Atlantis could really turn up when it wanted to.
Percy watched the ceremony from a good height of a nearby apartment, as the new king that was his brother Triton was paraded around on a float, on his way to the castle itself. Percy found himself smiling as he listened to the choir singing and the dancers performing a ritual dance.
When he had come to Atlantis, everyone had seemed … on edge. Like they wanted to smile but they couldn't force themselves to, because of the hostile atmosphere. Attuma had brought more than just tyranny to the throne, he had brought antagonism and animosity. Now with him gone, everyone was in a good mood, more than just smiles were passed around.
After the ceremony was the crowning event itself and Percy was in the audience there to see it as well. Triton kneeled before the throne before a servant placed the crown that used to be on the former king onto Triton's very own head. The audience clapped and cheered as Percy looked around at them all before he decided to clap politely as well.
After the coronation, Percy surveyed the city from the balcony of the king's castle before he heard the sound of familiar footsteps behind him, and he turned to see the new king as he gracefully strode up to him.
"I have to say … that crown does look good on you," Percy commented.
"I hope it does," Triton replied, smiling. "Hopefully Attuma's large head didn't stretch it out too much."
"It's solid adamantium, isn't it?" Percy asked.
"I was just making a joke."
"Oh! 'Cause his head's so- yeah, I get what you mean," Percy said. "I probably should've gotten that, to be honest."
Triton chuckled before a silence settled in the air.
Percy's expression turned serious. "So … how's it feel? You know … officially being crowned as king?"
Triton looked thoughtful. "I guess … it feels like there's a new weight on my shoulders. I'm the one who people will look up to. I'm the one who's gonna be calling the shots for the city. I'm the one ... with a new huge responsibility."
Percy nodded. "Yeah, I figured as much."
"You sure you don't want the throne?" Triton questioned. "Personally, I think you might surprise yourself. You might turn out to be better than you thought."
"Absolutely not," Percy replied, shaking his head. "I respect your opinion but … this is just something that I can feel in my bones, you know? I'm not ... even close to being ready for that kind of thing. For now, brother, that responsibility falls onto you. And I must say … you do look quite dashing as a king."
Triton grinned as he looked down at his clothes. "I do like the robe. The silk is very soft, I could fall asleep on it."
Percy turned and tilted his head up, as if to stare up to the surface. He sensed that his work here in Atlantis, for the meantime anyway, was all but finished. It was time to get back to the surface world.
Triton sensed it coming from him, too. "I'm guessing you're going to leave now."
Percy nodded. "I have to. I am needed back at the surface. The attack on New York has ensued various new threats to rise from the ashes. Especially after that group of super-people showed up to stop the invasion."
"What kind of threats?"
"All kinds, over land and over sea," Percy confirmed. "Pirates. Mercenaries. Bandits. Raiders. All who've gotten their hands on … things that aren't theirs."
Triton nodded in understanding.
Percy looked down as he held the Trident on Neptune in his hands. "I'm gonna be putting this to good use."
"You better," Triton warned. "It is a beautiful weapon."
Percy held out his hand, which Triton gladly shook and brought him in to embrace him. "I'm glad to have helped," Percy said as he pulled away. "Trust me, I am. I may have been hesitant at first but … you made me see sense, and I'm happy that I helped. For that, I thank you."
"No problem."
"And I want you to know, you'll always have an ally in me."
Triton smiled. "I like the sound of that."
Percy and Triton hugged one more time before they let go and Percy walked out of the castle, heading for the gates of Atlantis. The new guards at the entrance smiled and tilted their heads at him in greeting. Percy smiled at them back and turned around, taking in the sight of the glorious underwater city for one final time.
The lights were still up and glowing with the party intent on going on through the night. Percy turned back and walked out the gates, took on glance up at the surface before he propulsed at the speed of a jet, heading straight up towards the surface.
…
A few weeks later
Present Day
"… as you can see here, some people have managed to get recordings of this strange person, but up to now, there is still no word on who he might be. He's already been dubbed 'The Sub-Mariner' by local fishers and such. This stranger has seemingly popped out of nowhere starting a few weeks ago, tracking down any activity at sea, almost becoming a sort of vigilante. Here we have one recording taken aboard a Somalian pirate ship."
The TV in a shack was up and blazing, displaying Percy 'the Sub-Mariner' Jackson's achievements, as his activities as a 'vigilante of the sea' were displayed on screen. Percy's vigilante catalogue included taking down mercenary crews, destroying whaling ships, rescuing hostages from armed pirates, combating overfishing boats and shutting down oil platforms. He'd also helped out with cleaning up oil spills, which earned him bonus points from those charities that tried to save the oceans.
The news channel on the television displayed a recording of Percy rescuing three Americans from Somalian pirates and the news broadcasters tried to zoom in on a very grainy shot of him as he led the hostages out. A headline in the bottom read: WHO IS THE SUB-MARINER?
Inside the shack, Percy paid no attention to the TV, as he currently sat down and scrolled through his laptop, checking up with ocean activity for any dangers. He perked up as he listened in on an SOS call. It was very scratchy, but pressing the headphone against his ear, Percy managed to catch something about a mercenary ship and the kidnapping of an ambassador.
After that, it didn't take long to figure out who was the ambassador who had been kidnapped.
Fast forward a few hours later, Percy was able to find the ship but unfortunately for him, the head mercenary that was Tony Masters managed to cut down the ropes to a speedboat hooked on to the side of the ship and sped off as soon as it hit the water. Percy had been a little distracted looking up at the unannounced arrival of some government agents, who turned out to be from the Strategic Homeland Intervention, Enforcement and Logistics Division.
Which … conveniently spelled out 'SHIELD'. At least, that was what Nick Fury called it.
Regardless, Percy was a little more focused on the main task at hand, which had been to rescue the hostage, Mr. Donald Pierce. Percy made sure to check up on him as some SHIELD agents helped him walk.
"You alright?" Percy asked.
"I'll be fine," Mr. Pierce wittily replied. "I'm just bummed the damn perp got away."
"Don't worry," Percy said with a wink. "I''l catch up to him eventually."
Next to Percy, two SHIELD agents carried a stretcher, and in that stretcher was the brute who's spine Percy had completely shattered. The poor guy was in a neck brace, which Percy was slightly disappointed about. He personally would have preferred they let guy suffer and die, but maybe it was a good thing those agents weren't him.
"Hold on," Percy called.
"I'll kill you," the brute grunted.
"I like your determination," Percy replied with a sarcastic smile. He looked up to the agents. "Careful with him. I broke his spine, so he might not be all there in the head."
The agents both chuckled at Percy's banter before they dragged him away to their aircraft.
The SHIELD agents continued on with their jobs of rescuing the rest of the people and getting out the bodies of those who suffered Percy's blows. Percy himself stood on the side of the port, pensively looking at sea in the dark night, seeing the stars reflect onto the pitch-black water.
"You have quite the interesting story," Fury's voice said as he walked and stood next to him.
"I guess you can say that," Percy agreed.
"I have a little … project going on, I guess I would say," Nick Fury said. "It's called the Avengers Initiative. The idea was to band of group of remarkable people together to defend the planet from the threats that we could not. People with … certain abilities. Because in this world … I can undoubtably say you're not the only one."
"And how's that working out for you?"
"They already defended against the invasion in New York."
"Oh, I know all about the invasion in New York," Percy replied. "I lost my mom in that invasion."
It was hard to tell through Nick Fury's stoic expression and eyepatch, but Percy could see it in his eyes, he looked guilty. "I'm sorry to hear that."
Percy gripped the steel bar. "I felt … angry. I think people might have been lucky that I took it out on the aliens. So looking at it … I guess I technically already helped the Avengers in something. Unknowingly ... but it happened."
Nick raised his good eyebrow in realization. "You were the one who saved Natasha Romanoff."
"Was that who that was?"
Nick Fury nodded. "Frankly, I really think you would be a great addition to the Avengers. What do you think?"
"I've never been in a team," Percy admitted. "And I do kind of like being the lone wolf."
Fury nodded in understanding. "Well, in case you change your mind or if you want to ask me anything, here is my business card." Fury pulled out a small card from his coat pocket and held it out. Percy grabbed it in curiosity and looked at the number before approving and pocketing it.
"No promises," Percy said.
Fury started to leave when Percy called out to him. "Just so you know … I blame you for letting Masters get the slip."
"If you want my advice," Fury said. "Masters is a slippery eel ... and also an ex-agent of SHIELD. You'd be better off leaving him to the professionals."
Percy chuckled. "If you say so."
Percy stayed on the port of the ship for a moment, watching the SHIELD aircraft take off until it disappeared in the night sky. He then made his way to the bridge and pushed the boat lever, full steam ahead, in the direction of the nearest port to dock at.
…
In a chaotic lab, Dr. Lemuel Dorcas woke up, his head hurting from being clonked out. Outside he could hear what sounded like police sirens approaching the clinic and he grabbed onto a hospital bed, pulling himself up.
As his eyes settled to the floor, he spotted the shattered needle, and the blood that had been inside it, spilled all over the floor. His eyes practically popped open at the sight of the spilled blood and he panicked as he started to hear footsteps headed in his direction.
He grabbed the nearest absorptive, a paper towel, and tried to soak up every bit of blood off the ground as he could before squeezing the red liquid onto a small, empty medicine bottle. A flashlight beamed inside the room and Dr. Dorcas quickly tried to hide.
Just as two police officers step inside the dark lab with their flashlights on, Dr. Dorcas can be seen making his escape through the ventilation system.