DCU Aquaman #30 N.E.M.O Perfected (N.E.M.O Rising)

Exo stepped into the large room where the battle had been ensuing. The water was now at his hips, still rising. He looked to see Charybdis and Scylla tag teaming against Aquaman, Scavenger holding off the traitors. Eel was in a fight with Tempest, not able to use his power because everyone would fry. He raised his free hand, his blaster extracting from his forearm and shooting into Operative.

 

Vostok and the Captain looked to see him carrying the wounded Jackson, giving Scavenger enough time to grab them both by their shoulders. He flicked his arms to the side, sending them both away.

 

Exo stepped over to Scavenger, handing Jackson to him. "Keep him safe, we need to wait for Manta to come back." Scavenger hoisted the boy on his back, "Where is he?" Exo felt his fist clench tight, his teeth gritting under his mask. "Dealing with the trash."

 

Suddenly Charybdis was thrown towards the group, landing in the water. He stood up and looked at Jackson. "What the?" Exo shook his head, "Not the time, where's Jackie?" "I'm right here!"

 

He turned to see her taking cover behind a pillar. Exo sighed knowing she was ok. He looked to Aquaman who was tangled in Scylla's whips at the moment. Jackie ran over to the group, seeing Jackson as she arrived. "Oh my god…"

 

A blast of energy was sent their way, but Charybdis stepped up, taking the shot that sent him flying. The group saw the Captain aiming his gun at the group, ready to fire again. His shot was interrupted by a blast of plasma energy shot out from two large, oval eyes. Black Manta stood in the hallway, blood drenching his suit.

 

"Manta? What the hell happened to you?" Asked Scavenger, his worry-filled voice cut off when he noticed Manta's armor was completely intact. "Oh…" Manta stepped over to them, looking over to Eel. "Exo help him, we need to get out of here." Exo nodded, using his jet booster to quicken his movements.

 

Vostok X got up, seeing the group getting ready to leave. He looked to the Captain, still recovering from the plasma blast. "Captain, throw your power source!" He looked at him in confusion before realizing the plan. He hastily removed the energy pack on his back, throwing it at the group. Scavenger looked up, scanning the energy through his helmet.

 

"GET DOWN!"

 

Scavenger moved Jackson to his front, holding him in his four arms as he turned his back and began to dash forward. Manta dove to where he was submerged in water completely, activating his water jets in his diver pack, and propelling him forward at a fast speed. Jackie turned and began to run, but the water was too high for her to get clear of the blast zone when Vostok took a shot at the energy pack.

 

A loud explosion of red energy occured at the impact of the pack and shot. All the fights ensuing stopped, viewing the nuclear explosion that had happened. When the smoke cleared, there was a pool of red in the water, Jackie's body floating inside of it. Captain was instantly shot with another blast of Manta's plasma lasers, Vostok tackled by Charybdis who had recovered from the shot.

 

Scavenger had returned Jackson to his back as he ran to the floating girl. Eel and Exo also arrived, Tempest floating unconscious in the water. "Dear god…"

 

Jackie was face up in the water, revealing the blunt of her injuries. Her left leg was blown apart, her kneecap down completely gone. The opening of her clothes also revealed her upper thighs, covered in bruises. Exo felt like his teeth were going to shatter, his jaw clenching itself tighter then it ever had. It was going on this whole time? He didn't notice that?

 

Manta put his hand on his shoulder, a gesture he would've never expected a few months ago. Moving up her body, her torso was mainly ok, a few burns from the explosion. Her left arm was mangled apart, burn marks and chunks of flesh missing. As he continued his gaze to her face, he almost vomited in his helmet. Her left eye had a giant piece of shrapnel from the pack lodged inside. Her upper skull was exposed, a crack running down it.

 

Manta looked at the group before turning. "We need to go, before they get back up." Exo winced, knowing that they would have to leave her. She was in to bad of a-

 

"No…" Everyone turned to look at Jackson. His eyelids were half-lidded, barely staying open. His shaky voice continued."We can't…" Manta shook his head. "She's dead weight. We need to- "

 

"Dad…. please!"

 

Manta stared into his son's tear-filled eyes, slowly closing, sending him into unconsciousness. Manta looked back at the girl, stepping forward and gently sliding his arms under her thighs and back. Holding her bridal style, he began moving his way towards the exit, to The Manta.

 

The six of them eventually made it there, boarding and bringing both kids to the medical room. Manta sent Scavenger and Eel to pilot the sub, leaving Exo and himself with the unconscious teenagers.

 

"What are we going to do? The nuclear energy cauterized the wounds, but she still can't just live like that." Exo looked to Manta, who was removing his helmet. "We rebuild. This is N.E.M.O, we've perfected it." Exo looked at him, removing his helmet. His face was scarred, discolored from surgeries to keep him at a regulated body temperature no matter his attitude.

 

As he looked at her, he caught another glance at her inner thigh, the fingertip bruises. Manta looked at him. "You couldn't have known." He looked at him. It was the compassionate side of him again. The side that he'd never seen before today. "What are we gonna do for her…"

 

"Kimon Tanaka. A Japanese scientist who specializes in prosthetics and cybernetic enhancements. You, Eel, and Scavenger are going to recruit him." Exo turned his head, "And you?" Manta looked to the unconscious Jackson. "Jackson and I will be returning a favor, and will finally see him suffer."

 

Manta stared at Jackson. It was finally time that Aquaman would pay.

 

-~-~-

 

"Prince Orm! S-stop thi- AGHGGHHG!"

 

The scream of the royal guard stopped as the energy from his scepter faded. Another loyal believer. Another fool to think that a half blood could be the king. The ruler. He stepped down the hallway, making his way to the throne room. Behind him was Hila, the Siren. She believed in his cause, his prowess.

 

The halls were lined with blood. So many good soldiers, soldiers that misplaced their values and beliefs. It cost them their lives. The duo eventually made it to their destination. Upon opening the doors, they were bombarded with blasts of energy. Orm placed his scepter to the ground, a shield encompassing the two of them. With a wave of his scepter, lightning sprouted from the shield, electrocuting the soldiers to death.

 

Two lone figures stood against the duo. Murk and Mera. Murk rushed at them but chains of water wrapped around his arms and legs, holding him back. Siren smirked as he struggled to free himself from her bindings. Mera raised her hand to attack but Orm's scepter blasted her with energy, sending her to the ground.

 

Orm stepped up to Murk, who spat at the prince. Orm scoffed. "Such barbaric actions. Fitting of you." He raised his scepter to impale him, only to be stopped by Murk's right hand breaking free and punching him in the face. Siren rushed forward, slicing a water sword through Murk's right wrist, removing his hand.

 

"AGHGGHGH!"

 

Orm rubbed his cheek, glaring at the man. "You heathen... How dare you!" Orm raised his hand only to feel it be pulled back by some kind of tendril. Turning his head, he sees an octopus made of pure water, Mera using her hydrokinesis. It wraps one of its tentacles around Murk, raising him into the air. Smashing through the wall with another one, she moves him towards the newly formed exit.

 

"Murk, you need to leave. Hide until Arthur returns, he will need you!" Murk, still losing blood from his now severed hand, shakes his head. "I can't leave you behind my queen." She snaps back in a stern tone. "This is not a debate. I'm ordering you, as your queen, to flee. Now!" She uses the tentacle to throw him, giving him momentum to get away.

 

She slowly stands, her arms glowing from her powers. The octopus is slowly coming apart from both her sister and Orm's struggles. Eventually it falls, leaving her standing against them both. Two swords form in her hands as she charges at them.

 

"For Atlantis!"

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And that's the end of Aquaman Volume 3 N.E.M.O Rising. I've had tons of fun writing this volume, especially the last couple of issues. I really hope you guys enjoyed and are hyped for the next volume, "Long Live the King"

Done