The Man:
Diving into the water, the sound of splashing water and bubbles echoing in my ears, I look around before kicking my feet. Swimming like a dolphin, I make my way over to the closest sick guards. As I approach the two of them, I place my fingers on their pulses.
"Their pulses are fast," I think. "Too fast. Increase heart rate. Also,rashes. All over theirbodies."
While still examining the guards' bodies, I see pustules, pus-filled bumps growing on their joints.
"Smallpox doesn't usually move this fast. Black Manta must have done something. Ahh. I have to find out later. For now."
Grabbing the guards and holding them underneath my arms, I kick my feet again and swim back.
Dr. Johnathan Crane:
Grabbing my thermometer, I aim it at Ms. Iris's head and pull the trigger. A number lights up on the screen, and when I see it, I let out a sigh.
"Oh, finally."
Smiling, I put my thermometer back on the shelf.
"98.6. You're healthy again."
Ms. Iris, sipping her hot water, smiles and nods.
"Thanks for helping me," she says.
"No, no, no, don't mention it. Like, literally, do not mention it to anyone. Especially The Man."
"I'm not scared of him," Ms. Iris says, her smile disappearing.
"You may not be, yet, but I am."
"Why? Why are you scared of that bastard? What can he do?"
"What can he do?" I repeat. "What can he do! Ms. Iris, The Man--"
A loud banging on the infirmary's door cuts me off.
"Ahhh! Quick! Hide!"
With my head snapping left and right, I move fast and grab a blanket from a nearby bed. I then throw it on Mrs. Iris, hiding the stowaway.
Turning around just as the door opens, I come face-to-face with Mr. Slade and Mr. Todd.
"Hey! Hello! How can I help you!"
"Why are you yelling?" Mr. Todd asks. "And why was the door locked? Wait, no. Don't tell us. No time. Just come with us now! And bring all plastic curtains you have."
"Plastic curtains? Why? What's happening?"
Only now do I realize Mr. Slade and Mr. Todd are wearing bright-yellow hazmat suits.
"Mr. Slade. Mr. Todd. What is happening right now?"
Mr. Slade and Mr. Todd both look at each other before looking back at me.
"I think you should just come with us," Mr. Slade says.
"By the way," Mr. Todd interrupts, "Don't forget a suit for yourself."
Mr. Todd taps his own suit. Nodding, I run around the infirmary and grab all the plastic curtains available and a hazmat suit for myself. Putting the suit on, I turn to the two with arms full of curtains and basic medical supplies.
"Lead the way."
Following Mr. Slade and Mr. Todd, I stop when I see the escape hatch. My feet turning to stone and my blood turning to ice, I stop walking.
"What are you doing?" Mr. Todd asks. "Come on!"
"I--I can't."
"What!"
Dropping the supplies and curtain, I rub my hands on my face. Breathing in and out, in and out, I try to calm myself down before speaking again.
"I can't! Okay?"
"What do you mean you can't?" Mr. Slade asks.
"I just can't! Why do you think The Man had to drug me? Twice! I can't leave the base."
"Scarecrow," Mr. Todd says. "There's no time--"
"Dr. Johnathan Crane," I correct. "Not Scarecrow. Dr. Johnathan Crane, and I am sorry, but whatever is happening outside this submarine, I can't help with."
Bending down, I grab everything and give it to Mr. Slade. I then point at the exit hatch.
"Go. Help those who need it."
"Dr. Crane, there is no time for this right now."
Mr. Todd reaches for my arm, but I pull away and step back. Mr. Todd reaches for me again, but this time, Mr. Slade stops him.
"Forget him. Let's just go."
Mr. Todd looks at me and growls.
"Fine."
Watching as the two climb up the ladder and disappear, I sigh and take off the hazmat helmet.
"Darn it," I cry. I slam my fist against the wall. When I do, a sharp pain shoots through the nerves. "Ahh!"
Shaking my hand, I turn around and come face-to-face with Ms. Iris.
Supergirl:
Bursting out from beneath the water, Harleen, Selina, and I all rush to grab the sick guards.
"These are the last of the guards," The Man says, climbing out. "Oh, and him too."
Throwing his arm forward, we all jump back when we see Aquaman being thrown onto the floor. Moaning and groaning, I notice how Aquaman is covered in red and white bumps.
"Get them to the throne room. Now."
Harleen and Selian grab the guards while The Man and I grab Aquaman. We carry all of them through the hallway and back into the throne room. As we enter the throne room, we see Slade and Jason also running back in, their arms full of supplies.
"Awesome! Kara, can you handle Aquaman?"
"Yes."
I nod and watch as The Man leaves to get the supplies from Slade's and Jason's hands. When he has everything, he quickly starts setting everything up. In only a few minutes, The Man turns Aquaman's throne room into an infirmary.
"Okay. Put the guards, Aquaman, and Queen Mera on the cots."
We don't waste a second and quickly lay everyone down on one of the cots.
"Wilson. Todd. Where is the Doc?"
"The bastard wouldn't leave the Junker," Jason answers. "What was that?"
The Man moans and shakes his head.
"It's his agoraphobia."
"His agor--what?"
"Fear of leaving his safe space," Harleen answers. "I think you told us about this before."
"Wait!" Slade yells. "If Scarecrow had agoar--"
"Agoraphobia."
"That, then, why did you even bring him?"
"Because I had hope the Doc would have overcome it by now. Especially now when I need him."
The Man sighs and looks around. While he looks around, I finally realize something.
"Wait!" I scream this, and everyone looks at me. I point at The Man. "You."
"Me? What?"
"You're not wearing a hazmat suit."
Everyone opens their mouths when they realize I'm right. The Man isn't wearing a hazmat suit. Not wasting a second, I run over to him. Grabbing his shoulder, I place my hand on his forehead.
"Are you okay? You're not feeling sick, are you?"
I start looking all over The Man, searching for anything like red or white bumps.
"Kara. I'm fine. Please stop."
The Man grabs my arms and slowly pushes me back.
"There's no need to worry about me. I have a strong immune system."
"A strong immune system?" I repeat.
"A very strong immune system."
Smiling and nodding at me, I feel my throat drying up. Coughing into my hand, I take a few steps back.
"Okay, everyone, step back! I need some personal space."
We listen to The Man and step back. Moving fast, The Man searches through the pile of medical supplies Slade and Jason brought. Pulling out a test tube and syringe, The Man runs over to Aquaman. Kneeling, The Man injects Aquaman. When he does, Aquaman wakes up.
"Wha--What are you doing?" Aquaman asks. He tries to swing his hand, but The Man grabs it and throws it down.
"I'm trying to help you, you ungrateful S-O-B. You, your wife, and your guards are sick. Infected with smallpox."
"Small...pox. That's...impossible."
"That's exactly what I said," Barry adds.
"Before I slapped you on the head. Speaking of."
The Man slaps Aquaman on the head.
"Ouch!"
Aquaman growls but doesn't move.
"Smallpox was eradicated over 50 years ago on the surface world," Aquaman moans. "Besides, even I know smallpox is a type of virus, and viruses can't survive in water."
"Normally, that is true. Viruses can't survive too long in water, let alone saltwater, but this strain is different. Very different. Not only can it survive in saltwater, but it is also progressing faster than any other strain I've seen."
"Other strains?"
With the needle in Aquaman's arm, The Man pulls back, and blood quickly fills the tube. As blood fills the tube, I notice something off. The Man notices it too. The Man raises the syringe, and we all see strange, black spots in Aquaman's blood.
"Like I said. Very different."
"What are those?" I ask.
"I have no idea yet. I need to run some tests."
Aquaman raises his shivering head. When he sees his blood, his eyes widen.
"How could Black Manta make something like that?"
"I don't think Black Manta is working alone."
"What?"
"I met Black Manta many times before. He's smart, but only engineer-smart."
"Engineer-smart?" Professor Stein repeats.
"Give David Kane a blowtorch and he can turn a broken fridge into a submarine. However, gives him a strain of smallpox, and he might accidentally destroy it rather than infect you and your guards. No. I think someone, someone biology-smart, engineered this strain. The question is who."
Aquaman's head falling back down onto the pillow, The Man moves from him to Queen Mera, and then to the other guards. As he takes the blood of the final guard, the grand door opens, and we all turn around.
"My...My lord," a guard says. Running through the doors, he slows down, eventually stumbling before falling to the floor. Seeing him, I rush to help him up. However, as I help, I see more bumps on his skin.
"My...My lord," the guard repeats, holding out his hand. "Atlantis...Atlantis is in danger. Your citizens...are sick..."