It was night, the soft glow of the television lit the living room in shifting colors. Ashborn sat beside Ace on the couch, watching Ultraman. The show, which Ace had approved and then changed after Superman objected to the content, played with full energy on screen. Ace's eyes were locked on it, her attention wholly absorbed by the visuals and action. Ashborn, meanwhile, split his focus, half watching the screen with her, half scanning his tablet.
One news article in particular caught his attention: Justice League Stops Rogue Ultimen Team. The accompanying footage showed the young heroes in cuffs, escorted by League members. But what stirred his interest was the footage that followed, military soldiers swooping in almost immediately, taking the Ultimen away without explanation. Comment sections were flooded with speculation, words like "black sites," "secret programs," and "cover-up" trending with feverish paranoia.
He flicked to the next headline when the sound of the front bell rang out.
Ashborn rose from and made his way to the door and opened it with a calm expression. "Hello, Tea," he greeted.
Galatea, clone of Supergirl, stood there in casual clothing, arms crossed. "You don't look surprised."
"I get all kinds of visitors," Ashborn replied coolly, already turning to walk back inside. Without hesitation, Galatea stepped in and followed him through the hallway and into the guest room.
"You're awfully trusting," she said, scanning the room as she entered. "Aren't you worried I might try something?"
Ashborn stopped and glanced at her over his shoulder. "Do we need to go over this again?"
She paused, face tightening slightly, then shook her head.
Ashborn motioned toward the couch. "What do you want to drink?"
"I'm not here for drinks," Galatea said, as she sat down. "I just wanted to talk."
He raised an eyebrow, then took a seat on the armchair across from her. "Go on, then."
Galatea stayed silent for a beat. Her jaw tensed, then relaxed. "Last time we spoke, you said the original, Supergirl, was better. That she had will. That she was looking for a purpose."
Ashborn didn't interrupt. He simply waited.
"I have a purpose," she continued. "I know what I want. I want to help the government, stop the Justice League when they go rogue. I want to be useful. Do you still think I'm inferior?"
He tilted his head. "You missed the entire point." His voice was calm, but firm. "She chooses. You were given a purpose and accepted it without question. Have you even considered another path? Living like a normal person? Becoming a hero? A villain? Or did you just accept that this is the box you were built to fit into, and that was that?"
Galatea clenched her fists, her lips pressing into a line. "I can't be normal. I'm a clone. I wasn't made for that. I can't be a hero, and I refuse to be a criminal."
Ashborn leaned forward slightly. "And yet, you have a choice. You could leave Earth tomorrow and make a life somewhere else. No one's chaining you. But you're still here. Because you don't want to leave… you want a purpose here."
There was silence between them for a long moment. Then Ashborn asked, "Have you met Supergirl yet?"
Galatea looked away.
"You felt it, didn't you?" he said. "The difference. She walks like she belongs. You're here, hoping I'll give you a stamp of approval, something you haven't even given yourself."
Her shoulders hunched slightly. "You think it's simple? What am I supposed to do? I'm just a copy. A shadow of a real person."
Ashborn stood slowly. "Don't let your life be governed by the mold that made you. Don't hold yourself up against Supergirl's light and call yourself dim. Just walk away. It's that simple. From expectations, from programs, from chains you pretend are purpose. The further you go, the more it becomes you, not what they made you for."
Galatea looked up at him, eyes unsure but wide.
Ashborn added "If you want to be real, stop trying to prove it. Just live."
After a stretch of quiet that lingered between them, Galatea finally stood up. Her expression was conflicted. Ashborn rose as well, falling into step beside her as they walked to the front door. He opened it.
She stepped outside, her eyes drifting to the stars above, body tensing as she prepared to take flight.
Just before she lifted off, Ashborn spoke
"Shadows are in the shape of the real thing… but they're different. Sometimes they're small, hidden beneath the object. Other times… they stretch farther. They grow larger. Far greater than the thing that cast them."
Galatea turned her head slightly, meeting his eyes. Then, without a word, she lifted off into the sky disappearing into the night.
___________
The city skyline of Metropolis gleamed in the afternoon sun as the car smoothly cruised along the highway. Inside sat Ashborn, calmly at the wheel, with Ace in the passenger seat and Rex lounging in the back, chatting away about his brilliant idea.
"I'm telling you, she's never seen one. An amusement park! What kind of childhood is that?" Rex had said earlier with a grin.
Ace had tilted her head curiously, "Is it fun?"
"Is it fun?" Rex had looked offended. "It's the best! Cotton candy, roller coasters, games, people screaming everywhere, it's perfect!"
Ashborn, after a moment of silence, simply nodded. "Alright. Let's go."
And so the plan was made, an impromptu visit to the amusement park. A rare day out for the three of them.
But as the car neared the city center, thunderous explosions echoed from above. The sky lit up with bursts of energy, streaks of light and fire tearing across the clouds.
Ace leaned forward, staring out the window. Rex followed her gaze, eyes wide. "What… What could possibly be happening now?"
Ashborn narrowed his eyes at the sight, his voice low. "The League is fighting… some android. And it looks like they're losing."
Ace's gaze sharpened. "That's Courtney!" she said, pointing as a familiar figure flew through the smoke, streaking toward the battle above.
Rex blinked. "Wait, Courtney? Your schoolmate?"
Ace looked at Ashborn. "I want to go there. Courtney might be in danger."
"She should be fine," Ashborn replied coolly.
"Please," Ace said again, softer, her voice touched with concern.
Ashborn sighed. "Alright. We'll check on them."
Rex looked like he'd just been punched in the gut. "You can't be serious. What are you two planning? Have you lost your minds?! And what does Courtney have to do with this… wait, is she actually a hero?"
Ace turned slightly and gave him a small, almost mischievous smile. "That's a secret. Please keep it that way."
Rex stared at her, slack-jawed and utterly speechless.
The car wove through traffic with surprising speed, heading toward the heart of the destruction. As the chaos grew closer, Rex looked like he was rethinking all his life decisions. "Ashborn… you cannot be serious. Turn around. Turn. Around."
But Ashborn pulled the car to a calm stop instead.
"Ace is worried for her friend," he said as he unbuckled his seatbelt. "And it's not as dangerous as you think. We're not defenseless."
Rex sputtered. "You're not actually planning to let Ace fight whatever just knocked out the Justice League, are you!?"
Ashborn didn't reply. He stepped out of the car with an air of calmness that felt surreal in the midst of a warzone. Ace followed immediately, her eyes already scanning for Courtney. And there she was, collapsed on the ground amid broken debris.
Ace ran to her side without hesitation, Rex after a moment of hesitation followed Ace while cursing under his breath. Meanwhile, Ashborn turned his attention to the real threat.
In the middle of the street stood a massive, gleaming golden android, tall, statuesque, and entirely untouched. Around it lay the defeated forms of League members including Flash and Wonder Woman.
The android's head turned. Its sensors locked onto Ace and Rex.
Subject identified: Meta-human. Psychic abilities. Threat level: low.
Subject identified: human. normal. Threat level: none.
Then its gaze shifted to Ashborn… and something in its system glitched.
Subject identified: Human. Anomalous energy signature detected. Unclassified presence. Threat level: unknown. Recalculating...
Ashborn casually walked forward. He looked up at the android, unphased by its towering height or the defeated heroes around.
Ashborn smiled.
"Hello there. I'm Ashborn Black." He gestured with a hand. "And what should I call you?"
The golden android's eyes glowed brighter for a moment as it responded
"I am Amazo. An android created by Dr. Ivo."
Amazo's eyes flickered then spoke again. "You are not registered among the known threats. Yet your presence... distorts analysis. Explain."
To the side, Ace knelt beside Courtney, gently checking her pulse. Her friend was unconscious, bruised but breathing. Ace's expression tightened with worry, her usual blank stare replaced by something far more human.
Ashborn didn't take his eyes off Amazo.
"I could explain," he said casually. "But I doubt it would help your calculations." He took another step forward. "Let's just skip that part"
Amazo's systems whirred, scanning again.
"You are not hostile. Not yet."