Issue 5: "Shadows Over Atlantis, Pt. 2"

“You disgust me!!” His filtered voice sounded almost inhuman as it pounded and echoed through the silence of the auditorium. “All of you. And I’ve waited a very long time for this.” His glowing red eyes beamed as he looked around at his conquest. “You will all cooperate without incident, or a I will detonate another bomb placed inside this arena, right about…” Manta moved his hand out and around until pointing at the seating at the other end of the structure, “…there.”

“Why are you doing this?!” Aquaman’s voice rang out to meet Black Manta’s droning. Mera stood by him and he was joined in the back of the seating booth by Vulko and a guard. “What quarrel have you with Atlantis?”

“What quarrel?” An inhuman, metallic laugh followed. “You certainly take yourself very seriously these days, Arthur.”

The King was stunned. Who?

“And what an irony this is.” Black Manta continued as he moved to a higher platform, scanning the rows of Atlanteans around to make sure his men had them all properly contained and in line. “Little did I know all those years ago that I would meet that yellow-haired punk again here at the bottom of the sea.”

Aquaman tried in vain to place the man. “You have me at disadvantage.”

“That’s an understatement! Alright then, you didn’t really stay at the orphanage long enough to learn my story did you?”

Slow realization crept over Aquaman’s face as Mera placed her hand on his back.

“But it would seem our fates are intertwined. You see, for years I didn’t know what happened to my father, only that he had died at sea. But after I turned eighteen, I found the only surviving member of the wreck, living in an institution in north Florida. No one believed his story of being attacked by ‘men from the bottom of the ocean’, but I did." Manta walked the platform as he indulged his story.

"He was more than happy to tell me the entire story. A terrible tale of the brutality beset on their freighter in an ambush by strange men from under the water. I listened very intently and finally knew what had destroyed my life at such an early age. Once the news reached my mother of my father’s death, it wasn’t long before she took her own life and I was lost in the shuffle of child services. So it was only natural I took in upon myself to learn everything I could about this supposed city of men who lived in the ocean, a belief that was only reinforced when the media began running reports on the adventures of the 'Aquaman'. And now it has paid off in spades because look what I have found…”

“It was a different time for Atlantis then, a weak ruler strong-armed by ruthless military leaders! We would never attack the surface unprovoked! We are a peaceful people!”

“Really? And this display here today is for what more than a celebration of warriors? Don’t play your innocence to me!” Manta pivoted and moved to several of his men standing nearby. The lighting shined and flashed off his silver helmet as his head moved while speaking.

Aquaman stood watching the scene, taking in his opponent’s methods and weighing his options. Vulko moved in next to the King and Queen. “M’lady, you should come with us. The men are in the corridor but in the exit way there is a secret passage. I can take you to safety beneath the city. In the catacombs.”

“Vulko, I will not leave my husband. Not now. As Queen, this is as much my concern as it is his.”

“Mera. Don’t be stubborn. The danger is too great. Especially in your condition…” Vulko knew at once he had said too much.

Orin turned to his wife. “Your condition?!”

“So to exact my revenge on your city of fish-people I plan to leave it a smoldering ruin. That sounds fair doesn’t it?” Manta’s cold voice clicked as it trailed off, an effect of his rebreather.

Murmers and chatter circulated through the crowd of Atlanteans, the tension level remaining high.

“My sources have it that there is a United States military submarine scheduled to be passing near here moments from now. More than a coincidence I assure you. I plan to launch several missiles from my ship outside the gates of this city. Once the attack is executed, a retaliation will be swiftly traced and delivered on this location. You will have no means of defense. The explosions just moments ago have left you incapable of any type of response for some time. It should be quite a show. I only regret not being able to stay and watch.”

Black Manta spoke to his men through a communicator inside his mask. “Seize the Queen.”

Several men moved in directly behind Aquaman and grabbed Mera. “NO!!!” The King grabbed one and threw him off the balcony to slam into the ground dozens of feet below.

“I wouldn’t be so hasty!” Manta held a remote above his head. “Or your precious subjects will pay the price!”

Aquaman clenched his fists and turned. “Your going to try to kill us all anyway!”

The men moved Mera hastily down the back hallway.

“You’ll at least have a fighting chance this way. Correct?” His laughter was metallic and maligned. “King Arthur and his fabled city. I suppose that makes me the Black Knight. Enjoy this…” Manta waves his arm indignantly. “… fairy tale… while you can. I promise you, it won’t last much longer.” He touched the side of his helmet and made the order. “Launch the missiles!” He gave a more directed wave this time and pointed with two fingers to one side of the stadium. Manta’s men began to retreat and he moved toward an exit. Almost immediately afterward the Atlanteans began to evacuate the building.

Aquaman’s fury peaked and he screamed after Manta. “Wrong!!” He jumped up into a wide arc and landed with a roll on the ground. Black Manta spun as the King thrust forward into him. Aquaman stood and tried to pull his enemy up by his suit but could’t get a grip on him.

“High tension exoskeleton, heavy density polymers, artificial musculature, I should be on par with even your strength level, Arthur.” Black Manta jumped up into Aquaman with both fists forward, pushing both a number of feet off the ground. Aquaman caught his footing as he landed and rushed back into Manta with a powerful punch, landing the villain yards away.

“Deactivate the missiles!” He walked in on his opponent.

“Can’t do it. You're going to have to forget about me and get your people out if you want to save them.” Manta pushed himself backward on the ground trying to get to his feet.

“There isn’t enough time.”

“Then what are you going to do, Arthur?”

“Stop calling me that!” The Sea King broke into a quick run and punched Manta again.

“You’re running out of time.” The man coughed as he stood up once more.

Aquaman looked at the Black Manta with fire in his eyes. “Next time.” And then he broke into a run toward an exit.

The man sat quietly to one end of the room and scanned over his paperwork. He took a sip from his coffee and set it down, spilling a little to the side. He searched around for a napkin when the officer interrupted him.

“Sir, I think you’d better look at this.”

The Captain’s face grew stern as he raced over to the imaging screen. “What in Sam Hill?!”

“Missiles, sir. It looks like we are being attacked by an unknown aggressor.”

“Take evasive action. Get us out of the way now!”

“Yes sir. But…”

“What is it?”

“It’s appears that they are tracking us, sir.”

Mera made a move toward Black Manta but he quickly reminded her of the laser pistol in his free hand. He continued to squeeze the life out of the young hero when an small aureate spear pierced his arm.

“Aaaagck!” He dropped the boy and stepped backward. He looked up to a landing above the one he was on and saw a large man looming there.

“Leave the Queen be or you will lose your arm entirely!” He was a muscular bare-chested man with armor fixtures on his arms and legs. His jet black hair framed his face and complimented his goatee. “So speaks Orm, Chief of Guard of the city of Atlantis!”

Manta spit a silent curse and ran up the ramp and through the airlock into his ship. After scant seconds it disengaged and drifted out swiftly into the ocean.

Orm ran down the other side and hopped over and down to the landing with the fallen. He reached down to help the matriarch to her feet. “Mera, are you okay?”

“Yes. I’ll be fine. It could have been much worse. But what of this young warrior?” Together they walked to where Tula held Javen on the ground. Orm kneeled down and placed his hand on his neck. He looked at Mera and shook his head.

“If we could get medical attention for him right now it might be possible. But with Atlantis in disarray…”

“Gods no. Please Javen. No!” Tula’s tears broke loose and she lost control.

Mera closed her eyes against the scene and made a prayer to Neptune.

Orm stood again. “He was brave and strong. He can pass with honor.”

“Wait.” Garth said from behind them with a raspy voice. “I can do something.” He moved forward and sat beside Tula, who watched through distraught eyes.

Garth closed his eyes and held his hands out over Javen and quietly began to chant. “Saldurat teli glimarrath. Ramanna dulnit unquanne makkt. Saldurat teli ramanna dulnit makkt.” As he recited the words his purple eyes glowed for a brief moment and then he lowered his hands and looked at Tula.

“What did you do?” Her cheeks were wet with tears and her breathing heavy.

“A healing spell. He should be okay until he can be treated by a doctor.”

Tula gazed at him narrowly but knew she believed what he said. She reached out and touched his hand. “Thank you, Garth. Thank you so much.”

He only smiled in return.

Mera gave a look of great concern to Orm. “We can tell no one about this.”

“Understood, my Queen.”

Black Manta made his way down through the ancient markings and pillars, he moved his light from one side to the other and wondered if there was anything of value here in this forgotten underground temple. He swam quickly down and after reaching the end waded back up into a large room. He climbed from the water and approached a man sitting in shadows in a rock-carved throne on the far side of the open space.

“I have what you asked for.” Manta pitched a small bag over to the man. The darkened figure removed from it a gilded mask with fin-like features on the front and purple lenses covering the eyeholes.

“Good. Very good, Manta.” He reached up to place it on his head and stepped up from his seat into the dull light.

Manta drew back slightly from the large imposing frame before him. “It didn’t go as smoothly as we had planned, but we made out like bandits anyway. And that’s all that counts." He rubbed the plastic bandage over his wound. "What is that mask for? Why was it so important that you have it?”

“It is an ancient tradition. A badge of honor. It is the ceremonial mask of the contender of the throne of Atlantis.”

“Right. Well, good luck with that. If you don’t mind, I’m off to make myself a very rich man.”

The Ocean Master barely noticed Manta depart as he turned to a large piece of obsidian on the wall behind him to regard his new prize.

“It won’t be long now.” A voice came from a tunnel to the side of the man. “And it will all be yours again.”

“Don’t you mean ours, Mother.”

“Does it matter?” A beautiful woman stepped out and stood behind him as he stared at his dark reflection. “The best part is that he doesn’t even know how desperate his situation is yet. How outmaneuvered he will be at every turn. He is weak and undeserving.” Mergannys looked at her son with evil delight.

“He is a worthy opponent, but you are right. If Atlantis is to survive it will be by my fist alone. For the glory of the ancient city, Aquaman must die!”