Milk_Is_My_Drug
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Chapter 33: Ashborn’s Field Trip
🕑 Added 2025-05-19 07:39:59 +0000 UTCEach of the six kidnapped individuals stood within a cylindrical glass prison—round walls that stretched from the floor all the way to the ceiling, the material glowing faintly with an unnatural sheen. The cells were spaced evenly across a vast metallic chamber that curved out into darkness. In the distance, more glass towers housed strange creatures—some reptilian, others aquatic, some humanoid but utterly alien.
The girls sprang into action.
Supergirl reeled back and launched a punch at the glass with all her might—only for the strike to jolt through her hand, causing her to stumble back in pain. Her breath was short, her strength… dimmed. Raven’s hands lit up with magic but as the energy gathered it fizzled out, leaving only a spark. Starfire growled and launched a blast from her eyes. Jinx followed with a crackling jolt of her signature pink energy. But the cells didn’t even flicker. The blasts dissipated harmlessly, as if absorbed by the glass itself.
Barbra, calm and sharp-eyed, didn’t waste her energy. Instead, she examined every angle of her prison, scanning for seams, panels, or weaknesses.
Across from them, Ashborn sat cross-legged in his own glass cell, unbothered. He unwrapped the bag he was carrying and opened a greasy sandwich from Heartattack, its scent filling his cell.
The girls all paused mid-action to stare at him.
“You’re eating now? Seriously?” Kara asked, disbelief in her voice.
Ashborn took a calm bite, then answered between chews, “We’re going to be here for a while. May as well enjoy it while it’s still warm.”
Barbra let out a sharp breath. “You are unbelievable.”
Ashborn just nodded and continued eating.
Ignoring him, the girls regrouped mentally and began speculating who could be behind this. Kara finally looked up and noticed the faint red glow above her, realization dawning.
“There’s a red sun emitter above me… it’s nullifying my powers,” she said, her tone darkening.
“The glass must dampen my connection to my magic,” Raven murmured.
Starfire frowned. “It’s suppressing my Tamaranean energy too.”
“And my mine is being drained or grounded,” Jinx added.
“Wonderful,” Barbra muttered. “We’re nerfed, kidnapped, and we have a guy who’s more focused on eating.”
Time passed before a sudden hum filled the air.
A small, floating creature approached—an alien being, barely the size of a child. It had no legs, its lower body tapering into a soft glow. Its skin was pale, and its wrinkled face betrayed the age of someone—or something—that had seen far more than just years. Its eyes were blank and dim.
The creature floated toward Kara’s cell.
“Welcome,” it said in a voice that echoed unnaturally. “Kryptonian.”
Kara narrowed her eyes. “Who are you? Why did you bring us here?”
“I am the Preserver,” the creature said proudly. “And I did not bring you here out of malice. Your kind… is endangered. I have brought you here for protection, to ensure your species will not go extinct.”
Kara’s jaw tightened, rage blooming in her chest. “I don’t need your protection! And even if you believed that… why kidnap my friends too?”
The Preserver turned slightly in the air. “Some species are social. They suffer in isolation. They perish without emotional stability. I brought your companions so you may thrive.”
Kara was speechless, trying to wrap her head around the cold logic.
Starfire pressed her hands against the glass. “You are wrong. This is not kindness. This is imprisonment. And it is against our will.”
The Preserver floated back calmly. “Perhaps. But preservation of life—of legacy—is more important than the will of a single individual. That is the principle I uphold.”
Barbra stepped forward, her voice low and firm. “We’ll find a way out of here. And when we do, you’re not going to like it.”
The Preserver shook his head slowly. “You cannot leave. These containment units were crafted to restrain beings across the known universe. Your abilities were all considered. I made certain of it before your arrival.”
“The Justice League won’t let this go,” Kara snapped. “They’ll find us.”
The Preserver blinked slowly. “I do not know this ‘Justice League.’ But if they are from Earth… we have already left its orbit. Soon, we will depart the solar system entirely.”
Silence filled the chamber. Fear took root.
For a second, no one spoke. No one moved.
Then—
CRACK.
The sharp, piercing sound of shattering glass echoed through the chamber.
All eyes whipped to the side.
Ashborn stood outside his broken cell, casually brushing off a few shards of glass from his shoulder. His expression was blank, as if this were no more bothersome than taking a stroll.
The girls stared in complete shock.
Kara blinked. “What… how?”
Ashborn took one last bite of his sandwich, then slowly raised his head, his voice low and calm.
“I did tell you I like collecting daggers,” he said, casually. “This one’s a personal favorite. Enchanted to break things—glass, stone, magical barriers. One strike, and boom.” He snapped his fingers. “Gone.”
As he said that, he showed a red dagger still glowing faintly in his hand.
The Preserver floated closer, eyeing the dagger with interest. “Fascinating weapon,” he said with a soft hum. “I wasn’t aware Earth held such relics.”
Ashborn slipped the blade back into the inner fold of his coat. “There are a few magical artifacts down there. Just takes some effort to get your hands on them.”
The Preserver tilted its head. “Then, if you’d kindly give me the weapon and please re-enter the containment cell.”
Before Ashborn could answer, Kara slammed her hand against the glass. “Oh, come on! Just beat up the damn alien!”
The other girls looked just as hopeful. The Preserver didn’t look threatening—he was small, legless, frail-looking. Surely, Ashborn could take him.
The Preserver said calmly “I strongly advise you to not resort to violence”
But Ashborn only chuckled and stepped back, hands raised disarmingly. “Relax. Let’s postpone the whole ‘cell’ and ‘kidnapping’ topic for now. I’m actually more interested in your work, Mr. Preserver.”
The alien blinked. “My work?”
Even the girls were thrown off by the sudden shift in tone. Ashborn gestured around them, to the distant cells housing bizarre and sometimes beautiful creatures.
“These… they’re all the last of their kind, aren’t they?” he asked.
The Preserver nodded proudly. “Indeed. Each species lost to time or destruction. I preserve what would otherwise vanish.”
“Then as a guest of your fine institution,” Ashborn said smoothly, “I’d like to request a tour. It would be a shame to miss the chance to learn about these wonders. Violence and arguments can wait.”
The Preserver was silent for a long moment. Then he finally nodded. “Very well. It is rare to meet someone who appreciates the value of my work.”
Ashborn flashed a satisfied smile and began to follow the floating alien deeper into the chamber.
Kara banged on her glass again. “What about us?!”
Ashborn turned back briefly. “We’ll figure that out later.”
“ASHBORN!” Kara screamed as he disappeared around the corner.
Barbra groaned and threw her arms in the air. “That guy has serious mental issues. This is not a zoo!”
The rest of the girls were speechless. The weight of their situation returned. Hours passed. They talked to distract themselves, about plans, theories, what they’d do when they got out. Most of those conversations ended with Barbra saying “I swear, when we’re free, I’m beating the shit out of that guy.” Kara always agreed. Raven, watching the glass, simply muttered in an inaudible voice, “It will be your funeral.”
Eventually, Ashborn returned. He and the Preserver chatted like old colleagues, talking about extinct Earth species—dodos, thylacines, the last white rhinos. The Preserver listened with open curiosity, genuinely interested.
Ashborn looked at the girls. “It was a fantastic tour,” he said, his voice too innocent. “Apologies, I may have momentarily forgotten about you.”
The burning glare from all five girls could have melted steel.
The Preserver looked at him. “Your relationship with them seems… strained.”
Ashborn shrugged. “We’re not exactly close. Different lines of work. The redhead especially hates my guts.”
The Preserver nodded thoughtfully. “I apologize for bringing you here by mistake.”
Ashborn waved it off. “No harm done. Honestly, I consider it a happy accident. Got to see some amazing things.”
Kara snapped. “Are you being serious right now?!”
With a straight face, Ashborn nodded. “It’s quite the impressive archive. Truly admirable work.”
Kara’s mouth opened and closed, words failing her.
The Preserver floated a bit higher. “We are returning to Earth. I shall send you back.”
Ashborn gave a gracious nod. “Thank you. Though, if I may…” He turned toward Kara’s cell. “I don’t want to undermine your efforts, but placing her here might not serve your noble goal.”
The Preserver tilted slightly. “What do you mean?”
Ashborn folded his arms. “There’s another Kryptonian on Earth, her cousin. And if rumors are true, there are even more in the Phantom Zone, which is a kryptonian prison. Two of them escaped a few years back and are still out there. Plus, their planet was destroyed by Brainiac, I heard he was a collector. It is possible that he has surviving Kryptonians in captivity”
The Preserver went still. “I… did not know this. That is unexpected. I must re-evaluate.”
Ashborn nodded sagely. “And another thing, if Kryptonians and humans are genetically compatible, we could be looking at the birth of a new hybrid species. She could be the start of something new, not just the end of something old.”
The Preserver was quiet for a long time, deep in thought. Then finally, he spoke. “You make a compelling case. I shall release her, to give her the chance to mate and breed a new generation. During that time, I will reevaluate the status of her race.”
Ashborn smiled “Earth’s a safe place. No natural predators for her kind.”
Kara looked both horrified and dumbfounded. She didn’t know what was worse, that Ashborn said that, or that it actually worked.
