Chapter 14: The First Wave

Deep in the Atlantic Ocean, far below the depths of the water, there laid a set of ancient ruins. In these ruins, a set of seven statues stood high above a coral covered gazebo, tridents in each of their hands and pointed towards the sky. At this sight, two clans of Atlanteans gathered. One on tamed sharks, with reigns and a saddle for the rider to sit in, while the other rode massive sea horses. One of the men on the sharks removed his helmet, revealing a blond man with close cropped hair.

"King Nereus of Xebel." The man greeted, swimming towards an older man with red and silver hair. "Thank you for agreeing to this meeting."

"Welcome, King Orm of Atlantis." Nerus greeted in return. "I must admit, the meeting place you have chosen is closer to the surface than I am comfortable with."

"I chose this place for its historical significance." Orm replied. "Here, the heads of the seven kingdoms would convene and govern all the seven seas."

"But now the seven kingdoms are naught but four." Nerus reminded him. "The Trench is a wasteland, the Deserters have long died out, and the seventh kingdom has been lost for millennia."

"Indeed, but the reason I have called this meeting, is that I wish to make the four, the one." Orm shared. "The surface world grows more dangerous with each passing day. Their weapons more and more advanced, and their ships penetrate our waters deeper and deeper."

"And what would you suggest?" Nerus asked.

"Ally yourself with Atlantis, and help me convince the Brine and the Fishermen to do the same." Orm proposed. "With our combined might, we will crush the surface world, and take this world."

"A fool's errand." Nerus insisted. "The surface dwellers outnumber us. More than that, your barely have full reign over your own thrown."

"What does that mean?" Orm questioned.

"You are not firstborn to the throne." Nerus answered. "Atlanna has a second son."

"You mean that half-breed oaf?" Orm questioned. "He's never even been to Atlantis. He stays up on the surface, fighting for the humans. He is of no consequence."

"So this attack on the surface is not a veiled attempt at destroying your brother?" Nerus challenged. "Nor some form of vengeance against him for taking your mother from Atlantis?"

"Not in the slightest." Orm insisted, with an edge in his voice. "Now, will you stand with me, or not?"

Nerus looked at Orm in genuine contemplation. However, before he could answer, something caught it eye.

"Look out!" he shouted!

Nerus quickly pulled Orm out of the way before a torpedo strike hit one of the columns of the gazebo. Everyone gathered there turned to see a submarine making its way towards them, firing another torpedo. Orm snarled at this as he got back on his shark and rode straight at the sub. He quickly dodged every torpedo strike that came his way before finally reaching the sub, and slicing at the hull of it with his trident. The sub tore in half, bubbles rippling out of it as it sank towards the bottom of a deep trench. Nerus watched it fall, then looked at Orm as the King swam back to the gazebo.

"You see now why I make my plan?" Orm replied. "This was only the beginning. Side with me now, and we can stop the attacks on Atlantis before they start."

Nerus' gaze hardened.

"We will make the surface regret the day it crossed Atlantis." He declared. "I will side with you."

Orm smiled in response.

Later on a black sub sitting in the center of the ocean, David Kane, the pirate Aquaman had fought not too long ago, sat atop his sub. His family's knife was in his hands, his gaze hard as he ran his thumb over the Manta ray carved into the handle. He closed his eyes, memories flashing through his mind.

"You killed innocent people!" Aquaman shouted. "Ask the sea for mercy!"

He climbed out of the ever filling sub, leaving David alone with his trapped father. Water was rising fast and a massive torpedo had his father's legs pinned. They both struggled to try and move it, but it was far too heavy. David kept trying, but his father did not.

"Get out of here!" He shouted. "You need to go!"

"I'm not leaving you!" David insisted.

"There's no time!" his father snapped. "You need to live so you can kill that son of a bitch!"

"No!" David screamed, still trying to move the torpedo.

Realizing words alone wouldn't get his son moving, David's father reached for a bomb on his belt, pulling it out and holding it up. David froze at the sight, his eyes widening as his father removed the pin. The only thing keeping it from detonating was his father's grip, sealing his fate.

"Damn you!" David cried.

David finally got up, moving towards the exit. As David climbed up the ladder towards the hatch, he heard the explosion of the bomb, confirming his father's demise.

The sound of the explosion still rang in his ears as he tightened his grip on the knife. The sound of bubbling water drew his attention, his eyes opening as he stood up, seeing the water around him glowing from a massive ship rising up from beneath it. The ship barely made surface as several Atlantean soldiers emerged from a hatch. The approached David, one carrying a sack and another holding some strange projector. The second soldier dropped the projector into the water, which activated and formed a holographic image of Orm.

"The sub was barely functional," Orm told him. "But it served my goals well. Here is your payment, as promised."

The soldier with the sack tossed it at David, who let it fall at his feet. Old coins, no doubt from sunken ships, scattered at his feet, but David ignored them.

"Keep your money." he snapped. "I want Aquaman."

"Then it seems you're in luck." Orm replied. "For my plans to succeed, my half-breed of a brother must be dealt with. I can't directly as it would endanger my position."

"Don't worry." David swore. "When I'm through with him, there won't be anything left."

"I should hope so." Orm replied.

At the High Tides Bar, Arthur and Diana were drinking and laughing. Joining them was Thomas Curry, Arthur's father, and J'onn J'onzz. Thomas was drinking along with Arthur and Diana, though J'onn, who had taken on the appearance of an african american man, was there as the designated sober person of the group. As Arthur finished downing his drink, he slammed the mug onto the table, letting out a long sigh.

"It's bad enough she keeps out drinking me, but even my old man keeps putting me under the table." He announced.

"And that, Arthur, is my superpower." Thomas remarked.

"I bet even Dionysus himself would be envious of your skills." Diana praised.

"That just might be the best compliment I have ever received." Thomas replied.

Arthur turned to J'onn, who was sipping at a soda. He smirked, then slid a mug of beer his direction.

"C'mon J'onn, drink." he encouraged. "Loosen up a little."

"Thank you for the offer, but I will stick with my own beverage." J'onn insisted. "I was given the Earth distinction of 'designated driver'."

"I believe he's simply weary of the effects alcohol will have on him." Diana mused. "After all, it will be difficult to remain in his current form if he is inebriated."

"Fair enough, I suppose." Thomas relented. "But next time, your first round's on me."

"Next time." J'onn promised.

Much later, Diana and Arthur helped a barely standing Thomas out of the bar. They attempted to get him in the passenger seat, but he shook his head.

"Ladies in the front." he slurred. "Arthur and I will sit in the bed."

"I do not mind riding in the back." Diana voiced.

"Let an old man be chivalrous." Thomas insisted.

"Might as well." Arthur told her. "He's as stubborn as I am."

"If you insist." Diana relented.

The two got him in the back and Arthur prepared to join him when a splash came from behind him. He stopped and turned, seeing a woman in a green, skin tight suit made out of scales. She had bright red hair that was currently sopping wet, and he could make out the faint outline of gills on her neck. He rubbed similar lines on his own neck before turning to her.

"Who are you supposed to be?" Arthur asked.

"I am Princess Y'Mera Xebella Challa of Xebel, but you can call me Mera." she greeted. "You are Arthur Curry, firstborn son of Queen Atlanna."

"Firstborn?" Diana repeated, looking at Arthur in surprise. "You never told us you were of royal descent."

"Never seemed important." Arthur said dismissively.

"Well, it's important now." Mera reported. "Both Atlantis and the surface world are in grave danger."

"From?" Arthur prompted.

"Your brother, Orm." Mera answered. "He seeks war with the surface. If he succeeds, he will wipe out all life on the surface, starting with you."

"In case you haven't noticed, the surface can take care of itself." Arthur told her. "We just stopped an alien robot from destroying the planet."

"And what of Atlantis?" Mera questioned. "Under Orm's leadership, the four kingdoms will be led into ruin. He must be stopped."

"That's your problem." Arthur dismissed. "I stopped caring about Atlantis a long time ago."

"But you are the first-born son!" Mera pressed. "If you challenge Orm for the throne-!"

"Stop saying that!" Arthur snapped, his eyes flashing gold for a moment. "I'm the half-breed bastard son that your people killed my mother for! Atlantis never cared for me, and I have no reason to help them."

"Aquaman." J'onn called out, approaching Arthur and placing a hand on his shoulder. "I believe you are not of sound mind right now. We should proceed back to the lighthouse as planned."

"Good idea." Arthur replied. "I don't have anything else to say anyway."

With that, the rest of them piled into the truck and drove off.

The truck drove along a winding road that overlooked an ocean side cliff. As it drove in silence, Diana looked at the back of the truck where Arthur and Thomas were sitting. Both were looking out at the ocean, Thomas with a heartbreaking longing, and Arthur with nothing but contempt.

"I know this must be a hard subject to approach…" Diana spoke. "But you've never mentioned your mother, or your heritage. I had assumed you were full Atlantean, or barring that, a metahuman."

"My past is… something I don't like to talk about." Arthur admitted.

"Understandable," J'onn replied. "However, perhaps telling your story to trusted friends would help ease the burden of grief weighing on your heart.

Aruthur sighed in response, knowing that he might be right.

"I guess so." Arthur relented. "It all started years ago, when my mom fled an arranged marriage to the King of Atlantis. She got caught in a storm and washed up on the rocks near the lighthouse. My father brought her inside and tended to her wounds."

"She ate my goldfish..." Thomas muttered drunkily.

"Right…" Arthur replied. "Anyway, the two eventually fell in love and had me. But, it wasn't meant to be. King Orvax, Orm's father, wanted his Queen back, so he sent a legion of Atlantean Elites to bring her back. They destroyed our home, but mom fended them off. She left not long after to protect us. Years later, I learned she had been banished, sacrificed to the Trench.

"The Trench?" J'onn inquired.

"One of the lost kingdoms of Atlantis." Arthur clarified. "The beings there are little more than beasts, feeding on anything that comes too close to their lair. Nothing survives."

"Arthur, I… I'm sorry." Diana tried to console.

"Now you see why I've never gone to Atlantis." Arthur said, adjusting his position in the back of the truck.

"I get the idea," Diana replied. "But if what Mera said is true, the world itself could be at stake."

"Atlantis wouldn't rise against the surface." Arthur insisted.

"How do you know?" Diana asked.

"Because if they were going to do something, they would have done it by now." Arthur rationalized.

As the truck continued to drive, something in the distance caught everyone's eye. They turn, seeing a massive tsunami closing in on the shore, sweeping fishing vessels up in its crest.

"Great Hera!" Diana let out.

J'onn floored the gas, speeding along the road as the wave closed in. Finally, the wave hit them, throwing Arthur and Thomas free of the car. Diana was bashed hard against the dashboard, but remained conscious as she tried to free herself from her seatbelt. J'onn sprouted a set of gills, cutting Diana free before the both busted out of the truck. Arthur just grabbed hold of his dad as he struggled to fight against the water's currents. As he fought against the tides, his grip on his dad started to loosen until he finally slipped through his fingers.

"No!" He cried out. "No, dad!"

Before Thomas could get too far, a new hand grabbed him. Everyone looked in shock to see Mera, holding Thomas in one arm while extending her other. Her eyes were glowing a bright blue as the water around them began to swirl, spreading out into a pocket of air. Diana immediately gasped, dropping to her knees and coughing up a good gallon of seawater. Thomas did the same, panting heavily as he struggled to breathe. Arthur and J'onn broke through the water, the latter getting rid of his gills as they checked on their human companions.

"Dad!" Arthur let out as he ran over to him. "Are you alright?"

Thomas nodded, still wheezing slightly. He looked over at Arthur, then his eyes widened.

"Behind you!" he rasped.

Arthur spun around and was greeted by a rocket flying right at him, hitting him in the chest and sending him flying. He went flying back into the water as Diana turned to the source of the rocket.

"Show yourself!" she demanded.

From seemingly out of nowhere, several soldiers came out and started shooting at her, forcing her to use her bracelets to deflect the bullets. J'onn flew forward and backhanded one of them before grabbing the gun of a second soldier, wrenching it from his hands before destroying it. While this went on, Arthur jumped out of the water, landing back on the shore. His shirt was burned, but other than that, he was fine.

"Nice try." he snarled.

He then punched out another soldier before kicking another one aside. During the fight, Mera helped Thomas to his feet, the water from the wave finally receding.

"I'll get your father out of here!" she called.

"The lighthouse!" Arthur called. "Hurry!"

Mera nodded as she jumped back into the water with Thomas, speeding off like a torpedo. Diana meanwhile, managed to deflect one of the bullets into the leg of a soldier, causing him to kneel over in pain as she whipped out her lasso and wrapped it around him.

"Why are you trying to kill us?" She questioned.

"Orders from the boss." the soldier answered.

"And who is your boss?" Diana pressed, tightening her grip on the lasso.

"David Kane."

Arthur turned towards the soldier with contempt in his eye.

"Am I supposed to know who that is?"

"You will!" A voice called out as another rocket launched at Arthur.

The rocket was intercepted by Diana, who caught it and threw it out over the water where it exploded. Arthur turned back and saw David stepping towards him, dropping the rocket launcher and pulling out both a gun and a sword.

"You…" Arthur recalled. "You're the pirate from the sub."

"The one you left to die with my father." David replied, opening fire as he walked towards him.

The bullets did little as David approached Arthur, finally swinging his sword at him. J'onn and Diana continued to hold off the crew, leaving the two to battle. Arthur dodged around the sword swings before grabbing David's wrist. David responded by pulling out his father's knife and stabbing Arthur in the stomach with it. Much to arthur's surprise, it pierced right through him.

"Wha… what the..."

"Atlantean Steel." David explained. "You think your mother was the first Atlantean to breach the surface?"

David pulled the knife out and tried bringing it down on Arthur, but Diana's lasso wrapped around his arm, stopping him mid stab.

"Not this day!" she shouted.

Diana then whipped the lasso back, pulling David away from Arthur, and into the side of the cliff.

"We have to get out of here!" J'onn declared.

"The water..." Arthur wheezed. "Hurry!"

All three of them jumped into the water, holding onto Arthur as he sped off through the surf. As David pulled himself up, he looked out to the water and saw Arthur and the others swimming away.

"Damnit!" He cursed.

At the lighthouse, a now sober Thomas was passing out mugs of hot cocoa to everyone. Diana tended to Arthur's stomach wound as J'onn looked out the window of the lighthouse.

"It seems that Orm's designs for the surface are quite clear." J'onn surmised.

"And this was only the beginning." Mera insisted. "This was but a warning."

"Not just a warning, an assassination attempt." Diana added. "They were after Aquaman."

"And it wasn't just any assassin." Arthur replied. "A pirate I fought a few weeks before the League formed."

"He mentioned his father." J'onn recalled. "And how you left him to die."

"He's… not wrong." Arthur lamented. "And now, he nearly killed all of you."

"He must have been sent by Orm." Mera rationalized. "He knows you're the only one standing between him and his conquest."

Arthur narrowed his eyes in response.

"If he wants to play things that way, fine." Arthur replied.

"Then you'll do it?" Mera asked. "Challenge Orm for the throne?"

"Yes." Arthur confirmed. "But I'm doing this to protect the surface, my father, and my friends. Not for Atlantis. Got it?"

"Agreed." Mera agreed.

She then took a big drink of her cocoa, only to go wide-eyed and spit it out.

"Hot!" she yelped.

"Oh, sorry." Thomas told her. "Should've warned you. You have to blow on it a bit."

"Blow on it?" she questioned.

"Like this." Arthur spoke before blowing on his own drink.

Mera repeated the action, taking another tentative sip. Thomas watched, sighing heavily. J'onn glanced over, sensing a wave of nostalgia come over the man. Thomas turned away and walked out of the house, J'onn following.

"Is everything alright, Mr. Curry?" J'onn asked.

"Yes." Thomas promised, walking out onto the docks leading out to the ocean. "I do this every morning at sunrise."

"Why? If you don't mind my asking." J'onn replied.

"Not at all." Thomas reassured. "When Atlanna left, she promised that one day we would be reunited. She said she'd be here at sunrise to greet me, so I've always come out. Rain, sleet, or snow, I come out here every morning, hoping one day I'll see her standing at the edge of this dock.

"And you've never lost faith that she'd come?" J'onn asked. "Even when others say she is… gone?"

"I must have faith." Thomas insisted. "It's all I have. When you fall in love, you give everything to that relationship. It's not something you can let go of easily."

J'onn sighed, thinking of his wife and daughter, the family he'd lost oh so long ago.

"No… I suppose not." J'onn agreed.

The next day, the three heroes and Mera embarked for Atlantis. When Mera saw J'onn and Diana following them, she looked surprised.

"What are you doing?" she questioned.

"We are coming with you." Diana insisted.

"No you're not." Mera said.

"Yes, they are." Arthur contradicted. "They're my friends and they're coming."

"Surface dwellers are forbidden in Atlantis." Mera insisted.

"If Orm is gunning for the surface, then we're gonna need all the help we can get." Arthur reasoned. "If they stay, I stay."

Mera looked at the three of them, growling in annoyance.

"Fine." she snapped. "But it's not on me if they drown."

Diana pulled out a breathing apparatus, sticking it onto her face. J'onn simply shifted so he had gills on his neck.

"I believe we will be fine." J'onn told her.

Mera just rolled her eyes before leaping into the water. The three Leaguers followed suit, diving into the water.

"So how do we get to Atlantis?" Diana asked.

"I have a ship stored not far from here." Mera explained.

"Can it fit all of us?" Arthur questioned.

"Thankfully, yes." Mera answered. "Even if I wasn't expecting two extra passengers."

The four swam for a bit before reaching a shipping container that was part of a sunken cargo ship. She opened it up and got into the Atlantean ship inside, powering it up. Arthur looked at the container, seeing the fish, coral, and mussels that had made it home.

"You expect us to ride in that thing?" He questioned. "It smells like whale butter."

"Just get in." Mera told him.

Reluctantly, he did, taking the front seat while J'onn and Diana took the back. The ship then darted off through the water, with its occupants intent on reaching their destination.

The ship sailed through the water for a good hour. The occupants inside were all looking out at the ocean, seeing bioluminescent coral and algae everywhere, making the entire area seem like an entirely new world.

"Incredible…" Diana marveled.

"Amazing." J'onn let out.

"Pretty sweet, huh?" Arthur replied.

"Just wait until we get there." Mera told them.

The ship continued to fly amidst the waters towards the fabled city. After flying over the next ridge, a massive blue glowing bridge leading into a large wall came into view.

"A bridge? Underwater?" Arthur questioned.

"Remnants of the old kingdom." Mera explained. "It's also the only way in or out of the city."

"And we can't just go over it?" Arthur asked.

"Security is impenetrable." Mera replied. "Even if they got past the guards, they'd never get past the hydro-cannons."

"Impressive." Diana admitted.

"Wait until we get inside." Mera told her.

"Will there be trouble?" J'onn questioned, eyeing the security at the gate.

"No, I have diplomatic clearance." Mera reassured.

The ship passed through the gate undeterred, allowing them to enter straight into the sprawling city. Buildings designed like jellyfish dotted the streets. ships like Mera's in varying shapes and sizes flew past. Structures with glowing blue lights in them towered over the streets.

"I have never seen such beauty." Diana marveled.

"And to think, your friend wasn't willing to give it a chance." Mera ribbed.

"Alright, alright." Arthur replied defensively. "So what do we do first? Go up to Orm and tell him to knock if off?"

"No, first we go see Vulko." Mera corrected.

"Vulko?" J'onn inquired.

"He's the man who trained me." Arthur explained. "He taught me everything I know about being an Atlantean."

"He's also King Orm's advisor." Mera added. "Don't worry though, he's on our side."

Mera then steered the ship towards a path leading out of the city. They then began heading down to the sea floor where an ancient shipwreck was laying. The ship docked just outside as the cockpit opened up and the heroes exited. Mera lead them all inside the ship, where they were surprised to find that there was air inside. Diana removed her mask, looking surprised.

"How is this possible?" she asked.

"Added protection." Mera explained. "It keeps the fish out and prevents the inside of the ship from rotting."

"That, and the stigma of being in the air keeps most if not all Atlanteans away." Vulko added, stepping into the light. "Hello Arthur."

"Hey, Vulko." Arthur greeted. "Long time no see.

"I see you've brought friends." He noted.

"I am Diana of Themyscira." Diana introduced. "This is J'onn J'onzz of Mars."

"Any friend of Arthur's is a friend of ours." J'onn told him

"We will need all the help we can get if our plan is to succeed." Vulko replied. "Orm's getting ready for all out war with the surface world."

"From what we've heard, Orm has had no regard for the surface before." J'onn commented. "Why would he attack now?"

"He and Mera's father were attacked by a submarine from the surface." Vulko explained.

"Couldn't be." Arthur chimed in. "The surface still thinks Atlantis is a fairy tale."

"I was there." Vulko insisted. "I saw it happen."

"Perhaps it was some sort of trick." J'onn rationalized. "A ruse in order to get what he wanted."

Diana then remembered something, turning to Arthur.

"Aquaman, didn't you say that the pirate who attacked us was hijacking a submarine when you met?" she asked.

"Right." Arthur recalled. "Kane must've been hired by Orm to take the sub and stage an attack from the surface."

"Giving Xebel reason to side with his cause." Vulko concluded. "Now Orm possesses an armada big enough to convince the other kingdoms to join him as well."

"Then how do we stop this war?" Diana questioned.

"With this." Vulko declared.

He pulled out a piece of oilskin, unrolling it to reveal the image of a trident.

"Yeah, already got one of those." Arthur replied, holding up the trident he'd brought with him. "Thanks though."

"This is no mere trident." Vulko told him. "This is the lost trident of Atlan."

"The Trident of Atlan?" Diana questioned. "I heard the legend as a girl, but thought it was just that."

"That's because it is." Arthur insisted. "It's a fairytale, nothing more."

"It's real, Arthur." Vulko insisted. "And it's how you're going to convince Atlantis you are its one true king."

"How would a trident convince them of that?" J'onn questioned.

"Because that trident has the power to rival Poseidon himself." Diana told him. "It is the reason Atlantis sank beneath the waves all those millennia ago. Poseidon was jealous that any mortal would have power that could challenge his own, so in a show of might, he sent a mighty earthquake that shattered Atlantis' isle. To ensure that none would dare challenge his rule, he sent massive waves as well to swallow the shattered island. King Atlan begged for his people to be spared, swearing never to wield his mighty weapon again. And so, Poseidon granted the people the ability to breathe underwater on the condition that the trident be sealed away."

"Question." Arthur piped up. "If the Greek God of the ocean wants this thing gone, then what's to stop him from wiping out anyone who tries to take it?"

"Because Poseidon promised that there would be one who would be worthy of its power." Mera answered. "The one True King of Atlantis, who would reunite the scattered kingdoms and return atlantis to its former glory."

"And you think that's me?" Arthur questioned. "A half breed who wants nothing to do with this place?"

"I believe that between you and Orm, you're the least objectionable." Mera answered.

"Where would we begin looking for it?" J'onn asked before things could get hostile.

"A few months ago, one of our ancient archeological teams uncovered this." Vulko answered, pulling out what looked like an ancient cryptex.

Arthur looked at it, tilting his head.

"That thing from the DaVinci Code movie?" he questioned.

"It's an ancient recording, dating back to the first Atlantean dynasty." Vulko told him. "I believe it contains Atlan's final message, regarding the location of the lost trident."

"Then what does it say?" Arthur asked.

"We don't know." Mera admitted. "It's ancient Desert Kingdom tech, something that hasn't been seen since the kingdom dried up and died out."

"Which means you must journey to the Desert Kingdom and find Atlan's final message." Vulko told him.

Before any further words could be said, the wall behind them was blown open, allowing several Atlantean soldiers to enter. Vulko grabbed Mera, pulling her out of sight before they could see either of them. The soldiers aimed their blasters at the group, prompting Diana to draw her sword, and Arthur to take up his trident.

"And here I thought today would be boring." Arthur remarked.

"We mean you no harm." J'onn insisted.

"You three are under arrest for trespassing in Atlantis' sacred borders." one soldier informed. "You are to come with us by order of King Orm."

"Like hell we will." Arthur dismissed, charging forward at them.

He kicked one soldier aside before using the blunt end of his trident to knock a soldier back. Diana came in next and sliced a soldiers blaster with her sword before elbowing him in the face. J'onn flew forward and rammed right into one soldier, knocking him into a wall. He then made himself intangible as one soldier tried to slice him with his sword. After the blade passed through him, J'onn turned tangible again and backhanded him, knocking him to the ground.

Arthur continued knocking soldiers back and forth, even using his trident to clash blades with a soldier wielding a sword. While the soldier was well trained, Arthur was better, blocking every blow and finally catching the blade within the prongs of his trident, allowing to snap it. He then used the trident to swat the soldier away while smirking the whole time.

"Mera, we need to go." Vulko hissed, pushing the recorder into her hands. "If they see us, everything we've worked for ends."

Mera looked back out at the fight, seeing Arthur hold his own against the soldiers. Finally, she relented, and the two of them made their escape. As the fight continued, Arthur could see more soldiers coming in, as he knew it was only a matter of time before things went south.

"Diana, J'onn, you two get out of here!" He told them.

"We're not leaving without you." Diana insisted.

"They catch me, I get arrested." Arthur informed her. "You get captured, you get executed. Go!"

"I'm afraid he may be right." J'onn agreed. "We would be more help to him out here than dead."

Diana looked reluctant, but Arthur stood firm.

"We will save you." Diana promised as she and J'onn took off.

As Arthur watched them go, one of the soldiers came up and struck him on the back of the head, knocking him out. Some more turned to the exit the two other leaguers had taken.

"They're escaping!" one shouted.

"Forget them." another insisted, looking down at the unconscious Arthur. "The halfbreed is our target. Bring him to King Orm."