Afterlight

Chapter Six

"The Solar System at this time is cluttered and chaotic; an overcrowded maelstrom of rocky planets, gas giants, moons, and asteroids all hurtling through clouds of dust and gas left over from the Sun's formation. Collisions are inevitable, and they occur."

-Marcus Sedgwick, The Ghosts of Heaven

I glanced around the base, cataloguing threats in order from greatest to least importance. Manta could take Aquaman and Lagoon Boy once he finished placing the bomb, but I would have to deal with the Bat family. Nightwing, Robin, and Batgirl were easily taking out their opponents, working together in a familiar routine, but Batman was alone and easily taking out large numbers of guards.

"Oblivion to soldiers, leave Batman to me," I pressed a finger to the comm unit in my ear, "Take the others down."

Sidestepping an attack from an overly enthusiastic Lagoon Boy, I approached the area where Batman was fighting, footsteps quite against the ground, "Batman, I believe we have some issues to work out."

I hesitated briefly, remembering everything I had learned in the past days before deciding that it didn't matter. Until I knew more, understood more, I couldn't allow it to affect my appearance and loyalties. I would have to be ruthless tonight, and Batman would have to deal with it.

Batman turned around just in time to see my sword sailing towards his stomach. He blocked it with one gauntlet, a grunt escaping him. I drew back and attacked again, both swords flying at a rapid pace towards his body. He quickly blocked them, attempting to dance out of my reach.

I advanced forward with every single inch of ground that he gave up. The man hissed as a sword caught him on the cheek before I twisted and kicked him in the stomach. He managed to slip under one of my swords and grabbed my arm, twisting it behind my back and dislocating it with a neat pull.

I screamed, the sword falling from my fingers. A wild thought from me had a wall of golden light popping up between us. I used the brief pause in the fighting to focus on my dislocated shoulder, imagining a brace of light wrapping around it. I imagined that same brace pulling the shoulder back into its proper alignment, yelping as it did just that.

By the time my wall dissolved, Batman was gone. I looked around, swords flying to block an attack from Robin. The kid's staff bounced off my swords, electricity sparking along its length. I rolled my eyes, having no desire to fight this kid.

"Kid, I'm going to suggest that you not do that," I said sharply, moving my swords so that he struggled to keep his staff from falling out of his hands. I had no desire to hurt him.

"Sorry, can't," I growled and moved quickly, swords knocking his staff out of his hands while I kicked him back. He fell, and I took the opportunity to move to another area of the base.

"Manta to all troopers, end game enabled. Strategic retreat to Manta-Flyer. You have four minutes," My comm unit chirped. I threw an explosive disk at the platform Nightwing and Batgirl were on, watching it explode and send them tumbling to the ground.

The troopers around me began to retreat, still firing at the Justice League and their brats. The quiet murmur of Nightwing caught my attention, "Nightwing to Delta Squad: Enemy is attempting escape. Requesting back-"

He was cut off by my boot in his face, throwing him backwards as blood dripped from his nose. I waited until he got up before engaging him again. Nightwing grunted and attempted to reason with me, "Oblivion, stop this. Can't you see that what you're doing is wrong?"

I leaped into a high kick, "No."

Any more attempts at conversation were cut off by the arrival of the rest of the Justice League and their protégés. Frowning, I threw a smoke pellet down and retreated to the shadows, curious to see how Manta would deal with this.

I slid along the wall until I was near Manta, noting that he relied on his lasers a little too much. That would have to be addressed after tonight. He touched a hand to his com unit, "Three minutes until departure."

A roar from Lagoon Boy caught my attention. He all but tackled Manta, knocking his helmet off with a hard blow. Manta was thrown to the ground, stunned by the hit. Seeing no other option, I leaped forward and blocked the next hit from Lagoon Boy.

The burst of light that I discharged was enough to push Lagoon Boy backwards and force him to change to a smaller size. I didn't have time to unsheathe my swords, so I allowed daggers to form in my hands as I stood over Manta. The man slowly stood, a bitter expression scrawled across his face.

I stepped to the side, allowing Aquaman and Lagoon Boy to figure out who they were fighting. They gasped, Aquaman acknowledging Manta in a sad voice. Manta bristled at his words, removing his water bearers as Superboy joined us.

"You did not want to believe!" The drama was going to kill me, I decided.

"None of us wanted to believe this!" Superboy retorted, "How could you betray us?"

"You dare question me? After all that has happened? After all of you let Tula and Robin die?" He shouted.

"Kaldur, those were missions. Both of them knew the risks," Nightwing dropped down to join us, blood still crusted on his face.

"I didn't know that a warehouse in Ethiopia was a risk, especially for a Robin," I observed softly. A spike of sadness in me as I thought about what I had learned.

They looked at me, Superboy being the first to speak, "And you, Kyara, how could you work for them? They killed your brother!"

"He was not my brother," I kept my voice cold, "Jason was just another brat that came along after I joined the League of Assassins."

"Neptune's beard!" I raised an eyebrow at the Atlantean curse, "Don't coddle these traitors. They have joined forces with our greatest enemies."

"Have you ever wondered if those enemies are a bad as the Justice League says they are?" I asked, arms folded across my chest.

"Black Manta is my king's greatest enemy!" Lagoon Boy insisted. I snorted at the claim.

"Do you mean the king who hid from me the true identity of my father?" Manta interjected.

"That was my mistake, Kaldur'ahm. No one else need suffer for it," Aquaman stepped forward, "Kaldur, please."

"All will suffer if Black Manta demands it," Manta was very bitter, "Blood is thicker than sea water."

A mini rocket launcher on his shoulder fired at the team. It was intercepted by Superman, who had seen the show that we were putting on. Manta grabbed my arm and led me to the tunnels as smoke filled the air. We slid down the shaft, coming out in the area where he had placed the bomb.

"Kaldur, Kyara," We turned as Nightwing spoke, "Please, reconsider this."

"My apologies, old friend," Manta was very sarcastic, "But I will not."

"Then we'll have to make you!" Superboy slid into the room, landing in a fighting stance.

"Don't lie to yourself, Superboy," I laughed, "It's embarrassing."

"Oblivion is right," Manta added, "You can attempt to take us in, or you can save everyone from this bomb. I am told the yield is quite impressive."

Superboy shouted and attempted to punch Manta. Manta moved without warning, wrapping a hand around Superboy's throat and electrocuting him. Nightwing moved to stop him, only to have me knock him off his feet and press a dagger to his throat.

"Don't interfere," I hissed. Nightwing spat out a curse, angry with me.

"You have two minutes," Manta informed them before leaping into the pool of water.

I stood and backed up towards the water, mockingly performing a two finger salute, "Hurry, boys."

I turned and dived into the water, quickly catching up to Manta. We swam through the tunnel and into the open ocean. Hearing the Manta-Flyer behind us, we held out our hands and grabbed the handles set into the top of the Manta-Flyer. I winced at the strain on my previously dislocated arm, but held on as we accelerated.

Manta crawled along the length of the Manta-Flyer and opened a hatch. I crawled after him, my shoulder joint screaming in agony. I managed to reach the hatch and dropped inside, landing in a crouch on the floor. I rolled my shoulders back, feeling the joints crackle and pop.

"Congratulations, Manta, you've successfully completed your mission. The deaths of hundreds of Kroloteans, all because of you," I smirked at him, "You may be loyal to the Light after all."

January 7, 2016

After the Manta-Flyer linked up with the Manta-Sub, Manta and I went in search of Black Manta. He had requested that we meet him in the dining room, which I didn't know we had. I would have to have a talk with Black Manta about withholding information on the Manta-Sub from me.

Manta opened the door, "Father."

"Congratulations, son. And Oblivion," He added. I inclined my head in a nod, "You both did well. I don't suppose that Aquaman died in the explosion?"

"Unlikely," Manta responded, his face carefully arranged into a neutral expression.

"Pity," Black Manta sighed. An alarm sounded, "If you'll excuse me."

Black Manta took a final sip from his wine glass and stood, "Oblivion, join me."

"A meeting with the Light?" I asked as we walked away. Black Manta snorted.

"Yes, unfortunately, they requested that you join us," He complained, "We have time. Tell me, how did my son perform?"

"He performed well above my expectations," I said carefully, "And displayed no regret at placing the bomb that killed the Kroloteans."

"Then he is loyal," He decided. I rolled my eyes, knowing that it would be like this after every mission.

"I still have my doubts," I replied, "It has only been a few days. This could take months, but would move along faster if you did not seek to block me at every turn."

"I do not like you holding an axe over my son's head," He growled, "So please, understand my hostility towards you."

"I understand it, but do not like it. Watch yourself, Black Manta. Do not be the one who causes the axe to fall," I warned him.

We stepped into a room with multiple screens in it. Five of the screens flickered to the light, revealing Klarion, the Brain, Queen Bee, Lex Luthor, and Ra's al Ghul. The final screen that flickered to life was Vandal Savage's.

"Good morning, Black Manta and Oblivion. The Kroloteans competitor, our new partner, is quite pleased with your reference, Manta, and so is the Light. All agree that we made the right choice asking you to replace poor, disgraced Ocean Master," He paused, "You are officially one with the Light."

"It is an honor," Black Manta thanked him, "What of our next plans?"

"We will contact you when the time is right. Leave us," Vandal Savage ordered sharply, revealing nothing.

Black Manta nodded and left. I stepped into the light, nodding to each member and bowing to Ra's al Ghul, fist over my heart. I struggled to keep myself from sneering at the man, even if it was hard to see my lips through the mask. I had to push my new feelings of hatred to the side if I was to get through this.

"Oblivion, how did Manta perform?" Vandal Savage asked.

I took a slow breath and organized my thoughts, "Admirably so. He followed the orders as written. The plan was a success."

"I am sensing some hesitation in your answer," Queen Bee observed, "What is it, young assassin?"

"He's displayed doubts about the Lights motives," I turned towards Ra's al Ghul, "And the League of Assassins. I believe that with reassurance, those doubts will go away."

"Are you sure?" Lex Luthor asked, "The Light does not want to deal with a double agent."

"Yes, I am. I will be able to turn his mind to the Light's ideas, and his loyalty to his father will prevent him from doing anything rash," I stated, "He will not be a problem, and if he refuses to turn towards the Light, then I will remove him before he becomes a threat."

"Well stated, Oblivion," Ra's al Ghul praised, "Is there anything else?"

"Yes, I have spotted some problems with the system on this ship. With your permission, I would like to correct them," I carefully presented my request, knowing that it was my ticket to staying on this ship.

"Problems?" Lex Luthor asked, almost like a sneer.

"The soldiers require better training. Manta, although dangerous, requires more training, particularly in lethal moves," I explained, "They aren't much, but these problems could easily transform into much larger ones in the future."

"Do not patronize us," Vandal Savage warned, "Remember who you speak to."

"Forgive me, I did not mean to imply such a thing," I looked down, "It will not happen again."

"See that it does not, assassin," Queen Bee warned, and I nodded again.

"Proceed with your suggestions," Vandal Savage decided, "We'll expect a report soon."

"Thank you, sir," I did not look up, too afraid to meet their eyes.

"Continue to watch Manta, and do not hesitate to take Manta out should the need arise," Ra's al Ghul ordered.

"I will not," I promised, bowing once again.

"Oblivion, do keep any feelings you have for this boy out of it," Queen Bee added, "Do not allow this to become personal."

"I have no feelings for this boy. He is merely my mission," I reassured her, "Nothing more."

January 11, 2016

"Come on! You could have taken me out with a slash across the throat,'" I shouted as Manta blocked the swing of my sword, "Stop holding back, Manta!"

"I am not," He yelled as he hit my swords with another downward stroke. I disarmed him with an easy flick of my swords.

"Yes, you are," I flipped over him and kicked him to the floor, "You're very reluctant to learn, Manta. Very suspicious."

"Strangely, the thought of learning new ways to kill is not that appealing," Manta responded, "What a shame."

"It is, actually," I removed my mask and sat on the floor, "A person who cannot kill when the Light demands it is useless to them."

He sat next to me, "I can kill if that is what is requested of me. I have killed when it was requested."

"Only when you were not the one directly doing it. Placing a bomb is nothing like being the one shoving a sword into someone's chest, especially if it is someone that you once knew," I hummed, "They are very different things."

"I know," He insisted. I stared at him, trying to understand how he could betray the Team.

"Do you really?" I asked, "Or do you just think you do. Do you know what it is like to stab someone in the chest and be so close that you can feel their spirit leave them? Have you felt their blood on your hands and stared into their eyes as the light in them flees?"

"Enough!" He roared, voice echoing around the empty training room, "I have felt all of those things, Oblivion! I would like to never feel them again. I understand that the Light will demand these things of me in the future, and I am not happy with it. I am not happy with taking the lives of the innocent, whether they are alien or not."

He fell silent, chest heaving. I looked at the Atlantean, clad in loose pants and a shirt. His uniform had been removed at the start of the training session, after I had told him he would overheat with the amount of work we would be doing today. I stared at his face, bags under his eyes and exhaustion carved into the lines on his face.

I let him simmer for a minute or so before speaking again, "It sucks, doesn't it? The hatred inside you, eating away at your insides and nibbling on the edges of your mind. Every time you close your eyes you see their faces, you hear their voices whispering to you, even when you know that you did what you had to."

"After the first time, you wake up the next morning thinking that it wasn't you who did that. It was someone else who did those terrible things. There was no way you could take someone's life," My voice dropped, "And then one day you wake up, and you can't look at yourself because you know that you were the monster who did it. You were the one who took the life."

"Even then, you tell yourself that it was necessary. You aren't the monster, because you had to do it in order to get on with life. The next time you kill, you tell yourself the same thing, and the time after that, and the time after that," I chuckled, "Until one day, you realize that you don't care if the killings are justified. All that matters is that it is done."

"You hate yourself, and it eats away at you. It's like your veins slowly turn to ice, and you can't breathe, you can't think. The only thing you can do is keep following your orders, because that's the one thing in your life that you know is real and true," I smiled grimly.

"There's no end to the pain and hatred, so take my advice," I looked him in the eye, "Get out. Go back to the Cave. Better yet, get out of this business altogether and stay out. Trust me. You don't want to be in this business."

"First, you tell me that I must follow the Light, and now you are telling me to betray them. I do not understand, what side are you on?" Manta was frustrated.

"I am on the Light's side, but I cannot deny that there is some part of me that remembers the Team, and you, and wants to save you," I removed my mask and rubbed my eyes, "I don't want to be the one telling the Light that you are not loyal. Please, get out."

"Why do you do this? Why do you pretend like you do not care about the past, and then struggle to protect the people you claim not to care about?" Kaldur asked, tired and broken.

I sucked in a breath, "I don't know. I don't know who – "

I paused, "I don't want to speak about this. Just…follow my advice. Leave."

"I am sorry, Oblivion, I truly am. I cannot leave my father, surely you understand this. I must stay," He said quietly.

I already knew that he was going to say this, "Then convince me."

"What?" He asked.

"Convince me. Make me believe that you want to be here and be a part of this madness," I explained in a rush, "Follow orders without hesitation. Believe in the Light's vision and make others believe. If you have the option of killing someone, then do it. Like I said, convince me."

"And if I do?" Manta pressed a hand to his face.

"Then I tell everyone that you're loyal to the Light, and they trust you. You can continue playing your little game and I go back to being the mindless assassin," I placed my mask back onto my face, "Please, Manta."

"Okay," He huffed and stood. I froze at the action. He didn't mean that he was going to do what I had told him to do, he couldn't.

"Okay?" I looked at him in confusion even as my heart sank. Kaldur did not deserve this, not at all.

"Teach me the move again, the one where I can slit a man's throat in a single blow," He ordered. His voice was dead.

I swallowed, knowing that I was the monster, "Take your stance."

Author's note: A huge apology for taking so long. I had a very important audition this week and spent all of my free time preparing. Stay tuned for more next week!