61 The Flesh Is Weak 4

(Batman POV)

11 years.

For 11 years, I have worn the cowl and protected Gotham, and for seven years, I've worked with the league to counteract threats from beyond the planet and from within as well.

I have had decades of training to forge my body into a weapon worthy of fighting alongside and against superpowered individuals. I mastered hundreds of martial arts and masters over various weapon-based disciplines.

I forged my mind by learning from the greatest detectives and some of the most outstanding scientists across the planet. But in one day, not only had I lost and lost badly, but the league had as well, and what's worse is that that machine will keep growing and evolving.

I don't know its motives, and I couldn't understand any of it, even from the few lines he gave us.

" Peace in our time," it said.

According to Superman, all of the files in the Fortress hadn't even been touched but simply copied to that machine's data banks, and the hologram of his father had all of his memories of the encounter erased.

So not only had it been able to defeat a decent number of its strongest league members, but now it possessed knowledge of advanced technology.

The frustration I do not allow to show on my face bites at me mentally, but when Diana said that the machine reacted slightly to her lasso of truth means something. That machine has a soul.

The implications of such a thing are not beyond me, so either Dr. Ivo has managed to create mechanical life somehow, or he used a magic-based ritual has a basis to create an ever-adapting robot.

When you think about it, it seems like a basic idea as machines, or at least most machines with a few exceptions, aren't able to adapt to new programming as fast as that robot did, and the best way to do that is to have a human mind.

I can't even think of imagining what it's like to wake up and find yourself in a mechanical body, and based on the hesitation, I was able to see during our first encounter is consciousness, or what is left of it, waking up during the battle.

My thought processes are interrupted as Superman places his hand on my shoulder.

"Bruce, are you alright?" Superman asks.

" I'm fine. I'm just trying to figure out a means of tracking Amazo. as well as studying the data I was able to collect during the battle." Superman nods while Diana has a distant look on her face.

" it had a soul," Diana says in a disbelieving tone.

" elaborate, Diana, do not leave us in the dark," Superman says as he continues to check through the fortress's systems, looking for any viruses left behind.

" My Lasso was able to affect him, even if he was somehow able to dodge it. The resistance, I felt, was the same as any other criminal or sentient being. I still find it odd that he left us without critical injuries."

A small part of me wants to mention the fact that I broke a decent amount of bones that were only repaired due to the advanced healing tech in the fortress, but I remain silent.

" Whatever the doctor created has definitely gained sentence. You are correct in that assumption, Diana, but we do not understand its current goal. And since are not being able to understand of being intention, is one of the worst things when engaging it as an enemy." Continuing to study the footage of the battle. I definitely do notice that he was holding back.

Nearly 75% of his movements would've killed the average human had it not controlled them. It's studied his martial arts in seconds, learning years' worth of experiences through a few passing looks.

Now, it is gone off the grid entirely with the satellites at the watchtower, losing sight of it as it crossed the Atlantic Ocean. Wait a minute.

Ivo! Since the machine only gained a sentence recently, it still had to be operated by someone else. With the limited range of radio signals, the android could only be operated within a few miles of its controller.

Reaching for my earpiece, I ask Flash, " Barry, scope out a thirty-mile-wide area around our first clash with Amazo. Ivo may still be in the area."

"Alright, Batman is starting reconnaissance now. I'll get back to you if I find anything. Be back in a flash." the line then goes dead as Superman finishes checking over the fortress of Solitude's systems.

Heading towards the bat plane, Superman and Diana teleport back to the watchtower. We're going to need to have all hands on deck in terms of surveillance. We already have Hal combing the planet, along with John checking for any psionic signals.

I need to head back to Gotham, and Robin needs an update on this new threat. It could be anywhere right now and doing anything from accessing nuclear launch codes to releasing all the inmates from prison as a distraction.

During the battle, it definitely showed methods of controlling technology in an absolute form. Most Technopaths have a limited range, barely reaching past an average city, but this machine may have access to them all.

Flying back to Gotham, I dread what will come next.

(Amazo POV)

[What is the status of our nanite swarms?] I ask my temporary VIs.

[Creator, the swarms have located and attached themselves to three of the light's council.]

Nodding in my head, I begin to see the data streams coming from the nanites. I sent it out during the call I was on with the light. It was almost juvenile to trace their signals back to their actual locations, which I assume they knew I was tracking them.

They would be foolish not to take such measures.

But it doesn't matter, as when you're able to create nanites with the ability to teleport instantaneously, based on coordinates, which I have access to because I have access to all of the satellites.

At any moment, I could send in droves of nanites that could self-replicate and are all controlled by me to do anything I want, from flaying someone alive to existing within them without anyone knowing and spying on them.

My next move has already been charted as one of the swarms I sent to the Cadmus facility in Washington DC. I've already found what I'm looking for.

I have another group of nanites heading to Infinity Island. To rescue Dr Roguette, as I do not want the light to have access to Nanotech that allows them to destroy entire buildings just to clear them of data. It almost sickens me how hypocritical this organization is.

I am no moral paragon, but even I understand that there's no reason to take such a life so needlessly. All of the buildings that would fall apart would have civilians in them, and it would be such a pointless loss of life. And if you need to steal the data simply, just send someone inside out of all the hundreds of assassins you have.

But now I'm just arguing with myself while simultaneously operating multiple other streams of thought. If I were to compare it to anything, the most simple comparison would be the council room from that one Otome anime with one of the densest reverse harem protagonists ever.

I am all for taking care of a few rotten eggs in order not to spoil the omelet, but their plan is about as convoluted as it is stupid.

Humanity is by no means ready to step onto the Galactic stage, and it is only by luck that Vandal is able to access the Warworld in the future.

I do not want a repeat of Mass Effect's first contact war, at least in terms of it being more of a Cold War than it is an actual conflict.

As I focused my attention on Infinity Island, I used the Nanotech swarm to form a separate body there, and thankfully, my version, or at least the updated version of my body, keeps all of my adapted traits.

Once my alternate body was able to scan the island, he did not find any traces of the doctor, which meant one of two things: either they had not kidnapped her yet, or they had moved her to a different location. Still, due to the speed at which I'm moving, I assume it is the former.

Focusing on the alternate body, I ordered it to disassemble into its nanite form and cover the island. The home base of the League of Shadows shall only exist because I allow it to.

The only real threats I have on this planet are all magic-based, but even then, I may be able to combat them with other technology; I have yet to test it, and I'm still combing through my shattered memories.

My third swarm had already begun to reach Cadmus and is starting to survey the lower levels. The reason for such a venture is to look for the clone of Superman that has his entire DNA, as having an already grown Kryptonian with mental issues that are easily fixed shall be a boon for me.

I turn another stream of thought towards my main body and begin to disassemble this base that the doctor had set up for himself to operate in the battle against the league.

Assuming that Batman is as great as a detective as I assume that he is, he will already have sent some of the Justice League to search the area around the initial encounter, so I'm going to need to clear this site.

Placing a hand on the wall of this place, I spread out more deconstructing nanotechnology to take in all of the metal and other in organic materials so that I may produce more nanotechnology, as well as more out-of-context technology.

The more material I have to work with, the faster I may work. The process takes only a few minutes, but I have already begun to scan for traces of the speed force in the area.

It seems as if The Flash is on his way.

After disintegrating the small warehouse the doctor had made for his base, I look toward the speedster, and my eyes begin to glow red as I scan him from head to toe.

His connection to the speed force still eludes me slightly, as this body is not evolved enough to access esoteric forces just yet. I need more data.

[So let's have some fun.]

I teleport in front of him, and as he smashes into me, he is sent flying backward. As he shakes off the disorientation, he begins to raise his head, and as he sees my glowing eyes, he forms a nervous smile and gives me a wave.

I return the gesture by using my telekinesis to lift him off the ground force choke style. And unlike his prime counterpart, who can quite literally run on air. This flash is a much weaker version.

[You know, I feel as if this hunt the league is setting up for me is a bit excessive, don't you think?]

The Flash can barely choke out a couple of words due to my grip on his neck so I take that as an affirmative.

Walking closer to him, I grip him in my arm, forming a small injector and stabbing it into his other arm. I take some of his blood.

Dropping him on the ground, he looked up at me, about to run away, but I'd already swung my fist.

[ Good night, Barry.]

In under a minute, one of the fastest members of the Justice League lay unconscious before me, but I walked away, as I had better things to do, like finding a certain plastic man.

As each and every adaptation, and each evolution brings me ever close to that ever distant eternity.