Arthur Curry, Aquaman to the surface world, King Arthur to his subjects, sighed as he examined yet another petition. Like all the others that lay piled up in heaps on his coral desk, it was a dull thing. Petitions to harvest algae on the southern chasms. Petition to re-open the bounty on sharks along the Atlantic trade-routes. Petition to petition the royal petitioner.

Aquaman tossed the petition behind him and stood, golden hand flexing unconsciously. He looked down at it, trying to feel...well, anything. But nothing. Dead as the day Charybdis had taken it. He shook his head, long hair floating slowly in the warm waters of the palace. He dropped his hand to his side and closed his eyes, trying to relax his aching muscles. He'd been cooped up behind this desk for hours. Days like these he was tempted to let Orm, or the Shark or whoever wanted Atlantis to have it. Let them see how they like being king after a few days of royal paperwork.

The guards at the end of the hall abruptly straightened, spear butts striking the marble floor. Aquaman looked up.

The soldier was young. Nervous. He was holding a message - good Neptune, not another petition, please - in one hand. His other held tightly to his sword hilt. Aquaman swam forward.

"Yes?"

"M-my liege-" the soldier sank into a bow. Aquaman gestured.

"Rise." He said, gently. "You have something?"

"K-Kraken Rock..." the soldier stuttered, looking up, eyes wide. "It's in revolt, sire."

"Damn." Aquaman said, face going hard in the instant. All gentleness gone. So were the aches and thoughts of petitions. "Summon the commander of the Fourth Legion! Now!" He roared, glaring at his guards. His golden hand clutched the message, crumpling it.

He didn't ask how it had started. He knew.

Black Manta.

"This ends. Now."

THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA
Issue #7
DIPLOMACY

"I could kill you now." Ocean-Master said, floating above the Fisherman, his trident aimed at the criminal's head, points glinting wickedly. "One less piece of trash in the ocean. My ocean."

"The ocean is a big place." Killer Shark said. Ocean-Master turned slowly. Killer Shark stood on the top of his sub, aiming a long barreled rifle of alien manufacture at the center of Ocean-Master's mass. "Room for all of us, I think."

"That is debatable."

"Not from where I'm standing."

"You should change position." Ocean-Master smiled. The green forms of several Merlocks swept up over the hull of the sub behind Killer Shark, weapons clutched in webbed hands. Killer Shark didn't turn.

The Merlocks disappeared in a swathe of crimson mist. King Shark touched down on the top of the sub, snarling silently, jaws wreathed in red. Ocean-Master's face twitched.

"I have more where they came from."

"So do I." Killer Shark said, waving a hand. Piranha-Man, mounted on a giant squid hovered overhead, shadows falling over the sub and those standing or floating near it. Ocean-Master looked up. He laughed slightly.

"Well. How delightful."

"Can I move now?" the Fisherman asked.

"By all means." Ocean-Master swept his trident up and leaned it across his shoulder. "Your...companion is recovering." He pointed at the twitching form of the Shark.

"Good. I still need him."

"And me?" Ocean-Master touched his chest with his free hand.

"Why else would we be here?"

"As you said, it's a big ocean." Ocean-Master twitched his legs and floated upwards, cloak swirling around him. He touched down on the sub and walked towards Killer Shark. Nanaue growled and rose up in front of him, clawed fingers flexing.

"Sharks don't normally swim in schools." Ocean-Master said.

"We are hardly normal sharks, are we though?" the Shark hissed, dabbing at the blood that dotted his pink lips. "Mercenary, mutant and demigod."

"Which is which?" Ocean-Master said. "It doesn't matter." He looked back at Killer Shark. "This is about Arthur, isn't it?"

"It always is." Killer Shark said. "At least for us."

"True."

"How many Merlocks do you have, by the by?"

"Enough." Ocean-Master said. "More than a hundred, less than a thousand."

"Veritable army by the standards of the sea." The Shark said, floating closer to Ocean-Master. "But not enough, perhaps."

"Plenty, I think." Killer Shark said, shifting slightly. "Have you heard of Kraken Rock?"

"Who hasn't?" Ocean-Master said. "Why?"

"I have it on good authority your brother is going to be there. And distracted."

"Ah." Ocean-Master nodded. "And to what do I owe this good fortune?"

"Us. We're heading there." Killer Shark gestured around. "All of us."

"These relationships never work you know." Ocean-Master said. "I've tried."

"This isn't a relationship. It's a business arrangement."

"Hmm."

"I came out of respect. To you, to what you're owed. There's blood on the water." Killer Shark said, lowering his rifle. "And we all want a taste."

"Distracted, you say?" Ocean-Master said, trident prongs scratching idle designs in the surface of the hull. "By who?"

"Very angry prisoners. Vicious, unrepentant, and out for Atlantean blood. Hundreds of them. Hostages too. A ready made army, just waiting for a commander."

"You?"

"You." Killer Shark corrected. "I'm a supplier. A smuggler. I've supplied you an army-" he gestured at the others, "-generals. Both gratis. And I've got plenty of weapons for sale."

"Ha!" Ocean-Master barked. "An arrangement. Yes. I see. I took that course in college-economics as well. Create your own opportunities."

"I'm the Trump of the water-breather set." Killer Shark said. "Besides, every army needs a quartermaster."

"My Merlocks could do with an upgrade, yes..." Ocean-Master eyed the green forms skulking around the sub. His eyes moved back to Killer Shark. "Yes. Fine. Such is how history is writ. Of course, I will travel with you, as befitting a general."

"Of course." Killer Shark said.

"And my - ha! - Royal Guard." Ocean-Master raised his trident and a dozen, well armed and armored Merlocks swum swiftly towards the sub. "Chieftains. Of the clans I conquered. A matter of honor with them that I survive, you see."

"Of course."

Twenty minutes later, the submersible was under way. Slower this time, but Kraken Rock wasn't far. Besides, it wouldn't do to get there too early. On either side of its sleek shape, disorganized columns of Merlocks swam, some towing siege weapons, others riding sea-beasts summoned by Piranha-Man.

Fisherman stood behind Killer Shark on the bridge. "We can't trust him."

"Wrong way around." Killer Shark replied. "He can't trust us."

"Does it matter?"

"Depends on how you plan to win." Killer Shark said. He turned, barked an order to one of his underlings, looked back at his fellow super-villain. "Personally, I plan to flip over the board."

"Sound strategy."

"Was that sarcasm I detected? Do you have so little faith in me?"

"You? No. Them? Yes." Fisherman waved a hand towards the back of the sub. "Did you see the way the Shark was looking at Ocean-Master? He's planning something."

"Of course he is. That's why I wanted him." Killer Shark turned his command chair around and smiled, displaying his filed teeth. "Initiative, personal or otherwise, is the key to a sound business plan."

"This is not a business plan!" Fisherman gesticulated, arms waving wildly.

"Isn't it?" Killer Shark tapped a button on his armrest. A holographic map shimmered into being. "This is Atlantis and her territories. No enemy save herself. Warring fiefdoms brought under the heel of Arthur the First."

"Aquaman."

"Aquaman. But, despite being aligned, they still buy weapons. Just in case. His throne isn't as steady as he likes to pretend. Every time he goes off with the JLA, those dukes and counts and viscounts all clutch those secret weapons a little bit more tightly. Waiting. And this, this is what they're waiting for. A dynasty struggle. Brother against brother. Atlantis will be riven by chaos. And I’ll make a killing. So will you.”

“Me?”

“Why do you think I brought you? On the list of guys with grudges against Curry, you’re way down the list.”

“Thanks.”

“But, you’re a smooth operator. Good engineer. Got guts too.” Killer Shark leaned forward. “I need a guy like you to help me run my-soon-to-be-expanded business.”

“I’m touched.”

“And hey, you’re funny.”

“Really?”

“No.” Killer Shark shook his head. “But, I’m willing to overlook that.”

“So this Mockingbird guy is paying you to do this?”

“No. Chaos is a bonus. All he wants is Black Manta.” Killer Shark said. “Isn’t that right?”

“Impressive. You detected us.” Mockingbird’s form shimmered into view. Killer Shark nodded.

“I have my boat swept for bugs every shift change.”

“Perhaps Black Manta is not the man for us. Perhaps you-”

“I’m not a team-player.” Killer Shark said. “I’m a business man. And whatever you’re planning ain’t my business.”

“A shame. We will endeavor to get over it.”

“Figured you would. But you had something to say?”

“Only that we are satisfied with your progress so far. We have added a bonus to your fee.”

“I live but to serve.”

“We hope so.” Mockingbird said. It’s form wavered, crackled, vanished. Fisherman looked at Killer Shark.

“Our employer is a hologram.”

“But his money is good. And that’s all that matters.”

Kraken Rock.

He had brought a legion. But only one. Good. Black Manta leaned on the sill, watching Aquaman posture and march his toy soldiers around. Hate warmed him in the cold waters.

“They are coming. A few hours at most.” Mockingbird whispered in his ear.

“Yes.” Black Manta said. He moved away from the window and looked at the central plaza of the prison. The hostages had been chained to the coral statues of Aquaman and his queen, Mera. Manta examined them for a moment.

He was only nominally in charge of the gathered prisoners. But then, he didn’t need to be. Aquaman just had to think he was.

“They will attack soon.” Manta said, addressing the free prisoners. He hefted a spear he‘d confiscated from a guard. “Aquaman won’t let us remain free.”

“We should get out now, while we can!” One of the convicts shouted. Manta whirled and threw the spear, knocking the man backwards in a cloud of red.

“There. Quicker that way than trying to run. Allies are coming.” Manta said before anyone could react. “Catch the enemy between a rock - ” he gestured at the prison walls. “And a hard place.” He raised a fist. “Who wants to stay?”

The cheers echoed throughout the prison. On the plain below, Aquaman closed his eyes and rubbed his temples.

He wanted to fight. Of course he wanted to fight. Black Manta couldn’t do anything else. Not where Aquaman was concerned. He looked up, eyes narrowing as he examined the prison in the distance.

It was a fortress. It had been designed that way. Which meant a siege. Vicious. Bloody. Aquaman looked back at his troops. He’d brought the Fourth Legion. A thousand men. No siege weapons. A few whales as troop-carriers, a few giant rays as outriders.

Bloody. How many of them would die storming that place?

For the briefest instant, he wanted to call the JLA. Stubbornly, he pushed the thought aside. No. No, this was his kingdom. No outside interference. None. No justice but his. Especially not for the Manta. The man who’d killed his son.

“Damn you.” He said quietly, looking at the prison. “Why couldn’t you just rot in peace?”

“Sir?” A hesitant voice. The commander of the Fourth. Aquaman looked at him, imagining him dead. He blinked the vision away.

“Give the order. Forward. This ends now.”

TO BE CONTINUED

Next Issue: This is the big one! Aquaman vs. Black Manta! The Secret Six vs. the Atlantean army! Shirts vs. skins! Be here next time for ’CRIMSON TIDE’!