DC: The Shadow Monarch's Chronicles

After reaching the conclusion with Lex, Ashborn stepped through the veil of darkness and into the door front of his house. Ashborn opened the door and walked inside and headed directly to the living room. It's lights were dimmed, the TV screen casting a flickering glow over the space. Ace and Amazo sat on the couch, eyes glued to a dramatic Mexican soap opera featuring betrayal, slaps, and a lot of crying. Ashborn walked in without ceremony and said, "Hi," before dropping onto the couch beside Galatea, who was also there, seemingly out of place among the domestic calm.

Galatea stared at him, unsure, nervous even. When it became clear he wasn't going to say anything more, her brow furrowed in annoyance.

"Aren't you going to say anything to me?" she snapped. "No questions about why I'm here?"

Ashborn, without turning to her, kept his gaze on the screen. "It's clear you made up your mind and left, now you have no place to go. What's there to ask?"

Galatea blinked, stunned by the casual dismissal. She looked at the two abnormal adoptees and said "I thought their strange behavior and lack of concern when they saw me was just… them. You know, because of their nature. But I was wrong." Her voice hardened. "It's you. You're the reason. You shouldn't be allowed to raise children or anything for that matter."

Ashborn shrugged. "That's harsh. I think I'm doing a rather good job here."

Galatea let out a frustrated sigh. "Can we talk?"

For the first time, Ashborn glanced her way, his eyes meeting hers. "Fine."

The two stood and made their way to one of the guest rooms, leaving the TV drama and the boys behind. Ace watched them leave, then leaned toward Amazo.

"Do you think we'll have a new sister?"

"It is possible," Amazo replied matter-of-factly.

Galatea's foot faltered mid-step as the words hit her ears, thanks to her super hearing. Her head turned slightly, wanting to yell that she wasn't some lost child in need of adoption, but then she remembered who she was dealing with.

She swallowed her words and thought to herself [He wouldn't suggest it… would he?]

Inside the guest room, Ashborn closed the door and leaned against it, arms crossed. "So, Tea, what do you want to talk about?"

Galatea hesitated, then spoke clearly. "I'm not with Cadmus anymore. I'm not with anyone. I have no place. I want to work like a normal person. I know you have given jobs to former villains before."

Ashborn tilted his head, studying her. "What made you think I'd agree?"

Galatea folded her arms tightly showing a strong front "I left because of your words. You have to take responsibility."

Ashborn chuckled, genuinely amused. "That might be the worst reason I've ever heard. But… fine. What job are you looking for? Any specific skills?"

Galatea's shoulders sagged in relief but then froze. Her mind blanked. What was she good at?

"I, uh…" she laughed weakly. "I can beat people up. That's… kind of my thing."

Ashborn gave her a long look, clearly unimpressed. "Do you know anything besides beating people up?"

She rubbed her neck, embarrassed. "I… can be a bodyguard?"

Ashborn stroked his chin thoughtfully. "That's not needed. And you would be too obvious. Amanda and the costumed crowd won't let a dangerous clone run around without raising red flags and rallying to hunt you. How about… a chauffeur? Easy job, keeps you out of sight, and it pays well."

Galatea's eye twitched. "That's the best you could come up with?"

Ashborn smirked. "Don't look down on the job. Mercy Graves became CEO of LexCorp after being a chauffeur. It's the highest known jump in the corporate ladder."

Galatea sighed and gave in. "Fine. I'm living here. It makes the job easier, right?" She stated as a matter of fact then turned around not waiting for a response, clearly planning to go back to the living room.

Ashborn blinked at the suddenness, then let out a soft chuckle.

"You will fit right in. But how are you planning to avoid Supergirl's intrusive dreams?"

Galatea froze mid-step. The realization struck her like a slap. That damn connection to Supergirl through dreams. She could still see her. See her life. Her thoughts.

She turned to look over her shoulder at Ashborn, her lips slightly parted, unsure of what to say.

Ashborn tilted his head slightly, as if amused. "You forgot that, didn't you?"

Galatea's expression shifted, first to embarrassment, then to one of fierce determination. "Then I'll go get rid of her permanently."

Ashborn blinked. "You are as violent and aggressive as an African Buffalo."

Galatea frowned. "I'm not. I spared her earlier. But if it's the only way for me to live in peace… I don't mind finishing the job."

Ashborn shook his head and stepped closer to her, raising one hand. Gently, almost mockingly, he placed it atop her head.

Galatea's scowl turned to confusion, and then to shock as Ashborn's eyes began to glow a deep, unnatural purple. She couldn't look away.

Then, just like that, his eyes dimmed, and he lowered his hand.

"I severed the connection between the two of you," he said plainly. "No need for violence."

Galatea took a step back, blinking rapidly. "You can do that?" Her voice was a mixture of awe and disbelief. "Why didn't you do it earlier?"

Ashborn gave a lazy shrug. "You didn't ask. And… I was amused by you."

Galatea narrowed her eyes, suspicion flaring. "You're a meta-human. You tricked everyone."

Ashborn chuckled softly. "No, I'm not a meta-human. And I lied to no one. I simply never bothered showing the tricks I can do. People assumed I was a normal person." His smirk deepened. "That's on them."

Galatea's gaze sharpened. "Then what are you? what can you really do?"

Ashborn raised a single finger and without another word, a wave of invisible pressure hit Galatea. Her entire body locked in place. Her arms curled inward, hugging her tightly. Her feet lifted from the floor, her body floating as if pulled by unseen strings.

"What…what is this?!" she demanded, struggling with every ounce of her super strength. Nothing budged. She was utterly frozen, completely at his mercy.

Ashborn's smile widened. "This is one of the things I can do. Pretty much… I can do anything to you. And you are helpless to resist."

Galatea's eyes widened, and for the first time, a flicker of fear danced across them. "Shouldn't you be worried?" she said weakly. "What if Ace and Amazo hear us?"

Ashborn paused, then burst into laughter. "I didn't mean anything," he said, waving her concern away as he released the invisible grip on her. Her feet touched the ground with a quiet thud.

Then, with a crooked grin, he added, "So you do have that kink inside of you. How surprising."

He turned and walked toward the door.

Galatea stood there, cheeks flushed a deep red, face a mixture of fury and shame. "I'm not into that kind of play!" she shouted at his back.

Ashborn waved over his shoulder. "Whatever you say."

"I really am not into it!" she repeated, marching after him. "It's your fault for making it vague… STOP! come back here!"

___________

While Galatea had taken her first step into a new life, far from Cadmus and the weapon life she led, the atmosphere in the Watchtower was heavy with silence and sorrow. The usual energy that coursed through the League's headquarters was gone, replaced by an eerie stillness. 

Superman's grave injury cast a long, terrifying shadow across every corner of the station.

Even the most hardened members of the League, those who had stared death in the face more times than they could count, were left shaken. Their friend… their leader… their symbol of strength and hope now lay in the medbay, his body barely clinging to life. The sight of him with a gaping wound torn through his side was a brutal reminder that even the greatest among them could fall.

But no one felt it more than Kara.

Supergirl sat in a room near the medical bay, nursing her wounds. Her face was bruised, lip split, ribs cracked, remnants of her encounter with her. The clone. Galatea.

She didn't understand what had happened exactly. One moment she was being utterly overwhelmed, knocked down again and again, a mirror image of herself delivering punishment with ease and then she had been spared. Galatea stood over her, victorious, expression unreadable. And then, she walked away. Just like that.

As if Kara didn't matter.

That stung more than the injuries. The clone had looked her in the eyes and decided she was better. That Kara wasn't even worth the final blow. And then she'd left. Abandoned Cadmus. Abandoned the mission.

Abandoned her.

It left Kara hollow. Angry. Confused. The pride she carried as Superman's cousin, the hope she held for being a symbol just like him, it all felt thinner now. Fragile. The clone had surpassed her and pitied her.

And now, here she was, still sore, still reeling and her cousin was fighting for his life. The last of her family. The last link to Krypton. The only one left of her people.

According to the rest of the heroes present, the creature that did this… it didn't use kryptonite. It didn't cast spells or channel mystical forces. It didn't even seem to try. It had ripped into Kal-El with such terrifying ease. Kara couldn't stop replaying the image, that wound. That hole. If the strike had been aimed slightly to the side, or lower, or to the heart.

He would have been dead.

Just like that.

And the worst part?

She was scared.

Truly scared.

She believed in the near-invincibility of her lineage, that very few things could harm them. But now… everything was shaken. The truth was cruel, she and Kal-El were defeated on the same day by different opponents without using their weakness against them, they lost in their own domain.

What if next time, there was no mercy?

What if they faced one of these monsters again, and this time… it ended with a corpse?

What could they do then?

She didn't have an answer.

And neither did the others.

Throughout the Watchtower, members of the League moved like ghosts. Quiet. Distracted. Haunted. They had always believed in Superman as the final line. The biggest weapon. The ace in the hole.

But now the ace had fallen.

And they didn't even understand what they were up against. A shadow army that came and went like mist. A monarch no one had seen. Abilities beyond their comprehension. Motivation unclear. Numbers unknown.

The fear wasn't just for Superman.

It was for all of them.

Because something terrible was rising from the shadows… And they had no idea how to stop it.