InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "yo moguls"

Outsiders have come to Sub Diego. Four of them, and all but one are quite distinct from the native populace.

They have not come quietly.

Soon after their arrival -- so soon that it was before anyone could alert authorities to their suspicious presences -- the four strangers sparked violence in the South Market. One man was killed, and two others were seriously injured before Aquagirl and Lagoon Boy could arrive to help Sub Diego police bring the situation under control.

Strangers don't often come to Sub Diego. It sits apart from the rest of the undersea community as a strange, foreign place with a culture mired in the surface world but life in the ocean. So this incident is highly suspicious. The perpetrators have been brought to Sub Diego's only jail, which was converted many years ago from the remains of a naval base. Aquagirl and captain of the police John Delgado need to know what they are doing here.

Unfortunately, the prisoners don't care to say much. Not one of them seems intimidated or concerned about their capture. Nor are they impressed with Aquagirl's royal status. The lack of any leverage is making the interrogations go nowhere. It's frustrating and not the best time for Charlie Rayner to show up with his camera crew -- 16 year old pack mule named Reggie. Captain Delgado is not a fan of the documentary project happening in Sub Diego. It isn't that he's against the idea. It's that he's easily annoyed and has no time to pay it any attention. Mumbling something unhelpful to the question Charlie asks, he excuses himself from the observation room. Aquagirl can deal with this guy's film if she wants, because he does not.

Aquagirl fills him in -- of the record -- on what's been happening and her concerns. These men are all unaffiliated with any people or tribe. Men like that are usually trouble. They're also a long way from any village -- a long journey for just four people to take and for no apparent reason. It doesn't feel right that this is just a gang of troublemakers who wandered in.

Further discussion is interrupted by noise from outside the room. Before Aquagirl can open the door to investigate the commotion, it is kicked off its hinges and into her by a slender female leg. Aquagirl and the door float backward, bumping into Charlie and Lagoon Boy. Floating in the broken doorway is a woman with no arms. In the place of arms are a total of six writhing tentacles. She smiles and two green-skinned barbarians join her.

"Cowering in a closet? Oh, princess. How... exactly what I would expect from you."

Understanding sets in on what is happening. The gang of four were not alone, and the jail is under attack. Aquagirl darts forward, tackling the tentacled woman and clearing the doorway. They float out into a larger room, where Sub Diego officers are fighting with a group of outsiders brought by this unknown woman. Whoever she is, she's very dangerous. Aquagirl just is not used to fighting someone with the dexterity that comes with tentacles for arms. She quickly finds herself restrained and slammed to the floor.

"I have an army, and in Triton's name, we are going to wash this city of abominations away. I will take what you have -- sell those we don't kill into slavery. You? I'll throw to my men and ransom whatever is left back to your decrepit old king. Or the highest bidder. I'm Teth. Ask for me when you're ready to beg for mercy."

The four outsiders from earlier are freed from their confinement and join in the fighting. Fortunately, it does not escalate much beyond that. Captain Delgado kicks in the door, returning from outside with some of his men and his pump-action bolt gun. One of the original four outsiders -- a large one with lobster claws for hands -- takes four six-inch bolts from Delgado before going down. Teth and her people burst through the door on the other side of the room, where they can access a side exit to leave the building.

Delgado orders some of his men to pursue, but Aquagirl quickly tells him not to. If what Teth said has any truth to it, Delgado will just send his people into a trap.

------

An hour later, Lagoon Boy and a scouting party sent out by Delgado return with the bad news.

This Teth woman was not lying. There is an army waiting on the other side of the Coronado Cliffs. It numbers in the hundreds -- possibly even thousands. Either way, they are close and easily outnumber the meager police force of Sub Diego. Delgado thinks at a stretch he can muster and arm a couple hundred people. There is no way that would be enough for him to defend the city from a force like that. Coast City is near enough that they could get some military out here quickly, but then he isn't sure what the military can do on short notice in this environment.

Evacuating the city may be an option though. He can start making arrangements with S.T.A.R. Labs and Coast City, and it could at least buy them some time.

But Aquagirl says no. They are not going to evacuate. Teth sees the people of Sub Diego as some kind of abomination so is not going to be discouraged by a chase. This is where they are going to make their stand.

With a glance at Reggie, she tells Delgado that they are going to need to gather more than just two hundred people.