I didn't wait for Robin's analysis. Having just finished stealing the very blueprints Amazo was running on, I knew exactly what he was doing. If it finished that scan, it'd have a digitized version of the Sharingan's predictive processing and the ability to manifest hard-light constructs. I'd be looking at a superior version of myself without my human limitations.
"Ring," I thought, the command sharp and surgical. "Open the secondary storage. Destabilize the Reach energy—release the raw, encrypted energy directly into the air around us. Create a localized interference field."
"Warning: Venting unstable energy will deplete 15% of secondary storage and cause physical strain," the AI responded.
"Do it now."
I thrust my hand forward. Instead of a solid green shield, a chaotic, jagged cloud of electric-blue static erupted from the Ring. It looked like a malfunction, a wild discharge of "dirty" power that hissed and sparked as it hit the pavement.
To the Team, it looked like my Ring was failing under the pressure of Amazo's presence. But for Amazo, it was digital poison. His sensors, designed to map clean energy signatures and biological data, were suddenly flooded with the Reach's encryption and unfamiliar alien frequencies.
"Error," Amazo's voice slowed, the pitch dropping. "Input corruption. Ocular scan failed. Re-calibrating."
"Superboy, now!" I yelled, my arm shaking as the cold Reach energy burned through my nerves.
Conner didn't need a second invitation. He leaped through the blue haze, his fist connecting with Amazo's jaw in a blow that sounded like a sledgehammer hitting an anvil. The android skidded back, his head snapping to the side, the orange glow in his eyes flickering.
I dropped to one knee, letting the blue static dissipate. Now I needed to play the part. I clutched my hand, the Ring glowing a weak, flickering green.
"Vex! You okay?" Robin shouted, throwing a series of birdarangs that exploded against Amazo's chest to keep him distracted.
"I... I tried to block him," I panted, my voice strained. "The Ring reacted badly to his sensors. It's fighting me."
"It's okay, just stay back!" Robin ordered. "Aqualad, flank him! We need to pull the core before he adapts to Superboy's strength!"
As the Team engaged the android, I stayed in the shadows of the transport truck. My eyes shifted to red, the three tomoe spinning rapidly. I was watching how Amazo's nanotechnology shifted to mimic a biology similar to Connor.
Because I had the Ivo-tech data and the Reach energy had already made contact with his system, I could see his adaptation routine in inside as well. He was trying to cycle through the Justice League powers he had already stored—Superman's strength to match Conner, Flash's speed to dodge Aqualad.
"Ring," I whispered, my eyes locked on the android's chest plate. "The scan I took earlier. Identify the primary cooling vent for the processing core. I'm going to use a needle-thin construct to jam the fan. If he can't cool the core, he can't process the power-copying data."
"Target acquired. Small vent located under the left clavicle plating."
I didn't stand up. There was no need to make a big show of it. I pointed my finger from the shadows, a single, hair-thin line of green light—powered by the pure Will I'd taken from Conner—shot out. It was too small for Amazo's combat sensors to prioritize over Superboy's punches.
The needle slipped through the plating and snapped.
A second later, a plume of black smoke vented from Amazo's shoulder. His movements became sluggish, his "speed force" vibration stuttering and dying out.
"He's overheating!" Robin noticed, seeing the opening. "Aqualad, the heavy hit! Now!"
Aqualad slammed his water-maces into Amazo's chest, the force of the impact—combined with the internal pressure of the stalled cooling system—shattering the android's outer casing. The orange light in his eyes faded to a dull grey.
The "god-machine" slumped into a heap of scrap metal.
I stood up slowly, the Ring's power sitting at a precarious 7.2% Main, 35% Secondary. I had successfully sabotaged the League's greatest tactical threat, stolen its source code, and convinced everyone that I was just a struggling rookie with a glitchy ring.
"Nice catch, Vex," Aqualad said, walking over and offering a hand. "Your 'malfunction' actually gave us the window we needed."
"Yeah," I said, taking his hand and pulling myself up. "Lucky break, I guess."