"Arthur! Orin! Slow down!"

Tempest called after several more times, but to no avail. The former king and current trusted leader of Sub Diego was swimming nearly faster than the youthful hero could follow.

In all his time following Aquaman through the years, into battle and beyond victories, Garth had rarely seen such determination in his mentor's eyes. It was almost startling.

With a burst of speed enabled by catching a small current, Tempest managed to catch up to Aquaman. He silently thanked the oceans for allowing him the chance, since Orin was wearing his old blue and white costume that helped him blend into the ocean floor. If Aquaman had gotten too far ahead of him he might have actually lost him.

"Aquaman!" Tempest said. "We need to stop for a minute! Talk this out. Figure out what you saw back there."

Aquaman slowed but he kept his feet kicking. Tempest was able to keep up but the distraction of conversation was showing. "There's no time!" Aquaman said. "We need to be back at Sub Diego now."

"But why? What did you see when you touched that glyph?"

"I saw an ancient warlock weave spells to create those, those Nightmares," Aquaman explained. "And now they're loose. Seven of them. Horrible creatures that bring death to everything they touch. Literally."

"Okay," Tempest replied. "Then why aren't we going after them? Why are we headed back to the city, which is currently being occupied by Manta Raiders?"

"Because," Aquaman replied, "that's where I moved the Lady of the Lake. She's the only one that can defeat these Nightmares, or else Sub Diego, its people, and everything else under the ocean will be destroyed."

~~A~~

DC Infinity Proudly Presents:

AQUAMAN: The Deep

Issue #3 of 3

~~A~~

"Stay back!" a pair of black armored guards said simultaneously. They aimed their harpoons at the young girl who had just entered the throne room, and even though she couldn't see the look in their eyes, she knew that they meant to kill her if she did not comply.

Two of her own Waterhorse Guard slipped through the same way she had entered the throne room, coming to her side immediately. The large black ship that had stabbed into the main building that held Sub Diego's council chambers left an avenue of entrance that wasn't as well guarded as the main ones. Lorena, the newly dubbed Aquagirl, had slipped in while the rest of the Waterhorse Guard had provided a distraction.

She had prided herself on taking immediate action in most cases these days, especially while under the tutelage of the legendary Aquaman. Now she found herself dumbfounded by the last thing she expected to see in the throne room.

The original Black Manta, lying sprawled out like a hospital patient and being kept alive by machines.

"What's going on?" she demanded. "Why is he—"

"Where is Aquaman?" one of the Manta Raiders retorted. "Bring him here at once! We're under orders to begin destroying the city until he shows himself!"

Aquagirl threw up her hands. "Wait! Wait, he'll be here. Just tell me what's going on."

"Little girl," the guard said. "We're being paid a hell of a lot of money to make sure this guy doesn't kick the bucket, and he says that the only guy that can save his life is Aquaman. Since we all want the rest of our money, you better make sure he lives to see tomorrow. That means get Aquaman here. Now."

Perfect, Lorena thought. Only problem is he's been missing for two days.

~~A~~

Near the outskirts of Sub Diego, amongst the crimson coverings of the Rose Reef, Aquaman and Tempest moved into position. The bristles of the reef made for perfect cover and provided an excellent vantage point for viewing the main buildings of Sub Diego.

"This was were I left Lorena before coming to look for you," Tempest said. "She looked pretty eager. The whole city is occupied, Orin. What are the chances that she—"

"She went in, all right," Aquaman said. "But I can't worry about that right now. She's tough, and you said that she had the remains of the Waterhorse Guard with her. She's a fighter. We have more important things to worry about right now."

Tempest motioned to a contingent of Manta Raiders floating within view of where they hid, passing through the streets of Sub Diego to round up any stray inhabitants that were breaking curfew.

"You call this less important than hunting down some weird Lady that I've only heard of in fairy tales?" Tempest said. "Arthur! C'mon."

"See this hand?" Orin said, holding up his water-construct. "The Lady of the Lake gave it to me. It's mystical in nature and a hell of a lot better than a cybernetic spear. The flashes I saw back in the cave, she can provide the answers I need. If we don't get them, we're all as good as dead."

"I still don't understand why she's the only one—"

"Because when I touched that glyph I," Aquaman paused, seeking the right words to describe the feeling that had engulfed him. "I felt something. Something very similar to when I first got this hand."

"But I thought you got it in Ireland," Tempest replied. "What is the Lady of the Lake doing in Sub Diego?"

"I relocated her." Aquaman looked at the passing Manta Raiders and tensed his muscles. "There's a blind spot in the patrol. Let's go."

The former king of the sea and his grown partner swiftly rocketed out into the ocean. Years of practice added to genetics gave them swift maneuverability beneath the sea. Superman, witnessing the absoluteness that Aquaman moved within underwater, had once compared his speed in the air to Aquaman's speed within the sea. It was like the pressures of the ocean and the currents moving around them were nonexistent.

Aquaman darted between buildings, carefully avoiding the prying eyes of the Manta Raiders. It killed him to see the mercenaries swarming over his city like an infestation of rats, but he had no choice. There was a greater evil at work here, and regardless of what the Black Manta was up to, he had to prioritize.

The strange thing was, that while he had developed an odd antagonism toward the Black Manta over the years, he had never known the villain to commit schemes on this scale before. The Black Manta, while a constant thorn in his side, had always been small potatoes. Something was different about this occupation.

The area Aquaman was headed toward finally came into view. A large fountain that had once been the center of a recreational park when above water had become null and void now that the city was beneath the sea. The sculpture of a dolphin sat in the park, useless, its mouth no longer needing to spray water.

Tempest flanked the fountain as Aquaman approached. It was a comfortable feeling, falling back into their old routines.

"Wait for me," Aquaman said as he slid the fountain back. With a push, flexing his pressure-reinforced body, Aquaman opened a secret chamber underneath the fountain. "I won't be long. Don't let the Manta Raiders know where I am. And if you hear anything from inside, don't worry. It's probably just the Lady getting mad at me."

"Why would she be mad at you? Didn't she choose you?"

"Remember when I said I had moved her here from Ireland?" Aquaman said. Tempest nodded. "It wasn't exactly her decision."

"Orin—"

Aquaman held up a hand. "Just keep watch and warn me if uninvited guests come."

The former king slipped beneath the statue, leaving his friend behind. The chamber was small, mainly because he didn't have a lot of time or privacy to construct it when he had decided to move the Lady of the Lake here. The short tunnel led to a small circular room with a bright blue pool in the center. The water held within the mystical pool was denser than the swirling waves around him, making it an ideal portal for the Lady to reside in.

He stood in front of the pool and took in a large gulp of water. He was nervous. He hadn't discussed anything with the Lady since relocating her. She wasn't going to be happy.

"Orin of Atlantis," the murky, yet feminine, voice spoke. "I was wondering when you would show yourself to me again."

"My Lady," Aquaman replied as he fell into a graceful bow.

"After the gift I bestowed upon you, you would treat me so? And now you return. For what? A favor, perhaps? The arrogance that resides in all royalty has certainly not been forgotten in your, Orin of Atlantis."

"My Lady, I have long struggled to keep people safe. There are more people desperately relying on my choices now as the survivors of Atlantis flood the streets of Sub Diego. I brought you here so that this city would become as great as Atlantis once was."

The Lady, gorgeous and foreboding, remained silent through Aquaman's pause. He couldn't read the expression pasted on her face.

"A great evil has just been unleashed," Aquaman continued. "And it came at the worst of times. My city is overrun with enemies. My people are held captive and are scattered. Seven terrors of awesome and immense—"

"The Seven Nightmares of the Deep," the Lady of the Lake said. "I can feel them."

"What are they?"

"Long ago, a powerful sorcerer that was the brother of one of the founding fathers of noble Atlantis, grew tired of the chastising he suffered under his brother's watch. His name was Mobius." The Lady closed her eyes, as if picturing the man from her own memory. "Mobius, fueled by rage, broke his spirit into eight separate pieces. He placed seven of them in the bodies of the demons you saw escape."

"But what about the eighth piece?"

"He retained that for his own life, so that he might control the Nightmares. But Mobius' brother and the rest of the founders overturned him and killed him. The destroyed him, leaving the Nightmares mindless. They used the last of their power to seal away the Nightmares for all time."

"Then why are they free now?"

"The recent Crisis that your universe underwent weakened the magical state of the defenses."

Aquaman understood. He hadn't engaged much in the events that had unfolded, but he had learned that many things about the universe as he knew it had changed. People had returned from the grave, others perished, and still more were changed. Elements of the past had been erased and pieces of the future that were once clear were now blurry.

It stood to reason that his portion of the world, the sea, the largest portion, had been affected as well.

"My Lady," Aquaman said, "despite your irritation with me, I beg you, please, tell me how to stop these monsters. My people are in great peril."

The Lady of the Lake looked him over with concern. "I chose you for specific reasons, Orin of Atlantis. Betrayal was not one of those reasons. I understand that you brought me here with good intensions, however, it cannot be overlooked that you sought to deceive me."

"My Lady—"

"Given the foolishness of your decisions, I will help you. Your hand, Orin of Atlantis."

Aquaman stood and offered his newly replaced hand, which the Lady had bestowed upon him, up to the beautiful woman. She took it in hers and waved a green energy over it.

"To kill the Nightmares you will need the blood of your enemy," she said. "Place this hand into the heart of the Nightmare and you will prevail."

The wave of euphoria created by the touch of the Lady vanished. Aquaman pulled his hand back and watched as she sunk back into the pool at his feet, confused by her words.

"When this conflict is at an end, Orin of Atlantis," the said as she drifted back into the water, "you will return to me. We have much to discuss."

Aquaman could easily understand that conversation was not going to be enjoyable. He had seen the power of the Lady of the Lake and was not ashamed to admit that it worried him. He knew that she was a force for good, but still felt guilty over what he had done to her.

He looked at his hand and pondered her words. He knew what he had to do.

~~A~~

"I am here," the Black Manta muttered, "because of a vision."

He was barely breathing, and what he was able to do sounded forced. Aquagirl knew that without the machines pumping his lungs for him he would die within seconds.

She had heard the stories, of course. This man, this villain, had defiled the seas for years in a misplaced rage against a single man. He had taken liberties, he had taken lives, and he had even bargained with a devil. Now his outside appearance matched his dark inner one, thanks to the meddling of a demon named Neron. His pale gray skin was coated over with a thin film yet he still wore the majority of his original Black Manta costume.

Apparently even villains were sometimes nostalgic. All of the mercenaries under the Black Manta's control wore similar uniforms, including the half dozen standing guard around them.

He had only muttered a few words to her so far, which made the Raiders nervous. The man was obviously dying, and like the one guard had said, if he died then they didn't get paid. An entire army of disgruntled and remorseful mercenaries would not benefit Sub Diego.

"What do you mean?" Aquagirl asked. "What vision?"

"Neron tricked me," the Black Manta rasped. "New body can't sustain me. Twisted as he is. Not fit for life. Saw a Lady. Said only the blood of my enemy could save me."

"So you came looking for Aquaman?"

The Black Manta managed a weak smile. "Only got one enemy."

The huge ship docked at the makeshift entrance to the throne room suddenly rocked back. The swathing sound of harpoons being fired came from the hole, followed by a sizzling blast of energy.

A stray blast of purple fire, amazingly lit beneath the waves, burst through the last seal attaching the anchored ship to the throne room. Once the entryway was clear, a man passed through, gently kicking his feet to propel him forward.

Tempest, energy charged in his fists and rage bursting in his eyes, touched down to the floor. A pair of Manta Raiders tried to flank him, but with two quick shots from his fists, he commanded the waters to spin in tiny, controlled tsunamis around them. They crashed into the walls and did not get back up.

"Hello, Lorena," he said. "Need a hand?"

"Wait," she began to say, but another loud thud stopped her.

Aquaman charged into the throne room the same way, only he didn't stop. Three of his Waterhorse Guard, apparently liberated from the Raiders, moved in behind him, ensuring they weren't followed.

"Manta!" Aquaman shouted as he approached the center of the throne room where Aquagirl stood. He saw the lower part of the Black Manta's body on the table behind her, but wasn't able to see the rest. "For years I've never had a use for you, but not this time. Finally, you'll be able to do some good."

"Orin, wait!" Aquagirl said, placing a hand on Aquaman's chest to make him stop.

"You've done well, Lorena. Stand aside so I can—"

He paused, seeing the breathing apparatus for the first time. He had never imagined that one of his most constant foes would ever be in a state like this. He had seen his fair share of people dying, but for some reason he had never seen such a thing as this. This was different.

Aquaman and the Black Manta may have been desperate enemies, but over the years they had become two halves to a whole. In a way, Aquaman was looking at a piece of himself lying on that table.

Somewhere far away, on the other side of the city, the earth shook.

Tempest darted back to the hole in the throne room and peered out. He looked back at Aquagirl, a look of worry on his face. "They're coming," he said.

"What?" she replied. "Who?"

"Death incarnate," Tempest said.

"What's happened to you?" Aquaman said, addressing the Black Manta.

"Neron," the villain replied. "Life in general. I came to you for help. The Lady said—"

"The Lady of the Lake? She told you to come to me?" His head was spinning with mounds of intuition.

Another shockwave rippled through the city, this time originating from much closer. "Orin!" Tempest said.

Aquaman shot a quick glance over his shoulder at his former sidekick. He looked back at the prone form of the Black Manta. "You picked a good time for this," he said.

"Tried before. Progene. Offered help to get your attention. You ignored it."

Lorena's eyes widened. "They offered to fund the founding of New Atlantis," she said. "Oh, my God. I didn't realize. It was more than an olive branch."

Another shake of the ocean floor, this time rippling through the throne room.

"I need your help, too," Aquaman said. "The Lady said—"

"Our blood. I know."

Without bothering to hesitate, the Black Manta removed a knife from his side. He peeled back the film covering his body, which seemed to take with it some of his ability to breath. He pressed the blade into the palm of his hand and yanked down. Drops of red blood swirled into the salty water, streaming like tuffs of hair.

Aquaman nodded, taking the knife from his enemy. He mimicked the movements, only he sliced open his water hand. Surprisingly, the same red blood spilled out. The mysticism associated with the water construct was baffling. It was more connected to him that Orin realized.

The pair of enemies shook hands for the first time ever. Their blood touched and something happened. It was not apparent to the on looking Aquagirl or Tempest, but they felt the magical exchange.

Aquaman snapped to attention and the Black Manta arched his back, crying out in pain. Then, as quickly as the process had begun, it was over. The villain relaxed and Aquaman yanked his hand back.

He felt different. His hand, as unnatural a creation as it was, had changed.

The Black Manta sat up and ripped the thin film off of the rest of his body. He stood, pouncing off the table like a child. The smile on his face looked as wicked as the day Aquaman had first seen him.

"Feeling better?" Aquaman asked.

"Like I could take on even Lex Luthor. I appreciate what you've done here."

"Good." Aquaman swam to the wall where a display of Atlantean weapons were hung. He picked up a trident, studied its weight in his grip, and pushed off the floor again to swim for the hole in the wall. "You can pay me back right now. Let's go!"

~~A~~

Manta Raiders and Waterhorse Guard alike swam for their lives. Citizens of Sub Diego, that had been under the careful watch of the Black Manta's forces, now scattered everywhere. Another earthshaking shock swept over the area, this time laying to waste an entire building.

The cause of the rampant destruction lurked a few hundred feet above the people's heads. A black creature lurched through the waters unchallenged. It stood taller than the highest building in Sub Diego and was twice as foreboding.

It compared to a lumbering squid. Its large and thick tentacles slammed into the ocean floor, sending another shockwave through the valley. Its putrid green eyes surveyed the scene, jetting back and forth.

It released a curdling scream that stymied several of the aloof Raiders and Waterhorse Guard. Fatter around its torso, this Nightmare's body was round like an urchin with the spikes to match. Its small mouth at the center of its mass opened again and bellowed, shattering the windows of several buildings.

One of the seven Nightmares of the Deep had come to Sub Diego, and its path of death behind it was barren and black.

"Surround it!" Aquaman ordered. The Manta Raiders and Waterhorse Guard both obeyed, the former party only wishing to live to see the next day at this point. "Occupy it while we attack from underneath!"

"Just lead the way!" Tempest said as he fell into a faithful position beside Aquaman. Aquagirl flanked the former king on the other side, adding her sentiments.

"Never thought I'd say this," the Black Manta said as he came up behind Aquaman, "but I'm with you all the way."

Aquaman nodded and returned his gaze to the beast, the grotesque and twisted squid. He motioned with the arm holding the trident and launched himself forward. The others followed him like the king that he was.

The four of them rushed by the swarming Manta Raiders and a cluster of more organized Waterhorse Guard. Some of them had regained their mounts, but the majority were now fighting on primitive instinct, moving about the waters as they were able.

The Nightmare spotted them and slashed down with a tentacle at amazing speed. Aquaman managed to evade while Tempest, the closest to one side of their pack, charged a purple shield and deflected it.

"Ah!" he screamed. Sizzling filaments of broken energy flaked away from his hand.

"Garth!" Aquagirl said, rushing to his side. "Are you—"

"Fine," he said. "It was just like, like touching death. I'll be okay."

"Fight or be bait," the Black Manta said as he maneuvered around them. "Don't get in the way if you want to just be chum."

A flash of rage passed over Tempest, but he ignored it, seeking to focus on the task at hand instead. He was amazed that Orin had allowed the Black Manta to come, but bringing the villain also meant bringing his mercenaries, which at the very least, could provide a distraction.

Several more dark tentacles came bearing down on them as they rose to meet the creature. Aquaman stabbed one with his trident, embedding the points into the black flesh of the Nightmare. It squealed but didn't bother to pause in continuing its attack.

Aquaman wrestled with the beast through his trident, intent on either retrieving the weapon or shoving it further in to cause more damage. Black ichor, possibly the life blood of the Nightmare, seeped out into the sea.

It washed over Aquaman, deadening his senses. It seemed every part of the beast was horrific and carried only death. Things began to grow dark and Aquaman suddenly became very tired.

Light blazed back into this his eyes as he felt a sharp pain at his back. Something shoved him away from the tentacle, nudging him back from certain death.

"Of all the times I've tried to kill you," the Black Manta gasped, "there is no way I'm letting a fish do it."

Aquaman gasped in water as his strength ebbed back. He watched as an archenemy battled away the very thing that nearly ended his life. He felt certain that things, however bizarre and macabre they may be, were definitely changing. This was not the realm he had known as his home for so long anymore.

"What are you waiting for?" the Black Manta said as he ducked under a swipe of another tentacle. "Kill this thing off once and for all!"

A spike from the center mass of the Nightmare broke free and rocketed toward the Black Manta. He was too busy fighting and dodging to notice the rushing spear cut through the water like it was nothing.

Just before the tip buried itself in his back, a thin and wiry hand reached out of shoved it off course. The spike trailed down into the ocean, embedding itself in the ground.

The Black Manta looked over his shoulder to see Aquagirl there, gasping. "What?" she said. "Oh, so you think that because you do it that a real hero can't?" She turned to face Aquaman. "Orin. Go. We've got this."

Aquaman launched himself at the Nightmare, using the feeling of utter despair he felt at the creatures hands to drive him. The sensation of life abandoning him was what spurned him, as he never wanted that to be felt by someone under his protection. That included the residents of Sub Diego, the Waterhorse Guard, Lorena, Garth, and now even the Black Manta.

Fat appendages slapped the swirling water around him, seeking to drive him into the ground with enough force to shatter his dense skeleton. The Nightmare let loose another piercing screech from its small beak, but Aquaman paid it no mind. He was too determined.

He cocked back his arm and tossed the trident. His body was strong enough to resist the pressures of the ocean, which allowed him to throw his trident with enough power to shatter solid stone.

His aim was honed and his mark was targeted. The trident stabbed into the beak of the Nightmare, sending a shudder of pain throughout the massive beast.

Aquaman took advantage of its disorientation and swam closer to its torso. He wondered if it had ever felt pain before.

He flexed the non-fingers of his water hand, approached speedily, but cautiously, and chose his moment.

The Nightmare of the Deep was thrashing wildly from the trident lodged in its jagged mouth. Aquaman rolled over top of a wild tentacle as he swam closer, making sure not to brush against the creature. When he came within feet of the torso, he pictured the Lady of the Lake, and punched his mystical hand directly into the Nightmare.

Black ooze splashed over him, but this time the horrid feelings melted off of him. He saw the tinge of red swirl within his water hand and realized that it was the blood of his enemy, the blood of the Black Manta. There was powerful magic at work, magic put in place by the Lady herself.

Shoving his hand deeper into the Nightmare, doing his best not to be bucked off by the sharp death-throws, Aquaman felt inside for the one thing he needed to crush. His fingers finally found it, and grasping it tightly, he flexed once more, squishing the Nightmare's dark heart.

The Nightmare buckled one last time, screeching its death-cry. The noise nearly deafened him and a wild slap of a tentacle dislodged him from the torso. He spun back and away from the beast, only to be caught by Tempest.

The Nightmare's entire body throbbed and pulsated, expanding with each dying heartbeat until it grew too large for its body to support. The Nightmare of the Deep, death incarnate, burst from the inside out, spraying Sub Diego with its black ichor.

The ooze dissolved before touching anything, however, leaving behind no trace of the horrible monster from whence it came.

Aquaman, held aloft by Tempest's strong arms, looked over his shoulder at the younger hero. "That's one," Aquaman said before promptly passing out.

~~A~~

A full day's rest later, Aquaman floated high over Sub Diego, watching as Lorena swam up to meet him. "Are they all gone?" he asked.

"The last ship is leaving now," she replied, a slight look of irritation on her face. "The Manta Raiders are vacating Sub Diego."

"And the Black Manta?"

"He left this morning, before you awoke." She floated beside him for a moment, watching silently over the city she now helped protect. "He saved your life," she finally said.

"He felt that he owed it to me."

"You going after him? For the crimes he committed in the past?"

Aquaman shook his head. "He's got a clean slate as far as I'm concerned. You might say we connected. It doesn't excuse him for everything he's done, but I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt for the time being. Time will tell if he's really changed."

"And the other six Nightmares?"

"That's the big question now, isn't it? One was hard enough. Six more representations scattered throughout the vast seas, all of them powerful enough to wipe out life with a single touch. If this whole episode has proven anything, it's that the ocean is a different place than it used to be."

"What are you saying?"

"I'm saying that we're safe for now, but I'm going to need some serious help." He smiled and faced her for the first time, looking her directly in the eyes. "You up to it, short stuff?"

~~A~~

The End?