Chapter 7

Star Labs, League Headquarters

"You contacted everyone?" Shazam asked, as he leaned on his chair

"Everyone except Scorpion, Billy. You came." Cyborg said

"Sure, I prefer ditching school for the day." Shazam said, after straightening up. "This chair is nicer than my bed."

Immediately he finished speaking, the Flash suddenly sped into the meeting room.

"Hey guys, sorry I'm…" Flash paused after noticing the people present. "Not late? Where is everybody?" He suddenly asked

"The human Internet router's having trouble getting the word out." Shazam said

"Let's do it the old fashioned way." Flash said

Air force Base

Hal Jordan is seen chatting with a female receptionist. "I'll bet you like Cuban food. I know this sick place… In Cuba."

The receptionist smiled at him, writing her number on a post-stick note, folding it and handing it to Hal. Winking at her, Hal turned away…. And then there was a rush of wind.

When he opened the note, all that was written on it was 'Outside! Hurry!'

"… I'm gonna disembowel you, Barry." He hissed under his breath.

Minutes later, Hal floated down next to Barry, clad in his Green Lantern uniform.

"Took you long enough." Teased Barry.

"Yeah, yeah, what's the what? I was just about to seal the deal."

"Cyborg's got something. All hands on deck...Race you to headquarters?"Flash said, before speeding off

"We have a headquarters?" Hal suddenly asked himself.

Cafe, Downtown Metropolis

"I still can't believe people don't recognise you when you wear glasses…" Clark chuckled, beaming at Diana who was dressed in a slim-fitting, dark blue dress which matched his own blue tie.

"Hmmmm, although I do feel like I'm hiding." Diana said

"Not hide as much as be one of them."

Diana frowned, "The difference eludes me."

Reaching over, and gently taking hold of her hand, Clark rubbed his thumb along her knuckles. "You're blending in… leading a normal happy life…. You are happy, right?"

Before Diana could answer, someone called Clark's name from behind him.

"Clark? Is that you?"

Clark winced slightly, as a brunette woman strode up to the table, "Oh Lois…. Hi."

Lois ahemed politely, prompting Clark to flush. "I'm sorry, this is- "

"- Lois Lane." Lois rudely interrupted, holding her hand out to Diana.

"Diana Prince." Diana introduced, as she returned the handshake

"Ooh. That's some grip." Lois practically threw herself into the space next to Clark in the booth, silently urging him to shuffle to the side, "I work with Clark…. Closely."

"Diana is a diplomat." He blurted out, flushing as Diana raised a delicate eyebrow at him.

"Oh. So, this is work-related?" Lois frowned

Diana smirked, "No. It's a date."

"Oh…. Right." Lois nudged Clark in the side, "She must be a wonder woman to deal with you on a daily basis…. I love your glasses by the way Diana."

"Thank you, Miss Lane."

Before anything else could be said, a Boom Tube suddenly appeared outside the cafe as Cyborg and Shazam stepped out.

"Hold on, are they on a date?" Shazam asked, as people started to take pictures of him and Cyborg

"See you later Smallville." Lois said, before leaving the duo

Taking this as his cue, Clark waved over the waitress, "We'll need this to go!"

Star Labs

Less than an hour later, Superman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Green Lantern, Cyborg and Shazam are seen seating round a meeting table in silence.

"So what…" began Hal, "…the Bat thinks he's too good for us?"

Cyborg signed. "It's Batman. He doesn't answer hails."

"Yeah…. If I have to be here, so does he."

Barry reached out to try and stop Hal, "Hal, don't do anything- "

Hal was already gone.

"- stupid."

Gotham

"Scarecrow don't pay me enough to deal with this shit!" yelled a thug as they sped through the streets of Gotham.

"You got that right."

"There he is!"

Up in the air, the Bat-Jet was close behind them…. And a new visitor.

"Hi, Spooky…" greeted Hal, flying alongside the air-craft, "… You don't write, you don't call- "

"I'm busy."

The target car suddenly drifted around a corner as Hal came to a stop and the Bat-Jet zoomed ahead, only to be forced to turn around to face Hal.

"Well, clear your schedule…." Sighed Hal, "…Because you and I are- "He yelped and ducked as Batman flew over his head, speeding in between two buildings to try and catch the thugs."

"I hate that guy."

Catching up with the Bat-jet, Hal tried to appeal to the vigilante again. "The League needs you."

"This is about the missiles?"

"… Lucky guess."

As one of the thugs fired a bazooka missile at the Bat-Jet, forcing it to twist violently to the side.

"Relax…" Hal chuckled, "… I got this." Turning his attention to the thugs, he flew towards them, "Hey there, hench-dudes. I'll be handling your arrest today."

Bullets had no effect on him as he floated to the ground, using his ring to build a green road for the car to try again, taking them far into the air, and then spiralling back down…. Straight into a green blockade.

With the police cars surrounding the thug car, Hal turned to Batman and grinned. "Ready? Because we're done here."

"Are we?" Batman frowned, "Who's the supplier for the aerosol component of the fear toxin?"

"Who's... Who's the what, now?"

"Who is the Scarecrow targeting in city hall? No? What about something simple, like where's the Scarecrow?"

Hal glanced between the thug car and Batman, before throwing his hands up in exasperation. "Bro, I caught them for you. You're welcome! I didn't know- "

"- I didn't need them caught, I needed them scared. I needed information." Batman turned away and jumped back into his Jet, "… Next time you want to help, do me a favour… don't."

And with that, the Bat-Jet flew off in the opposite direction, with Hal following close behind.

Star Labs

The submarine had been retrieved from the bottom of the ocean and brought to Star labs, where the Justice League could examine the damage done to it, and what caused it.

"No energy signatures." Reported Hal as he used his ring to scan the submarine, "This was all done by hand."

From the floor, Flash frowned, "Who could do that… Besides us?"

"You sure Scorpion's coming?" Cyborg suddenly asked.

"If this isn't handled quickly, it might end up being a national disaster." Batman said. "Which would indirectly or directly affect his clan."

"Kinda weird the two brooders of the team were keeping tabs of each other." Hal said. "Couldn't we just, pay him a visit?"

"Scorpion's clan doesn't do well with trespassers." Batman said. "Even if said trespasser is me."

"Speaking from experience?" Hal asked

"Yes." Batman said, remembering how he was suddenly surrounded by Shirai Ryu Ninjas when he stepped within one feet of their territory.

The Dark Knight train of thoughts ended, when suddenly a ball of fire suddenly appeared in the room, revealing none other than Scorpion

"Took you long enough." Hal said

"It's good to see you again Scorpion." Superman greeted

"Nice, the entire team is here." Shazam said

"We are not a team." Scorpion said, before facing Batman. "What are we looking at?"

"This." Batman said, gesturing to the submarine as they all stepped inside it.

Barry, who was putting his forensic scientist knowledge to good use, sighed. "I count four dozen unique handprints moving in sync."

Scorpion nodded in agreement, "I sense four different individuals."

"Four squadrons…." Stated Batman, "… This was a choreographed onslaught." He turned to Cyborg, "Walk us through your assault."

Cyborg brought up a holographic re-enaction of the event. As a black, unknown figure shot past them, Hal leaned in to Barry.

"Kind of cool. Like watching a 3D movie with no glasses."

Just as one of the figures slammed into Cyborg, Batman called out "Freeze. Observations?"

"They avoided his gaze." Stated Scorpion, as Diana nodded in agreement, "Kept to the shadows. Used their element…. These were warriors."

"Agreed. Resume."

This time, Cyborg was slammed face first into the ground, causing Shazam to wince. "Ooh! That looked like it hurt all over again."

Barry watched on and frowned, his scientific mind racing behind his mask. "Who has the force to knock a quarter ton of metal to the ground underwater?"

As the footage continued, Hal frowned at one of the moves the attackers used. "Freeze…" Once it stopped, he pointed at the attacker, "… That's a barrel roll. These guys are skilled in 360-degree combat!"

Batman nodded, "Agreed. Note the sound sensitivity."

"Makes sense." Barry sighed, "Sound travels four point three times faster underwater."

cough*coughs*

Barry grinned at Hal, nudging him in the side, "Whatever, Mr. Barrel-Roll."

The pair were ignored by Batman, "Resume."

Once they got a good picture of one of the attackers, Batman called out for the footage to "freeze" again.

Cyborg frowned at the clear view that they had. "So that's what you look like."

"Magnify." Muttered Batman, peering at some strange characteristics on the side of the man's neck, before pointing them out.

"Gills?" questioned Shazam, "As in mermaids or- "

"- as in Atlantis." Interrupted Diana in shock, "A knife was used on you, do we still have it."

Cyborg nodded, before pulling the knife out from his thigh as the holographic image faded away. Taking the weapon into her hands, Diana began examining it carefully.

"These carvings…" she whispered, "… I recognize them from the tales of Atlantis I read as a girl. 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."

"So we're dealing with magic." Scorpion said

"I always thought that was a fairy tale?" Hal asked.

"So, where is it?" asked Cyborg.

"The location has been lost to time." Began Diana.

"What does a mythical mystical undersea world need with missiles?" Hal frowned, before turning to Flash, "And I so dare you to say that five times fast."

"Obviously, they plan to attack us."

"Any way you look at this, it's bad." Hal agreed with Batman

"Bad idea." Shazam said. "I saw this documentary about Atlantis by this scientist."

"We're at Star Labs, with some of the greatest minds on the planet." Hal said

"I said it was a bad idea." Shazam said, turning away

"Maybe not." Cyborg pursed his lips in thought, before bringing out a hologram of a man. "This is Dr. Stephen Shin. I've been going through his research…guy has some interesting theories about Atlantis."

"Superman and I will go question Dr. Shin." Batman stated, heading towards the exit.

"When did we vote him team leader?" he muttered, before moving to follow the Dark Knight.

"What should the rest of us to do?" Barry asked.

"… Find Atlantis." Superman said

"That won't be necessary." Scorpion suddenly said, causing the entire group to face him. "The four assailants are above water. We could question them for the missiles location."

"Almost forgot you could sense people." Hal said

"Really?" Shazam asked. "So you're basically a universal tracker."

"Take us there." Batman said, as a flaming tornado started to engulf the group, instantly teleporting them to a small island. Upon arriving the island, the group was met with the site of creatures, similar to the ones that attacked Cyborg, facing of against a man and woman with gills.

"So, who're the bad guys?" Hal asked

"Do you really need to ask?" Flash said, before racing around the island, knocking out the numerous creatures before appearing in front of the Man. "Hey, I'm the Flash."

When a creature tried to stab him from behind, Barry struck him in the face without even looking.

"Need some help?"

As the number of creatures increased, with only one or two falling to Mera's ice knives, Batman lept overhead, firing Batarang in front of them in order to push them away. Green Lantern flew down from the sky, creating a green shield to push the creatures back into the ocean.

After being teleported by Scorpion, Shazam started firing lightning bolts at the creatures, as Wonder Woman used her golden lasso to fling serval off of the edge of the cliff.

Some creatures tried to surround Scorpion, but the Spectre simple sent an explosive burst of fire that knocked them back into the ocean.

And Superman… well all he did was land, creating a massive shockwave that sent every creature to their knees.

"Retreat." He ordered, his eyes glowing red as a silent threat.

Unsurprisingly, the creatures did exactly that, dropping their weapons and fleeing back into the sea. With the threat having finally disappeared, Mera turned her attention back to Arthur…. And noticed the blood dripping down his arm.

"You're injured!" she exclaimed in shock, rushing over and gently taking the injured hand, examining it closely.

Arthur watched her, a soft smile on his face, "Hey, I've had worse." He reassured her.

"I could bandage it?"

"… Sure. I-I mean, only if you want to."

The pair stared at each other for a short period of time, leaning in as though they were going to kiss… and then Hal popped up.

"Those guys were Atlanteans?"

"Trenchers…" Mera explained as the rest of the League gathered round, "… Predatory creatures that scavenged the ocean's floor before Atlantis sunk…. Sent here to kill Arthur." She turned to the man in question, "We are done here. Come with me."

Arthur sighed wearily, "Why can't things just go back to normal?"

"Yeah, I don't see that happening." Hal piped up, but he was ignored as Mera took Arthur's un-injured hand.

"Atlantis thirsts for a new perspective!" she exclaimed, "Someone who understands the surface world and will lead us into the next century. The queen needs a beacon, Arthur…. Maybe it's you."

Here, Clark stepped forwards, "I am the sole survivor of my planet. If I had the chance to save my world and meet one of my own race, even for a moment… that would be enough." From behind the group, Scorpion merely stared at the Man of Steel in silence, taking in the knowledge that Superman was a survivor as well.

There was a brief moment of silence, before Arthur nodded in determination.

Atlantis

Orm was swimming around the throne room as his nerves threatened to over-power him. When Black Mantis entered the room, he immediately swam over.

"Is it done?" Orm asked.

There was a brief moment of silence, before Mantis shook his head. "No… Your half-brother lives. Even now, he heads towards Atlantis under protection."

Orm snarled in frustration, hands gripping his raven black hair tightly before he span around to snarl at Black Mantis. "The pact with the trenchers was your idea! They will return hungry for meat!" He grabbed Mantis, "This is all falling apart!"

As the stone doors to the throne room were flung open, Orm quickly drifted back, not wanting to show his anger in front of his Mother.

The Queen floated into the room, closely followed by her bodyguards. "Manta, what of my meeting with the surface guardians?"

There was a brief pause, before Manta bowed, "They're on their way, my liege."

"Excellent."

As she went to sit in her throne, the Queen quickly realised that her son was angry and raised an imperial eyebrow at him.

"It is a mistake…" he eventually growled, "… It flies in the face of everything my father ever wanted!"

The Queen rolled her eyes, sending her bodyguards away. "What would you have me do, Orm? Sound the drums of war solely to honour your father's memory?"

"Don't bother. You didn't honour him when he was alive!"

"… Both cruel and untrue."

Orm snarled at her, "I am not the only one with your royal blood in my veins!"

The Queen's eyes widened briefly in surprise, "Then you know."

"Of your betrayal? Or of the illegitimate heir to the throne?!"

"I deny nothing, Orm. Your brother, Arthur, can bridge the peace between Atlantis and the surface. We can flourish together in peace."

"Your judgment is compromised! You refuse to attack the surface because you have a son there!"

The Queen's silence said it all.

"A BASTARD ELDER SON!" Orm yelled, his frustration and anger finally brewing over as he shot up to his Mother, getting in her face.

She didn't even flinch.

"You speak to me of betrayal?" she snarled, "You, who spilled Atlantean blood and blamed it on the surface world?"

Orm couldn't help but float back in shock, as his Mother continued, "I have eyes everywhere, Orm, and you will pay for your treachery!"

She pushed past her son, heading towards the doors to the throne room… and then Black Mantis grabbed the trident, and stopped her from leaving.

"I'm afraid after that revelation, my Queen, I can't allow you to leave."

The Queen's eyes glowed a brilliant blue as electricity coursed through the trident, shocking Black Manta and sending him flying across the room.

"GET OUT OF MY WAY!" she bellowed, "This coup is over! I am Queen and war is not in my plans!"

Suddenly, there was a stabbing pain and the blue glow disappeared from her eyes as a hooked blade protruded from her chest.

"But it is in mine…." Orm hissed in her eat, before wrenching the blade out and watching as his Mother took her last breath. Her fingers grew limp around the trident, giving Orm the chance to snatch the weapon from her.

As she floated up to the surface, her blood stained the water all around, transforming the blue of the sea, a horrifying ruby red.

The Queen was dead…

Meanwhile…

As the ship shot through the water, Batman's voice came over the speakers.

"Shazam, Scorpion, Flash and I will keep an eye out topside…." Batman began, "…Cyborg, stay in communication."

At the back of the ship, Arthur turned to Mera. "So tell me, what's she like?"

"It's time you found out for yourself, Arthur…" Mera answered, a gentle smile on her face as the ship came to a stop on the edge of a sea cliff, overlooking a gorgeous city, "… Welcome to Atlantis. From now on, your life is here."

The beauty of the city was mind-blowing.

It was so beautiful that even Diana found herself staring at the city in amazement. "By the gods!"

"That's one for the books." Hal nodded in agreement, his eyes wide behind his mask.

Arthur was speechless for a few moments, before whispering, "…It's beautiful."

"This is your birth-right, Arthur." Mera smiled.

Together they all left the ship and swam towards the city, only to find out it was deserted.

Activating the communicator that was built into the oxygen mask, Cyborg tried to get through to Batman. "Batman, we're here."

"Error. Unknown interference."

Cyborg groaned, "Great… I can't get a signal, in or out of this place."

"Where is everyone?" Arthur glanced around.

Clark also glanced around, before coming to a decision. "Something's wrong."

Spotting an elderly Atlantian trying to swim away, Mera blocked her path, straightening up to her full height and using a little bit of command in her voice. "Tell me, why is the royal city deserted?"

The old lady nervously rubbed her hands together, "Our brave men and women have gone to prepare for war."

"Not possible. The queen would never allow this!"

"Our queen is dead."

Arthur felt as though his heart had dropped to his stomach. "Dead?"

"Killed by a surface dweller."

Arthur felt emotionally drained…. He'd lost his Father only a few weeks ago, and now, as he was approaching the underwater memorial bed, the urge to scream and cry was building.

"Mother…." He whispered, as he gazed on the still body of his Mother. It was clear that she'd been cleaned up and dressed in her finest clothes.

As Arthur was grieving, Mera floated over to stand beside him, "I failed you, my queen…." She whispered, taking Arthur's hand.

Arthur frowned, "Whoever did this will pay."

There was a brief moment of silence, before a cultured voice spoke up. "Welcome, bastard."

The group span around to see a younger man, with dark hair and purple eyes standing behind them, dressed in royal armour.

"Is Atlantis everything you dreamed of, brother? Or in your dream, were you on the throne?".

Back at the ship

"They're gathering." Scorpion suddenly said

"Who's gathering?" Shazam asked

"The Atlantians." Scorpion said. "I can sense hundreds of them gathering."

"They're preparing for war." Batman said grimly

"This is bad." Shazam said. "And Cyborg isn't answering."

"If war is inevitable, then I must prepare my Shirai Ryus." Scorpion said

"Scorpion wai-" Batman didn't finish, as the Spectre suddenly teleported away.

"So what now?" Shazam asked as he stared into the ocean.