Issue #4, Year One - July
RECAP: Aquaman and company battled the so-called Aquaman Revenge League only to find the familiar friends and foes they faced were actually pawns of Charon, the Ferryman of the River Styx (and his mysterious benefactor). Meanwhile, Dolphin continued to have doubts about her feelings for both Tempest and Aquaman.
AND NOW….in the fine Faux DC tradition…..
Water, Water, Everywhere
by Michael Stewart
Standing regally on the balcony, overlooking his domain, Aquaman felt something he had not felt in some time.
Peace.
Despite all of the recent events in his life, Aquaman was happy. No, it was more than that. He was satisfied. All was right with the world….at least for the time being.
In another part of the palace….
Tempest and Dolphin glided silently down the hallway, swapping the occasional glance, but not speaking a word.
Tempest had returned from his brief capture by the so-called Aquaman Revenge League, somewhat shaken, but no worse for the experience. Now realizing that they were merely impersonators trying to unnerve and seek revenge on Aquaman, Tempest was plagued with why Charon had not used Tula (aka Aquagirl). She was a big part of both his and Garth's lives. Why had they seen no need to use her? Not that he wasn't thankful….
"Garth, don't put yourself through this again. After the whole situation with Telifos, Atlan, and Tula (see the DC Tempest Mini), you made peace with Tula and with yourself. And now, there's Dolphin. What more could a guy ask for?" Tempest thought.
His inner dialogue trailed off as his attention turned to the white-haired beauty by his side.
However, Dolphin was fighting her own inner voice.
"What's wrong with me? I nearly broke up an old, trusted friendship to be with Garth. After all, Orin was busy and couldn't…..no, he wouldn't give me the attention I needed. Garth did….does. He treats me as an equal and showers me with attention and…."
"Dol, are you okay?" Tempest asked, breaking the silence.
"Huh, oh, yeah, sure…..just sort daydreaming."
"Listen, it's been crazy down here for the past few weeks. I was thinking about you and I taking a trip upside to New York, check in with some old friends from the Titans. You'd really like them, and they'd love you….just stay away from Roy. So what do you think?"
"Sure, that'd be great," forcing as much enthusiasm as she could.
Tempest could sense her hesitation but decided to plan the trip, giving them both some much needed time away.
At the same time, many miles away….
Schools of fish began to dart and scatter as the waters off the coast of Georgia began to shimmer and glisten, but with more than just the usual afternoon sun. Interspersed in the water were patches of an electric blue energy that sparkled and crackled. There didn't appear to be any pattern to the appearance or disappearances of these patches and more than a few fish fell prey to swimming into one of the patches only to swim instantly out of another patch several yards away.
The effect was more disorienting than anything else, but the fish knew someone should know about this odd occurrence. And with that thought, many schools swam to tell the King.
Aquaman sat and listened to the reports from his council, ranging from the decline of Posidenis' tourism trade (for which many were grateful) to the effects of el Nino and la Nina on the cultivation and harvesting of the undersea crops.
He reassured each council member and thanked them for their continued diligence and hard work on behalf of the city. In fact, he was rather impressed with how the whole city appeared to be pulling together and suggested that perhaps, some sort of festival be organized, maybe even a costume ball.
The council members, still trying to adjust to this new, more focused, more centered, more jovial leader, sat in pure astonishment as the idea slowly sank in, and as it did, they began to nod their agreement.
A committee was quickly formed, with various member of the community mentioned as potential members. One of the younger members of the council suggested Dolphin and Deep Blue be asked, unable to hide his obvious crushes on the pair.
As the council finally adjourned, the atmosphere was filled with a newfound energy and pride for their undersea kingdom. As the council chamber emptied, Orin was left with newfound energy of his own, and was excited about the possibilities that awaited the city.
Orin glided out of the chamber and into the hallway, nearly colliding with Dolphin, who, he noted, continued to wear his old orange tunic.
"Oh, excuse me, my mind was elsewhere."
Without looking directly into his eyes, Dolphin nodded her understanding, laughed a nervous giggle, and quickly excused herself, leaving Orin to ponder the oddness of the situation.
Of course, he still had feelings for her, but she had made up her mind. Feeling the cool hand of jealousy run its fingers across his mind, he shook himself out of it quickly and moved in the opposite direction as Dolphin.
Figuring a good swim might help, he quickly checked in with Vulko and with his son Koryak, even offering for Koryak to accompany him. Koryak declined the offer, but expressed his appreciation for the invitation. Orin then contacted the JLA headquarters, leaving word with them as well. Finally, he sought out Tempest before beginning his little excursion.
Finding Tempest in his chamber at the palace, packing, he was quickly seized with fear. He slowly let go of his fear as he caught the expression on Garth's face.
"What's going on, minnow?"
"UGH! You know I hate when you call me that. Just a little trip topside. Dol and I are going to visit some of the Titans and check out what's going on."
(And you should too in the FDC's Titans series)
"Really. I ran into Dolphin earlier. She seemed somewhat…..preoccupied."
His face turning a bit more serious, Garth replied, "You noticed too. Hoped it was just me being paranoid. I was hoping this trip would take care of that, but.…" and his words trailed off with the passing current.
Grasping him squarely by the shoulders, Orin looked at this young man, gazing long into his purple eyes, and simply smiled. He decided against advice or platitudes, opting for unspoken support and encouragement instead.
Garth returned the gaze with unspoken gratitude.
The two men hugged, not that awkward hug two men share when they don't want people to misinterpret the hug as something it's not, but a hug that spoke of the bond and years of experience and friendship they shared. This was a much more soulful hug.
"Well, I'm off on a brief excursion myself. Have a safe trip and plan on being back in time for the Ball."
"Ball? What ball?"
"I'll let Dolphin tell you…." Seeing her enter the room out of the corner of his eye. "You two have fun, and Dolphin…..stay away from Roy."
With that, Aquaman was off, leaving Tempest snickering as Dolphin's gaze followed Aquaman's figure down the hallway.
"So what's this about a ball?"
"Garth…..I….."
"He seemed pretty keyed up about it and he's not one to get keyed up."
"Garth…..umm….."
Oblivious to her attempts, Garth trudged on, talking about Dick and Wally, Donna and Roy, about the trip to New York, about everything and about nothing at all.
"I'm not going."
The words quickly caught his attention and brought his ongoing conversation with himself to a grinding halt.
"What?"
The words began to flow from her mouth more easily now.
"Garth, I'm sorry. I'm not going. It's not that I don't want to, it's just I can't. Not now. There are arrangements to be made for the Ball and I, umm…. Debbie and I are on the committee, and we have decisions to make, and besides, I don't know your friends and…."
As her rambling waned, Garth could read between the lines.
"What is it you're trying to say exactly? That you can't go because of the Ball, you don't want to go at all, or you don't want to go with me?"
The last part of his question hung between them like water in a stagnant pool.
She looked at him, her own salt water tears swelling and mixing with the ocean around her.
"You don't have to say it. I'll leave you, for now. Join me if you change your mind, but maybe this is for the best for both of us. We'll talk when I get back. Ok?"
Lifting her chin with his finger, he lightly kissed her on the lips, and drifted out the door, leaving Dolphin feeling more unsure and along than ever before.
Aquaman, casually swam through the brine, almost failing to hear the large school of fish, with a variety of representatives from the sea's populace. They telepathically spoke to him of the strange happenings, trying to adequately explain the blue patches in the waters off the Georgia coast. Some tried to project hastily drawn mental images of the patches and one or two even tried to explain the experience of swimming through them.
His curiosity sufficiently peaked, Aquaman thanked the group and asked their help in warning other schools away from the area for the time being. They acknowledged his request and dispersed as Aquaman swam to the area they described.
As he approached the area, he could not see or feel anything unusual. Perhaps, it was another example of how the chemical wasted dumped by the surface dwellers can affect the sea, possibly causing mass hallucinations.
Diving deeper to investigate the ocean floor, he saw a huge section of the sea replaced with a blue section of crackling energy, and before he could maneuver away from it, he was engulfed.
NEXT ISSUE: The "Universal Solvent" saga begins as Aquaman takes a wild trip through various aquatic parts of the FDC universe. What can you expect? Lots of unexpected and possible forgotten members of the DC pantheon will be making guest appearances. Which one(s) will become regular member(s) of the Aquaman cast? How will his journey affect Aquaman? And what will happen to Posidenis while her ruler is missing?
Send comments, suggestions, and questions to mstewart@cennet.mc.peachnet.edu.