Afterlight
Chapter Two
"The greatest crimes in the world are not committed by people breaking the rules but by people following the rules. It's people who follow orders that drop bombs and massacre villages."
― Banksy, Wall and Piece
I allowed myself one minute, one minute to come completely undone before sealing everything away to never be thought about again. My hands crumpled my skirt as I crouched in the doorway. Breathing slowly, I counted in tens until I could stand and resume the mission. There was no room for doubt in the League of Assassins.
My suitcase was placed by my bed, where it would stay until my departure. I checked the room for bugs or any other sort of security measures and found none. Satisfied, I exchanged my skirt for the single pair of jeans in the suitcase and heels for simple flats. I planned to scope out the hotel and surrounding areas before tonight.
I took the elevator to the highest floor and inspected the windows and other vantage points. A quick inspection of the stairwell to the penthouse revealed that it required a key card, like the elevator. I took note of the supply closets and cleaning crews on the floor.
This inspection continued in the hotel lobby. Even though there were guards, the security was a joke. I ordered a sandwich in the hotel restaurant to examine their workings. The waiting staff were relatively fast, and a door in the back provided access to the pool area. This door had an automated system like all the others.
My plate had been taken away by the staff just as my target walked into the restaurant. Gabriel Maurice sat at a booth that couldn't be seen from the windows. Two more people walked in behind him in civilian clothing. They sat at another booth. One was Superboy, the other a red-head with graceful movements: Barbara Gordon, Batgirl. I felt a flash of fear, what if they recognized me?
I tore my gaze away from the pair and stared at the doorway, Moving quickly, I kicked a chair with my foot, sending it into a passing waiter. The resulting crash gave me the exit I needed to slip from the room, relief filling me as I did so. They hadn't seen me.
November 25, 2015
It was a little bit past midnight when I decided to indulge myself. My hotel room had a bathroom with a bath tub in it, and I planned to use it. The communal bathrooms in my dorm only had shower stalls, and I missed the relaxing feel of soaking in a bath tub.
The water was deliciously warm as I sank in. A small speaker on the shower sink transmitted signals from the bug I had planted on Superboy. Right now, it was only picking up the rustling of clothing, but I knew that he would eventually talk to someone.
As if on cue, Superboy began to speak, "Nightwing, has there been any trouble in the penthouse?"
"No, what about you?" Nightwing's voice rolled through the speakers. I had no doubt that Nightwing had once been Robin, my Robin.
"Nothing but a fallen waiter in the hotel restaurant, and…" Superboy hesitated, "I saw someone today that looked like someone we used to know. I ran into her in the hall on one of the floors, and she looked exactly like her."
"Who?" Nightwing prompted. I listened to his voice, hearing the way he had aged. There was pain in his voice, like he had seen far too much in his life.
"Astra, I mean Kyara," Superboy said in a rush. Nightwing made a disapproving noise.
"It wasn't her," Nightwing said firmly, "It couldn't have been. We buried an empty coffin years ago after it was found."
Horror filled me as I heard Superboy speak, "I know we declared her dead after finding all of the blood, but we never found her body."
"Stop. She's dead," Nightwing ordered. His voice cracked on the last word, a pained sound.
"If there's a chance, then shouldn't we take it? She could be alive, Nightwing, your sister could be in this hotel," Superboy insisted.
"Enough. She's dead. This conversation is over," Nightwing snapped, "Return to your post, now."
"Fine," Superboy responded, "Don't do anything."
Nightwing sighed heavily, "Did you listen to her heart for changes when she answered you?"
"Yes," Superboy snapped, "Nothing, but the League's best assassins can lie without a rising heart rate."
"Only the best," Nightwing shot back, "She'd have been with them for almost four years. That's nothing."
The speaker fell silent, leaving the bathroom silent for everything but my quiet breaths. What they were saying was not true. Ra's al Ghul and I had made a deal, and he always kept his word. No, they had to be lying or confused. That was all.
I shuddered silently and unplugged the drain. Enough of this, I had work to do. I quickly dried myself off and pulled my uniform on, sealing the mask to my face with a thin piece of light. The balcony connected to my hotel room was directly under my target's balcony.
I walked onto the balcony and looked up. It would be easy enough to reach it. I walked over to the concrete wall and pressed my hands against it, feeling spikes of light pierce the concrete. Using this method, I began to scale the wall.
When I was next to the balcony, I stopped and examined it. I had planned to land on the railing of the balcony and proceed from there, but I could now see that this was not possible. The railings had been wired with pressure sensitive pads that would trigger an alarm if anything landed on them.
Sighing, I continued climbing until I was above the balcony and dropped directly onto it without touching the railings. The lock on the balcony door was easy to pick. The door was working well enough that it didn't squeak when I slid it open.
I slipped inside and moved across the tile with light footsteps. I couldn't see anyone, and assumed that Maurice was in the bedroom. The bedroom should be to my right, if the blueprints shown to me were anything to go by. I ghosted across the room and silently opened the bedroom door. With my powers, I could easily make out the shape in the bed. I unsheathed a sword and held it to the side as I approached the figure. He didn't stir as I raised my sword. I took a huge breath and tightened my grip.
And turned around, sword clashing against the escrima stick about to hit my neck. The figure in the bed screamed behind me, but I ignored him and focused on the figure in front of me. Nightwing wore a fierce expression as he pulled back and struck with his other hand. I blocked with my elbow and pushed him back.
"Who hired you?" Nightwing asked. I realized that he didn't recognize me, which was both torture and relief.
I refrained from answering. The moment he heard my voice, he would recognize me. I pulled back far enough to knee him before slicing his arm with my sword. Nightwing didn't react and continued to fight me. I vaguely realized that he was moving me away from the bed.
I countered another strike and punched him. He gripped my arm and threw me over my shoulder. It sent me through the thin wall and into the kitchen. My sword flew from my grasp as I slammed against the counter. Knives flew everywhere as my shoulder clipped the edge of the cutting block.
"Who are you?" He shouted. He gripped my shoulders and held me against the counter.
I smirked and reached behind me, grabbing one of the knives from the block. He leaped back as I jabbed at his chest. I continued to advance, kicks and punches flying faster than he could react. He attempted to flip after I hit him with an uppercut, but I snapped out a hand, golden whip wrapping around his torso and pulling him towards me.
He started to say something, but was cut off as I backhanded him across the mouth. I grabbed his head and brought it to my knee, breaking his nose with a satisfying crunch. Hooking a foot around his legs, I tripped him and sent him to the floor.
"You can't-" I silenced him with an elbow to the face and pinned him to the floor.
He writhed under me as I pressed his hands against the tile, cloaking them in handcuffs of light that sealed against the floor. I traced a hand against them, feeling them harden into something that would have to be pried from the floor later.
I performed the same with his legs and stood, satisfied with my work. Nightwing strained against his bonds, but couldn't move. He stared at me with horror, but also wonder, "Kyara...It's you, isn't it. Kyara, don't do this! We can help you! We thought you were dead, that's why we stopped looking. Kyara!"
I knelt down and looked at the vigilante, making my voice emotionless, "My name isn't Kyara. It's Oblivion."
"No-" I pressed an arm against his neck, cutting off his air supply. He writhed for a few minutes before relaxing as he fell unconscious.
I picked up my fallen sword and swaggered back to the bedroom. Maurice was huddled against the opposite wall with a gun in his hand. I stared in contempt at the gun and fell into the stance one would have when drawing a bowstring back.
The golden bow that appeared in my hands freaked Maurice out to the point that he shot. I stepped to the side and fired my arrow. The arrow of light knocked the gun out of his hands. In a flash, I was on him. He screamed in fear as I knocked him backwards.
"The League of Assassins sends their regards," I hissed as I moved my hand.
Maurice made a choking sound as my sword pierced his heart. I held his gaze until the light disappeared from his eyes. Once it had, I pulled my sword from his body and watched him fall to the floor. I stepped out of the room and onto the balcony as people began to bang on the penthouse door.
I climbed back into my room and exchanged my uniform for jeans and a blouse. I made sure that my appearance was disheveled before grabbing my things and rushing to the elevator. The hotel manager was at the front desk, and he looked alarmed by teary eyes and messed up makeup.
"I'm sorry. I need to check out now. My mother was in a car crash, and she might not make it," I sobbed.
The hotel manager quickly checked me out. I rushed to my car and threw everything in the back before pulling out of the parking lot. Just as I hit one of the main roads, a line of police cars roared by. They were followed by an ambulance and fire truck.
"Useless," I muttered as I turned on my right turn signal. They were too late. Maurice had died twenty minutes ago. The mission had been a success, and I felt nothing.
November 26, 2015
"Congratulations, my apprentice, you have successfully completed your test. Are you ready to take your vows?" Talia stood in front of my kneeled form.
"Yes," I confirmed, already dressed in the ceremonial robes.
"Then we shall begin. Rise, my apprentice. The Demon awaits," I rose gracefully and followed her through the halls.
The other apprentices and their masters were already gather in the ceremonial hall. They cleared a path for us as we walked towards the chair that held Ra's al Ghul. We knelt in front of him as he stood, dressed in formal robes.
"Oblivion, apprentice of Talia al Ghul, you have completed your test. In accordance to the ways of the League of Assassins, you must take your vows," Ra's al Ghul was cold, "Do you swear to be loyal only to the League of Assassins?"
"Yes," I spoke loudly. I deserved this after my sacrifices for the League, and I had proved my loyalty many times over.
"Do you swear to follow all orders given to you, even if they cost your life?" Ra's al Ghul asked.
"Yes," I confirmed as the hall fell silent around me. I had already given my life to him when I had disappeared all those years ago.
"Do you swear to uphold all laws of the League of Assassins? Do you swear that you will always follow our code of honor?"
"Yes," I spoke louder even as some part of me screamed at me to get away from this death.
"Do you swear to give your life to the League of Assassins, and understand that you will be executed if you do not?" Ra's gestured for the handle of the iron bar resting in the fire behind his chair.
"Yes," I shouted, having understood that since the day I joined them.
"Remove your robe," He ordered.
I slid the robe off my shoulders. Ra's al Ghul held the glowing rod lightly and surveyed me without emotion. He tightened his grip before pressing the poker against my rib cage, searing the curling Arabic script into my rib cage. The League of Assassins was now a part of me. I didn't react at the pain, having endured worse. Ra's al Ghul stepped back and handed the poker back to the waiting assassin.
"Rise, Oblivion, student of Talia al Ghul, soldier of the League of Assassins. Rise, and take the place you have earned," I slipped my robe over my shoulders and stood.
"Return to your quarters and collect your things. A room for you in the League of the Assassins headquarters has been prepared," Ra's al Ghul ordered.
"Yes, master," I smiled and made my way through the throngs of people.
After navigating the halls of the dorm, I made it to my room and began to pack. My spare uniforms, masks, and extra tools for my hidden pockets were placed into a duffel. I placed my medical kit into my bag and glanced around the room for anything else. I placed my few articles of civilian clothing into the duffel and zipped it closed.
"Oblivion!" I heard as I stepped out of the room.
Kate ran to catch up with me. I took in her appearance, noting the black jacket with a bow at her waist. A dagger was sheathed to her thigh, and a mask was over her eyes. My heart dropped as I looked at her, "Hey, Kate."
"Congrats on passing the test. I've actually just been given mine," She carefully said.
"Really? What is it?" I asked.
"I'm assassinating Queen Perdita. I am to walk up to her at a party and stab her," She slowly explained.
"You'll die! It's suicide," I stared at her in horror.
"I know, but I serve the League. If I don't they'll kill me," A tear trickled down her cheek, "I always knew I was going to die anyways. At least my sister was able to stay out of this."
"Listen," I began and stopped. I could tell her that she could go to Perdita and request protection, but that would go against my loyalty to the League. She had to go through with this, "Do it quickly. And fight hard. You'll be an honor to the League."
"Don't you get it? There's no worth in the League's honor. Look at us, we're monsters!" She shouted, "We're just puppets in a matinee show! Why can't you see that?"
"Because it's not true. We serve a greater power that exists to protect this Earth," I insisted even as my mind balked at the words.
"Stop lying to yourself! Look at you, they broke you. Can't you see that? I knew you when you first came here. What happened to you?" She asked.
"I grew up. They saved me," I halfheartedly explained, barely believing my words.
"I know you doubt them. I can see it in your actions," She shook her head, "Don't let my death go to waste. Fight them, Kyara. Get out of here before they decide to kill you too."
"My name isn't Kyara," I snapped, desperation tearing through me.
"Yes, it is. That name that they gave you is a death sentence," She spat, "I've got to go, but remember this conversation, Kyara. Don't forget what the League is really like."
I reached for her in an attempt to subdue her. She punched me hard enough to make me fall. I watched as she pulled her hood up and walked away, defeat evident in the way she walked. I rubbed my sore jaw and leaned against the wall, uncertainty resonating through every fiber of my being.
December 23, 2015
At eleven at night, Star Labs was deathly quiet. I dropped from the ventilation shaft and landed in a crouch. I had disabled the locks, but that was it. Every other security measure was still in place. I stepped lightly as I followed the signs on the walls. As I passed a security camera, I performed a two finger salute and stuck my tongue out.
After walking for a few minutes, I came to a heavy metal door. I removed a small tablet from my pocket and connected it to the computer on the door. I muttered a curse as I messed up, making me start over again. I proceeded cautiously this time, and managed to get the door open. A small alert appeared on my tablet, signaling that an alarm had been tripped.
I unsheathed a sword as I stalked through the hallways, holding it loosely in one hand. Humming darkly, I dragged a finger against the wall as I walked, leaving a trail of light in my wake. Spotting a model screwed onto one wall, I slashed a sword through it and laughed as it clattered to the floor.
Finally, I came to the room that held my prize: a handheld device capable of hacking into anything. It sat in a bulletproof glass case with an electronic lock. Once again, I attached my tablet to the lock and hacked into it. It clicked open, and I pulled the door open.
"I'd recommend that you don't touch that," I froze, fingers fluttering over the small piece of metal and plastic.
"And why's that?" I asked, not turning around.
"Because I have an arrow charged with enough electricity to knock you out aimed at your back," Green Arrow growled.
"How unfortunate," I mused. I tapped my finger against my prize.
"Yeah, I'm crying. Move away," I closed my hand around the tube, "I warned you."
"Yes, you did," I yanked the thing from its container and dove to the side.
An arrow crackling with electricity smashed against the glass case. I hit the ground and rolled, tucking the device into a pocket. Another arrow hit the ground and exploded, sending foam everywhere. I scrambled backwards, throwing up a shield of light to stop the foam.
"Kyara…" Green Arrow gasped, lowering his bow, "Is that you?"
"No!" I growled.
I vaulted over the foam and tackled Green Arrow. He grunted and threw me to the side, completely confused. I landed in a crouch, throwing disk in hand. The disk whizzed through the air and slashed through his bow string. I clenched my hand into a fist and pushed outwards, sending out a burst of light that knocked Green Arrow off his feet.
"Huh, you've lost your touch," I sauntered over to the fallen archer. He yelped as my boot pressed down on his hand, "Sorry, does that hurt?"
With a casual wave of my hand, a knife appeared in it. I crouched down, boot still on his hand, and pressed it against his throat, "So sorry about this, by the way, it's just…you're a loose end, and I hate loose ends."
"No hard feelings, right?" I began to press harder, taking my time.
Glass shattered around me. I was thrown against the wall, head cracking against the metal. Dazed, I crumpled to the floor and watched as Black Canary slowly approached me. She yanked the black ribbon of my mask out, and attempted to remove my mask. I didn't react, having been stunned by her scream.
"Green Arrow, I need…" I blacked out for a second. When I came back, Canary was cutting my mask off, Green Arrow crouched beside her.
They gasped as she removed it. I met their terrified eyes for a second before closing my eyes, head spinning. They shook me and attempted to revive me, but I continued to play dead. They carefully handcuffed me before Green Arrow hoisted me into his arms.
"Black Canary to Watchtower, have the zeta tube ready to accept a guest. I need an interrogation room ready upon our arrival. Oh, and contact Batman, Superman, and Martian Manhunter. They'll want to be there," Black Canary spoke. I assumed she was speaking into her comm unit.
"Why? Green Arrow and I might have found Astra," It was too much for me. I allowed my thoughts to spiral into a temporary darkness.
The next time I opened my eyes, my face was pressed against cool metal. Something, an inhibitor collar judging by the feel of it, was wrapped around my neck. The air had a recycled smell to it, like it was too clean and stifling. Well, Black Canary and Green Arrow had brought me to the Watchtower. Perfect, just perfect.
"Ugh," I groaned as I lifted my head. I caught sight of the person sitting across from me and groaned again.
"Hello," Superman greeted me, "Kyara."
"Oblivion!" I rolled my eyes, thankful that my mask was gone so that he could see the irritation, "Why is he talking to me? I barely knew him!"
I directed my question at the mirrored wall and got silence in response. Superman coughed politely in an attempt to direct the conversation back towards him, "Oblivion, I have a few questions for you."
"Nope, sorry. I don't feel like talking to you," I cut him off. While I was being very rude, I had to do as I was told, and Superman was stopping me from doing it.
"Okay, who do you want to talk to?" He hurriedly said. I closed my eyes for a moment, figuring out my plan.
"Isn't it obvious?" I grinned, showing my canines, "Batman."
"He isn't here," Superman said bluntly. I could tell that he wasn't in the mood for an interrogation.
"Liar," I sang, "Of course he's here."
"Trouble in Gotham," Superman explained, "You'll just have to talk to me."
"Nope. You know how it goes, I want Batman, and I won't speak unless it's to him," The League of Assassins had been on to something when they had trained me in interrogation.
"I don't think that's how it goes," Superman's eye was beginning to twitch, "Now, back to the questions."
"Right. Do you think the chicken came first? Or was it the egg? Personally, I think it was both existing in the same space. A paradox-y matter," I raised my handcuffed hands in mock exasperation, "Actually, a more important question: why am I here?"
"You're considered dead, and you have important information," Superman said, "Now, what happened?"
"I took a wrong turn in the Star Labs. Ran into an archer in tights," I shrugged, "And his protective girlfriend."
"Would you just listen?" He finally snapped at me. I smirked inside, this was working perfectly.
"I am. We were discussing the philosophical question of which came first: the phoenix or the flame. The chicken or the egg," I tilted my head, "Do you have amnesia?"
The door slid open, exposing a hulking shadow, "Fine, Oblivion. What do you want?"
"For starters, I would like him to leave," I glared at Superman. The super hero glared back, just for a second.
"Go," Batman rumbled. Superman hesitated, but left. Batman took the vacant seat, "Now, the questions."
"Ask away," I leaned back, "I'm an open book."
Batman scowled at me. I slid a poker face on under a glare that had no effect on me. This was definitely going to be interesting.
Author's Note: Hello! I hope you enjoyed the second chapter. I just have a few things to mention before I go.
1. I plan to update every Wednesday.
2. I do apologize in advance if I do not, because my current schedule leaves me very little free time. I also apologize on the off chance that I do not respond to PMs. I tend to forget.
3. I know things are weird with Kyara willing to follow orders, but please bear with me for the time being.
4. I have a (very) rough timeline for the Bat Family that helps me keep track of everything. As of November 2015, I'm assuming that Batgirl has existed for at least two years and that Dick Grayson has been Nightwing for at least a year and a half or more. This gives the next two Robins ( Jason and Tim) time to exist. Jason, especially, because he has to have time to train, be Robin and be on the Team, and die. So, Jason was Robin for at least six months before dying, and Tim joined a month or so afterwards.
See you soon!