The simulation room was a vast, empty chamber of polished white polymer. I stood in the center, the only light coming from the faint green glow of the Ring. My main battery was at 6.3%, and the secondary storage was hovering at a precarious 50%. The stolen Reach energy was still volatile, a constant icy presence in my veins.
"Simulation initiated," a synthesized voice announced. "Scenario: Structural Integrity Maintenance. Construct a support beam for a collapsing bridge. Target density: 10,000 psi."
A holographic projection of a bridge appeared above me, its girders twisting and snapping.
"Ring," I whispered, holding out my hand. "Do not use my willpower to hold the structure. Use the energy from the Reach crate I scanned earlier. Reverse-engineer their bio-tech and apply it to a hard-light construct. I need to know if I can hold that bridge using their tech, not mine."
"Analyzing Reach data... conversion in progress," the AI responded. "Caution: This will consume 20% of your secondary storage due to the instability of the energy source."
"Do it."
I channeled the jagged, electric-blue energy through the ring. It didn't feel like the steady, demanding pull of willpower. It felt like holding back a raging river. A massive, shimmering blue-green pillar erupted from my hand, slamming into the holographic bridge.
It held surprisingly well, the Reach construct actively reinforcing the structure, reinforcing its design in real-time. The Reach energy was helping, but I could tell that it would work with just my willpower energy if needed.
"Structural integrity at 100%," the simulation voice declared.
I was breathing hard, sweat trickling down my spine. The Sharingan was active, tracking the atomic structure of the construct I'd just created. It was beautiful chaotic blend of Green Lantern hard-light sparks surrounding the translucent organic Reach technology.
"Simulation complete," the voice announced. "Construct efficiency: 150% above baseline. User: Vex Vale. Potential threat level: High."
I froze. "Threat level?"
"My mistake, Vex," Robin's voice came over the intercom, followed by the sound of him stepping into the room. He was wearing his uniform, his face serious. "I was running a parallel analysis on your construct's energy output. It's a bit invasive."
He walked up to me, looking at the Ring. "You didn't just scan that crate in Santa Prisca, did you? You siphoned it. And you just used that tech to create a construct."
"I did what I had to do to pass the test," I said, meeting his gaze. "You wanted me to control it. I controlled it."
"You harnessed a weapon the League is still trying to understand, and you're using it to power a ring that you don't even know how to properly utilize," Robin countered, his voice low. "That's not control Vex. It's just reckless, and you're playing with fire."
"Then teach me," I snapped, letting a bit of my actual feelings surface. "Don't just watch me from your observation deck. Teach me how to use my power, or stop complaining when I use the only tools I have."
Robin looked at me for a long moment, the silence thick in the empty room. Finally, he nodded.
"Fine. But not here. And not like this." He gestured to the simulation room. "If you want to understand that ring, we're going to the one place that knows more about it than anyone else on Earth."
"And that is?" I perked.
He tapped his wrist-comp. "We're going to the Watchtower."
"Batman's not going to like that," I said, a grin touching my lips.
"Batman's not the one who has to keep an eye on you twenty-four-seven," Robin replied, turning to leave. "Suit up. We leave in ten."
Looking at the ring, the blue light faded to a dull green. I had just passed the test, and in doing so, I'd forced the Team to bring me closer to the heart of their operations.
The Watchtower was more than a base. It is the home of the Justice League and is filled to the brim with technology, intel, and potential energy sources.
I couldn't take advantage immediately. They were much too weary of me now. But I was an insider, and that came with its own advantages.