Titans of Justice Unlimited Chapter 26 - “Atlantean Adventures - Monarch Melee”
Written by: Arin of Atlantis
Edited by: Power Guy


The Hall of Justice…

“Greetings, Whirlpool.”

Whirlpool sat casually at one of the many couches in the Titans of Justice ‘lobby’. He turned off the television, as the slightly ghostly voice addressed him. The young man watched, as White Wraith floated towards him. He slowly sat down on the opposite couch, as the Atlantean looked him up and down. A white hood hung over his face, so just a black pool of shadow could be seen instead of a nose and a mouth. The white hood flowed into a cape, which was wrapped around White Wraith like a blanket. Two black boots poked out of his cape. Whirlpool stifled a laugh, as the more than serious spirit in front of him couldn’t help but look like a ghost with black shoes on.



“You must be White Wraith,” Whirlpool replied seriously. “Aren’t you a god?”

White Wraith sneered under his hood, “Hardly, I am the Almighty One’s Spirit of Vengeance.”

Whirlpool already knew that the White Wraith had lost a lot of his powers, but he still liked to joke with him.

“So…what do you think to these couches? They’re quite cosy, aren’t they?” Whirlpool remarked, patting the couch.

“They’re okay. A little stiff…” White Wraith replied. There was an awkward silence.

“You’re part of the Super Friends, are you not?” White Wraith asked. “You don’t look older than sixteen years old.?”

“Water does great things for the skin - including acne,” Whirlpool joked, crossing his arms. “Why does it matter anyway?”

“Oh nothing…it’s just the Super Friends sub-group is a downgrade, don’t you think? I thought I was a Titan, not a Wendy or a Marvin…”

“I think it’s great that PG and co are doing this for us,” Whirlpool replied quickly. “Don’t you want to be the best you can possibly be?” Whirlpool laughed inside his head, as White Wraith pursed his lips. He stood up, and stared at Whirlpool seriously.

“I was so close to being the best I can. No group of superhero-wannabee’s can possibly enhance my skills. Good day, Whirlpool.”

White Wraith floated away, as Whirlpool smiled to himself. “What a great guy,” he muttered, as he walked over to a giant fridge in the open kitchen area. He opened the fridge, and grimaced at the sight. Five cans of tuna were stacked in the centre of the refrigerator.



“Hey Aqualad, pass us some of that tuna!” Power Lad ordered, as he grabbed a bar stool and sat at the counter. Whirlpool took a relaxing breath, and grabbed the tuna. He threw it at the counter, and slammed the fridge door shut.

“The name is Whirlpool, and tuna is fish. Remember that,” the Atlantean heartthrob warned.

“Yeah whatever Waterfall…oh, and everybody knows tuna is sour pasta!” Power Lad scoffed. Whirlpool hit his temple sarcastically.

“How could I forget…”

Whirlpool didn’t exactly get along with many people in the Hall, except for the veteran Titans, there wasn’t much intelligent conversation to be had. Plus, he received a lot of mocks for his grandfather Orin’s ‘uselessness’ in the Justice League twenty-five years ago. Whirlpool walked across the Hall, hoping to see somebody he could talk to. He scanned the room, but all he saw was groups of people engaged in conversation, and other people, like Power Lad, hadn’t really struck him as a talkative person. Whirlpool’s eyes rested on two very familiar faces, and he confidently strode over to the two people he had most bonded with in the Hall.



“Hey Green Lantern. Hey Sargona,” Whirlpool greeted, as he walked over to them.

“Hey Arin, how’s it going?” Sargona asked sweetly, as she hugged the teenager. There was a sudden loud crash, and everybody spun around to see the fridge on the floor. A groan of agony floated from below the crash, and Whirlpool held back a laugh, as a can of tuna rolled away from the mess.

“I’ll go…” Sargona sighed, resting her glass of water on the counter, and running over to the kitchen area.

“Hi Arin,” Dan Jordan replied, as Sargona moved the fridge out of the way. “Seen anybody you like yet,” Lantern nudged his shoulder.

“There’s one or two people…” Whirlpool said, as his eyes rested on Hawkgirl.



“Shayera Hol, eh? Lucky you, you’re going to have her company for quite a while, you know,” Dan joked. Suddenly, his communicator began to beep.

“Problem in Chicago…consecutive bank robberies…sorry about this, Whirlpool, but I’ve got to take this mission.”

“No problem, Green Lantern,” Whirlpool assured. “I was about to go visit the ocean anyway. I could do with a good swim.”

Green Lantern nodded in respect, as he flew out of the Hall. Whirlpool ran over to the control area.

“Silencer, how close can you get me to the ocean?” Whirlpool asked, as the man tapped away at a keyboard.

“Which coast?” Silencer asked, as Whirlpool walked over to the teleportation pads.

“The place with the cleanest sea,” he replied happily, as the thought of swimming with sharks and dolphins filled his mind.

***

The Jamaican coastline…

Prince Arin walked across the small beach of a village in Jamaica, kicking some sand with his feet. He pulled back his unruly hair, as he enjoyed the hot rays of the setting sun against his face. He studied the small waves splashing against the shore, taking in the beauty of the coast. He ran forward, ready to dive into the sea. Wind swept through his hair, as he jumped through the air, supported by the small bursts of mystical energy he could generate from his fingers. He dived in, as an old Jamaican man looked ahead in awe. Half a dozen seconds later, Whirlpool resurfaced, spiralling through the air, water flying from his body. Gracefully, he flipped in mid air, diving back down to the water. The man blinked in disbelief, but when he opened his eyes, Prince Arin had already swam out a mile to sea.

“So much better than polluted air. I don’t know why humans have not yet moved to the sea,” Whirlpool whispered to himself, as he propelled through the ocean faster than an airplane. The Atlantean dived underwater, watching the fish swim around him. They all seem attracted to him like a magnet, as they followed him in his long journey to nowhere. In the distance, a dark figure swam toward him, wearing two shoulder guards, and a chest plate. In his left hand the figure held a large, silver spear. Arin could recognize the Atlantean armour anywhere.

“Prince Arin, Prince Arin!”

Whirlpool came to a halt, as the Supreme Atlantean Guardsman swam up to him.

“There is trouble in Atlantis! Your father has been imprisoned, as has Lord Orin, Lord Mera and Prince Cerdian!”

“What? That can’t be, the Atlantean Army is one of the strongest in the world!” Whirlpool argued.

“Ocean Master…his son…Oram…he has developed some sort of device…he’s possessed the entire Atlantean army! You have to come quick! You’re our last hope!” The soldier panted quickly.

“Oram…the Wave Lord? How could he do such things?” Whirlpool asked nobody in particular.

“Rumor has it that his father has aided him, by giving Oram his trident. He managed to sneak into the Atlantean Armory, and plant the machine - but nothing can destroy it!”

“What has become of young Tula? Somebody will pay if she is hurt!” Whirlpool growled angrily.

“Your younger sister is fine! She is in hiding, I was assigned to find her a safe place to hide, then come and fetch you from the surface dwellers!”

“Guard, you have done well today. Make sure Tula is okay, I will be back soon.”

“Wait…where are you going, your highness?”

“I may be strong, but as I said, the Atlantean Army is one of the strongest in the world. I would be a fool if I were to fight them by myself. I will not take long. Just promise me, you keep Tula safe at your own life!”

Prince Arin swam backwards, his gang of sea creatures following avidly.

“Help the soldier…I can find my way back from here,” Whirlpool commanded the creatures. He swam up, flipping through the air. He dived again, building up his strength. He swam upwards, and crashed through the waves. The force sent him flying through the air. The shores of Jamaica were close. Whirlpool landed on the shore, knelt over. He grabbed his communicator, and spoke into it quickly.

“Silencer, pick me up!” Whirlpool demanded, as the same old man fell over in fright.

***

“Green Lantern! Green Lantern, I need your help!” Whirlpool demanded, sprinting through the Hall.

“Calm your barnacles, Aqualad!” Power Lad mocked, as Whirlpool ran past.

“Shut up, you annoying little brat!” Whirlpool punched Power Lad across the face, knocking him backwards into the fridge again. White Wraith put down his book, and watched his ally look for Green Lantern.

“Whirlpool, Whirlpool calm down!” Sargona ordered, grabbing his arm and pulling him to a halt. “What has happened, Whirlpool?”

“I think that Atlantis is under attack, I need some help getting down there to stop the Supreme Guard!” Whirlpool explained, scanning the room for his friend.

“Green Lantern is away on a mission, Whirlpool, and I have to leave like, right now for an armed siege in Ohio! Silencer! Get me five on duty members, now!” Sargona ordered. Whirlpool nodded thankfully, and ran over to the teleportation dock. Silencer tapped on his computer, and Whirlpool heard a beeping sound from the living area. White Wraith stood up, and flew over to his fellow Super Friend.



“Looks like we’re working together,” White Wraith observed, standing on a dock. The superhero couple Black Adam and Isis flew into the building, and landed opposite them.



“What’s the mission, White Wraith?” Black Adam asked the Spirit of Vengeance.

“Uh, I -”



“We’re going to Atlantis, to save your old friend, Aquaman,” Whirlpool intervened, as Lieutenant Atom joined them on the deck, “who is also my grandfather.”



Two men in green ran to the remaining pads, and nodded to their team-mates. Air Wave signaled to Silencer that everybody was ready to go, and as quick as a flash, they were on the coast of Florida.

“Let’s go, we can’t waste time,” Whirlpool ordered, running ahead.

“Wait, how are we going to breathe?” Kai Ro pointed out, “I only breathe air…”

On cue, Whirlpool grabbed six tiny flasks from his belt, and threw one to each of the team.

“Drink this. They’ll allow you to breathe underwater for forty-eight hours,” Whirlpool explained, as the group gulped down the drinks. “Now, hurry, we have to save my family!”

Whirlpool dove into the water, and Black Adam and Isis followed right behind him. White Wraith ran in, eventually submerging. Air Wave and Lieutenant Atom dived in unison, and Kai Ro bought up the rear, reluctantly dipping his toes into the water.

“I don’t do water…”

Whirlpool led the way through the ocean in silence, determined and almost forgetting about the team behind him. Isis swam gracefully behind him, appreciating the beautiful scenery around her. In the distance, the faint shape of a castle engulfed the seabed. Not too far away from where they swam, sat a sort of hut, crudely made out of rocks and seaweed. Isis swore she saw a pair of eyes look out at them.

“Tula!” Whirlpool shouted, kicking through the water quickly. He grabbed the rocks, and tried to pull them away with all of his strength.

“Let me, Whirlpool,” intervened Black Adam. He grabbed a rock, and pulled backwards. The seaweed snapped away like string, and Tula escaped her prison, hugging her brother in a strong embrace.



“Arin, thank goodness you have returned! Wave Lord, he’s taken father and Cerdian and put them under his control! And this morning, grandfather and grandmother disappeared from their chambers!” Tula explained quickly, as the group surrounded them.

“It’s okay, you’re safe now Tula,” Whirlpool assured, “what happened to the guardsman I ordered to protect you?”

“What guardsman? I’ve been here for nearly a whole day on my own!” Tula replied breathlessly.

“I thought we were here to rescue Atlantis from some guy in a fish helmet?” Kai Ro sighed impatiently.

“Manners, Kai Ro,” Lieutenant Atom warned, “I don’t think the Atlantean Prince would want to hear you talk like that.”

Kai Ro sighed, and looked at the kingdom intently.

“Whirlpool, I don’t mean to break up this reunion,” Isis said softly, “but we have to save your kingdom, and I think we should do it as soon as possible.”

Kai Ro looked on angrily, as Whirlpool nodded at her in agreement.

“You’re right, we should make haste. Come on team,” replied Whirlpool, leading the way.

“But I just said that! I just said that!” Kai Ro pointed out, as Air Wave swam past him.

“Come on, Kai Ro,” Air Wave ushered. Kai Ro sighed, and followed the team.

***

“This place is enormous!” White Wraith breathed, taking in the view of the castle from just outside the main entrance.

“Well, it does have to hold a whole tribe of people,” Tula explained, as she swam to the identification system. The doors opened wide, revealing a large market place bigger than the Hall of Justice itself.

Air Wave gasped in surprise “My lord, this place is…”

“Majestic?” Whirlpool finished, as the Atlanteans went about their daily errands. Several Atlanteans bowed as they swam past, towards a huge, stone door. On either side, led side streets, which Tula explained to be the residents dormitories.

Whirlpool floated to another identification system, and a small ray examined his eyeball. The stone door opened, and the team flew in. Immediately, they were swamped by butlers and maids.

“Leave us,” Whirlpool demanded, and the staff shrunk away. “I have a personal appointment with my grandfather…”

“Wow, this kingdom rivals the service of Khandaq!” Black Adam complimented, as he followed Whirlpool and Tula up a long set of stairs.

“Now, now, Adam, I don’t want you saying anything in front of Orin!” Isis warned, kissing him on the cheek, as Whirlpool barged open a large door. The team marched in, and stood behind Whirlpool, who stormed forward to a large set of thrones. His grandparents and his father frowned, as he stared at them furiously.





“I discovered Tula this morning, hiding in a house made of rock!” Whirlpool sneered. “Explain yourself!”

“Tula, thank goodness you came home!” Tempest smiled, as his daughter cowered behind Kai Ro. “Tula? Answer me!”

“You’re not my father, you’re an impostor!” Tula spat, as the King of Atlantis stood up.

“Whatever are you talking about, Tula? Honestly, Arin, the girls been going out of her head since you left for the Titans of Justice. She just made this up just to bring you back home!” The man once known as Aquaman argued.

Whirlpool looked at him, hoping to see something that would give him away, but Arthur Curry showed no sign of giving in.

“Very well then,” Whirlpool said, to the gasps of his team-mates, “my team and I will stay overnight in my sleeping quarters. Tula stays with me!”

Whirlpool marched out of the throne room quickly, followed by Tula.

“Arin, I’m not lying! It was father himself who told me to escape whilst he took on the Supreme Guard! Please, you’ve got to believe me,” cried the young teenager, her watery eyes pleading Arin for trust.

“I believe you,” Arin replied in a hushed voice, “we’re merely doing surveillance. Tomorrow, we’re going to find our real family.”