Justice League II: Dread

Chapter Twenty-Five: The Plateau

The Plateau, 8/28/15, 9:54 PM

"Nightwing stop!"  Aqualad yelled as he gripped his chest.  The fighting had wounded him more than he knew.  He looked around as the two sides continued to beat the other down.  Some were dead, some were incinerated.  But Aqualad was focused on the task at hand, Nightwing had Artemis in a death grip, his arm choking her with a baton in his left hand.  He was ready to beat her to death.

"She betrayed us!"  Nightwing roared, "She deserves to die!"  He quickly raised the baton up activating it's electricity function, "Because of her they all died!"

"Do it already!"  Artemis yelled amid the chaos, "Just do it!"

Aqualad widened his eyes.  He had a choice to make.  He just prayed that he would make the right one.

Two hours ago...

Aqualad looked around as the heroes slammed into the enemy.  He was released suddenly from his restraints and quickly kicked his guard down grabbing his equipment as well.  He looked to his left and right seeing his team beside him surrounded by the enemy.

"Team attack!"  Aqualad yelled rushing forward towards the closest enemy, in this case it was Icicle Junior.  He slashed at the ice villain with his hydro-swords.  Icicle Junior leaped back blasting at Aqualad, but the leap gave Aqualad enough time to get around him and take him down from behind.  Aqualad slammed him down, but he heard a rumble behind him.  He turned seeing Solomon Grundy lumbering towards him with a cleaver in one hand, but Wondergirl flew past him slamming Solomon Grundy away.  She turned back to him and quickly kissed him.

"Try not to die."  She winked flying off leaving Aqualad with a grin on his face.

"Look out!"

He turned around, but quickly ducked as an energy blast went over his head.  He looked up seeing Black Manta running to him.

"Son!"  He yelled out, "We have to go before-!"

"Manta!  Aqualad!  How great!  Father and son!"  Ocean Master's raw evil voice sounded from behind.  Aqualad quickly pushed his father down as a blast from Ocean Master's trident came rumbling past.  He raised his swords blocking a slash from the trident, but Ocean Master kicked him down.  Black Manta was up and charged at Ocean Master, but the Atlantean quickly knocked him down and raised his trident up readying to kill him.

"I've had enough with this treachery!  We freed you and this is how you repay us!?"  Ocean Master yelled, "I killed your greatest enemy!"

"He was not yours to kill!"  Black Manta yelled blasting Ocean Master as he spoke.  He leaped up punching at the man, but Ocean Master quickly grabbed Black Manta by the throat.

"Watch boy!"  Ocean Master yelled to Aqualad as he raised his swords again, "I'm going to kill anyone you ever even thought of as family!"

"Father no!"  Aqualad yelled blasting mystic energy at Ocean Master, but he swung Black Manta in the way getting him hit instead, "NO!"  

Ocean Master then slammed Black Manta to the ground quickly slashing his trident into his chest.

"Goodbye Manta!"  Ocean Master laughed as he drove the golden trident into the armor, but Aqualad took his chance.  He ran forward kicking Ocean Master off of Black Manta and quicky claimed the trident.  He readied himself for a shock, but nothing happened.  He widened his eyes as he realized he was wielding the trident of Atlantis!

"Impossible!  The trident can only be wielded by-!"

"The King of Atlantis."  Aqualad widened his eyes as he raised the trident towards Ocean Master, "I am the new Aquaman now."  He yelled walking forward as Ocean Master began to back away with wide eyes, "No!  NO!"  He yelled and quickly began to run, but Aqualad could not allow him to escape, not this time.  He raised the trident blasting Ocean Master down as he ran for the edge of the plateau.  The blast knocked him into the air and sent him tumbling down into the desert below.