Titans: The Resistance #39

Now in this island of Atlantis there existed a confederation of kings, of great and marvelous power, which held sway over all the island, and over many other islands also and parts of the continent.
--Plato

As for the whole of this account of the Atlanteans, some say that it is unadorned history, such as Crantor, the first commentator on Plato. Crantor also says that Plato’s contemporaries used to criticize him jokingly for not being the inventor of his Republic but copying the institutions of the Egyptians. Plato took these critics seriously enough to assign to the Egyptians this story about the Athenians and Atlanteans, so as to make them say that the Athenians really once lived according to that system.
--Proclus


-1-

The Titans journey through from the ocean surface to its bottom depths was long and....strange.

Of all of them, Supergirl probably got the most out of it. Her scientific curiosity was satisfied, at least on some levels, by seeing the change in the illumination of the water, and the creatures within. Her Kryptonian super-vision, while not exactly great for picking out microscopic details, certainly saw more than the humans could. Especially in the depths, after the wavelengths of sunlight that humans could see faded away.

Ravager, ironically, got the least out of it. Her provenance was the surface of the water, and the shallowest of depths where fish she was used to eating swam. The rest of it was as alien to her as the others. Not to mention the fact that her late father’s previous contacts with the Atlanteans hadn’t gone terribly well.

It was, of course Deriven’s magic that preserved them and allowed them to survive and adjust to the gradually-increasing pressure, and keep the bubble of air replenished for them (though Supergirl stubbornly continued to insist on seeing it as a modified form of thermodynamics, at least in her own mind).

For the eyes of all save Supergirl and Starfire, the light of the surface faded quickly. For the two aliens, the light faded more slowly, and Starfire could still see the internal electrochemical reactions of some of the animals for an extended period of time. But it wasn’t long before the whole ocean became dark to all of them. Even Deriven could not see anything now, though he could sense it. Most of his concentration was focused on gradually adjusting the team’s bodies to the slowly-increasing pressure and tunneling through the cold seas towards the ocean floor where Atlantis sat.

Terra and Ravager, each in their own way, tried to approach Starfire during this long strange time. She gave replies that were not unfriendly, but short. Clearly, she saw the Titans as a group of warriors that she, for the time being, was allied with. As such, they had her respect, but no more than that. At least not yet. Of all of them, it was the quiet but fiercely-determined Argent who had the most success talking to the Tamaranean.

So Terra and Ravager mostly talked amongst themselves. Their friendship was deepening and strengthening, differences finally put aside. Terra finally began to understand what it had been like for Ravager growing up, something that even her visit to the islands had not helped her to understand, and Ravager finally began to truly know the gilded cage that Markovian imperial royalty truly was.

Anarky, for his part, was pleased with how the team was melding together as a unit. Even without Robin here (a matter of personal satisfaction to him) the team was becoming one. Starfire aside, they were truly a cohesive unit now. And Starfire, with her military orientation, would function with them without problem.

They had made such strides against the Empire, that for the first time he felt a thread of disquiet; namely, that one day they might actually beat the Empire, or at least force them far enough back that the Resistance would no longer be needed. It was still unlikely, granted, but no longer impossible.

If that day came, what then for him? If the Titans survived at all, they might rightly view an anti-governmental type such as himself as an enemy rather than an ally. And likewise the reverse. He enjoyed being with Ravager very much--more and more as time went on--but that didn’t mean that he would have a reason to help the Titans in a world the Empire did not hang over like a shadow. For that matter, would she? Like him, her membership in the Titans was one of functional convenience. But then, she seemed to have truly bonded with Terra. While he had nothing against Terra personally, he hadn’t really befriended her. And that didn’t even begin to sum up his feelings for the autocrat vigilante she wouldn’t yet admit was her boyfriend.

These thoughts brought him full circle back around to Gotham, and there lay his answer. It was his home and, like it or not, eventually he would be there full time. Like Robin, he still spent a significant amount of time there now. And one way or another, if the Resistance won--or collapsed, oh yes; for all his optimism about the team, that could still happen--he would still primarily be an anarchist agitator in Gotham, trying to avoid and outwit Robin and his Bat-master and the corrupt system they served, a corrupt system that was better than Markovia only by luck, and certainly not for lack of trying.

Supergirl had already pretty much given up on talking to Starfire. Her knowledge of the Tamaraneans before leaving Krypton had not been extensive, but it had been sufficient. She wanted to know more, of course. She had tried to talk to the Tamaranean, both about her personally and her culture. But Starfire took these as either warrior’s challenges, or ignored them entirely.

Supergirl had already gone through something not unlike this with Green Lantern when she first arrived on this planet, and that human had found reason relatively quickly. Even that denier of fact, Deriven, could at least be civil. Supergirl had studied warrior’s cultures before. But Starfire....it just made no sense to her, in a way. Oh to be certain, she had some basic expectation of Starfire’s psychology, and didn’t expect a bond of friendship. But this over-the-top irrational hostility.....she shook her head. There was no point agonizing over it, or trying to intellectualize it. Besides, this undersea alternative human culture should be fascinating enough in its own right.

-2-

Princess Tula was excited.

She knew the surface cultures had committed many outrages against the sea that was their home, and had no real appreciation or understanding of their people. But she was an optimist in her own way; she believed in a future, and a future that could only be built through cooperation.

Unlike her dour brother, Tula was an eager student not only of the seas that were their realm, of the surface realm and what they knew of it, of the underground realms beneath the sea floor and the surface realm, but of the stars beyond as well. Oh yes, Atlantis knew of them. Few cared, but they knew.

Tula cared. Tula believed in a Future with a very deliberate capital F.

And from what she understood, the unofficial leader of this group was familiar with magical realms beyond the world they knew, which made it all the more exciting!

So naturally she had been the one sent to meet the visitors. She knew they were not envoys of even one nation of the surface, let alone a coalition of them. But aside from the occasional contact with the sea raiders (which were also represented, she knew), this was the first real contact with the surface realm for over three thousand years.

Tula believed that it was--or could be--a beginning. A chance to start over, a step in the right direction.

She had caught a glimpse of her brother morosely plodding down one of the byways, and had almost immediately dismissed him from her thoughts. She loved him, but he was so banal and dour of heart. He was pragmatic, but in such a fundamentally pessimistic way that their parents would almost surely put her on the throne instead of him. And the greatest irony was, she didn’t even want it. She wanted to live life and adventure, not be stuck on a throne as an administrator. Let Garth rule; she wanted to live!

She put such thoughts aside as she approached the Coral Gate, which was where the surfacer envoys would be arriving soon. She had discounted using a bodyguard of her own, as usual. Come to think of it, that was one of the things she and her brother had in common. Both of them relied on their own strength and power rather than bodyguard defense, which their royal parents constantly agonized over. But while Garth disdained the people, Tula was truly one of them, in ways even their parents were not. That was not arrogance, but simple recognition of the truth.

So it was that she embraced the people in the street and touched hands with them as she continued towards Coral Gate, afraid of no assassination attempts; indeed the very idea was unthinkable. All loved her. Her brother, on the other hand, had no fear of attacks due to his sour temperament. Oh, she loved him and he often said that she was just about the only one in the castle he could stand, but their happier days of playing together as children were long gone.

Reaching the Coral Gate, she looked up. Atlantean vision was far superior to that of the surface realms (though Tula did not know this); the light of Atlantis didn’t illuminate too much of the sea beyond their settlements, but far above, she could dimly see an unnatural tunnel in the water. It could have been some kind of threat, but Tula didn’t think so; more likely the surfacer envoys, right on schedule.

Coral Gate opened for her, and the two gate guards snapped to attention, tridents sparkling with energy. She sighed. While she refused personal bodyguards, protocol required that the gate guards at least stand ready in her defense. Ceremonially appropriate it may have been; diplomatic, it most assuredly was not.

But there was nothing she could do about it now. The surfacers would be here soon.

-3-

Deriven had been mostly concentrated on tunneling through the ocean depths, maintaining the oxygen atmosphere for the others. He could exchange words with them, occasionally, but was mostly focused on keeping them breathing and reaching their destination. He had paid only passing attention to their banter. Not that he was the greatest conversationalist in the world to begin with.

But now they were approaching the fabled city of Atlantis. The two aliens would have been able to see the lights below for some time; now even his fellow humans would be able to see the lights of the great city, one of the true wonders of the world. Deriven knew of this place, and some of its secret history that the Atlanteans themselves did not know; their long ago time on the surface which helped lead to the Etruscan precursors of Rome; their adaptation to the ocean depths and the sorceress Circe’s role in that survival, for which she had never felt properly repaid; their feuds with the various undersea creatures and denizens.

Closer still; he frowned. Only three envoys; one scantily-clad diplomat and two guards? He had expected more than this.

They landed on the sea floor with little ceremony, but when their feet touched the ground with an audible crump, Ravager sighed and Terra let go a soft-voiced “Wow.”

From there it was only a few short steps until they reached the gate. Around them, the Atlantic sea basin was illuminated by lights from the city. Few sea creatures at this depth got this close to the city.

As Deriven’s air bubble breached the Coral gate, the young woman who had come to greet them and her two guards made calm, dismissive gestures. Around them, small films of water remained. Taking the hint, Deriven gestured and shrunk the bubble of air around the team. Ravager muttered something under her breath, but didn’t complain. Starfire frowned, but was clearly not to take on an entire city at once over a matter of atmosphere.

“Greetings surfacers,” the young woman said, her voice clearly understandable despite the water-to-air transition, “and welcome to Atlantis. I am Princess Tula. I will lead you to the Great Audience Chamber.” She was, Deriven noted, most diplomatic not to point out his atmospheric faux pas.

“You are most kind to us,” Deriven said, bowing low. Behind him, the others took the hint and complied to varying degrees, and with differing shades of surprise and enthusiasm. He understood a little better now; one of the potential heirs to the throne had come to escort them personally. That made sense, of a sort. But still, why no proper bodyguard? Did they mean to dismiss any potential surfacer threat? Not that he would wish to project such a threat, of course, but the implications were....unsettling.

“And what names have you?” Princess Tula prompted, derailing his train of thought.

“I am Deriven,” he bowed low. “I believe you know the Ravager, she and her father have contacted you over the years. Next we have Terra, a rogue noble from one of the more powerful nation states....”

-4-

As Princess Tula led the Titans through the streets of Atlantis, there was curiosity and wariness, but no real hostility. To the Titans, this was mildly surprising; from all Ravager had told them, they didn’t care for surfacers much.

“There’s only a handful of us here, in their territory,” Ravager pointed out. “They can afford to be magnanimous.”

Deriven winced; he doubted the Princess would take that well.

“They know you are diplomatic envoys,” Tula said, not sounding at all offended. “And few of our people know much about the surface. Only our warriors and guardians know the truth of surfacer environmental outrages. One of the advantages of living down here is that it takes a long time, if ever, for the damage to reach us. So many of the citizens suffer......I believe your term for it might be ‘ignorant bliss’?”

“Close enough,” Argent murmured.

“Besides, I’d wager that Atlantis has its own waste disposal problems,” Green Lantern said.

“Lantern!” Deriven all but shouted in horror. Supergirl actually elbowed the ring-wielder and gave him a look.

Princess Tula turned and looked back at them, a small sad smile on her face. “It did take us several hundred years to learn how to properly recycle. And unlike you surfacers, we had non-human enemies all around. Still do, in fact. It is a great tragedy that you have not yet learned this lesson, and indeed the King in particular still holds this against you. But,” she went on, taking a breath of water, “we are not here to argue differences, but to discuss similarities.”

“And peace,” Terra prompted, about as relieved as Deriven that Tula was reacting so well.

“In as much as you can offer peace, yes.” Tula said this as kindly as she had said everything else so far, but the implied warning was unmistakable.

“It’s a first step,” Deriven said.

“Yes,” Tula agreed, and said no more.

“I’ve never seen you so emotional,” Ravager said quietly to Deriven.

“Joining with you was the first step in bringing proper magic back to Earth,” he answered. “This is the second. It is....very important to me.”

Then Deriven also fell silent.

The citizenry seemed mostly curious, if not outright friendly. All of the Titans, to varying degrees, were impressed by the silver and golden spires that they could clearly see through the water, lit from within. Terra thought it was like something out of a fairy tale, which, effectively, it was.

-5-

It didn’t take them long to reach the Imperial Palace. The gates were of a deep blue-hued steel, ornamented with emeralds. At a gesture from Tula, they silently opened inwards, and the Titans followed her up the marble steps to the inner door, in a recessed alcove. These doors were bone-white, probably carved long ago from the body (or perhaps the teeth?) of some deep-sea creature. They too opened inwards without sound.

Tula led them down a long hallway. There were no paintings, but many ornate statues; some of sea creatures, some of figures from Atlantean history.

They entered the main audience chamber, which was roughly bowl-shaped. The walls gleamed gold, inset with occasional emeralds and sapphires. The King and Queen sat side by side, he on a throne of gold, her of silver. The King had long blond hair that floated in the water, and a fierce beard. Solemn brown eyes measured them. The Queen had hair the color of flame, and catlike green eyes. Her hair was longer than her husband’s, quite an achievement. But from what the Titans had seen, long hair was fashionable amongst Atlanteans.

“Mother, father,” Princess Tula said, bowing before them, “our guests have arrived.”

The King nodded gravely and gestured with his hand. Tula moved to stand between the two thrones, and identified each Titan, then in turn named the monarchs as King Orin and Queen Mera. Queen Mera gave a guarded smile; King Orin nodded gravely.

There was a pause, then Deriven took the initiative. He took two steps forward and bowed formally, one hand on his breast, a formal salute he knew the Atlanteans would recognize. “This meeting is hundreds of years overdue. It should have been one of my predecessors who did this, supported by friendly leaders from the surface. But at least, things have finally begun.”

“Yet, as you say, you do not have a friendly world leader with you, and you cannot dictate, or even advise, surfacer policy,” Orin said. There was no real hostility in his voice, but he wasn’t exactly friendly, either.

“This is only a first step,” Deriven admitted.

Terra spoke up. “We are doing our part to change the way the surface world works,” she said.

“Ah yes, the renegade from the largest and worst sufacer nation state,” King Orin said. Then his eyes softened. “Our own son is not so different, really.”

“You cannot expect us to simply give you the magical access you desire, Deriven,” Queen Mera said. “We are glad to hear from one of you sorcerous envoys after all this time--Circe has ever been a thorn in our side, as you know--but that doesn’t mean we will simply allow our magic to touch the surface that easily.

Deriven nodded, not really surprised. “I will do what I can to earn that trust.”

“If we need to face this Circe--” Terra began.

Orin cut her off. “Do not volunteer for a task you may not survive. But in any case, Circe has been quiet for more than fifty years. It is more dissident factions in our own society, and the rampages by the Shark-men and the traitorous Mantis Lord are a more pressing concern.”

“And against them,” Mera added, “your assistance may be more useful.”

“A straight-up fight,” Ravager said, nodding. “Something we can handle.”

The King looked at her. “The new leader of the raiders. Heir to the one that came before?”

“He was my father,” Ravager confirmed. “We’ve always been honest in our dealings with you.”

Orin nodded, a sneer of distaste on his lips. “In as much as such dealings can ever be considered honorable, yes. At least your father realized that the Mantis Lord was no friend.”

Ravager gave a small laugh. “Thanks, your majesty, but that required no real wisdom. His own actions proved his nature to us.”

“So he has ever been,” Orin agreed. “He caused much grief here as a younger man, when my brother--”

The whole castle shook. A dull roar could be heard, and all of the Titans realized it must be some sort of alarm.

Terra twitched. “Should we--”

“Not unless the royals give us leave,” Deriven answered.

Orin stared hard at them. “Not yet. Let us see what the nature of the threat is, first.” But he sounded troubled, indeed.

A guard came pelting into the audience chambers. “Your majesties, traitorous citizens are attacking the foundations of the palace itself! At first we thought it might be the visitors, but...”

“But they are all here talking to us,” Mera said. “Were is our son?”

“He has not been seen, my lady.”

“I saw him walking down a side street when I went to greet our visitors,” Tula supplied.

“Find him now,” the Queen ordered. “Even he must realize they are no longer to be trusted.”

Tula nodded and ran out, taking the guard with her.

“Come with us,” Orin said to the Titans. “Stand with us as we evaluate this threat.”

-6-

Prince Garth had not yet shown himself amongst the besiegers, hiding amongst their numbers, using his powers to weaken the palace base.

It hurt him to destroy his home, but it was also a symbol of what was wrong with Atlantis. There were so many things wrong with the city and the way it was run, the fact they even had monarchs was only the start.

His late uncle had made only two mistakes in his own rebellion attempt. The first, of course, was listening to that maniacal Mantis Lord. Though he hadn’t gone by that name then. The other was thinking that it was a simple matter of replacing one monarch with another. The throne itself must fall.

And it would. He would see to that, personally.

Then he saw her.

Tula. Fighting her way through the crowd, heating the water and causing shock waves, and knocking the fighting citizenry back with her superior strength.

Trying to do right by their family, as always. Even though she had no idea how dreadfully wrongheaded that was.

His stomach tightened, but he had known this would have to be done. He steeled himself; Tula had to die. Now.

To Be Continued


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