Chapter 77: 77

| Salt Flats, Colorado - July 25 The Team moved cautiously through the industrial corridors of the nuclear plant, their footsteps barely making a sound as they followed Robin's lead. He had hacked their way inside, disabling security systems and unlocking doors with a few deft keystrokes. Their mission was clear—retrieve the stolen canister of plutonium before it could be used for something catastrophic. Red Tornado had dispatched them to Salt Flats after receiving intel that a villain calling himself Psycho-Pirate had infiltrated the facility and taken control. The building was eerily silent. There were no signs of workers, no security forces patrolling the halls. It was unsettling. Nova closed his eyes and activated his Nova Sense, allowing him to perceive the energy signatures of living beings. Immediately, he sensed multiple presences ahead. [There are people in the next room,] he announced through M'gann's mental link. The Team moved swiftly, following Nova's lead. When they reached the plant's main chamber, they finally saw their target. Psycho-Pirate stood at the center of a gathered crowd—dozens of plant employees and security personnel, their faces devoid of any expression except for one: seething hatred directed at the Team. The villain was a man of unremarkable build, but his presence was anything but ordinary. His face was obscured by a yellow mask, the rest of his head covered by a red hood. He wore a long black overcoat over red pants, his hands gloved in black leather. The instant he spotted them, his masks' lips curled into a sinister grin. "Ah, young heroes," Psycho-Pirate purred, his voice smooth and calculating. "How delightful. But I'm afraid you won't be leaving here in one piece." As he spoke, the plant workers and security personnel turned their weapons on the Team. Their eyes burned with raw hatred, their muscles tensed as if ready to pounce. [Wally, Joseph—go after him! He's the priority. The rest of us will deal with his puppets,] Kori's voice echoed in their minds. Nova and Kid Flash didn't hesitate. They dashed forward, Wally a blur of motion while Nova soared above him, both honing in on the masked villain. But Psycho-Pirate was ready. The moment they came within range, an invisible force crashed into their minds like a tidal wave. Panic. Doubt. Insecurity. Nova felt his breath hitch, his chest tightening as a crushing anxiety overtook him. Wally stumbled, his speed faltering. He saw himself slowing, never fast enough, never worthy enough. Flash never wanted, or chose him to be his sidekick. And he ate all the time and was always hungry. Everybody probably thought he was a joke. He felt a little jealous of the rest of the Team because unlike him, their mentors welcomed them as partners. Robin had grown up among fearless legends—the Flying Graysons, Batman—and yet, in this moment, he was paralyzed. What if Batman didn't need him anymore? What if the Team didn't either? Superboy clenched his fists as the fear sank its claws into his mind. He would never measure up to Superman. He was just a flawed copy. Kaldur felt an overwhelming sense of displacement. The land was unnatural to him; the air smelled strange, heavy. He was a warrior of the sea, but on land, he was sluggish, weaker. What if he could never truly adapt? M'gann's mind spun out of control. She had studied Earth culture through television, but reality was different. Her telepathy, once a gift, now felt like a curse. The thoughts of others flooded her mind, and none of them matched the happy, simple world she had once envisioned. Koriand'r shuddered as a terrifying memory gripped her. The cold, clinical hands of the Psions, their cruel experiments filling her with unbearable energy. The Gordanians chaining her, taking her freedom. Komand'r's mocking laughter as she suffered. Would she ever be free? Or was she still a prisoner, just in a larger cage? Joseph felt the weight of expectation crushing him. Selina, Kori, his mother—what if he failed them all? But then, he caught himself. No. With sheer force of will, Joseph forced himself into Dream State. His surroundings shifted, the fear washing away as his consciousness entered the vast white expanse of his mind. A menu appeared before him. /* Nova Control Center (A menu displaying body's status before AI's termination with adjustable options in some categories.) Memory Archive (Before AI's Termination) Data Archive (Before AI Termination) Body Abilities Nova Avatar Mental Configuration [ Exit ] He expanded Mental Configuration to check if the ability was listed as he remembered. //* Mental Configuration Dream State Configuration Emotion Range Joseph smirked. Good. Emotion range was alterable. "Remove my fear for the next thirty minutes," he commanded. "Exit." The moment he awoke, the weight of anxiety was gone. He felt clear, focused. His eyes locked onto Psycho-Pirate. Nova flew straight at him and, with a powerful right hook, slammed his fist into the villain's face. The mask was torn from Psycho-Pirate's face, revealing a middle-aged Caucasian man beneath. The moment the mask was removed, the grip on the Team's minds shattered. The controlled workers blinked, confusion taking over as their forced hatred disappeared. Before Nova could search Psycho-Pirate for the canister, a searing blast of energy slammed into him, sending him hurtling into a wall. Pain shot through his body. He knew that energy signature. Atomic Skull. Joseph pulled himself free from the cracked concrete and looked up. There he was—Atomic Skull, his body radiating unstable energy, standing over the unconscious form of Psycho-Pirate. The villain reached down and snatched the canister from the fallen man's grasp. The rest of the Team launched into action. Kori surged forward, fury burning in her eyes. She had known about Wotan and Atomic Skull's attack on Joseph during her visit to Themyscira. He hadn't told her, but she had found out. And she was livid. Atomic Skull fired a blast at Robin and Kaldur, but Superboy intercepted it, his body crashing into a wall, his shirt burned away. M'gann used her telekinesis to rip the canister from Skull's grip, but before she could secure it, the villain fired another blast, sending her sprawling. The canister plummeted. Kid Flash caught it just in time. Nova and Kori didn't waste the opportunity. Both heroes shot forward, their fists crackling with energy. Kori's green starbolts flared to life, while Nova's hand was wreathed in golden light. In perfect sync, they struck Atomic Skull's helmet, the impact sending a visible shockwave through the room. The villain staggered back, his helmet destroyed. The energy surging around him flickered. He swayed unsteadily before collapsing. The battle was over. The plant employees were still dazed and confused. Joseph dusted himself off and turned to Kori. A small smirk played at his lips. "So," he said, "wanna go on a date?"