Infinity Island
August 7, 23:54 ECT
Smoke floated in the air from the explosion as Speedy stepped through the ruined doorway into the lab. Dr. Roquette looked up as she took in the red-clad archer striding past her.
"Dr. Roquette?" he asked, barely sparing her a glance as he surveyed the room.
"Tell me you're the advanced guy," she said, exasperated.
Speedy reached over his shoulder and pulled an arrow from his quiver. "The only guy."
Dr. Roquette blinked. The young vigilante standing before her was definitely not the overwhelming cavalry she had been hoping for. "You couldn't bring backup? What, were there budget cuts?"
Before Speedy could respond, a deep clang echoed through the halls. The few competent guards had finally realized something was wrong. The heavy thud of approaching footsteps grew louder as henchmen surged down the corridors.
Speedy turned, drawing a second arrow with a blue-grey canister. He let it fly. The arrow struck the wall near the far side of the lab.
BOOM
An explosion ripped through the concrete, punching a hole clear through to the outside.
Dr. Roquette coughed, waving the dust away.
Speedy, unfazed, jerked his head toward the exit. "Now-or-never time, Doc."
She hesitated, glancing down at the device beside her. "We can't leave this."
Speedy exhaled sharply. "Look, I take it, or I take you."
Dr. Roquette hesitated only a second longer. She dropped it. "Right." She yanked off her glasses and stuffed them into her coat pocket. "Take me."
Without missing a beat, Speedy fired another arrow attached to a rope. The projectile buried itself across the gap, securing their escape route. He quickly tied the rope off, then extended his right arm toward her. "Hang on."
Dr. Roquette grabbed hold, gripping tight just as shouting echoed from the hall.
Speedy he kicked off the ground, pulling them both upward just as the first of Ra's al Ghul's guards stormed into the room.
The guards burst into the lab just as Speedy and Dr. Roquette zipped down the rope. Gunfire cracked behind them, bullets whizzing past as Dr. Roquette let out a scream, clinging desperately to Speedy's side.
"Hold on!" Speedy shouted, and then just as the rope ran out, he let go.
They dropped fast, landing hard in the sand of the beach. Speedy rolled to cushion the fall, pulling Roquette with him and immediately flipping to his feet.
"Move, move, move!" he urged, keeping himself between her and the guards.
Gunfire rang out behind them as henchmen stormed the beach. Sand kicked up as shots struck the ground around them.
Roquette scrambled ahead while Speedy stayed low, guiding her toward something covered in a heavy camouflage tarp near the waterline.
Without slowing, Speedy ripped the tarp free, revealing a sleek blue speedboat beneath.
Roquette didn't need to be told twice. She clambered aboard as Speedy pushed the boat into deeper water. The moment it was clear, he hauled himself up, jumping from the rear seats straight to the driver's position.
Roquette barely had time to catch her breath before glancing at him with a smirk. "So, what do you call this? The Arrow-boat?"
Speedy shot her a glare as he flipped switches on the control panel. "I call it a rental."
Weapons fired again, and Speedy didn't hesitate. His hand shot out, pushing Roquette's head down against the seat.
"Get down," he ordered.
As soon as she was clear, his hand moved to the throttle, slamming it forward. The engine roared to life, and the speedboat shot across the waves. On the touchscreen, red dots began appearing, marking the enemies on the shore.
Back on the beach, the guards continued firing. Near their feet, however, something new was happening a series of triggers whirred to life in the sand. It caught their attention just seconds before everything blew.
A series of rapid-fire explosions tore through the beach, sending everything flying.
Speedy glanced back, watching the chaos with satisfaction before leaning back into the seat. "I think we're in the clear," he announced.
Roquette sat up, dusting herself off before looking over her shoulder. "Great," she muttered sarcastically.
Speedy shot her a look. "What?"
She exhaled. "Leaves only one problem."
Elsewhere
In the center of the lab, the device still stood exactly where Dr. Roquette had left it.
An old man, dressed in dark robes, loomed over.
Beside him, a figure wearing a metallic cyclops-like visor tapped away at a handheld controller.
"Well?" the old man asked.
The visor-wearing man studied the data on his screen before nodding. "She finished. We're good to go."
A slow, malicious grin spread across the old man's face.
Infinity Island Infirmary
Some Time Later
Fluorescent light buzzed overhead as Larry groaned, slowly coming to on a stiff cot. He rubbed his temple and winced, his skull throbbing.
"Ugh... did I get hit by a truck or a trebuchet?" he muttered, eyes still half-shut.
Across the room, Rich stirred beneath a scratchy blanket, letting out a groggy grunt. "That archer dude didn't care that we were in range of the explosion."
Larry blinked at the ceiling lights, waiting for his vision to adjust. Then his stomach dropped.
"The doctor!" he gasped, scrambling upright. "Where is she?!"
Rich sat up slowly, grabbing an ice pack from the nearby counter and pressing it to his face. "Gone."
"The Doctor escaped," Larry gasped. Larry paled. "Oh no. Oh man. This is bad real bad." Larry swallowed hard. "They're going to kill us for this. We're gonna get vaporized or… what's worse than kitchen duty?!"
Rich waved him off with a sluggish hand. "Relax. The bosses don't blame us."
Larry stared. "Wait... seriously?"
Rich rolled his eyes. "She got away with a superhero. Everyone expected this from us. They pinned everything on that Red Archer guy. They're blaming the outer perimeter team."
Larry flopped back onto his cot, exhaling with exaggerated relief. "Oh, thank the shadows. I was not ready for a hero fight. I panicked so hard I'm pretty sure my gun's safety still on at the time."
Larry stared at the ceiling. "Man, we're lucky."
"Yeah," Rich said flatly. "Lucky."
They lay in silence for a moment, the hum of medical equipment filling the quiet.
"I miss when our job was just standing around looking cool," Larry said wistfully.
"You never looked cool," Rich replied.
More silence.
Then Larry asked, "So… we still pretending we were unconscious the whole time?"
"Absolutely," Rich said without hesitation.
They both immediately went limp, closing their eyes like cartoon corpses.
Moments later, a nurse walked by, glanced them, then kept walking without comment.
S.T.A.R. Labs - Philadelphia Facility
August 8, 17:24 EDT
Dr. Silas Stone and Dr. Sarah Charles stood outside on the front steps, flanked by a small team of researchers. They had prepared a variety of tools and equipment for the day's unusual appointment.
One of the researchers leaned closer to Dr. Charles. "Do we know what form he'll take today?"
Before she could answer, a shadow glided overhead. The researchers instinctively looked up. The shape was clearly alien yet bird-like with a jetpack.
Dr. Charles's eyes widened. "That's got to be him."
The alien figure swooped lower, wings folding back. He touched down gently in front of the team. This was Astrodactyl. "Hello! Ark, here. Thanks for having me."
The tension seemed to melt from the shoulders of the team. Dr. Silas Stone stepped forward, extending a hand. "Dr. Silas Stone. Welcome to STAR Labs, Ark. This is Dr. Sarah Charles."
Sarah stepped forward as well, offering her hand as well. "It's an honor. We've been reviewing the AMAZO you kept intact."
Astrodactyl shook both and chuckled lightly. "Glad you appreciate my tact."
Despite his alien form, he still gave a casual demeanor. Their initial caution softened.
Silas cleared his throat. "We'll take you straight to the lab once the League rep arrives. We've hit a wall with AMAZO's defenses."
As if on cue, the low hum of engines announced the arrival of two more figures, Martian Manhunter and Red Tornado, who emerged from a Justice League transport.
"Dr. Stone. Dr. Charles," Martian Manhunter greeted. "I trust preparations have been thorough."
Silas inclined his head. "Martian Manhunter. Red Tornado. Thank you both for joining us."
Red Tornado answered. "Given AMAZO's history and the threat it posed to the League, our presence here is both prudent and required."
The researchers exchanged glances, impressed, and visibly more at ease now that the League was here to oversee the proceedings.
Ark offered a respectful nod to the two League members. "I appreciate you coming. This way, we're all on the same page."
A shimmer of green light rippled over his form as Astrodactyl shifted, his body compressing and morphing with practiced ease until Brainstorm stood in his place.
The scientists gasped in quiet amazement at the transformation. Even Silas blinked in surprise.
"I'm prepared to begin the collaborative study," Brainstorm said.
Silas raised a brow. "Why did you transform?"
Martian Manhunter's gestured. "This species has higher brain function. If you read the report provided, this was the form that assisted in subduing the AMAZO android."
Sarah adjusted her glasses, fascinated. "Fascinating. What humans wouldn't give to get access to that sort of intelligence."
Brainstorm's response was gentle but firm. "I would advise you ignore that line of thinking, Doctor. It may not end well. I have seen many beings who sought to break their biological limits without caution."
Silas gave her a placating look. "I understand what you mean. But rather than biological changes, I believe the path forward for humanity is cybernetic augmentation."
Brainstorm gave a small, thoughtful chuckle. "I take it you're a fan of classic science fiction movies."
Silas laughed lightly. "They may or may not have been an influence on my current field."
Red Tornado stepped forward, addressing the STAR Labs team. "Our role will be to observe and ensure that the protocols of safety and data security are maintained. Ark will handle technical analysis only."
Martian Manhunter added. "We are not here to interfere with your research, Doctor Stone. But we will ensure that AMAZO's remains secure, and that Ark's insights remain within League channels."
Silas inclined his head, acknowledging the firm but fair oversight. "Understood. Let's move inside."
Inside the containment lab, the team passed through reinforced doors and entered a secure chamber that seemed to hum with a constant, nervous energy. AMAZO stood upright in the center of a containment pod, the sleek contours of its metallic form bathed in bright white light.
Brainstorm paused before the containment pod, the faint energy arcs along his helmet's crest flickering as he studied the dormant android. "Ah, it is good to see my most recent liberation from the forces of evil," he joked lightly.
Silas gave him a small smile, though his gaze remained sharp. "That's in part why we requested your assistance specifically. Every attempt of ours to access its systems has failed."
Sarah stepped forward, tablet in hand. "Please. Any information you can give us would be invaluable."
Brainstorm moved closer to the containment pod that held AMAZO. "Before I begin, I should let you know that I used this form's innate technopathic abilities to interface with the android. The supercomputer that helped breach its firewalls was my own brain."
A hushed murmur swept through the gathered researchers. Even Dr. Silas Stone and Dr. Sarah Charles exchanged a quick glance.
Silas leaned forward slightly. "How much processing power is your… rather large brain capable of handling?"
Brainstorm gave a small, amused tilt of his head. "Hmm. How should I put this?" He paused, folding his claws as he spoke with the clarity of a teacher sharing a lecture. "As you know, while IQ tests assess cognitive abilities, they are not solely based on 'data processing' in the way a computer processes information."
Dr. Charles nodded quickly, adjusting her glasses. "Yes. The human brain processes a vast amount of information. Estimates suggest around eleven million bits of information per second from all senses. But the conscious mind only handles about forty to fifty bits per second, with the rest processed automatically and unconsciously."
Brainstorm smiled faintly. "Well, if the average human brain's IQ of one hundred can process eleven million bits per second, then my IQ would be in excess of ten to the thirtieth power, one nonillion."
There was a collective intake of breath. The researchers were slack-jawed, unable to find words. Even Martian Manhunter's brow rose in silent astonishment, while Red Tornado's mechanical eyes flickered in quiet calculation.
Silas's lips parted in disbelief. "That's like… ten to the thirty-fifth bits per second."
Brainstorm gave a small nod. "Do not feel upset. I know of supercomputers that can handle ten to the one hundred fifty-ninth bytes of information per second."
Dr. Charles's hand trembled slightly as she lowered her tablet. "My god…"
Red Tornado hummed. . "Not even sentient artificial beings like myself require that level of computing."
Brainstorm's faint smile deepened. "Well, the world is a big place. Humanity will get there when it gets there." He took a step forward, the light catching the gleaming silver of his armored feet. "Now, let's get back to the matter at hand. You don't need the same computing power as myself to access AMAZO… if I give you the proverbial back door key."
Dr. Charles blinked. "I'm sorry… you left one for yourself?"
"Of course," Brainstorm replied. "As if I would let go of our new toy without reassurances, to be stolen away."
Silas let out a quiet, resigned chuckle. "I suppose that makes sense."
Brainstorm inclined his head. "Now, if you'll excuse me."
He walked up to the containment pod. The shell of his head began to open up, his brain. Yellow electricity arced outward, forming tendrils that reached across the small gap between Brainstorm and the android.
AMAZO responded. "Access granted. Welcome, Administrator Ark."
Every member of the STAR Labs team was transfixed. "You gave yourself admin privileges?"
"Of course!"
Silas was the first to gather himself.. "Let's get started," he said, eyes locked on the interface. "Whatever insights you have, we'll document everything."
Brainstorm nodded. "Understood."
Miami Beach
August 8, 21:38 EDT
The campus of the MBU Robotics Laboratory was closed for the night. At the rear entrance, an unmarked car pulled up. Professor Ojo sat in the driver's seat.
In the passenger seat beside him, he reached for a large canister. With a hiss of depressurization, he cracked the canister open. A swirling, roiling cloud of grey mist erupted from within, coiling like a living creature in the cramped air of the car. The fog of nanomachines streamed outward.
The mist crept across the ground. It found the building's vents and the smallest of cracks, slipping past security barriers as if they were nothing at all. Inside the laboratory, it reached the central supercomputer. Tendrils of the fog slid into various ports.
Professor Ojo watched it all through the tablet feed reflected. On Ojo's portable computer, the download bar grew until it reached one hundred percent. A thin, satisfied smile tugged at his lips. He pressed a single button.
The nanomachine fog shifted and returned toward the canister before it closed.
Without a word, he shifted the car into gear and pulled away from the building. In the rearview mirror, he watched as the laboratory shuddered and caved in on itself.
Professor Ojo's thin smile never wavered as he drove off to the next target.
S.T.A.R. Labs - Philadelphia Facility
At Brainstorm's command, AMAZO's chest panels shifted and parted, revealing a softly glowing power core nestled within.
The light from the core bathed the room in a glow.
"As with all technology, the first step is always finding a way to power it all." Brainstorm gestured to the core with a sweep of his hand. "To replicate superpowers on the scale of Captain Atom and Superman, AMAZO would need a power core capable of supplying energy comparable to a fusion power plant."
The scientists leaned closer, eyes wide with fascination. Brainstorm traced a claw along the edge of the containment pod.
"What Doctor Ivo created here is essentially miniaturized nuclear fusion technology, a power source akin to the very stars themselves."
Dr. Sarah Charles let out a soft gasp. "That's… incredible. "
Dr. Silas Stone leaned forward, eyes narrowing as he studied the glow.
Brainstorm rolled his eyes, though there was a small, crooked smile at the corner of his mouth. "With all you super geniuses running around, it's absurd that Earth is still a level three planet on average." He paused. "Then again, one could argue that's for the best."
Silas raised a brow. "Level three? What are you talking about?"
Seeing their confusion, Brainstorm folded his hands behind his back. "It's one of the ways I measure a civilization's technological development. You might be more familiar with the Kardashev scale, but mine is broader." He nodded at them. "Level one is simple machines. Level three includes nuclear fission."
The researchers exchanged glances, curiosity prevailing over skepticism. "What about beyond that?" Sarah asked, adjusting her glasses.
Brainstorm's eyes glowed faintly as he explained, "Robots can vary depending on capabilities. I've fought ones that are level twelve. AMAZO, with this nuclear fusion core alone, counts as level four."
Red Tornado spoke up. "My power source is also fusion-based. I would be considered at least level four, not accounting for my aerokinetic abilities."
Brainstorm inclined his head in agreement. "Energy projection on the level of yours would be at least level five," he said. "And that's without even delving into the… hypotheticals of what AMAZO could replicate."
The scientists fell silent, the implications of those words settling over them like a heavy blanket. Then, almost hesitantly, Silas asked, "What about our current projects? Where would they fall?"
Brainstorm didn't hesitate. "Depends on the project. Your molecular manipulator work? Mid-level four, bordering on five. Your quantum entanglement experiments? Theoretically level five, though implementation is… lacking."
Brainstorm's expression turned thoughtful. "What about nanotechnology?"
Sarah's brow furrowed. "You would have to speak to Dr. Serling Roquette. She's a nanorobotics genius in Star City. Claytronics, programmable matter."
"Depending on her progress, she might already be on the cusp of level five."
Sarah tilted her head. "If Earth has level five technology… why are we still level three overall?"
Brainstorm's alien brow arched with quiet amusement. "I did say average," he reminded them. "Do either of you plan on making this technology available to the public any time soon?"
Silas and Sarah shared a glance, uncertainty passing silently between them. "We… don't know," Silas admitted. "We're still talking to several manufacturers."
Brainstorm sighed and rolled his eyes. "As expected," he said. "Every planet has its outlier geniuses, but rarely do they share their discoveries with the masses." He gestured at AMAZO's core with one hand. "This could literally power entire countries. Instead, it's being used as a weapon."
"I hope that STAR Labs uses their technological discoveries to benefit the public as a whole. If we have time, I have a proposal for you guys."
Martian Manhunter and Red Tornado looked at each other. What was Ark going to do now?
August 8, 22:12 EDT
For the next few hours, Brainstorm guided them through AMAZO's inner workings piece by piece. He explained everything like a teacher. Each revelation pulled the researchers deeper into awe.
Finally, Brainstorm arrived at what he called the most dangerous aspect of all, the power mimicry ability.
"This is the Adaptive Molecular Reconstruction System," he began. "AMAZO's primary function: a self-learning android designed for adaptive combat." He let his hand hover over the pod as if tracing the contours of the android's very soul. "Its body is made of programmable matter, a hybrid of nanotech and quantum structures that can shift at will."
Silas leaned forward, breathless. "It can rewrite itself?"
"Yes," Brainstorm confirmed. "It reconstructs molecular blueprints of abilities based on extrapolated data. It can adapt to different biological structures: metahuman, alien, and even purely technological."
Sarah's eyes were wide. "That's why it can phase like Martian Manhunter… harden like Superman's skin?"
Brainstorm nodded slowly. "Precisely. Density shifts for phasing, hardening for invulnerability. What remains uncertain is whether it can replicate abilities that are 'lent' from external sources such as Wonder Woman's divine gifts or Zatara's magic, for example."
Dr. Charles's brow furrowed. "We… prefer not to call them magic or divine blessings," she said softly.
Brainstorm gave her a small, amused smile. "Call it what you will. AMAZO will call it data all the same."
Dr. Sarah Charles leaned over her console. "In any case, we're making progress. Slowly."
Suddenly, an alarm blared to life, red lights strobing across the lab's pristine white walls. An urgent pulse of panic rippled through the room.
"Breach detected. South perimeter," Red Tornado said.
Martian Manhunter hummed. "That's not good."
Outside the building, the FOG rolled in like a living shadow. It crept across the ground in swirling waves, swallowing the neatly manicured lawns. Security cameras flickered and went dark. Windows cracked and shattered inward, glass raining down as the FOG pressed on, seeping through the newly made openings in the outer walls.
Inside, the security staff scrambled at their consoles, faces pale with fear. "Doctors, we're losing visual feeds!" one of them shouted into the building's PA system. "The whole south wing is offline!"
The heroes and scientists rushed to a central computer terminal, eyes scanning the rapidly failing feeds. A deep, metallic groan filled the air as a heavy steel door on the monitor buckled inward, the FOG oozing through the jagged gaps.
"It's some sort of nanomachine swarm. Not again…" Brainstorm said. "We need to seal this lab. Now."
Silas searched for any safe path through the building. "We're cut off," he said grimly. "If it reaches the servers… We'll lose everything."
Red Tornado stepped forward, his mechanical eyes bright with focused resolve. "It seems that computer systems are vulnerable. Ark and Martian Manhunter will engage the threat directly. I will assist with evacuation protocols."
Brainstorm nodded firmly. "No problem."
With that, Red Tornado turned to the scientists. "This way. Stay close to me."
In the main hallway, the FOG swept forward. Doors locked tight under the emergency protocols iced over and cracked as the nanomachine swarm froze and corrupted everything in its path. Computer terminals flickered and died in its wake.
Brainstorm's claws flew across the emergency systems console. "It's bypassing the majority of security entirely. I can stall… but not for long."
Martian Manhunter phased through the wall beside Red Tornado, his emerald eyes half-lidded in concentration as he reached out with his mind. "I sense an unknown man outside the building."
Brainstorm didn't hesitate. "He might be involved. Find him and see why he's here."
Manhunter nodded, then stepped back into the wall.
Brainstorm refocused on the console, his eyes narrowing. "They won't be stealing anything on my watch," he muttered. He rerouted all available power to the building's internal energy shielding. Around the main servers, force fields are activated. "Glad that they prioritized information security."
Then the building itself shuddered. The fog had found the ventilation system. Doors locked tight began to deteriorate. The fog had split into several parts, seeking out desired information.
As soon as he started to see particles of fog enter the room, one part of his mind projected a an electromagnetic barrier around himself, the central computer terminal, and AMAZO. The translucent dome buzzed as nanomachine fog slammed into it. Despite their sophistication, such small machines still lacked proper insulation from excessive electricity.
The other half of his thoughts were buried deep in the lab's network. His mind sealed off doorways and directed the emergency lights for Red Tornado and the Doctors to follow and avoid the flood of incoming nanomachines. In the southeast wing, hallway sprinklers activated right before he overloaded power conduits in the room, frying a decent chunk of the invading machines.
Brainstorm's mind raced. He knew from experience that one didn't simply fight off a nanomachine swarm with brute force. He'd learned that lesson the hard way more than once.
There was a way to stop almost all of the swarm, but he would need to setup protections so any of his localized EMP bursts wouldn't harm Red Tornado or take out critical life support systems with people still in the building.
His gaze flicked to AMAZO. "This isn't ideal…" he whispered. "But it's one of the few ways to keep AMAZO and everything else safe. I hope STAR Labs made an off-site backup recently."
He took a breath and barked out the command. "AMAZO… Defense Patrol protocol: ACTIVATE!"
Within the pod, the android's eyes snapped open. "Defense Patrol protocol: online," AMAZO answered.
"Activate External Faraday Cage to maximum amperage."
AMAZO's plating began to seal many gaps and started to spark.
"What are your Prime Directives?"
"Serve the public trust," the android replied. "Protect the innocent. Uphold the law."
A slow, fierce smile pulled at his lips. "You're damn right it is. I'm taking point.
Brainstorm's body glowed green as he shifted forms once again, his figure shrunk into a small black and green gremlin and battery-like creature crackling with electricity. With that, the forcefield around them fell, and the nanomachines rushed toward them.
Buzzshock glowed before he released a large burst of green energy in a localized EMP, taking out a good chunk of the fog in the room.
Thanks to the Farraday Cage, AMAZO was still online. "Red Tornado" The androids arms made a tornado that sucked up more of the nanomachines and flung them into a wall which was soon consumed.
Buzzshock flew toward a nearby door. "Follow me!"