Herr Doktor," Bolle said, "Your silly espionage ring is in no danger of exposure. If I am captured I intend to disavow all knowledge of my connections to your organization. My purpose in being here is strictly a personal matter."

"What are you talking about?"

"It's best that you not know," Bolle kept his tone gentle, "None of this concerns you or your organization, and I'd rather not put any of you in an awkward position. As much as I don't care for what my former colleagues have done, I have a higher regard for what they are trying to do, then I do for the Americans. In the meantime, Herr Doktor, pretend that you didn't see me."

With that, Bolle began walking away from him. Agitated, it was several minutes before Fuchs found the strength to walk back to his quarters.

He knew he was not going to sleep very well at all.

Thousand of miles away in the Virginia safe house, a grim-faced Becker quickly locked the door.

"What is it?" Hauser looked up.

"Some very bad news," he said, "Wonder Woman and Colonel Trevor left for New Mexico yesterday, apparently in connection with the Manhattan Project."

Hauser's expression tightened and he drummed his fingers on the desk, "You're sure of that?"

"Absolutely," he said.

"Then we are faced with a serious problem," he said, "Should our old friend, the good Herr Oberst, learn of this, he might think it a unique opportunity to do something very rash."

"And if he fails, then he will be putting all of us in a rather difficult situation," Sturber added.

"Yes," Hauser nodded, "We'll have much to answer for if he ends up exposing our network."

"We can't afford that risk," Becker said pointedly.

"Indeed," Hauser sighed, "What shall we do then?"

"All right," Steve said when the door was closed, "Let's continue our discussion. But before we do, I'd like there to be an agreement that it won't end with any shouting or harsh words at each other."

"That's fine," Diana nodded as she sat on the edge of her cot, "I don't want there to be any hatred or bitterness between us. I just want us to come to an understanding."

"So do I," he sighed and began pacing up and down the cramped room, "So do I."

"Where do we begin then?"

He came up to the cot and sat down next to her, "I think we ought to start afresh," he said, "We have our differences about politics, war, religion, and philosophy. But we also happen to love each other. And I don't see how either one of us can think we'd be better off by separating for good."

"I can not live in a world that I think is going to self-destruct at some point," she said firmly and tried not to look at him, "Nothing can change my mind about that. And there's no place for you on Paradise Island, Steve. Our differences would erupt into hatred and rage no matter where we were. That's something I'm learning to accept, and it's something you should learn to accept too."

"I can't accept it," he said gently, but with emphasis, "I flat out refuse to accept it. If you're so convinced that the world is hopeless, then why did you come to America in the first place?"

"I didn't know there'd be a bomb one day," she said.

"And if you had?" he prodded, "Suppose I'd known about the Manhattan Project three years ago, and told you everything about it. Would you have packed up and left then, on the grounds that the outcome of the war was no longer relevant?"

"Don't be ridiculous. Using the bomb to end the war is one thing. But when such a weapon is developed with no regard for its future use, then the potential is just too frightening."

"Then do something constructive about it," he said, "If you agree with the Oppenheimers and everyone else who wants international control, then join their cause or something. I can live with someone who thinks different from me in politics. I can even learn to live with you if you chose to keep your own religion. But just let us be together, Diana. That's all I want. There isn't anything else I want to demand from you."

Diana let out a troubled sigh, and warily looked at him.

"Don't try to deny it Diana," he said tenderly, "We belong to each other."

Slowly, he placed his hand on her chin, and then he softly kissed her on the mouth. There was no resistance from her. Instead, she relaxed and allowed the kiss to linger for a long minute.

But then, she rose from the cot, "Steve, I, I need to be alone and think about this. God, you don't know how much I love you, but I still... that is I... Well please just let me sleep on this for another day."

He was on the verge of protesting but quickly held it back, "All right," he said quietly, "But tomorrow, this has to be settled."

"Don't push me Steve," she looked away from him, her arms folded. She didn't want him to see the expression of tortured agony on her face, "Please don't push me."

Steve sighed and reluctantly headed for the door, "Goodnight Diana," he said tenderly, "I love you."

"I love you," she barely whispered back.

When the door had closed, she exhaled and brushed away the tears from her face. There were demons racing inside her that she had no idea how to cast out, and to finally achieve the peace she wanted for herself.

Dietrich Bolle found an isolated spot for himself in the back of the deserted base storeroom. A perfect place to keep himself hidden until events warranted it.

Getting on the base had been easier than he'd figured. He'd hidden his car ten miles away where it couldn't be discovered by anyone else. Then, as night fell, he'd quietly slipped on to the back of a truck that was just entering the base. Once inside, he'd quickly stolen a set of khakis and now looked no different from any other soldier on the base.

In the dim light, he went over his map of the area for the hundredth time since he'd first formulated his plan. Each time he looked at it, only increased his determination to go ahead with his plan.

When he finally decided to catch some sleep, it came very easy to him.