Halosydne – Part Three
(9 September, San Diego Zoo, San Diego 8:00 PM PST)
The members of Young Justice untied the guards as Lorena and Mera escaped out of a security door. Their escape was somewhat awkward; Lorena did not know what to say to the Queen of Atlantis. Aquaman had long been a champion of San Diego; he even helped Mayor Carl Durham defend the city when Black Manta tried submerged the city with a massive manmade tidal wave. Lorena always found it hard to believe that more superheroes were not unmarried. She could never see herself putting up with husband having to leave at the drop of a hat, putting their lives in perpetual danger.
Lorena escorted Mera to Doctor Mercer's lab, the queen wanted to inspect it for any clues of Aquaman's whereabouts or her sister's plans. Queen Mera walked strongly with elegance and distinction, as any queen should. But there seemed to be more importance in her steps than usual. Mera rarely made trips to the surface world, preferring instead to be with her people in Atlantis. Orin would always regale her with his exploits of the world above; she always wished she could help him in some way. Now she had to save him before it was too late. Mera looked over files in one of the overturned cabinets and saw a peculiar, familiar name scrawled on papers. She picked up the paper to examine it closer for answers. As she read on Mera asked Lorena questions.
"This woman who funded the research the doctors were doing, Thelxiepeia Aglaopheme, did she have magenta colored hair?" Mera inquired. This was actually the first thing she had said to Lorena since leaving the dolphin tank. Lorena nodded in agreement.
"She had a rather abrasive, toxic attitude and an affinity for wearing clothes that were too young for her." Lorena added dryly. Young Justice entered into the lab, Queen Mera looked at the young warriors before her. Orin had regaled her with stories of their heroics, but now saw with her own eyes how wonderful they were.
"Has everything worked out Kaldur?" Mera asked.
"Yes my queen." Kaldur answered. "Miss Martian was able to replace the guards memory of what happened to that of another quiet night in the aquarium."
"We also replaced the footage from the security cameras as well." Artemis added. "Did you find out any new information about what happened?" Mera paced back and forth as she looked over paperwork. Lorena explained to the team what she and Mera had just gone over.
"Queen Mera, for ten years your sister has masqueraded as 'Thelxiepeia Aglaopheme' Greek American socialite and habitual Black widow." Kaldur informed her. "In those ten years she's married millionaires eight times, all of those nuptials ended with her husbands' dying mysteriously in a matter of months afterwards. She's raked up quite a fortune and has a disposable income to do what she desires. And it looks like she's hell-bent on creating an army to conquer San Diego and Atlantis. Our only problem is we don't know how much she's been she's advanced in these plans."
"Hila…." Mera muttered under her breath, she rubbed her forehead trying to stop the feeling of a headache. "It seems like my sister hasn't changed at all." The queen held back her tears as memories ran through her mind. Lorena could see the resemblance between Hila and Mera now. Mera's face was softer and warmer, while Hila's had a colder, rigid beauty.
"So you have twin sister?" Lorena asked, Mera sighed heavily,
"Yes, Hila is my twin sister." Mera divulged.
"I guess there's no debating which of you the evil twin is." Kid Flash joked. The group gave him a dirty look. Humor was not needed at the moment "What?" Kid Flash interjected. "I'm just saying…" Mera continued with her explanation.
"I am descended from the house of Xebel. We were once an influential and powerful family in the Atlantean royal court. My twin sister Hila and I were the last Xebel children born. Even though my sister and I look identical, I was demure and tranquil; Hila was wild and impetuous as a young woman. Our own father passed away when we were still children, so our uncle, Lord Kreon ensured that we were given extensive training at the Conservatory of Sorcery and groomed thoroughly for the royal court. Those were some of the happiest days of my life. My sister was my constant confidant and best friend.
Even then I knew Lord Kreon preferred my sister over me. I was quiet and composed; he felt that I lacked the 'Xebel Spark' that Hila possessed. But he promised he would fine me a suitable husband from a respected family. But all of his efforts were with Hila. There was never jealous or animosity between Hila and I, we were sisters. But I never thought that would change."
"Then what happened?" Artemis interjected; she and the other members of Young Justice were enthralled by what Mera was divulging to them.
"King…rather Crown Prince Orin." Mera answered.
"What does King Orin have to do with it?" Kaldur asked. Mera sighed heavily,
"Everything..." Mera held Kaldur's hand for support and continued her story. "Prince Orin was the most eligible bachelor in all of Atlantis. Young women tried everything to get his attention, especially Hila. She and my uncle Lord Kreon believed they would be the perfect couple; Orin's ascension to the throne would be better accepted if he married from one of the old royal families of Atlantis. Hila and Orin raced dolphins together, went treasure hunting and explored undersea caverns and troves. She tried her hardest to spend as much time with him as possible and was sure that Orin would choose her for his bride…But instead he chose me.
Unlike my sister, I was the girl who he would have long conversations with and share our deepest dreams and secrets. Around the time of our marriage that is when tensions began to arise in the kingdom, and in my family. Lord Kreon believed that Orin was jeopardizing our tradition and culture. In secret meetings he devised a rebellion to place him on the throne as king and keep the old ways intact. It was called the Xebelite rebellion, in reference to my family's management of it."
"How was the rebellion?" Kid Flashed asked.
"One third of the Atlantean population revolted against the throne. Lord Kreon was head commander, while my sister Hila was one of his best sentries. While the forces were well train, luckily the rebellion only lasted a month a no one was harmed. But the laws of Atlantis are clear; treason against the crown constitutes swift expulsion. Unfortunately there had never been such an exodus before.
It was decided that the Xebelite forces would be put into the Bermuda Triangle, where Atlantean sorcerers would entrap them forever. The only members of my family who were exempted from forced exile were my mother Lady Peisione and I. From that day Hila swore revenge against me, Orin and Atlantis; but I never thought she would ever escape."
As Mera told the team of her origins, Kid Flash got onto Dr. Mercer's computers and tried to get as much information as possible.
"My Queen I promise will we bring King Orin back safely." Kaldur reassured. Kid Flash jumped up in elation at his discovery.
"I found the coordinates for where they think the temple is. Their schedule is set to go to it tomorrow morning."
"Miss Martian input the information into the Bio-Ship. We'll leave early tomorrow and canvas the area." Kaldur ordered. "Fix six seats in the ship."
"Make that seven seats, I'm coming with you." Lorena told the team. "Hila and Dr. Geist did this to my mentor, and I want to be sure they pay for it. I won't take no for an answer." Before any of Young Justice members could say anything Mera stepped forward.
"You have been given enhanced strength and underwater breathing. It would be an honor to have you work with us…."
"My Queen," Kaldur interrupted. "My I speak with you privately?" Mera smiled and excused themselves to a more secluded area of the labs where they could be alone. Aqualad wanted to ensure that no one could eavesdrop on their conversation, so he spoke in his native Atlantean. He confessed his concerns,
"My Queen, I am uncertain that it is wise to allow Lorena on the rest of the mission. She is not a member of the team and could become a liability." Mera put her arm on Kaldur's shoulder.
"Do not worry Kaldur'ahm; Lorena will be a great alley. She is knowledgeable about the doctor's computer systems and from what I have witnessed in the battle that just occurred she has wonderful fighting skills. Right now she has just become Atlantean; she has the strength, aquatic skills and dexterity that could even rival King Orin's. She will need us to help her adjust to these things. She is now an Atlantean, and a member of my kingdom will always receive help if it is needed." Mera look into Kaldur's eyes. "Is there any other reason you may want her not to accompany us?" She squeezed her shoulder in reassurance.
"Your majesty I…."
"Don't need to explain." Mera told him. "I have seen the way you look at Lorena, it is the way I remember that was the way you once looked at Tula. And the way your mother, Peisione first saw your father" Kaldur blushed as Mera continued. "Lorena, though hot tempered and high spirited will be a great help to us if you let her. You must set aside your feelings for her and allow Lorena to do her best. They say that a tree cannot grow in constant shadow. Kaldur, you must let Lorena be independent."
"When Black Manta tried to steal the giant sea star and Tula was injured I couldn't stand to see that she was hurt, it threw me into a blind rage. I do not want the same thing to happen again."
"Kaldur, Lorena is not Tula. Lorena has proven that she can handle herself. But what is most important is that you must trust in her. That is the only way that this anxiety of danger and anger will subside." Queen Mera hugged Kaldur. "You have been my rock many a time when Orin was gone and things looked grim. I am happy to return the favor."
"I am glad as well, my queen." Kaldur replied. Kaldur and Queen Mera returned to Lorena and Young Justice, they quieted their strategies as they two entered the room.
"Everything okay?" Superboy asked.
"Everything is fine, Queen Mera commanded that Lorena join us on the mission. And we will respect that request." Kaldur informed them. Lorena was so ecstatic; she would finally be able to help save Dr. Mercer's life.
"Welcome to the team," Kid Flash whispered in her ear. "We needed some more members who were easy on the eyes."
"You're as smooth as a ninety year old behind Flash." Artemis chided, overhearing his flirtation. Lorena giggled at their badinage. They should just get a room already.
"Hello M'gann! You totally need a costume!" Miss Martian said to Lorena.
"A costume?" Lorena asked. "…I don't know how good I look in capes…"
"Having capes are overrated. Trust me." Superboy chimed in.
"You'll need to have something that will be very durable in the ocean; we don't know how long we'll be under there." Kaldur informed Lorena. She looked over at the experimental underwater suits Dr. Mercer developed and smiled.
"I think I have just the thing."
(9 September, Uncharted Island off the coast of California 10:00 PM PST)
Aquaman drifted in and out of consciousness. His arms and legs were strapped to an operating table, his chest held down by a metal harness. The thugs who kidnapped him worked less than five feet away from him on computers. His body ached from fatigue and dehydration. There was moisture in the air, but not enough to regain strength enough to attempt and escape.
"Look who's finally up." A familiar voice chimed. Orin turned his head to see his sister-in-law Hila hovering beside him.
"It's been a long time Hila." Orin told her. It was hard to look at her sometimes, she reminded him so much of Mera; he couldn't stand to let his mind play tricks on him that Mera would ever do something like this to him.
"Far too long Orin. You can also call me Siren. Men say my beauty and voice are almost hypnotizing, but you know that firsthand." Hila glided her fingertips up and down his chest. "But it looks like time has been very kind to you." She stared deeply into his eyes, her body quaked with lust. "It has been kind to me too. Do you ever think when you are with my sister of me? We are identical. It could be my lips that you kiss or my hair you slide through your hands, my body you hold at night in bed."
"Why have you captured me Hila?" Orin yelled. He was in no mood for Hila's delusions. She gently stroked his face, relishing the feeling of it again; she almost forgot how wonderful his skin was.
"Can't I look up a friend for old times' sake?" Hila laughed. Orin did not find her brand of humor the least bit funny. "If you must know, I am looking for something and I know you have it."
"Looking for what?" Orin demanded.
"I know you have one of the Amulets of Salacia. We found it when we excavated a cavern not too far from Poseidonis. You always carry it around as a good luck charm." Orin shook his head feverishly.
"You are out of your mind!" Orin protested. Hila just smiled evilly,
"Really, then what is this?" Hila held up the third and final amulet.
"Hila you cannot be serious. You have taken this too far; the Trident of Salacia is only a myth."
"Funny, that's what people have always said about Atlantis. Tomorrow I will rise the Temple of Salacia up from the Pacific Ocean and claim the trident for my own." Hila grasped a glass of water from a laboratory table and brought it closer. "I know you have not been exposed to water in a very long time, that can make any Atlantean incredibly weak. Such a pity water, water everywhere and yet not a drop to drink." Hila imbibed the water slowly, teasing Orin with every gulp. She left some on her lips. "Care you drink the rest?" Orin looked directly at Hila and smiled sweetly,
"I'd rather fight off the Kraken." Hila threw the glass at the wall in fury.
"Everyday your child grows in my sister's belly. And every day I hate her even more. Both you and hear will bow down to me when I am Queen of Atlantis! Do not forget that it is I who is keeping you alive and no one else. Think of that as we make our final arrangements." Hila walked away from Aquaman and to where Dr. Geist was preparing plans on his computer. "Everything is ready doctor?"
"Yes Hila..I mean Siren; everything will go according to plan." Dr. Geist divulged. Their henchmen Pike walked up to them, carrying a tray. He handed them each a glass of champagne. Hila and Doctor Deist raised their glasses for a toast. "To evil!" Dr. Geist cheered. Hila softly hit his glass with her own, making a sharp bell noise.
"Yes, to evil." They drank the champagne excitedly. "What a wonderful taste." Hila delighted. "Do I sense a hint of…Tetrodotoxin?" Dr. Geist stepped back in horror. "You really didn't think I wouldn't notice? I've been dealing with the poison from the Fugu fish for years. But I know for a fact you haven't. Actually I checked your research thoroughly and didn't see any knowledge of marine poisons. Which is a shame, because you might be able to tell what they might taste like, even disguised in a drink." Dr. Geist fell to the floor in agony; he curled in a ball unable to move. "You really thought I would let you take me out? I saw what you let me do your partner Mercer. And he spent his whole career saving you from habitual failure. Now you will end up just the way you left Mercer. It was all for the best anyway, since Pike and the others knew all of your research and information you needed to be phased out. Geist lay on the floor totally motionless. Hila kicked him to gauge a reaction. Nothing. "Pike, Hammerhead and Devil Ray, throw this chum out to the sharks. He has no family to speak of so no one will be looking for him." They lifted him up, preparing him for his watery grave. "And if you excuse me I have to get ready for tomorrow."
(10 September, Pacific Ocean, 11:00 AM PST)
The Bio-Ship hovered feet above the cool blue waters of the Pacific Ocean. Emotions were tense aboard the ship; Young Justice had spent the night before going over a plan of attack against Hila and her soldiers. First Mera, Aqualad and Lorena would enter in the ocean in the area of the temple; the rest of the team would follow them and stop Hila at all costs.
Lorena adjusted the suit Dr. Mercer had designed on her body. It hugged the contours of her shape; her midriff was exposed showing off her abs, Lorena was glad she had kept up with her crunches. Lorena loved the way it looked on her. So did Wally, if he looked any harder at Lorena he could have probably seen through her.
"A body like that should come with a warning label." Wally thought to himself. Lorena noticed Wally's staring,
"Is there something wrong Wally?" Lorena asked. Wally was glad the onetime M'gann did not set up telepathic links early.
"Yes," Wally explained. "I just wanted to tell you good job in advance. I was nervous on my first assignment too with the Flash."
"The same thing happened with me and Green Arrow." Artemis added. "You'll do great." Lorena saw M'gann change into her Black pant leg costume without the cape. She found it fascinating to see Miss Martian shape shift in person. Miss Martian walked over to Lorena's chair and gave her a hug.
"I wanted to be sure I gave you this before we begin. Missions can be so stressful…"
"Let's just do this." Superboy interjected. Lorena could tell he wasn't one of sentimental moments. But he did have a point, the longer they stalled, the shorter time they could be sure Aquaman was still alive. Mera placed on her green cat suit, her golden crown and bracelets shimmered.
"Are we clear about our objectives?" Mera asked. The team nodded in agreement. The bio ship opened a hole in its floor for Mera, Aqualad and Lorena to jump out of. Mera went first; she leapt gracefully towards the water. Lorena breathed heavily, fearful of her descent. Aqualad squeezed her hand.
"The first jump is always the most nervous. Just breath and you will be fine." Lorena dived to the water; she felt her body moving faster and faster to the ocean. In an instant she heard a loud crash as she entered into the ocean, the cool blue water surrounding her. Normally diving into water at that distance would knock out a normal human, but Lorena was no longer normal. Lorena inhaled deeply, her lungs did not fill with water, and they were able to extract oxygen and allowed her to breath. Lorena heard another crash, she saw Kaldur hit the water and landed right next to her. He swam stronger than a dolphin. Lorena loved the feeling of breathing under water. She always dreamed of being a mermaid as a little girl, and her dream was finally a reality. Kaldur could see the excitement and happiness on Lorena's face. He was never able to experience the ocean with his comrades, or any land people for that matter. Lorena kissed Kaldur; he was shocked at her kiss at such a strenuous time.
"For good luck…" they both began to blush as Mera interrupted them mentally.
"There, look! That is the area where Hila will be landing."
Hila's henchmen piloted her submarine, edging closer to their destination. Aquaman was held in stocks in a holding cell attached to the submarine's walls.
"We've reached our destination Hila." Pike told her. Hila wore her tight crimson red cat suit, her long magenta hair manicured perfectly down to her waist. The heirloom golden boots, gauntlets and crown helmet shimmered like the sun. She looked like a true Xebel beauty.
"Thank you Pike, but remember to call me Siren." Hila corrected. "Piranha, please bring me the amulets." Hila went to Orin's cell. "Now you will see who better twin is." Piranha brought Hila a rectangular satin box. As she opened the box, light emitted from the jewels on the amulets. She used her magic to levitate the amulets; she felt the magic pulse from them being all together. A giant red translucent squid surrounded her submarine. Her magical abilities we quite powerful; red sorcery marks radiated all over her body and her eyes glowing a deep ruddy color. She began to chant in Atlantean. "Amphitrite I call upon your power! Lovely Halosydne goddess of the blue glancing seas, I call upon your graces! Raise your temple from the sands so I may possess your good favor!" The ocean floor began to rumble, fish and other sea life scattered as the ground continued to quake. Lorena gasped at what she saw, out of the ground came a massive structure. Mera gestured the three of them to swim quickly to the surface. From the Bio-Ship the Young Justice members saw the temple emerge to the surface. The temple of Salacia shimmered in the sunlight, the first time it had done so in nearly a millennia.
"What is that?" Superboy asked.
"Tectonic plate shifting under water caused the temple to resurface." Kid Flash explained.
"Whatever Baywatch." Artemis chided. "Let's get ready to land." Lorena, Aqualad and Mera reached the surface and were in awe of the temple. The found a staircase that reached the water and walked up it to the courtyard. The temples columns and walls were painted in vibrant blues, teals and purples. Mosaics of dolphins, Nereids, Naiads, seahorses, graced their walls. A giant relief of Amphitrite and Poseidon was painted on the domed roof of the temple.
Lorena was speechless to the beauty she was seeing.
"Now we have to find the trident before my sister." Mera told Kaldur and Lorena.
"Is that before or after she kills you three?" a familiar voice bellowed. Hila and her henchman stood in the entrance of a corridor. "Oh Mera, all this time has done wonders to your appetite and figure. You're still fighting off pounds."
"And you're still a psychopath." Mera retorted.
"Now now sister dear, sticks and stones; you wouldn't want me to crush you with them." Hila looked at Aqualad and Lorena, ready in fighting stances. "And look! You have Aqualad and…who are you Aquagirl?"
"Yeah I'm Aquagirl and we have some fish to fry!" Hila's henchmen charged at the trio. The henchmen held solidified water in the shapes of swords. "Aqualad's Water-Bearers formed into maces. Hila formed the huge red translucent squid again, and Mera created a giant translucent green octopus to combat one another.
"You cannot stop the queen!" Aqualad yelled "She is the headmistress of the Conservatory of Sorcery." Hila scoffed at Aqualad's assertion. "Mera refresh my memory, who graduated from the Conservatory first in her class and who was second?"
"You…" Mera answered. "But that, like much of what you harp on is ancient history." Pike jumped high into the air brandishing the sword above Lorena. Hila and Mera began to use their sorcery. Aqualad's Water-Bearers formed into maces. Pike jumped high into the air brandishing the sword above Lorena.
"Say goodnight chica!" Just then a small arrow raced over Lorena's head, hitting Pike; he fell to the ground in agony. Artemis had shot him with an electrified arrow. Artemis took another arrow and popped out a net to subdue him. Superboy jumped down from the rafters and started to berate the soldiers with his fists. Kid Flash speeded by them, in an effort to bewilder and trip them. Inside the temple was a huge wall with three triangular holes, Lorena realized that the wall must guard the trident. She watched the henchmen place the amulets into the wall. Lorena couldn't let them in passed the wall. She subdued them with a roundhouse kick, she tore off their helmets. Being exposed to fresh air caused him to fall to the ground.
"Take off their helmets, they can't process the air!" Lorena picked up one the blasters the soldiers dropped and shot it in Hila's direction.
"You missed you dirty little air-breather!" Hila mocked. Lorena smirked,
"I wasn't aiming at you." Lorena corrected. She had freed Aquaman from his entrapment. "Now Aqualad!" Kaldur threw a massive wave at Aquaman. The rush of water refreshed King Orin's strength; he began to help in taking out Hila's forces. Lorena watched the wall open to a secret corridor. "I'll go in and check what's in the hallway, keep everyone busy." Lorena told the team mentally.
Lorena walked down the corridor as the wall closed behind her. The walls were filled with paintings of the life of Amphitrite. As she walked closer she saw a strange light emitting from the end of the hall. Lorena entered into the room where the trident was housed. Trident of Salacia was made a strong clear rigid crystal. With one strong pull Lorena lifted the trident from its holding place; she heard a voice echoing from beyond. Lorena, you are now the master of the Trident. Use it wisely.
Hila's squid grasped a hold of Kid Flash, Miss Martian and Artemis. "With all of you finished, I'll be queen of Atlantis in no time!" Hila laughed evilly, but her laughing was cut short when she was thrown to the ground when a surge of energy hit her. Lorena emerged from the shadows.
"I wouldn't send out engraved announcements just yet." Lorena told Hila. Hila's eyes filled with rage as she saw Lorena wield the trident. Lorena pointed the trident in Hila's direction, encasing Hila's minions in blocks of ice. The power that emanated from the trident was so smooth and graceful; it felt Lorena's thoughts and implemented them. Hila swiped Lorena with a translucent tentacle. She fell to the ground, the trident falling to her side. Hila picked it up, rage and satisfaction filling her face.
"You filthy little air breather, you are worthy enough to even look at the Trident of Salacia! It has a new master." Hila thrust the trident in Lorena's face, only to feel a sharp pain go across her entire body. Hila dropped to the floor in agony, Lorena got back up and grabbed the trident from her hands.
"The Trident of Salacia does have a new master. And that master is me." Young Justice, Mera and Aquaman surrounded Hila. "Aquaman, I hope you have a cell big enough for this traitor." Lorena said.
"I lived life as a prisoner and I shall not return to it!" Hila sneered. "I will return for my revenge. Take heed my dear Orin and Mera, the house of Xebel will rise again!" She raised her hands and invoked an Atlantean spell. In a flash she had disappeared. The trident levitated from Lorena's hands, transporting everyone to the shore of a deserted San Diego Island.
"What happened to the temple?" Superboy asked. Mera received a message from her brother-in-law Orm; the temple had been placed among the other temples in the religious district of Atlantis.
"Will Hila be back?" Miss Martian asked.
"Yeah, she didn't seem too happy we totally stopped her world domination plan." Wally added.
"If I know my sister, she will be." Mera told them. She grabbed Aquaman's hands, "But next time we will be ready." They kissed passionately in front of the young heroes. King Orin had missed his queen deeply. He felt her stomach, trying to feel their baby. "Our child is alright. He has your genes."
"And yours." Aquaman added.
"I hate to ruin this lovely moment, but should I do with the Trident of Salacia?" Lorena asked. "I think my parents will start to ask questions if they see it hanging on my wall." Aquaman was about to say something when Mera interrupted him.
"I think I have a wonderful solution."
(10 September, Uncharted Island off the coast of California 5:00 PM PST)
Mera sat in a long armchair in her private quarters. Her minions were quieter than usual. Hila hated failure, and they knew firsthand how she could release that anger. Hila played with Atlantean chess pieces. She waited for her comrades, Hila hated to be left waiting for long. She heard the door slide open.
"How did the mission go?" a mysterious voiced asked.
"We lost the trident and new recruits. But they were all air breathers, Geist enhanced them to breathe underwater, but I made sure that those enhancements did not last for too long. In less than a week they will be back to their old selves." Out of the shadows the mysterious figure appeared. It was the Ocean Master.
"Anything else?" Ocean Master asked.
"My Xebel minions were able to extract some very interesting Atlantean writings that seemed to have been lost since the temple disappeared. They will examine them closely; any that could be helpful to your needs in Poseidonis will 'reappear' in one of the older libraries and bring about discussions of Atlantean genetic purity and supremacy."
"Excellent! And what about your objectives Black Manta?" Black Manta appeared from the shadows as well. They always say that the enemy of my enemy is my best friend. These three had become quite comrades when they found out they had one common goal, the downfall of King Orin.
"While Aquaman was detained by Hila I was able to secure the provisions for my next attack. I am sure we will catch King Orin by surprise." One of Hila's minions came in with a platter with three goblets of wine on them. Black Manta unmasked himself to drink. They all raised their goblets in the air.
"Gentleman, to evil." Hila cheered. They struck their goblets together in agreement.
(10 September, San Diego, California 8:00 PM PST)
Lorena, Kaldur, Artemis, Wally, M'gann, and Conner sat down at Lorena's favorite restaurant in all of San Diego called Cuban Tito's. They served the best Hispanic-Latin food she'd eaten since she tasted her abuelita's.
"Order the tostones from an appetizer they are amazing!" They all examined their menus carefully, choosing what they wanted to order.
"What did you and Aquaman agree on Lorena?" Artemis asked. King Orin spoke to Lorena and Kaldur in private, and they were all anxious to hear what he had decided.
"Since Aquaman was able to give Dr. Mercer the antidote to the Tetrodotoxin and he promised to stop making the Atlantean super soldier serums he was cleared of wrong doing since he did not know what Geist or Hila were doing. They just found Geist's body at a beach in Catalina, or rather what was left of it. Apparently he tried to make a run for it in a boat and fell out of it and drowned. There seemed to be no foul play involved."
"Are you hanging up your costume for good?" Wally asked.
"Mera said that since I am Atlantean now, she wants me engrossed in the history and culture. She has enlisted Kaldur to be my personal tutor. Hopefully I'll fully know Atlantean by Christmas. AND since King Orin cannot be in a hundred places at once he gave me his blessing to keep protecting the city as Aquagirl. I also have weekly combat trainings with King Orin. Mera was able to disguise the trident as this necklace." She lifted the amulet from her neck to show, the tiny crystal trident did look like the Trident of Salacia. "I can command it to come to full size at anytime."
"It'll be nice having more heroines around." Artemis told her. "There needs to be more estrogen in Mount Justice." The girls laughed at Artemis' observation.
"Lorena, may I speak with you privately." Kaldur asked.
"Of course you may Kaldur." Lorena told him. They excused themselves from the group, who had just received their food orders. They walked out of the restaurant and to the beach; warm night ocean water tickled their feet. Kaldur took Lorena by the hand,
"Lorena, I have enjoyed your company these past two days. All my life I have dreamed of the surface and being able to share my world with someone with it, in the upcoming months and years I hope that we will…" Lorena stroked Kaldur's face as he began to blush.
"Kaldur," Lorena interrupted.
"Yes?"
"Just kiss me." They kissed passionately under the glow of a beautiful silvery moon.