Legends of Aquaman #8

[Dark Knight of Steel]

Legends of Aquaman #8
Tears of the Sea

Writer: Nikolai Peter Fomich
Editor: Daniel Dyer

The Purple Fish swims aimlessly, tired from a chase with a piranha earlier that day. The fish had escaped, though its right fin had been torn, resulting in a limp while swimming. Drawn toward the palace window above, it reaches the bubble-like surface, and peers inside, to see a boy. The purple eyes of the boy are striking, unlike any the fish had seen. Placing his hand on the window, the boy whispers, though not in the way one normally would.

{“He- hello?”}

The voice that speaks next is familiar to Garth, but not the one he was expecting.

{“Garth?”} Arthur says, telepathically. {“What are you doing against the window?”}

The Purple Fish gone, Garth turns to look at his king…his only friend. {“Nothing, sir. Just admiring the fish. And- and thinking of my mother.”}

Sighing, Arthur kneels down, now at the same height as the boy. Placing his callous hand on Garth’s shoulder, King Orin looks intently at him. {“You were not there for the funeral, Garth. I understand your frustration…I, too, have lost my parents.”}

The uncomfortable silence that follows is due to just as much as the tears Garth prevents himself from shedding as it is because of Arthur’s own uncertainties about his own heritage. Garth finds the courage to speak up first. {“I know, sir. I am sorry. I just…I just miss her.”}

Both embrace, bound by their orphaned selves. The tears shed slip into the water, becoming one with the ocean. Thus is the curse of all Atlantians- their tears must forever go unnoticed.

~

[Dark Knight of Steel]

His purple robe flows with unnatural movement, which most citizens expected was an unnatural effect of the magics the sorcerer deals with. Hagen, known to all, feared by some, and respected by a select few, paced back and forth in the palace library. Perusing the titles, he finds few texts that he has not studied- though the ones that he has not read, he makes mental notes of. Hagen will have to speak to one of the guards again about their arrangement…

The adjoining doors open briskly, and the King of Atlantis finally comes to greet his uninvited guest. His head held high, King Orin swims with practiced ease, though Hagen cannot help but notice a tinge of annoyance in his manner. The aristocratic dolt. His arrogance will be the end of him. Without preamble, the king addresses the sorcerer.

“It is not customary for guest of Poseidonis to be received in the library.”

Bowing his head with the courtesy of a court jester, Hagen openly smiles, revealing teeth worthy of a dead shark. “Forgive me, your majesty, but only among books do I find my comfort.”

As the king frowns, Hagen laughs inwardly. Oh Orin. Your buttons are easier to push than your dead brother’s.

“What is it you want, sorcerer?”

“Only to serve Atlantis- I am a patriot, nothing more, nothing less.”

“And what could Atlantis need that you could give now, sorcerer?”

“It is a warning, my king. For you.” Arthur’s face picks up for a moment, unsure what Hagen was getting at.

“A prophesy.”

Beginning to turn to leave, Arthur sighs, and begins to swim. “I don’t have time for this.”

“Trust me, I would not have come here if I believed it would not be in the best interest for the nation. Our nation. I hold no love for you, King. But I love Atlantis with all my being.”

“Hagen, if I listened to every prophesy given in the past two years or so, I would have time for nothing else.”

“Ah, but how many of those were given by me?”

Scoffing, Arthur is about to leave, when something the sorcerer says embeds unquenchable curiosity inside him- along with equal dread. “It is about the return of Atlan.”

“Very well sorcerer. Make it brief.”

Smiling cynically, Hagen again bows his head. Muttering inaudibly, Hagen begins to speak to Arthur in common Atlantiean tongue. <“He shall come for his claim, when all is thought to be won. A royal death will be his calling- and the sea shall weep.”>

<“…a royal death…?”>

“Like I said, your majesty. I thought you would want to know.”

~

[Dark Knight of Steel]

The smoke swirls around the office room in broken circles. Tapping his cigar against his favorite ashtray, the man quietly looks outside his office window. After a moment goes by, a determined, unafraid voice speaks…though still not without a measure of respect. Perry Simmons is far from suicidal. “I’m ready.”

Another blow of smoke is added to the air. “I know.” Finally turning to face his guinea pig, Perry Simmons cannot help but feel delight. Extinguishing his cigar in the ‘S’-symbol center of his ashtray, the two men exit the room. The smoke remains.

~

[Dark Knight of Steel]

Holding both her hands to her stomach, Mera feels another kick. The baby is strong…like his father. Rubbing her stomach, the Queen of Atlantis wants nothing more to be a mother. Her life was good now…gone were the days of bloody war…of Orm. Though lately Arthur himself had been acting rather strangely. It was those damn powers. It effected him, in ways only a wife could know. He felt distant… isolated. Sitting on her bed, Mera privately says a prayer for the child within her… and for her husband. Inside the ocean water, more tears are swept away.

~

[Dark Knight of Steel]

A figure appears inside the palace, and goes unnoticed. It had been a long journey, but one worth the wait. Taking a position high above, the black clad figure waits.

~

[Dark Knight of Steel]

"My Lord, you cannot be serious! This Hagen is a damn fool- you know better than to trust him.” The voices came from inside a private meeting room, one Garth had never seen before.

“Vulko, my decision is made. Until further notice, all guards will be doubled. Any threat to my family- imaginary or real- will be dealt with.” Swimming closer, Garth glimpses at his king in his casual attire- a blue tunic, crossed with white stripes. What are they arguing about now?

“Sir, we cannot allow a vile creature such as Hagen to continue to plague us with repeated nonsensical threats!” As soon as the words left Vulko’s mouth, he regretted them. The plague had been the one time Hagen had proven to be useful. And an instance which still haunted the king.

In his mind, the words his most trusted advisor spoke rung true. But in his heart… “I have made the choice. The guards will be doubled until further notice. We will discus this no more.” Bowing, Vulko complies.

“Now, what else?”

Before the older man can reply, Captain Ruddun comes bursting through the chamber. “My Lord Orin! You must come!”

Grabbing the captain, Garth can sense his king’s thoughts. {““Please, let it not be Mera!"} Instead he says, “What is it, Captain? What is wrong?”

“It’s the Shayeris province! It is on fire!”

“Fire!? That’s impossible!” Swimming across the room, all three men leave the chamber, leaving Garth alone once more.

~

[Dark Knight of Steel]

Strapping himself into the machine he, Perry Simmons, had helped design, the cold of metal touches his naked body with finality. He had waited months for this moment. And now, finally, revenge would be his. “Go,” he says. The scientist looks up toward his boss for the final go ahead. Lex Luthor merely nods.

~

[Dark Knight of Steel]

Fidgeting, Vulko is unsure what to do to pass his time. He had wanted to accompany the king, but matters in his kingdom warranted attention. Sitting in his office, he begins to sign day-old declarations, proclaiming one thing or another. Looking down toward his belly, Vulko decides against the little snack he had strategically placed on his office table earlier today. Beginning to sign papers, he cannot help but look at the treat. It had been his favorite when he was a child. Oh, why not? I’m not going to live forever. Suddenly, a small spear hits Vulko, and the small treat breaks into crumbs.

~

[Dark Knight of Steel]

The screams echo in basement corridor, as Perry Simons is unnaturally transformed. Though the scientist finds them disturbing, Lex Luthor looks intrigued by the mutation. Finally the process is stopped. Emerging from the depths of the watery encasement, Perry Simmons eyes flash with red vengeance.

~

[Dark Knight of Steel]

Alone in his hut, the sorcerer Hagen begins chanting again in an old Atlantiean tongue. <“…and the sea shall weep…and the oceans shall tremble…”>

To be continued...