For the past two years, under the cold, watchful eye of Amanda Waller, Cadmus had been quietly preparing. Ever since Lex Luthor's kidnapping and the unsettling appearances of the so-called "Shadow Monsters," priorities shifted. The Justice League, threats from rogue metahumans and aliens, all of it faded into the background compared to the new, ominous menace. If there was one thing Waller understood, it was survival. And survival demanded new weapons.
Light-based weapons.
Top scientists and engineers were gathered under Cadmus' strictest security. Their conclusion was simple: the shadow monsters were creatures of darkness, born of the night, thriving within shadows. They had appeared exactly three times, each time under the cover of darkness, and they moved through shadows as if it were their second skin. Based on that pattern, Cadmus devised a bold countermeasure: energy proton handguns, firing concentrated laser beams mimicking the rays of the sun, destructive and hopefully deadly to any creature born of darkness.
The first prototypes were successful. Waller didn't wait for perfection. She ordered mass production.
___________
Behind layers of secrecy, Amanda Waller contacted Bruce Wayne, asking for a discreet meeting at the Watchtower. She claimed to have information regarding the Shadow Monarch, the mysterious entity linked to the monsters. Batman, cautious but equally concerned, agreed.
When Amanda Waller set foot in the Watchtower conference room, tension filled the air. Memories of her past actions of kidnapping the Question, cloning experiments, and nearly causing the Watchtower's destruction were not easily forgotten. But the Justice League, recognizing the gravity of the threat, allowed her the courtesy of speaking.
Amanda stood at the center of the room, her hands folded calmly in front of her. "Since the incident with Luthor," she began, "we've been preparing. We developed weapons capable of combating the shadow monsters. They're now being produced in bulk. I propose an alliance." She glanced around the room. "We may not like each other, but there's a bigger threat lurking."
Wonder Woman crossed her arms, her voice sharp. "You think we'll trust you after everything you've done?"
Amanda didn't flinch. "I don't trust you either. You have good intentions now, sure. But that can change. What matters is that today, I'm willing to bet on your intentions rather than ignore the monsters hiding out there."
Superman leaned forward slightly. "Have you found anything about them?"
Amanda shook her head, her expression grave. "Every agency we have has been looking, but nothing. They've appeared exactly three times, no more, no less. Outside those events, no sightings, no information. It's like they don't exist. Cadmus will share with you our research of the weapons and how to combat them and in return you share with us any information you know about these monsters"
Batman, silent until now, narrowed his eyes. "We have a theory," he said grimly. "We believe Ashborn is a lackey working for the Shadow Monarch."
Batman went on to explain in detail. Amanda blinked, surprised for the briefest moment, before her face returned to its stone-cold mask. She had always respected Ashborn in her own way, he had helped when needed and avoided questionable ambitions, unlike Luthor. Still, Batman's words unsettled her.
Slowly, Amanda lowered her head and spoke. "When Ashborn took Ace under his protection, some generals and high-ranking officials demanded we retrieve her by force. I informed Ashborn, warning him that keeping her wasn't possible." She paused. "But less than an hour later, those same officials called me back... terrified. They ordered me to assist Ashborn at all costs." She frowned. "I still don't know what changed that day."
Batman nodded sharply. "Another piece of evidence. He's connected and likely a lackey of the Shadow Monarch."
Before more could be said, the conference room doors slid open. Heads turned sharply.
Supergirl stepped inside.
"You shouldn't be here," Superman said, frowning.
Supergirl didn't flinch. "There's something else you don't know," she said firmly. "After my clone escaped Cadmus, she went to Ashborn for help. He gave her a job. She's been living with him ever since."
The room went still.
Superman's eyes widened, shock crossing his face. Other League members whispered among themselves, their expressions a mix of surprise and concern. Amanda's eyes narrowed dangerously, fury simmering within her. She had spent countless resources hunting Galatea, and the clone had been hiding right under their noses with Ashborn.
Ashborn, who now felt more and more like a second Lex Luthor in Amanda's mind.
Superman, gathering himself, asked, "Why didn't you tell us earlier?"
Supergirl hesitated, her hands curling into fists. "It was the price to heal you," she said softly.
The words hit Superman like a physical blow. He opened his mouth to respond but found no words.
Supergirl continued, her voice colder now, "If Ashborn is working for the one who hurt you... then our agreement is null." Without another glance at the stunned heroes, she turned and left the room, her cape flowing behind her.
Silence hung over the conference room.
Only now did the heroes realize the cause of Supergirl's change; she must have been hurt by Ashborn's actions, he gave protection and shelter to her clone at the price of her cousin's health. All of them knew Supergirl liked him and his action must have cut too deep.
___________
While tension boiled over in the Watchtower conference room, in a far quieter and far more intimate corner of the world, Ashborn and Galatea were lost in each other.
They lay naked under the soft covers of a large bed. Ashborn trailed slow, deliberate kisses along Tea's neck, savoring the quiet moment between them. Tea's hands ran over his back, her breath hitching slightly in pleasure.
But just as she was melting into his touch, Ashborn paused, his lips brushing her skin as he murmured, "Your lie has finally caught up with you."
Galatea stilled, confused, blinking at him. "What happened?" she asked, frowning.
Ashborn chuckled low in his chest, pulling back slightly to look into her confused eyes. "Kara," he said with clear amusement, "spilled the beans. Everyone knows about you now. Including Amanda Waller. And Kara still think I traded the potion with her to keep you a secret"
Tea groaned loudly, throwing her head back against the pillow in annoyance. "Ugh, seriously?" She rubbed her temples before muttering, "I knew you are bad at raising children, Amazo had to go and spill the beans because of your weird ass teachings. Now what?"
Ashborn shrugged casually. "We wait and see what they'll do," he replied smoothly.
Galatea pouted and asked annoyed "Can't you just beat them all and be done with it?"
Ashborn chuckled again, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "I'd like to avoid violence if possible or at least not to be the one to raise his fist first" he said, his voice warm but firm.
Tea rolled her eyes dramatically. "Boring," she said, before leaning in, grabbing his face in her hands and pulling him into a deep, fierce kiss. If they were going to be hunted tomorrow or the day after, she was damn well going to enjoy today.
And for a little while longer, the world and its problems could wait.
___________
Days had passed since the storm at the Watchtower, and inside Ashborn's living room, a different kind of meeting was taking place. Ashborn sat casually on the couch, a cup of coffee in hand, while Ace lounged in an armchair, Amazo leaned against the wall, and Tea stretched lazily on the other couch.
Ashborn cleared his throat to gather their attention. "Alright, listen up," he began, "Today, I'll be heading over to Mount Justice. I will be invited by our friends, the tribal heroes up in space, and our old pals from Cadmus. Their paranoia and ego grew large enough that they started hunting for the shadow soldiers. They even went as far as hiding their families and friends as if this is their last stand. Well… I will be out of communication for a while."
Amazo's eyes flickered "Should I tag along?" he asked.
Ashborn waved his hand dismissively. "No, it could agitate them, they are like a scaredy cat with attitude issues. I'll try to be nice about this, have a little chat, and hopefully they are not too afraid to rethink their ways and let me go peacefully." His tone was light, the three could hear the amusement in his voice.
Ace piped up, "I thought they would know better than to pull something silly with you again. Anyway, if you're gonna kill them, remember not to hurt Courtney."
Ashborn clutched at his chest, faking a look of deep, exaggerated pain. "Your old man is about to be kidnapped by a bunch of violence-addicted heroes and crazed government agents, and you have no shred of fear for my safety!" he wailed. "Ah, years of sacrifice to raise you, all in vain!"
Ace stuck out her tongue at him without a shred of sympathy.
Tea chuckled and asked, "No one's coming our way, right?"
Ashborn shook his head, grinning. "You're too scary and dangerous for them. So they're going to play it safe and kidnap the weak, vulnerable human with magic stuff. They can extract information from the poor guy at least"
Tea laughed, a low and amused sound. "Big mistake."
Ashborn stood up, straightening his jacket. "Oh, and don't forget to let Uncle Rex know I'm on a trip to France," he added with a wink. "Buying bread"
Ace giggled. "Poor Grandpa Rex, always left in the dark."
Amazo smirked. "His heart is too weak for the full truth. It's for his own good."
With one last amused glance at his family, Ashborn headed toward the door, the rising sun casting long shadows along the floor.
He was on his way to Shadow Corp first and from there, to whatever the heroes had in store for him.