CHAPTER 130

"Nuclear bombs can destroy humanity, but they won't harm the undying stars, nor someone like you. He must have another plan... please, be cautious."

These words slowly faded from the screen of Alfred's mobile phone, signaling the end of the mysterious conversation. Whoever was on the other end clearly intended to cut off contact.

Acting quickly, Kaius grabbed Alfred's phone and called out, "Victor Stone, wait!"

An eerie silence fell over the Batcave, the tension so thick it seemed to stretch time. Seconds passed, feeling like an eternity. Then, finally, another line of text appeared on the phone's screen: "How did you know?"

Kaius could almost sense the hesitation and unease behind the words. The person on the other end was clearly trying to stay hidden, and Kaius's sudden identification of him had caught him off guard.

"Since you know who we are," Kaius began, "you must also know that the Justice League has the authority to inspect U.S. government research labs on alien technology. Your father, Silas Stone, is a scientist at one such lab—the 'Red House Lab.' I've even met him once."

Kaius was improvising, relying on fragments of knowledge from his previous life and the shared multiverse lore. He didn't have all the details of this universe, but he hoped his bluff would hold.

After a pause, more text appeared: "If you had that authority, you'd know my father's lab isn't called 'Red House.' It's 'Starry Sky Lab.'"

Kaius frowned slightly. So there are differences between this universe and the one I remember. The details of his past knowledge couldn't always be trusted. Still, he noted with relief that Victor hadn't questioned him further, likely chalking up the error to classified misinformation.

"The lab's name doesn't matter," Kaius typed back quickly. "What matters is you, Victor. I need your help."

Victor Stone, also known as Cyborg, was crucial to Kaius's plans. In many versions of the Justice League, Victor was a cornerstone member, responsible for managing the League's tech and serving as its living connection to the Mother Boxes and interstellar networks.

Kaius recalled Cyborg's tragic origin. In most timelines, Victor was a promising football player whose life was turned upside down when an explosion involving a Mother Box left him gravely injured. His father, Silas Stone, had fused Victor's body with advanced alien technology to save his life, transforming him into a half-human, half-machine being with unparalleled technological capabilities. This was Cyborg—a hero born of tragedy and resilience.

The phone screen flickered, and new words appeared: "How do I know I can trust you?"

"You don't need to trust me," Kaius replied. "But the Data Demon's plan is clear: he'll turn Earth into a collectible and present it to Brainiac. I'm sure you don't want to see Earth obliterated by thousands of nuclear bombs. Help us defeat the Data Demon, and then decide whether or not to trust me."

Kaius knew that once Cyborg joined the fight, his dedication to saving Earth would naturally bind him to the Justice League. Sometimes, actions spoke louder than words.

More characters appeared on the screen: "I've hacked into the U.S. Army network. There are 14 operational nuclear missile silos across the country. Ten minutes ago, an abnormal signal was detected at the Pemberton silo. General Swanwick is currently investigating."

Kaius's eyes narrowed. General Swanwick—a high-ranking military official with the authority to launch nuclear weapons. If the Data Demon had infiltrated the silos, it was likely using the signal as a trap to manipulate Swanwick into launching a nuclear strike.

"General Swanwick..." Kaius muttered. "He's the key. The signal is a diversion, a trap set by the Data Demon to provoke a launch. Victor, your efficiency is remarkable. It would be a shame if you didn't officially join the Justice League."

The phone screen displayed one final message: "I'll continue monitoring."

Then, the screen went dark.

Kaius slipped the phone into his pocket and turned to Alfred. "Alfred, I'm borrowing your phone for now. I'll return it once this is over."

Alfred raised an eyebrow but nodded. "As long as you don't let it fall into the wrong hands, Master Kaius."

After issuing his orders, Kaius gestured toward the intelligent machine. "Kelix, keep scanning Earth with the satellites. Find Rhodesburg!"

Kelix responded immediately, its mechanical tentacles extending toward the control panels. "Understood, Master Kaius. Initiating full-spectrum scan."

Satisfied, Kaius turned and flew out of the Batcave at high speed. Alfred called out after him, concern laced in his voice. "Master Kaius, my phone contains photos of Master Wayne as a child! Please, don't lose it! Looking at those photos is my only joy these days!"

Kaius chuckled lightly but didn't slow down. He had more urgent matters to attend to.

At the Pemberton Nuclear Silo

General Swanwick had arrived at the Pemberton nuclear missile silo following reports of anomalous data. Situated deep beneath a barren stretch of the Gobi Desert, the facility was designed for maximum security. Its steel-reinforced walls were coated with a signal-blocking material, ensuring it remained completely cut off from external communication networks.

The only point of contact with the outside world was a data monitoring station above ground, which had flagged the anomaly. Given the state of unrest outside, General Swanwick had taken no chances, personally leading a team to inspect the site.

"Lieutenant, status report!" General Swanwick commanded as he entered the silo's main control room.

A young black lieutenant snapped to attention and saluted. "Sir, we're at Level Five alert. The system is operational and all readings are normal!"

"Normal?" Swanwick's frown deepened. "Then why did the monitoring station report an anomaly? You know the situation out there. We can't afford any mistakes—especially here."

The officers in the room exchanged uneasy glances before one of them pulled up a detailed diagnostic on the main console. The lieutenant, checking the data, confirmed, "Sir, all systems appear normal. No current irregularities detected."

"Normal?" Swanwick repeated, his tone skeptical. "Fine. Pull up the anomaly report. Let's see the exact data flagged by the system. We're dealing with nuclear weapons. Even the smallest mistake could end with all of us in prison—or worse."

"Yes, General!" the lieutenant responded.

One of the adjutants retrieved a secure tablet from his equipment bag. After several layers of biometric verification—fingerprint, facial scan, and voice recognition—the device unlocked. However, the screen immediately went dark, replaced by a familiar, ominous image: three interlinked purple circles forming a V-shaped pattern.

The room fell silent.

"The Data Demon," Swanwick muttered under his breath, recognizing the symbol that had been plastered across news networks in recent days. The officers exchanged alarmed looks, and a few muttered curses under their breath.

"What the hell is going on?" Swanwick demanded, his voice rising.

Before anyone could respond, the tablet in the adjutant's hands began to tremble. The screen flickered, and streams of glowing code poured out, coalescing in mid-air. The data, now physically manifest, twisted and reformed until it created a humanoid figure—a projection of the Data Demon itself.

The figure spoke, its voice a cold, mechanical monotone. "Humans. You are obsolete. This facility will now serve a greater purpose."

The officers instinctively reached for their sidearms, but Swanwick held up a hand, signaling them to stand down. He stared at the Data Demon's projection, his mind racing. "What purpose? What are you planning?"

The Data Demon tilted its head, the faintest hint of mockery in its tone. "Your nuclear arsenal will be the spark that cleanses this planet. Humanity's era will end, and your world will become another gem in Brainiac's collection."

Swanwick's jaw clenched. He'd heard rumors of Brainiac—an alien artificial intelligence with a history of destroying and collecting entire worlds. This wasn't just an Earth-level threat; this was planetary extinction.

"Over my dead body," Swanwick growled.

The Data Demon's projection flickered for a moment, as if amused. "That can be arranged."

Suddenly, alarms blared throughout the silo. On the control screens, countdowns appeared next to several missile designations. The Data Demon was initiating a launch.

"Shut it down!" Swanwick barked. "Now!"