While AEGIS worked, James reviewed what he'd learned. Intergang was in Gotham. They had Apokoliptian weapons. They were planning mass distribution within two days. The technology was incredibly advanced.
This was too big to keep from Batman. But James wanted to understand what he'd stolen first. Wanted to see if he could reverse-engineer any of it before sharing intel.
He sent a secure message through the communicator Batman had given him.
"Need to meet. Have intelligence on major threat. 24 hours."
Batman's response came within minutes. "Acknowledged. Tomorrow night, 0200 hours, usual spot."
The usual spot was a rooftop near Crime Alley where they'd met twice before. Neutral ground.
James had twenty-four hours to learn everything he could from the device. Then he'd bring Batman in and they'd dismantle Intergang together.
But first, sleep. Even enhanced humans needed rest.
---
James woke six hours later to AEGIS's alert tone.
"Preliminary analysis complete. Results are extraordinary."
He moved to his laboratory workstation. Pulled up the data AEGIS had compiled.
The device he'd stolen was indeed a power cell. But calling it that was like calling the sun a light bulb. The technology was so far beyond Earth science it was almost incomprehensible.
AEGIS had identified the core operating principle. The cell used a form of zero-point energy extraction. It was literally pulling power from quantum vacuum fluctuations. Infinite energy from nothing.
That shouldn't be possible. Violated thermodynamics. Violated everything James understood about physics.
But the data didn't lie. The device worked. And it worked impossibly well.
"Can we replicate this?"
"Negative. Current human technology is insufficient. The materials alone are beyond Earth's periodic table. This device contains elements that don't exist naturally in this universe."
James wasn't surprised. New God technology was built on physics that didn't apply to normal matter. Trying to copy it with Earth science would be like trying to build a computer with stone tools.
But maybe he could learn principles. Understand the concepts well enough to create cruder versions using available materials.
"Begin theoretical modeling. I want to understand how this works even if we can't build it."
"Acknowledged."
James spent the next eight hours deep in research. His enhanced intellect worked overtime, processing the data, building models, testing hypotheses.
By evening, he had a rudimentary understanding. The New God technology operated on principles that blended science and magic. It wasn't purely technological. There was an element of will involved. Of consciousness affecting reality.
That was the key. New Gods like Darkseid weren't just using advanced science. They were using a form of applied metaphysics. Technology that responded to thought and intent as much as to engineering.
James couldn't replicate that. But he could maybe adapt the concept. Use his own technology in ways that incorporated intent. Build systems that responded to his will through neural interfaces.
It was a starting point. A direction for future development.
His communicator buzzed. Message from Barbara.
"Hey James, want to spar tomorrow? I learned some new techniques I want to test."
He smiled despite his focus on alien technology. Barbara was progressing well. Her dedication was impressive.
"Sure. 10 AM at the gym?"
"Perfect. See you then."
James returned to his research. But an hour later, his enhanced hearing picked up something that made him pause.
A disturbance. Three blocks away. Sounds of a fight. Someone was in trouble.
He suited up as Sovereign quickly. This was supposed to be his research night, but crime didn't follow schedules.
James grappled to the location of the disturbance. Found a scene that made him stop cold.
A woman in a black catsuit was fighting four men with Apokoliptian weapons. The energy blasters lit up the alley with blue fire. She was fast, dodging the blasts with incredible agility, but she was outnumbered and outgunned.
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