DEATHBATTLES

Battle Stripes

"Pause playback." Batman leans forward in his seat as he zooms in on the image. He looks closely at the hand symbol, pointer pinky and thumb extended with ring and middle fingers curled. He notices the slight raise in the area around the young man's wrist as the stick white fluid is ejected solidifying partially in flight. "Resume 1/4th speed." The video continues showing the man clad in blue and red as he fired volleys of the "web fluid" at another Batman. The Batman on the screen is completely immobilized and suspended in the air, a moment later man in blue and red launches himself at Batman with a kick, the impact completely dismembering him. "Stop playback." Batman pushes himself away from the computer and places his hands in front of him.

"We have to find him," the voice comes from just behind Batman, "Dick didn't deserve to die like that, and who ever this spider guy is he needs to pay."

"We don't kill Robin, and Dick knew the risks when he agreed to take the job."

"I know we don't kill but father this was Dick he.."

"End of discussion. Now grab your gear, we still have a full night ahead of us."

"CPT Rogers, your objections to the circumstances of your mission have been taken under advisement but at the end of the day S.H.I.E.L.D. has loaned your services to CADMUS and you'd do well to uphold your end of the bargain." The woman in the dark blue suit pushes a small digital pad across the desk. Captain America lifts the pad and reviews the information as Waller explains. "There have already been six attacks on off shore oil rigs, with each attack he has grown bolder and his tactics more aggressive. If he's not stopped soon civilians will die."

"And your answer to the problem is to set up a trap where civilians will no doubt be in danger."

"It's a dry dock and all of the 'civilians' there are paid CADMUS employees, they will do their jobs much like you will do yours. Dismissed."

Captain America salutes Ms. Waller before leaving the office, grabbing his shield before heading out the door.

Later at the dock CADMUS employees work in teams pouring barrels of crude oil into the ocean. Just below the surface an unknown figure watches incensed at the sight before him. CPT Rogers waits in the loading bay of one of the nearby wear-houses going over the files on his possible opponent. He taps his ear to contact Waller. "Waller, it says here that some of them men thought this guy was talking to fish."

"Rogers focus on your mission, not the minutia of it."

"It's not some small detail. If this guys can talk to fish he might be more of a pro.." Before he can finish his sentence there is a large of eruption of water just off the dock.

"I do not talk to fish." The voice comes across cold and steely. The men who had been dumping oil up until now shift their focus as they draw their weapons. They fire a salvo of shots at the man wearing orange and green, holding a trident and rising from the ocean. The bullets glance off of his skin leaving no marks. The man looks at the two firing and waves his trident lightly causing a wave of water to rise up and sweep them away quickly. "I am King Arthur, Lord of all oceans."

Rogers leaps from his post in the wear-house and steps on to the dock to face King Arthur. "King or not you still have to pay for the innocent lives you've ruined with your actions."

"My actions are in the defense of all sea life, and if your surface dwelling masters would have you do something so vile to draw me out then truly you shall have my ire."

With that King Arthur raises his trident causing a large tidal wave to gather behind him, recognizing the threat Cap tosses his shield striking his hand and knocking his trident away. The trident flips from his hand landing in the murky waters as the shield ricochets back into the wear-house. Arthur frowns as he leaps from atop the water tackling Cap. After pinning him to the ground he lifts his fists preparing to smash him, but Cap head-butts causing him to tumble backwards. Cap leaps to his feet and heads back in to the wear-house to find his shield as Arthur regains his footing. "Not today land dweller." Arthur rushes forward with a kick sending Cap flying through a stack of boxes housing confiscated weapons. As he pulls himself free of the debris he reaches over and finds a submachine gun and takes aim at Arthur. Arthur moves with surprising speed to close the distance ripping the gun from his hands and snapping it in two. Arthur gives a smug grin as Cap scrambles away. The sound of a small beeping noise catches Arthur's ear as he notices the reason for Cap's haste retreat. He sees the small row of mines all activated just at his feet and catches sight of Cap grabbing hold of his shield and huddling behind it. The mines go off causing a massive explosion sending Arthur flying out of the building and back into the ocean.

Cap begins to free himself from the building wreckage, "Waller, I hope you like your fish well done because I won't be able to bring this one in fresh."

"Cut the banter Rogers, collect the package and return to CADMUS."

"Understood." Cap moves back to the ocean preparing to drag out the body of King Arthur. As he peers in to the deep he sees the golden trident come rising quickly. He pulls his head back in time to dodge the strike as Arthur surges forth from the waters.

"You truly think your pitiful weapons could best the might of Atlantis?!" As he flies through the air he lifts his trident above his head ready to strike. Cap lifts his shield blocking the blow, then he drops it and tries to bash Arthur to the left. Arthur blocks the shield as Cap leaps and punches the shield with is right hand effectively knocking Arthur away. "You are strong but it matters not, for the sea is stronger." Arthur stabs his trident into the ground sending out a wave that crashes into Cap's shield sending him slamming into a crane. As the crane falls large portions of it head for Arthur, he looks up and slices the larger pieces causing them to scatter about him. Cap struggles to get to his feet stumbling a few times. "You have fought well, I will be sure to give you a warriors burial at sea." Arthur lifts his trident and hurls it at Cap with all his might. Cap lifts his shield and blocks the trident sending it straight up, then flings his shield at Arthur. Arthur catch the shield with both hands and strains a bit as he puts pressure on both ends causing it to break in the center, then tossing the broken pieces to either side of him. Arthur dashes over to Cap and clotheslines him putting him flat on his back. As he stands over Cap's broke body he says coldly, "For Atlantis!" Arthur turns his back as his trident comes falling from above and lands in Cap's chest ending him. Arthur walks back to the ocean where a ship rises up and waits for him as a wave lifts Cap's body and slowly lowers it into the ocean.