In the Golden Light - A Justice League AU

Chapter 36 - Operation Take Down the Rebels

{Warning: This chapter will get into heavy and sensitive subjects such as abuse that may not suitable for those young or have personally experienced it. Read at your own discretion.}

Cassandia licked her son between his ears, who whimpered in response.

It had been a year, and their son--now named Katar--had grown quite well, despite the tension worsening between them and Dazzling Hawk. He had completely ignored their son in favor for plans to take down Goldwath and the Justice League and turned to taking out his frustrations on her. This led to constant fights between the two of them, often in the presence of their son. He just shrunk in fear, little body shaking aggressively.

Cassandia sighed, lifting a paw to her cheek.

They had another fight. This time, physical, and she had a slight bruise on her cheek from when he struck out and slammed her face to the ground. The pain brought her back in an endless memory trip of her years being bullied by the other Amazonians because of her parents. She thought she had escaped when she first met the Thanagarian, helping him restore some of his lost vision and growing very close to him, becoming his partner. But she was finally starting to see his cracks unraveling before her very eyes.

Oh, Mother.. I should have listened to you about men. You were right: They always promise of a better world, but it's just all lies to lure you into a cycle of pain you can't escape from. How blind I was.

"Mama?"

Her ears pricked at the sound of her son's voice. She looked down, smiling. "Yes, Katar?"

"Why did Papa hurt you like that?" he asked, tipping his head. "Are you okay?"

Cassandia felt her heart break; this wasn't a normal conversation she should have with their young son. He was supposed to be naive, carefree and romping around, asking questions only a child would ask. Instead, it was painstakingly clear Katar was much more self aware than any child, and he knew exactly what was going on between her and Dazzling.

She sighed. "I don't know, Katar, but it's ok," she said, choking. "I'm fine now."

"But Mama. You're not. Papa--"

"Cassandia."

They lifted their heads up upon hearing Dazzling's voice echo in their room. Katar shrunk and huddled closer to her belly, trying to hide in her tail. He stood at the entrance rather menacingly, his muscles rippling through his skin. Ignoring her pounding heart, Cassandia knelt her head down to Katar.

"Katar. Why don't you go to Auntie Candycane for a bit? Your Father and I have to discuss some things," Cassandia ordered, nosing him forward.

The little pup complied and stumbled out the doorway, trembling as he stopped to look up to his father, who just returned a deadly cold stare. They stared at one another for a while before Dazzling bared his sharp, deadly teeth at Katar. He lunged slightly with a growl. The little puppy whimpered, scooting between Dazzling's legs and waddling off. Dazzling's eyes followed behind him.

"You could have been more nicer-" she told him off gently as he approached her.

"Like I'd ever do that if no one gave me the same level of generosity my whole life," Dazzling responded.

"I highly doubt that..." she muttered under her breath, sniffing before clearing her throat. 

"Anyway. What do you want, Sir?" she finally asked coldly, hackles raising as he approached her.

"It's time! We finally set our plan into motion," he declared.

She rolled her eyes. "Oh. Is that so? It's about time too."

"Yes. Today we finally begin to bring glory to the Rebel name. And we will win, I am determined." He ran a paw by her bruised cheek as soon as she let out a puff of annoyance, slowly brushing her neck fur and petting it. "Listen, Cassandia dear, I know I have been....cold to you and Katar these past couple weeks--"

"You mean you've been neglectful and abusive to me and Katar for a year?" Cassandia corrected, staring only ahead of her.

"...Yes. That. I just want you to know that no matter what and despite all I've done to you lately, I still love you so much. Katar will be a great son in our new perfect world, a great heir, free from Goldwath and the Justice League. And I obviously want to continue growing our family."

He continued to rub her neck, sliding down to her back. Too close down the back....Her heart quickened in uncomfortable fear as she darted her eyes to him; what was he doing? Was he trying to give her the lost affection she missed for a year?

"Dazzling- Sir--"

"Shhh. It's ok."

His paw pressed down on her back and claws dug in. As she struggled, his other paw pinned her head down to the cold floor. Confusion now switched to panic as she couldn't free herself from Dazzling's powerful grip.

"Sir!?" she muffled out worriedly.

"Keep quiet, won't you? We don't need any distraction right now that will interrupt my continuing bloodline. Now...just ease up, my dear. No need to be this tense..It's going to be alright."

Continuing bloodline?

Dazzling...what are YOU DOING!? NO STOP!

***

"Listen everyone this is very important not just to us, but to you all as well."

Goldwath never thought it would have been impossible to stand up to a huge crowd of strangers and have strange eyes piercing his flesh. He had told Mother Merli that he figured it was a good idea to add extra backup for their plan. While he didn't know everyone in the bar, he knew of their struggles that they poured onto him and Mother Merli. Standing tall on a table, he cleared his throat.

"The world as we know it is in great danger by a group who threaten the peace of us. They're called the Zealot Rebels, and they're not a group to toy with. I know their leader on a personal level; he's a cold hearted, manipulative, scheming bastard who must be stopped at once! But we cannot do this alone. One of his lackeys has taken over the great underwater Kingdom of Atlantis. If we do not take these Rebels down, the happy-go-lucky lives as you know now will forever disappear into cruelty and tyranny. We have planned a double attack of two groups but we're still fairly outnumbered. If anyone would like to volunteer, be my guest."

Silence enwrapped the bar as the music was quieted down by the DJ. The weight was heavy on his body, and he felt his spirits being crushed as they mumbled to each other, exchanging furrowing brows and frowns. It was clear none of them wanted to fight; they just want to party, drink and have a relaxing carefree life that shut out the problems of the real world. He understood them, for he was one of them. There was no point in trying to pressure them into something they didn't wanna do. He stepped down, helped by Lazuli.

He was about to leave...

"Me. I will join."

Goldwath looked to the voice, heart sinking when he saw it was Braaqi. While he did want his best friend and adopted brother to come along, he knew that he couldn't allow his friend walking straight into the jaws of death. "Braaqi, no, you can't," he said. "You should stay to take care of Mother Merli and Orca and the others."

"But--"

"Hey, it's good, Braaqi. I can take your place," another alien, an ocelot, stepped up. "Think about it guys: we can't waste away our lives just getting drunk to drown the pains in our lives and forgetting reality. If these so called Rebels start threatening the world, soon they will threaten us. Mother Merli helped us all through our problems, why don't we do some good with our newfound lives given to us by her? We can save an entire planet with our support. Who's with us!?"

Everyone looked to one, muttering to one another, before slowly others started to step up too, rowdy cheering filling the bar.

Goldwath nodded at the alien ocelot. "Thanks."

"Don't thank me. You're the one we should thank after all."

***

"Are you all prepared, love?"

"Yup. We're ready to go."

They sat on the shoreline, making final preparations for their plans. King Ultramine and Queen Aquamarine were talking to their group as the League talked to their group. Goldwath and Lazuli stood away from the rest of the two groups, discussing with one another on the dock. Goldwath strained his neck as he stretched it, nervously swallowing a painful lump that hung in his throat.

"I really want to go with you," Goldwath confessed, taking Lazuli's paw to his.

"I do as well, but I will be okay, dear. You have to deal with Dazzling Hawk."

"I know." He pulled her with his arm and hugged her tightly. "But what if something happens, and I'm not there to help? I'm just so scared I might lose you for real this time..."

Lazuli nuzzled, pressing her ear to his chest. "I'm scared as well. I may not know this Dazzling fellow, but he sounds so terrifying and powerful. Only you know how to stop him."

"Well I did stop him once, but, you know....." Goldwath was silent. He still remembered the day clear as ice thanks to Nightshadow, how the robust Thanagarian challenged his position. It was only sheer luck he survived that. He just sat there, leaving the sentence unfinished, and pressing his jaw to Lazuli's head. Maybe someday, if they win, he'll be able to tell that story in much more greater detail than what little he remembered when they first met.

"I've never been this scared in my life," Lazuli finally said, breaking the ice.

"Me neither."

"Well, your heart's racing like a rabbit's, of course you're scared."

"Hey! Cheating!" Goldwath gently nudged Lazuli away before she hugged him again. They sat there nuzzling in silence again, taking in one another's presence, but they couldn't have the moment last long. They had a mission to carry out.

"Lazuli, we're ready!" Ultramine called out to her.

Lazuli pulled away from his grasp and briefly looked back. "Ok, coming, Dad!" She turned back around and looked up at Goldwath. "It's time."

Goldwath shifted. "I know...We should go."

Lazuli could tell how worried he was, and decided to give him a final kiss. "Take care of yourself, you big dummy. We will win, think positively. Remember that I love you so much."

Though silent, Goldwath faced her and again took the princess into his arm. "As I you, love." He fully embraced her with a deep and drawn out kiss.


{To be continued...}