Afterlight
Chapter Seven
"Wheels have been set in motion, and they have their own pace, to which we are...condemned."
― Tom Stoppard, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead
March 1, 2016
Black Manta was pacing in front of me and Manta, muttering about messes made by incompetent leaders of the Light. I smirked at him and took a seat at the table, intent on waiting his little tantrum out. Manta continued to stand out of respect for his father.
"Is there a reason you called us down to your little dining room? If not, then I'd like to get back to training your soldiers," I finally interrupted him after ten pointless minutes.
"Hold your tongue," He snapped and continued to pace.
"I'm leaving," I announced and stood, grinning when he called out.
"Wait," I looked at Black Manta, "I need you both for a mission."
"What has occurred?" Manta asked. They both removed their helmets. Up close, they looked surprisingly similar. I shuddered at the thought of Manta being anything like him.
"Queen Bee has and the Partner have an agreement. She is supposed to deliver runaways to them every two weeks, but has fallen behind in her shipments. She is destroying the credibility of the Light," Manta frowned, "I have been tasked with making up the difference."
"Delivering runaways to a mysterious partner? That's not questionable at all," I looked at him for an explanation, waiting for an answer.
"If it is what the Light requests, then we should not question it," I nodded approvingly at Manta.
"I've called in a few assets, who gathered the runaways. I need you two to pick them up and make sure nothing interferes with the shipment," Black Manta quickly explained.
"Easy enough," I decided, sighing at the prospect of being a guard.
"Where are we picking them up?" Manta asked.
"Miami," Black Manta replied, "The Justice League will know you're there the moment you step into the city."
March 3, 2016
"Move it!" I shouted at the soldiers, "We've only got a ten minute window for this."
"Troopers, bring the runaways onto the ship and place them into the storage bay. Do not open the containers and attempt to resuscitate them," Manta ordered.
We stood on top of the Manta-Flyer, which was located near one of the abandoned docks. A ramp was lowered to the dock, where soldiers began to wheel the containers across them and into the ship. In seven minutes, all but five of the twenty containers had been wheeled onto the ship.
I paced across the ship's surface, anxious to get this mission over with. Miami was not a good place to illegally transport runaways in, especially when the runaways in question weren't even conscious. I wouldn't be surprised if the police or vigilantes showed up.
As if on cue, something whizzed by me and embedded itself in the surface of the ship. I crouched down to look at it, realizing that it was a batarang. When it began to beep, I yanked it out and threw it into the ocean. The explosion sent waves rolling towards us, upsetting our makeshift ramp.
Spotting the shapes moving across the shipping crates, I turned to Manta, "Batgirl, Wondergirl, and Blue Beetle. What do you want to do?"
"We need those final containers," Manta murmured to me as he pressed his comm unit, "All troopers not moving containers are to engage the enemy. Be prepared to retreat to the Manta-Flyer upon my command."
Twenty troopers moved to guard the containers as they attacked. I settled myself onto the Manta-Flyer with the intent to observe. Manta slid off the Manta-Flyer and waded into the fight. I noticed that he was using the fighting techniques that I had taught him and smirked. They were paying off as he fought Batgirl. Wondergirl easily fended off the soldiers' attacks and began to decimate their line.
Blue Beetle had disappeared while I was observing Manta. I glanced around for the flying insect, wary of being caught off guard. Finally, I spotted him twenty feet above me, attempting to attack me from the air. I raised my hand, palm parallel to him, and shot a beam of light at him. He barely managed to evade it, but flew directly into the net I had created.
I closed my hand into a fist and watched as the net pulled him into the water. Feeling calm, I didn't allow it to disintegrate until Blue Beetle had been under water for a minute. I knew he wasn't dead, but expected him to be unconscious. I stood and waited for a body to float to the surface, and tensed up when it didn't.
"Looking for me?" I screamed as he blasted me with what felt like a sonic cannon.
Gritting my teeth against the force of the cannon, I formed a shield in front of me as I reached into my belt for an explosive disk. I threw it at him and sighed in relief when it forced him to stop using his sonic cannon. I needed to get him away from the Manta-Flyer. I turned and sprinted off the boat, landing on the concrete dock.
"All troopers, retreat to Manta-Flyer. You have two minutes," I winced at the crackling static that filtered through my comm unit.
I flipped backwards in order to avoid Blue Beetle's plasma cannon. A whip materialized in my hand that I cracked at him. It wrapped around his ankle, and I pulled, throwing him to the ground. He scrambled backwards, armor shifting to form some sort of stapler. I leaped into the air to avoid the oversized staples and thrust my leg out in a kick, a sweeping band of light knocking him backwards.
"Oblivion, it is time to leave. Stop playing with him," I waved a hand in Manta's direction before walking over to the dazed Blue Beetle and kicking him in the face. I inspected the unconscious boy for a moment before retreating to the Manta-Flyer.
I ignored the ladder and dropped to the floor, landing in a crouch. Manta followed, although he used the ladder. We joined the pilot, who took the Manta-Flyer down at Manta's command. I settled into a chair, intent on watching the ocean roll by as we traveled to the rendezvous point.
"Black Manta to Manta-Flyer," A video feed opened up on the screen in front of me.
"Black Manta," I acknowledged the man. Manta walked over as he heard me speak.
"Oblivion, and my son," He greeted us, "There's been a change in plans."
"What change?" Manta asked.
"The Manta-Flyer will be stopping at a port in New York City before rendezvousing with the Partner. Oblivion, a black car will be waiting there. The Light has given you a temporary job," Black Manta sounded unhappy to be explaining this, "Lex Luthor requires your assistance."
"I see. Thank you for conveying the message," I closed the transmission and looked at Manta, who shrugged.
March 4, 2016
I turned to watch the Manta-Flyer sink back into the water before walking to black sedan waiting at the corner. A man got out as I walked towards it and opened the door for me. I nodded to the man and slid inside, sinking into the plushy seats.
I buckled my seatbelt on and looked at the seat, spotting a file laying on the seat next to me. I opened it and examined the contents, realizing that it was a file on an employee at Lex Corps. I flipped through it, paying special attention to small bits of information that caught my eyes.
The leather seats creaked as I leaned forward and tapped the driver on the shoulder, "Where are we going?"
"New York branch of Lex Corps," The driver replied, "We should be there in an hour or so."
"Thank you," I sank back against the seat, flipping through the file again.
"Hello, Oblivion," A short woman greeted me as I entered the building, "Have you been briefed yet?"
"I was given a file on an employee with no explanation as to what I was supposed to do with it," I looked at her, "Please, explain."
The woman tilted her head, "I see. The employee whose file you were given has been tasked with completing a project. We have reason to believe that Justice League operatives will attempt to extract him tonight in an attempt to prevent him from completing the project."
"And this involves me how?" I asked, deliberately playing dumb.
"We need you to stand guard as he works. You'll have full access to security cameras and receive updates from guards every thirty minutes. You will be in the same room as him, and will need to monitor him to make sure he does not attempt anything," Her eye was beginning to twitch.
"If he attempts something?" I asked, amused at the flashes of irritation across her face.
"Attempts to hack into the computers or send word to someone," She clarified, "You will need to restrain him and notify a guard."
"He's being held against his will?" Great, this would be fun. The ones that wanted to escape were the worst.
"Yes, that won't be a problem, will it?" She narrowed her eyes at me. It would be a problem if the Justice League showed up. I wouldn't be able to handle multiple trained heroes.
"No, it won't," I reassured her, "The more details I have, the easier it is for me to perform my job."
"I see. Follow me," We walked through several security checkpoints before coming to a room with metal doors and bulletproof glass windows. Inside, a man worked at a lab station, sweating nervously under the stares of two guards.
They turned as we entered and left at the woman's nod. The man set his tools down and fidgeted under our gazes, "H-hello?"
"Lucas, I need a progress report," The woman ordered. The man cringed, drawing his lab coat closed in an effort to have a barrier between him and us.
"I should be done by the morning. Then I can leave?" He phrased it as a hopeful question.
"Perhaps," The dark-skinned man deflated at her words, "It will depend on your work."
She gestured to me, "This will be your guard for the rest of the night. Do not bother her or ignore any orders she may give. I expect you to behave."
"Of course," Lucas sneered.
The woman nodded to me before leaving. Lucas looked at me, "What should I call you? Evil Sidekick One?"
"Just work," I snapped at the poor man.
March 5, 2016
"Seriously, what do they call you?" Around midnight, Lucas took a break.
"Oblivion," I folded my arms and walked over to him, "Keep working."
"Easy there, this needs to heat up first," He held out his hands in a gesture of peace, "Oblivion, huh? Why do they call you that?"
"I will follow my master into oblivion, no matter the cost," I explained, my stomach twisting at my words. I didn't know if that was a truth or a lie.
"That's…extreme," Lucas leaned against the table, "Don't you think for yourself?"
"I am letting you take a break, aren't I?" I gestured to the lab table, "Get back to work."
"Fine," He waved his hand at me, "It's not like I have a choice anyways."
"Correct," I confirmed as I settled myself onto a stool at an empty lab table. The brightly lit lab hurt my eyes, but it was better than the fluorescent lighting of the hallway outside.
"Then again, neither do you," I frowned at the man and motioned for him to start working. He reluctantly began to work, reaching for a pair of tweezers. I brushed off the truth of his comment and pulled my tablet out.
I tapped a finger against the side of it. I couldn't figure out what I should do with Manta. Yes, I suspected that Manta was a traitor to the Light, but I wasn't sure. Maybe I could find out through one of the heroes, probably Nightwing. Even if I could, how would I be able to explain that I didn't intend to blow Manta's cover, or that the reason I had betrayed them was very different from what they believed?
I sighed and pulled up the security cameras, watching as the guards patrolled the empty building. I narrowed my eyes as I noticed that their movements were in the same pattern, like a video being looped over and over again. I muttered a curse and began to examine the security on the cameras, easily finding the glitch in the system. I hurriedly corrected it and got the security cameras back online.
They revealed unconscious guards and discarded vent covers. I swore again and stood, walking over to the door and pressing the lock closed. Lucas stopped working and looked at me in confusion, "Something wrong?"
"Keep working," Something in my voice made him return to his work.
I continued to work through the security system, my anxiety growing when I noticed that the alarm system was off line. The motion sensors in the vents were off too. I kept one eye on the vent in the room while I continued to work.
Suddenly, the lights in the room died. I tucked my tablet back into its pocket and looked around, night vision flaring into life. I unsheathed my swords and listened, struggling to find out where they would be coming from. With quick footsteps, I walked over to Lucas and pushed him under the table.
"Make a sound, and I will kill you," I hissed and backed away.
The quiet clank of the vent cover being removed told me where they would be coming from. I backed up a little bit more as I waited for them to appear. Robin dropped through first, then Nightwing and Bumblebee. I waited for a few more seconds before stepping forward and lobbing a ball of light into the air.
The ball exploded, washing the room in the light of a miniature sun. They cringed, hands flying to cover their faces. I raced forward and kicked Robin in the stomach, sending him stumbling backwards. I growled in annoyance as Bumblebee began to attack me. I waved a hand at her, capturing her in a ball of light and sealing it against the wall. She banged against the wall of the bubble but was unable to break through.
I yelped as Nightwing pulled me backwards. Clenching my hand into a fist, I extinguished the star, sending the room into darkness. The sudden switch disoriented Nightwing, and I took the opportunity to punch him in the shoulder. Nightwing retreated, hand going to the comm unit in his ear.
"Backup squad engage," He ordered before attacking me.
I countered each attack, noticing how he was moving me away from the table Lucas was under. I began to counter with offensive moves, pushing him back. He finally managed to catch my arm and began to twist it behind my back. I responded by sending a flurry of spikes along my arm, forcing him to release my arm unless he wanted his hand to be stabbed. I kneed him and retreated to stand in front of the table.
The windows of the lab exploded as Blue Beetle blasted them with a sonic cannon. Superboy and Miss Martian entered and immediately moved to engage me. I cried out as Miss Martian lifted me into the air so that Superboy could punch me. I slid across the table, glass shattering around me. I tumbled to the floor and lay there, partially unconscious.
Through fluttering eye lashes, I could see the glass sparkling against the light they had just turned on. It made the pattern of a star, holding my attention. Silence fell over the room as Robin pulled Lucas out from under the table and Blue Beetle cautiously walked over to me. Out of the corner of my eye, I watched Lucas stand, a necklace falling from his pocket. It glistened in the light, and I caught my breath as I was pulled into the memory.
I pressed the stop button on the recording device. The flashing light on the pendant stopped blinking as I picked it up and carried it over to the bed. I crouched down and pulled out a loose floorboard, exposing the hole underneath. A sketchbook lay inside that I pulled out so I could tuck the pendant in a corner. I placed the sketchbook over it and shoved the floorboard into place, sealing away my last hope
"I think she's out," Blue Beetle announced. I ignored him, struggling to figure out what to do with that memory.
"Step away. I'll handcuff her," Nightwing crouched beside me and felt for a pulse, "I don't know when she will wake up. We need to leave before anyone else shows up. Manta's troopers could be somewhere around here."
The final piece of the puzzle clicked into place. Nightwing was working with Manta, he had to be. That would explain why Manta had warned Nightwing about the bomb that had killed the Kroloteans, and how they were always one step ahead of us. I gasped as I realized what I needed to do.
Nightwing began to turn me over. I reacted violently, grabbing his wrist and kicking him over my head. He rolled so that he landed in a crouch and launched himself at me. I grabbed his arms and threw him through the shattered window and into the hall. Before anyone could move, I raced after him, tackling him into the wall.
Robin leaped after me but was stopped by the walls of light I created to surround us. Nightwing clawed at the arm against his throat. I pressed a hand against his wrist, a band of light pinning it to the wall. I did the same with his other wrist before forming a knife out of light and pressing it against his throat.
"Stop struggling," I growled, "And listen."
He stared at me in confusion, "What?"
"My bedroom at the Wayne Manor, is it still there?" I asked. My plan was a desperate one that could backfire badly.
"Why do you need to know?" He huffed out. I increased the knife's pressure against his throat.
"Just answer the question," I snapped at him, "Is it still there?"
"Yes," He confirmed, "Alfred locked it up."
"Good," I breathed before getting to the point, "There's a loose floorboard under my bed. Pull it up and take out the star necklace inside. Watch the footage on it."
"What are you talking about? Why does this matter?" He hissed, leaning forward slightly.
"Just do it. It's important," I insisted. He had to know about my reasons behind all of this.
"What side are you on, Kyara?" He asked. I ignored the use of my name.
"I don't know," I snapped my fingers and watched as the light around his wrist crumbled away. I allowed my knife to disintegrate as well. Nightwing stared at me uncertainly, "I need you to knock me out."
"What?" His confusion was understandable.
"Knock me out and make it look real too. Don't take me with you," I explained, "Do it!"
He ducked under my swing and elbowed me in the chest. I cried out, walls disintegrating at the lapse in concentration. He pulled out his escrima sticks and blocked my blows, countering with an uppercut and then hitting me on the back of the neck. I crumpled to the floor, pain lancing through my skull.
"Get up," I groaned at the sound, "Wake up, you useless waste of space."
My mind suddenly cleared. I scrambled to my feet, glaring at the bald man in front of me. Lex Luthor stepped back with a disgusted look on his face. My nose throbbed in time with the headache at the base of my skull. I could feel the blood encrusted on my face.
"What happened?" Luthor snapped, "You were supposed to guard him."
"There were too many of them," I struggled to gather my thoughts.
"They were kids, untrained ones at that. You should have been able to handle them!" He narrowed his eyes.
"Two were trained by Batman, three had been on that team for six years, and one had alien tech. I was overwhelmed," I watched him warily.
"That is no excuse," He stepped forward, "Your master will be hearing about your failure. I will make sure he punishes you."
"As expected, sir," I sneered at him.
Luthor stared at me before directing his attention back to the guards, "Clean this up! I want any evidence to be gone by morning!"
I leaned against the wall, dread pooling in my stomach. The League of Assassins was ruthless with assassins who had failed missions. They would make you want to die with their actions. Ra's al Ghul had a particular punishment for me that was terribly effective.
March 7, 2016
"My assassin, you have failed," Ra's al Ghul stood in front of me. His face was stern and calculating, eyes analyzing my every movement.
"Yes," I knelt before him, not daring to meet his eyes for fear of being killed. My stomach leaped into my throat as I thought of the punishment that would be given
"Do you understand the punishment for this?" He asked, a rhetorical question, but I answered anyways.
"Yes," I shivered despite the humid climate.
"Take her away," Ra's al Ghul ordered, "I do not want to see her for the next week."
Guards stepped forward and dragged me to my feet. I stumbled against them as we marched to the prison block. There, they pushed me inside a cell and chained me to the wall. One of them prepared a syringe while the other ripped my suit open to expose my neck. They slid the needle in, cold liquid filling my veins. I didn't protest as they left, resigned to my fate.
Author's note: Apologies for the wait. I haven't had Internet since my last update.