The skin along his back scraped off onto the jagged rocks as the speeding submersible vehicle shot across the rocky seabed. Being born to live several miles underwater made Aquaman's skin amazingly tough, but not tough enough to survive being dragged at high speeds across ragged stones. His fingers strained for grip as the sea king tried to find an opening or seam on the watertight vessel. He hung on for dear life; clinging to the back of the submarine while the driver did everything in his power to throw him loose or peel him off like a bug.

The jet-black submarine, designed to mimic the shape of a large manta ray, shook violently as it collided with a large jutting rock. Clams and coral flew in every direction as the ship shuddered and vibrated like it was going to tear itself apart. But he hung on, his sea-born strength augmented by adrenaline and rage. He was not going to let the driver of the sub escape; he was going to pay for his crimes.

The Black Manta, the very name brought the taste of bile and hate to Aquaman's lips. A pirate, tired of racial oppression on the surface, decided to form a new society under the seas. Plan after plan was thwarted by the efforts of Aquaman, who the black-hearted man grew to see as a representation of everything he hated. The blond haired blue eyed nazi-poster-boy who ruled the seven seas. Black Manta had vowed to destroy him and all he held dear, a promise he made good on by murdering Aquaman's infant son.

Aquaman's teeth gritted together. He gripped as tightly as he could to the seam of the ship, his fingertips stinging from the strain. Slowly he let go with his metallic hand and, straining against the resistance from the water that was streaming by, raised it over his head.

Fish sped away as the sleek black sub shot through the water, the ocean currents being no match for its powerful engines. Aquaman's muscles tensed. He slammed his fist against the hull of the ship, the reinforced titanium curved inward. His metal fist collided with the hull again and again, a huge dent growing on the outside of the ship. A normal sub's hull would have given way by now, but this ship was built to last. Some of the best criminal minds money could buy pitched ideas on the craft.

Inside the ship Black Manta changed tactics. He reached over and strapped himself into his chair. Gripping the steering controls, the pirate began to roll the craft over and over. On the outside Aquaman stopped his assault and began to just hang on as the sub spun around and around. The world turned topsy-turvy. Up became down and down became up, directions blurred together as the ship corkscrewed through the water.

Black Manta smiled behind his large helmet. Aquaman was strong, he could lift cars and punch through brick walls, but even his strength had its limits. Laughing a cold inhuman laugh he floored the accelerator and increased the spin. 'I'll be dizzy for days' he thought to himself, 'but it will be worth it to finally get rid of Curry.'

The whale came out of nowhere. It just swam into view, taking up Manta's entire view-screen. Acting on instinct Black Manta swerved hard to the right breaking out of the roll. He didn't care if he hit the world's largest mammal, but the impact would have crippled his ship. As it was the black submarine bounced along the seabed out of control. Manta's seatbelts strained and stretched as he was thrown hard to the right as the ship flipped over and over finally coming to a rest on its roof. Black Manta hung in his chair upside down and sighed.

A loud screech interrupted Manta's thoughts and brought his immediate problem back into his mind. The main hatch groaned as dents appeared all over it. Hundreds of pounds of water pressure strained against the weakened hatch before a metal fist slammed into it one more time forcing it to give way. The hatch blew inward, pushed along by a torrent of water. The submarine filled completely in seconds.

Aquaman stood in the ruined hatchway, scratches all over his back and arms and his hair covered in sand and mud. He said nothing; he just raised his harpoon.

Black Manta swore and frantically pulled the release on his seat belts. He fell to the roof just in time to see the yellow harpoon bury itself into his chair where his chest had been just seconds earlier. Manta flipped onto his feet as the harpoon retracted.

"So Curry, aren't you even going to ask me why I'm no longer a half-man half-fish?" Black Manta sneered at him.

"No," Aquaman said, diving forward, his eyes narrowing coldly. Manta ducked to the right just in time to avoid being skewered again.

Manta snarled slightly as he rolled back onto his feet. The large red eyes of his helmet glowed red as he charged an energy blast. The water around his head hissed and steamed as twin energy blasts fired out. Aquaman pushed off the ground hard and hit the floor above, stopping himself with his hands he quickly pushed back down to the roof and at Manta.

The red energy blast arched across the large sub's cockpit tracing Aquaman's path. The wall melted slightly and controls sparked and shorted out as the crimson blast fried them. Manta tried to adjust his blast just in time to catch both feet in the chest. His blast cut out and Manta slammed into the far wall of the cockpit. Aquaman raised his fist and Black Manta barely twisted to avoid the punch. The sea king's fist crashed into the reinforced bulkhead bending it like it was made of aluminum.

Manta grabbed at his boot, freeing his knife. Swinging the blade in a lethal swing, Manta growled again. He was about to have his revenge, once and for all. The blade connected with golden harpoon and snapped in half, the blade spinning away across the cockpit. Aquaman grabbed Manta by his suit and forced his nemesis against the roof of the upside-down submarine.

"Alright, Manta, talk. Where did you get the drugs? You're a treasure hunting murderer, not a pharmacist," Aquaman snarled at the featureless helmet.

"That all you have to say to me, Curry? No pleasantries? Not even going to tell me how you tracked me down?"

"A large black submarine stands out, especially one as distinctively shaped as yours. Didn't take long."

"So how's the wife and kids? I hear you have a couple more sons that you didn't know about. Only one's trapped in another dimension and the other is banished for trying to steal your throne. And Tempest stole Dolphin from you too. Don’t have much luck with boys, do yo…" Manta's words were cut short as Aquaman lifted him up and slammed him back down again hard.

"My, my touch a nerve?" Manta said sneering behind his helmet and ignoring the stabbing pain in his ribs.

"No, but tell me if I do," Aquaman said, his harpoon finding the gap between the helmet and the rest of Black Manta's suit. The tip slid in and pressed against Manta's neck.

The two stood like that for what seemed like hours, locked together, the murderer inches away from being murdered.

Black Manta spoke first breaking the silence like a dropped pin, "If you really must know the psych-drug came from Santa Prisca. Although I don't suppose that means much to you."

Aquaman thought for a second, he'd heard that name before somewhere, but where? It didn't matter right now though he had other concerns. "So you're just a drug runner now, Manta, some hired flunky. You've sunk low."

"A means to an end. They paid me well enough, and extra cash always comes in handy. Allowed me to buy this ship you so nicely wrecked, and improve my diving suit slightly."

Before he could react Aquaman felt pain explode through his arms as Black Manta's suit surged with electrical energy. Lightning coursed around the black clad villain as the water filled with bubbles as the liquid was forcibly reduced back to hydrogen and oxygen. Aquaman's muscles strained and twisted under the electrical current before the water seemed to explode sending the two combatants sailing across the bridge.

Manta steadied himself; his insulated suit had protected him from the electrical discharge. Aquaman had not been as lucky.

His arms twitched sporadically, the wounded flesh felt like it was on fire. Aquaman shakily got back up to his feet using the wall to steady himself. He only needed a few seconds to steady himself; a brief moment to get his bearings, but Black Manta was not going to let him have that.

The dark pirate pushed off the wall and slammed into the sea king's stomach followed by repeatedly punching him in the face. Still trying to clear his head, Aquaman staggered back from the sudden blows. Grabbing the stunned monarch by the upper arms Manta rammed his knee into his foe's groin. An exclamation of surprise came from Aquaman as he doubled over in pain collapsing to all fours.

Manta laughed evilly, "What would Arthur Jr. say now to see his father like this?"

Aquaman struggled to stand; Manta just kicked him hard in the ribs. "Now, now Curry. Don't get up on my account." He smiled behind the helmet. "I always knew this day would come," Manta said, opening a large storage compartment and pulling out a long pointed blade, "You dying at my hands. I've waited a long time for this."

"You'll… have to wait… a little longer," Aquaman choked out. Manta made a lunge for the sea king but before he made it halfway the entire sub shook and rocked hard to the side. Aquaman and Manta were both knocked over and slammed into the far wall.

"What the…" Manta exclaimed trying to stand up before the sub was hit a second time and his world rocked again.

Aquaman smiled, "The whale was still in the area and more than willing to help."

Several thousand pounds of meat, blubber, and bone collided with the ship again. The sub began rolling over and over, the outer hull bending and breaking. There was a rush of water as the storage hold cracked open and was filled by the ocean.

Black Manta quickly righted himself and dived at Aquaman. Weakened and shaky, the sea king barely managed to get his harpoon up in time to block the knife swipe. The two weapons locked in place with a loud metallic clang. The wickedly sharp blade was mere inches from Aquaman's face and his harpoon pressed against the eye of Manta's suit.

"Standoff," Aquaman said. "You can't kill me without dooming yourself."

"So what's your revenge worth to you?" Manta snarled, "What's my death worth? What was Junior's life worth?"

Aquaman's eyes narrowed. The two weapons edged back and forth. If he were at full strength he could have easily overpowered him, but the fight with Manta and the earlier struggle with Bisbet had taken a lot out of him.

Manta had killed his son! Murdered in cold blood. This had cost him his marriage with Mera; she had blamed him for the loss of their son. She had even gone as far to annul their marriage under Atlantean law. He was only just beginning to repair their relationship. All that the pain and suffering, more than any one person should ever have to deal with, all of it because of Manta!

Aquaman roared, both with mouth and mind. Black Manta felt emotions blast through his brain. Rage fueled strength allowed Aquaman to thrust Manta backwards. Manta staggered for just a moment, quickly stopped, and then assumed a knife fighting position.

Aquaman lunged forward, swinging with his harpoon. Manta ducked back and tried to dodge the blow. The golden point missed by millimeters, scraping a long gouge in Manta's wetsuit. Manta returned the favor with a swipe of his own that was barely deflected by Aquaman's armored arm.

"All that rage. I expected more from you, Curry. So animalistic and unfocused, surely you can do better than that!"

Aquaman responded by diving forward again tackling Manta. The two fell to the ground in a flailing of limbs, each trying to cut the other.

Manta repositioned his blade and aimed it at Aquaman's face. Twisting his harpoon to the side Aquaman fired his weapon knocking the blade of Manta's grasp.

"Nice try Curry! I can still fry you like a bug!" Manta yelled his suit powering up and beginning to charge.

Aquaman grinned, "Except that 'animalistic and unfocused' attack of mine cut through your suit's insulated lining."

Behind the helmet Manta's eyes flew open. Before he could react his world became pain and light as the suit burst with power. The water bubbled again and the pair was sent back by the burst. The micro-generator's in Manta's suit smoked and overloaded causing a second explosion that sent the villain flying into the wall denting it harder than Aquaman ever could.

His body screaming from pain, Aquaman rose. Even as weakened as he was he was still tougher than Manta, who'd probably be out for hours. The water was filled with the smell of hydrogen and burnt flesh and hair, metal and plastic debris floated about through the darkened fluid. Aquaman's nose wrinkled in disgust.

Manta just lay on the far wall, twitching as smoke and sludge filled the water from his smoking suit. He was helpless. Aquaman looked at his foe, it would be easy now. Almost no one would blame him, and Manta deserved worse than death. Atlantean law could be invoked to give Manta the death penalty so killing him wouldn't even be illegal. Just immoral. Aquaman was reminded of Manta's question, 'what was revenge worth?' He now knew, but was it worth the price?

Sighing Aquaman grabbed his prone enemy and looked for something to tie him up in. There were many jails on the surface that could hold him for a long, long time, especially with diplomatic pressure put on the courts.

His arms still ached as Aquaman finished the knots. He wanted to head home to Poseidonis and sleep for ages. But he couldn't. He had to pay a visit to Santa Prisca.

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To Be Continued...

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