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Parts 6

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“Your Majesty? Sir…are you all right?”

Arthur’s personal aide was leaning over him as Arthur just barely managed to pry his eyes opened enough to see the man above him—who wasn’t looking too far from this side of death himself. The King moved tentatively, trying to see how badly he was hurt through the pounding in his head and the excruciating tingling in his body.  Just as he was about halfway to sitting up on the floor another blast, the third, slammed through them…

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“Your Majesty? Sir…are you all right?”

“Yes, thank you. I believe I’m unaffected; and you? Is everyone well?” Garth was in the soundproofed room in the fourth sub-basement of the palace along with eight of his most loyal aide and councilors.

“None of our people seems adversely impacted, M’lord. That was the third sonic wave; initial reports are that virtually everyone above us is unconscious, though the surface students seem to be less disoriented than our own citizens.”

“How long do we have?” They were already moving quickly through the hallways and passages to the upper levels and their goals, ignoring the people lying on the ground other than to spare them a quick glance.

“We estimate approximately half an hour before they regain consciousness and at least that long before they’re ready to function at any threat level.”

“King Orin should be in his own quarters, our second unit is meeting us there, are they not?”

“They’re on their way, M’lord.”

“Good, and the rest of our forces?”

“Also following their instructions, we should have the city secured in minutes, sir.”

“Good.” They were at Arthur’s door, which was ajar. Everyone they’d passed so far was either completely unconscious or close enough as to be of no concern.

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Well’ Doctor, what do we do now?”

“We wait, Admiral. We wait and we watch.”

“Maintain the crew on full alert and at battle stations.”

“Aye, sir.” The surface was calm, the sky clear. There was no hint of what was happening more than a mile below.

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“Garth, Garth—are you there?”

“Yes, what do you need, Dick—are you unharmed?” He spoke loudly enough that the communicator could pick up his voice without him having to use his hands. They were in the king’s private quarters, Arthur’s guards tied and King Orin himself locked in an inner section of the extensive suite and under a medical guard. He wouldn’t be harmed, assuming that he cooperated, but his reign was over. He’d find out as soon as he was in a condition to absorb the news, as would the section of his guard and army that were personally loyal to either him or the current government. They would be given the choice of swearing allegiance to the new sovereign or deal with consequences; it was their decision, though few would be naïve enough to not understand the implications. Atlantis hand it’s rulers hadn’t survived as long as they had by being weak or sentimental.

“I think I’m okay, where are you? Are you all right?”

“We’re unaffected by the waves and in the Royal Chambers. Everything seems to be going according to plan, the king is unharmed and cooperative.”

“Is there anything I can do to help?” Dick was in his Titans leader mode and frustrated that he was just sitting, waiting. It was a position he was used to from working with the Bat, but not one he’d ever really become comfortable with. He dealt better being in with action that being a reserve.

“If you could check on the students and make sure they’re not injured, reassure them, that would be a help.” Garth sounded distracted, too busy to take the time for this right now. Dick cut communications, probably to his relief.

Christ—what Garth had arranged and was in the process of carrying out was probably a capital offense—treason, malfeasance, a crime against the state, tantamount to attempted regicide. He could probably be hanged—or whatever they did in Poseidonis to criminals.

If this didn’t work, Garth could count his life expectancy in hours, or that would be Robin’s guess, anyway. But Garth was smart, a lot smarter than he was usually given credit for and he knew about politics and power—he was born to it, the latest in a royal line stretching back at least eight or nine thousand years. This stuff was in his blood, it was his heritage and, if you wanted to but it that way, it was his family business. He was good at this. If anyone could pull this off, it would be Garth.

If anyone could pull this off, that is. But Arthur was…Arthur.

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“Shit, man—what the frig was that?”

“Hell if I know; it was like a sound wave or something. ‘Hell if I know.” The students were trying to figure out what had just happened and hadn’t a clue. One of the young men tried knocking tentatively at the door out to the corridor, the one that had a guard on it a few minutes ago. There was no answer and, with some trepidation, he pushed the door open just a bit—enough to see the man’s body slumped on the floor less than two feet from his post and a small trickle of blood coming from is ear.

“Isn’t Robin’s room right around here somewhere?” He’d help—he had to help, he was a Titan for the love of God.

“Probably, how many rooms can they have without water down here? Let’s knock on some doors.”

About half of the kids started off in search of Robin’s room, the rest choosing to stay in the perceived safety of their rooms and now wanting to anger their ‘hosts’. Rounding a corner, they saw Robin, still in jeans, a tee shirt and his mask coming towards them. He looked unhurt and wasted little time when he got to them.

“Is everyone all right? No one injured?”

“…We’re good—what happened?”

“Garth arranged for a couple of sonic waves to gain control of the situation. He’s in with King Orin now and we’re supposed to stay here. He’s going to make sure you’re all released as soon as they can.”

“Where’s Blair?”

Robin looked a question at the boy who asked, obviously he had no idea who she was.

“She was the girl ho was hanging around…”

“She was the one making a pass at Garth? She was in his quarters helping him a little while ago.” He saw knowing glances exchanged. “I doubt it—he’s practically celibate. I’m sure she’s fine.” He pulled out his communicator. “Garth? Blair—she okay?”

The answer came through with heavy static. “She fine, she’s in the VIP suite. Look I’m kind of busy right now, all right?” The line was cut.

“Okay, let‘s all go back to one of the rooms and wait. We’re all going to be fine.”

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“Sett—call in our forces, have them move now. Inaugurate the plans.”

“Done, M’lord.”

Garth stood just to the side of the large picture windows in Arthur’s private suite, the ones overlooking the city. He could just see the Sheyarian ships approach, make their predetermined docking ports and off load the soldiers he’d ordered to stand by, just outside the reach of Poseidonis’ scans in ships carrying special shielding to bounce the sonar waves back and not absorb them. The soldiers and their officers were fine and ready to go. The men moved fast, knowing they’d only have the advantage for another half hour or so before the local guards were recovered enough to resist.

Their assignment, their orders were to secure the city with a minimum of violence and a no kill policy unless in imminent threat of their lives—and King Garth had made it clear that he’d personally review any such cases. Violations would be dealt with in the harshest possible terms. None of the locals were to be harmed. None of Arthur’s soldiers or personal guard were to be hurt, unless there was absolutely no other choice.

His orders were carried out to the letter. It wasn’t so much that King Garth was so much loved—though he was—it was because his men understood that to unite two unfriendly cities would be easier for them without having to overcome the added resentment of unnecessary deaths. Besides, there were still blood ties between the two populations going back generations and they had no wish to fight brother against brother.

Garth was, if nothing else, a practical man. It was a large reason he would make a good ruler.

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“Release the students and Robin as a good will gesture and make sure that there are press around when they’re set free.”

“Yes, M’lord.” The surface ships, including the one carrying Bob Ballard, were informed that the student ambassadors, as well as Robin would be returned to the surface ships within the next hour, unharmed and in good health.

The media were sent a copy of the order, as well as the designated time and place of their arrival back in the US. They could be expected at Gotham harbor tomorrow evening at seven, local time. Any of their immediate family would be flown there at Atlantean expense to welcome them home, if desired.

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“But what do you mean you’re going to unite the two cities and rule them both? You’ve been saying every since I’ve known you that you’d never accept a throne.”

Garth and Robin were alone in the former King Orin’s suite, now being used by the new King Garth the third. Blair had been thanked with a chaste kiss on the cheek and would, both Dick and Garth were certain, cash in with a book as soon as a contract was signed. “Things have changed. Needs changed. I’ve changed.”

“But you don’t want to do this, you said…”

Garth held up his hand. “That doesn’t matter now.”

“But you despise the idea of ruling, that’s what you’ve always said, especially after what happened to your parents. Why are you doing this? C’mon, Garth, this is me you’re talking to. What’s really going on?”

Garth was resting against a bureau of some kind, Arthur was under sedation and likely would remain so for a long time and the vast majority of King Orin’s guard and army had sworn allegiance to the new king.  He gave a quick glance at the door. It was closed and he knew from experience that thee room wasn’t bugged. Arthur had been adamant about that.

“It’s been increasingly apparent that Arthur was becoming unstable, that he was becoming a danger to himself and, more importantly, to the nation. We knew something had to be done and so we—I arranged a solution.” It was dispassionate, concise, logical.

Robin, sans mask, stared at him. “How long ago did you start planning?”

“About a year.”

What the fuck? “You knew, when Kara came to get you off that ship, that this would happen.”

“Of course.”

“But…did Kara know? Did Kal or the rest of the JLA?”

Garth met his astonishment calmly. “No, this was an internal matter. There was no need to involve outsiders.”

“But Wayne Enterprises supplied that machine and Ballard…” In his life, Dick would never have thought Garth capable of this.

“That sonar pulse generator was ordered three years ago for use in extreme deep sea mapping projects and Bob didn’t know anything about this. He simply agreed to help after the students were made hostages.”

“You used all of us but—now you’re king. I thought you’d never agree…”

“I did what I had to.” The words were spat out before he had a chance to top himself then Garth paused a moment to collect himself. “Rob—Dick, I was born to fill a position and with that position comes responsibility. My responsibility is to lead and protect my people and my nation to the best of my ability and, whether or not I like it; it’s what I was born to do. Arthur was a danger, he had to be removed for the greater good, just as this is now my life and the role I fulfill—for the greater good.”

“What happens to Arthur now?” Looking at Garth sitting there now, he almost expected to hear that Orin was already trued and convicted with the sentence already carried out.

“That depends on a number of things. I’ll see.”

The king is dead, long live the king.

There was a soft knock as the door opened. An assistant came in, bowing and addressing Garth. “Sir, Your Majesty, the transport is here for the surface students and” He hesitated as he looked at Dick. “And your friend.” Garth nodded with a soft ‘thank you’ in his own language as the man withdrew.

“I’m sorry that you’re disappointed, Dick. We did what we had to.”

Dick stood to leave; he took the few steps to the door. “I wish you well with it.” He felt like he was talking to a complete stranger, someone he’d never met and might well never see again.

“Thank you.” It was almost an afterthought. But then, Garth always did have good manners.

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