Pawn of the Sea

Chapter 5

Author’s note:  Thanks to my beta, B, for keeping me in line.  And thanks to Rith and the wonderful Dannell for the fabulous Sea and Sky series for which this story was inspired.

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Garth searched his cousin’s undersea dwelling for clues and spoke with anyone who would talk with him. What he discovered was that Braden had been acting on his own, and not in accordance with the Atlantis Only group. In fact the members of that group were shocked and embarrassed when they learned of the kidnapping that had occurred in their name.

The information he gathered only made Garth fear for Dick even more, since Braden had obviously turned this into a personal vendetta against his cousin more than any political power play.

He also learned of a hapless creature that Braden had taken under his wing. It was a being that was half Jellyfish and half Atlantean, an unfortunate outcome from some offshore pollutants that Garth was trying desperately to stop through his work as ambassador. Garth found that, though Braden professed to be a champion of the creature’s cause, really he tended to take the creature for granted and exploited it whenever he got the chance.

That was so like his lazy, power hungry cousin, Garth thought. Braden had always wanted things handed to him, never wanting to work for them, or do anything to earn the respect he so desired. While Atlanteans were generally raised with an innate respect for all sea creatures, no matter what their size, Braden had never felt that way about the other life forms that shared their home. He always treated the undersea animals as if they were only there to serve the Atlanteans and their purposes.

Garth found his cousin’s purported membership with the Atlantis Only group to be so ironic, suspecting that it had more to do with Braden’s fear and inferiority complex as far as humans were concerned, rather than saving the oceans from them. Oh, and also, it didn’t help that Braden had a penchant for opposing anything that Garth favored.

After a few hours of fruitless searching Garth gave up that tactic and decided to go back to the beginning. He began to make his way to where the river met the sea so he could go back to the area where Dick had initially gone into the water. Perhaps he could find some clues that the others had missed.

Before he made it to the mouth of the river he felt something strong and solid bump into his thigh. He looked down and smiled at the creature who was so playfully trying to get his attention. ’Grayson!’ Garth thought at the playful dolphin who nudged him again.

The dolphin turned his eyes to Garth and rolled over so Garth could stroke his underside. Some years ago, Garth and his then girlfriend, Tula, had saved Grayson from a fishing net. They had dubbed him Grayson because the playful creature had reminded them of their friend, and leader of the Teen Titans, especially when the dolphin got close to the surface and would leap out of the water, reaching amazing heights. They chose the name, not only because it was Dick’s last name, but also because they knew that his family’s circus act had been called The Flying Graysons.

After his rescue the dolphin came around often to visit the couple and then just Garth, after Tula had died. Garth had even introduced the animal to Dick once when Grayson had followed him to Titan Tower not long ago. Dick had gotten a huge kick out of the dolphin’s antics and his name, and even spent some time swimming with Garth and the creature, showing off his own aerial moves as he dove off one of the cliffs into the sea..

‘It’s good to see you my friend,’ Garth rubbed Grayson playfully. ’But I cannot play today. I’m looking for a friend who is in trouble.’

Grayson’s wise eyes met Garth’s again and the dolphin nodded it’s head enthusiastically.

Garth eyed the animal. ‘You know about my friend?’ he asked.

Grayson nodded again and took off like a shot toward the surface. Garth followed and watched as the dolphin leapt high into the air and did a somersault. ’You know about Dick?’ he asked in awe.

The dolphin nodded again and nudged Garth with his nose, chattering incessantly, and began to swim away.

Garth watched in confusion. ’I don’t understand.’

Grayson came back and poked him again impatiently, motioning for Garth to follow. Garth started in surprise. ‘Grayson, do you know where Dick is?’

The dolphin nodded again and began to swim away again, as if telling Garth to hurry. ‘I hope you’re right, my friend,’ Garth thought at the animal as he took off after him.

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“Robin to Batman!” an excited voice came over the com channel.

“Go ahead, Robin.”

“I’m picking up heat signatures of two people on the infrared in a strange place. It looks like an abandoned Marina, close to the mouth of the river.”

“Send the coordinates to me and Oracle, Robin.”

“Roger that.”

“Oracle, are you getting this?”

From her lair in the clock tower, Barbara Gordon ran the coordinates through her powerful computer banks. “I’ve got them, Batman, and it looks like Robin is right. The property has been abandoned and condemned for a few years. There shouldn’t be anyone there.”

“Roger, Oracle. I have a feeling this is the place. Robin, stay put and hover in stealth mode until I get there. Tell me if there is any change. Stay in the air unless I tell you otherwise, we may need you to airlift Dick depending on his condition.”

“Roger that, Batman. Robin out.” Batman gunned the engine and sped toward the marina. The radio came alive again. “Batman, should I inform Tempest of our discovery?”

Batman’s initial reaction was a resounding no, but his common sense took over as he decided what would be best for Dick, and he felt in his gut that this was the place where he was being held. They may need all the help they could get if that was the case. “Go ahead,” he sighed.

“Roger,” Tim replied, trying to suppress a giggle at Batman’s beleaguered tone. “Robin to Tempest, we think we found him.”

Garth was surprised to hear his com come to life. “Which direction are you headed, Robin?” he asked.

Garth checked the coordinates to the direction Grayson was leading him. “Thank you, Robin, I’m on my way.” He smiled grimly as he stayed on course with the dolphin.

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Dick’s eyes opened once again and he fought to bring them into focus. He didn’t know how many doses of the Jelly’s poison he had received into his system, but he knew the toxin levels in his body were probably becoming dangerously high. He was feeling a bit stronger though, so it must have been awhile since he had last been stung by the dreaded tentacles.

Dick’s hands automatically began to work at his bonds, trying to be more subtle so his captors wouldn’t notice his escape attempt this time. When he looked around he could see Braden watching him from a spot across the room. There was no sign of his gelatinous partner anywhere.

Dick decided to try and distract the other man, while he tried to loosen his bonds. “Why?” he asked Braden quietly while his fingers worked deftly at the ropes on his wrists.

“Why what?”

“Why are you doing this? Why do you hate Garth so much?”

“He is polluting Atlantis by his association with the humans. You are simply a means to an end.”

“Is it really about Atlantis? Or is it about Garth personally?” Dick was guessing, and by the look on Braden’s face he knew he must be right.

“Of course it is about Atlantis. I don’t want my home tainted by the humans.”

“It already is being tainted, that’s what Garth is trying to stop through his work.”

“You are wrong. He is simply using Atlantis as a pawn to gain more power for himself!” Braden's face twisted in anger.

“Isn’t that what you are doing with me? How does that make you any better than your cousin?” Got it! His hands were free, but he kept them still behind his back. He was still very weak, and he knew he’d have just one shot to get away.

“Shut up!” Braden yelled back at Dick. “You know nothing about any of it!”

“I know Garth,” Dick replied calmly. “And he is about the least power hungry person I know. You, on the other hand, well you seem like the type that craves it.” Dick’s ears picked up a faint noise and his heart leapt. It was the bat copter in stealth mode and, there, yes, there was the boat. Batman and Robin had found him! Now or never.

“Garth is selfish and self-serving!” Braden continued to rant, seemingly getting lost in his rage.

“Checked a mirror lately?” Dick asked the other man. “Because I think you’re describing yourself. You’ll never be half the man he is.”

Braden growled and lunged across the room at Dick. It was Nightwing who retaliated, finding a last bit of inner strength to grab an old oar that had been laying next to him. He raised it up to knock a surprised Braden off balance and into the water. Nightwing turned to the door of the old boathouse and ran out onto the dilapidated dock, trying to get the attention of the bat copter that was hovering above him.

“Get him! Don‘t let him be rescued. I would rather he die then let Garth have him back!” he heard Braden cry, and Dick shivered inside knowing that the jelly man had returned at the worst possible time.

He tried to run to the ladder that was being lowered down to him, but his limbs were still weak and shaky so he was only going at half speed. He almost reached it, when he felt the familiar intense pain of the jelly’s sting in his legs and then he felt himself being pulled off the dock and into the water.

The creature pulled him under and then released him to fend for himself. The jelly man moved off toward the open sea to try and evade Batman and Robin. Dick tried desperately to get to the surface, but with the new dose of venom in his sorely tested body he could not get his limbs to cooperate. His world went black as the last gasp of air escaped his lungs.

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Robin tried to steady the copter for Dick’s rescue, but when he didn’t feel the familiar weight of the man on the ladder he edged over and looked below. He watched in helpless horror as Dick writhed in pain and then was pulled into the water by what looked astonishingly like a man sized jellyfish.

He broadcast over an open channel. “Dick is in the water on the north side of the dock! I repeat Dick has gone into the water!”

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