James stood on a rooftop overlooking Gotham's industrial port three nights after guiding Barbara through another training session. His enhanced senses were active, scanning the area in a routine patrol sweep.
Then he felt it.
A sensation like static electricity crawling across his skin. His enhanced hearing picked up a low-frequency hum that made his teeth ache. The air tasted wrong. Metallic. Alien.
"AEGIS, analysis on environmental anomaly."
"Scanning. Detecting unusual energy signature. Frequency pattern inconsistent with terrestrial technology. Cross-referencing known energy types." A pause. "Match found. Energy signature consistent with theoretical Apokoliptian technology. Confidence level: eighty-seven percent."
James felt his blood go cold.
Apokoliptian technology. New God tech. That shouldn't exist on Earth yet, or at least shouldn't be this prevalent. Darkseid's influence reaching Earth decades earlier than he'd expected.
This changed everything.
"Pinpoint the source."
"Energy emanating from warehouse complex, sector seven delta. Distance: one point three kilometers northeast. Multiple sources detected. Estimated count: twelve discrete energy signatures."
James's mind raced. Apokoliptian technology meant Intergang. In the comics, Intergang was a criminal organization that used weapons and equipment provided by Darkseid's forces. They were supposed to be operating in Metropolis primarily, with Bruno Mannheim as their leader.
But if they were in Gotham now, setting up operations, that was a serious problem.
More importantly, it was an opportunity.
Mother Boxes. Boom Tubes. Energy weapons. New God technology was incredibly advanced. If James could acquire some of it, study it, reverse-engineer even small aspects, his capabilities would increase dramatically.
But he needed to be smart. Batman would want to know about this immediately. Intergang was a major threat. The responsible thing would be to call for backup.
James considered for exactly three seconds. Then made his decision.
He'd investigate first. Gather intelligence. If possible, acquire samples. Then bring in Batman with complete information rather than vague suspicions.
It wasn't about keeping secrets from Batman. It was about maximizing his own advantage. The Dark Knight had access to resources James didn't. But James had meta-knowledge Batman lacked. That knowledge was his edge, and he needed to leverage it.
He grappled toward the warehouse complex. Landed silently on a roof overlooking the target area. Activated his enhanced senses to maximum.
His vision pierced the darkness. Through warehouse windows, he could make out movement. Fifteen people. No, seventeen. Armed with weapons that glowed with faint blue energy.
His enhanced hearing picked up conversations.
"...shipment arrives tomorrow. Boss wants distribution ready within forty-eight hours."
"These weapons are worth millions on the black market. Gotham's gangs will pay premium prices."
"Just don't test-fire them inside. Last idiot who did that vaporized himself and took out a wall."
Intergang. Definitely Intergang. Planning to flood Gotham with alien weapons within two days.
James focused his enhanced vision on the weapons themselves. They were compact. Rifle-sized. The energy signatures were identical to what AEGIS had detected. Apokoliptian design, no question.
He scanned the rest of the warehouse. Spotted crates marked with unfamiliar symbols. Stacked equipment that didn't match any Earth technology. And in the center of the main floor, a larger device that pulsed with rhythmic energy.
"AEGIS, analysis on central device."
"Scanning. Device appears to be a power generator or relay system. Energy output is substantial. Possible function: charging or powering the weapons. Alternative hypothesis: communication device maintaining connection to external source."
A relay. That made sense. Intergang couldn't manufacture this technology themselves. They needed a connection to Apokolips or wherever Darkseid was staging from.
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