Valley of the Dead, a Prelude by King Clown

As you may know, King Clown recently held a contest, wherein the runner up got to comission an issue that he would write. Naturally, I asked that he focus on Black Manta, due to his outstanding work on the character in the Aquaman DCU series. The following issue serves as a prelude to Killer Moth: Sandstorm, a five part arc serving as the conclusion to the Injustice League, Society and Ra's Al Ghul plotlines.

Without further ado, let's get to it-

 

~

 

Sand kicked off the ground as Black Manta leapt into the air. His wrist mounted blade drove into the head of a talon, taking it down to the floor. The zombie-like ninja surrounded him, more than five at the least.

 

If it would get him here, he didn't mind it.

 

-~-~-

 

"There is no reason for him to be here!"

 

Standing, at the edge of the table, was Orm Marius, better known as the Ocean Master. Across from him, sat with his hands folded together was Bane, the leader of the new Society.

 

Bane tilted his head to the side, his eyes questioning the prince, although hidden beneath his mask. "I don't see the issue, Prince Orm."

 

Orm's eyes flashed red for a split second, his hand raising to point at the seated man. "It's King… King Orm and you know it."

 

Bane lowers his hands to the table, pushing himself to a stand. "Your titles don't concern me," he began, "King, Prince, Ocean Master… they mean nothing." Bane, now at a stand, took a few steps towards Orm. "What does, is your reservation of his recruitment."

 

"I know him, more than anyone else here does…" Orm stopped, thinking for a moment. "But even then, no one knows what's going through that animal's mind."

 

Bane let off a small hum of recognition. "I see, I see," His head turned down to the file of Black Manta, which sat on the table. "You believe he is too reckless… self involved?"

 

Orm nodded his head. "Exactly that. You saw what happened with Luthor." The thought of betrayal made Orm's blood boil. The feeling of his own people… rallying behind the half-breed. It made him want Aquaman out of the picture even more than before. "He aligns with no one, no one but himself."

 

Bane produced a small noise of acknowledgement as he shut the file. "I understand your concerns."

 

"Thank you, it would be a fo-"

 

"But," Bane interrupted, "you are missing a key detail." Orm tilted his head, confused with the statement. "You said it yourself, he is nothing more than an animal," Bane then turned to the second file he had set out, a picture of Arthur Curry inside. "And an animal... just needs the right bait."

 

-~-~-

 

Blood splattered against the wall of the ship. The pirate's face slowly lost color as he slid off of the silver sword held by Black Manta. Bodies littered the outer deck, some slipping into the pool. Manta flung his sword to the side, the excessive blood slapping against the wood flooring of the yacht.

 

The owner had it. An old relic his father had found on a dive. It was sold upon his death.

 

He was going to get it back.

 

He entered the inside of the boat, kicking down the locked door like it was made of cardboard. Bullets rained from the guards inside, the men unloading their magazines on Manta. The bullets bounced off of his suit, ricocheting off of the walls. Raising his arms to an 'x' shale and letting them fall, he let out a blast of his plasma rays from his helmet. The blast took care of the armed guards quite easily, clearing open his path.

 

He continued through the yacht halls, gutting anyone that stood in his way. As he made it to the bar, he heard a noise inside. Investigating, a man holding a 12 gauge raised from behind the counter. Manta raised his sword, but it was too late.

 

"Die freak!" Shouted the man as he pulled the trigger.

 

The buckshot hit him square in the chest, recoiling him back through a wall. As he brought himself to a stand, the rubble filling from his suit, he heard the sound of the shotgun pump. His head tilted up to see the barrel of the weapon shoved into his face. The man aimed, ready to fire once more, before a large tentacle erupted from outside the bar window of the yacht.

 

The man screeched as the tentacle impaled him, dragging him out through the window, into the ocean. Manta tilted his head slightly as he watched the whole back wall of the bar be torn out.

 

A small scoff exited his mouth as he witnessed the two men. Ocean Master and Bane stood atop an Octopus, the top of it's head level with the floor.

 

Bane quickly stepped off, Orm following after. "Black Manta, it is good to see you." Bane reached out his hand to shake Manta's own.

 

He only watched the two new arrivals. "Bane… Prince." He took note of Orm's flash of anger at the use of the title Prince. "What do you want?"

 

"Hmm, never one for conversation, were you?" The silence brought discomfort on Orm's part, his trident ready to cast a spell if the man were to try anything. "We," he began, pointing to Orm and himself, "would like your assistance."

 

Manta quickly turned, his body already moving back through the ship. Orm scoffed at the display. "Show some respect, cretin. Did your father not teach you manners?"

 

Manta's head swiveled, the red of his eyes beginning to smoke. Bane quickly stepped in. "Both of you, act like adults. Manta, I understand your… hesitance. You are an open player, sitting in the grey area of all of this."

 

"I plan to keep it like that," spoke Manta, as he turned his whole body to face the large South American man. "Getting involved will result in wasted time and energy."

 

"Wasted time… what else are you to do?" Asked Orm, a smirk on his face. "You are nothing but a pirate. Worthless."

 

"Bane, tell your lapdog to stand down. Or, you his pawn? We know for certain you aren't the King." Manta watched as Orm's smirk turned sour.

 

Orm launched forward, Manta extending the blade on his wrist. Bane swiftly moved, grabbing both Manta's arm and Orm's trident. "That is enough. If I knew you would cause problems, I would not have brought you, Orm."

 

Bane stood, staring both of them down. Manta quickly ripped his arm away, retracting the blade. "I won't be your pawn. Not like him, or any of your other society freaks."

 

As he turned to leave, Bane spoke up. "What if… I had a way to get you Aquaman?"

 

Manta felt a rage boiling in the stomach as he turned around. "Like Luthor did?" He began moving towards Bane. Long, slow steps. "You gonna send me on a goose chase? Have me act as your errand boy?" He was now standing directly in front of Bane, his silver helmet tilted upwards. "I'm nobody's dog. Not yours, not Luthor's… not anyone."

 

As he turned to walk away, a firm hand placed itself on his shoulder. Manta swung his free hand towards Bane, but it was caught mid-punch.

 

"What if the plan hinged on Aquaman and the Justice League arriving? You bring them out, you can have him." Bane's hands held onto Manta, keeping him in place.

 

David shrugged the hand off his shoulder as Bane released his grip on his fist. Manta squinted his eyes under his helmet, weighing the choice. His head tilted to the side slightly, the red eye barely visible. "I'm listening."

 

-~-~-

 

The bodies lay out on the desert sand. The greyish ooze-like blood leaked into the grains. Lined up were the Talons, all of them crucified with their own blades.

 

Behind the horror, walked Black Manta. His sword was slid into the scabbard on his back, his eyes still smoking red.

 

"I'll be waiting for you, murderer."

 

Done