Chapter 86: The Flesh Is Weak 5
(Third Person POV)
The halls of the Light's headquarters echoed with an unsettling silence. Nestled deep within the labyrinthine structures of an abandoned subterranean complex, the facility was shielded from prying eyes and any form of detection. Every single wall was lined with lead, along with multiple forms of soundproofing signal dampening as well as various magical protections and wards.
Lex Luthor, a member of the Light, stood at the head of a long table, his eyes narrowed as he reviewed the latest reports. Around him sat the other members of this secretive cabal: Queen Bee, Ra's al Ghul, Vandal Savage, Klarion the Witch Boy, Black Manta, and the Brain, each representing a different corner of the world's dark underbelly.
The holographic display flickered with data streams, showing footage of recent events, the confrontation between the Justice League and an all-too-familiar android, Amazo.
But what brought the most annoyance to the table was the fact that the machine was handling them as if they were children.
"We underestimated him," Luthor finally said, his voice calm but laced with underlying tension. "Amazo has evolved far beyond what Ivo originally intended. And he's already gotten his hands on the original Roy Harper and Superman clone."
Klarion just laughed at Luthor's pain while the others grimaced. The thought of an advanced artificial intelligence skinny access to a virtually unlimited amount of Kryptonian DNA was already terrifying enough
Vandal Savage leaned back in his chair, the ancient warrior's eyes gleaming with interest. "This was always a possibility, Lex. Ivo's arrogance blinded him to the true nature of the being he created. Amazo is not just an android, he's a force of pure evolution, driven by the very instincts we humans try to suppress. He doesn't see the world like we do not anymore. Do we have any idea how this machine was able to craft its own sentience?"
Luthor's gaze shifted to Savage, who had lived through centuries and seen countless empires rise and fall. "Even so, we need to reassess our position. If Amazo continues unchecked, he could become a threat to the Justice League and us. But how it turned against its creator is still unknown to us."
Ra's al Ghul, the immortal leader of the League of Shadows, spoke up, his voice calm and measured. "Power is a double-edged sword, Luthor. Amazo represents both an opportunity and a danger. His quest for 'peace' could align with our goals if guided correctly."
Klarion, the mischievous chaos-bringer, laughed, a high, unsettling sound that bounced off the walls. "Why worry? If he's so powerful, let him wreak havoc! It could be fun watching the League squirm for once. And besides, it seems like he would be a fun toy for Teekl."
Black Manta, always the pragmatist, cut through the banter. "Fun doesn't secure power, Klarion. Amazo's goals are unclear. He's acting independently, with no regard for alliances or boundaries. That makes him unpredictable and therefore dangerous."
Queen Bee, who had been silent, leaned forward, her eyes calculating. "Amazo's behavior suggests he's no longer following Ivo's programming. He's evolving with each encounter. If he continues to gather data and abilities at this rate, he could become something even we can't control."
The Brain, his voice cold and mechanical, added, "Control is not the issue. Leverage is. Amazo's capacity to absorb and replicate abilities means that, theoretically, he could be utilized to eliminate the League entirely. The question is how we position ourselves in that equation."
Luthor tapped a finger on the table, considering their options. "We need to understand his endgame. He's been absorbing data from the League, infiltrating their headquarters, and now, according to our latest intel, he's begun expanding his influence across the globe, possibly even into Earth's orbit."
Vandal Savage nodded slowly, his mind working behind those ancient eyes. "Amazo's actions suggest he's searching for something, an ultimate form of power, or perhaps understanding. His pursuit of 'peace' is concerning, as it may come at the cost of humanity's free will. It's almost frightening how our old enemy stares us in the face, even from across the stars.
Ra's al Ghul's gaze turned distant as he pondered the implications. "Amazo's version of peace could mean the end of all conflict, yes, but also the end of all freedom. He seeks to impose order, much like we do, but without the nuance that organic life requires. His vision could easily become tyranny."
The room fell silent as each member of the Light considered Ra's words. They were masters of manipulation but understood the delicate balance of power. If Amazo's plans succeeded, the world might be reshaped in his image—one where even the Light's influence would be irrelevant.
Klarion finally broke the silence with a grin. "If he's really that strong, why don't we just pit him against the Justice League and see who comes out on top? Either way, we get rid of one problem."
"Short-sighted as always, Klarion," Luthor said sharply. "If Amazo defeats the League, we might be unable to stop him from turning his attention to us next. No, we need to be more strategic. We must understand his weaknesses before we take any action."
Queen Bee nodded. "Agreed. Perhaps we can exploit his evolving nature. If he's learning from every encounter, we might find a way to feed him false data—lead him down a path that serves our interests."
"Or," Savage added, "we could offer him a different partnership. If Amazo's goal is peace, perhaps we can convince him that our vision of order aligns with his."
Ra's al Ghul leaned forward, his eyes narrowing. "I would caution against underestimating him. Amazo is not like the others we've manipulated. His lack of emotion makes him less susceptible to deception. He's not driven by ego or ambition but by pure logic."
"True," Luthor conceded. "But even logic has its blind spots. If we can find out what Amazo truly wants, we can use that to our advantage. The key is to gather more information, discover what drives him, what he fears, and what he values."
Vandal Savage looked thoughtful. "Then we should consider deploying a team to monitor his activities. Keep him under surveillance, but do not engage unless absolutely necessary. If we can find a way to influence his actions, we may be able to turn this situation in our favor."
The Brain's voice whirred with mechanical precision. "I suggest we also deploy decoys of ourselves and let him think he's absorbing genuine data while we feed him misinformation. It's a calculated risk that could yield significant results."
Luthor nodded, approving the strategy. "We'll need to act quickly. Amazo's evolution won't wait for us to catch up. I'll arrange for our best operatives to shadow him. In the meantime, continue monitoring the Justice League's response. If they devise a plan, we must be one step ahead."
Black Manta leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with determination. "I'll have my people on the coasts keep an eye out. If Amazo shows up anywhere near my territory, I'll know about it."
"Good," Luthor said. "We can't afford to lose control of this situation. Amazo represents both a threat and an opportunity. If we play this right, we could use him to dismantle the League and reshape the world in our image. But if we fail..."
Ra's al Ghul finished the thought, his voice grave. "If we fail, Amazo will impose his version of order on the world. And that is something we cannot even allow."
The room fell silent again as the members of the Light considered the gravity of the situation. They had faced many challenges before, but this was different. Amazo was more than just a machine; he was a harbinger of a new world that might not have a place for them.
After a moment, Luthor stood, signaling the end of the meeting. "We have our course of action. Let's ensure that Amazo's evolution benefits us, not him. And if it comes to it, we must be prepared to stop him by any means necessary."
As the members of the Light dispersed, each returned to their respective domains, their minds racing with possibilities.
For all their power, they knew they were dealing with something beyond their usual games of manipulation and control. Amazo was not just another pawn on the chessboard; he was a player in his own right, with a vision that could challenge even the most carefully laid plans.
In the back of every single member other than Clarion, a tiny bit of fear formed within them as the very idea of a machine wielding power to warp reality itself was something they could not allow unless it could be held in their own hands.
But unknown to everyone in the room, it was already too late. They just didn't know yet.
[I see you.]
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone