Dr. John Crane:
"Are you okay?" I ask, turning to Ms. Iris-West.
"Yeah," Ms. Iris replies, lowering the scalpel. "Don't worry about me. I'm fine. What about you?"
"I'm...okay," I answer, adjusting my glasses. "But who was that?"
I turn to Mr. Oliver Queen. Running to him, Ms. Dinah Lance and I both help Mr. Oliver Queen back onto his feet.
"Are you okay?" I ask. Mr. Oliver Queen rubs his head and blinks a few times before answering me.
"I'm fine. Just really starting to hate that guy."
"Speaking of 'that guy', who the heck is he? I heard you called Spectre. Do you know him?"
"No, not really, but shockingly, or not so shockingly, The Man does."
Hearing the sound of metal turning, like a submarine's hatch opening, I smile.
"Speaking of The Man..."
Turning again, I see the Junker's hatch opening and The Man climbing up. It's hard to see because of the distance, but I think The Man is holding a glass jar filled with blue and green smoke.
"Aquaman," The Man shouts from on top of the submarine. "I am here to murder you and your people!"
"Oh, come on," Mr. Oliver says, rolling his eyes. Before any of them can do anything, The Man throws the glass jar. It flies through the air, hits the floor, and scatters. The blue and green smoke inside spreads out in one massive wave. It hits all of us, Aquaman, and the sick Atlanteans.
The smoke, whatever it is, smells like dirt and wood. It has a sweet taste, and when it hits my skin, I feel a refreshing cold touch, unlike the dead, cold touch of the ocean water. Hearing loud coughing from the side, I look at Aquaman as he turns over and falls off his cot.
"Mr. Aquaman," I say, running to help him. However, as I approach him, Mr. Aquaman pushes me back.
"Get away from me," Mr. Aquaman yells. He coughs while struggling to yell. "I knew it. I knew it! I shouldn't--I shouldn't have--I shouldn't have allowed any of you to enter Atlantic!"
Mr. Aquaman stops yelling for a second only to gasp for air. He grabs his chest and inhales deeply. Breathing in and out, Mr. Aquaman coughs, filling the room, the noises bouncing off the golden walls.
Dropping to one knee, Mr. Aquaman's head shoots up. He grabs his trident and approaches The Man as he jumps off the Junker sub. Mr. Aquaman pulls back his trident. He throws it forward, but The Man catches it with one hand. The Man pulls Mr. Aquaman in, grabs his neck, turns around, and slams him against the submarine.
"Let me go," Mr. Aquaman growls, shaking as he tries to get out of The Man's grip. "I won't let you kill my people."
"Think again, Lord of the Fishes," The Man says. "Notice something different? Like how you can stand all of a sudden, hold and attack me with a trident, or threaten me?"
Mr. Aquaman stops growling and shaking. His eyes go wide, and his mouth slowly opens. Stepping back and letting Mr. Aquaman go, The Man nudges his head toward the water.
"Do yourself a favor. Look at your reflection."
Mr. Aquaman looks at The Man before bending down to pick up his trident. As he walks over the edge to look at himself, I look at the other Atlanteans.
"Incredible," I say. Dozens of the Atlanteans who were coughing and gasping for air seconds ago are now slowly pushing themselves up. Their skin is still covered in rashes and blisters, but the Atlanteans aren't stiff anymore. They move their arms and hands without wincing in pain.
The Man:
Sensing someone nearby, with an incredible amount of power, I look around the dock. In less than 30 seconds, I realize someone is missing. Quickly walking up to the nearest person, Harleen, I grab her by the shoulder.
"Harleen. Where is Kara?"
"She's outside the dome," Harleen replies. "Spectre, the creepy, pale guy, tried to use us to get to you. Supergirl hit him with her laser vision before diving into the water to follow him.
"Oh no."
I check my jacket pockets for the talismans I prepared.
"Doc!"
Doc runs up to me.
"Yes! What's wrong? What do you need?"
"You, Iris, and everyone stay here. Keep an eye on Aquaman and the Atlanteans. Start running tests on a few of them. I cured the orichalcum, but not the smallpox virus. I'm synthesizing a separate cure for that. It will be ready in a few minutes. However, Atlanteans may not need it. They have stronger immune systems compared to humans. Still run the tests."
"Of course," the Doc says with a nod. "Where are you going?"
"To help Kara."
I turn to leave, but stop. Reaching into my pocket, I pull out a few of the talismans. Grabbing a small handful, I give them to the Doc.
"Here," I say, slamming the handful into Doc's metal hand.
"What are these?"
"Talismans," I answer. "Be careful not to smudge the ink. Otherwise, they won't be as powerful."
"Powerful? What are these for?"
"Ghosts."
The Doc opens his mouth to say something, but I turn around and start running. Taking a deep breath, I jump and dive into the water.
Supergirl:
"Ahhhh!"
Screaming as Spectre throws a punch, I fly through the water. Breaking through a glass dome, I push myself up as water pours in through the broken window. However, metal sheets appear, closing the opening and stopping more water from coming in.
Coughing, I wipe my eyes and watch as Spectre appears in a cloud of green dust.
"Kara Zor-El," Spectre says, "I have read your mind and studied your history. You have not committed any crime."
Spectre raises his hand.
"Leave now. My target is the man in the sunglasses. He must pay for the death of Phantom Stranger."
"I know The Man killed Phantom Stranger. I was there. I saw it. I couldn't believe it. I didn't want to believe it, but he did it. I know that!"
Spectre looks at me. He lowers his hand slightly.
"But that doesn't mean I will abandon him."
Spectre's hand raises again, the glow on it intensifying.
"He's trying! He's really trying to be a better person! It's just that he needs some help sometimes."
Spectre looks at me for a few seconds before shooting another wave of green flames. Using my frost breath, I counter the green flame. Jumping and shooting into the air, I rocket toward Spectre, trying to punch him, but just like before, my hand goes right through his body. I punch and break the floor instead.
Spectre turns around and swings one arm. Raising my arm, I block Spectre's hand. Spectre's white eyes widen when I block his hand. Grabbing it, I turn and throw Spectre to the floor. Jumping and flying back, I watch as Spectre pushes himself up.
"Impressive," Spectre says, rubbing his chin. "Your cousin cannot counter like that."
"What can I say? I've been training with a special someone."
I raise my hands and prepare for whatever Spectre would do next.
"I have to be careful," I think, "I countered Spectre, but I doubt he'll fall for that again. Even with what The Man taught me, if he can phase through my attack, it won't matter. Think, Kara, think. What can you do against someone who walks right through all yourattacks?"
As I keep thinking, I see someone swimming in the water and smiling.
"What is so amusing?" Spectre asks.
"I would move if I were you."
Spectre looks at me. I smile again and point at the glass window behind him. Spectre turns around in time to see The Man swimming like a rocket. Without stopping, he crosses his arms and slams right through the window. Coming in with the water, I watch as, almost as if time slows down, The Man reaches into his jacket pocket. He pulls out what looks like a strip of old, brown paper with unknown writing on it. Slapping the paper on Spectre as he flies by, The Man rolls before landing on his knee and sliding on the floor.
"Wha--What is this?" Spectre looks down at the strip of paper on his chest.
"Kara," The Man yells. "Heat vision. Now!"
I don't even waste a second. I use my heat vision and fire lasers at Spectre. I gasp when they hit Spectre. I gasp again when he hit the glass window instead of passing through it.
"What did you do?" I ask, looking at The Man.
The Man smiles and pulls out another strip.
"Chi magic. A little something I learned from an old mentor and friend of mine."
Spectre moans as he pulls himself off the window. He looks down at his chest again and sees the strip. Grabbing and ripping it off, Spectre encases his hand in fire and burns it.