Queen Of The Sea: The Watchers

"My Queen, we have news from the surface".

Erin looked to her subject.

"Tell me..."

The messenger sighs.

"The meteorite that fell to Earth..."

Erin tenses up on her throne. She leans forward.

"...it contained a woman".

Erin looks confused.

"A woman, messenger?"

"A woman".

Erin stands up and walks over to the window. Her kingdom and the ocean around it can be seen through it. It's remarkable.

"Where is she now?"

"She is with Visionarie. And a strange man that I don't recognise".

Erin sighs.

"Is she...dangerous?"

The Messenger looks confused.

"I'm sorry?"

"Is this woman dangerous? Do we know?"

The Messenger checks a device on his wrist.

"Nothing is coming up on the database, m'am. Not even the Tiresias machine knows. She's an anomaly".

Erin thinks for a moment or two.

"I am uneasy about this development. Prepare the transporter. I will find them and assess the situation myself..."

"MY QUEEN! YOU CANNOT! THE GODS WILL BE ANGRY!"

"The Gods will stay their tongues. I may be Zeus' granddaughter but it doesn't mean I bend to his every will. As a few friends of mine reminded him 5 years ago, he does not rule this Earth any longer. He merely watches and judges".

Erin stands and starts to put on her regal uniform.

"Prepare transport to the surface"

As the Messenger's about to, another courtier runs in.

"MY QUEEN! I APOLOGISE FOR SUCH AN INTRUSION BUT THIS IS URGENT!"

Erin turns around and looks confused.

"Then speak urgently!"

The Courtier breathes heavily.

"There has been an attack!"

Erin looks alarmed.

"Where?"

"In the Temple of Athena".

Looking panicked, Erin calls for her soldiers to follow her to assess the situation.

****

Lasers could be seen flying out of the Temple. People started to run away from the building while those who were inside remain trapped. Erin, now in her battle attire, runs into the Temple alongside her soldiers to find out what's happening. Her blonde hair flows in the wind of a portal open in the centre of the Temple. They look around as they see 4 flying figures in military armour.

"IF YOU WISH TO LIVE, LEAVE THIS PLACE NOW!" One of the figures screech.

Erin smiles.

"You wish for the Queen of this land to vacate her kingdom? And abandon her people?"

"WE NOW HOLD CONTROL OVER THIS DOMINION"

Erin starts to smile more eagerly.

"Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you, but I am Erin Coleman. I am the Queen of the Ocean and this is my Dominion. And I'm going nowhere..."

The Figures start to descend.

"WE ARE THE WATCHERS. AND WE ARE THE LEADERS OF THIS UNDERWORLD"

"Let's agree to disagree..."

After finishing the statement, Erin loosens her shield and throws it at the figures. The shield knocks two out while the other two start to power up their laser eyes. They release their energy as Erin's shield returns to her. She jumps in the way and deflects the lasers with her shields. She drops her shield and pulls out a bow and arrow. She fires 4 arrows at the Watchers and all but one successfully land on target. The Watcher that survives swoops and grabs Erin by the throat. Erin laughs.

"Go ahead...double dare you..."

The Watcher's mouth opens wider than the size of her head. As it dives in to consume her head whole, Erin stabs the Watcher in the roof of the mouth with another arrow. The Watcher screams. Erin stabs further and the arrow exits the body through its brain. It starts to fall backwards as the light dims from its eyes. Erin stands up and stares at the portal.

"My Queen, I do not recommend you go near it! I suggest calling some of the Surfacers to help!"

"No! We can survive without interference from the Surfacers..."

Suddenly, a voice came from the Portal.

"I AM THE KING. THE KING OF ANCIENT TIMES AND THE KING OF THE FUTURE. I AM THE LEADER YOU NEVER KNEW WAS THERE AND I AM THE DARKNESS IN ALL OF YOUR SOULS. THE COSMOS WILL SHAKE AT MY RETURN AND I WILL ASSUME THE SOULS OF MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN OF EACH PLANET. OF EACH DOMINION. ALL SHALL BOW DOWN TO ME AND ALL SHALL BE AFRAID".

Erin steps forward and stares into the portal once more.

"I am Erin Coleman. Queen of the Oceans of Planet Earth. Successor of Poseidon and the daughter of Athena. And I can assure you, whoever you are, you will not take this world..."

There was  slight pause. A dark and sullen pause.

"I should very much like the Earth...I look forward to meeting you. Erin Coleman..."

A beam appears from the portal and, in a flash, it's gone again. Erin's eyes readjusts and she looks towards the portal once again.

"You have powerful friends. But I guarantee they've never faced anything like me. See you soon..."

The portal closes and everything returns to silence. Erin realises what the beam was. She turns to her soldiers.

"Messenger, send a message to the Surfacers. Tell them that something is coming. Something alien. Courtier. we need to assemble the armies. Make sure the defences are up to the highest standards. Also, start to train the best warriors for combat on the surface, We may need to help the Surfacers if this being decides to try and take our planet..."

Courtier steps forward.

"My Queen, are you sure that's wise? Helping the Surfacers?"

"We are about to face a threat to the ENTIRE world. Our Kingdom as well as the surface. The world needs all the help it can get"

"But enlisting the help of people like Digiman? Visionarie? The Ghost and the Speedfreak? We can save this world single handedly"

"A good ruler does not refuse assistance when he or she sees fit. To refuse their help would be ludicrous. Now do as I ask!"

The Courtier reluctantly nods and walks away. As he leaves the room, he stops for a moment, looks annoyed and carries on walking.

Erin returns to the throne room and sends out a signal. She sits on her throne and stares into space. She thinks about the Courtier. She knows something's up. She calls in her advisor. The Advisor walks in and sits by her.

"You rang, my Queen?"

"Richard...I think that Courtier is planning a coup...at the end of the world as well..."

Othergirl and Visionarie #1 (co-written with Liz)

"Ok, ok, calm down. Look. My real name isn't important right now. But people know me best as 'Visionarie'. I promise you...I'm here to help you..."

Liz grabs a gun from a holster in her leg and points it at Visionarie.

"Get away from me...", Liz scowls. Realising the situation, Steph raised her hands in surrender.

"I promise I'm not here to hurt you..."

Cautiously, Liz stands up and looks around.

"What is this? A training exercise?"

Steph looks at Liz with confusion.

"Why would it be a training exercise? You're in a public park..."

Liz looked around again with more trepidation.

"Well, it's that or a... oh. I'm dead, aren't I?"

Steph looks at Liz, dumbfounded.

"I don't think you're dead..."

"Dying?"

Steph shook her head as Liz looked around with disapproval.

"So where am I?"

"Look, I've already explained. You're in Southampton. This isn't a training exercise or heaven or anything. Just Southampton".

Liz looks around. She's evidently scared but she walks around a bit to get her bearings.

"So...where are YOU from?"

"Earth"

"That narrows it down..."

"Well...I don't remember..."

"Makes sense. You fell hard. I'm amazed you survived to be honest!"

"Where's my pod?"

"Pod? I haven't seen a pod about..."

"Must've burnt up on re-entry"

"...re-entry?"

Liz looked around. She starts to think about her pod. As she does, Steph holds her head in some discomfort.

"Gosh, could you be a bit quieter please?"

Liz looks at Steph confused.

"What? I'm not saying anything..."

"No, but you're thinking it..."

Liz stares at Steph for a moment.

"I...Can you read minds!?"

Steph rubs her head.

"Yes. I can".

"Oh..."

Liz looks at Steph in her entirety, realises she's not a threat and decides to trust her. Realising that her opposite can read minds, she feeds certain thoughts about her past. As she reads them Steph chuckles.

"Oooh. We have a mutual friend it seems..."

"What? Who?"

"The man who punched you on...Arantia, is it?"

"He...He broke me..."

She snarls as she remembers him.

"He..."

Suddenly, she starts to cry. Liz feels the tears as she's never cried before. She looks confused.

"What's...my face is malfunctioning..."

Steph chuckles softly.

"It's called crying. It happens when someone is sad..."

Liz nods in recognition.

"Oh..."

She cries some more. As she does, Steph comes over and puts her hand on Liz's shoulder.

"I know this is a lot to take in. But I promise, you can consider me a friend. I can read your thoughts and I can comprehend your pain. But I promise, I can be trusted. My name is Stephanie Moran. And I'm in the business of helping people like you..."

Liz tenses up. Upon noticing this, Steph removes her hand.

"I promise..."

"I'm sorry..."

"It's ok. After what you've been through, it's amazing you haven't killed me out of fear yet..."

A twig snaps behind Liz. Upon hearing it, Liz spins around and aims her gun in the direction of the sound. Confused, Steph stands next to Liz and watches with her.

"What was that?"

"I don't know..."

Liz lowers her gun unwillingly. As she does, gunshots ring out, coming from the area of the noise. Liz jumps as Steph dives onto the ground. Liz dives in front of Steph to shield her. As the gunshots ricochet near them, Liz looks around at the landscape.

"I PROMISE THIS ISN'T ANYTHING TO DO WITH ME"

"Stay there! And be careful, I don't want anything to happen to you"

Steph nods as she tries to concentrate on the gunmen, hoping she can get into their heads. During this, Liz crawls towards the source of the shooting with her gun cocked. Steph succeeds and one gunmen stops shooting and walks out. Liz grabs him.

"Who are you?"

"Your worst nightmare..."

Liz chuckled.

"Boring..."

She shoots both gunmen in the shoulder and the leg, very efficiently. Steph looks on in horror as she does.

"Still sure about that?"

Before he has the chance to answer, both the gunmen have been beheaded. Shocked and unsure as to what happened, Liz steps back. Steph looks confused. A few moments later, another man appears from the bushes, tuts and looks at Liz.

"YOU HAD TO GO AND BLOW MY COVER DIDN'T YOU!"

They looks confused.

"Who the hell are you!?"

Liz looks at Liz and smirks.

"If you play your cards right, love, your future boyfriend"

Liz looks confused.

"I...what's a boyfriend?"

Steph facepalms. The man looks confused.

"I do like dumb chicks but even I have standards..."

"How do I resemble a chicken?"

The man laughs awkwardly.

"Wow...where did they find you?"

Liz looks to Steph for guidance. Steph shrugs.

"Who is he!?"

"HE is called Leviathan. Nice to meet you...I think..."

Liz is taken aback.

"Oh...That's a funny name"

Leviathan looks unimpressed.

"It's not my real name, dumbass".

Liz looks upset as she realises he's being mean.

"And why are you here, 'Leviathan'?"

"I'm here to look for a girl who's helping Naturals and Augs. I've come to warn her. But I noticed a few of the guys I'm chasing were chasing you. So, I'm assuming you two are the people I'm looking for.."

Liz looks at Steph worryingly.

"People are trying to harm you!?"

"I think they're trying to harm BOTH of you!"

"I just got here, answer the question!"

"This is news to me! Who's after me!?"

"Do share, Leviathan..."

Leviathan clears his throat.

"Congratulations, whoever you are, you are soon to be the victims of the Russian gangster Dmitry Volstovov. The man who "runs" this city".

Steph looks scared.

"I will protect you..."

"Listen, lady, have you ever gone against Russian gangsters?"

Steph sits down and stares into space as the news sinks in.

"No, but I have fought aliens and armies!"

Leviathan chuckles.

"Yeah, no, these guys are worse than that"

Liz lunges at Leviathan. She grounds him very easily. Leviathan points a gun at her head but she takes it and tucks it into her utility belt. Eventually, she feels something harden near her thighs. Leviathan smiles.

"Now...stop...or I'll be forced to empty my load RIGHT into you..."

Liz gets up and points his own gun at him. As this happens, Steph stands up.

"JUST STOP IT"

Liz looks confused.

"Why?"

"BECAUSE THIS SOLVES NOTHING"

After a few moments, Liz puts the gun back into her holster and obeys.

"I will protect you..."

Steph shakes her head.

"No. You can't do anything. I need my friends to help me..."

Steph walks away as Liz and Leviathan look at each other confused...