Chapter Seven

Blüdhaven

Kevin and La'gaan had arrived and the Atlantean was briefed fully on what happened. He was ready to go, but Dick caught his arm.

"La'gaan; I don't know if you know anything about this Manta, but we think he's out for revenge on Kaldur and his family." Dick told La'gaan.

"I'll fight anyone that messes with my friends." La'gaan told Dick with a smile on his face.

"Be careful down there." Conner told his old teammate.

"I will….chum." La'gaan said with a smile and with that he ran to the ocean and dove in.

"Why did he call you chum, I thought you guys didn't like each other because you both liked mom back in the day?" Kevin asked as he turned to his father.

"That's why he called me chum; he's talking about the raw meat used for shark bait." Conner said with a laugh in his voice.

"I'm sure he'll get there in time to help, and I know Meygan can help out Areina and Uncle Kaldur till La'gaan gets there." Kevin said, worry in his voice for his wife.

"She'll be fine, and so will Orin'ahm and the twins." M'gann told her son.

"M'gann's right; we're a tough family, and we always come through." Dick told his son in law.

"I just hope Areina doesn't get too pissed off." Mathen said.

"Why is….oh yea, what she did to Drow." Andrew started to ask, but then he remembered the story from Areina's wedding.

"Molly, you had better rest up, I'm sure they will all need healing when they return." Dick said as he turned to his healing wizard daughter.

"Okay daddy." Molly said, and then she yawned, with is now being close to midnight she was getting sleepy.

Andrew picked her up and flew her to the Grayson home. Dick was fuming on the inside, but he knew from experience with Meygan and Areina that he couldn't stop his girls from falling in love.

"The rest of us are to stay on alert incase Manta's sub DOES surface." Dick said as he turned to the second generation of the team.

Brian, Vincent, and the older members of the second generation team nodded and went to their homes for the night, but there wouldn't be much sleeping going on.

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Manta's Sub; Ten Minutes Later

Jason was crawling around through the vents…he had to find his dad and get out of there. He knew now that Psimon was a telepath, and he also knew that something wasn't right as he had found the control room and overheard what was going on. Just as he was starting to rest, he heard something and followed the sound. He KNEW Dymond had been lying, and now he was going to find out what that 'monster' actually was.

He arrived at the room and was about ready to attack Manta II and Dymond. The young fire controller found the grate and heated it at the corners to get rid of the screws. He jumped down into the room and the occupant heard the noise.

"Jason'ahm, what are you doing here?" the occupant asked.

"Daddy!" Jason cried out as he saw the blood all over the area where his father was tied up.

"Where's your brother?" Orin asked, but Jason frowned as he heard the pain in his father's voice.

"Psimon, a telepath, made him care about the ones that took us. I don't know why it didn't work on me." Jason said as he jumped onto the table, and that's also when he saw his father's arms. "What the HELL did Manta do to you!?"

"They're trying to remove my magic. Jason, you must hide. They can't find you in here." Orin urged his son.

"I can get you out of here."

Orin sighed. "Jason, you need to listen to me for once. Hide now."

"No way dad, I'm not leaving you behind."

Orin knew that his fire controlling son was stubborn, but if this telepath found out that Jason was not under his control...then things would not go well for either of them. "Psimon can NOT know that you are free of his power. Please, just go, I'm sure you mother is on her way to help you."

"But mommy can't survive at this depth." Jason said.

"Your family is strong and resourceful and I'm sure that your grandfather Kaldur will get the sub up to the surface."

Jason touched the metal band holding down his dad's injured arm. It began to heat up.

"I said go, or you're grounded."

"I won't let Queen Bee get your magic, daddy." Jason said.

He saw that the metal was much thinner. He grabbed it and pulled on it with all his might...

The band broke free.

Jason was rather proud of himself.

Orin was amazed. He watched as Jason crawled over him carefully and started on the other band.

Orin's threat of being grounded was not fazing his son at all.

Just then, there was noise outside of the room.

"Oh shit," Jason whispered.

"Go, stay hidden." Orin said. "I can handle anything they throw at me."

This time he listened, hiding behind the large control console and staying quiet.

Manta entered the room a few moments later. He eyed Orin with regret in his eyes. "You're still alive?"

"I still say you're upset by this."

"I rather it be Kaldur that suffers, but what's done is done..." Manta headed for the control console.

Orin had to make sure his evil uncle didn't see his freed arm.

"Are you so determined to make my dad suffer?" Orin asked him.

"He took my father away from me; so he will suffer for it."

"Was your childhood that horrible?" Orin asked. He didn't want to start the argument again that Kaldur didn't kill Manta.

"My mother did her best to raise me as a human. It wasn't easy."

"Why?"

"She was Atlantean. Father was not."

"You love Dymond." Orin said to him, having seen it when the two came to check on him before.

"What's it to you?" Manta asked.

"She's your mate; I know how it is to be in a war and your mate at your side, yet you can't do anything about it."

"I can do something about it. I choose not to." Manta was at the panel, looking at the blue button on the left. "I wonder...how fast you'll fall apart...when the table tugs at your limbs."

Orin got the jist of what Manta was about to do. One arm was free but the rest of his limbs weren't. He'd be torn apart.

While this was going on, Jason listened to everything, and he kept track of what Manta said for later. He had to get out of the room without Manta finding him, and that's when he saw another vent. He quietly melted the screws on this one and escaped the room. He had to find some way to wait for his mom and then they could get Orin free together.

Manta's hand shook as he tried to push it but couldn't. Something kept him from doing it.

"You're not completely evil."

"You would think so..." But Manta pulled his hand back. "Perhaps I'll return later..."

"You can't hurt family; it's the Atlantean in you. Just like you wouldn't want my father hurt...not deep down in your heart."

Manta's hand became a fist. He turned back toward Orin as the fist shook. He allowed a moment more of hesitation and then slammed his fist home.

The table shifted to move in opposite directions.

Orin braced himself for the pain.

"Goodbye...dear nephew."

With that, Manta left the room.

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Somewhere Within the Sub

Meygan, Kaldur, and Areina were making their way through the large ship, but it was different than the one Kaldur's father had used, so he was not familiar with its interior.

"Are either of you picking up anything?" Kaldur asked the mothers.

"Not with any of my tracking spells." Meygan said.

"I'm picking up both boys' heat signature; Jason's closest." Areina said.

"Then you find your sons, Meygan and I will locate Orin'ahm." Kaldur said.

"Areina….your amulet; you don't want the boys knowing so soon." Meygan said.

"Right, thanks Meygan." Areina said, and she removed her amulet. The gills on her neck disappeared after a glow surrounded her and the cockle shell came out of her skin. She then put it in a pocket of her utility belt and took off after her sons.

"I hope she does not run into Manta before she finds the boys." Kaldur said.

"You don't want your brother hurt do you?" Meygan asked.

"Oh I wish pain on him, but I want to be the one to deliver it." Kaldur answered.

"You're never the violent type, Uncle Kaldur." Meygan stated.

"Only when it comes to my son and grandsons." Kaldur said as he smiled at the demoness.

"Let's find Manta II and take him down." Meygan said, and with that the Atlantean and wizard/demoness took off.