They walked up to an elevator door and Tula pressed the button to call it but nothing happened. After a moment she stepped forward and started pulling the doors open. Rico stepped forward and pulled the doors open and then frowned as he looked down the elevator shaft.
"I don't suppose the area you plan to go to has stairs?" Rico asked as he looked at Mera and Tula who both looked down the elevator shaft.
"It does not." Queen Mera answered and stepped back before suddenly jumping into the elevator shaft.
Tula smirked at him and jumped down as well. "Try to keep up!" She called out as she jumped down.
Rico rolled his eyes and jumped down the elevator shaft after them. After falling a few feet he kicked off the wall to slow himself down. Queen Mera and Tula were both using some water they pulled out of the air to slow their descent. He could faintly hear the sound of Cheshire sigh up at the top of the elevator shaft.
He abruptly grabbed a wall and stopped himself. He then looked at Queen Mera and Tula who had stopped and were floating in the air. "This is the level." Tula nodded her head as she moved forward and struggled to open the door.
Rico sighed and jumped across the gap to the other side. Then he grabbed the edge of the door and tore it open. Causing Tula to move to the side as it flipped back and slammed into the back of the elevator shaft before falling down. "You could just ask for help." He pointed out.
Tula shook her head and stepped into the area first. Followed by Queen Mera and Rico stepped in after her. Almost immediately understanding part of the reason they came down here. Because they entered into an underground cavern. The cavern was damp and he could already see some large pools of water in the distance. With a number of catwalks going over the water.
But it seems Tula was the one with knowledge about this place because she immensely started following specific signs that said A3. They walked up onto a metal catwalk that led over some water. They continued for a few minutes with Rico following.
But he stopped and frowned when he saw the water ripple. But after a moment he continued following Tula and Queen Mera until they climbed down off the catwalk onto an island that was in the middle of this underground cavern.
Already standing there waiting was Black Manta. Several of his followers and subordinates were on other catwalks as well. Rico could see them tense up so he stopped at the top of the stairs leading down to the island.
"You said it would only be yourself and an assistant. Who is he?" Black Manta demanded as he nodded in Rico's direction.
"Mercenary Bodyguards, the UN required them and I was all for it when I realized I would be able to leave behind the royal guard. But they are difficult to lose. Anyways, I do not think we have to worry about him. Did you bring it?" Queen Mera asked.
"Hmmm… fine. There is no skin off my back." Black Manta shrugged and then nodded at one of his people. They then started looking at the water while one hand went up to their ear. Black Manta turned his attention back to the Queen. "Now… as for my payment?"
Queen Mera pulled a USB Drive out of her pocket and then tossed it to Black Manta. "Location of Spanish Doubloons and other ancient treasures. In addition I included the current identities of your and some of your subordinate's kids that King Arthur kidnapped. Good luck."
One of the mercenaries came out of the water holding a thin black case and handed it to Queen Mera who accepted the case. But just as she took it into her hand the cavern shook. "What was that?" Tula asked suddenly with her visible tattoos lighting up and water forming around her like a coiled snake.
"Not us…" Black Manta answered with a grunt. "This Undersea cavern was picked for its inaccessibility. It was so inaccessible that nothing survived when Argus and LexCorp scuttled the facility. Deeming their underwater warfare department a failure."
Rico frowned and looked at the water. "Are you saying there should not be anything alive in this water?"
Black Manta and glared at Rico along with Tula and Queen Mera. "Of course, this is a former lab. They would not leave anything alive."
Rico tilted his head. "Then what the hell is that?" Rico nodded his head at the water just as ripples began splashing against the shore. While a short distance away from the island between two of the catwalks, one of which Rico was currently standing on, a dark form came out of the water.
Eight red eyes appeared on the shadow covered creature. Then around its body and throughout the water Rico watched as long tendrils began slithering around. "Queen Mera, it is my recommendation that we leave." Rico announced with a click of his tongue.
"Agreed." Queen Mera answered in a hurry as she ran up the stairs and onto the catwalk with the black case in hand. As soon as she agreed, Black Manta's mercenaries and Tula all jumped into action.
Tula followed behind Rico as they walked along the catwalk, quickly back the way they came. She still had her magical water at the ready as they moved.
Black Manta's mercenaries were less organized. "We finished our deal. Back to the ship!" Black Manta announced as he dove back into the water.
Most of them followed his order. But one of them panicked and that is when all chaos broke out as the man screamed and started shooting at the creature. Only for a roar to reverberate through the cave and cause even Rico to flinch. He saw Tula and Queen Mera keel over as they grabbed their ears.
Several of the creatures' tendrils began moving around the room. Most of them were focused on attacking Black Manta's mercenaries. He then saw one of those shadowy tendrils come out of the water and right towards them.