Post by qpq on Nov 4, 2012 12:58:50 GMT -5
Synopsis: After the death of Anthony Shin, son of Stephen Shin, the Metropolis Museum of Art proceeds to go on with the gala showcasing the two exhibits Treasures of the Sea and Mysteries of the Desert as a tribute to Dr. Shin. Despite the good intentions the museum is attacked by Black Manta and his Manta Men who are there to retrieve one an Atlantean artifact. Several people are injured in the process and Dylan Kent and Arthur Josepth Curry find themselves again matching wits with Black Manta who achieves his goal in retrieving the Atlantean artifact which is revealed to be the first piece of the Trident of Poseidon.
They however prevent the deaths of many and the destruction of the museum and nearby area by allowing Black Manta and the Manta Men leave. They also encounter a possible ally in the process.
MANTA MEN: Tonight was supposed to be a good night it was the annual masquerade gala at the Metropolis Museum of Art. Invitations had been sent to all of the most influential citizens in the city and a few outside of the city to bring in donations for the museum and its affiliates. There were two new exhibits that were going to be showcased at the museum for an extended period of time. Of course there had to be some changes made given the recent events that occurred. There was almost a decision made to postpone or perhaps cancel the gala, but the director decided that the best thing that they could do for Anthony Shin was to proceed forward with the gala as he would have wanted to see it go forward.
He had a vested interest in the patrons enjoying the Treasures of the Sea exhibit. He had spent the last year lobbying for the museum to be the institution to showcase the items rather than some of the museums in the world. He even had to compete with several of the leading museums in the United States but he managed it. The fact that he had been attacked over a week ago and died as a result of the attack would not deter the museum from opening the exhibit. This gala would not only serve as an introduction of the exhibit, but it would also serve as a celebration of Dr. Shin’s life.
People arrived from all over to enjoy in the gala which featured discussion and food, but entertainment in the forms of music and dancing, but most of all art. The Treasures of the Sea was not the only exhibit that would be showcased. There was a Mysteries of the Desert exhibit that would be opening as well with pieces that had been discovered most recently in the Egyptian desert that were on loan from the country of Khandaq.
That received as much press as the Treasures of the Sea however in the wake of Shen’s death people were interested in the items that were brought up from the sea. There were donors from all walks of life that had been invited, businesspeople, entertainers, academics, politicians and many more. The staff consisted of staff from the museum, volunteers, college students and of course service people from catering businesses and entertainers. It was one of the big events of the season and the Metropolis Museum of Art meant to make this a success.
The current curator Avery Walsh seemed to be the busiest of all moving through the crowd connecting with everyone that had appeared and made sure that she directed them to the individuals that they wanted to speak with. Dr. Shen was going to be the individual that was able to answer questions about the pieces that had been found some from sunken ships, but others couldn’t be identified and were rumored to be connected with the Lost Kingdom of Atlantis.
That of course brought up the inevitable questions about Aquaman and Dr. Shen’s father as it was a known fact that they were once friends…acquaitances, but with Anthony’s death it was now on the shoulders of his team to discuss what they knew about the items and why people were still fascinated with the story of Atlantis and why it is possible that these items could be from the lost civilization. There of course was going to be the often asked question about Atlantis’s location, but unfortunately that remained a secret that none of the staff knew and probably would remain one unless something changed and someone decided to divulge the secrets.
Moving towards the center of the floor where one of the performances by the Metropolis Dance Company was going to perform Avery slipped the headset on that would project her voice to the sound system that spread throughout the museum. She had already welcomed everyone, but now it was time to introduce the first performance.
“I hope everyone is having a lovely time I know that I am. I’m completely excited by everyone’s interest and the questions that have been asked by our team of experts hear. I know that if Anthony was here he would be proud of what has been accomplished. Despite the troubling years in the past the Metropolis Museum of Art has been able to survive where others institutions have not. We have continued to serve the community locally, nationally and globally by continuing to ask the questions that not only look to the past, but also to the future. There is so much that we have to learn and through the art and antiquities that we have gathered here we have been able to not only ask the questions, but provide answers. We have challenged not only ourselves, but our patrons. We continue to provide the valuable service that museums worldwide were meant to. Not only house treasures of the past, but enhance and enrich the treasures of the human body and spirit.”
There was a bright smile that spread across her face as her statement was met with applause.
“I know there is so much to look into and while we normally focus on one exhibit during the gala we also wanted to bring awareness to the Mysteries of the Desert and we will be checking in on them as the night goes on, but right now I wanted to bring your attention here to the main floor where the Metropolis Modern Dance Company will be performing their latest piece which was commissioned for this occasion. It is titled ‘Spirit of Atalantis.’ I would also like to take a moment to thank Jackson Hyde of KDA Import and Export for helping to fund this gala. Without his efforts we would not be having this remarkable event tonight.
There was a bit of a spotlight on the smart dressed man. He was young perhaps in his midtwenties though he looked younger. He offered a smile waving to everyone while setting the hor’devorse he had in his hand down. “Don’t worry Jackson. You don’t have to say anything yet.” Avery grinned but offered a small thank you with a nod of her head.
“And now ‘Spirt of Atlantis.’”
There were applause while she walked off the main floor which became light with blue light that contained wisps of white. The walls did the same taking the audience from the museum to under the sea as the dancers began to slip out from the shadows while the music began.
Avery smiled on as she reached for a drink from the tray of a waiter who then set the tray aide reaching for her drawing her from the crowd just as the lights went dark and the music stopped. It happened suddenly and when the lights came on several people were being held at gun point including Avery, the several city council members, Jackson Hyde and the chief of police.
They had been gathered in the center of the floor and everyone could see Avery shaking.
“Now…that we have our attention..” A voice said. The face was unseen until he walked forward and people made a bit of a gasp.
“Such a lovely event that you have going on here.” It was definitely an altered voice, mostly due to the helmet on the man’s head. The red eyes of the helmet looked upon the audience. “I’m sorry that I have to interrupt, but we have business here and I’m afraid that sense we were prevented from acquiring the item that we wanted before we will try again this time without any interruptions.”
He sounded like he was smiling, but it was difficult to know as his entire face was covered.
“If everyone behaves then we will do our work and leave you without incident. Anyone tries to be a hero and people will get hurt.”
He knew he was being filmed as there were some television crews here, but it didn’t matter. He wanted the interloper that had stopped his men before to be quite aware if he tried to stop them that more than Dr. Shen’s blood would be on his hands.
AC: AC was more than curious about the event. Treasures of the Sea always associated with Atlantis somehow or Atlantis would have been brought up. In doing research into his real father's past, he found several things. The one that stuck out the most was death of Anthony Shen recently. From his research, Anthony and his father had … something of uneasy alliance. But he wasn't about to go bother Mr Shen about this, and his new fledgling abilities.
There was a lot of controversy about that. Mainly from how his father didn't like Mr Shen.
Aside from that, AC wanted to pay tribute. So he volunteered for the event. Was Dylan going? He forgot to ask. She probably was, and was going to look amazing in some kind of evening dress. AC was dressed up, but more like a black shirt, pants and shoes. The volunteers weren't the focus of this. Though, everything changed when Black Manta stepped into the light. This wasn't what he wanted, not tonight, not ever. The last time they fought, AC barley made it out alive with Dylan.
Since then, she'd been aquaphobic.
Not… that he could blame her.
DYLAN: Early that afternoon she’d gotten a call from Rachel, one of her friends at the planet, asking her to take over the article about the gala at the museum since she’d come down with the flu. She hadn’t really thought anything about the gala other than it was going to be a bunch of rich people rubbing shoulders and donating money till she’d started reading through all the background information that Rachel had emailed to her. The fact that some of the items were possibly related to Atlantis perked her interest and made her call and leave a message for AC though he hadn’t called her back by the time she’d left for the party.
She had been right about one thing though, it was a bunch of rich people rubbing shoulders. She smiled and put on a pretty face, standing and chatting with a few other members of the press from other papers and news stations that had been invited.
As the festivities started she’d been talking quietly and joking until that voice came over the loud speaker and she choked on her drink. She paled and a rush of cold went over her. She knew those helmets. A surge of panic went over here for a few moments before she managed to get a grip on herself. They weren’t in water; she wasn’t at the disadvantage anymore.
MANTA MEN: They were here to acquire the item that they had tracked to this museum. There was no way around it. It was here and if they were going to retrieve it tonight would be the night. There needed to be a message sent to anyone that would stand in their way. The interloper who had been working with Shin was unexpected as were his abilities, but no more of this in the shadows people needed to remember why the sea was to be feared.
They needed to remember why Black Manta was one not to be crossed. He looked among the faces as he looked towards his men several of which held hostages.
“Now that we have your attention these are the rules. You move you die. If you do not die immediately you will die soon, but your movements will cost you and your fellow patrons the lives of another.” He motioned to the hostages that had been taken.
“I’m sure the great mayor of Metropolis would not like anything to happen to himself or his fellow hostages. If everyone will do as their told this will go easily. On your knees and your hands upon your heads. Anyone that does not comply..” He didn’t even have to point one of the Manta Men brought forth a long cylindrical item that that had metal points at the tip of it and touched it to the back of one of the security guards who had been compromised during the darkness that had filled the room before they made their appearance. The moment it touched him he cried out breaking the silence that had fell upon the room.
Falling to the floor the man spasmed for several seconds before his body stilled the only sound being made was the sound of him breathing sharply.
“Now if you’re working exactly what happened we can give you another demonstration, but I will ask you again. On your knees with your hands on your head. Compliance is encouraged.” There were some that had the batons other held automatic weapons, but it seemed that Manta did not want to spill any blood at least not at the moment.
Each of the masks that the Manta Men and Black Manta wore were linked they could speak to one another lowly without anyone being aware.
”I’ve spotted the girl. She’s here.” One of the men said as Manta kept his focus on the crowd if the girl was here then the boy was here. Even better he thought to himself.
“Bring them.” He said knowing the Manta Men would know who he was referring to as he moved towards the back of the room. Avery the museum’s director and Hyde were dragged from their spots as Hyde tried to put up a fight he was brought to his knees instantly with a touch of the baton. Avery screamed, but they were dragged along.
The crowd began to comply as roughly twenty Manta Men remained in the hall that the exhibit was housed in and it was difficult to stay that that’s all there were given the fact that they seem to appear from nowhere.
There had to be some outside of the hall securing the museum even as the police had begun to arrive outside.
Dylan was approached by one of the Manta Men carrying the baton while two others seemed to be on the hunt for someone as they moved through the crowd. If touched by the baton it would send a shuck through their body, but it would stop the function of a person’s lungs. The brain would already feel like it was suffocating. It felt like drowning without being in the water.
In the front of the room the hostages were gathered and held at gun point by three of the Manta Men to endure that the rest of the group complied.
AC: AC would narrow his eyes as he saw the men scouring the audience. They were looking for him. He didn't want to bring more pain to these people. Moving to one of the tables, he'd step on it and look directly at Manta. "Leave them alone, Manta. I know what you're after." could be the only thing he's after. Narrowing his eyes. "Take me prisoner in exchange for the others. They mean nothing to you. I'm the one with the information.
Dylan wasn't going to be happy about it. He knew she wouldn't, but he was thinking about her, and everybody here. If he put up a fight, people would get hurt. If he hides, people would get hurt. This was the best solution around. So when the men came for him the crowd would part and AC would jump down between them. These men weren't messing around as he could feel the barrell of their guns press against his back.
Walking towards the stage, he'd step onto it and look into the red glow of Black Manta's eyes. AC could only smirk as he watched him.
"You have me. Let everybody else go alive. I'll get what you want. I know what you want."
DYLAN: She was running through ideas in her head of what she could do. The police were already outside, she could hear the faint wail of sirens. It wasn’t worth the risk to try to get weapons away from the manta’s with guns pointed at the hostages heads. Even with her above average strength she couldn’t move fast enough even if she wanted to try to get to the hostages.
The men looking through the crowd made her duck her head and take a deep breath and swallow past the lump in her throat. When one of them walked over and stopped in front of her she slowly lifted her head to stare at him, a very non please look on her face.
“Oh don’t even think about it buster.” She muttered under her breath. She could only image the sneer on his face under the mask and how much she really wanted to smack it off his head.
And then AC stood up playing the stupid card. Sure it was brave of him to give himself up for the hostages but now they had him and the hostages. She sighed and eyed the guard in front of her.
“I will so break your arm if you touch me.”
MANTA MEN: The police were outside already busy on creating a perimeter around the building. The idea that someone was doing this in Metropolis wasn’t beyond them, but it had been some time since they actually had to mobilize for this. There had been protocols, but many of the cops were rookies when it came to this type of incident.
In the past they would usually stop here, because Superman, Aquaman, Batman someone would be here to intervene. The Justice League would go in to deal with this. They were going try and determine what the best course of action was. They didn’t negotiate, but the mayor was in there. There were innocent people and it was very possible that they would kill the hostages after they acquired what they wanted.
This was something that the chief should be handling, but the chief wasn’t out there with them he was in there. He was one of the hostages which meant that they did their job that they followed their protocols.
Inside there was a different set of protocols being followed everyone was being asked for their cellphones, smart devices, whatever they could use to transmit anything was being collected. If they held onto it they found themselves on the other end of the shock stick.
When AC so valiantly placed himself between the remaining patrons and the Manta Men others gathered while Black Manta considered the words. He almost smiled beneath the helmet, almost, but he didn’t instead he remained with his back to them all.
“Your father would have used stronger words, more compelling words. I have only promised to harm the people if they got in my way. None have moved to get in my way so no harm will come to them. What I seek I do not need you for. Funny that you think I would need you to acquire what I need. You continue to demonstrate how much you are and are not like your father. You’re powerless to do anything about this. The great hope of the sea fails. Forever trapped they will remain and when it is over I will have all it all and you will be nothing more than a whisper along the waves.”
Manta resumed walking towards the back of the hall forcing Avery to unlock the doors that would take him where he needed to go the labs in the secure section of the museum.
AC found himself surrounded by five of the Manta Men two who wielded guns while the other three wielded the batons.
“Your choices are limited, son of Aquaman. Choose them carefully. There’s nothing you can get for me that I can’t get for myself.”
Who didn’t have a choice? Dylan as the Manta Man in front of her looked into her eyes while the two coming up behind her pulled the safety off their guns.
“You were saying princess?”
THIS IS THE POLICE. WE WOULD LIKE TO NEGOTIATE.” The commanding officer in charge called out over the megaphone just as several things happened. Avery got the doors that led to research area of the museum open. There was a small explosion in the other part of the museum and the lights went out for ten seconds.
AC: "I think that's where you're wrong, Manta."
When Manta started walking away, the lights went out as an explosion ripped through another part of the museum. Thanks to his unique heritage, he had the strength, durability and most importantly. Darkvision. AC had no clue about the darkvision, but it explained a lot of things. It was near and total darkness and he could see perfectly. Everything in a shade of grays and whites. Using the explosion as a distraction, AC would grab the barrel of the machine guns and start to bend the barrels up so they couldn't shoot him with them.
AC couldn't fight, well, he could only really just punch hard enough and hope it would knock out whoever. Which is what he would start doing by first driving his elbow back into the man behind him, then throwing his fist forward in hopes to using the cover of darkness long enough to finish the men around him. Using just sheer strength to overpower the men and knock them out. The trail had gone cold for the trident. But if Manta was here, then a piece of it was probably here also. AC didn't know his father, all he really remembered was the color of his mother’s hair as she held him when he was just a baby.
DYLAN: Oh AC. She sighed mentally as she stared down the guy in front of her. If looks could kill he’d be the one suffocating on the floor. He called her princess and her eye twitched it irritation… and then the lights went out.
One. She didn’t hesitate as soon as the room went black and little screams of people echoed around the silent hall. She dropped to the floor, sweeping her leg back to catch one of the gun men. She felt his legs as he he fell over hers and crashed to the ground.
Two. She was on him instantly, grabbing the hoses that ran into the mouth of his mask, yanking them out.
Three. She felt more than saw the man with the baton jabbing in her direction.
Four. Grabbing his arm she yanked him toward her, shoving the end of the baton into the body of the man on the ground, then grabbed at the guy’s head and bounced it off the floor.
Five.
She grabbed the baton and turned, feeling the hairs on the back of her neck prickle a moment before the third man dropped on her. She let out a muffled cry as she wrested control of the situation with him then stilled for a split second when she felt the brush of gun metal against her arm. She shoved the arm holding the gun up and the baton into his ribs before hitting the button on the end of it. He dropped to the ground and she grabbed the gun and moved away from them, pointing it as her eyes slowly started to shift into the gray scale of the dark.
MANTA MEN: After the end of the ten seconds the emergency lights came on. The police had no idea what happened, but they knew that power was out in the building and there was commotion going on. They had someone monitoring the audio signals in the voice and they could tell that something was happening. There was also infrared to let them know about the movement apparently it was centered on several areas, the explosion and the movements of two individuals.
“What’s going on in there,” the commanding office said he wanted to make sure that the lives of the hostages weren’t being jeopardized.
They could only give him an idea of what happened, but truth be told they were quite stunned themselves.
When the lights went out Manta moved forward making sure the hostages were being brought along with the contingent of men that walked with him. He moved through the lab knowing exactly what had happened when the lights went out.
“He’s here.” He told his men that were with him.
”Our friend has returned.” He signaled to the others that weren’t in the exhibit hall. He wanted him found and stopped before he advanced on them.
When they came upon the research station they wanted Manta looked over several items and reached for a case to open it. Looking it over he shut it and shut the other shoving one case in into one of his subordinate’s arms and another into Hyde’s. He looked over his shoulder at Avery who was still struggling a little and nodded. She cried out as she broke away from one of them and went running. Manta and the Manta Men could see in the dark thanks to their lens they shifted the moment the lights went out.
“Get her!” He called out to her as Hyde took a chance and decided to try and hit Manta across the face with the case he had been given. Unfortunately for him the helmet that manta wore protected him from such things. Manta simply kicked the man squarely in the chest sending him into table knocking it over.
“Here I was hoping you would play nice.” He told him.
In the hall where AC and Dylan were proving just how formidable they could be the lights were brought back on finding several of the Manta Men disable one of them squirming from the effects of the shock stick while several others were stunned from the disabling maneuvers that had been used on them.
However, they weren’t the only ones that had weapons trained on them, but the people of Metropolis weren’t ones to simply be complacent when given a chance the chief of police had struggle with one of the Manta Men and the shot fired he got it in the shoulder, but got the gun away from him.
The Manta Men were ready to advance, but the stopped when Avery appeared in the doorway screaming as one of the Manta Men rounded on her ready to pull the trigger, but a shot was fired before the Manta Man pulled his. The chief of police’s shot landed squarely in the middle of the man’s chest.
Avery cried out watching the man fall, but it was only for moments before her entire body became charged with energy that seemed to be reminiscent of electrical energy, but it appeared red. It was only a moment but she fell to the ground she wasn’t moving, but it was difficult to say if she was alive or not. Behind her Black Manta walked with two pronged bladed weapon gripped in his hand. The energy crackled around and he proceeded to discharge several times into the crowd while one of the Manta Men brought forth the cases they had gotten from the research lab.
Manta himself had a wrapped up package that was tucked under his arm.
“This could have gone a different way.” He told them all while he looked towards AC then Dylan the tip of his head relating the smile that could not be seen.
They had what they wanted. “You have a choice. You can either stop me or you can help Mr. Hyde. He has a bit of a problem. His problem is your problem so you can either fight the rest of my men or you can see to Mr. Hyde. Your choice, but I can assure you that Mr. Hyde’s problem is a problem for everyone.”
AC: "….I will stop you, Manta." telling him as Manta walked by. He wasn't going to risk more lives, the damage had been done already. "Dylan. Can you please look over these people? Don't follow him, I'm going to check on Hyde." standing there for a moment as he turned his head slightly to look at Manta's retreating form. "You're never going to open it." he said cryptically, then moved out of the main hall and towards the research lab where Jackson was. Frowning as he moved up to him.
"You okay?" asking. The man was much older than him, by at least a good 20 years on him. "My name is Arthur Curry, I'm going to help you out of this. Okay? Don't… struggle." looking around, he took a deep breath before looking down. Shaking his head. How did C4 Work? He had to think about it for a moment, from what he remembered was that could burn, you could do a lot with it. But when you put the blasting cap on it, that's when it becomes weaponized.
So, he'd start looking for a way to disable it. Because if it explodes, well…
DYLAN: Well that went to hell in a hand bag faster than expected, she thought to herself as she held the three manta’s at gun point, urging the people that were staring at her shell shocked to restrain them. Once she did she turned her attention to what was going on on the stage, moving through the crowd to get closer.
As Black Manta came out she slid closer to the stage with every intention of backing up AC. The urge to bull her way through all his men was a hard one to resist. When it came to fighting, she actually was trained unlike AC. Her mom had been one hell of a fighter which had encouraged her to start learning at a young age. Both her and Tyler. Tyler put his to good use becoming a cop before he sold out to be secret service guarding the Luthor brat. She on the other hand, had used it to keep boys hands off her ass through college. She still thought she’d put it to better use.
AC was heading toward the back and telling her not to follow him. Fat chance that was going to happen. She had a pretty good idea what was in the wrapped package under Manta’s arm. AC went through the door to the back and she turned her eyes to Manta.
“I can’t decide terribly cliché on purpose or if you just don’t know any better.” She still had the gun that she’d taken off one of his men in her hand as she made a point of stepping out away from the innocent bystanders. Probably not her wisest move in the world but hey, she had her mother’s temper in spades. She could already feel the adrenaline building up in her system, feel herself getting stronger. Sure it would only last as long as she could keep the rush up but it would last long enough she hoped.
“Also, I’m not a maiden.” She stepped toward him as his line of men. “I also have beef with you.” She was glad AC was in the back. “I’m not letting you walk out of here till I’ve had my shot and knocking that helmet off your face and shoving it in uncomfortable places.”
MANTA MEN: It was time to depart with what they had acquired in the back. The sound of the skylight breaking could be heard from above as several men descended from above on cables that lowered from craft that hovered above the museum. They hadn’t been seen before because they had been higher up, but a signal had been given and they descended lower and broke through the glass.
AC had made the choice that most would have been expected to make when tending to Jackson who was staying as still has he could in the chair that he had been strapped to.
“I’ve seen better days.” He told him. “He said if I moved it would go off.” The sound of the glass smashing could be heard back there, but Jackson did his best not to move. He kept completely still while looking towards AC. “You don’t look like the bomb squad to me.”
In the exhibit hall Black Manta was ready to depart when Dylan made her intentions clear that he was not leaving if he had anything to say about it, but he did not speak instead the lens of his helmet glowed just as the doors to the hall were breached. The energy discharged from the lenses of his helmet fired in her direction, but someone moved in to their path. The Chief of Police was struck but the blast causing him to cry out in incredible pain before he fell forward. There were screams as people reached out to Dylan to restrain her.
“STOP! JUST LET HIM GO!” Someone cried out in sobs most likely the police chief’s wife, but Manta didn’t move yet he heard the doors give away he knew who was there. Manta pressed a button on the device in his hand causing a timer to light up on the jacket and it began to count down from a minute and thirty seconds.
“Now we all die or I am allowed to leave. It is in your hands.” It was stated directly at Dylan. “You’ve already brought one man down with your actions. “
AC: "Well, I'm not. But it's not like anybody else is running in here to try and save the day…" trailing off as he heard the scream, the crashing of windows as he then heard someone yell to let him go. Assuming that it was Manta they were talking about. When the jacket lit up, AC would come over as he frowned. "Well, looks like we don't really have time for bomb squad, Mr. Hyde." frowning as he shook his head. What the hell was he supposed to do.
"I'm sorry this happened to you. Do you know what he came for?" AC had a pretty good idea, but he wanted to confirm what it was. Sighing. Maybe Dylan and him needed to have a conversation about something's you just have to let the bad guy get away with so they don't blow up everybody including your ex-boyfriend. The C4 looked very real, and Jackson looked really scared.
"I really hope she's going to just let him go." saying to himself as he looked all over the jacket, trying to find something that connected all the C4 to a main trigger.
DYLAN: She was about to start punching people around here if they didn’t stop grabbing at her. And why the hell did men always think they needed to jump in front of a woman. She was perfectly capable of taking care of herself or getting hit by some funky ass ray thingy. (insert string of expletives here.)
“You’re a fucking coward.” She spit at Manta.
She was pretty sure at this point there was a bomb in the other room which AC had run into. She was also pretty sure that he wouldn’t blow it up while he was within range of the explosion. She wanted to make him stay, wanted him to get stuck here too with it because if it did go off then at least he wouldn’t be able to do what she had an idea of what he was trying to do. AC had had the same thoughts too from what he’d said to him. She was also pretty sure this crowd was going to rip her apart if she didn’t let him go so she nodded once to Manta with a murderous growl on her face.
“We’re not done. I will get a shot at you one of these days.”
MANTA MEN: "He just grabbed some cases and a stone. It's all he took. He was going to have me carry one them out but I was stupid. I tried to be brave. They were going to go after Avery. I'm not much of a fighter. He took me out and strapped me in this get up." When the clock started that's when the steady voice broke and Jackson began to panic.
The chief of police was sworn to protect and serve. It was the type of police officer that he was whether it be man, woman or child. Manta waited while he cast his lenses down upon Dylan while someone made their way through the crowd. The hooded figure said nothing, but looked towards him and he knew that Manta was smiling down at him.
"Cooler heads have prevailed." Manta said finally as he reached for the cable that began to retract pulling him and the other Manta Men up towards the craft that were hovering above. Once they were aboard the craft took off heading straight towards the coast faster than anything the police had that could follow disappearing beneath the water once they were over it.
"I never had a doubt in my mind that we were done, Ms. Kent." The clock didn't stop either until he was clear of the skylight and on the craft. It was only then that the clock stopped and Jackson stopped panicking about the bomb. The police were beginning to enter the building and were told about the bomb and the bomb squad were able to come in and take a look at the device.
In the hall the hooded figure stayed near the the chief of police who was alive, but in pain, but no one could tell because he wasn't screaming, but it was only after the hooded figure had pressed his thumb towards the man's forehead and the thumb upon on his opposite hand on the policeman's palm.
The people that had been attempting to restrain Dylan released her, but they were definitely not pleased with her actions. The hooded figure drew back from them. He would have made it to the hall sooner, but there were Manta Men to detain outside of the hall as well. He glanced towards Dylan but said nothing.
Instead something around his neck began to glow and with a bright flash he was gone.
AC: AC would nod to Mr. Hyde and then moved once the police came in. Once he rounded the corner, He could see Dylan standing there. Looking mightily unpleased at the course of action. Walking up to her, he hadn't seen the man in the hood disappear. "He going to be okay?" asking as he glanced to the Police of Chief, then to Dylan. He wasn't making any judgments, but wanted to make sure she was okay. He knew she could hold her own, but that didn't stop him from worrying about her. "What about you? You going to be okay?"
Looking up, he pursed his lips together.
Now it seemed he was going to be on the hunt again.
"I had a lead that it was in the museum. But, when I came here. I didn't see anything. Figured it got moved." the stone didn't make any sense, he'd have to talk to Hyde about that once he gets released from his vest. "Looks like things are on the upswing again." sighing as he pushed a hand through his hair.
MANTA MEN EPILOGUE: Aboard the submersible Black Manta went towards the lab portion of the craft. Setting the package down he walked over towards one of the Manta Men and open the tank that he had been wearing on his back. There was nothing flowing through the tubes of this particular Manta Man. He was the mule. There had been another plan in place if they had to abandon this one instead he didn't have to worry about it.
Instead he focused on what he had. It was a stone. It wasn't smooth it was jagged. He sent the man away before he lifted the item and tossed it to the floor of the room watching it shatter. Reaching down he knocked away the remains of the stone revealing the golden prong beneath. It was the middle portion. Lifting it he walked it over towards the table setting it upon the table beside the console as he waited for the communications link to be established.
There were lines across the screen before the image slowly came into view. The person on the other end turned the camera away from her to an older man who lay in bed. The man appeared to be advanced in age and from the various sensors and monitors he was hooked up to ill. He tried to speak, but Manta raised his hand to stop him.
He reached for the golden prong displaying it for him. Setting it back down he reached back to remove the helmets seal before pulling it back.
"I have found the first piece. The first piece of his trident. When I find the others I will make you well again, father."
Kaldur smiled over at his father knowing that he could do this. He had to do this. His father's life depended on the success of his mission. His decoy also remained in place. He knew the stakes and would have gladly given his life to see the success of the mission.
They however prevent the deaths of many and the destruction of the museum and nearby area by allowing Black Manta and the Manta Men leave. They also encounter a possible ally in the process.
MANTA MEN: Tonight was supposed to be a good night it was the annual masquerade gala at the Metropolis Museum of Art. Invitations had been sent to all of the most influential citizens in the city and a few outside of the city to bring in donations for the museum and its affiliates. There were two new exhibits that were going to be showcased at the museum for an extended period of time. Of course there had to be some changes made given the recent events that occurred. There was almost a decision made to postpone or perhaps cancel the gala, but the director decided that the best thing that they could do for Anthony Shin was to proceed forward with the gala as he would have wanted to see it go forward.
He had a vested interest in the patrons enjoying the Treasures of the Sea exhibit. He had spent the last year lobbying for the museum to be the institution to showcase the items rather than some of the museums in the world. He even had to compete with several of the leading museums in the United States but he managed it. The fact that he had been attacked over a week ago and died as a result of the attack would not deter the museum from opening the exhibit. This gala would not only serve as an introduction of the exhibit, but it would also serve as a celebration of Dr. Shin’s life.
People arrived from all over to enjoy in the gala which featured discussion and food, but entertainment in the forms of music and dancing, but most of all art. The Treasures of the Sea was not the only exhibit that would be showcased. There was a Mysteries of the Desert exhibit that would be opening as well with pieces that had been discovered most recently in the Egyptian desert that were on loan from the country of Khandaq.
That received as much press as the Treasures of the Sea however in the wake of Shen’s death people were interested in the items that were brought up from the sea. There were donors from all walks of life that had been invited, businesspeople, entertainers, academics, politicians and many more. The staff consisted of staff from the museum, volunteers, college students and of course service people from catering businesses and entertainers. It was one of the big events of the season and the Metropolis Museum of Art meant to make this a success.
The current curator Avery Walsh seemed to be the busiest of all moving through the crowd connecting with everyone that had appeared and made sure that she directed them to the individuals that they wanted to speak with. Dr. Shen was going to be the individual that was able to answer questions about the pieces that had been found some from sunken ships, but others couldn’t be identified and were rumored to be connected with the Lost Kingdom of Atlantis.
That of course brought up the inevitable questions about Aquaman and Dr. Shen’s father as it was a known fact that they were once friends…acquaitances, but with Anthony’s death it was now on the shoulders of his team to discuss what they knew about the items and why people were still fascinated with the story of Atlantis and why it is possible that these items could be from the lost civilization. There of course was going to be the often asked question about Atlantis’s location, but unfortunately that remained a secret that none of the staff knew and probably would remain one unless something changed and someone decided to divulge the secrets.
Moving towards the center of the floor where one of the performances by the Metropolis Dance Company was going to perform Avery slipped the headset on that would project her voice to the sound system that spread throughout the museum. She had already welcomed everyone, but now it was time to introduce the first performance.
“I hope everyone is having a lovely time I know that I am. I’m completely excited by everyone’s interest and the questions that have been asked by our team of experts hear. I know that if Anthony was here he would be proud of what has been accomplished. Despite the troubling years in the past the Metropolis Museum of Art has been able to survive where others institutions have not. We have continued to serve the community locally, nationally and globally by continuing to ask the questions that not only look to the past, but also to the future. There is so much that we have to learn and through the art and antiquities that we have gathered here we have been able to not only ask the questions, but provide answers. We have challenged not only ourselves, but our patrons. We continue to provide the valuable service that museums worldwide were meant to. Not only house treasures of the past, but enhance and enrich the treasures of the human body and spirit.”
There was a bright smile that spread across her face as her statement was met with applause.
“I know there is so much to look into and while we normally focus on one exhibit during the gala we also wanted to bring awareness to the Mysteries of the Desert and we will be checking in on them as the night goes on, but right now I wanted to bring your attention here to the main floor where the Metropolis Modern Dance Company will be performing their latest piece which was commissioned for this occasion. It is titled ‘Spirit of Atalantis.’ I would also like to take a moment to thank Jackson Hyde of KDA Import and Export for helping to fund this gala. Without his efforts we would not be having this remarkable event tonight.
There was a bit of a spotlight on the smart dressed man. He was young perhaps in his midtwenties though he looked younger. He offered a smile waving to everyone while setting the hor’devorse he had in his hand down. “Don’t worry Jackson. You don’t have to say anything yet.” Avery grinned but offered a small thank you with a nod of her head.
“And now ‘Spirt of Atlantis.’”
There were applause while she walked off the main floor which became light with blue light that contained wisps of white. The walls did the same taking the audience from the museum to under the sea as the dancers began to slip out from the shadows while the music began.
Avery smiled on as she reached for a drink from the tray of a waiter who then set the tray aide reaching for her drawing her from the crowd just as the lights went dark and the music stopped. It happened suddenly and when the lights came on several people were being held at gun point including Avery, the several city council members, Jackson Hyde and the chief of police.
They had been gathered in the center of the floor and everyone could see Avery shaking.
“Now…that we have our attention..” A voice said. The face was unseen until he walked forward and people made a bit of a gasp.
“Such a lovely event that you have going on here.” It was definitely an altered voice, mostly due to the helmet on the man’s head. The red eyes of the helmet looked upon the audience. “I’m sorry that I have to interrupt, but we have business here and I’m afraid that sense we were prevented from acquiring the item that we wanted before we will try again this time without any interruptions.”
He sounded like he was smiling, but it was difficult to know as his entire face was covered.
“If everyone behaves then we will do our work and leave you without incident. Anyone tries to be a hero and people will get hurt.”
He knew he was being filmed as there were some television crews here, but it didn’t matter. He wanted the interloper that had stopped his men before to be quite aware if he tried to stop them that more than Dr. Shen’s blood would be on his hands.
AC: AC was more than curious about the event. Treasures of the Sea always associated with Atlantis somehow or Atlantis would have been brought up. In doing research into his real father's past, he found several things. The one that stuck out the most was death of Anthony Shen recently. From his research, Anthony and his father had … something of uneasy alliance. But he wasn't about to go bother Mr Shen about this, and his new fledgling abilities.
There was a lot of controversy about that. Mainly from how his father didn't like Mr Shen.
Aside from that, AC wanted to pay tribute. So he volunteered for the event. Was Dylan going? He forgot to ask. She probably was, and was going to look amazing in some kind of evening dress. AC was dressed up, but more like a black shirt, pants and shoes. The volunteers weren't the focus of this. Though, everything changed when Black Manta stepped into the light. This wasn't what he wanted, not tonight, not ever. The last time they fought, AC barley made it out alive with Dylan.
Since then, she'd been aquaphobic.
Not… that he could blame her.
DYLAN: Early that afternoon she’d gotten a call from Rachel, one of her friends at the planet, asking her to take over the article about the gala at the museum since she’d come down with the flu. She hadn’t really thought anything about the gala other than it was going to be a bunch of rich people rubbing shoulders and donating money till she’d started reading through all the background information that Rachel had emailed to her. The fact that some of the items were possibly related to Atlantis perked her interest and made her call and leave a message for AC though he hadn’t called her back by the time she’d left for the party.
She had been right about one thing though, it was a bunch of rich people rubbing shoulders. She smiled and put on a pretty face, standing and chatting with a few other members of the press from other papers and news stations that had been invited.
As the festivities started she’d been talking quietly and joking until that voice came over the loud speaker and she choked on her drink. She paled and a rush of cold went over her. She knew those helmets. A surge of panic went over here for a few moments before she managed to get a grip on herself. They weren’t in water; she wasn’t at the disadvantage anymore.
MANTA MEN: They were here to acquire the item that they had tracked to this museum. There was no way around it. It was here and if they were going to retrieve it tonight would be the night. There needed to be a message sent to anyone that would stand in their way. The interloper who had been working with Shin was unexpected as were his abilities, but no more of this in the shadows people needed to remember why the sea was to be feared.
They needed to remember why Black Manta was one not to be crossed. He looked among the faces as he looked towards his men several of which held hostages.
“Now that we have your attention these are the rules. You move you die. If you do not die immediately you will die soon, but your movements will cost you and your fellow patrons the lives of another.” He motioned to the hostages that had been taken.
“I’m sure the great mayor of Metropolis would not like anything to happen to himself or his fellow hostages. If everyone will do as their told this will go easily. On your knees and your hands upon your heads. Anyone that does not comply..” He didn’t even have to point one of the Manta Men brought forth a long cylindrical item that that had metal points at the tip of it and touched it to the back of one of the security guards who had been compromised during the darkness that had filled the room before they made their appearance. The moment it touched him he cried out breaking the silence that had fell upon the room.
Falling to the floor the man spasmed for several seconds before his body stilled the only sound being made was the sound of him breathing sharply.
“Now if you’re working exactly what happened we can give you another demonstration, but I will ask you again. On your knees with your hands on your head. Compliance is encouraged.” There were some that had the batons other held automatic weapons, but it seemed that Manta did not want to spill any blood at least not at the moment.
Each of the masks that the Manta Men and Black Manta wore were linked they could speak to one another lowly without anyone being aware.
”I’ve spotted the girl. She’s here.” One of the men said as Manta kept his focus on the crowd if the girl was here then the boy was here. Even better he thought to himself.
“Bring them.” He said knowing the Manta Men would know who he was referring to as he moved towards the back of the room. Avery the museum’s director and Hyde were dragged from their spots as Hyde tried to put up a fight he was brought to his knees instantly with a touch of the baton. Avery screamed, but they were dragged along.
The crowd began to comply as roughly twenty Manta Men remained in the hall that the exhibit was housed in and it was difficult to stay that that’s all there were given the fact that they seem to appear from nowhere.
There had to be some outside of the hall securing the museum even as the police had begun to arrive outside.
Dylan was approached by one of the Manta Men carrying the baton while two others seemed to be on the hunt for someone as they moved through the crowd. If touched by the baton it would send a shuck through their body, but it would stop the function of a person’s lungs. The brain would already feel like it was suffocating. It felt like drowning without being in the water.
In the front of the room the hostages were gathered and held at gun point by three of the Manta Men to endure that the rest of the group complied.
AC: AC would narrow his eyes as he saw the men scouring the audience. They were looking for him. He didn't want to bring more pain to these people. Moving to one of the tables, he'd step on it and look directly at Manta. "Leave them alone, Manta. I know what you're after." could be the only thing he's after. Narrowing his eyes. "Take me prisoner in exchange for the others. They mean nothing to you. I'm the one with the information.
Dylan wasn't going to be happy about it. He knew she wouldn't, but he was thinking about her, and everybody here. If he put up a fight, people would get hurt. If he hides, people would get hurt. This was the best solution around. So when the men came for him the crowd would part and AC would jump down between them. These men weren't messing around as he could feel the barrell of their guns press against his back.
Walking towards the stage, he'd step onto it and look into the red glow of Black Manta's eyes. AC could only smirk as he watched him.
"You have me. Let everybody else go alive. I'll get what you want. I know what you want."
DYLAN: She was running through ideas in her head of what she could do. The police were already outside, she could hear the faint wail of sirens. It wasn’t worth the risk to try to get weapons away from the manta’s with guns pointed at the hostages heads. Even with her above average strength she couldn’t move fast enough even if she wanted to try to get to the hostages.
The men looking through the crowd made her duck her head and take a deep breath and swallow past the lump in her throat. When one of them walked over and stopped in front of her she slowly lifted her head to stare at him, a very non please look on her face.
“Oh don’t even think about it buster.” She muttered under her breath. She could only image the sneer on his face under the mask and how much she really wanted to smack it off his head.
And then AC stood up playing the stupid card. Sure it was brave of him to give himself up for the hostages but now they had him and the hostages. She sighed and eyed the guard in front of her.
“I will so break your arm if you touch me.”
MANTA MEN: The police were outside already busy on creating a perimeter around the building. The idea that someone was doing this in Metropolis wasn’t beyond them, but it had been some time since they actually had to mobilize for this. There had been protocols, but many of the cops were rookies when it came to this type of incident.
In the past they would usually stop here, because Superman, Aquaman, Batman someone would be here to intervene. The Justice League would go in to deal with this. They were going try and determine what the best course of action was. They didn’t negotiate, but the mayor was in there. There were innocent people and it was very possible that they would kill the hostages after they acquired what they wanted.
This was something that the chief should be handling, but the chief wasn’t out there with them he was in there. He was one of the hostages which meant that they did their job that they followed their protocols.
Inside there was a different set of protocols being followed everyone was being asked for their cellphones, smart devices, whatever they could use to transmit anything was being collected. If they held onto it they found themselves on the other end of the shock stick.
When AC so valiantly placed himself between the remaining patrons and the Manta Men others gathered while Black Manta considered the words. He almost smiled beneath the helmet, almost, but he didn’t instead he remained with his back to them all.
“Your father would have used stronger words, more compelling words. I have only promised to harm the people if they got in my way. None have moved to get in my way so no harm will come to them. What I seek I do not need you for. Funny that you think I would need you to acquire what I need. You continue to demonstrate how much you are and are not like your father. You’re powerless to do anything about this. The great hope of the sea fails. Forever trapped they will remain and when it is over I will have all it all and you will be nothing more than a whisper along the waves.”
Manta resumed walking towards the back of the hall forcing Avery to unlock the doors that would take him where he needed to go the labs in the secure section of the museum.
AC found himself surrounded by five of the Manta Men two who wielded guns while the other three wielded the batons.
“Your choices are limited, son of Aquaman. Choose them carefully. There’s nothing you can get for me that I can’t get for myself.”
Who didn’t have a choice? Dylan as the Manta Man in front of her looked into her eyes while the two coming up behind her pulled the safety off their guns.
“You were saying princess?”
THIS IS THE POLICE. WE WOULD LIKE TO NEGOTIATE.” The commanding officer in charge called out over the megaphone just as several things happened. Avery got the doors that led to research area of the museum open. There was a small explosion in the other part of the museum and the lights went out for ten seconds.
AC: "I think that's where you're wrong, Manta."
When Manta started walking away, the lights went out as an explosion ripped through another part of the museum. Thanks to his unique heritage, he had the strength, durability and most importantly. Darkvision. AC had no clue about the darkvision, but it explained a lot of things. It was near and total darkness and he could see perfectly. Everything in a shade of grays and whites. Using the explosion as a distraction, AC would grab the barrel of the machine guns and start to bend the barrels up so they couldn't shoot him with them.
AC couldn't fight, well, he could only really just punch hard enough and hope it would knock out whoever. Which is what he would start doing by first driving his elbow back into the man behind him, then throwing his fist forward in hopes to using the cover of darkness long enough to finish the men around him. Using just sheer strength to overpower the men and knock them out. The trail had gone cold for the trident. But if Manta was here, then a piece of it was probably here also. AC didn't know his father, all he really remembered was the color of his mother’s hair as she held him when he was just a baby.
DYLAN: Oh AC. She sighed mentally as she stared down the guy in front of her. If looks could kill he’d be the one suffocating on the floor. He called her princess and her eye twitched it irritation… and then the lights went out.
One. She didn’t hesitate as soon as the room went black and little screams of people echoed around the silent hall. She dropped to the floor, sweeping her leg back to catch one of the gun men. She felt his legs as he he fell over hers and crashed to the ground.
Two. She was on him instantly, grabbing the hoses that ran into the mouth of his mask, yanking them out.
Three. She felt more than saw the man with the baton jabbing in her direction.
Four. Grabbing his arm she yanked him toward her, shoving the end of the baton into the body of the man on the ground, then grabbed at the guy’s head and bounced it off the floor.
Five.
She grabbed the baton and turned, feeling the hairs on the back of her neck prickle a moment before the third man dropped on her. She let out a muffled cry as she wrested control of the situation with him then stilled for a split second when she felt the brush of gun metal against her arm. She shoved the arm holding the gun up and the baton into his ribs before hitting the button on the end of it. He dropped to the ground and she grabbed the gun and moved away from them, pointing it as her eyes slowly started to shift into the gray scale of the dark.
MANTA MEN: After the end of the ten seconds the emergency lights came on. The police had no idea what happened, but they knew that power was out in the building and there was commotion going on. They had someone monitoring the audio signals in the voice and they could tell that something was happening. There was also infrared to let them know about the movement apparently it was centered on several areas, the explosion and the movements of two individuals.
“What’s going on in there,” the commanding office said he wanted to make sure that the lives of the hostages weren’t being jeopardized.
They could only give him an idea of what happened, but truth be told they were quite stunned themselves.
When the lights went out Manta moved forward making sure the hostages were being brought along with the contingent of men that walked with him. He moved through the lab knowing exactly what had happened when the lights went out.
“He’s here.” He told his men that were with him.
”Our friend has returned.” He signaled to the others that weren’t in the exhibit hall. He wanted him found and stopped before he advanced on them.
When they came upon the research station they wanted Manta looked over several items and reached for a case to open it. Looking it over he shut it and shut the other shoving one case in into one of his subordinate’s arms and another into Hyde’s. He looked over his shoulder at Avery who was still struggling a little and nodded. She cried out as she broke away from one of them and went running. Manta and the Manta Men could see in the dark thanks to their lens they shifted the moment the lights went out.
“Get her!” He called out to her as Hyde took a chance and decided to try and hit Manta across the face with the case he had been given. Unfortunately for him the helmet that manta wore protected him from such things. Manta simply kicked the man squarely in the chest sending him into table knocking it over.
“Here I was hoping you would play nice.” He told him.
In the hall where AC and Dylan were proving just how formidable they could be the lights were brought back on finding several of the Manta Men disable one of them squirming from the effects of the shock stick while several others were stunned from the disabling maneuvers that had been used on them.
However, they weren’t the only ones that had weapons trained on them, but the people of Metropolis weren’t ones to simply be complacent when given a chance the chief of police had struggle with one of the Manta Men and the shot fired he got it in the shoulder, but got the gun away from him.
The Manta Men were ready to advance, but the stopped when Avery appeared in the doorway screaming as one of the Manta Men rounded on her ready to pull the trigger, but a shot was fired before the Manta Man pulled his. The chief of police’s shot landed squarely in the middle of the man’s chest.
Avery cried out watching the man fall, but it was only for moments before her entire body became charged with energy that seemed to be reminiscent of electrical energy, but it appeared red. It was only a moment but she fell to the ground she wasn’t moving, but it was difficult to say if she was alive or not. Behind her Black Manta walked with two pronged bladed weapon gripped in his hand. The energy crackled around and he proceeded to discharge several times into the crowd while one of the Manta Men brought forth the cases they had gotten from the research lab.
Manta himself had a wrapped up package that was tucked under his arm.
“This could have gone a different way.” He told them all while he looked towards AC then Dylan the tip of his head relating the smile that could not be seen.
They had what they wanted. “You have a choice. You can either stop me or you can help Mr. Hyde. He has a bit of a problem. His problem is your problem so you can either fight the rest of my men or you can see to Mr. Hyde. Your choice, but I can assure you that Mr. Hyde’s problem is a problem for everyone.”
AC: "….I will stop you, Manta." telling him as Manta walked by. He wasn't going to risk more lives, the damage had been done already. "Dylan. Can you please look over these people? Don't follow him, I'm going to check on Hyde." standing there for a moment as he turned his head slightly to look at Manta's retreating form. "You're never going to open it." he said cryptically, then moved out of the main hall and towards the research lab where Jackson was. Frowning as he moved up to him.
"You okay?" asking. The man was much older than him, by at least a good 20 years on him. "My name is Arthur Curry, I'm going to help you out of this. Okay? Don't… struggle." looking around, he took a deep breath before looking down. Shaking his head. How did C4 Work? He had to think about it for a moment, from what he remembered was that could burn, you could do a lot with it. But when you put the blasting cap on it, that's when it becomes weaponized.
So, he'd start looking for a way to disable it. Because if it explodes, well…
DYLAN: Well that went to hell in a hand bag faster than expected, she thought to herself as she held the three manta’s at gun point, urging the people that were staring at her shell shocked to restrain them. Once she did she turned her attention to what was going on on the stage, moving through the crowd to get closer.
As Black Manta came out she slid closer to the stage with every intention of backing up AC. The urge to bull her way through all his men was a hard one to resist. When it came to fighting, she actually was trained unlike AC. Her mom had been one hell of a fighter which had encouraged her to start learning at a young age. Both her and Tyler. Tyler put his to good use becoming a cop before he sold out to be secret service guarding the Luthor brat. She on the other hand, had used it to keep boys hands off her ass through college. She still thought she’d put it to better use.
AC was heading toward the back and telling her not to follow him. Fat chance that was going to happen. She had a pretty good idea what was in the wrapped package under Manta’s arm. AC went through the door to the back and she turned her eyes to Manta.
“I can’t decide terribly cliché on purpose or if you just don’t know any better.” She still had the gun that she’d taken off one of his men in her hand as she made a point of stepping out away from the innocent bystanders. Probably not her wisest move in the world but hey, she had her mother’s temper in spades. She could already feel the adrenaline building up in her system, feel herself getting stronger. Sure it would only last as long as she could keep the rush up but it would last long enough she hoped.
“Also, I’m not a maiden.” She stepped toward him as his line of men. “I also have beef with you.” She was glad AC was in the back. “I’m not letting you walk out of here till I’ve had my shot and knocking that helmet off your face and shoving it in uncomfortable places.”
MANTA MEN: It was time to depart with what they had acquired in the back. The sound of the skylight breaking could be heard from above as several men descended from above on cables that lowered from craft that hovered above the museum. They hadn’t been seen before because they had been higher up, but a signal had been given and they descended lower and broke through the glass.
AC had made the choice that most would have been expected to make when tending to Jackson who was staying as still has he could in the chair that he had been strapped to.
“I’ve seen better days.” He told him. “He said if I moved it would go off.” The sound of the glass smashing could be heard back there, but Jackson did his best not to move. He kept completely still while looking towards AC. “You don’t look like the bomb squad to me.”
In the exhibit hall Black Manta was ready to depart when Dylan made her intentions clear that he was not leaving if he had anything to say about it, but he did not speak instead the lens of his helmet glowed just as the doors to the hall were breached. The energy discharged from the lenses of his helmet fired in her direction, but someone moved in to their path. The Chief of Police was struck but the blast causing him to cry out in incredible pain before he fell forward. There were screams as people reached out to Dylan to restrain her.
“STOP! JUST LET HIM GO!” Someone cried out in sobs most likely the police chief’s wife, but Manta didn’t move yet he heard the doors give away he knew who was there. Manta pressed a button on the device in his hand causing a timer to light up on the jacket and it began to count down from a minute and thirty seconds.
“Now we all die or I am allowed to leave. It is in your hands.” It was stated directly at Dylan. “You’ve already brought one man down with your actions. “
AC: "Well, I'm not. But it's not like anybody else is running in here to try and save the day…" trailing off as he heard the scream, the crashing of windows as he then heard someone yell to let him go. Assuming that it was Manta they were talking about. When the jacket lit up, AC would come over as he frowned. "Well, looks like we don't really have time for bomb squad, Mr. Hyde." frowning as he shook his head. What the hell was he supposed to do.
"I'm sorry this happened to you. Do you know what he came for?" AC had a pretty good idea, but he wanted to confirm what it was. Sighing. Maybe Dylan and him needed to have a conversation about something's you just have to let the bad guy get away with so they don't blow up everybody including your ex-boyfriend. The C4 looked very real, and Jackson looked really scared.
"I really hope she's going to just let him go." saying to himself as he looked all over the jacket, trying to find something that connected all the C4 to a main trigger.
DYLAN: She was about to start punching people around here if they didn’t stop grabbing at her. And why the hell did men always think they needed to jump in front of a woman. She was perfectly capable of taking care of herself or getting hit by some funky ass ray thingy. (insert string of expletives here.)
“You’re a fucking coward.” She spit at Manta.
She was pretty sure at this point there was a bomb in the other room which AC had run into. She was also pretty sure that he wouldn’t blow it up while he was within range of the explosion. She wanted to make him stay, wanted him to get stuck here too with it because if it did go off then at least he wouldn’t be able to do what she had an idea of what he was trying to do. AC had had the same thoughts too from what he’d said to him. She was also pretty sure this crowd was going to rip her apart if she didn’t let him go so she nodded once to Manta with a murderous growl on her face.
“We’re not done. I will get a shot at you one of these days.”
MANTA MEN: "He just grabbed some cases and a stone. It's all he took. He was going to have me carry one them out but I was stupid. I tried to be brave. They were going to go after Avery. I'm not much of a fighter. He took me out and strapped me in this get up." When the clock started that's when the steady voice broke and Jackson began to panic.
The chief of police was sworn to protect and serve. It was the type of police officer that he was whether it be man, woman or child. Manta waited while he cast his lenses down upon Dylan while someone made their way through the crowd. The hooded figure said nothing, but looked towards him and he knew that Manta was smiling down at him.
"Cooler heads have prevailed." Manta said finally as he reached for the cable that began to retract pulling him and the other Manta Men up towards the craft that were hovering above. Once they were aboard the craft took off heading straight towards the coast faster than anything the police had that could follow disappearing beneath the water once they were over it.
"I never had a doubt in my mind that we were done, Ms. Kent." The clock didn't stop either until he was clear of the skylight and on the craft. It was only then that the clock stopped and Jackson stopped panicking about the bomb. The police were beginning to enter the building and were told about the bomb and the bomb squad were able to come in and take a look at the device.
In the hall the hooded figure stayed near the the chief of police who was alive, but in pain, but no one could tell because he wasn't screaming, but it was only after the hooded figure had pressed his thumb towards the man's forehead and the thumb upon on his opposite hand on the policeman's palm.
The people that had been attempting to restrain Dylan released her, but they were definitely not pleased with her actions. The hooded figure drew back from them. He would have made it to the hall sooner, but there were Manta Men to detain outside of the hall as well. He glanced towards Dylan but said nothing.
Instead something around his neck began to glow and with a bright flash he was gone.
AC: AC would nod to Mr. Hyde and then moved once the police came in. Once he rounded the corner, He could see Dylan standing there. Looking mightily unpleased at the course of action. Walking up to her, he hadn't seen the man in the hood disappear. "He going to be okay?" asking as he glanced to the Police of Chief, then to Dylan. He wasn't making any judgments, but wanted to make sure she was okay. He knew she could hold her own, but that didn't stop him from worrying about her. "What about you? You going to be okay?"
Looking up, he pursed his lips together.
Now it seemed he was going to be on the hunt again.
"I had a lead that it was in the museum. But, when I came here. I didn't see anything. Figured it got moved." the stone didn't make any sense, he'd have to talk to Hyde about that once he gets released from his vest. "Looks like things are on the upswing again." sighing as he pushed a hand through his hair.
MANTA MEN EPILOGUE: Aboard the submersible Black Manta went towards the lab portion of the craft. Setting the package down he walked over towards one of the Manta Men and open the tank that he had been wearing on his back. There was nothing flowing through the tubes of this particular Manta Man. He was the mule. There had been another plan in place if they had to abandon this one instead he didn't have to worry about it.
Instead he focused on what he had. It was a stone. It wasn't smooth it was jagged. He sent the man away before he lifted the item and tossed it to the floor of the room watching it shatter. Reaching down he knocked away the remains of the stone revealing the golden prong beneath. It was the middle portion. Lifting it he walked it over towards the table setting it upon the table beside the console as he waited for the communications link to be established.
There were lines across the screen before the image slowly came into view. The person on the other end turned the camera away from her to an older man who lay in bed. The man appeared to be advanced in age and from the various sensors and monitors he was hooked up to ill. He tried to speak, but Manta raised his hand to stop him.
He reached for the golden prong displaying it for him. Setting it back down he reached back to remove the helmets seal before pulling it back.
"I have found the first piece. The first piece of his trident. When I find the others I will make you well again, father."
Kaldur smiled over at his father knowing that he could do this. He had to do this. His father's life depended on the success of his mission. His decoy also remained in place. He knew the stakes and would have gladly given his life to see the success of the mission.