Legends of Aquaman #3

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Legends of Aquaman #3
Of Love & WAR

Written by Scott D. L. Kruger
Edited by Daniel Dyer

Prologue:

Since the dawn of recorded Atlantean history, Tritonis was a sovereign nation unto itself... However, the city of Tritonis is to Poseidonis, as Gotham is to Metropolis. Where Posiedonis excelled in science, Tritonis remained faithful to the world of ancient magic and the word of Shalako, known through Poseidonis as Shalako “the deceiver”. Roughly a mile away from its sister city, Tritonis was the city that time forgot. It's protective dome, gone since the usurper Orm took the throne of Poseidonis, declaring himself Lord of Atlantis & attacked with a brutal determination to unite the two nations under his iron fisted rule.

From the Chronicles of Atlantis (by Albart, appointed by King Orin as the first royal Historian):

King Orin declared that a massive dome would be built to cover Poseidonis, protecting it’s people from the savages to the north of the Paiac mountains. Using his “science”, Orin developed a way to alter the pumice stone into a transparent glass of sorts. A glass that could withstand any assault the savages could throw at the great city. Orin’s brother Shalako, a mystic and worshipper of the sky goddess Saala, saw this as a personal insult to his beloved Goddess, cursing Poseidonis. Shalako declared that retribution would come and destroy them all for their faith in “science”. This was not the last time the brothers would clash.

The dome was constructed and no retribution from the Goddess Saala came.

A year had passed when Shalako finally admitted to Orin that he had been wrong and asked his brother for forgiveness. Orin simply said that they were brothers, there was nothing to forgive.

It was a month later when the Atlantean scientists discovered the meteoroid entering Earth’s orbit. The sudden appearance of the meteoroid caused massive Earthquakes and shifts in the tide. Giant tsunami’s ravaged the land, yet, Poseidonis endured. Shalako, once again, became the doomsayer. The meteoroid had created enough doubt in the minds of the people that many flocked to Shalako believing that he & his Goddess could save them. What no one knew was that Saala had forsaken Shalako the day he reconciled with Orin. Shalako had begun to commune with darker Gods.

Over the next few months Orin and his scientists tried all they could to destroy the meteoroid using their most advanced technology, but to no avail. Then came the dark day when the meteoroid shook free from it’s precarious orbit and plunged deep into the Atlantic. The cataclysm shook the Earth and buried Atlantis beneath the sea.

Luckily the mighty dome had survived and Poseidonis lived. The neighboring city of Tritonis did not fare as well. Not being protected by a mighty dome, the city was all but destroyed, it’s people eradicated. Shalako learning tricks from his dark Gods devised a way to create “hard water”. He used the Hard Water to enclose the ruins of Tritonis in a water tight seal, he then lead his followers through a series of caverns to their new home.

Being trapped in the city with nothing but artificial daylight was driving its people insane. Hoping the Earth had not been entirely eradicated, Orin called for his chief scientist, Vandar Adg, to lead a team of explorers to the ocean’s surface. Their mission was to see if anything survived the Cataclysm. Vandar & his explorers never returned to Atlantis.

The loss of Vandar was a sign to Orin… It became apparent to the king that the people of Atlantis must adapt or die. Fearing that there was no land and that they were the last souls left on the Earth, Orin commissioned the most brilliant minds of Poseidonis to create a method for the Atlanteans to survive outside of their protective dome. Eventually a vaccine was created that altered their genetic makeup to not only breathe underwater, but also withstand the immense pressures of the sea. Testing the serum on himself first, much to his wife, Narmea’s chagrin, Orin had the serum injected into his blood stream. He then proceeded to one of the cities massive airlocks and swam out to sea. Most that saw the king thought he had finally succumbed to madness, until they saw he was actually breathing. The serum was a success. The King immediately ordered every man, woman & child inoculated & ordered his scientists to create enough of the vaccine to share with Shalako and his Tritonians. When the task was finally completed, King Orin himself with a team of his scientists left for Tritonis to deliver the vaccine.

The people felt betrayed by Shalako. He had promised them prosperity, but they were suffering. When Orin arrived with the promise of a life free of their dome, the people rejoiced. When the serum was administered to all (including Shalako, in secret), he retreated to his quarters and began to weave his dark magic. The morning after Orin returned home, the curse took affect. The people of Tritonis were transformed into mer-people. Where once human legs were, now the tails of great sea creatures. Where the people of Poseidonis’ lungs adapted to take in the sea water, the people of Tritonis developed gills. Only Shalako remained normal.

Years of anger and resentment directed at Orin spilled out. Shalako blamed Orin for "the sinking"... their love of science & Orin’s insistence at building the infernal glass dome had obviously angered the Gods & condemned their nation to the depths of the sea. He declared war on Poseidonis and gathered a grand army to march on its gates.

This was the first time two brothers warred over the fate of Atlantis... It was not the last.

~

[Spider-Man Beyond]

5 years ago...

The blast rocked the very foundation of the Imperial palace. The insurgents had doubled their attacks in the last few months. The rumor of Orin's return created more than enough "distraction" to keep Orm's rule from being boring. He now found himself wishing the days of his boredom would return. Though he had yet to see him damnable brother, enough of the royal guard has survived to confirm his existence. Or, at least someone that resembles his brother.

If it is his brother, he has become much more resourceful than he would've expected. The rich little brat he left to die on Mercy Reef could barely dress himself without the assistance of his father's aide. And now he returns, hero of the people. How ironic that it is now… an ‘Orin’ leads a rebellion against Poseidonis. No, not Poseidonis, a rebellion against Orm...

~

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Not quite something an orphan from the East coast of the United States could easily digest. Then again, after all he’d experienced over the past year, nothing really surprised him anymore. Though his memories had been returning, they were memories of individual people & the language... He did not remember Tritonis. Arthur floated before the Lord of Tritonis, Kalandro, flanked on either side by his General's Vulko & Mera.

Long gone is the 19 year old child that Vulko & Mera met but a year ago. Replaced by a strong confident battle-scarred warrior. The black & blue wetsuit & swimmers gloves replaced, with a suit of Atlantean Camouflage. The suit that Arthur chose to wear due to it’s resemblance to the surface of the sea on a stormy day, in the days when he and his 'father' Arthur Curry Sr. would sit atop the lighthouse and watch for incoming ships. His hair, still long and golden, was tied behind his back. Although Vulko argued that his hair "attracted too much attention", Arthur argued that he "wanted Orm to see me, I want them to fear me & see that I do not fear them" and then promised to have it cut the moment he sat on the throne. The year spent below the surface had nearly doubled Arthur's muscle mass making him an even more imposing figure to those that feared him. He now wore a close cropped beard, much like his father wore before his execution.

He was now Orin, King of Atlantis, regardless of what his brother thought.

"So, you are the great boy-king Orin," Kalandro sneered. "You are shorter than I expected... and older."

"Lord Kalandro," Arthur bowed deeply, choosing to ignore the insult, "I come before you to offer my armies protection..."

"Protection? Ha! Your protection is that of common thuggery. I also assume this protection of yours will come at a great price? That is the way of your kind... help with a price," Kalandro interrupted, his tail thumping the ground before his throne.

"If I may, Lord Kalandro, there is no "kind"... we are Atlanteans and should stand united against a common enemy. The only thing I ask for is your support. Do you have men that are willing to fight for their freedom against the tyranny my brother has wrought upon Tritonis?"

"Why, so we can be conquered by you when you take your throne? You will make us slaves in the infernal mines? We have been lead to our doom before by a yellow haired devil," Kalandro scoffed.

"I do not assume to govern over your city, Lord Kalandro, I merely offer you the means to make Tritonis yours again. No outside influence. A new peace, not a strained peace, like the one that our two cities have shared in the past, but a real peace. One that comes from working together to..."

"Enough! I've heard…” Kalandro paused as if in thought, “…enough of your lies. Guards escort the 'king' from our city." Somewhere inside Kalandro, Orin had struck a chord. Could it be possible for Poseidonis & Tritonis to co-exist?

~

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Vulko, Mera & Orin swam towards the great trench once again... or the Aquacave as Orin had named it. The Aquacave had been the staging ground for the rebellion since Vulko discovered it nearly 10 years ago. The 3 swam in silence as they made their way back.

“Well, that went well,” Orin sarcastically commented towards Vulko. It had been Vulko’s idea to try and recruit Kalandro & his men into the rebellion.

“Scoff if you will Lord Orin, but what you did back there was plant another seed. Now, stand back and watch it grow tall… I tell you, my boy, your time is near,” Vulko laughed.

“It is not my time Vulko, it’s our time as a people. I did not ask to be your King, I only do what is required. And I’ve told you, my friends call me Arthur… and you make it sound as if I were a gardener.”

“Yes, Vulko, leave Arthur alone to brood, he’s become quite good at it,” Mera interjected with a smirk.

“Hrumph! Fine. Fine… you will both see,” Vulko replied and swam away from them too flustered to continue the conversation, muttering the entire time, “Gardener, indeed… after all I do…. He’ll see…”

As soon as Vulko was out of sight Arthur pounced, passionately kissing Mera and pulling her closer than what Vulko would have considered “proper”. Mera countered, forcing Arthur against a large rock, pressing herself into him.

“I thought he’d never leave,” Arthur said as he came up for “air”.

“You talk too much,” Mera said as she pulled him back in for another round.

The two lovers drifted with the tide, suddenly surrounded by brightly colored fish shielding them from the prying eyes of the Aquacave.

~

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Explosions awaken Orm from his already restless slumber. He had taken to sleeping in the sub-basement of the palace in a make shift shelter to keep him safe. The room had all the luxuries of his suite, but no windows. This was one of those times when he cursed that decision. He grabbed his cloak & the Imperial trident and swam up the long winding stairwell. His current Captain of the Guard, met him halfway.

“What‘s happening up there?” Orm spat.

“The insurgents have targeted the mines, my liege, initial report says that they freed the slaves & then brought the mine down…” the Guard said rapidly.

“DAMMIT! Son of a… God d… AAAAARRRRGGGGGHHHHH!!!” Orm began pummeling his fist into the wall.

“…there… is… something else sir,” the Guard offered, interrupting Orm’s tantrum.

“WHAT IN THE NAME OF ATLAN, COULD THAT BE?”

“He’s here sir… outside the main gate. He demanded to speak with you.”

“Who… Orin? Really… WHY HAVEN’T YOU KILLED HIM YET?”

“The men, sir, most of them are afraid of him.”

“Most, what about the others?”

“They… joined him… sir.”

~

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Alone, outside the main gate of Poseidonis, floating just above the ground, massive arms folded over his barreled chest, was Orin. Far behind him, beyond the mines his army had taken position. Mera & Vulko saw to it that the freed slaves were safe. They both thought Orin had lost his mind going out into the open like that, but he insisted.

He stared unblinkingly into the main gate. So intent was his stare that he didn’t notice the throngs of people gathered around the wall of the great dome, just to get a glimpse of their savior.

The gate began to open and the royal guard exited one at a time, flanking either side of the massive gate. Ten armed guardsmen in total. Orm followed a moment after, trident in hand. Orm was in full Imperial attire, with massive robes and an ornate crown that covered half his face.

“So, brother, it is you… you’ve grown quite a bit,” Orm said confidently.

Dead silence. Orin just stared into the eye holes of Orm’s crown, not moving a centimeter.

“Come now, brother, no words for me, no threats?”

Nothing. Unblinking. Unwavering. Ice cold stare.

The guards began to stare at each other nervously, and Orm began to fidget. “Well… you demanded to see me, what have you to say?”

Silence.

“Come on, say something.”

Nothing.

Orms heart began to pound as panic took over. This was a trap, it had to be. He began to look around, spinning in all directions, his guard following suit. There was no one there. Orin was truly alone.

“I SHOULD HAVE KILLED YOU MYSELF!!! NOT JUST LEAVE YOU TO ROT ON THAT ROCK! I WILL END YOUR LITTLE INSURRECTION BOY. I WILL HAVE YOUR HEAD ON THE END OF MY TRIDENT! DO YOU HEAR? MY TRIDENT! MY KINGDOM… YOU DO NOT COME HERE IN MY…” Orm paused to take a breath.

Orin just stared.

“FINE, IF IT’S A WAR YOU WANT, IT’S YOURS… GUARDS, KILL HIM!!!”

The guards took a defensive stance, but did not move forward as Orin finally descended. Feet on the ground he walked confidently up to Orm. Standing face to face Orm was a few inches shorter… and frightened out of his mind. Finally, Orin spoke.

“I’m not going to kill you here & now. I wanted you to look me in the eye and know that the next time I see your face, it will be on the end of a spear. You have this one chance. Leave Atlantis and never come back… not just Poseidonis, leave Atlantis… or I will kill you. You have one hour.” and with that Orin turned and slowly floated away.

“You do not come into my kingdom and demand anything from me, boy.” Orm screamed after Orin. Just then, thousands of sea creatures of every size and shape came down from above. Swimming around the guards and Orm. Instinctively, Orm dropped to his knees, releasing the royal trident, and covering his head for protection. The sea had become alive. From the smallest clown fish, to the largest shark, they swam through the guards and Orm, then up in the direction of Orin. When the last blowfish cleared the area, Orm reached for his trident, it was gone. He stared up at his younger brother who stood tall on the back of a mighty blue whale, royal trident in hand.

“I believe this belongs to me. You now have 58 minutes Orm.”

To be concluded