Aquaman

Twin metal blades struck together with an echoing clang that vibrated throughout the circular room. The blades bounced back and swung again twisting and striking like battling serpents. Each blinding strike was searching for an opening in the defense. Sharp motions almost as sharp as the twin deadly blades. The blades struck again and slowly slid apart sending out a brief rain of sparks showering down to the metal floor.

Aquaman ducked to the side and as smooth as a waterfall he flicked his wrist and sliced upward. His opponent, Ra’s Al Ghul, swiped his own sword down to block at the last second before the Sea King’s golden weapon struck.

“We do not have to do this,” Al Ghul said, slicing back and forth at the air Aquaman had previously occupied.

“No, I don’t suppose we do,” Aquaman said, weaving back and forth between blows before blocking a quick lunge with his wrist bracer and following with a lunge of his own. “I imagine we could just talk this out over a cup of tea. Or maybe see whom the best man is over a game of Risk.”

Ra’s Al Ghul deflected the lethal blow with his dagger and slashed his rapier to the side. “True, but that was not what I was referring to.”

Aquaman leaned back as the tip of the highly polished blade slid across the smooth golden scales of his armor. “And what, pray tell, were you referring to?”

“You are no stranger to the damage done by man to this planet. He rapes her like a savage and forgets about her. The time of man as dominant species must end!” Ra’s said as he slashed down with his small dagger and arced his blade up.

“And you think I can help you?” Aquaman said as he back-flipped over the guardrail behind him and gracefully landed down on the lower level of the room.

“I had partnered with your half-brother, Ocean Master, to eliminate the scourge that is man. He would rule the oceans peacefully while I kept man in check on land. Now that he has failed I could use someone else below the waves. Someone to make sure Atlantis does not repeat the mistakes of her ‘surfacer’ cousins,” Ra’s said as he hopped over the rail and stuck the floor below less gracefully than his opponent.

Aquaman waited a second for his foe to stand before striking forward again. Al Ghul back up a few steps from the assault blocking as fast as he could. “Your proposal does have merits,” Aquaman said, taking a few quick swings with his magical artificial hand morphed into a dueling blade. “But I am not a dictator and will not stand by while millions of innocents die.”

“You already just watch as millions die. No, billions. Which you have forgotten about. The trees, the animals, the very life-force of this small sphere. Cut down for the ravenous appetite of a single cruel entity,” Ra’s declared, swiping his face nervously close to the face of the Sea King. Aquaman backed up a step as the blade whistled scant millimeters from him.

Aquaman’s eyes closed in anger as he lunged forward swinging his blade in a deadly swing. Al Ghul smiled as he easily blocked the blade. His smirk vanished as Aquaman’s foot caught him squarely in the belly sending him flying back up to the upper level and smashing into the row of computers.

“Wrong, Ghul,” Aquaman said, jumping up onto the raised platform. “I know very well who is dying. You may have sympathy for the lost lives, but I have true empathy. I am connected to every marine life on the planet. I feel them live and I feel them die. I know better than any living thing what man is doing and I still can’t justify genocide.”

The Demon’s Head extricated himself from the computer. It was one of the many in the donut shaped room that controlled the large pillar that dominated the middle of the room. The pillar was a long rod that went down into the core of the Earth and channeled the heat of the molten core into the planet’s atmosphere heating it up. The base, positioned where it was in the arctic, would melt the polar ice and flood the world destroying every major coastline city in the world.

“I am sorry you think so. I was hoping I would not have to kill you,” Al Ghul said, straightening himself up.

“You think you can?” Aquaman said, bolting across the room. Ra’s Al Ghul dived to the side at the last second to avoid the charge as he raised his weapon to block the Sea King’s swings.

Al Ghul pushed his ancient body as fast as it could go blocking the lightning fast swings and strikes. He ducked left and right and pivoted both arms in parries and blocks accomplished due to centuries of skill and practice.

“You are fast, I will give you that,” Al Ghul said, shaking the beading sweat from his forehead. “Faster than I had even dreaded.”

“So I’ve been told,” Aquaman said slashing quickly to back Ra’s up a few feet.

“And your skill has been honed through over a decade of constant fighting as one of the so-called super hero. You have been fighting almost as long as the detective.”

“Very true. In many ways my entire life.”

“So have I,” Ra’s said as he parried a strike with his rapier and swung out his dagger slashing a shallow cut across Aquaman’s belly. “But my life has been significantly longer.”

Aquaman lunged forward and Ra’s dived to the side almost falling over from the savage assault. “And your strength is phenomenal,” the eco-terrorist commented. Aquaman turned before there was time to even blink and shot forward again. Ra’s spun round, grabbed Aquaman’s shoulders, and twisted, using the Atlantean’s own momentum to slam him into the far wall.

Ra’s brushed the dampness off his forehead with his sleeve. The shaft in the middle of the room radiated heat outward. It was focusing most of the energy outside to the snowy landscape but it was still turning the control room into a sauna. “You are strong but you are clumsy or crude. You have little real fighting technique or training. No refinement. And despite that you are still a formidable threat to many, to a skilled fighter like myself you are nothing.”

Aquaman leapt across the room in a single bound landing in a crouch below Ra’s. He lunged forwards in a tackle. The Demon’s Head hurtled over the assault barely avoiding being crushed. As he slid over the Atlantean’s back he raked both blades across the armor cutting through and slashing the flesh.

Aquaman gasped in sudden pain and spun around. “Do you expect me to just give up now?”

Ra’s shook his head no. “I would be greatly disappointed if you did. If we were both fresh this might have been an even contest of skill and willpower. But you are not fresh. You have been shot at, punched, beaten, thrown out of a building, and more. You must be exhausted. When was the last time you slept? Or ate?”

Aquaman snarled and took a step forward. Ra’s smiled. “I thought as much,” he said. “And apart from the painful warm-up you gave me while I was gauging your skill, I have been resting and preparing for this battle. In many ways I have already won. Wish to re-consider my offer?”

“Not for a second,” Aquaman said, readying his blade.

“Good. It has been withdrawn anyway. Prepare yourself for death.”

Aquaboy rolled on the floor slightly and reached for his fallen trident. Ocean Master stomped on the youth's hand and picked up the fallen weapon. He twirled it around a few times. "Nice heft. I suppose this is the part where I explain my evil scheme giving you time to recover and defeat me,” he said, walking over to Tempest and giving the unconscious hero a savage kick to the head.

"Oops. But I don't have an evil scheme at the moment. You attacked me. Guess I'll just have to kill you," Ocean Master said, putting the points of the trident against Aquaboy's exposed neck.

He drew back his arms and brought the weapon stabbing down. He stopped half an inch from the vulnerable, shivering neck. “Wait a second,” Ocean Master said. “Just who the heck are you anyway?”

Seren opened his eyes slightly and snarled through clenched teeth, “I’m Aquaboy.”

“Aquaboy huh? Another lost youth, kicked out into the big ocean depths? I though kid sidekicks went out of style with parachute pants. Any last words ‘Aquaboy’?”

“I just wish I could spit underwater.”

“Nice sentiment,” Ocean Master said. “I’ve often wished the same when facing my brother. He’ll get his eventually.”

“My father with kill you for this.”

Ocean Master paused. “Father?” He backed up a step. “You’re his son?! Not just some waif he picked up and stuck into matching tights?”

Seren grimaced at Orm. “That’s right. And if you thought losing one son made him angry imagine what losing me will do to him.”

Ocean Master looked at Seren closer. “He’s not a killer. I’ve done worse and I’m still here.” He grabbed the youth’s face and hauled him closer. Ocean Master looked closely at him. “You have your father’s eyes. Same as your grandfather. Same as me.”

“Shouldn’t I be dead by now?” Seren growled.

“Get out.”

Seren blinked. “What?”

“I said get out. Leave now.”

Seren tentatively took a step forward waiting for a trap to be sprung, the other shoe to fall. “Why?”

Ocean Master spun around, his cloak flowing in the water. “My father used my mother. And he used me. I was hated. By my mother, her husband, because I was a constant reminder of her infidelity. I hate families. I guess that’s why I try to destroy everything my father and brother hold dear.”

“That’s not really an answer.”

“You’re young. Different. It’s not too late for you. Choose your future wisely,” Orm said, dropping Aquaboy’s trident and picking up his own weapon beside the limp body of Tempest. He waved his hand over his staff and the damage done to it was repaired and it was whole again. “Family doesn’t have to be pain for you, Nephew. Not like it was for me. I don’t want you to hate me like I hate all my family. I don’t want to hate you.”

“And Tempest?”

Ocean Master thought for a second. “A one time gift,” he said with a sad smile. “For all the missed birthdays.”

Aquaboy nodded and picked up the unconscious hero and dragged him to the exit. “Thank you.”

“Tell him if I ever see him again I will kill him.”

Seren nodded and swam away.

Aquaman wiped the blood from his face to keep it from running into his eyes. He opened them just in time to see the blade speeding forward. He ducked to the side and flicked the blade away with his own.

Ra’s Al Ghul lunged forward again ignoring the cut to his chest that was sending fire through his body with every breath. He twisted his blade and stepped to the side clipping the side of the Sea King’s head and sending a small lock of hair scattering to the ground like a dozen tiny yellow feathers.

Aquaman faked to the left and swung his fist around in a right hook but Ra’s twisted and used the momentum to slam his knee into Aquaman’s already bruised ribs. The hero staggered backwards in pain.

Aquaman blinked as the blood from the cut in his forehead ran down into his face again. His vision blurred slightly and he backed up. Sonar was useless in a duel, it only gave vague impressions of shapes. His ribs ached and his limbs felt like lead. He wondered how long the fight had been going on. Orin frowned. He had always wondered how much he could take.

Ra’s swept forward and slashed a few times with his weapon. Aquaman leapt back repeatedly then crouched down and jumped completely over Ra’s Al Ghul’s head.

Al Ghul reversed his blade quickly and stabbed backwards bouncing of Aquaman’s scale armor. Aquaman ran for a more defensible position.

The worst part was that he knew this was all a delaying tactic, but he could still do nothing. By keeping Aquaman occupied with their battle the Sea King could not deactivate the computers controlling the spire and prevent the ice caps from melting. The longer they fought the more damage was being done. But there was nothing he could do about it.

Ra’s Al Ghul walked forward with his blade extended outward, pointing directly at Aquaman’s heart. He strode forward in a relaxed manner, he was in no hurry.

“Is there anything I can do to talk you out of this?” Aquaman asked.

“Nothing I can think of,” the Demon’s Head replied calmly. “And please stop attempting to use your telepathy. I have spend as much time honing my mind as I have spent honing my body.”

“I didn’t think it would work.”

Ra’s Al Ghul sped forward followed with a quick stab partnered with a slash. Aquaman leapt against the wall and pushed off flipping himself far to the side. Ghul charged forward swinging left and right. Aquaman hopped backwards as the bright blade flashed back and forth, a lethal metronome.

Ghul paused to wipe off his perspiration again before slashing with renewed vigor. Aquaman leapt to the side and landed on a patch of still damp blood. His foot gave out and he fell down onto the hot metal grating. Ghul charged forward and swung the blade down.

Aquaman spun about and quickly raised his blade to block the blow. The two metal weapons struck with a resounding clang on impact vibrating both owners’ hands from the force. There was a flicker of motion in the golden blade as Aquaman concentrated on his artificial hand. It became less solid and absorbed the edge of the terrorist’s blade into itself.

Ra’s Al Ghul pulled hard attempting to free his weapon from where it was incased in Aquaman’s hand. The Sea King, from where he still lay prone on the ground, pulled back harder. Ghul fought to keep his weapon in his hand.

Aquaman twisted and kicked Ghul hand in the gut, sending the villain flying across the room into a guard rail. The elder man doubled over and collapsed on the ground attempting to catch his breath and rubbing his bruised ribs.

Aquaman freed the rapier and twisted it into a large mass then quickly charged forward to catch Ghul while his guard was down. The Demon’s Head gasped and spat up blood the suddenly hopped onto his feet and flipped Aquaman around sending the Sea King flying with his own momentum.

Ghul wiped the blood from his mouth and walked forward slowly. “An admirable attempt, and you have disarmed me as I appear to have also dropped my dagger.”

“I noticed that you would have struck when I was down,” Aquaman said grimly as he stood back up painfully. “I remember giving you time to recover when you stumbled earlier.”

Ghul shrugged. “I am about to commit mass genocide. Do you think slaying a fallen foe would really offend my sensibilities?”

“True enough,” Aquaman said changing his blade back to a fist. He could see two fuzzy Ghuls walking towards him. He blinked to clear his vision. There was no denying it, he was in trouble. His strength and speed meant little against an opponent who was skilled enough to use them against him and telepathy was equally useless. Ghul was a fanatic so reason and diplomacy were also not options.

Ghul rushed forward and struck with a right cross. Aquaman blocked the best he could then felt Ghul’s left fist slam into the cut in his ribs. Aquaman swung a wide hook and left himself wide open for the uppercut. Ghul stepped back assuming a defensive stance and wiped the sweat from his brow.

“It’s getting hot in here,” Aquaman gasped between breaths.

“That should make things easier for me,” Ghul answered. “With you becoming more and more dehydrated you will inevitably weaken and fall.”

Aquaman lunged forward and Ghul sidestepped. They danced about striking and blocking, pouncing and back-stepping. Blows connected and attacks missed as they circled about each other.

A surprise hook snapped Aquaman about and he staggered backward. Orin wiped the trail of blood from his mouth and fought again to clear his vision. The dark green blur shot forward and struck him again in the kidneys and belly. Pain bloomed and he felt the urge to fall over and relax. It seemed so easy now to just lie down and sleep. Nothing else mattered. He just wanted to take a quick rest.

Aquaman cleared his head with a shake and the dizziness past. Ghul struck him again.

“If you give up now I promise I will make your death quick and painless,” Ghul vowed, circling his opponent.

“I imagine you will,” Aquaman said tasting the tang of his blood in his mouth. “And that even sounds tempting. I am getting quite tired.”

“I would wager you are.”

“But then again, so are you.”

“I can go on for some time still.”

“Think so?” Aquaman asked with a smile. “You mentioned my dehydration in this heat. That isn’t really a concern. You’re melting all the snow and ice around this base making it quite humid in here. Very tropical.”

Ra’s Al Ghul lunged forward and Aquaman jumped backward out of reach and landed in a crouch. “It must be hard for you,” Aquaman continued. “This heat and humidity. And the constant exertion.”

“I will survive. Will you?”

Aquaman shrugged. “Maybe. You’re quick but even your speed is beginning to fail. And you are very skilled but grow weaker every second. When was the last time you were in one of your famous Lazarus pits? Some time, I imagine. You must be starting to feel your age.”

“I feel nothing!” Ghul howled as he charged forward. He tackled Aquaman sending them both to the ground. Aquaman backhanded Ghul and snapped him backward and skidding across the ground.

“Making mistakes already, you can’t compete with me too close of quarters.”

Ghul rose angrily. Adrenaline dulled his pain and tensed his muscles. “I can defeat you yet.”

Aquaman shook his head. “I’m tired and battered. Much more than you. From fights long since over. But the one thing I have over you is my endurance. I can take it as well as I give it.”

Ghul appeared in front of the Sea King and attacked with renewed savageness. Aquaman’s head spun to the side from a blow. Then snapped back again. Aquaman shrugged off the blow, flexed and caught Ghul’s fist in his hand.

Aquaman spun around and tossed Ghul into the far wall with a crash. The villain slumped down then forced himself to rise back up again.

“I refuse to accept defeat.”

Aquaman shrugged. “Refuse all you want, but remember victory is claimed not by who throws the first blow or the most. It is whoever hits last that wins.”

Ghul looked into Aquaman’s eyes and the King glowered back. “You will not back down?”

Aquaman shook his head. “Try me. Right now the one thing I can do is receive a beating, but I will bet the safety of the planet I can still take more than you.”

Ra’s Al Ghul nodded. “Then this contest is useless. Tired beyond measure there is only one course still available.” He walked across the room and pulled open a large hatch in the wall. Inside was a single box resembling a breaker. Ghul quickly keyed in a code and opened it to reveal a single large, red lever. “Leave now.” Ghul said.

Aquaman nodded in understanding and started to the door. Ghul pulled the lever and the spire in the middle of the room began to vibrate.

Aquaman hobbled through the building as fast as he could while sirens and red lights flashed everywhere. The remaining eco-terrorists fled in panic. Ra’s Al Ghul had triggered the base’s self destruct mechanism.

Aquaman reached the outside and looked up. Above him and sailing down fast was the Flying Fish, his Atlantean cavalry. He fired his hand up and hit the remote control to the ship and told it to pull up and fast. He soared away and watched blow and the base erupted in a huge fireball.

Inside the Flying Fish Aquaman told the auto-pilot to take him home as he sunk into one of the chairs. Enough ice had been melted to cause minor flooding but nothing major. The tower had not been activated long enough to cause any significant climate change.

Aquaman smiled. The last couple of months had been exhausting. He needed a break.

The End...

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