Here I tried to write a scene for an untitled future story that I decided I cannot use - BUT I like it too much to just junk it. Seems a shame not to share it with you. Again, I haven't edited it, so forgive any mistakes. Hope you enjoy . . . The concept is the YJ team and the JLA come to Atlantis to rescue Aquaman and Mera from a political coup. Nightwing gets separated from the others in the palace. He is right outside the visitor's throne room which is normally kept dry for - well - surface visitors when he runs into an enemy guard. The fight kind of got away from me . . .

Rated T for Violence, Some Language . . .


Nightwing grunted as a body plowed into him, shoving him back into the flooded hall. The power behind the attack felt like it might on the surface without the density of water to slow it down. It would take all his strength to put up an effective fight. The Atlanteans were vastly overpowered compared to a human.

He brought his elbow down onto the guard's back, but he shrugged it off as one might an annoying insect. Nightwing kneed him in the groin, earning him a groan that could easily be heard through the water. He slammed his escrima stick into the man's temple.

That got the Atlantean's attention all right. The guard countered with another punch to Nightwing's ribs hard enough that Dick felt something give. A fist connected with his helmet cracking the reinforced faceplate.

Shit! Should have brought Conner with me . . . Dick just had time to think before his faceplate gave way to the next blow. He hadn't time to gasp for air as seawater rushed in.

He had to take this guy down now! He only had a few short minutes of oxygen in his bloodstream before his body depleted it and he began to drown.

Trading punches wouldn't do. Changing strategies, Nightwing wrapped his arm around the guard's and twisted himself behind him in a move only a contortionist might accomplish. Because of the buoyancy, Nightwing wouldn't be able to take his attacker to the ground, so he could only hope to keep him contained until he could think of something better.

If he had just gotten through into the air-filled room, he would have had more leverage, been able to incorporate his acrobatics. In the water, the Atlantean had every advantage over him. Time was passing. His lungs were beginning to burn.

Nightwing kicked off the wall in an attempt to propel them into the vestibule. The Atlantean, although unable to get hold of the human on his back, twisted suddenly. Understanding that his opponent was getting desperate for air, the guard freed one arm enough to catch the door frame and shove the two men sideways.

Lungs were on fire with the need to breathe.

The Atlantean propelled them into a wall next, knocking what little air Nightwing had left out in a whoosh of bubbles.

Spots were appearing in front of his eyes. His first encounter with an Atlantean and he was going to die . . .

It was a risk, freeing one arm up, but Nightwing had to end this within the next few seconds or he'd be meeting his own end shortly after that. His fingers dug into his belt, instinct guiding them as his own thoughts were growing foggy and confused.

His heart raced, struggling to bring what little oxygen was left to his starving cells. He was fighting his own body that was compelling him to breathe anything, even seawater, in search of lifegiving oxygen.

Panic fluttered at the edges of his consciousness.

His vision tunneled.

Focus . . .

The Atlantean wasn't even fighting him now, knowing he only had to wait for opponent to fall unconscious and drown to win the day.

Dick's fingers were clumsy. The compromised suit did little now to protect him from the pressure. He felt like he was going to implode. The pressure wasn't even that great inside of the palace because of the magic surrounding it.

He slapped his weapon down onto the guard's neck. The sensitive trigger only needed a small about of force to release the elephant-strength tranquilizer into the Atlantean's veins. But Nightwing was going to die before it had time to completely take effect.

Uncaring, or perhaps his foggy mind didn't remember why electricity and water didn't mix, Nightwing released his weakening grip on the guard only to shove his escrima stick into the man's back as he turned on the juice. The jolt was powerful enough to elicit a yell from the Atlantean. Unfortunately, it had a similar effect on Nightwing, knocking him back.

He gasped at the searing pain, sucking a mouthful of water into his screaming lungs. His body spasmed.

The doorway was there . . . in front of him.

Right . . . there.

Inches away . . .

Fingers grasping numbly, his vision all but gone, Nightwing used the last of his strength to pull his upper body through the magical field that held the water at bay.

His body still struggling to live, Nightwing vomited the water in his stomach. Violent coughing followed as his lungs continued spasming, ejecting as much water as they could in a bid to replace it with air . . . sweet air.

Several long minutes passed as he alternated between gasping and coughing. No one else bothered him. No other guard appeared, thankfully, because Dick was completely incapacitated at the moment.

His body felt heavy, like someone was sitting on his back. Still had water in them. Still could drown despite the fact he was sucking air as fast as his lungs would let him. He might end up with pneumonia at the end of this, but at this moment, he didn't care.

That is as close as I ever want to get to drowning, he thought weakly.

Eventually, he shoved himself up onto his hands and knees. Seawater pouring out of the broken helmet, blood with it. His mouth must have been cut when the faceplate shattered. He fumbled with the seals, tearing gear from of his head and tossing it aside.

Electricity and water – right. Rookie mistake.

Whatever . . . He was alive because of it.


REACTIONS?

It's been a while, but I've still been writing . . . A lot of stuff. I'm currently working on scenes for my open stories as well as getting ready to post a "New" story which isn't really new. It's a story I've been writing with another author, but the other author's life has gotten too complicated to continue it. She's given her blessing for me to continue the story alone and to post the first dozen chapters we had already published under her name. I'm tweaking them and you'll be seeing those being posted soon. Start looking for it sometime at the end of August or in September.