The boy's question echoed through the room, reverberating off the shattered glass and the cold, steel walls of the Watchtower. The members of the Justice League stood frozen for a moment, the shock of the moment stopping them from reacting.
The sheer unpredictability of the situation made them unable to instantaneously react. Each of these heroes was accustomed to danger, to facing foes that threatened the very fabric of the world they lived in.
But this boy, this being in front of them, with his raw, unknown power, was unlike anything they had ever encountered.
Martian Manhunter, always the wise one of the league, took the step forward, his face softening into an expression of compassion. His voice was gentle and soothing as he spoke, "We're friends. We're here to help you."
The boy looked around the room, feeling shocked. Memories of his discussion with The Messenger of the Presence running through his head.
This was...his new life, the new world he would be apart of. He tried to remember more, but nothing came up, all of his other memories were completely deleted, just as he wished.
Yet, he felt much different than his previous human self. Even if he didn't remember his past life, his subconscious told him that.
The boy's body hummed with an almost overwhelming surge of energy, each pulse of his heartbeat sending waves of raw power through his veins. It was unlike anything he had ever felt before, like every cell in his body had been awakened to a higher state of being.
His muscles, dense with superhuman strength, vibrated with tension, ready to unleash force far beyond what most could comprehend. He could sense it, feel it. The immense physical power within him, lying in wait, eager to be called upon.
It wasn't just his body that was different, though. His mind buzzed, overloaded with information. Every corner of the room, every tiny movement, every flicker of light, every stray thought from the minds of those around him, it all poured into his consciousness at once.
His brain was also improved to the absolute maximum. Even a supercomputer could not channel information as fast as him. He processed the information as supreme speed.
His eyes, now open to dimensions of reality that others couldn't see, darted around the room. Colors bled together into shimmering auras around the League members.
Life Energy, bright and vibrant, pulsed from Wonder Woman like a divine beacon, while Superman's energy radiated like the sun, strong and unwavering.
Magic rippled from Doctor Fate like waves on a stormy sea, the ancient power swirling and shifting with the ebb and flow of his presence.
Beyond that, the Watchtower itself was alive with energy, the hum of technology, the subtle pulses of life-support systems, and the quiet thrum of the universe outside.
The stars themselves seemed to emit a faint glow, their distant life energies detectable to his enhanced vision.
He couldn't shut it off.
Although he had calmed down, the information was still channeling into his mind on a fundamental level, all he did was subconsciously use the stone to filter it more efficiently, which reduced the pain he felt.
As all of this information flooded him, he heard Martian Manhunter's words, his eyes darting to his expression.
Although he didn't know it, his mind was learning, at a supreme speed, reading their facial expressions, body language, the little fidgets and even the words they said.
He was learning about all of their characteristics, what they potentially thought of him as they stared at him, and it felt overwhelming.
"Help...me?" The boy muttered, his voice betraying the depth of uncertainty he felt. Although he knew this was a new life, with no past memories, he still felt uncomfortable.
It was essentially his first life, but with a pre-established moral compass and subconsciousness.
Martian Manhunter stepped forward, his deep, calm voice resonating with an otherworldly reassurance. "Yes," J'onn J'onzz said, his eyes meeting the boy's.
"We know you're afraid, but you are not alone. We can guide you, help you understand what's happening."
The other members of the league also softened their expressions. They still remained on red-alert in case something happened, but they also recognized the situation. The boy was obviously lost and confused.
"We're all here to help you. Don't be afraid, take as much time as you need to calm yourself." Wonder Woman said stepping forward, even amidst the potential dangers.
She had known all too well herself the problems of being stranded in a foreign environment, and her situation was much much easier than the boy in front of her, so she tried to sympathize.
The boy's gaze fitted between them, his mind continuing to be a storm of thoughts as information continued to flood him. He tried to remember something, anything, but all he could was a single phrase,
"God-Killer," he muttered under his breath, the words carrying a weight of dread. He certainly knew what that meant from his past life, and it was nothing good.
Batman, who had been analyzing the situation from the back, finally spoke up, his tone as always, direct and authoritative. "That's not who you are," he said, his voice cutting through the boy's thoughts like a knife. "You're more than what CADMUS intended you to be. You have a choice in who you become."
The boy looked at Batman, the man's stoic demeanor both intimidating and oddly reassuring.
Zatara, who had remained quiet throughout the initial exchange, now stepped forward. His presence was calm, yet commanding, as he addressed the boy,
"The gem you carry is powerful, ancient, and it binds to your very essence. But it does not define you. We can teach you to harness its power, to control it, but you must trust us."
The boy's hands trembled slightly as he brought them up to his forehead, fingers brushing against the smooth surface of the gem. It pulsed faintly under his touch, sending a warm, almost comforting sensation through his body.
But beneath that warmth, he could feel the raw, untamed power it held, a power that he alone held dominion over. He remembered the messenger's words, that power was his to harness, he had limitless potential, all he needed to do was train.
Suddenly, a ripple of psychic energy swept through the room, causing the League members to tense. It wasn't an attack,more like a wave of emotion, raw and unfiltered.
Fear, confusion, excitement, love, hate, desperation, happiness all mixed together, emanating from him. He felt conflicted, scared about what he had experienced so far in his new life, and the potential dangers he had if he didn't control his power.
But he was also happy, excited even, at the prospect of living a new life, surrounded by people who cared for him. His emotions, untrained and unchecked, were manifesting as psychic energy, spilling out of him like an overflowing cup.
Slowly, the wave of energy began to recede, pulling back into the boy like a tide retreating from the shore as he willed himself to control it.
"That's it," Martian Manhunter encouraged, maintaining the psychic connection. "You're doing well. Take it one step at a time."
Wonder Woman watched the boy closely, her heart aching for him. She could see the immense struggle he was facing, the battle to not only control his powers but to understand who he was in the first place.
This was the touchy subject regarding clones. They didn't have a childhood, at least in the normal way. Born at least a teenager in terms of size, and they had to train from day 1 to use their powers effectively.
Wonder Woman stepped forward, her voice gentle but firm, "You are not alone in this fight. We will stand by you, help you every step of the way."
"But what if I can't control it? What if I hurt someone?" He asked. Although he had limitless potential, he had no guidebook, he needed to learn essentially from scratch.
"You won't," Wonder Woman replied with unwavering certainty, "We won't let that happen. We'll teach you, guide you, and you'll learn to control this power. But you must believe in yourself, and trust us."
The boy's gaze shifted to each member of the League, taking in their expressions of determination and concern.
"I... I'll try," he finally said, his voice soft but filled with a newfound resolve, this was his new life, and he needed to enjoy it to the fullest potential, "I don't want to hurt anyone. I want to understand... who I am."
Batman nodded, satisfied with the boy's response. "That's a start. We'll take it from here, one step at a time."
The tension in the room began to dissipate, replaced by a cautious optimism. The Justice League had faced many challenges before, but this was different.
They weren't just dealing with a powerful being, they were dealing with a young soul who needed a new set of skills.
Guidance, assistance, trust, love, compassion, they all needed to pitch in to help forge him into a force of good.
Wonder Woman spoke, her voice warm and inviting, "We need to give you a name. Something that reflects who you are, not what CADMUS intended you to be."
The boy hesitated for a moment, then nodded, "A name... Yes, I think I'd like that."
Batman turned to the others, "We'll begin training in a couple days once he has settled in. J'onn, you'll focus on helping him control his psychic abilities. Diana, you'll work on physical training and combat. Diana, I also trust you to house him and take care of his moral and ethical development."
He said, to which everyone nodded.
"Have you thought of a name yet?" Green Arrow pitched in his question, to which the boy nodded, looking forward.
"Vision...Theo Vision!"