Disclaimer: I own nothing except my OC Audrina and any alterations to the original storyline her presence creates to various readers amusement everywhere across the globe.
Heart of Atlantis Chapter 2
The submarine had been recovered from the ocean floor and brought to the Justice League headquarters. All of the members of the Justice League were summoned to examine the wreckage as a unit.
"No energy signatures," reported Green Lantern/Hal Jordan, scanning the submarine with his ring. "This was all done by hand."
"Who could do that, besides us," questioned Shazam, bewildered.
Lifting the goggles from his eyes, Flash deciphered "I count four dozen unique handprints moving in sync."
"Four squadrons," calculated Batman. "This was a choreographed onslaught."
"You think Darkseid's army has returned," asked Wonder Woman.
"No, doesn't fit," concluded Batman, turning towards Cyborg. "Walk us through your assault."
Within the interior of the main control room of the submarine, Cyborg activated a program in his systems allowing his colleagues to view and hear what happened to him. It would be as if they were there. Since his transformation into becoming part machine whatever he saw could be replicated into a projection exactly the way a video should. His memory banks operated into space surrounding them as they had been during the attack making it appear like they were underwater.
Cyborg's body automatically was going to repeat the movements and actions he underwent a second time only without feeling the actual pain.
Moments into the video sequence the figures that attacked Cyborg were already beginning to make an appearance.
"Kind of cool," admitted Green Lantern, speaking behind his hand to Flash, "like watching a 3-D movie with no glasses."
Both Green Lantern and Flash gasped, startled, at an armored figure that came out of nowhere swimming between them darting a Cyborg. Another materialized from the shadows beside the other unknown entity the two punching him in the back in unison.
Releasing a pained grunt Cyborg fell forward onto the control panel in front of him. It was extremely realistic.
"Freeze," said Batman, the video pausing around them as Cyborg complied. "Observations?"
"They avoided his gaze, kept to the shadows, used their element," stated Wonder Woman, reading into the signs. "These were warriors."
"Agreed," concurred Batman. "Resume."
One of the assailants hit Cyborg with an uppercut while another of the three struck his legs. The combination sent him reeling onto the floor.
Laughing excitedly, Shazam chortled "That looked like it hurt all over again."
"Who has the force to knock a quarter ton of metal to the ground under water," said Flash, alarmed.
Cyborg was being waylaid from all sides to the point where he resorted to using massive sound waves from a cannon on his arm to fend them off.
Green Lantern noticed a technique in their maneuver patterns he recognized instantly from his own military training. "Freeze," he said, stunned. "That's a barrel roll. These guys are skilled in 360-degree combat."
"Agreed," said Batman. "Note the sound sensitivity."
"Makes sense," said Flash, nodding. "Sound travels 4.3 times faster underwater."
"Kiss ass," coughed Green Lantern, grinning.
Crossing his arms, smirking, Flash retorted "Whatever, Mr. Barrel Roll." He was referring to the bit of information Green Lantern contributed before.
That managed to shut him right up much to the satisfaction of Flash.
"Resume," ordered Batman.
Cyborg deflected the descent portion of the attacks aimed at him until the sequence reached a certain point in the frame. One of the assailants slipped his guard from behind stabbing Cyborg in the shoulder with a blade. Cyborg collapsed on one knee in pain.
As the assailant was swimming out of Cyborg's arm range the Justice League finally got a clear perceptive glimpse of who was attacking Cyborg.
"Freeze," said Batman.
Smug, Cyborg said "So that's what you look like."
Stepping closer Batman noticed a key clue. "Magnify," he said, bending at the figure's neck.
When the section of the image was enlarged so the other Justice League members saw what captured his eye.
"Gills? As in…mermaids," said Shazam, shocked.
Eyes wide, Wonder Woman said "As in Atlantis." Approaching Cyborg she pointed at the weapon imbedded in his shoulder in the video. "Where is this?"
Erasing the video fed Cyborg straightened removing the blade from the hidden compartment in his leg.
Wonder Woman took it in hand examining the markings and craftsmanship closely.
"These carvings, I recognize them from the tales of Atlantis I read as a girl," informed Wonder Woman. "It sunk into the ocean, but its people were saved by the magic of the King's trident which turned them irreversibly into creatures of the sea."
"That's a fairytale," scoffed Green Lantern in disbelief, skeptical.
Superman said "I believe you."
"Well of course he does," said Shazam, making kissing noises mocking Superman and Wonder Woman because of the date he'd caught them having earlier.
Cyborg said "So where is it?"
"The location has been lost to time," answered Wonder Woman, solemn.
"What does a mythical mystical undersea world need with missiles," said Green Lantern. "And I so dare you to say that five times fast."
"Obviously they plan to attack us," said Batman, grim.
"Any way you look at this, it's bad," said Green Lantern.
Raising his hand, Shazam suggested "Uh, terrible idea, I saw an Atlantis show on the whatsit channel with this professor. Maybe he can help us."
"We're at S.T.A.R. Labs, the greatest minds on the planet are right next door," argued Green Lantern, seeing no need to visit the professor.
Head lowered, Shazam muttered "Jeez, I said 'terrible idea'."
"Maybe it's not," said Cyborg, creating a view screen where all could see him scrolling down digital information. "Dr. Steven Shin, I'm scrubbing through his research. He's got some pretty out-there theories about the existence of Atlantis."
"Superman and I will go question Dr. Shin," said Batman, heading for the door.
"When did we vote him team leader," said Superman, slightly agitated by Batman's straightforward dismissive behavior, following him out.
Flash asked "What should the rest of us do?"
"Find Atlantis," said Superman.
Suddenly a memory flashed in Cyborg's mind reminding him not all was yet complete. "Wait," he exclaimed, stopping them before they could leave.
"What is it," said Batman, partially in the doorway.
"I didn't exactly escape on my own," said Cyborg, sheepish. "After one of those warriors stuck that bade in me I managed to get outside the vessel, but became severely weakened from my sustained injuries."
"Then how are you still alive if you couldn't fight back any longer," asked Superman, brow raised.
Rubbing the back of his neck, awkward, Cyborg sighed "You guys are going to think I'm crazy."
"Try us," encouraged Shazam, arms crossed, curious.
Cyborg said "I don't know how, but a woman rescued me. She came out of nowhere pulling me out of danger. One minute I could hear singing and the next I woke on a beach with her leaning over me."
"Did you get a good look at her," said Batman.
Shaking his head, no, Cyborg said "It was too dark. All I can remember was her voice. It was…beautiful so hypnotic, soothing as if nothing else mattered in life."
"Little mermaid much," said Green Lantern, sarcastically.
Glaring at Green Lantern, Cyborg defended "I can't recount anything further. That's all I can remember on the subject."
Suspicions were created inside Wonder Woman at the recollection Cyborg gave them. "You were put into a trance," she said.
Snapping his head in her direction, Cyborg demanded "You know who or what saved me?"
Nodding, Wonder Woman said "Perhaps, but I need to be absolutely certain before I can prove my theory is correct. You're going to have to walk us through that, too."
After going outside since they were on the ground Cyborg was required to severely magnify the image so they wouldn't overlook the smallest detail.
What he'd spoken of had been true. Cyborg was disabled and left defenseless. His body was almost indestructible, but even someone like him has weaknesses. While he was drifting in the water it looked like he was done for with the enemy targeting him. By watching the memory banks video Cyborg spotted something he didn't catch last time.
Half hidden against the submarine was a fifth person added to the equation. Cyborg assumed this was his rescuer since no one else was around to contest it. Seconds later, at random on cue, the figure would start to sing, but one among the Justice League decided to take precautions.
"Freeze," said Batman, reaching a compartment of his utility belt he pulled out five pairs of high-tech earplugs. "Cyborg, mute your audio receptors. The rest of us shall use these. We don't know how the singing will affect us or if it will like it did you."
None of them could deny the logic behind that. While Cyborg did as instructed the rest took the offered earplugs all except Wonder Woman.
Refusing the devices, Wonder Woman said "I won't be needing these. If she's what I think she is then I'll not be influenced by the magic in what she does in the slightest."
Batman returned the extra pair of earplugs to his utility belt. He said "Resume."
With the first note the effects of the power lying behind the spell were unmistakable. In an instant, the three Atlantean warriors were claimed to fall limp as did Cyborg. The men in the Justice League, besides Cyborg, felt the pull. Fortunately, because of the shielded protection they were provided, they were able to successfully withstand it.
Being subtle the mystery woman swam out of hiding and when she reached Cyborg's body the video cut off on it. Since Cyborg blacked out around that time nothing else was recorded until he was on the mentioned shoreline.
Speaking of which…
Whatever weight from the enchantment was pushing down on them evaporated making those who felt it become lighter out of the blue. They observed Cyborg waking up how the mystery woman ran off after he'd gotten his bearings.
Signaling with her hands Wonder Woman got Cyborg to pause the sequence. Everyone took out their earplugs, Cyborg switching back on his audio receptors.
"You weren't kidding," said Green Lantern, astonished. "You were saved by a woman."
The Justice League circled the magnified image getting a proper look at her.
Fascinated, Wonder Woman said "So my theory was correct after all. Cyborg, you were saved by an Atlantean."
"Yeah," snorted Shazam, amused, "We got that part."
"No, you don't understand," insisted Wonder Woman. "This isn't any ordinary Atlantean. This is a member of the royal family."
That identification sent out huge alarm bells.
Flash said "How can you be sure?"
"Not including the royal clothing, headdress, and jewels she's wearing," said Wonder Woman, "it was the siren song along with the one that breaks the enchantment that ultimately gave it away. This ability is inherited by female members of the royal bloodline whether it skips a generation or not."
Grinning, Flash said, "Wow, a princess, looks like you caught a winner there, Cyborg."
She was definitely appealing to the eye. Beauty like hers on land and sea is rare.
Intrigued, yet confused by the notion of a royal protecting him, Cyborg said "It' doesn't make sense. Why would she help me when her own people destroyed the submarine murdering the crew on board?"
Quite frankly this was a question none of them, not even the infamous Batman, were able to answer with sense.
Ironic since they were searching for answers instead resulting in more puzzles than before.
Authors Note:
I hope you all like this one! I certainly did while writing it for your vast enjoyment! ;D
For those of you just starting out with my stuff there are other works on my profile that may catch your interest. I highly recommend you take a look as soon as the opportunity presents itself to you. Who knows, you may be pleasantly surprised by what you discover.
Stay safe everyone. Especially with all of these crazy natural disasters occurring a lot lately due to global warming and climate change everywhere for sure. I swear it's like they're getting worse and worse all the time and it's like officials are simply just ignoring it or pretending it doesn't exist entirely just to go on with their daily lives. Especially those in multi-million dollar companies that rely on certain elements of our planet that we rely on to naturally keep us safe instead of adapting and finding new safer ways to keep in business. There are so many options out there where they can adapt, but they just refuse to see it because all they care about is money. Climate change is altering so much faster than anyone can really keep track of.
So, in light of all this, it is important to live life to the fullest as much as anyone can.
I know I am. ;) See you guys next time.