Chapter 7:
The Enemy Below Part 1

During a terrible storm a submarine was doing a test run to make sure that everything was working up to code. “Sir. Unidentified craft approaching. Bearing 0-1-0.” The man at the sonar said to his higher up who was looking over his shoulder to see if he was telling the truth.

“At this depth?” The leader questioned before going to another member of his crew for verification. “Establish radio contact.” He ordered to the female hailer in a calm tone. As she did that the object was now on the radar, and the sonar user was getting a bad feeling about this.

“I’ve tried all frequencies. No response.” She answered back after pressing all six buttons with zero success.

“Whatever it is it’s big and closing fast.” The sonar user warned before looking at the blunt image on his screen.

“Evasive maneuvers.” Their leader said since he did not want this unknown object to get the drop on them. “Planes down twenty degrees.” He ordered to the ones steering the metal coffin. They pushed down causing the sub to flow into an underwater chasm.

“Still closing sir.” The detector said aloud as the image was almost right on top of them. “It’s going to--.” His warning was interrupted and moot. After their jostle the commander of the vessel still remained calm despite the lights going out and they were only left with the red warning lights.

“Damage report?” He questioned to all, but one was able to give him some information.

“Starboard rudder’s out.” The female warned to him, and the scanner still gave him bad news.

“Sir, the hostel craft is turning. It’s making another run.” The sonar user warned with concern. Relying on his wits their leader decided to ready their defenses.

“Prepare torpedo tubes.” He said to their communication device, but was warned by the scanner again.

“There’s no time.” He warned as the enemy craft was right on top of them again. This time it cut their sub almost completely in two.

“This is USS Defiant. We’re under attack and have sustained heavy damage. We are going down. Repeat we are going down.” The hailer said using all frequencies.
“The surface dweller’s ship has been disabled.” A soldier on the enemy vessel said as he watched with joy as the American made device was sinking like a stone.

“Good. Let it sink.” Their leader said and their leader wore green/gold armor and had a short blonde beard. Thankfully the distress call did get reached and a few members of the Justice League were on their way.

“USS Defiant this is the Justice League responding. Help is on the way.” Green Lantern said to the ship in danger. He flew them straight into the water. Once they were under the tides Spider-Man became quiet.

‘I was hopeing that this place didn’t have an Atlantis.’ Parker thought as he sat there watching the ocean landscape, and recalling the havoc that was going on in that city. ‘The one terrain I can’ handle very good.’ He thought before paying attention to what Wonder Woman had to say.

“I’ve locked onto their distress beacon. We’re getting close.” She said to them, and then the web-spinner saw the ‘S’ walk up to them and give them some bad news.

“We’re not the only ones.” He informed to two drivers while pointing to a very large ship before them. “We’ve got company.” He informed while heading back to his seat since he knew that there was going to be some turbulance.

“Not for long.” John said as he evaded two shells from a tri-cannon. He easily sped past the grand machine, and evaded more shells. ‘That’ll do.’ He thought while going into a chasm, and used some arched rocks to stop them. “Lost `em.” He said with a smile as he was looking behind, but when he turned around there were two more ready for them.

“You were saying.” Superman said to the driver who ignored him, and concentrated on evasion tactics. The boy in blue knew that this was not doing anyone any good. “Those sailors won’t have a prayer if we keep playing cat and mouse. Come on.” He informed them while putting on an emergeny oxygen mask.

‘I bit low-tech, but it beats peeing out nano-bots after your mission.’ Spider thought as he took a mask and followed the alien’s lead. Without a pilot the machine crashed with only one shell.

‘He wants this over fast. I can do that.’ Green Lantern thought as he shot a through one of the ships and cut it in half as he watched the invulnerable one smash a tri-cannon with one punch.

“Push.” He ordered to the Amazon as she stood on top of the ship GL cut in half. With that order given the two pushed the outer sides of the machines toward one another. The ring bearer cut the nose of both ships off causing an explosion as they fled.
“Halt.” An enemy said to them causing the four to just float in place. “You have violated the sovereign boarders of Atlantis. Leave at once or you will be destroyed.” The blonde bearded man said to them while pointing a trident at them.

‘Yep, just like how Namor would do things.’ Peter thought before listening to the Kryptonian.

“We apologize to the intrution we were just responding to a call for help.” Superman said to the man he helped several years ago while gesturing over to the down sub.

“They should have stayed on the surface where they belong.” The crowned man said to them.

“Please, the men on board. They’ll drown.” The female of their party said to him; trying to appease to his humanity.

“Take the crew, but the vessel stays.” The leader of the underwater people said to them. Soon Spider and Super were pushed aside as the one in green/black did not seem to like that idea.

“No way. That’s a nuclear sub. If you think we’re just going to walk away and leave it.” John said to the leader of the army before them.

“What makes you think you have a choice?” The ruler said back to the hero. That alone caused the warrior to become a little ticked off, but he was stopped by the land hero’s hand.

“Not now, John-boy. First comes them, then we can deal with the ruler of the land.” He said to the League member - praying that he could still be talked to. With that said Wonder Woman and Superman helped John out with retrieval while Spider-Man concentrated on getting their ride off the sea floor.

“That’s the last one.” The founder said to his friend while placing the human in the large bubble. The armored man saw this and decided to show the heroes of the surface that he wasn’t all bad.

“Escort them to the surface.” He said and received a cross-arm bow before the person he was speaking to drove his cycle to the surface of the ocean. Green Lantern carried the people, Wonder Woman and Spider-Man drove their aircraft, and Superman was about to follow, but he decided to clarify something with this king.

“You know, all of this could have been avoided.” The ‘S’ said to the sea based man.

“How?” The other questioned, wondering how what he said been true.

“Come and air your grevinces at the World Assembly. Negotiate for peace.” The peaceful hero offered to the other even though he hadn’t done his part of stopping pollution as he said he was going to.

“You’d have me crawl to them like some begger?” He questioned to the high flying hero. The alien knew that he was not going to like what he said, but he had to try one last thing.

“No, stand before them like a king.” He said back before flying with their ship. As they left the ruler of the land was actually considering such an option. In the city, in the palace one of his soldiers wanted to voice his opinion.

“I say the surface dwellers are barbarians. They sail their weapons across our seas, and pollute our oceans with their garbage. There is only one way of ensuring Atlantis’ safety, and my troops are prepared to take action.” The solider said to his ruler. The man he was speaking to knew of the pollution since he used that angle on Superman, but the last part intrigued him.

“What sort of action?” He questioned to the man before him since he wanted to see if it was the right call.

“We have the technology to wipe them off the face of the Earth. Just give the order.” The soldier said to him while being bold to walk forward knowing his left punch would send him out of the palace with one swing.

“General Brakk, I decide policy - not you.” The blonde haired man said to the soldier as he was tempted to get to his feet, but resisted the urge.

“But how much longer must we endure affronts. Surly you realize that now is the perfect time.” Brakk said to his boss while stepping on the first step to the throne.

“Hold your tongue, Brakk, your king has spoken.” A brown haired man said as he stood between the soldier and the king.

“Forgive me, Lord Orm.” Brakk said to him with a bow. This caused a thought to enter the ruler’s mind, but he dismissed it. The king turned to his queen who was holding their son, and he decided to have some personal family time.

“General Brakk, I will consider your council, but this is a serious matter. I must give it more thought.” He said before standing and walking off. The two bowed as he walked away, and with that Brakk parted from the throne room.

‘I need to push my plans.’ Orm thought as he watched his brother walk away.
“He has quite a grip.” The king said as he held his son, who was holding a tuft of his long hair in his hand.

“Takes after his father.” The red head said to him as she was watching the sight. The duo both watched as their child yawned a tired yawn and went to sleep. The king wrapped his son back in the red cloth before setting him in the crib.

“Look at him. So peaceful, so innocent.” He said with his hand on the railing of the crib before bringing up what Superman said to him. “Mira, what kind of future am I making for our son?” He questioned to her since there was a part of him that did not want others to fear the child as he matures.

“Whatever you decide I’m sure that it’ll be the right choice.” She said to him after he took a few steps away from the crib.

“Will it?” He questioned back to her with his hands to either side of her face. She took her hands into his and explained something very basic to him.

“Your hands are strong and noble. I will gladly place my faith in them.” She said and ended it with a kiss since she knew that that was one way of making him more understanding about what she is trying to say.

‘Maybe I should give Superman’s advice a shot. I think I know just the terms for them.’ He thought as he went back to looking over his son. Orbiting in space some of the League were talking about went down under the sea.

“I understands your concerns Admiral, but lives were at stake. There was nothing else we could do.” Superman said as he spoke to the man they let down on a cell phone. As he was doing that GL was telling the others that he agreed with the Admiral.

“The Admiral’s right. We never should have left the sub down there. Now it‘s in the hands of that madman.” Stewart tossed to the Amazon and the Martian.

“Aquaman is no madman. He’s a king. He only wants to preserve and protect his own kind.” The female powerhouse said back to him - defending a representative of a hidden civilization: similar to her Themyscara.

“So, who’s going to protect us from him.” The officer said as he stormed off. The slinger heard the discussion, since he was hanging upside down from one of the stations, but he was on the fence since Namor wasn’t all that bad of a guy. Without a warning GL went solo; effortlessly hiding from sight until he reached the submarine. ‘I knew it. He thought as he saw that the whole place was cleaned out.

“Whoa.” A surfer said as he stopped to see a man walking out of the sea to dry land without any kind of aqua gear on his person. “Hey, where’d that dude come from?” The surfer questioned and saw that his friend were just as clueless as he was.

‘Never thought I’d be back here.’ The king thought before leaving the beach, and walking down the sidewalk. He shoved his way past a couple of civlians so he could cross the street.

“Hey, watch it.” One of the civilians shouted out to the man, but was easily ignored. Everyone watched as three motorists stopped for him, but the third one decided to say something.

“Hey, out of the way, meat-head.” The motorist of a blue car said. Aquaman heard him, but instead of being completely mad he settled on bashing the engiene in with a single punch. An officer, who was waiting in line saw this and decided to intervene.

“Not so fast, buddy.” The officer said to the blonde haired man after catching up with him. “Where do you think you’re going?” He questioned, and it was then the ocean based man knew that a law enforcer would know where the building Superman spoke of would be.

“Where is the World Assembly?” He questioned after raising the human off his feet. Once the information was given he dropped the officer, and continued on his way. Back at the Watchtower John was furious over what he had discovered.

“I knew we couldn’t trust that fish man. The sub’s been stripped and the Plutonium is gone.” Green Lantern said to the two he was speaking with earlier.

“And you think Aquaman’s responsible.” The female fighter questioned back even though she he that is what he was getting at.

“Who else princess? We need to go to Atlantis and get some straight answers.” John said to the two of them. He was about to head down to the Javelin, but was stopped by their founder.

“If it’s Aquaman you want? He’s not in Atlantis.” Superman said as a screen appeared before them with a news bulletin.

“According to eyewitness accounts Aquaman then forced his way past the guards into a closed session of the World Assembly, but as to why he’s here or what he wants we’ll have to wait for further developments.” Snapper Carr said on his report before the cameraman closed down the feed. As they wre all getting ready to go the ruler of that realm wasn’t making many friends.

“Order, order, please.” The mediator said to the people shouting at the man beside him.

“First you sink a nuclear submarine, and then you threaten us to make peace. Who gave you the rite.” A man in the first row questioned the super human.

“I am the born ruler of Atlantis.” The blonde man said bluntly.

“A country we do not even recognize.” The first row man said with his hands to his waist.

“These are my final terms. Refuse them at your own risk.” The king said to them as he completely ignored the human’s comment.

“But your demands are outrageous. They will totally comprimise our entire world defense and economy.” The mediator said to him; wanting him to see the flaw in his plan.

“Your problem. Not mine.” He said back in a cold tone. There was more arguing from the humans he was about to show them what it was like to get in his way until a new/familiar voice shouted out.

“Aquaman.” Superman shouted out as he flew threw the doors. J’onn, Green Lantern, and Wonder Woman flew in after him while Spider-Man swung in, but they all landed beside the ruler.

“I offered them a chance for peace, and this is their answer.” Aquaman said to the one who gave him the idea. The alien tried to talk him into sticking around to see how it goes.

“Please, these things take time.” Superman offered to the king, but was ignored with:

“I’ve wasted too much time already.” He said and walked away, but was stopped by Wonder Woman.

‘Who knows? Maybe this guy has the same weakness as Namor.’ Spider thought as he saw this interaction.

“Wait.” She called out to him, and stood in his way. His answer to that was simply pushing her to the side.

‘So much for that similarity.’ The web-spinner thought as he caught her from falling.

“A real prince charming.” Stewart commented, but the group followed him just the same. Outside of the building the media was ready to swarm the first one to come out.

“Here he comes.” Snapper said to the cameraman before he and three others came over to the ruler.

“Aquaman….” One said but was interrupted.

“What happened in there.” A female reporter questioned.

“Where’s the submarine?” Another one asked.

“Will there be further negotiation?” Another one questioned.

“Move aside.” He said to the reporters and pushed his way past them and headed over to the street. They watched him walk off, but so did one another and as soon as the ruler was in the right spot he fired a mini-rocket at the man.

“No.” Superman said as he saw the fallen warrior, and ran to his side. As the others came up with what to do Snapper broadcasted all that he could to all points.

“And following the explosion members of the Justice League rushed Aquaman to Metropolis Medical Center.” Snapper said to the audience before adding, “There are still no official reports of his condition, but his injuries possibly fatal.” Some that were watching this were four Atlantis soldiers while standing in the war room.

“We cannot allow this treacherous act to go unpunished.” Orm said to them as he was now wearing his brother’s green/gold armor. This surprised the others, and one of them had to say something.

“With all due respect Lord Orm. You’re in no position to give that order.” One of the general’s said and even though he saw the brother to their ruler walking forward he continued, “The king--.” He was cut off by the man he was speaking to.

“The king may be dead, and the prince is still an infant.” Orm said to the general.

“But even so the law of succession must be respected.” The general said back since he was raised to obey and respect all rules and regulation of their city.

“The prince will take control once he comes of age. But in the mean time this outrage must be avenged.” Orm said to the general that needed to learn his place. Soon the room was welcomed by a new voice.

“Orm, did you hear?” The queen questioned as she stood in the doorway of the war room. He walked over to his ’soon to be wife’ to see what was the matter.

“Oh, my poor Mira.” He said with a one arm hug. “All of Atlantis mourns your loss.” He said to her which that was one thing she did not need to hear.

“You speak as if he’ll never come back?” She questioned to the brother of her lover after putting some distance between one another.

“I pray he will.” He said while looking away and thought, ’If that mercenary wishes to live he better have done the job right’. “But who knows what the surface dwellers will do to him.” Orm said back to her - try to convince her to move away from his brother and closer to him.

‘Could he be right?’ She questioned to herself not knowing that the complete opposite is what’s happening on the surface of this planet. In the medical center doctors and nurses were trying to breath life into the king.

“We got a line it yet? I need it stat.” The doctor questioned after putting a breathing mask on the undersea warrior.

“Negative. His skin is tougher than a rhinos.” His partner said while lifting up the twentieth bent needle to show that she was telling the truth.

“His vitals are falling.” The doctor said as he saw the machines gave him unpleasant results. “This is hopeless.” He said before taking off his gloves and decided to give the League a progress report.

“How bad is it?” The raven haired woman questioned as she and the others waited in the room next to him.

“Hard to tell.” The doctor said while removing the mask and placed his hand on his chin. “His physiology is not like ours. It’s unlike anything I’ve ever seen.” He said to them with a disappointed look in his eye.

“But can you help him.” Superman questioned to the doctor, but was able to hold his anger this time.

“I don’t know.” The doc said to them.

“Then maybe I can.” Batman said as he walked in from the shadows. He only had to look at them and they knew he wanted them to follow him, so after putting him on a gurney they wheeled him to a new room.

“His vitals - they’re stabilizing.” The doctor said after he put monitors on Aquaman’s chest and Superman put him in a tube filled with water. To help even more the dark knight walked over to the man in charge of the building and gave him a clipboard of information.

“Maintain saline at 3.5 percent.” He said to the doc who looked at the information with wonder.
“But how could you possibly guess that?” The medical man questioned.

“He’s a fish out of water, doctor. Salt water.” Batman answered him before he and the others looked at the king. Thanks to one of the workers in no time at all the entrance to the building was swamped by media personnel.

“He’s coming around.” Superman said as he and the others stayed in the room for his safety. Green Lantern, who was watching the gathering down below heard this and walked over to the others. Spider-Man left the bed he was lying on and leapt to the others.

“Good. Maybe now we can get some answeres. What did you do with the Plutonium?” He said to the others and questioned the king while banging on his container which of course woke him up.

“Plutonium?” He questioned back after swimming to the top, but before jumping out of his bed.

“From the submarine. You stole it.” John said to him without a second thought.

“My orders were to leave that vessel where it lay.” The king countered calmly to the human before him.

“And you expect us to believe that?” The law enforcer questioned whilee getting in the man’s face for an instant, but quickly stepped back.

“Believe what you want. Someone tried to kill me, and I need to find out who.” He said to the League member before walking away - to the window, but was stopped by another human.

“Wait, I can help, but your going to have to trust me.” Batman said to the ruler who glanced at him, and for a moment Aquaman felt a twinge of fear. Once night fell the Justice League decided to put his plan into action.

“Here at Metropolis Medical Center we’ve just gotten word that Aquaman is about to be moved. Hospital sources say to an unnamed marine research facility for further treatment.” Snapper said to those that were listening to his broadcast. On two different buildings stood four League members - watching the whole thing.

“I hope this plan of your works, Batman?” Wonder Woman said through her com link as she and Spider-Man stood by.

“Just keep your eyes open.” He said back to her, and the web-head was about to speak, but was cut off by Superman.

“Here he comes.” The hero of the planet said, and the front doors opened with the king being wheeled out. There was some commosion from the media, but as that was going on the asailant came out of the sewer, and positioned himself on the other side of a mailbox.

“Guys, the mailbox bomber.” Spider-Man said before his female companion could warn the others.

“I see him.” The knight said back and threw a bat-arang at the tip of the weapon causing the ammo to hit the ground and explode. There were people shouting over what had happened, and as they were commenting the four Leauge members arrived on the scene.

‘Not a very good hiding spot.’ Superman thought as he followed the man by air, and saw him put a man hole cover back on after he closed it. Sadly as soon as the man of steel grabbed it with his hands a powerful surge of electrical energy surged through him. ‘That tickled.’ He thought before falling into black.

“Are you okay?” Batman questioned the king. It was then the media saw him shape-shift into the Martian. Down in the sewer the mercenary dumped his disgues, got onto a cycle and got ready to roll not knowing that he was about to have a guest.

“Diana, he’s heading toward you.” The Martian informed after phasing through the ground by the cover, and then again when the man charged at him. The princess heard it and preformed a ground pound, but despite the road following him the asailant survived.

“End of the road.” She said to him after opening a small sewer grate, and jumping through it - causing her to be in front of the red/silver man.

“I’ll take a detour.” He said to her before firing a wrist missile which caused a small chunk of the road to fall on her.

‘I’m going to hurt him.’ She thought after digging herself out. Back at the Medical Center the real Aquaman was getting annoyed.

“What’s taking so long? I must return to Atlantis.” The king said to the surface soldier.

“Sit tight, your highness. We’ll tell you when it’s safe to go.” John said back to him, and saw that the man seemed to have accepted that, but before he could react the fish fighter punched him with a grand left hook.

“You presume too much.” The king said to the out cold soldier before walking over him and through the door. Back in the sewer the attacker ran into another roadblock in the form of road spikes left by Batman.
“Don’t move.” The hero ordered to the marksman who answered back with a smoke bomb. ‘He seriously thought that would get me.’ The warrior thought after walking through it and saw that it left a trail.

‘Need to get out of here. That won’t keep him forever.’ The marksman thought as he got into his vehicle, which was parked over a man hole, and drove off.

‘Punisher, you’re not.’ Spider-Man thought even though the cloaked one told him what ride it was the web-slinger could still see the hired gun enter the machine; something Frank ever did. He drove off, but he had the arachnid and the Kryptonian after him.

‘Damn, maybe I can outrun him.’ The thug thought as he saw the cape but not the web through his side mirror. He leveled the accelorator only to have a new hood ornament land right in front of him.

“You need to pull over and calm down.” The masked man said to the driver who was about to fire his wrist weapon only to his windshield punched into and his body cocooned in webs. “Now where was I.” He said and went about to puching the hood.

‘I can stop him faster.’ Superman thought while using heat vision on one of the tires. As it slid on it’s side Spider-Man took the initiative and tore the engien out of the machine.

“That’s one way to save up on gas.” He said before leaping off of the down machine. As the web-spinner placed the motor on the sidewalk Superman grabbed the gunner.

“Okay, okay, I give up.” The man said to the strong man even though he knew that they all could see that.

“You tried to kill Aquaman, why?” The kind hearted hero questioned to the man in his right hand.

“Gee, why would a hired gun shoot somebody? Could it be that someone paid me to.” The thug said back in a sarcastic tone. Right when Superman was going to let off some steam a voice questioned to the marksman.

“Who?” Wonder Woman questioned after she and the other two arrived at their position.

“Oh, come on babe, you know I can’t tell you that. Professional ethics.” The gunman said to her while staring at the double W before adding, “But then again if you make it worth my while.” This got her mad, and before she could pound the only lead they had the third hero stepped in.

“I’ll take it from here.” Batman said after getting a hold of both of the shoulders. Knowing that his opposite had this covered Superman released his grip, and they all watched him walk.

“You can’t scare me, Batman.” The marksman said once they got some distance from the others. The man pulled the thug in close and said to him:

“Let me give you one word of advice.” He said to the masked man in his hands. All but one could not make out what their friend said to the hired gun.

“Okay, I’ll tell. I’ll tell.” He said to the detective. Since they all knew that Superman heard the comment the Amazon decided to question him about it.

“What did he say?” She asked the intergalactic powerhouse.

“You don’t wanna know.” The alien answered her before seeing the two of them walk back. When he got there the gun was disappointed that his fantasy will go unfulfilled.

“Who hired you?” The knight questioned the asailant.

“I don’t know. I don’t ask questions.” He said back; wanting to show that he had some backbone to the man even though he was sweating bullets under his mask.

“Not good enough. How were you paid?” Batman questioned while walking up to him.

“In gold. See?” The thug said back to them and jestured to the hatch of the truck which jarred open when his vehicle slid. Spider-Man leapt over to the scene, picked up a coin and tossed it to the cloaked man.

“Spanish doubloons.” He said after glancing at the offered coin. This confused them since they knew that Spain no longer used that year of coin anymore.

“Where would someone get coins like this?” Diana questioned since someone else may use them; not just the source country.

“Atlantis.” The Martain said to them since it seemed to be the most logical answer.

“We’ve got to warn Aquaman.” Superman said to the others and prayed that the aquatic one would still be at the hospital, but his answer came to him in the form of a Lantern.

“Too late. That royal pain in the neck is already gone. I couldn‘t stop him.” John said to them after following the fire from the getaway vehicle and heard the last piece of the conversation.

“Hera, help him.” The Amazon said to one of her island protectors. Back in Atlantis Aquaman saw that his city was gearing up for war, but he knew what one place would have the answers that he seeked.

“My friends, now is the time for action. Now is the time for Mighty Atlantis to rise up and strike terror into the hearts of it’s enemies. Are you with me?” Orm said to the generals and then questioned, and as he predicted they cheered for his plan to work.

“ORM!” Aquaman shouted after pushing the doors wide open. “What treason is this?” He questioned/demanded to his brother after seeing the look of shock on his generals faces.

“No treason, brother, I thought you were--.” The brother started to say but was interrupted by the rightful ruler.

“Dead?! That’s no reason to plunge Atlantis into a foolhardy war. I left specific orders.” Aquaman said to his brother, and was about to say what they were, but was interrupted by the one on his throne.

“I’m only doing what you never had the courage to do.” The bitter brother said to his successor.

“Enough! I’ll hear no more. Arrest the traitor.” The king said as he pointed at his brother, but not a single general moved from their positions.

“You heard him.” Orm said causing four spears to be pointed at their king.

“What?!” He demanded to his brother for an explanation.

“You are the traitor. You abandoned your people. Sold them out to the surface-dwellers. Look around you brother - I’m in charge now.” Orm explained with an evil smile.

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Justice League, and the others, are owned by DC