The Zeta-tube flared with a harsh, white light that made the air in the Hub crackle.
Recognized: Batman, 0-2.
I was sitting on a crate in the hangar, tossing a small, green-light ball between my hands. It was a low-drain construct, barely 0.1% of my battery, but it served its purpose: it made me look like a bored teenager fidgeting with a new toy. In reality, I was calibrating my focus, preparing my mind to be a blank slate.
The Dark Knight didn't walk. He loomed. Every step was silent, his cape dragging slightly behind him like a shadow with a mind of its own. Beside him walked Martian Manhunter.
J'onn J'onzz. The one I actually feared.
Batman stopped five feet from me. The white lenses of his cowl were fixed on my face, probably running a facial recognition scan that was currently hitting a dead end in every database on Earth.
"Vex Vale," Batman said. His voice was a low, gravelly rasp that made the hair on my neck stand up. "You've caused a lot of noise for someone who claims to be lost."
"Being dead tends to make you lose your sense of direction," I replied, letting the green ball dissolve. I stood up, keeping my hands visible. "I didn't ask to be at that power plant. I just woke up there."
"And the ring?" Batman stepped closer, the sheer physical presence of the man designed to break weaker wills. "It's definitely a green power ring, but it's not Oan. It's not Sinestro Corps either. Its signature is... anomalous."
"It's mine," I said, a flash of genuine possessiveness crossing my face. "It's the only thing that feels real right now."
J'onn stepped forward, his expression kind but his eyes terrifyingly deep. "Vex, I understand you are confused. To ensure the safety of this Team—and your own—I would like to perform a telepathic scan. I will only look for the circumstances of your arrival."
I felt the sweat start to gather at my hairline. If he went deep, he'd see the law firm. He'd see the "fiction" of this world. My entire advantage would vanish, replaced by a permanent cell in a government lab.
"Go ahead," I said, forced calmness in my voice. "Just don't stay long. It's crowded in there."
I closed my eyes. I didn't try to "block" him—that would be a red flag. Instead, I used the Sharingan's perfect recall to build a mental fortress. I flooded the "surface" of my mind with the most recent, visceral memories: the cold concrete of the alley, the smell of the harbor, the agonizing heat of the Zeta-energy siphon, and the confusion of waking up in a younger body.
I buried the "Vex the Lawyer" memories under a mountain of sensory noise. I focused on the feeling of the ring's hum and the visual data of Black Canary's movements.
I felt a cool, liquid sensation behind my eyes. It was J'onn. He moved through my thoughts like a ghost through a library. I felt him brush against the memory of the alleyway, the sharp fear of the first time the Sharingan activated.
Empty. Confused. Powerful. That was the narrative I fed him.
After what felt like an eternity, the pressure vanished. I opened my eyes to find J'onn nodding slowly to Batman.
"His memories of his arrival are fragmented, but consistent," the Martian said. "He believes he died and was somehow transported here. I sense no malice, only a strong desire for self-preservation."
"Self-preservation can be dangerous when it's backed by that much power," Batman countered, his eyes never leaving mine. "You'll stay here under the Team's supervision. You will train. You will follow the rules. If you use that ring for anything other than sanctioned exercises, you're out."
"Understood," I said. "And the eyes?"
"We'll monitor them," Batman said, turning to leave. "Robin has the data. Don't make me regret this, Vex."
As they walked toward the Zeta-tubes, I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. My heart was thumping against my ribs like a trapped bird. I'd lied to the World's Greatest Detective and the most powerful telepath on the planet—and I'd won.
"Power: 6.1%," the Ring whispered. "Stress levels elevated. Recommend rest."
"Not yet," I thought, watching the Zeta-beam flash as the heroes departed.
I turned and saw Robin leaning against the wall, watching me with a smirk that didn't reach his eyes. "Welcome to the Cave, Vex. Don't worry about Batman. He's like that with everyone."
"I noticed," I said, walking toward him. "So, what's the first 'sanctioned' exercise? I'm tired of sitting around."
I needed to get back to that power conduit. 6.1% wasn't going to be enough for what I had planned next.