Chapter One - Scum of the Earth

"When we said we needed some time to ourselves, this isn't what I had in mind."

This was not a romantic getaway, just the two of them. Sure, it was just the two of them, but it was a mission: to stop David Kane from destroying the world.

"What happened to him?" Orm shook his head from the driver's seat of the ship. "The David Kane my father and I hired was ruthless but he wasn't insane. This David Kane just held a gun to the world's head and pulled the trigger without making any demands."

Aurelia stiffened in her own seat. "I happened. I brought this on. It's my fault, so I've got to finish it."

"What did happen between you two?"

"I made a bad decision, one that'll haunt me forever..."

Five years ago, Atlantic Ocean

"Permission to come aboard."

"It's the Aquawoman!"

"You're damn right it is!" It was all a blur, fighting the pirates, rescuing the hostages.

She had been tracking this group of stealth pirates who had stolen a government ship for months. Now, the sub was flooding and she was heading up to rejoin the passengers who had already escaped. Suddenly, it was just her and them, father and son.

"Well if it isn't the Aquawoman. I've waited a long time for this," the son said.

"Am I supposed to know who you are?"

"I scavenge the high seas, you're the Aquawoman - we were bound to meet at some point!"

The father had blasted her back with is weapon, but it had only momentarily held her back. Then it was her turn to return the hit.

"DAD!"

"That's your kid? Shame on you. You boys got yourselves into this mess, you can get yourselves out."

She was halfway up the ladder when, "Wait! Help me! He's trapped. You can't leave him like this! Please!"

And that was when she made her decision, one that would seal her fate and her future. "You hurt and killed innocent people. You ask the sea for mercy." And with that, she had turned her back on them and left, rejoining the hostages and getting them to safety. And clearly the father had died while Kane had survived, with a thirst for her blood and revenge. It was a moment's choice that would haunt her and determine the rest of her life.

"I know it sounds cliche but it's just as clear now as it was then. I remember it vividly," she said, still lost in the memory

"It's not your fault, Aurelia."

"But it is. I turned him into what he is today. I did this. And now I have to finish it."

"Well you don't have to finish it alone," he assured her.

This made her smile a little. "Good, I'm glad."

"And my contact will at least know where to look."

"Okay, good. Wake me when we get there." She leaned back, folded her hands behind her head, and kicked up her legs.

"One, get your feet off my dash. And two, we're here."

"Huh?" She sat up straighter, bringing her legs down from their kicked-up position. "That was fast..."

"Welcome to the last frontier. They scavenged ships from around the world to build this place: the Sunken Citadel. It is the one place in the world where the scum of the land and sea meet and mingle. It's where people come to disappear."

"Wow-" She gazed around the dark atmosphere around them. "This is an impressive shit hole. How come I've never heard about this place before? Seems like the kinda place I should know about, you know, as Queen of Atlantis and all that."

"It's not meant to be common knowledge. It's a pirate haven."

This caught her attention. She whirled on him. "Pirates? Babe, you know I'm not very popular with pirates."

As if on cue, they were blinded by a bright searchlight blasting into the ship, drawing them to a halt.

She turned to Orm, miffed to say the least.

"I am aware, but this is the only lead we have."

And so, minutes later, they were chained up. It felt as though they had just escaped being captured, thanks to their adventure in the Deserter prison. Now, here they were again.

Aurelia kicked at the shackle attached to her ankle. "Some light bondage, great."

"I know it's not ideal, but don't worry," Orm urged. "It was the only way to ensure we both got in."

"You could have at least given me a head's up."

"I wanted to, but I'm not very proud of my past connection here. My father and I used to hire mercenaries from here, mostly him but I followed the practice."

A set of heavy steel doors swung open to allow them passage-

Into the most lit place she had seen in a while. This made Terry's on a Friday night seem tame. There was a big bar, gambling stations, a stage with live music.

"Whoa - it's like underwater Vegas!"

"There, that is Kingfish, my contact," Orm informed, nodding up ahead. "He is the one who originally put my father and I in contact with David Kane. He brokers deals with pirates, mercenaries, slavers, you name it. My father had dealings with many of these people."

"Scum of the Earth?" That sure sounded like Old Orvax alright. "That I can see."

As they got closer, she found that King Fish was a very fat blue fish. He was sprawled out on a throne, overseeing everything, servants and woman all over him.

"Why am I getting major Jabba the Hutt vibes here?" She shuddered. "Okay, I'mma go pick a fight."

"My Love, please let me handle this."

"What, you don't like my methods? This seems like the kind of time and place for them."

"Your methods are great, all I'm saying is that this is our only lead and we can't afford to lose it. I know these people and we'll get nowhere and they'll tell us nothing if you go in there flexing your muscles at them."

"Works for others." He fixed her with a look. She raised her hands in surrender and gave in. "Fine, use that silver tongue of yours."

"Well," came a hiss, the kind that grated on your nerves. It was their contact. He fixed his slit eyes on them and Aurelia immediately felt uneasy. "This is a bit of a surprise, isn't it? I wasn't aware you had been released from prison."

"It is a recent development," Orm replied.

The fish raised his drink. "Outlaws, aren't we all?"

"We need to find David Kane."

"Bad news, I'm afraid. You're too late - David Kane is no longer on the market. Not for sale at any price. He's solely running as an independent operator now."

"Where's he holed up now?"

Aurelia squirmed - this guy was giving major bad vibes and she really wanted to throw some punches.

"In exchange for this information, as King of Atlantis, I will grant you a favour," Orm pressed.

She turned to him. "Baby, we are not playing footsie with someone with that much blood on their hands."

"I don't have hands - or feet!" The fish laughed, as did everyone else around them, which only made it all the more unsettling.

Orm gave her a look that said please just roll with it.

And so she tried. "Uh, hey there Mr. Fish - Kingfish, sorry. Aurelia, Queen of Atlantis here. Listen, if the information checks out good, I promise you I won't immediately come back here and tear this place apart."

"Oh that's too bad. You see, traditionally the rulers of Atlantis have turned a blind eye to the Sunken Citadel - now it looks like we'll have to blind it for you."

With merely a look from their master, armed guards were closing in on the two Atlanteans.

"Babe?" Orm said.

"Hmm?"

"Go ahead, flex your muscles."

Now she flashed a wicked grin. "Ha! Way ahead of you!"

And we're back! The part with the feet on the dashboard was (of course) a nod to Cap and Nat in Captain America: The Winter Soldier.

Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed! :)