Joseph lounged in the Cave, sitting on the couch before a large television.

Sphere, in her spherical form, rested at his right side. His hand was placed on her surface as black nanites extended outward, interfacing with the New Genesian tech. In his left hand, hidden beneath his helmet, he held the Fatherbox.

Taking control of it was no simple task. Unlike sentient people, he couldn't just drag it into the Dream State and drain its psychic energy—because there was none to detect. Its essence, like that of Sphere and the Mother Boxes, wasn't truly mechanical. Its "soul" drew from the Source, a consciousness wrapped in cosmic energy, wearing a physical machine as its shell.

It was, in truth, more sentient being than technology.

To even attempt a rewrite, Joseph had to lean on every tool at his disposal. He enveloped the Fatherbox, Sphere, and his nanites within the Speed Force, accelerating their processing to unfathomable levels. Nova itself ceased monitoring the entire Earth just to dedicate full focus to the task. Meanwhile, Joseph queued up a new movie called The Town on the television, settling in for the wait.

One hour and forty-five minutes later—real time—they still weren't finished.

Joseph frowned. Nova had commandeered entire alien motherships before, with a fraction of the power and processing speed they now wielded. Yet even with over fifty times the processing speed, the Fatherbox's complexity defied them.

Joseph felt genuine curiosity about Metron. What kind of mind could have conceived of Fatherboxes and Motherboxes in the first place?

At last, as the credits rolled, Nova broke through. The Fatherbox melded seamlessly into his golden-armored suit beneath the helmet.

//Integration complete. The Fatherbox's "soul" has been erased. Full control achieved through technological manipulation.//

Results:

Boom Tube Generation: Enables homing portals to any target, keyed to their energy signature or DNA.

Improved Technology Manipulation: Grants access and control over any electronic signal or device, whether of Earthly or alien origin.

Healing: Capable of repairing both biological tissue and mechanical systems.

Universal Translation: Instantly translates any spoken language.

Cloaking: Masks all detectable energy outputs, including psychic signatures.

New God Tech Scanning: Performs planet-wide scans to locate any uncloaked Apokoliptan or New Genesian technology.

Nanite Upgrade: Nanites have adapted Genesian advancements, increasing operational speed by a factor of 52.

Biomechatronic Enhancement: Nanites have fully integrated Shockwave's technology allowing for most of the force from kinetic impacts to be redirected out of the body as a shockwave.

Connection to the Source: Provides access to an infinite reservoir of Source energy which your body converts to Nova Force. Also enables the generation of force fields and constructs.//

The knowledge of these abilities flooded into Joseph's mind, courtesy of Nova's telepathic link.

"Wow," he breathed, almost dazed. The weight of it pressed on him. This felt like more power than any mortal had a right to wield.

'How long did it take?' he asked.

//1.825 years of subjective time.//

Joseph whistled. 'Damn. Are you and Sphere all right?'

//We are computers. Time has no effect on us. During the time spent, her company was amiable, and her views insightful.//

'Ooh la la. Is that a crush I detect? Thinking about it, you guys have spent more time together than Kori and I have known each other.'

//…//

'Alright. Keep your secrets. Tell Sphere I owe her one.'

//She accepts your gratitude—and will collect her favor in time.//

Before Joseph could respond, the Cave's computer chimed.

"Recognized: Green Lantern 05, Vykin A-05, Bear A-06, Dreamer A-07, Moonrider A-08, Serifan A-09."

The Zeta-tube flared gold as seven figures stepped into the Cave.

//She says… she'd like to use that favor now.//

**

Green Lantern Hal Jordan and Icon had traveled to New Genesis, the home of the New Gods, to propose an alliance that could counter Apokolips' growing influence on Earth through their partnership with the Light.

The trip itself took two days, and once they arrived they had to wait several more before securing an audience with Highfather, the leader of the New Gods. In the meantime, they explored the world they hoped to ally with.

New Genesis was a lush, forested planet, filled with towering trees and strange vegetation in vibrant, otherworldly colors. The skies shifted from neon green during the day to a deep violet at night. The terrain was calm and rolling, dotted with small hills and jagged rock formations. Above the world floated Supertown, the glittering city where the New Gods lived, while the insectoid Bugs inhabited the surface far below. Remarkably, the atmosphere supported diverse species—New Gods, Bugs, humans, Martians, and countless others. The planet's natural resources included abundant crystals for trade and wild-grown foods.

The New Gods were known as deities of life, freedom, and the Source itself—a stark contrast to their sworn enemies on Apokolips. Many wielded superhuman abilities and advanced Motherbox technology, though Apokolips manufactured similar devices and distributed them across the galaxy.

New Genesis, however, was not a perfect utopia. Social stratification divided the high-born and low-born, while the Bugs often resented the New Gods, with tensions occasionally erupting into violence. Still, it was as close to paradise as one could imagine.

After several days, Hal and Icon finally met with Highfather Iyaza the Inheritor, the Highmother, and Orion—Darkseid's own son, raised on New Genesis. The outcome was disappointing. While New Genesis was willing to partner with Oa, they were hesitant to risk their fragile truce with Apokolips over what they saw as a backwater planet. The truce, forged at great cost, bound both sides from directly attacking one another, and neither wanted to be the first to break it.

Instead, Highfather tasked Orion and the Forever People with investigating Earth personally and retrieving stolen New Genesian technology. Unlike the two-day subspace journey Hal and Icon endured in the Javelin, Orion's Motherbox opened a boom tube that returned them to Earth instantly.

Icon brought Orion to the Justice League, leaving him to choose a guide. Hal, meanwhile, accompanied the Forever People to Mount Justice, where they encountered Joseph Bell—and Sphere.

"New Genesphere!" Bear boomed, lunging forward to embrace the spherical machine, only to stop midair.

"Uh… Sphere says she doesn't wanna go back," Joseph explained. "She likes Earth and bonded with Superboy."

Hal almost facepalmed. To him, this was just a machine—why let it jeopardize interplanetary diplomacy?

"You got a name, stranger?" asked Serifan, a blonde boy with a southern drawl, clearly enamored with Earth's old cowboy films.

"Nova," Joseph said. "I'm the one who shut down Intergang. I know where all the stolen New Genesian tech is—like the Rescue Drill in Metropolis. But Sphere stays."

Sphere beeped and whirred, rolling behind Joseph in agreement.

Vykin, the Forever People's leader, lifted his Motherbox. Hal stepped forward. "Look, Joseph. We're in the middle of grown-up business here, so would you mind letting the robot go?"

Joseph's eyes narrowed. "Why are you talking down to me when I came up with the plan that sent you to New Genesis? And she has a name, Hal. She's chosen to stay."

How did the kid even know his name? Annoyed, Hal enveloped Sphere in a glowing green force field. But Joseph raised his hand, summoning a golden-yellow force field that overpowered Hal's construct with shocking ease.

It stunned him—no Red Lantern, no Star Sapphire had ever overwhelmed his ring like that even if he hadn't been giving it his all. There was no mention of this in the file the League had on him.

"Look—" Hal began, but Vykin interjected calmly. "It's true. My Motherbox tells me Sphere has chosen to remain. And she is with people who respect her nature."

"Now put Bear down, please," added Dreamer, the group's sole woman.

"Oh, right," Joseph said, gently lowering Bear. "Offer still stands. I can show you all of Intergang's stolen New Genesian and Apokoliptan tech. Sphere wants to come too."

"Scanning planet wide for New Genesian tech takes a while so we'll accept your guidance. Thank you," Vykin said. Together, they entered the Zeta-Tube and departed for Metropolis—the robot included.

Hal sighed. He'd already decided that like his father, he didn't like the kid much. Even Guy showed him more respect.