Chapter 11
A/N: Hey everyone. Welcome back! Glad to be writing again! Anyways, hope y'all liked twilighnite13's OC Kaiser, and don't worry, ya'll will see more of him soon. Anyways, I just own my OCs, nothing else is mine.
/comms/
Telepathy/flashbacks
Mt. Justice, August 26, 21:08EDT
/Attention Team/
All heads turned as the teens saw the Dark Knight and Boy Wonder, covered in mud. "Geez," Skylar whistled, "What happened to you guys?"
Batman didn't answer as he proceeded to give orders, /Take a Zeta Tube to Gotham City immediately and rendezvous with Robin at these coordinates/
"What's the mission?" Aqualad inquired.
"Shouldn't we wait for Artemis?" Aurora spoke up.
/Don't wait/ Batman responded, /There's a creature loose in the city/
"If it's your city, why are we hunting it?" Superboy grumbled crossing his arms.
/Because we got owned/ Robin deadpanned.
/You are not to hunt it or engage/ Batman corrected, /You are to track it until I return with a solution/
-.-
Gotham City: August 27, 04:49EDT
"Aqualad, are you linked?" M'gann asked.
"Huh? Oh, yes Miss Martian," he answered, "your psychic link is functioning perfectly."
"That's a relief. We couldn't hear you, it was like your every thought was a million miles away."
Aqualad didn't answer, only glancing behind back at them for a moment before continuing to lead the way through the maze of sewer tunnels.
"We've been walking for hours," Remix groaned dragging a hand down her face tiredly. "We don't even know where this thing is."
"Nightmare, can you smell anything?" Kid Flash asked.
The other teen raised a brow, "What kind of question is that? We're in a sewer of course I can smell things, just don't expect me to track anything."
A strange rumble echoed through the tunnel causing them all to look between each other in confusion. The sewer water exploded, and muddy claws grabbed them and sent them slamming into the grime covered walls.
It didn't take them long to recover. Aqualad pulled out a water-bearer, a glowing blue blade forming. Swinging down, his blade slashed through the hand holding him allowing him to drop into the water. Landing on his feet he raced over and swung again freeing Superboy as he struggled to free himself from the clay. An explosion rocked the monster as Robin jammed one of his explosives into its arm, launching the small boy across the sewer while M'gann used her telekinesis to free herself and Aurora.
The monster roared as they all felt a wave of heat and electricity and one of the clay arms hardened and burst apart in a hail of shrapnel as Remix and Nightmare broke free. It sank back into the sewer water under their feet, causing them all to look around quickly trying to figure out where it went.
"That was unpleasant," M'gann muttered. "It was like tangling with a rabid ma'alefa'ak on Mars.
"Unpleasant sure," Wally said sitting up and wiping mud out his hair, "But it was kinda easy. That thing was a pushover. What the heck was Batman worried about?"
His question was answered as something slammed into their backs knocking them into the sewer walls.
"You were saying?" Nightmare groaned.
Batman to Team. Report status. Have you encountered the creature?
"Unfortunately," Remix grumbled.
"Yes," Aqualad answered. "Though our encounter was far from successful."
Tell me everything that occurred. I want details
"Ask Batman where Artemis is?" Wally growled. "How come she gets to skip this super fun party?"
-.-
5:53EDT
""Man, I really need a shower," Wally groaned as he stepped out of the Bioship's changing room. "I mean, what's the point of putting on a clean costume when I'm not fresh."
"At least you have a clean costume," Superboy deadpanned as he tried to shake the clay off his arm.
"Yeah, an old costume," the speedster complained. "No stealth mode! It stinks!"
"Actually I think the stink is you, freshness," Robin quipped. "But what about the creature? Batman wanted us to track it. Nightmare, now that we fought it, think you can track the scent?"
All heads turned hopefully as the boy's tail twitched. "I don't know. It's still hard to get a distinct scent. Not to mention, with all of us being in the sewer we all smell the same."
"But why settle for just tracking it?!" Kid Flash protested. "Ok, sure, it got the drop on us the first time. But now we know it's tricks!"
"Yeah!" Remix agreed punching her palm with a feral grin. "We split up, track the bastard down! Whoever finds old clayface radios the team."
"And we converge as kick his ass," Superboy agreed.
"I thought we weren't supposed to engage?" Amber spoke up.
"It'll be fine," Wally waved her off. "We know it's tricks. And human torch here," he motioned to Skylar, "can easily dry the big guy out."
"Aqualad, what do you think?" M'gann asked.
"What?" the Atlantean startled. "Oh, yes. It seems we have a plan."
"See, that settles it."
The Bioship descended in front of the warehouse they tracked the creature to, and the ramp descended as they all prepared to split up. "This is going to end horribly," Nightmare muttered as they walked inside.
"You said it," Amber agreed."
-.-
Superboy walked through the towers of crates looking around warily. Making a turn, his brows furrowed as he saw something smeared on the ground. He quickly jogged over to it, kneeling down and wiping it with his fingers. A dark muddy material came up off the ground. "Clay," he muttered.
Cracking his knuckles he stood up seeing the trail of mud going deeper into the maze. It wasn't long before he reached the end of the trail, but who he found there wasn't who he expected.
Instead of the monster, Aurora was standing with her back turned to him. Her long wings were drooping and she even seemed to her normal glow too. "Aurora?" he asked stepping closer as she didn't respond. "Amber? What's wrong?" He set his hand on her shoulder only for his eyes to widen as clay covered his fingers. Blue eyes snapped up and he was greeted by the monster's grotesque face.
"SUCKER!" it taunted grabbing his head and ramming the clone's head into its chest clay wrapping around and engulfing him.
-.-
"Miss Martian flew down one of the aisles looking around. "Over here," a voice called from behind her. Coming to a stop, she turned around and flew over into another aisle where Superboy stood. "Bad news gorgeous. He caught me off guard and got away."
The Martian blushed. "You…you think I'm gorgeous?"
"Well sure," he smirked, "who wouldn't?" She didn't expect to have a clay battering ram slam into her the moment he stretched out his arm.
-.-
Aurora landed on one of the crates looking around. Something was wrong. Closing her eyes, she tried to reach out and sense the others, trying to figure what was wrong. She hissed through her teeth as all she was pain, rage, and a bitter sense of betrayal. Sometimes she really hated being able to feel others' emotions.
Movement from below caught her eye and she watched her brother walk around below her. "Superboy."
He jumped, looking up at her. "Oh, hey hot stuff."
That made her brows furrow. She may've not known much about human culture, but she knew flirting with a sibling wasn't normal. "You're not my brother," she growled forming orbs in her hands.
His brows rose as a monstrous grin, "Well I tried."
-.-
"Hey Green Cheeks," Wally greeted as he stumbled across M'gann. "Any luck?"
"No," she pouted.
"Hey, I'm sure we'll find the bad guy," he reassured.
"Thanks," she said turned to him and kissing his cheek and hugging him.
"Babe, I knew you'd come around," he grinned leaning into a kiss.
-.-
"Whichever one of you can say my middle name is the real Kid Flash," Robin said looking between the two Kid Flashes on either side of him.
"That's easy," one said.
"Yeah," the other one smirked, "For me!"
The Boy Wonder's eyes as both began to deform. "Chump!"
"Sap!"
-.-
Onyx crawled between the crates, trying to sniff the air and hopefully find a scent. He didn't like not being able to find his prey. Tail lashing, he wrinkled his nose as all he got was the stench of sewer mud. Yeah, no way his sense of smell was going to work until they all got a good wash.
Giving a huff, he continued to creep forwards poking his head out of the crates to see if he could find "clayface" as everyone decided to start calling him.
"Hey!" Looking down, he saw Skylar standing on the ground. He furrowed his brows, what was she doing down there? "You gonna come down here?"
"What's keeping you from flying to me?" he retorted playfully. "You're the one with wings."
"You're no fun Night," she sighed flapping her wings and grabbing onto one of the bars and perching on it. "Find anything?"
"No, you?"
"Nope."
"He's gotta be in here somewhere," she sighed.
"Any sign of Clayface?" Aqualad called up to them.
"Clayface?" Robin chimed in coming around the corner, "Uh, no, not here."
Aqualad scowled, turning around, "Any word from the others?"
Robin's arm began to turn into a club causing the eyes of the on the shelves to widen. "Aqualad!"
The Team leader whirled on his heel at their warning, get hit in the face and slammed through one of the crate piles. On the other side they could see M'gann lying unconscious on the ground as the others fought a larger monster.
The one that just attacked Aqualad laughed, merging into the big one, only making it grow bigger.
Kid Flash ran forwards, and attempted to punch the mud pile, when the clay wrapped around his leg, slamming face-first into the ground before tossing him into one of the many crates in the storehouse.
Superboy charged and leapt onto their opponent, but instead of falling to the ground as expected, the clay slowly surrounded him and dragged him inside. Looking at each other, Robin and Nightmare charged, pulling out his lasso he tossed it and prayed that for once that his training with Wonder Woman was paying off. Seemed God was listening because his lasso wrapped around the bottom of Suberboy's boot. He came to a stop before yanking with all the strength on the rope, pulling his teammate out of the mud.
"How is he?" Robin asked running over.
"I'm—" the clone began.
"Watch out!" Nightmare warned jumping over the clay wall as it swung by, slamming Robin and Superboy into the crates, knocking both out cold.
Clayface turned and looked at both him and Aqualad, only to cry out as flames hit him. Cracks began to spread across the drying creature, causing it to give another angry cry before swinging its arm. Remix folded her wings and heated them. The feathers interlocked by armor and she grunted as she felt the clay hit her and sent her sliding back.
Taking his chance, Nightmare charged forwards, he rolled under a swing and used his claws, to slice through his hand and sever it from the body. Clayface only laughed as the limb regrew. He raised his fist and swung it down and Nightmare flipped out of the way. A flash of light came from above and Amber continued to throw blasts at it, trying to blind it long enough to give her teammates a fighting chance.
She didn't expect it to split into two separate parts. One went after them as the other chased Kaldur throwing the Atlantean into a wall and knocking him unconscious. And the other half returned to rejoin it's comrade.
"This can't get any worse," Nightmare muttered.
The glass above them broke and Batman came through, throwing batarangs at their opponent. Landing on the ground, he backflipped out of the way of a punch and he pulled out a taser and fired it. The electricity forcing Clayface to destabilize into a puddle.
"Are you telling me I could've electrocuted him the entire time?" Onyx huffed.
"What happened?" Batman spoke.
"It was Kaldur's idea!" Skylar pointed.
-.-
Mt. Justice: 7:45EDT
"I need to talk to Aqualad," Batman stated as the team bridged in. "The rest of you, hit the showers, get your injuries treated, and head home."
"Home? I am home," Superboy muttered walking past.
Robin and Aqualad walked up to Batman, who looked at his protégé. "Just Aqualad."
Robin nodded and walked towards the showers, glancing back at his mentor.
"I am sorry the team performed poorly—" Kaldur began.
"The team performed adequately, the problem was you. You're their leader and your head wasn't in the game."
"No you are…correct," he sighed in defeat. "As of late I am not convinced I even belong on the surface world. For so many years it filled my every thought, but now that I'm here, my dreams are all Atlantis."
"Atlantis, or someone you left behind?" Batman questioned. "You can split your time between the surface and the sea, but not your mind. You are either here one-hundred percent, or you need to walk away. Make a decision Kaldur and make it soon."
-.-
Poseidonis: August 28, 13:00sHST
"Recognized: Aqualad—B02."
Swimming out of the Zeta Tube, Kaldur swam towards Aquaman. "Greetings Kaldur'ahm," he said.
"King Orin," he said making a salute.
The two turned and began swimming away from the tubes towards the underwater city. "The Queen and I are hosting an intimate dinner tonight. Will you attend?"
"Your Majesty, there is someone special I was hoping to see today," he began.
Aquaman chuckled. "You may bring a friend."
"Thank you, My King."
"Until tonight."
Going their separate ways, Kaldur swam towards the Conservatory. Swimming past numerous students practicing magic, he stopped by one of his old friends, who was working on one of his projects.
"I'll never finish in time," he whined as he summoned more pieces to fill the piece.
"Topo, the workmanship is magnificent," he praised.
Topo jumped. "Kaldur! Don't do that! Wait! Here! Watch, listen," holding out his hand the pieces on the wall began to move. "Our beloved King was at the mercy of the vile Ocean Master. But two young students, Kaldur'ahm and Garth, intervened; allowing the Aquaman to triumph. Impressed with their valor, Aquaman offered both young heroes the chance to be his protégé. Garth chose to continue his studies at the Conservatory of Sorcery, but the brave Kaldur, accepted his King's offer and became Aqualad!" Finishing he turned back to the older student. "Kaldur? I mean, Aqualad?"
"Oh, it's very good."
"Thanks, I hope you don't mind that I inserted myself in the background, even though I wasn't actually there…"
"It's fine," he smiled. "Do you know where I may find Tula now? And Garth?"
"On the roof at their studies."
"Thank you." Swimming up he saw that both his friends were locked in an intense duel. Garth fired at Tula, but she dodged, sending two magic disks at him. planning himself on the ground, Garth made a shield, blocking her attack.
"Your technique is excellent, but your skills remain predictable. Combat sorcery requires improvisation," a woman said before looking to see their guest. "Kaldur'ahm! It's so good to see you."
"Kaldur!" Tula greeted.
"Apologies My Queen, I did not mean to interrupt," he said.
"It's fine, I have another class, will I see you at dinner?" she asked.
"Yes Your Majesty."
"We shall talk then," she said leaving.
"You look well Kaldur," Tula said hugging him.
"Yes, surface life agrees with you," Garth agreed.
"You speak as if I've been gone for years, but it's only been—"
"Two months."
"Oh…that long. Then I shall make up for lost time. Tula, would you accompany me to dinner tonight at the palace?" Kaldur asked before looking to Garth. "I wish I could invite you as well my friend."
"I made that choice long ago," he replied.
"We have another class, but I'll see you tonight," she said taking Garth's arm and they swam away.
Smiling, Aqualad began to swim around the city, looking to see what had changed in his absence. Turning a corner, he was caught off guard when something slammed into him.
"Ow."
Rubbing his forehead, he looked down to see a dark-skinned girl sitting on the ocean floor rubbing her own head. She had blue scales covering most her body with striping of lighter and darker blues, condensed on her back and upper arms while appearing sparsely on her lower arms and legs; she had teal eyes, a powerful tail that reminded him much of a crocodile's, some webbing between her fingers, some fins on her legs, long waist-length dark hair that faded to blonde at the tips with blue highlights, finned ears, gills on her neck like his own, and she wore a pair of black leggings and a grey top that reminded him of Tula's.
"I'm sorry, I did not see you there," he said helping her up, his own blue eyes meeting her green ones.
"It's fine, I was going too fast anyways," she smiled showing a set of sharp teeth.
"Kul'i!" an irritated voice called and he looked to see another dark-skinned girl with white hair. It wasn't till she got closer he realized her "hair" were actually long pale tentacles moving like the snakes of Medusa. Her head turned to him as her solid green eyes seemed to blink, "Oh, hi? Who's this?"
"I dunno, I just crashed into him," the other girl shrugged.
The medusa-like girl shook her head and crossed her arms, "I told you to be careful."
"You aren't my mother Atamai!" Kul'i snapped. "Anyways, sorry about that. "I'm Kuleana this is my half-sister Atamai."
"Kaldur'ahm," he greeted. "It's nice to meet both of you."
"Sorry to be a bother, but do you happen to know the way to the east reef? We're meeting our brother there; we're from out of town and he's studying at the conservatory."
Kaldur nodded, it wasn't uncommon to have family visiting students. "Of course, just fallow this path to the Conservatory of Sorcery, then take a right, about two pathways down take a left and you'll be there."
"Thank you," she said with a dip of her head.
"It was no problem," he smiled.
"Hope to see you around sometime, thanks again." With a smile and a wave, the girls swam off, fallowing his directions.
"Way to be careful Seaspray," Atamai scolded.
"Like you did any better, you have the acting skills of a clam Tsunami," Kuleana snapped. "You really think the daughter of the Kraken would be better at camouflaging.
-.-
Themiscyra
Onyx sighed as he sat on the beach in a loose pair of sweats. The mission had been a disaster. A complete and utter disaster. Heavy on the dis.
"Mind if I join you?"
Turning his head, he smiled slightly as he saw his Aunt Donna and another Amazon named Artemis standing nearby. Most of the Amazons were still getting used to him—it wasn't like men were exactly welcome. He was probably just the exception only cause he was his mother's son, and thus the Queen's only grandchild.
He gave a nod, using his tail to smooth out a patch of sand for them to sit on. "You look like you've got something on you mind kid," Artemis spoke, the redhead looking slightly concerned.
"It's nothing," he answered.
The two women shared a glance. "You're as bad a lair as your mother," Donna sighed. "Come on, what's up? I heard you had a mission this morning, how'd it go?"
"We had our asses kicked," he deadpanned.
Donna made a shocked sound while Artemis burst out laughing. "Sorry," the redhead chuckled, "I just wasn't expecting you to be so blunt. Anyways, losing battles happen, heck, even we've lost a few battles every now and then. All that matters is that you win the war."
"Don't be so dramatic Artemis, we haven't been to war in ages," Donna rolled her eyes.
"We haven't, but Princess Diana and Scales here," she ruffled the boy's hair, "get to go fight every day. I'm jealous. You know what you need to get that anger out? A good spar."
"What—?" Onyx started before he was picked up like a sack of potatoes and thrown over the Amazon's shoulder.
"We're going to start your training!" Artemis proclaimed. "Lassos are cool and all, but you need to learn how to fight like a real Amazonian warrior. I don't think a bow and arrow are your thing. I think you'll like spears—though, you do like you could do swords well too. Oh! How about knives?! Donna what do you think?"
Well, so much for getting a break.
-.-
Chicago, 20:05EDT
"So, how was your day?" Katar asked as he sat down at the family table with his wife and daughter.
"It was alright," Skylar sighed looking bored as she poked the spaghetti with her fork.
"Batman told us about the mission," Shay said.
"Not surprised," Skylar said. "Onyx and I had it covered. The others just kept trying to get in the way. Not like it could use my fire to dry it out if I could light one of them on fire too."
"Sky, you know your orders were to not engage," her mother chided.
"For what? People could've died!" she argued.
Katar sighed, "And your heart's in the right place sweetie. But right now, you need to learn how to pick your battles. Things aren't always a fight to the death. Sometimes, the best move to make against an enemy is to outsmart them."
The girl didn't answer, merely glancing away.
They were learning how that was how she processed things. A small argument would get her attention and then she would need time to truly think through it all. Frankly, Shay thought it was so like her husband that if it wasn't for the genetic tests proving otherwise she would've thought he was the genetic donor. If it weren't for the fact Skylar definitely inherited her temper.
"Do want to hear about Thanagar, our home world?" Shay spoke up causing their daughter to instantly perk up.
"Wait…we're aliens?"
-.-
Poseidonis
The ground rumbled in a hidden reef as drill dug up from below the surface.
"Halt intruders!"
Men in dark uniforms began emerging, they shot at the two guards, knocking one out. The other was just stunned, floating down he grabbed his staff, when a force landed on his back and he was knocked out.
"Be more careful," Tsunami growled as she stood on the unconscious Atlantean.
Seaspray swam over and glared at Black Manta, her finned ears flattening as she bared her fangs. "You're late. We spent hours scoping out the city, had to fake our way as one of them a few times. You were supposed to be here forty-five minutes ago!"
"We had complications," Manta replied. "All squads report!"
/Beta Squad ready/
/Gamma Squad ready/
/Delta Squad ready/
/Epsilon Squad ready/
"Phase one complete, initiate phase two."
/All squads report manta stings in place and ready, phase two complete/
"Good, prepare phase three," she said examining her claws with a smirk./
-.-
Mt. Justice
The sound of static echoed through the living room as Superboy sat on the couch staring at the snowy screen. He liked the noise, it blocked out all the other sounds that tried to invade his head at all times. It made it seem like things were actually quiet for once.
"May I ask…what are you doing?" With a sigh, he turned to see Amber tilting her head at him in confusion. Her glowing eyes blinked, and she hopped onto the couch, one of the sleeves of her loose sweater falling off her shoulder. "I thought the TV was for watching things?"
"I like the sound."
"Oh," she said, looking away. "Don't the frequencies bother you?"
Superboy scowled, looking away. Of course she had better hearing than him. Not like she didn't already have twenty other powers at her disposal; just another thing he would never get.
"Oh…" he heard her say softly as she got up wrapping her arms around herself and hiding her face behind her hair. "I'll…I'll leave you alone then."
She ran out of the room. He debated on following her, but M'gann came in. "Do you want to help me with dinner?"
"No," he sighed getting up and walking over to help.
-.-
"A gigantic echinoderm, frozen, yet still style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanOf course, at this point our data is quite limited, but Dr. Vulko thinks the creature could be very promising…" Prince Orm rambled on about the latest discovery at the science center.
"I am considering rejoining you at the conservatory," Kaldur whispered to Tula.
"You realize that you left your studies some time ago, you would no longer be in Tula's class, or Garth's, not until you were up to pace," the Queen said.
"Then perhaps I require a tutor."
"We have an announcement," Orin said as he and his wife stood up.
"I am with child," she smiled.
"Oh that's wonderful!" Tula exclaimed hugging her.
"Congratulations, and heir to the throne at last!" Kaldur said. "My apologies Prince Orm."
"Please, no one could be more thrilled about this news than I!" Aquaman's younger brother said hugging him.
"Thank you brother, thanks to you all," Aquaman said.
/Superman to Aquaman, emergency in Tokyo bay, rendezvous at Watchtower/
"Acknowledged," he replied. "I must take my leave." Kissing his wife quickly he turned to his apprentice. "Swim with me." Nodding, Aqualad fallowed his king towards the Zeta tubes. "Batman has made me aware of your…dilemma. I know from personal experience that it is hard to live there and love here."
"Recognized: Aquaman—06."
"I am confident you will make the right choice."
-.-
Aqualad and Tula swam through one of the reefs within the city. "There is something I must…" they said at the same time.
"I…"
"Please, Tula," Kaldur said holding his hand up. "I have made a decision. To stay in Atlantis with you, because of you."
She turned and looked away. "Kaldur, I'm sorry. We wanted to tell you sooner, but Garth and I we are together."
Kaldur looked down in disappointment when all off a sudden, the buildings behind them exploded.
Hearing more, the two turned to see explosions racking across the city. Swimming off they saw the Manta soldiers firing at the guards, knocking them out.
"Alpha Squad requesting reinforce—ah!"
Swimming towards the palace, they took out a group attacking the Queen and her brother-in-law. "This attack was precision planned. The initial explosions lured our patrols into ambush," Kaldur informed.
Tula swam past with several men fallowing going under one of the column structures, she turned and fired, making the rock collapse on top of the men.
Making sure the teens were out of the way, the Queen made her manta-ray construct turn, where it swam and rammed through another column structure, taking out another group of the armed men.
Kaldur swung his water whips, grabbing an outcrop of rock, he pulled in down, causing it to crash next to the men, the force sending a ripple that sent them drifting out of position where Tula made a swirling tube that sucked them through and sent them slamming into their partners.
"Tula!" Garth called swimming towards them.
"Garth lookout!" she called, racing over and pushing him out of the way just as one fired, the blast hitting her instead.
"No!"
"Tula!" Swimming over, Kaldur and Garth knelt next to the unconscious girl.
Grouping up, the soldiers fired again when multiple tentacles of magic blocked the attacks, the markings on the Queen spread as she used more power, creating a giant octopus that made a shield with two tentacles, and sent the rest out at the attackers.
"Surface communications are down, we cannot reach King Orin," Orm informed. "Summon more troops to the palace."
"The palace was not the only place attacked," Garth stated. "I witnessed explosions in sectors one, two, three, and five."
"Nothing in sector four?" Aqualad asked. "Explosions all over the city, except where the science center is located, where your giant sea star is secure."
"Then it is all a diversion," Orm agreed. "But with the King away I must protect the Queen, and the heir."
"I don't need protection!" she snapped.
"No Mera, if you were injured my brother would never forgive me."
"The prince is right My Queen, this battle is mine."
"And mine," Garth said only to get a glare from his friend.
"Your place is with Tula," he growled swimming off.
-.-
Black Manta burst from under the floor, where the last guards and scientists stood ready to defend the sea star. The men fired when another explosion went off behind them, and the girl swam out punching them in the face using her super-strength, knocking them out cold.
"Objective secure," Manta said.
"Don't jinx it," Seaspray said looking over the thing they were sent to get. "You know, I was expecting something more…exciting."
"That doesn't matter," Tsunami stated, "what matters is the mission. Manta sub! Initiate phase four!"
A large sub drove over the complex, and a beam came out of the bottom, starting to melt through the roof.
-.-
Outside, Aqualad typed the entrance code, sensing something behind him he grabbed his weapon only to find it was Garth. "You should be with Tula."
"The Queen watches over Tula, and sent me after you," he replied as they swam in.
-.-
Sniffing the water, Kuleana growled as she caught an unwelcome scent. "You two! Handle the intruders!" she snapped pointing at two men.
"How do you know there are intruders?" Manta asked and she scoffed as she swam towards the shadows.
"My sense of smell is ten times as powerful as a shark, they're here."
-.-
"You have a plan?" Garth asked, only to turn and find that his partner wasn't there. "Kaldur?"
Two men swam around the corner and prepared to fire when Aqualad swam down and used his maces to knock them out. Looking at Garth, he rolled his eyes as he saw his friend looking at him in shock. "I too have my studies."
-.-
Manta glanced at the girls and watched as they grinned wickedly before swimming back to another spot as the two soldiers returned. Getting the memo from the Atlantean hybrids, he swam up to them. "Impressive isn't it? Aqualad?"
They whipped around and began firing at him, swimming back, he shot beams out of his eyes, which hit them and knocked the back. Removing his helmet, Aqualad used his water bearers to make swords, and block the incoming shots. Ducking another shot, he made a whip and wrapped it around one man's leg, dragging him over and using him as a shield as another shot came. Hitting the man instead of him.
"Such a waste! You really have no ambition beyond serving Aquaman? Aren't schools of others willing to die for their king?!" Manta snarled. "This fool for example!"
Finally removing his helmet, Garth cried out as his friend's whip wrapped around him, and dragged him out of the way of the incoming shots. "Get your head in the game," Kaldur scolded, releasing his friend.
"I summon the power of the tempest!" Casting the spell, Garth swam out and made a vortex, trapping several men.
Narrowing her eyes, Kuleana swam down and slammed him into a wall. Grabbing his arm, she hurled him into Aqualad and he was blocking attacked from Manta and a few of his men.
"You sure took your sweet time!" Manta snapped and Kaldur stared in shock, it was the girl he helped earlier.
"Call it payback for earlier!" she snarled looking up as the roof was finally melted and a hook began lowering. "Tsunami! Keep them occupied!" Swimming up she attached the sea star to the cable and gave a thumbs up.
"My pleasure," the other girl emerged. Her hands began to glow and the boys' eyes widened as they saw a similar magic monster as what the queen made. Large tentacles swung at them. Kaldur yelped as one grabbed his ankle and sent him slamming into the wall. Forming a shield he grunted as one rammed into the shield, trying to pummel into the wall. Glancing out, he could see Garth having slightly better luck than him. His friend was quickly weaving through the multiple coils trying to ensnare him, using magic to deflect the blows.
However, the distraction gave their opponent enough of a chance to get past his shield. One of the magic weapons curled around him, and Kaldur felt his ribs cracking as it began to squeeze tighter.
He honestly thought she was going to kill him until he was hurled into Garth. They slammed into the wall and Kaldur saw their chance, "Garth!"
The other Atlantean teen followed his gaze and saw the cable. Throwing a magic disk, he managed to cut the line sending it flying to the ground.
As the ice surrounding the starfish shattered, Black Manta gave an angered scream, "IF I CAN'T HAVE IT NO ONE CAN!" he shouted firing a missile at the icy creature, making it explode. Swimming in front of Kaldur, Garth made a shield blocking them from the explosion.
Manta raced over and grabbed the Kuleana. Yanking her arm out of his grip, they swam up towards the sub. Climbing in she hissed angrily as she wrung out her hair. "That went well."
"Shut up Seaspray."
"Make me Manta," she snarled grabbing him and pinning him up on the wall with one hand her tail lashing back and forth in anger, "remember, I don't report to you. So, regardless of our family relations, I am not inclined to obey you."
"Enough Kuleana," Atamai said. The other girl's finned ears pinned against her head and she sighed.
Dropping him, she turned and walked away, tapping her comm. "B5 and B6 reporting in: we failed to achieve the objective, we'll have to use Plan B."
/Understood B5, your orders are to return to base. A2 out/