8370/Undercurrents: One of Yours

Undercurrents: One of Yours
Date of Scene:	17 July 2019
Location:	Atlantis Poseidonis Embassy, Oyster Bay
Synopsis:	Bruce Banner meets with Aquaman and Mera to ask about a mystery ship. They confirm it is an Atlantean attack sub acting without orders. Aquaman and Mera are faced with a problem.
Thanks to:	Hulk, Mera
Cast of Characters:	Aquaman, Aquawoman, Hulk
Tinyplot:	Undercurrents

---

Aquaman has posed:
Unusually, the Poseidonis Embassy is outside the city proper, up Long Island. The spire-topped golden domes of the embassy building lay a short distance off shore in Oyster Bay. Boats surface dwellers from an embassy wharf to the building itself on demand. Today the sun is out and the ten minute ride to the embassy would be smooth.

Smooth white stone under the domes is broken by arched green glass windows and doorways.

An embassy representative meets anyone arriving and brings them inside. Virtually all the staff on the surface levels of the embassy are humans. But in the case of Bruce, he is expected and important, and an actual Atlantean in a water mask is there to meet him.

"This way, Mr. Banner," the tall woman says through the mask. She turns and leads the way, blonde hair falling across the back of her long silver dress. Bruce is led inside where royal grandeur meets smooth technological and magical integration. A platform made of a disc of water trapped in some kind of transparent field takes him up a couple of stories up. His escort leads Bruce down a hall to a large room with a view out over the ocean. A long white table inlaid with gold is set in the middle and Arthur and Mera are there, neither needing masks. Arthur is dressed simply in loose white linen, watching a holo-display.

"Majesty, Bruce Banner," Bruce's escort announces.

Arthur waves at the display and it vanishes. He waves to the woman who brought Bruce, who bows and leaves. The door slides shut behind her.

"Dr. Banner!" Arthur says. He walks over and holds out a hand. His handshake is firm, perhaps a little aggressive. "Welcome to our home away from home. I give you Princess Mera of Xebel, my betrothed," he says, introducing the two. He is more formal here than other times Bruce may have run into him, away from this environment.

Aquawoman has posed:
Mera, dressed in a more formal suit that shimmers and glistens in the light, an iridescent green. It is accented by flowing ivory gossamer, and she wears a golden tiara atop her fiery red hair.

"Well met, Bruce Banner. I hear impressive things about you. Out meeting is long overdue. I trust your voyage here was safe and pleasant?" She addresses him formally, and seems genuinely glad to meet him.

Hulk has posed:
Bruce has worked with advanced technology before, so probably unlike most humans that the Atlanteans come across, he's mostly curious, not impressed. Hell, he's created some seriously advanced devices himself in his quest to be rid of The Other Guy. Of course, none of them have worked, and in the years since his accident, he's not only become publicly outed as the other side of the Hulk, but he's joined the Avengers in an effort to gain some acceptance.

Let's face it... the government could hunt the Hulk for the rest of his natural life, and all they'd do is piss him off, wasting trillions in taxpayer dollars in the process. So, he knows something about being an outsider in the world.

By the time Bruce is in the room, his hands are almost in his pocket before Arthur is grabbing his hand for a handshake, with the sudden aggressiveness bringing a mild wariness to his expression. Still, he looks from Arthur, to Mera, and gives a small nod, "Princess." He states, a bit formally.

A diplomat Bruce is not.

"I managed to get back to the city in time for the appointment, and without any episodes along the way. A trip that doesn't end with The Other Guy smashing his way back west is always a win for me." His statement is singed with the world weariness of someone used to the world throwing him curveballs.

Aquaman has posed:
"We take our victories where we get them," Arthur says with a wry chuckle. He gestures to one of the chairs facing the window to the immediate right of the head of the table for Bruce to sit in. Outside, a few sailboats ply the light winds in the bay. "Would you like anything to eat or drink?" Arthur offers and settles back in his chair at the head of the table. If Bruce wants anything, there is a faint chime of acknowledgement and a human staff member will bring it in shortly. Arthur calls for coffee for himself, occasioning another chime of acknowledgement.

"Long overdue, and my failing. I would like to introduce Princess Mera to the rest of your team soon. We will be on the surface more in the coming months."

Aquawoman has posed:
Mera nods to Bruce. "Well met. And I do look forward to meeting the rest of your team. Our endeavors in the near future seem as though they may be more entwined with yours and theirs, in many ways. To what do we owe the honour of your presence?"

Hulk has posed:
Bruce sits down where he is offered, and he pulls out a picture from the satchel. 'No thanks, I had something along the way." Two pictures, actually. He places them side by side.

One is an obscured, vague drawn image of a delta wing vessel. The other is a clear photo of a Atlantis-Poseidon strike class sub.

Bruce points to the clear photo. "I'm here about this." Bruce gets right to the point. He points to the drawn photo. "This is what I can remember from when The Other Guy was underwater during a recent attack on a ship. He saw this while he was handling other matters." Bruce looks back to Arthur, "This is one of yours, right?"

Aquaman has posed:
Arthur tilts his head curiously to look at the pictures. His eyes narrow slightly and he gives a sideways glance to Mera.

"Yes, that is right. That is Poseidon's Fist," he says and points to the clear photo. The vessel is cruising on the surface off New York in the picture. He had not been happy with that captain.

Hulk has posed:
"This is the sub that shot the ship that was coming in for your Embassy. The one with all the supplies you wanted to bring in for some reason." Bruce continues, looking to Arthur, "whoever this is, they shot a bolt of plasma through it just as it was entering the harbor and ran. The Other Guy didn't actually see the attack to pursue, so I don't know where it went... but I can confirm it was there, and that a weapon consistant with your plasma torpedoes is what did the deed."

Aquaman has posed:
"You are sure you saw that?" Arthur asks and points at the drawing. His expression is neutral. The waters are murky in Port Newark," he says, floating a line to see whether Banner can be easily put off.

Hulk has posed:
"Your Majesty, if there's one thing you can be sure of, it's that The Other Guy is not slowed down by the water. I know what he saw." Bruce asserts. "The sub was there. We slowly share memories over time, so I know what he saw."

Aquawoman has posed:
"That's makes no sense," Mera observes quietly. "Arthur. There were none of your crafts which had either the clearance or orders to be in the bay at that time, we're there?" She looks somewhat confused, and more than a little concerned.

Aquaman has posed:
Arthur taps one finger on the table and glances at Mera again. There is a pause.

"No, there were not," Arthur agrees with Mera. "I had an accounting, it was not the Royal Fleet," he adds. Of course, the King's royal fleet was not the only one in his empire. "I had the final reports this morning."

"This is very sensitive, Dr. Banner," Arthur says, clearly displeased this is being brought up by an outsider. "That ship was carrying supplies for an international relief force Poseidonis is assembling here. The entire cargo was spilled. There were no weapons onboard so we did not make it widely known."

Hulk has posed:
"I took a look at the manifest after the fact. You had everything /but/ weapons in that shipment near as I could tell." Bruce brings both hands into his lap, "obviously, since you brought it in via actual trade channels for the Embassy, I figured you wanted to keep this out of the Justice League. I can respect that, but this was an attack in US waters by one of your subs."

Bruce looks to Arthur, "this isn't something I can ignore, and I wanted to get some answers here before I brought it up to the authorities. Since the other Avengers are too busy to look into this, I figured I'd come myself."

Of course, the implication of that statement would probably not be lost on anyone; Bruce was counting on the Hulk to get him out of the Embassy if they tried to keep him quiet against his will.

Aquaman has posed:
"I am aware of the implications, and so is your government," Arthur says. "It is an internal issue, and we would appreciate your discretion. As I said, there were no weapons on that ship, it was equipment for an international relief force. Your government was fully onboard with it. In fact, I have another shipment coming in soon, since we were not able to recover all of the containers. Some were... Missing."

Hulk has posed:
"It sounds like someone in your Empire found out about the shipment and used the sinking to cover up a theft, then." Bruce reasons out, simply. "Good chance the next one will have an ambush too, then."

Aquaman has posed:
"Maybe," Arthur grants. "If they do not have what they need. I am sure the Avengers have more important things to deal with though. I assure you we can deal with it, and will find out who was responsible. There is no need to be concerned," Arthur reassures Bruce, all politician. "We appreciate you helping the crew of that ship. You saved lives, and we are grateful."

Hulk has posed:
Bruce knows a dismissal when he sees one, and when Arthur reassures him, he doesn't argue it. Instead, he stands, places his hands in his pockets, and smiles to both of them. "Then I look forward to hearing about your next move."

Aquaman has posed:
Arthur does not look especially happy about the implication of Banner's comment but stands with Banner and offers a hand. "Thank you for visiting us, we will keep you up to date," Arthur promises, not wanting to prompt any more investigation by the famed Avenger. "If the equipment surfaces anywhere, you will be one of the first to know. And if you hear anything, I would appreciate the same courtesy."

Aquawoman has posed:
"Your assistance is most appreciated," Mera replies, but her lips are pressed into a thin line. The audacity and attitude of this surface dwelling scientist strikes her as irreverent, pompous, and disrespectful. But duty dictates that she maintain a modicum of decorum.

Hulk has posed:
Never let it be said Bruce has ever been a diplomat, especially with the way the Atlantean royals are taking what he said. "I was referring to news networks, but if you want to keep me in the loop, I'd very much appreciate it." Bruce offers, picking up on their line of thought. Taking the offered hand, he shakes, before he starts to head for the exit.

"Lots of pride... he and Tony would get along great." Banner mutters under his breath as he leaves.

Aquaman has posed:
Bruce is met by his previous escort and walked out to a waiting boat that will speed him back to shore.

Arthur is quiet for a long time after Bruce leaves. He leans on the table with this fists and then walks to the window. He sees Bruce get on the boat.

"Damn," Arthur says angrily. "This was supposed to stay quiet. It was bad enough happened, but if word spreads I will be fighting down new demands from half the realm."

"I need to know if it was Xebel," Arthur says to Mera. "Anyone else I can deal with, but if Xebel is turning..."

Aquawoman has posed:
"I'll see to that immediately," Mera replies with certainty. "We will weather one rebel, Arthur. We will find them and eradicate them," she reassures him. "There will be recompense."