Milk_Is_My_Drug
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Chapter 34: Befriended The Captor
🕑 Added 2025-05-19 07:40:17 +0000 UTCThe girls stood frozen in their glass cells, their minds struggling to comprehend the scene that had just unfolded before them. They had witnessed many strange things in their lives, alien invasions, magical battles, otherworldly monsters, but this? This was something else entirely.
Ashborn had somehow turned a galactic kidnapping into a casual field trip. Then, without so much as a stutter, he discussed breeding with the very alien who abducted them, all with the kind of calm detachment one might have when picking out groceries.
Barbra was the first to snap out of her stupor. “Are you serious right now? Are you actually serious?”
She gritted her teeth and slammed her palm against the inside of her cell. “Okay, fine. Since we are going back to Earth, can we at least be released now?”
Before the Preserver could respond, Ashborn casually interjected, “I would strongly advise against releasing them at this time.”
Barbra blinked. “What… What are you saying?”
Her voice rose in pitch. “What side are you on?!”
Ashborn tilted his head like he was observing a mildly curious painting. “There’s no ‘side’ here, Barbra. This place is filled with endangered species. And you all, no offense, have temper issues and a tendency toward violence. I’d rather not see any of these poor creatures endangered. It’s just a few more hours. You will live.”
Barbra’s eyes went wide, and then she erupted. “ASHBORN! I SWEAR I WILL BEAT THE SHIT OUT OF YOU WHEN WE ARE BACK!”
Ashborn didn’t even flinch. He simply nodded, serene as ever. “And that is exactly why I don’t want you out.”
The Preserver, who had been floating quietly beside him, added with a nod, “I will release all of you when we arrive on Earth. It is for the best.”
Ashborn gave a respectful nod. “A wise decision. Oh and I do apologize about the broken cell.”
The Preserver waved a small hand. “No harm done.”
Without missing a beat, Ashborn pulled the red dagger from his coat and held it out, handle first. “Please, take this. A gift. A small token of appreciation for the tour and your hospitality.”
The Preserver’s pale eyes lit with genuine surprise and pleasure. “How very kind of you. Thank you.”
The alien took the dagger reverently. And just like that, the two turned and began walking away again, chatting like old friends heading to a café.
The five girls stared at the scene in mute disbelief.
“I didn’t know you could make friends with your kidnapper like that” Starfire said in confusion.
“…This is ridiculous,” Raven said. The others nodded.
Time passed.
Eventually, Ashborn and the Preserver returned, smiling and exchanging tales as if they had just finished a delightful brunch. The Preserver floated forward, addressing the girls. “We have arrived back at Earth.”
Their expressions didn’t change, stuck somewhere between fury and confusion.
Ashborn looked at them, then turned back to the Preserver. “If you ever pass by Earth again, do pay me a visit. I’d like to return the favor for all the hospitality you’ve shown me.”
The Preserver gave a small, wrinkled smile. “If the stars align, I shall. This journey was not wasted. I’ve made a good friend.”
The girls looked at them with dead eyes, no one of them bothered speaking anymore. They just wanted to leave this cursed place.
Ashborn nodded, stepped back into his shattered cell, and stood in its center as light began to gather around him. The girls barely had time to react before that same radiant glow surrounded their own cells.
In a blink, all six vanished, gone in streams of light, leaving only silence behind in the gallery of the last.
___________
The midday sun hung high in the sky, casting its golden rays on the familiar terrain. The girls stood in silence, the very ground beneath them the same as the one where they had been taken just the night prior. Earth. The warm air, the sound of birds, the smell of city life in the distance, it all felt right again. Relief washed over them like waves, even if their emotions remained a jumbled mess inside.
Ashborn stood a few steps away, pulling out his communicator. “Uncle Rex,” he said casually, as if nothing had happened, “I won’t be coming today. I went on an unexpected trip, took a little more time than expected.”
He paused, listening to whatever the reply was, then continued, “No, it was just a trip, nothing out of ordinary. Had a great talk with a like-minded and accomplished person and even had the pleasure to be introduced to animals I haven’t seen before. No need to worry. I’m always okay.”
The girls listened to him in stunned silence. Kara, Raven, Starfire, Jinx and Barbra... none of them had words. He had saved them. Technically. But the route he took… making friends with their captor, treating their imprisonment like a vacation, and now casually ending it with a phone call… left a terrible taste in their mouths.
Barbra, in particular, looked like she was ready to explode. Her eyes narrowed, jaw clenched, hands curling into fists. [He made friends with the alien who locked us up like animals.]
She stepped forward, voice low but seething with fury.
“Ashborn... I will break your bones.”
Ashborn ended the call and turned to her, unimpressed. “How ungrateful,” he said flatly. “You’re not in a cage playing zoo animal thanks to me.”
Barbra didn’t respond. She charged.
Ashborn didn’t flinch. He raised his left arm, and a faint hum activated as the arm guard lit up. A shimmering shield deployed just in time, Barbra struck it head-on and was flung backward, tumbling across the grass.
He stared down at her with a smug expression. “And you didn’t like when I said you should stay in the cell. Look at yourself. So unreasonable.”
Barbra growled and got back to her feet, ready for round two, but Starfire quickly moved in and held her back. “Friend, please calm down,” she said, her voice gentle but firm. “Everyone is safe. That is what matters.”
Before anything more could escalate, a blur of wind and light slammed into the clearing.
Superman landed in front of Kara, eyes filled with concern. “Kara,” he breathed, looking her over. “I’m glad you’re okay. What happened? Where did you go?”
Next to him, Flash zipped in and immediately noticed the tension in the air. “Whoa, whoa. Why are you two fighting?” he asked, looking between Barbra and Ashborn.
Ashborn didn’t answer. Instead, his eyes moved to Superman. “Hey, Superman” he said, catching the Kryptonian’s attention. Then, with a completely straight face, Ashborn made a circle with the fingers of one hand and began sliding the index finger of his other hand in and out of it.
“You need to get your hips to move fast,” he said, “if you want to live the rest of your life on Earth instead of a nature reserve in a spaceship .”
Superman stared at him, expression somewhere between confusion and horror. “...What?”
Ashborn simply nodded toward the girls. “They will fill you in,” he said.
Then looked at Barbra and said “You should count your lucky stars that I was dragged with you.”
Ashborn turned around and began walking away.
Superman blinked, trying to process what just happened, then turned to Kara.
She sighed heavily and muttered, “It’s a long ridiculous story.”
___________
Inside the Watchtower’s briefing room, the Justice League gathered in the aftermath of the girls’ unexpected alien abduction, and even more unexpected return. The atmosphere, while tense earlier, had now given way to an air of confusion… and amusement.
Flash leaned back in his chair, a wide grin plastered across his face. “Okay, okay, this is a new one,” he chuckled.
Superman gave a strained smile as he glanced toward the corridor where Kara had just walked out. “I’m just glad she’s fine,” he said sincerely, his voice low.
Kara hadn’t said much since they returned. She had only nodded at him and quietly excused herself, the mental exhaustion clearly weighing on her. Just remembering the absurdity of what happened seemed to drain her.
As the door slid shut behind her, Flash leaned closer to Superman and grinned. “Sooo… when are you gonna start moving your hips? You need to create a new species after all.”
Superman closed his eyes and sighed. “It’s not that funny.”
“I strongly disagree,” Flash replied with a smirk. “It’s comedy gold.”
The doors opened again, and Green Lantern, Hal Jordan, stepped in, catching the tail end of the conversation, grinning. “That guy is something else. I mean, the nerve to pull off a stunt like that, then straight-faced tell the big guy to ‘move his hips.’” He laughed. “Legend.”
Wonder Woman raised an eyebrow, arms crossed. “Are we certain this man has no powers?” she asked, glancing between the others.
Batman, standing off to the side, answered without hesitation. “Completely normal human. He’s been caught in a few incidents by chance, but despite his... unorthodox demeanor, his judgment and decisions have proven consistently sound.”
“Even in this situation?” Diana asked, unconvinced.
“He ended a potential galactic standoff without a fight,” Batman replied. “No casualties, and the girls are back unharmed. His methods are questionable, but the results are effective.”
Wonder Woman’s gaze softened, but her eyes were still curious. “And what about that red dagger he gave the alien?”
Superman answered. “He’s mentioned before that he collects daggers. His collection includes a Kryptonite dagger and one old enough it should be in a museum, both from the joker. He never elaborates on the rest, I have never expected he would have something like that.”
“Which brings us to another point,” Batman added. “His access to magical items remains unknown. But based on their abilities, he’s in contact with a competent mage, possibly more than one.”
“Should we be worried?” Hal asked, eyebrow raised.
Superman shook his head. “No. He’s not a threat. He’s helped more than once. And today... strange as it was... he did save the girls.”
The room was quiet for a moment before Flash broke it with another chuckle. “Still can’t believe he called it a happy mistake. Like he just stumbled into a theme park.”
Batman didn’t crack a smile. When all was said and done, he didn’t like Ashborn one bit.
Comments
Kul
Batman may not like him, but I sure do. 😂
