The Bio-Ship dropped as M'gann tore from the ships organic control panel. It broke through the cloud layer, the lights of the highway appearing like a vein of gold in the dark. Below us, two armored transport trucks barreled toward a distribution center.
"Robin, I just scanned the truck," I said, my voice steady, not revealing the lie. "If I can get close enough, I can try to disrupt the engine's electronics with a targeted pulse. It's quieter than barging in."
"Hmm," Robin said, looking to Aqualad as if asking for permission. "Do it. But keep unnoticed. We don't want to startle the trucks into driving eighty miles an hour."
I nodded and dropped from the newly opened hatch, the wind whipping past my face. To save power, I didn't manifest a glider or a large construct. The soles of my feet glowed, creating a thin, aerodynamic "skate" construct under my boots to carry me toward the trucks.
Main Battery: 8.7%.
I landed on the roof of the lead truck with a muffled thud. I didn't stick the landing and went face-first against the cold metal, the vibration of the heavy engine rattling my teeth. This was the moment.
"Ring," I commanded. "Physical contact established. Interface with the cargo's containment unit. Give me a full architectural scan of the Ivo components. Break up the neural-link sensors and the power-copying array into different blueprints."
"Initiating stealth-scan," the AI whispered. "Warning: The cargo is active. A localized sensor field is monitoring the surrounding area."
I pressed my palm against the roof of the truck. With a tug of my mind, I pulled on the Ring's energy inward to stop it from glowing. The ring uses the truck's metal as a conductor for an ultrasonic pulse, allowing me to scan through solid objects.
My eyes shifted. The Sharingan flared to life to process the massive influx of data the Ring was feeding back. Slowly, I started seeing a machine, and those images became blueprints that showed me a schematic of each individual part. The Amazo components were a nightmare of modular circuitry—designed to adapt, to learn, and mimic.
"Scan 40% complete," the AI reported. "The copying array is dormant but capable of instant activation upon assembly."
Suddenly, the truck swerved. The driver had felt the impact or seen my shadow. A hatch on the side of the second truck opened, and a mercenary leaned out with a specialized sonic cannon.
"Vex, look out!" Kid Flash's voice crackled in my ear.
A blast of high-frequency sound slammed near me onto the side of the truck. The metal buckled. I dug my fingers into the roof, the Ring flared bright green as I reinforced my grip.
"Robin, the drivers are armed with Dr.Ivo's tech!" I shouted. "They're not just transporters, they're the security."
"Change of plans," Robin's voice was sharp. "Aqualad, take the second truck. Vex, stop that vehicle now. Forget the stealth."
"Understood," I said.
I had the data I needed—65% of the Amazo architecture was now stored in the Ring's memory. I could finish the rest once the parts were captured. I stood up on the swaying roof, the wind tearing at my hoodie.
I didn't make a hammer or a wall. That would waste too much of my energy. Instead, I reached down and visualized the truck's front axle. I projected two thin, high-density green rods directly into the wheel wells.
Snap.
The front wheels locked instantly. A loud shriek came from the wheels, smoking as they shredded against the pavement. The truck pitched forward, the back end lifting off the ground.
"Conner, catch!" I yelled.
Superboy dropped from the Bio-Ship like a stone, slamming into the back of the trailer to keep it from flipping onto its side. The truck ground to a halt in a shower of sparks and scorched rubber.
I jumped off the roof as the dust settled, my eyes returning to their natural color.
"Ring," I thought, walking toward the back of the truck where the cargo sat. "Finish the scan. I want every line of code Ivo used for the power copying."
"Scan complete," the AI confirmed. "Data-index updated."
I leaned against the damaged trailer, my breath hitching. 8.4% power left. I had the blueprints for a god-machine in my head, and the Team just thought I was catching my breath after a successful stop.
"Nice work, Vex," Robin said, landing beside me. He looked at the smoking axle. "Batman might actually have to give you a passing grade for that one."
"Let's just get the parts," I said, rolling my eyes and catching a glimpse of the crates in my peripheral. "Before the rest of that thing decides to show up."