101

 | The Watchtower - August 20

Tears streamed down Joseph's face as he sat in silence, staring at the broken form of Koriand'r, suspended in the yellow glow of the solar pod. Her once-radiant skin now looked pale and bruised beneath the soft, golden light. The chamber, originally designed for Superman, channeled concentrated solar radiation to accelerate healing and recharge solar-powered beings. While it was Kryptonian tech, it worked just as well for Tamaraneans—beings like Kori who thrived on stellar energy.

It was the only pod of its kind, housed within the Justice League's medbay aboard the Watchtower, their secret orbital headquarters. And now, it was the only thing keeping her alive.

Joseph had gotten to her as fast as he could. After apprehending Abra Kadabra, he left him in police custody without even explaining—just dropped him off and launched skyward. He had flown faster than he ever had before, Nova Force pouring out of his feet like comet tails. Civvies still on, hair whipping in the wind, he didn't care about appearances. All that mattered was getting to Mount Justice, getting to the Zeta-tube, and getting to Kori.

Now, she lay before him, still and quiet, encased in a medical miracle—and it wasn't enough. Her chest barely rose, her body covered in bruises and lacerations. Her vibrant flame was dim.

Behind him stood a silent circle of power: Wonder Woman, Captain Atom, Martian Manhunter, and Batman. Their presence felt heavy, a mixture of duty, guilt, and helplessness.

Joseph's hands clenched at his sides. He blinked, his vision still blurry from tears. With a shimmer of light, he channeled a thin pulse of Nova Force across his face, vaporizing the wetness. It left his skin warm and dry. His eyes, though, were colder now. Icy.

"Who did this to her?" he asked, voice barely above a whisper.

"Rest assured, we will bring the culprit to justice—" Wonder Woman began.

"I didn't ask what you're going to do," Joseph said, his voice suddenly firm. "I asked who."

There was a pause before Captain Atom answered. "Her name is Vanessa Kapatelis. She's calling herself Silver Swan now and she—"

"She's not herself," Wonder Woman cut in. Her tone was firm but laced with guilt. "It's the nanites. They've corrupted her mind. Vanessa is... she was a sweet girl. Gentle. She would never have done this on her own."

Joseph's jaw tightened. The mention of nanites triggered something in him—an instinctive sense of unease. "Where did the nanites come from?"

"All data was wiped from her hospital's systems. We're still investigating," Batman said curtly.

Joseph didn't reply immediately. His gaze returned to Kori. She hadn't stirred. He placed his hand against the pod's surface, directly over where her face lay. Her swollen eyes were shut. She almost looked peaceful. But that peace had been forced.

"When will she wake up?" he asked.

Martian Manhunter stepped forward, his voice gentle but grave. "Her injuries are extensive, including a severe penetrative cardiac injury. We've stopped the bleeding and the pod is accelerating her recovery, but... she's in a coma. It could be hours. Days. Weeks. Maybe even months. We cannot be sure."

Silence stretched. Joseph closed his eyes, resting his forehead against the pod for a heartbeat. Then he exhaled and turned to leave.

"Let me know when she wakes up," he said, brushing past the League members.

He almost made it out of the medbay before a hand gripped his shoulder. He didn't need to turn to know who it was—Captain Atom's energy radiated like a sun to his senses.

"Wait," his mentor said. "Silver Swan was able to withstand multiple blows from Wonder Woman and escape nearly unharmed. I know you're angry—anyone would be. That's why I told you the truth. But don't do anything rash. Let us handle this."

"Sit tight at your home. That's an order," Batman added, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Joseph paused, still facing away. "Okay," he said quietly. Then he walked away, heading for the mission room and vanishing through the Zeta-tube's glowing portal.

Once the system announced his departure, Batman turned to Martian Manhunter. "His mind. Did you read it?"

The Martian frowned, his brow furrowing. "His mind was... closed. Like a locked door. I couldn't read his surface thoughts without breaking in which would alert him."

That got Batman's attention. He stared at the exit for a long moment. 'That's new,' he thought. 'He's evolving. I'll need to update the contingency files.'

"We need to keep a close eye on him," Batman said. "He's volatile right now. And we all know what he was capable of in the Vega System. He's killed before."

"Joseph is not the same person he was in that arena," Captain Atom said, defensive. As an ex-military man who had taken lives, he could relate to his protege who had killed for his survival.

"Maybe. Maybe not," Batman said. "But if he finds Silver Swan first… one of them won't walk away."

"I'll handle Vanessa," Wonder Woman said firmly. "This is my fault."

"You couldn't have predicted this," Martian Manhunter said, his voice calm. "No one could."

"Still," Diana replied, voice heavy with resolve. "She was my responsibility. A friend. I should have seen the signs. I should have been there."

Her fists tightened at her sides, fingers pressing into her palms.

"I failed Vanessa once. I won't fail her again," Wonder Woman said before leaving.

The rest of the League members stood in silence for a moment before dispersing as well. Outside the window, Earth rotated slowly, blue and serene beneath the stars. But peace was a fragile thing. And war—whether on the battlefield or in the heart—was never far behind.

In another part of the world, a shadow flew across the sky, fast and silent.

Joseph wasn't sitting tight.

He was hunting.