They say in space, no one can hear you scream. Underwater, everyone can.

Spent shells bounced off of the Black Manta's helmet as he swung the parapet mounted weapon around again, cutting down another rank of Aquaman's troops. The weapon was a water-pressure-rifle, iron bolts fired through the application of super-heated water.

Kraken Rock had twenty of them, lining its coral parapets. Each one of them was manned now by escaped prisoners and blazing white hot as the Atlantean Fourth Legion stormed the prison-cum-fortress.

Black Manta spun the weapon, his side striking the parapet as he cut a darting figure in half. A limp form slid away in red clouds of blood.

"Where?" he grunted.

"Close. Hold them." Mockingbird's comfortingly distorted voice whispered in his ear. Manta grunted again and let the weapon's barrel drift up as another prisoner reloaded it. He looked out over the field of battle, a feeling of satisfaction surging through him as he watched the carnage unfold like some rare flower.

He spread his arms and stepped to the edge, hands cutting lazy swathes through the water. "Come." He said. Then, louder, "COME!"

Somewhere, someone heard him. Arthur Curry, Aquaman, opened his eyes. He sat astride a giant seahorse, reins clasped in his flesh-hand, his golden one tapping a steady rhythm against his mail-clad thigh. His eyes narrowed and he steeled himself.

The prisoners had found the Rock's armory and were putting it to good use. It wasn't as bad as it could have been, but...

"At least they haven't found the damn explosives." Aquaman grunted. "And wouldn't that have been nice."

"Sir?" one of his guards said. Aquaman answered without looking around.

"Explosives, boy. The whole citadel is lousy with them. Made it standard policy when I came to power-every prison is wired to go up at the warden's say so. In the event of a riot..."

"Then-"

"I don't know." Aquaman said harshly. "But I'm going to find out."

THE DEVIL AND THE DEEP BLUE SEA
Issue #8
CRIMSON TIDE

The Shark watched Ocean Master from across the room, eyes glittering with a malign desire. The mammal had struck him. Had dared to strike him. Thus, the animal must die. But not yet. Not yet. He blinked and looked around the bay of the submersible. The brute form of King Shark squatted near a hatchway, staring at the metal as if he would leap through it at any moment. Piranha-Man stood nearby, gray arms crossed over his scaly chest, red eyes narrowed.

He could feel the twinge at the back of his head that signaled the use of the latter's powers. Sea creatures of all types were following in the wake of the sub, swimming amongst the gathered horde of the Merlocks the Ocean-Master commanded.

A fine and savage force. One that needed a leader worthy of it. A leader such as himself. The Shark grinned and closed his eyes, letting his mind reach out and caress the dull thoughts of the sharks following the distant stink of blood.

Come, he thought. Come.

Elsewhere, the mercenary known as Killer Shark watched the forward screens and ran over his plans in his head for the thirtieth time. Behind him, the Fisherman cracked his knuckles nervously.

"I'd really prefer not to die today."

"Wouldn't we all." Killer Shark said. "And we won't. Not if we stick to the plan-"

"The plan. The plan you haven't yet chosen to illuminate us with? That plan?"

"That's the one."

"Great." The Fisherman said.

"I knew you'd be impressed."

"I am not, however." Ocean Master said, stalking onto the bridge, followed by his guards. "How much longer?"

"Patience is a virtue." Killer Shark said. Ocean Master snorted.

"I have few virtues."

"Don't I know it." Fisherman muttered. Ocean Master looked at him.

"You said something?"

"No?"

"Quiet. We're here." Killer Shark pointed at the view screen. Magnified, the image was a nightmare of carnage. Soldiers clad in the regalia of Atlantis attacked the walls of Kraken Rock, where men in rags met them with equal ferocity. Bodies floated, trailing red and in the press of men, weapons sparked and flared. Ocean Master hissed in pleasure. He gestured with his trident.

"There!"

A golden standard appeared in the vanguard and then vanished, hidden by swimming troops.

"He's leading the attack." Killer Shark said. "That complicates-"

"Nothing. It complicates nothing. Open the hatches. I have a brother to kill." Ocean Master snapped, loping from the bridge, a snarl on his face. Killer Shark looked at the Fisherman.

"Well. Let's get to it."

"Here's the plan..." Killer Shark said, looking down into the bay. A dozen of his men, wearing stolen Lexcorp powered armor, modified for underwater use, stood ready to support Ocean Master, who was already outside, rallying his primitive troops. “Ocean Master’s Merlocks will attack the rear and flank of the Atlantean army. You twelve cut him a path straight to Aquaman.” He turned, looking at King Shark and Piranha-Man. “You two, make sure he doesn’t get killed before he gets there. This is for all the marbles. After that, break off and meet up with us in the Rock.”

“And me?” the Shark asked, eyes gleaming. The mercenary looked at the mutant.

“You? You do what you do best.” He said, winking. The Shark laughed.

“You know?”

“I figured. One monarch is the same as another Shark. I don’t care who’s standing, as long as it’s not Aquaman. So you do that thing you do so well.” Killer Shark pointed a finger. “But...you wait until the Atlanteans are on the ropes before you do it. Understand?”

“Oh yes. Perfectly.”

“Have fun kids.” Killer Shark said, smiling as water began to fill the bay in preparation for its opening. He turned to Fisherman. “Now, lets go snag us a Manta.”

The battle wasn't going well. In fact, from King Arthur's perspective, it had stalled entirely. The prisoners had fallen back from the parapets, and into the cell blocks, but they'd taken the defense guns with them. Bodies lined the walls or floated despondently around them. More men than he'd hoped to lose, less than he'd worried.

"When did that happen?" he asked himself softly. When had losing men become something he calculated on? Behind him, a soldier shouted a sudden warning.

Aquaman whirled as a bolt of sizzling energy turned the water near his head to gas. His eyes widened. "Orm?"

"Hello brother. And goodbye!" Ocean Master snarled, trident stabbing down. Aquaman jerked backwards as the trident slammed into his seahorse, killing the creature instantly. He fell away from the saddle as Ocean Master lunged at him again.

"Same joke every time Orm. It's getting old." Aquaman said, golden hand snapping out to grab the prongs of the trident. He wrenched it aside and slammed his other fist into Ocean Master's chin. Aquaman darted forward, encircling his brother's throat with a brawny arm. "Why are you here Orm? I don't have the time or the patience to deal with you - not today!"

"Make time." Piranha-Man hissed, slamming into Aquaman from the side. Aquaman was forced to release his hold on Ocean Master's throat as he was hurled backwards. He hit the edge of the parapet hard. King Shark was on him in that moment, jaws gaping. Aquaman shoved his golden hand up just in time, Nanaue's teeth scraping off the metal.

"Like old home week." Aquaman grunted, yanking King Shark off his feet and ramming the creature's head into the wall with a resounding crack! "Where did you two come from?"

"Ghosts of the past, oh mighty king. Merely ghosts of the past." The Shark said, floating above the fray. Aquaman looked up at the mutant, disgust flickering across his face.

"You."

"Me." The Shark displayed his mouth full of teeth. "And them." He raised a hand and a half dozen sharks darted into view, arrowing towards the king. Aquaman tried his telepathy briefly, knowing it wouldn't work. It never really had, not on sharks. Too alien. Instead he leaped, snatching up a fallen Atlantean war-lance and twisting the handle. A spurt of electricity caught the lead sharks, killing them instantly. He impaled a fourth on the lance point, dragging the writhing monster up and around, hurling it back towards its two fellows. Instinct took over as they began to savage their companion and Aquaman shot towards the Shark, fingers hooked like claws.

Piranha-Man caught him from behind, teeth digging into his mail-covered shoulder. Aquaman grunted and tried to turn to struggle, but then King Shark was there, maw clamping down on his golden hand.

"No!" Aquaman said, dragging his arm forward with all his strength. Whirling King Shark in front of his body, Aquaman thrust himself forward, right into the frenzy of sharks. Nanaue squealed as one of the creatures latched onto him blindly. Hand free, Aquaman smashed a golden fist into Piranha-Man's face with a burst of savage joy. The gray skinned mutate slewed backwards and the king followed, intent on finishing what he had started. A burst of energy caught him however and sent him sprawling.

"Enough." Ocean Master stalked towards Aquaman, trident sizzling. Around them, Merlocks and prisoners battled Atlantean soldiers and blood was thick on the water. "I have waited for this for too long-"

"Whose plan was it Orm? Yours? The Shark? I wondered why the prisoners hadn't simply scattered. It was a trap." Aquaman said flatly as he wiped blood from his the edge of his mouth. His brother laughed.

"Regrettably, not one of mine." He lifted the trident for another blast. "But I have my part to play. The king is dead, brother. Long live the king."

"Indeed."

The Shark rose up suddenly behind Orm, his hands grasping either side of Ocean Master's skull. Grinning at Aquaman, he twisted and with a sharp snap and crackle, broke his villainous brother's neck. As the twitching form of the Ocean Master drifted away, the Shark snatched up his trident. Before Aquaman could move, another blast washed over him, knocking him backwards.

The Shark stood over him, grinning his awful grin. Aquaman looked up, blearily.

"The sea is for sharks, mammal. And it's high-time I asserted my claim." The Shark said, raising the trident.

"Looks like it's working." The Fisherman said, peering around the corner at the raging battle. He'd lost sight of Aquaman and his opponents and found himself strangely disappointed. Killer Shark didn't reply, instead gesturing for his men to spread out. The sub had found a clear area near the back of the prison, where the fighting had been lightest and cleared it with depth charges. The explosions had been the signal for the prisoners under Black Mantas nominal control to flee out into the ocean. Black Manta himself had come to meet them and now waited patiently as Killer Shark gave orders.

"Simmons. Albrecht. Hoover. Find those explosives. Rig them to our signal."

"Explosives?" the Fisherman said. Killer Shark nodded.

"Every Atlantean prison has them. Mockingbird apparently blocked the signal when the warden here tried to set them off. I'm going to have them re-rigged for our use."

"We're going to blow this place up?"

"Only to cover our escape. Isn't that right, Black Manta?" the mercenary said, looking at the black-suited criminal. Manta nodded tersely. Then,

"Aquaman."

"Being taken care of." Killer Shark said.

"No." Black Manta said, swimming towards the door. Two of Killer Shark's men swam in front of him, aiming weapons at the criminal. Killer Shark clucked his tongue.

"I can't let you do that my friend. I'm being paid good money to keep you alive and out of harm's way. No revenge for you today."

"Hrm." Black Manta spun gracefully, a hook-bladed knife appearing as if by magic in one hand. He gutted one of the men and kicked the other in the stomach. Scooping up a dropped rifle, he shot towards the doorway and the battle beyond. Killer Shark cursed and slapped Fisherman on the shoulder.

"Go get him!"

"Me?"

"Do it!"

"Fine! Fine!" Fisherman shot through the water, following Black Manta.

"Goodbye, mammal." The Shark said, raising the trident. Aquaman shook his head, trying to clear it. Not enough time. He glared up at the Shark. Prepared to leap.

"Goodbye." A harsh voice replied. The Shark whirled and the blast from the Atlantean rifle caught him in the gut. The Shark stumbled backwards, jaws gaping, eyes wide. The back of his legs hit the parapet and he tumbled over, disappearing in a cloud of red. Aquaman looked up at Black Manta.

"You."

"Me." Black Manta aimed the rifle. Aquaman gathered his feet under him. The rifle barked and Aquaman leapt, rolling to his feet, Orm's trident in hand. Energy crackled and the Black Manta stumbled back, the rifle disintegrating in his hands.

King Shark and Piranha Man slammed into Aquaman from behind, knocking him flat. The trident spun away. Black Manta pulled his knife and moved forward but a sudden surge of electricity knocked him senseless.

The Fisherman grabbed Manta by his wetsuit and hauled him back towards where the sub was waiting as Aquaman grabbed Piranha Man by the throat and smashed his head into the coral floor. The king kicked King Shark in the gut, staggering the beast. Momentarily free, he looked around for Black Manta.

“Where-”

Then, suddenly, down deep in the belly of Kraken Rock, something rumbled. Aquaman’s eyes widened. “The explosives...” He looked around. The fighting had trailed off. He snatched up the trident and waved it over his head, trying to catch the attention of his troops. “Fall back! FALL BACK!”

Not stopping to see if anyone was following him, Aquaman leapt over the parapet and swam for all he was worth, clawing at the water with powerful strokes. Behind him, Kraken Rock gave a groan and then, with a shriek of tortured rock, exploded. The shock wave carried the king several meters before he managed to regain his balance.

Floating, bleeding, tired, Aquaman stared at the ruins of one of Atlantis’ greatest prisons and his hands clenched into fists. He couldn’t bring himself to feel sorry for Orm. all he could feel was rage that the Black Manta was loose again. Free. The metal of his golden hand creaked as he smashed it against his thigh.

“Damn it.”

Later. Far away.

“We got him.” Killer Shark said, sitting in his command chair. “He’s in the medical bay. Unconscious.”

“Excellent. We commend you on your efficiency.” Mockingbird said. “And Aquaman?”

“No clue. I doubt the explosion got him. But if we’re lucky he’ll spend the next week searching the ruins to find our friend.” Killer Shark said, grinning. The smile faded as he said, “Lost both the Shark and Ocean Master though.”

“Regrettable, but you factored it into your plan.”

“Of course. Did manage to recover our friends Nanaue and Piranha-Man though. And the Fisherman, though how much he’s worth is debatable.”

“Your point?”

“I recovered assets. Bonus.” Killer Shark rubbed his fingers together. “I have a feeling you’re going to need all the assets you can get your hands on very soon.”

“Oh?”

“Yeah. Tell me I’m wrong.”

“We could, but we won’t. Instead...a bonus.” Mockingbird laughed, an electronic warble. “Keep your lines clear, mercenary. We may have more work for you soon.”

“I look forward to it. In the meantime, what should I do with my guest?”

“Play host until we contact you again. Help him rebuild his organization. Do what you do best.” Mockingbird said, beginning to fade. Killer Shark smiled and rested his chin on his hands.

“I think I can handle that.”

TO BE CONTINUED

Next Issue: A new story! A new six! Be here in thirty for DIRTY DEALS Part One, ‘SHIP OF FOOLS’!