Post by The Wonderful Wachter on Feb 15, 2012 6:04:45 GMT -5
Ultimate Brave and the Bold #6
The Life Aquatic with Aqualad
Off the shores of Texas,
Gulf of Mexico
A figure floated in the middle of the ocean water, his green skin soaking up the rays of the sun. It probably wasn’t the smartest thing he had ever done. Every Atlatean knew from an early age to keep away from the dangers of the surface. Mothers still told tales of the evil Greek sailors who actively slew the pets and friends of his people. But he didn’t care. Here, alone, just him and the waves, his worries were gone. His mutation meant nothing. His powers didn’t make him hide.
Just him and the water.
The glare of the sun dried up his eyes quickly, forcing him to blink. Blink he did though not for comfort. A black shape flew out of the sun, blades chopping the air with an unusual sound. He slipped beneath the waves and watched as more strange, black flying machines followed. Knowing better than to let himself get discovered, he followed them at a distance.
It didn’t take long before he realized where they were going and he hesitated in his swimming. His people were meant to stay far, far away from the surface-dwellers drilling platforms. That’s where the air-choppers were headed. Yet… he looked around and below and closed his eyes to think. Nobody would notice.
He was alone.
He watched the air-choppers descend on the platform. Figures slid down ropes and ladders to vanish beneath the waves. More landed. They were strange… Silver suits. Glowing blue. The tanks on their backs provided air but seemed to be a source of weaponry as well.
A backstroke carried him farther out to sea; close enough to see the general goings on yet far enough away to remain hidden.
Concern radiated up from the ocean floor. The choppers picked up their people, leaving him truly alone. Then… the sky turned to orange and water to black. Flames licked the heavens while he screamed.
---
Seigelville, Texas
Kaldur could not believe his eyes. He refused to believe what he was hearing. Before him, hovered a hologram showing a tainted sea. Kord spoke only to him. The two men were alone. Never a good sign.
“How am I supposed to breath?!” he exclaimed, his voice harsh.
Kord rubbed his scruffy jawline in thought. “I thought you could…”
“I hold my breath for a very long time, there’s a difference.”
“How long?”
“Two hours, give or take ten minutes.”
The silence lingered following that revelation. Beetle’s eyes flickered as they always did when he was in deep thought. “Should be fine then. By my calculations, the task will last a half-hour at most per well.”
“Per… well.”
“Yes. At the rate you swim, you’ll be able to return to the surface as often as you need.” Ted paused, meeting Kalvin’s stare. “Surely, you understand that speed is of the essence. We don’t want this to become another—“
“I’m aware of the stakes. I followed the incident closely.” He took a deep breath to steady himself. “Any idea why they attacked one of your holdings?”
“It’s only a recent purchase and a very public one. I was in the process of converting it to a more ecofriendly facility so it could be anything from retaliation over the Eagle Point Escapees to my competitors who are scared of going green.”
It had been weeks since the last of the fires and celebration following Renegade’s actions at Eaglepoint. The heroes were back to normal, for the most part… Menos still complained about his new knee. Kaldur was surfing near the top of the scoreboard due to some shenanigans involving corrupted footage and data. If things went right, this solo mission would push him even higher. Might even get a bonus to help his mother.
Ted looked worse for wear. Bags had settled into place beneath his eyes. They gave him the appearance of a man haunted by more ghosts than Kalvin could hope to count. His gaunt features were now scruffy not through choice but rather a lack of time. How he had hoped to be a hero, produce a reality show at the same time as taking on the role of leader to the other heroes while simultaneously running a multi-billion dollar business, Kal would never know.
“I’ll be giving you air support in the Bug. If we’re quick enough, the matter should be taken care of before Kane can have Batwoman outfitted with scuba-gear.”
“Wait… What’s wrong with Kate’s help? You’re pretty much handing me free points. Why should it matter if I close off the wells before she can arrive?”
“It doesn’t. Not really.” Ted rubbed the bridge of his nose, words mumbled rather than spoken with his usual strength and passion. “I. I simply do not want Kane to see more of my holdings than he has to.”
The young man stared at Kord with his piercing eyes narrowed in confounding thought. The other man’s behavior was not normal. He always tried to get as many heroes involved as possible, never caring about the point system. What had changed? What made this platform so special that he would come only to Kaldur seeking aid?
---
When one witnesses bodies left lifelessly bleeding into gutters, limbs scattered about in pain and horror, one does not expect it to be on a street in America. That was something better left observed in a war torn third-world nation than home of the brave and the land of the free. Hypocritical to think it belonged more on the streets of the mid-east, terrorists blown to pieces, than in the middle of Texas. Didn’t matter where you were, Texas or Afghanistan, they were all still people yet Linda found it harder to watch when it was her home with her people involved.
Since the breakout, Linda’s duties for the podcasts had peaked, only to settle back down to normal levels in the last few days. It left her time on her hands. Time she spent reviewing interviews and reports and even footage for her superiors to look over. Ah, the life of an intern.
She currently compiled a list of crimes in the days leading up to and following the Eaglepoint breakout. There had been an unusually high amount of cauterized dismembering. Mr. Kord had asked her to look into the matter following the slaughter of Reapers Booster, Batwoman, and Beetle had found. Asked her to look for patterns in the victims.
For the most part, it remained low level gang-members who lost limbs. In their delirium, the few survivors spoke of nightmarish memories, forced to relive their darkest days. They said it was a phantom, an avenging angel with burning brands, come to take them back to hell. But every so often, there would be a random victim, one with no obvious connection to the criminal world yet connected to each other as their murderer left a calling card.
Literally.
The victims each had a playing card left on their corpse. Each one a different number, a different suit. She wondered what that meant.
“Always suspected the Congressman was a member of the Royal Flush Gang,” a haunting whisper said over her shoulder.
“Jesus, Szasz… Give a girl a heart attack, will you?”
The host let the corners of his mouth perk up in a grin that tugged at Linda’s heart. If only he didn’t reek of tobacco smoke. “You’re still breathing.” Charles leaned over, giving her a breath she didn’t want as he scanned the reports she had printed out scattered about her cluttered desk. “You did all this?”
“Yes. Why? What do you mean about the Congressman being part of the RFG?”
“And here I thought the field of investigative journalism lost a rising star when you went into the field of communications.” He joked and slid her chair out of the way so as to have unquestioned control of her desk. His hands moved, jostling the papers, adjusting them into an order to his liking. “It’s a rumor you hear. The Wild Cards. Renegade members of the Royal Flush Gang. They take out other members and leave behind a card to symbolize it needs to be exchanged.”
Linda watched in amazement as she saw where Charles was going with his shuffling. Those who shared suits all belonged to certain classes of people. A pattern that she missed. The clubs were with the congressman… for the most part, they were mindless bureaucrats but one was the mayor of Seigelville suburb. Diamonds were businessmen; salesmen and brokers. The field of medicine – whether hospital workers or those in the pharmaceutical industry – belonged to the Hearts. And finally the spades were… She frowned, unable to figure them out.
“The Wild Card is taking out a support deck,” she gasped in disbelief.
“Right you are,” Charles straightened and turned that grin back on her, “but for what reason? That is the question…”
---
Off the shores of Texas,
Gulf of Mexico
Dark smoke rose in plumes off the platform as Blue Beetle had the Bug circle destruction. Black sea and black skies, tainted by presence of unrefined oil. Kaldur could not for the life of him understand the senseless attack. This didn’t harm just Kord or the heroes. It affected more than just the heroes. The water itself screamed in pain. The aquatic creatures swam through poisoned seas.
And he’d have to join them.
Ted set the Bug into hover-mode before checking on Kaldur one last time. Like a protective older brother, Beetle rubbed his head in reassurance and pushed him playfully. “You can do this. Stop looking so green in the gills.” Since putting on his suit, Ted’s worries had all but vanished. Blue Beetle only had to worry about doing what was right. He didn’t deal in the morally questionable matters Kord had to as a businessman and scientists.
“Don’t mess with my hair…”
“It’s not like you have the wig on. It’s going to stay in place.”
“I’m going to be alone down there.”
Taking the rapid change of subject in stride, Ted forced Kalvin to stand and began adjusting the packages strapped to the younger man’s chest. “You’ll have the camera,” he patted the Waterbearer’s shoulder where they had installed a small minicam and light, “And I’ll still be in your ear. Worse comes to worse, I’ll send the bug down after you.”
“Why don’t you do that to start?”
“It’s your time to shine,” he responded gruffly. “Just remember. Pop the neon capsule first. They’ll release the nanites to take care of the oilspill. Then the black to seal up the wells and repair any of the damage.”
Kaldur nodded dully and took a ready stance near the Bug’s bottom hatch. Baby-bugs swarmed about him to get the perfect hero shot when he dived into the water. The hatch twisted open into the ship’s metal frame. Below them was the roiling ocean.
“Launch torpedo one,” Beetle joked with all the confidence Kalvin lacked.
Taking in one last breath, Kaldur stepped over the edge and fell into the waiting waters below.
---
It had taken awhile before Kaldur grew accustomed to swimming down deeper into the Gulf. First his body rejected the pollution of the oil, his skin and senses screaming in agony but then he pushed on, past the pain and the black sea. Every two thousand feet, Ted would pop into his ear, telling him to open one of the neon capsules, bringing noise into the silence. But other than that, Kalvin was alone in a way he had never felt before.
Even being a meta, he never felt alone because there were others like him. People were born with special abilities every day. Yet here, in the water, he was all by himself. And it wasn’t quite unpleasant. A part of him felt like he was coming home after a long journey. The burning of his eyes was forgotten. The stinging of his skin vanished. The pressure on his head was no more.
The sea was his to command.
He was capping off the second well when he heard a ringing between his ears. It felt like a… summons. No. It felt more. A voice told him to come closer. This way to safety. Follow…Follow… Follow…
FOLLOW!
Wary, Kaldur triple clicked his communicator to notify Ted of the change in plans. He shot through the waves like a speeding missile, faster than he had ever been on land. The voice called, it summoned him, and while he didn’t need safety, his mind knew he needed to know more.
It took him away from the platform and the oil spill.
Took him away from his objective.
Ted screamed in his ear but he ignored the words. The call had taken over. The primal need to know, to understand was more important that sealing the well. It might not have been the heroic thing to do yet Kaldur had no other way. The voice brought with it a feeling of kinship.
“Halt friend!” a figure torpedoed towards Kaldur, bisecting his path before coming around to float in front of him.
Kaldur had been with the Brave and the Bold long enough to not scream in surprise. A good thing too because the nearest breath of fresh air was a few thousand feet above. The figure was roughly mansized though the resemblance ended there. It was covered in scales with unusual fins and honestly… it looked like the Creature from the Black Lagoon
“Who’s the Creature from the Black Lagoon?”
There were two surprising things about that question. Kaldur didn’t know which shocked him to the core more. The fact that the figure spoke a language other than English yet he understood him perfectly or the realization that his mind could be read. Both seemed equal parts impossible.
“It’s not impossible. Haven’t you ever met a fellow Atlantean before?”
You understand me?
“Of course.” The creature tilted its head perplexed. “Why aren’t you speaking with your mouth?”
I… I… uh..., Kal’s thoughts floundered like he felt he should have been doing.
“Ohhhh,” the figure swam around him, looking at his fake gills and prodding the strange colored hair on his head. “You must be one of the Surfacetorn. Though how you survived when you have the Marks of Derision is beyond me. Probably why you don’t know how to keep your thoughts to yourself.”
The hero felt it was time to be properly confused. Surfacetorn?
The creature’s voice took on a hushed tone. “Those born with magical abilities sent to the surface to hide from those who would seek to abuse their powers.” Eyes flickered back and forth as if he was searching the water for anyone capable of overhearing them. “You guys are luckier than me. Cause of the way I look, they were unable to find anyone to take me in. I’ve had to live on the fringe of things.”
I’m sorry was all Kaldur could think. He didn’t know how to tell the being that these ‘Marks’ were artificial. That this wasn’t his normal appearance.
“I’m Talin Arikson by the way and it’s not too bad,” Talin did another underwater backflip of boundless energy. “The Surfacers leave so much abandoned in the endless blue and green. I find all kinds of treasure and it’s all mine. I don’t have to share my findings with anyone.”
Sounded like the Little Mermaid to Kal.
Kalvin… I mean Kaldur’ahm
“Oooh. Sounds noble. You must have been from one of those families with a long line of magic. So what are you doing down here and why are you dressed so funny?”
I am a hero, he began without much confidence. His thoughts were on other matters now. It is my task to clean up the oil spill.
“Epic… You must be really powerful,” Talin said with awe then as if an afterthought, then he added, “I saw the Surfacers in those air-choppers blow it up. Seemed really pointless.”
It is pointless,, Kaldur agreed.
“Can I help? I’ve just been out here calling to the sea-life to get them out of the poison. Didn’t feel like I was doing anything.”
Sometimes crowd control is the most important aspect of being a hero, recited Kal from Teddy’s teachings. You’re doing the real hero’s task of keeping the helpless safe.
“Oh…”
But yes, you can help. Perhaps you can tell me more about Atlantis…
“Sure! I’ll even show you how to swim properly. You were doing it wrong.”
With that, Talin shot past Kaldur with amazing speed. The surfacetorn watched in disbelief then mimicked his actions and followed in his comrade’s wake.
---
Seigelville, Texas
At the local skyscraper belonging to Kord Electronics, Ted Kord sat behind his desk reviewing his losses since the start of Brave and the Bold. BlueGold Media was a success in every appearance. His plan after Booster’s urging to consolidate a team of heroes with both the government and private sector backing had worked without any major hitch so far. Make the heroes public, make them accountable. They couldn’t be touched by the rightful law passed back during the eighties.
Yet his other holdings were taking a loss that couldn’t be covered by BlueGold Media. He had mined Booster for as much information as the man from the future was willing to give. The Scarab had yet to offer any of its secrets up since his earlier breakthroughs following Dan’s death. He had put Kord Electronics on the map this way. Made his company rule the tablet world and turn the iPhone into a footnote in the pages of history. His fortune had been built up in the matter of years, not decades, and in the span of only a few months, everything seemed to be dropping off the edge of the board.
Loosening his tie, Ted brought up the latest reports from Danni’s lab. Granddaughter of his mentor, they had grown up together and in the days he wasn’t playing the part of arrogant playboy billionaire, he admitted she was probably more brilliant than him. No unusual readings from the Scarab. It was dead to sights. But she did report a start up on his armor project he had commissioned back when he was on good terms with Checkmate.
Great. Another money pit.
”A Ms Dent here to see you, Mr. Kord.” The mechanical voice interrupted his brooding.
He blinked and rubbed his eyes. “Skeets… Where’s Anna?”
”Maternity leave, Mr. Kord. You had me send a rather pleasant gift basket to her earlier.”
“Oh… Right. Send her in.”
The door to his office opened to let in a rather fetching brunette with a pixie cut in a tight fitting red dress. Her heart-shaped face was twisted in a disapproving frown and she clenched her expensive purse as if it was a neck she wanted to throttle. His eyes lingered on the pale skin of her legs as he leaned back in his chair and put on his most pleasant smile.
“Duela! If Legal dressed like that all the time, I wouldn’t be so wary to let you all into my office. What’s the occasion?”
“Save it, Kord,” she snapped in a clipped accent. “I get a call from Booster on my way to a fundraiser in your honor telling me you haven’t stopped working for over forty-eight hours.”
“Ah,” he massaged the bridge of his nose again to buy himself some time to come up with an excuse. “That wasn’t his place.”
“Of course it is his place, he’s your friend!”
Ted withheld the comment he wanted to say. That Booster wasn’t really his friend. That on days when he was exhausted and tired of Booster’s preaching, it felt like he had inherited Booster from a dead uncle. But that was just the lack of sleep talking and the annoyance at being bothered. The same thing that made Booster trust him unflinchingly had Ted return the feeling in unquestioning faith. Faith that Booster knew what he was doing.
“Just been busy.”
“Busy… right.” She made her way to his personal closest located in the back of his office. Her voice came out muffled. “Get in here and get dressed. You’re going to make an appearance at the party like you’re supposed to. Shake hands with the mayor and the General. Then I’ll have my driver take you home.”
He remained sitting.
“On the double, Kord. Don’t make me call Teddy.”
A long suffering sigh was his only vocal response. He closed down all the files and shut down his systems. This was a fight he couldn’t win.
---
“You call this pizza?!?” a rather, average looking teenage boy with brown hair shouted excitedly, his mouth full and tongue whipping out words only his companion could understand. “It’s delicious. Especially these red circle things.”
“Pepperoni,” offered Kalvin.
“Yum. Pepepepeperoni.”
Hard not to smile at Talin’s joy. It had been a few days since the attack on the oil platform. Talin had told him all about it and helped with earnest goodwill. It had taken as many days for Kalvin to secure a way to fittingly pay the Atlantean back for all his help. Certainly worth it in the long run. Talin knew all kinds of interesting things when he could be calmed down enough to explain them.
Kalvin was in his street clothes which basically meant he took off all the makeup and put on a wig to hide his unusual hair choice. Across from him on the balcony of a local pizza diner sat Talin. Gone was the appearance of the Creature from the Black Lagoon. In its place was the illusion of a normal boy with a taste in green clothing.
“What’s up with the hair… Can I have hair like that?” Talin took another bite, nearly spitting out his food as he tried to talk. “I always wanted hair.”
“We’d have to change your race.”
“Race? Ah. I see. Instead of mutations the Surfacers have different skin tones. Cool.”
“Something like that.” Kalvin twisted his spaghetti on his fork and shoved it all in his mouth. Talin watched the noodle slurp up with fascination.
“Looks like pale baby eels.”
“Tastes better though.”
The pair laughed. The conversation carried on for quite some time. Talin kept ordering food. Kaldur said it was no problem, he had it all covered. They learned of each other’s worlds. They spoke of their friends. The sea dweller was deeply fascinated with the concept of a freakish appearance being okay if you were saving lives.
Talin only asked about Kal’s mother once. Just a general question, loaded with the wariness of someone who dwelled on the edge of society. And it made Kalvin hate to lie to him.
”Keep our oceans clean.”
The Life Aquatic with Aqualad
Off the shores of Texas,
Gulf of Mexico
A figure floated in the middle of the ocean water, his green skin soaking up the rays of the sun. It probably wasn’t the smartest thing he had ever done. Every Atlatean knew from an early age to keep away from the dangers of the surface. Mothers still told tales of the evil Greek sailors who actively slew the pets and friends of his people. But he didn’t care. Here, alone, just him and the waves, his worries were gone. His mutation meant nothing. His powers didn’t make him hide.
Just him and the water.
The glare of the sun dried up his eyes quickly, forcing him to blink. Blink he did though not for comfort. A black shape flew out of the sun, blades chopping the air with an unusual sound. He slipped beneath the waves and watched as more strange, black flying machines followed. Knowing better than to let himself get discovered, he followed them at a distance.
It didn’t take long before he realized where they were going and he hesitated in his swimming. His people were meant to stay far, far away from the surface-dwellers drilling platforms. That’s where the air-choppers were headed. Yet… he looked around and below and closed his eyes to think. Nobody would notice.
He was alone.
He watched the air-choppers descend on the platform. Figures slid down ropes and ladders to vanish beneath the waves. More landed. They were strange… Silver suits. Glowing blue. The tanks on their backs provided air but seemed to be a source of weaponry as well.
A backstroke carried him farther out to sea; close enough to see the general goings on yet far enough away to remain hidden.
Concern radiated up from the ocean floor. The choppers picked up their people, leaving him truly alone. Then… the sky turned to orange and water to black. Flames licked the heavens while he screamed.
---
Seigelville, Texas
Kaldur could not believe his eyes. He refused to believe what he was hearing. Before him, hovered a hologram showing a tainted sea. Kord spoke only to him. The two men were alone. Never a good sign.
“How am I supposed to breath?!” he exclaimed, his voice harsh.
Kord rubbed his scruffy jawline in thought. “I thought you could…”
“I hold my breath for a very long time, there’s a difference.”
“How long?”
“Two hours, give or take ten minutes.”
The silence lingered following that revelation. Beetle’s eyes flickered as they always did when he was in deep thought. “Should be fine then. By my calculations, the task will last a half-hour at most per well.”
“Per… well.”
“Yes. At the rate you swim, you’ll be able to return to the surface as often as you need.” Ted paused, meeting Kalvin’s stare. “Surely, you understand that speed is of the essence. We don’t want this to become another—“
“I’m aware of the stakes. I followed the incident closely.” He took a deep breath to steady himself. “Any idea why they attacked one of your holdings?”
“It’s only a recent purchase and a very public one. I was in the process of converting it to a more ecofriendly facility so it could be anything from retaliation over the Eagle Point Escapees to my competitors who are scared of going green.”
It had been weeks since the last of the fires and celebration following Renegade’s actions at Eaglepoint. The heroes were back to normal, for the most part… Menos still complained about his new knee. Kaldur was surfing near the top of the scoreboard due to some shenanigans involving corrupted footage and data. If things went right, this solo mission would push him even higher. Might even get a bonus to help his mother.
Ted looked worse for wear. Bags had settled into place beneath his eyes. They gave him the appearance of a man haunted by more ghosts than Kalvin could hope to count. His gaunt features were now scruffy not through choice but rather a lack of time. How he had hoped to be a hero, produce a reality show at the same time as taking on the role of leader to the other heroes while simultaneously running a multi-billion dollar business, Kal would never know.
“I’ll be giving you air support in the Bug. If we’re quick enough, the matter should be taken care of before Kane can have Batwoman outfitted with scuba-gear.”
“Wait… What’s wrong with Kate’s help? You’re pretty much handing me free points. Why should it matter if I close off the wells before she can arrive?”
“It doesn’t. Not really.” Ted rubbed the bridge of his nose, words mumbled rather than spoken with his usual strength and passion. “I. I simply do not want Kane to see more of my holdings than he has to.”
The young man stared at Kord with his piercing eyes narrowed in confounding thought. The other man’s behavior was not normal. He always tried to get as many heroes involved as possible, never caring about the point system. What had changed? What made this platform so special that he would come only to Kaldur seeking aid?
---
When one witnesses bodies left lifelessly bleeding into gutters, limbs scattered about in pain and horror, one does not expect it to be on a street in America. That was something better left observed in a war torn third-world nation than home of the brave and the land of the free. Hypocritical to think it belonged more on the streets of the mid-east, terrorists blown to pieces, than in the middle of Texas. Didn’t matter where you were, Texas or Afghanistan, they were all still people yet Linda found it harder to watch when it was her home with her people involved.
Since the breakout, Linda’s duties for the podcasts had peaked, only to settle back down to normal levels in the last few days. It left her time on her hands. Time she spent reviewing interviews and reports and even footage for her superiors to look over. Ah, the life of an intern.
She currently compiled a list of crimes in the days leading up to and following the Eaglepoint breakout. There had been an unusually high amount of cauterized dismembering. Mr. Kord had asked her to look into the matter following the slaughter of Reapers Booster, Batwoman, and Beetle had found. Asked her to look for patterns in the victims.
For the most part, it remained low level gang-members who lost limbs. In their delirium, the few survivors spoke of nightmarish memories, forced to relive their darkest days. They said it was a phantom, an avenging angel with burning brands, come to take them back to hell. But every so often, there would be a random victim, one with no obvious connection to the criminal world yet connected to each other as their murderer left a calling card.
Literally.
The victims each had a playing card left on their corpse. Each one a different number, a different suit. She wondered what that meant.
“Always suspected the Congressman was a member of the Royal Flush Gang,” a haunting whisper said over her shoulder.
“Jesus, Szasz… Give a girl a heart attack, will you?”
The host let the corners of his mouth perk up in a grin that tugged at Linda’s heart. If only he didn’t reek of tobacco smoke. “You’re still breathing.” Charles leaned over, giving her a breath she didn’t want as he scanned the reports she had printed out scattered about her cluttered desk. “You did all this?”
“Yes. Why? What do you mean about the Congressman being part of the RFG?”
“And here I thought the field of investigative journalism lost a rising star when you went into the field of communications.” He joked and slid her chair out of the way so as to have unquestioned control of her desk. His hands moved, jostling the papers, adjusting them into an order to his liking. “It’s a rumor you hear. The Wild Cards. Renegade members of the Royal Flush Gang. They take out other members and leave behind a card to symbolize it needs to be exchanged.”
Linda watched in amazement as she saw where Charles was going with his shuffling. Those who shared suits all belonged to certain classes of people. A pattern that she missed. The clubs were with the congressman… for the most part, they were mindless bureaucrats but one was the mayor of Seigelville suburb. Diamonds were businessmen; salesmen and brokers. The field of medicine – whether hospital workers or those in the pharmaceutical industry – belonged to the Hearts. And finally the spades were… She frowned, unable to figure them out.
“The Wild Card is taking out a support deck,” she gasped in disbelief.
“Right you are,” Charles straightened and turned that grin back on her, “but for what reason? That is the question…”
---
Off the shores of Texas,
Gulf of Mexico
Dark smoke rose in plumes off the platform as Blue Beetle had the Bug circle destruction. Black sea and black skies, tainted by presence of unrefined oil. Kaldur could not for the life of him understand the senseless attack. This didn’t harm just Kord or the heroes. It affected more than just the heroes. The water itself screamed in pain. The aquatic creatures swam through poisoned seas.
And he’d have to join them.
Ted set the Bug into hover-mode before checking on Kaldur one last time. Like a protective older brother, Beetle rubbed his head in reassurance and pushed him playfully. “You can do this. Stop looking so green in the gills.” Since putting on his suit, Ted’s worries had all but vanished. Blue Beetle only had to worry about doing what was right. He didn’t deal in the morally questionable matters Kord had to as a businessman and scientists.
“Don’t mess with my hair…”
“It’s not like you have the wig on. It’s going to stay in place.”
“I’m going to be alone down there.”
Taking the rapid change of subject in stride, Ted forced Kalvin to stand and began adjusting the packages strapped to the younger man’s chest. “You’ll have the camera,” he patted the Waterbearer’s shoulder where they had installed a small minicam and light, “And I’ll still be in your ear. Worse comes to worse, I’ll send the bug down after you.”
“Why don’t you do that to start?”
“It’s your time to shine,” he responded gruffly. “Just remember. Pop the neon capsule first. They’ll release the nanites to take care of the oilspill. Then the black to seal up the wells and repair any of the damage.”
Kaldur nodded dully and took a ready stance near the Bug’s bottom hatch. Baby-bugs swarmed about him to get the perfect hero shot when he dived into the water. The hatch twisted open into the ship’s metal frame. Below them was the roiling ocean.
“Launch torpedo one,” Beetle joked with all the confidence Kalvin lacked.
Taking in one last breath, Kaldur stepped over the edge and fell into the waiting waters below.
---
It had taken awhile before Kaldur grew accustomed to swimming down deeper into the Gulf. First his body rejected the pollution of the oil, his skin and senses screaming in agony but then he pushed on, past the pain and the black sea. Every two thousand feet, Ted would pop into his ear, telling him to open one of the neon capsules, bringing noise into the silence. But other than that, Kalvin was alone in a way he had never felt before.
Even being a meta, he never felt alone because there were others like him. People were born with special abilities every day. Yet here, in the water, he was all by himself. And it wasn’t quite unpleasant. A part of him felt like he was coming home after a long journey. The burning of his eyes was forgotten. The stinging of his skin vanished. The pressure on his head was no more.
The sea was his to command.
He was capping off the second well when he heard a ringing between his ears. It felt like a… summons. No. It felt more. A voice told him to come closer. This way to safety. Follow…Follow… Follow…
FOLLOW!
Wary, Kaldur triple clicked his communicator to notify Ted of the change in plans. He shot through the waves like a speeding missile, faster than he had ever been on land. The voice called, it summoned him, and while he didn’t need safety, his mind knew he needed to know more.
It took him away from the platform and the oil spill.
Took him away from his objective.
Ted screamed in his ear but he ignored the words. The call had taken over. The primal need to know, to understand was more important that sealing the well. It might not have been the heroic thing to do yet Kaldur had no other way. The voice brought with it a feeling of kinship.
“Halt friend!” a figure torpedoed towards Kaldur, bisecting his path before coming around to float in front of him.
Kaldur had been with the Brave and the Bold long enough to not scream in surprise. A good thing too because the nearest breath of fresh air was a few thousand feet above. The figure was roughly mansized though the resemblance ended there. It was covered in scales with unusual fins and honestly… it looked like the Creature from the Black Lagoon
“Who’s the Creature from the Black Lagoon?”
There were two surprising things about that question. Kaldur didn’t know which shocked him to the core more. The fact that the figure spoke a language other than English yet he understood him perfectly or the realization that his mind could be read. Both seemed equal parts impossible.
“It’s not impossible. Haven’t you ever met a fellow Atlantean before?”
You understand me?
“Of course.” The creature tilted its head perplexed. “Why aren’t you speaking with your mouth?”
I… I… uh..., Kal’s thoughts floundered like he felt he should have been doing.
“Ohhhh,” the figure swam around him, looking at his fake gills and prodding the strange colored hair on his head. “You must be one of the Surfacetorn. Though how you survived when you have the Marks of Derision is beyond me. Probably why you don’t know how to keep your thoughts to yourself.”
The hero felt it was time to be properly confused. Surfacetorn?
The creature’s voice took on a hushed tone. “Those born with magical abilities sent to the surface to hide from those who would seek to abuse their powers.” Eyes flickered back and forth as if he was searching the water for anyone capable of overhearing them. “You guys are luckier than me. Cause of the way I look, they were unable to find anyone to take me in. I’ve had to live on the fringe of things.”
I’m sorry was all Kaldur could think. He didn’t know how to tell the being that these ‘Marks’ were artificial. That this wasn’t his normal appearance.
“I’m Talin Arikson by the way and it’s not too bad,” Talin did another underwater backflip of boundless energy. “The Surfacers leave so much abandoned in the endless blue and green. I find all kinds of treasure and it’s all mine. I don’t have to share my findings with anyone.”
Sounded like the Little Mermaid to Kal.
Kalvin… I mean Kaldur’ahm
“Oooh. Sounds noble. You must have been from one of those families with a long line of magic. So what are you doing down here and why are you dressed so funny?”
I am a hero, he began without much confidence. His thoughts were on other matters now. It is my task to clean up the oil spill.
“Epic… You must be really powerful,” Talin said with awe then as if an afterthought, then he added, “I saw the Surfacers in those air-choppers blow it up. Seemed really pointless.”
It is pointless,, Kaldur agreed.
“Can I help? I’ve just been out here calling to the sea-life to get them out of the poison. Didn’t feel like I was doing anything.”
Sometimes crowd control is the most important aspect of being a hero, recited Kal from Teddy’s teachings. You’re doing the real hero’s task of keeping the helpless safe.
“Oh…”
But yes, you can help. Perhaps you can tell me more about Atlantis…
“Sure! I’ll even show you how to swim properly. You were doing it wrong.”
With that, Talin shot past Kaldur with amazing speed. The surfacetorn watched in disbelief then mimicked his actions and followed in his comrade’s wake.
---
Seigelville, Texas
At the local skyscraper belonging to Kord Electronics, Ted Kord sat behind his desk reviewing his losses since the start of Brave and the Bold. BlueGold Media was a success in every appearance. His plan after Booster’s urging to consolidate a team of heroes with both the government and private sector backing had worked without any major hitch so far. Make the heroes public, make them accountable. They couldn’t be touched by the rightful law passed back during the eighties.
Yet his other holdings were taking a loss that couldn’t be covered by BlueGold Media. He had mined Booster for as much information as the man from the future was willing to give. The Scarab had yet to offer any of its secrets up since his earlier breakthroughs following Dan’s death. He had put Kord Electronics on the map this way. Made his company rule the tablet world and turn the iPhone into a footnote in the pages of history. His fortune had been built up in the matter of years, not decades, and in the span of only a few months, everything seemed to be dropping off the edge of the board.
Loosening his tie, Ted brought up the latest reports from Danni’s lab. Granddaughter of his mentor, they had grown up together and in the days he wasn’t playing the part of arrogant playboy billionaire, he admitted she was probably more brilliant than him. No unusual readings from the Scarab. It was dead to sights. But she did report a start up on his armor project he had commissioned back when he was on good terms with Checkmate.
Great. Another money pit.
”A Ms Dent here to see you, Mr. Kord.” The mechanical voice interrupted his brooding.
He blinked and rubbed his eyes. “Skeets… Where’s Anna?”
”Maternity leave, Mr. Kord. You had me send a rather pleasant gift basket to her earlier.”
“Oh… Right. Send her in.”
The door to his office opened to let in a rather fetching brunette with a pixie cut in a tight fitting red dress. Her heart-shaped face was twisted in a disapproving frown and she clenched her expensive purse as if it was a neck she wanted to throttle. His eyes lingered on the pale skin of her legs as he leaned back in his chair and put on his most pleasant smile.
“Duela! If Legal dressed like that all the time, I wouldn’t be so wary to let you all into my office. What’s the occasion?”
“Save it, Kord,” she snapped in a clipped accent. “I get a call from Booster on my way to a fundraiser in your honor telling me you haven’t stopped working for over forty-eight hours.”
“Ah,” he massaged the bridge of his nose again to buy himself some time to come up with an excuse. “That wasn’t his place.”
“Of course it is his place, he’s your friend!”
Ted withheld the comment he wanted to say. That Booster wasn’t really his friend. That on days when he was exhausted and tired of Booster’s preaching, it felt like he had inherited Booster from a dead uncle. But that was just the lack of sleep talking and the annoyance at being bothered. The same thing that made Booster trust him unflinchingly had Ted return the feeling in unquestioning faith. Faith that Booster knew what he was doing.
“Just been busy.”
“Busy… right.” She made her way to his personal closest located in the back of his office. Her voice came out muffled. “Get in here and get dressed. You’re going to make an appearance at the party like you’re supposed to. Shake hands with the mayor and the General. Then I’ll have my driver take you home.”
He remained sitting.
“On the double, Kord. Don’t make me call Teddy.”
A long suffering sigh was his only vocal response. He closed down all the files and shut down his systems. This was a fight he couldn’t win.
---
“You call this pizza?!?” a rather, average looking teenage boy with brown hair shouted excitedly, his mouth full and tongue whipping out words only his companion could understand. “It’s delicious. Especially these red circle things.”
“Pepperoni,” offered Kalvin.
“Yum. Pepepepeperoni.”
Hard not to smile at Talin’s joy. It had been a few days since the attack on the oil platform. Talin had told him all about it and helped with earnest goodwill. It had taken as many days for Kalvin to secure a way to fittingly pay the Atlantean back for all his help. Certainly worth it in the long run. Talin knew all kinds of interesting things when he could be calmed down enough to explain them.
Kalvin was in his street clothes which basically meant he took off all the makeup and put on a wig to hide his unusual hair choice. Across from him on the balcony of a local pizza diner sat Talin. Gone was the appearance of the Creature from the Black Lagoon. In its place was the illusion of a normal boy with a taste in green clothing.
“What’s up with the hair… Can I have hair like that?” Talin took another bite, nearly spitting out his food as he tried to talk. “I always wanted hair.”
“We’d have to change your race.”
“Race? Ah. I see. Instead of mutations the Surfacers have different skin tones. Cool.”
“Something like that.” Kalvin twisted his spaghetti on his fork and shoved it all in his mouth. Talin watched the noodle slurp up with fascination.
“Looks like pale baby eels.”
“Tastes better though.”
The pair laughed. The conversation carried on for quite some time. Talin kept ordering food. Kaldur said it was no problem, he had it all covered. They learned of each other’s worlds. They spoke of their friends. The sea dweller was deeply fascinated with the concept of a freakish appearance being okay if you were saving lives.
Talin only asked about Kal’s mother once. Just a general question, loaded with the wariness of someone who dwelled on the edge of society. And it made Kalvin hate to lie to him.
”Keep our oceans clean.”