บท 72: Dinner Conversation
As I sat in a meditative position in a room on Bio-Ship I went over my recent power increases. I had learned to phase through objects, turn invisible, and finally the one I had been looking for, telekinesis. On a side note, my body felt free, like a layer of weight had been taken off me. Going through an exorcise warmup I felt much stronger and when I asked M'gann to help me push my limits a bit she said I was around the normal for a Martian on M'arzz. Going from what J'onn had told me, that puts me around the 10-ton mark. Once I increased that with my telekinesis I have no idea what my strength cap will be.
It was a good thing I learned phasing and telekinesis together, or I would have trouble not falling through the ground. I seem to remember that Shadow Cat from the X-Men had to keep the bottom of her feet unphased until just before they went through an object so she could move on the surface. It sounded very involved.
A short time later, M'gann came to let me know Kaldur was here and ready to take us to our dinner with the Queen. As we swam to the palace, I hoped that this wouldn't be a state dinner but hoped instead for a less formal meal that would allow us to talk. My prayers were heard apparently as we were led into a small room with a table you would expect to see in a normal home.
Queen Atlanna, "I hope you three don't mind, I prefer a less formal setting when I have a chance. The grand hall is so big it lacks the comfort and emotional warmth I enjoy with my meals."
Logan, "This is my preference as well Queen Atlanna, it is my opinion that soft conversation helps the digestion. Large tables require you to use raised voices and that is more for revelry or formal occasions."
Atlanna, "At this table there are no titles beyond family address, please just call me Atlanna or Aunty, though I understand that title has fallen out of use these days. At least in the Western world. That goes for you too Kaldur, none of the 'MY Queen' business tonight."
Kaldur, "As you wish my Q… Lady."
Atlanna, "Still so stuffy! Now, tell me about yourself M'gann."
M'gann, "I don't know that you would want to hear about my life if you want good conversation. I am quite boring, I am sure."
Tom, "A beautiful young Martian girl so far from Mars, surely there is a story their child."
M'gann, "Well, I am one of three children in my family unit. My mother and father were married across social and regular conventions. Being from separate casts was frowned upon and the children from such union are rarely accepted. So I fell into the habit of watching the Earth TV shows and when I found a chance I snuck here aboard my uncle's ship during his last visit to M'arzz. After some convincing, he has allowed me to stay and convinced my parents I would be ok."
Atlanna, "I can tell you have skipped a lot in that story, but if you don't wish to share, I will respect that and welcome you here any time you wish child. Just promise to contact your parents as often as possible, I'm sure they miss you terribly."
Tom, "So tell us about your adventure with Arthur Logan, he didn't say much besides they fought a subspecies of the Trench and found an Atlantean ship of old that was destroyed in the end."
Logan told them the story as he remembered it, not leaving out the SHIELD agents' hostility toward Arthur and his insinuation of finding fault with all Atlanteans. He didn't do this to foster hard feelings but to prepare any envoys of his less-than-friendly attitude.
Tom, "I carry some fault with this as well. This agent Lance is a kid named Tim that Arthur beat up a few times. His dad came to punish Arthur for striking his son and couldn't believe that I, a lowly Light keeper would stand in his way. It turned into a fight between us and an expensive dentist bill for him."
Kaldur, "It is a shame that these creatures couldn't be reasoned with. Their passing is a loss for Atlantis and its history."
Logan, "Arthur's compassion could have gotten him and Mera hurt badly, She spoke to him at length about the chances he took in trying to reason with them. I do not fault him in trying but as you do that you should still understand the need to deal with a threat when the time comes."
Kaldur, "Prince Arthur will be a great King one day."
When Atlanna noticed I just hummed in response she asked, "You see a fault in Arthur's taking the Throne?"
Logan took a deep breath and said, "I do not wish to offend you, or Atlantis. But Arthur has his faults that would limit him if he took the crown today."
Kaldur, "What do you mean?" He had some injured pride in his tone as he saw Arthur as a great man.
Tom, "Let him explain his reasoning Kaldur, he doesn't strike me as a shallow youth that speaks without thought."
Logan, "If he were an elected official or a mayor he would be the best, his people would love him, and he would use his actions to make them willing to follow him to their death if need be. Both his power of character and his earnestness in helping people show through in everything he does. But Mera would be a better ruler. The people would not like her as much as they would Arthur, but they would be better off, thrive more, and grow. Arthur sees the best of his people and celebrates that. But I think Mera sees all her people can be and would push them to improve even a single step more towards what she envisions them capable of. But people don't like being pushed, even if it's for the better. Very much like rebellious kids and their feelings towards their parents."
Taking a breath, Logan watched Atlanna and Tom's faces to see if they were getting impatient with his views. Seeing they both looked thoughtful instead of upset with him, he continued. "The final thing for both Mera and Arthur is, that they do not have the Savagery required to be a truly great ruler. A truly great ruler I have observed, is required to be savage at times, to his enemies and occasionally to his people. That savagery is the center of all power, Aunt Atlanna"
Taking another breath, "We can try to act civilized and polite, but at the bottom of it all, the power of any ruler is based on a threat of savagery. If you are fortunate you do not have to carry that threat out too often. If Arthur learned he had to be a savage to sit on that throne he would probably run and nothing in the seven seas would catch him."
Atlanna, "That is a very interesting way to look at it, Logan. Something I will think about for weeks, but I do see a lot of truth in what you say. Anyway, let's move on to happier things." She looks at us with a smile.
Atlanna, "Should we start our desert?" She rubs her belly. "The young one is calling for sweets!"
Tom, "Ha ha you can only blame your sweet tooth on the child for a few more months love."
The rest of the evening passed enjoyably.
** (Scene shift) **
In a cave outside the city, a gathering of about 40 people stands before a large Throne carved out of a shell. Sitting on the Throne is a man dressed in purple armor over a black jumpsuit wearing a helm that covers all but his mouth. The Helm's eyes glow red as he looks upon those below, nearly all in a brown and black outfit that covers their individual identities. But made them easily identifiable as Purists.
Standing at the forefront of the group is four teens with their hoods off. They are the same four that Kaldur confronted earlier in the day.
Ronel, "If Kaldur and his friends had not intervened, those Fish-Heads would have all been marked Impure. Especially the mermaid Lemaris!"
"Then it is fortunate Aqualad did intervene, for anonymity is the purist's greatest advantage. So put on your hoods my children, they are to you what Neptune's Trident is to the OCEAN-MASTER! Your Weapon to change the Ocean's."
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