"Should Captain Marvel remain a member now that we know he's only ten years old?" Flash asked.
"He does possess an adult body and the Wisdom of Solomon," Red Tornado said, coming to Captain Marvel's defense.
"Wisdom does not equal maturity," Aquaman replied.
"Hey, I'm sitting right here," Captain Marvel protested.
"Um, Billy, maybe you should step out while we hash this out," Black Canary said gently—like she was talking to a child, which she was.
"No," Batman said firmly. "Captain Marvel is a member of the League and is entitled to participate until—or unless—he's voted out."
"It's not just his age," Wonder Woman said. "It's the fact that he lied about it."
"I didn't lie exactly," Captain Marvel said. "I just… left out the part about being a kid."
"A lie of omission is still a lie," Wonder Woman replied. "You withheld critical information from us. No one in the League knew the truth."
"I did," Batman said.
Wonder Woman arched a brow. "I shouldn't be surprised, considering you indoctrinated Robin into crime-fighting at the ripe age of nine. We created this organization so children wouldn't be forced into conflict."
"Robin needed to help bring the man who murdered his family to justice," Batman said.
"So he'd turn out like you?" Wonder Woman asked.
"So that he wouldn't," Batman replied.
"Okay, let's all take a breath," Plastic Man cut in. "How about we address the eight-hundred-pound gorilla in the room—Nova."
"I think he's been ready for quite some time," Captain Atom said proudly. "The only real question is the age requirement."
"Nova operated with exceptional efficiency," Red Tornado added. "In the child dimension, he accomplished more alone than the entire League managed in the adult dimension."
"I do not see the issue," Icon said. "What is a few months, when he has clearly demonstrated competence and maturity?"
Coming from an alien over two hundred years old, age meant little.
"I agree," Martian Manhunter said. "We established eighteen as the minimum suitable age—but what of Miss Martian? Though she is biologically adolescent by Martian standards, she was born forty-eight Earth years ago."
"He's practically a member already," Atom added. "He oversees Chicago, operates across Illinois, and the media has photographed him working alongside us multiple times."
"I concur," Red Tornado said. "Basing membership solely on chronology or biology is flawed. Consider Superboy."
"Exactly," Black Canary chimed in. "He's less than a year old. Does that mean he must wait seventeen more years before standing beside us?"
"I disagree," Batman said, startling the room. "Nova has killed—and has shown he's willing to kill if he believes it necessary."
"The no-kill rule is a shared principle, not a binding charter," Wonder Woman countered. "Several of us have faced that choice before. Nova has given us no reason to doubt him—so why exclude him on speculation?"
Diana herself had slain many, especially during World War II.
And though she disliked that Joseph had sought out Vanessa in retaliation after Silver Swan nearly killed Starfire, she understood it. In his position, she might have been tempted to act the same.
"Joseph's power and intelligence make him extremely dangerous," Batman said. "If he decided to start murdering villains, who would even know—and who could stop him?"
Captain Atom rose to his feet. "What do you have against Nova? He's a good kid, and you're making him out to be another villain."
Batman opened his mouth to respond, but Plastic Man cut him off.
"As someone who was an actual criminal," he said, "I think we all need to cool it. Half the League has the power to wipe countries off the map. Judging the kid on hypothetical danger isn't fair.
"Big Blue, rest his soul, could've snapped and ruled the planet if he wanted—and we trusted him anyway. If Nova really is as volatile as you claim, wouldn't it be better to keep him close? Besides, we need every hand we can get. We don't know when Child will resurface."
Batman's eyes narrowed, but he remained silent.
Wonder Woman sensed that he was withholding something, just as he had with Captain Marvel.
"Then let's put it to a vote," Aquaman said.
**
Everyone cast their votes on the holographic displays before them. Moments later, the final tally appeared as a glowing projection at the center of the table.
All but two voted in favor of inviting Nova.
Batman abstained out of paranoia—exacerbated by the recent catastrophe and Superman's death. The loss had only reinforced his need for control, his determination to ensure such a failure never happened again.
Green Arrow voted no for different reasons. Red Arrow had clashed with Nova in the past, and Roy himself had been rejected from the list of candidates. To Oliver, it felt unfair to endorse someone younger—someone who had been operating for far less time. And, ultimately, he trusted Batman's judgment.
"That settles it," Aquaman said, his voice carrying the practiced authority of a king who had ruled Atlantis for years. "On to the next order of business. Doomsday."
John Stewart spoke first. "Doomsday's corpse is currently in the custody of S.T.A.R. Labs for study. They're a semi-independent institution we've worked with before. Several government agencies and corporations attempted to gain access, but we denied them using our authority as a UN-chartered organization."
Zatara followed. "I was able to examine the body myself. It is not a construct of Child's Chaos magic, as we initially suspected—despite its emergence during the Hour of Chaos."
"Then what is it?" Atom asked.
"And where did it come from?" Flash added.
"Doomsday was a genetically engineered Kryptonian," Batman said. "Further enhanced by nanites."
"Kryptonian? Nanites?" Wonder Woman said slowly. "Don't tell me—"
"Yes," Batman said grimly. "The same LexCorp nanites we shut down during our strike against the Light."
"Lex!" Wonder Woman slammed her hand against the table, cracking the surface—prompting a brief look of embarrassment.
Batman was not amused since a large part of League funding came from his pockets, though he ignored it for now. "Lex already had access to Kryptonian DNA, as evidenced by Superboy and Match. Combined with the nanites, it's clear he's involved—if not directly responsible. I just need definitive proof. Superman's murderer will be brought to justice."
**
| Metropolis - October 23
Joseph streaked past the skyscrapers in his Nova suit, taking a brief break from hours spent hunched over a desk.
With no physical need for sleep, he'd been working nonstop—juggling countless projects at LuthorCorp while making public appearances at every interview, conference, or charity event his aunt Lena arranged. It was all part of reshaping the company's image, showing the world LuthorCorp's renewed commitment to helping people.
Publicizing every good deed wasn't his style. He worried about his ego growing as large as his father's from praise. But as the company's new face, it was unavoidable. He imagined Batman wrestled with something similar whenever he slipped into the persona of Bruce Wayne.
And he'd need to keep it up—especially now that he knew the truth.
Lex Luthor had engineered Doomsday.
Joseph had uncovered it when he snuck into S.T.A.R. Labs after dealing with all the demons and spirts on Earth after Constantine of which there were dozens.
Then he'd had Nova analyze the creature's DNA through his nanites.
"Damn it," Joseph muttered—a phrase he'd been using far too often lately. If he'd let Nova sift through his good-for-nothing father's memories sooner, he might have discovered the plan in time to stop it.
The moment he learned the truth, he'd gone straight to Stryker's Island to not repeat his mistake. Nova combed through Lex's memories for additional schemes—but there were none. With Superman dead, Lex's ambitions had ended. He was content now, simply watching Joseph grow.
That revelation had nearly pushed Joseph to kill him.
Lex's twisted affection existed only because Joseph was intelligent, powerful—worthy of carrying the family name. There had never been any of that sentiment for Conner, who Lex had viewed as nothing more than a failed weapon.
Ultimately, Joseph chose restraint. Batman was already investigating. Lex would face justice—likely with a few broken bones along the way. Then the public would tear him apart, and he'd rot in prison for the rest of his life instead of slipping free after a decade or two.
Joseph descended as he spotted a mugging in progress. The Hour of Chaos had left the city unstable, crime rates soaring. With Superman gone, Joseph had quietly added Metropolis patrols to his responsibilities. He lived here now—might as well protect it.
He hadn't asked the League for permission. They hadn't reprimanded him either. He took that as tacit approval.
With a flick of his hand, Joseph unleashed a psychic pulse that dropped the attackers unconscious. He lifted them with his anti-gravity field and deposited them neatly outside the nearest police station.
Then his Nova Sense flared—detecting a massive energy signature approaching.
"What's up, Cap?" Joseph said casually as Captain Atom appeared.
Captain Atom smiled. "You're being invited to join the Justice League. We were impressed by your actions during the recent disaster and would like you among our ranks. What do you say, Nova?"
Joseph grinned.
"Nah," he said. "I'ma do my own thing."