Blue light legacy

Chapter 18: The Golden Threat

Cal was finishing up his last class of the day, his mind partially occupied with thoughts of his recent training and preparations at the Fortress. He looked out the window, his attention caught by a gleaming figure soaring through the sky. A golden robot, unlike anything he had ever seen, seemed to be scanning the city with an almost predatory intent.

Without hesitation, Cal slipped out of the classroom and found a secluded spot to change into his Nighman suit. Within moments, he was airborne, heading toward the enigmatic figure.

As he approached, the robot’s sensors locked onto him. Without any warning, it launched a barrage of energy blasts. Cal barely had time to erect a psychic force field, deflecting the initial volley. The intensity of the attack was astonishing.

"So, you want to play rough?" Cal muttered, diving straight toward the robot.

They collided in mid-air with a thunderous impact, sending shockwaves rippling through the sky. Cal threw a flurry of punches, each one met with equal force by the robot. It moved with a precision that mimicked his every move, its golden frame glinting ominously in the sunlight.

The robot lashed out with a powerful kick, catching Cal off guard and sending him hurtling toward the ground. He recovered just in time to avoid crashing, propelling himself back into the fray with renewed vigor. Their battle continued in a blur of motion, each exchange of blows creating sonic booms that echoed through the city.

"This thing... it’s matching me perfectly," Cal thought, frustration mounting as the robot countered his every move.

Just then, a familiar figure streaked across the sky—Superwoman. Kara arrived with a determined look on her face, flying straight into the battle.

"Need a hand?" she called out, her voice steady despite the chaos.

"Glad you could join the party," Cal replied, barely dodging another energy blast.

Kara didn’t waste any time, launching herself at the robot with a powerful punch. The impact sent the robot reeling, but it quickly regained its composure, turning its attention to her. Without hesitation, it began to replicate her abilities. Within seconds, it was enveloped in a similar aura, gaining the strength and speed of a Kryptonian.

"Great, now it has her powers too," Cal thought grimly.

The fight intensified as the robot, now even more formidable, attacked with relentless precision. Cal and Kara fought side by side, their combined efforts barely keeping the robotic menace at bay. The robot adapted quickly, countering their every move with an unnerving efficiency.

Cal unleashed a burst of telekinetic energy, trying to overwhelm the robot’s systems, but it deflected the attack with ease. Kara attempted to use her heat vision, but the robot mirrored her, their beams clashing in a blinding display of power.

"We need to find a way to disable it," Kara shouted over the din of battle.

"I’m working on it!" Cal replied, his mind racing for a solution.

Suddenly, Cal noticed a slight delay in the robot’s movements when it was replicating both their powers simultaneously. It wasn’t much, but it was enough.

"Kara, keep it busy! I have an idea," Cal yelled.

Kara nodded, redoubling her efforts to distract the robot. Cal focused his energy, reaching out with his telepathic abilities to probe the robot’s systems. He sensed the intricate network of circuits and data pathways, searching for a vulnerability.

"There!" he thought, zeroing in on a small but critical component within the robot’s core.

With all his might, Cal unleashed a concentrated telekinetic strike, aiming directly at the robot’s weak spot. The force of his attack disrupted the delicate balance within the robot’s systems, causing it to falter momentarily.

"Kara, now!" Cal shouted.

Taking advantage of the robot’s brief lapse, Kara delivered a devastating blow to its chest, sending it crashing into the ground with a resounding impact. The golden robot lay motionless, its systems overloaded and incapacitated.

Cal and Kara descended, catching their breath as they surveyed the fallen adversary.

"That was too close," Kara said, her voice tinged with relief.

"Yeah, but we did it," Cal replied, still wary of the inert machine.

As they prepared to secure the robot for further examination, Cal couldn’t shake the feeling that this was just the beginning. Lex Luthor’s machinations were far from over, and the golden robot was a stark reminder of the escalating threat they faced.

"Let’s get this thing back to the Fortress," Cal suggested. "We need to find out exactly what we’re dealing with."

Kara nodded in agreement, and together they transported the defeated robot, knowing that their battle with Lex Luthor was far from over.

Cal and Kara had just neared the Watchtower, the golden robot securely in tow, when suddenly, a blue light on its chest flared back to life. Before either of them could react, the robot—Amazo—sprang into action. With a powerful sucker punch, it struck Kara, sending her flying back and rendering her unconscious.

"Kara!" Cal shouted, but he barely had time to process what happened before Amazo turned its full attention to him.

Amazo moved with deadly efficiency, exploiting every weakness it had gleaned from its earlier battle. Cal dodged and countered, but he was struggling to keep up. The robot’s knowledge of his abilities and fighting style made it a relentless adversary.

"You're not going to win this!" Cal yelled, trying to find an opening.

Amazo didn’t respond verbally, but its actions spoke volumes. It unleashed a barrage of attacks, each one precisely aimed to exploit Cal’s vulnerabilities. Energy blasts, super-speed strikes, and telekinetic blows pummeled him from all sides. Cal fought back with everything he had, but Amazo was relentless.

Just as Cal managed to land a solid hit, Amazo retaliated with a move he hadn’t anticipated. The robot’s chest panel opened, revealing a small device that emitted a beam of black heat vision—hotter and more destructive than anything Cal had faced before. The beam struck him directly, the searing pain overwhelming his senses.

Cal’s vision blurred as he tried to stay on his feet. Amazo, seizing the moment, advanced toward Kara, who lay unconscious nearby. Cal’s heart raced. He couldn’t let Amazo hurt her.

With a burst of energy, he threw himself between Kara and Amazo, taking the full brunt of the next attack. The black heat vision slammed into him, and the pain was excruciating. His body couldn’t take much more.

"No... I won't let you..." Cal gasped, trying to shield Kara with his own body.

But it was too much. The force of Amazo’s attack knocked him out cold. His last thought before darkness claimed him was of Kara, hoping she would be safe.

Amazo paused for a moment, scanning the area to ensure there were no immediate threats. Satisfied, it reached down, grabbing Cal’s limp body. It activated its thrusters and took off, flying swiftly back to LexCorp.

Back at LexCorp, Lex Luthor watched on a monitor as Amazo returned with its prize. A sinister smile spread across his face.

"Well done, Amazo. Bring him inside," Lex ordered.

Amazo complied, carrying Cal into the heart of LexCorp’s lab. Lex had been planning this for a long time, and now he had Nighman—one of the most powerful beings on the planet—right where he wanted him.

As Lex prepared to extract every piece of information and power he could from Cal, he couldn’t help but feel a surge of triumph. With Nighman out of the way, nothing would stand in his path. The Justice League would fall, and Metropolis—and eventually the world—would be his.

But even in his moment of victory, Lex knew he had to remain cautious. The Justice League wouldn’t take this lightly, and they would come for Cal. He needed to be ready for them, and with Amazo at his side, he was confident he could handle whatever they threw at him.

For now, though, his focus was on the fallen hero before him. Lex approached the unconscious Cal, already envisioning the limitless possibilities that lay ahead.

"Welcome back to LexCorp, Nighman," he said softly. "You’re going to help me change the world."