VECTOR IN DC

A flicker of amusement crossed Tom's face, unseen by the assemblyman but deeply felt in the way he responded. "Good," he said, his voice smooth like a snake sliding through the grass. "We're on the same page. Many aspire to climb the political ladder, but few have the stomach for what it really takes."

Tom paused, reached for a can of soda sitting on his desk, and took a long gulp. The cold liquid was refreshing against his throat as he casually let his words sink into Gray's mind. He enjoyed this—the slow, deliberate manipulation of someone's soul. "People dream big," he continued, his tone almost conversational, "but if they lack the will to do what's needed, they should keep their ambitions within their comfort zone."

The assemblyman smiled wider now, feeling bolder. "I, on the other hand," Gray declared, his voice filled with a renewed confidence, "am willing to cross whatever line is necessary to achieve my goals."

Tom raised an eyebrow, though Gray couldn't see it. "And what exactly is your end goal, Mr. Gray? From the way you speak, it sounds like becoming mayor is just the first step."

A smirk tugged at Tom's lips as he reclined further into his chair, watching Gray lean closer to the screen, his ambition practically oozing through the pixels.

Gray hesitated for just a second before speaking, his words carrying a mix of arrogance and excitement. "This might sound ridiculous, but... I aspire to become the President of the United States someday."

Tom let out a low, amused chuckle. "The President, huh?" He paused, letting the weight of Gray's words hang in the air. "Well, if your resolve is strong enough," he said slowly, his voice dripping with dark promise, "I can make you the next President of the United States."

Gray's eyes widened. For a brief moment, he felt a rush of exhilaration. But then, the gravity of what he had just committed to hit him like a ton of bricks. He wasn't dealing with a man anymore. No, Ghost was something else—something darker. As Gray stared at the "G" symbol on the screen, he couldn't shake the feeling that he had just made a deal with the devil.

Tom watched the conflicting emotions flicker across Gray's face and couldn't help but smile wider. He loved this part—the moment when they realized what they had just sacrificed.

"In return," Tom finally said, leaning forward and resting his elbows on the desk, "you'll owe me favors. And I'll need you to introduce me to some of your political friends—those who are just as hungry for power as you are."

Gray's breath caught in his throat. The price had been named, and now it was time to seal the deal. "It's a deal, sir."

Tom's smirk deepened as he watched the greed and ambition in Gray's eyes overtake whatever reservations the man might have had. "Good," he said softly. "I'll send you the necessary instructions soon. Just follow them to the letter, and you'll see everything fall into place."

Gray nodded vigorously. "Thank you, sir. You won't be disappointed."

Tom's tone darkened as he delivered his final words. "I don't get disappointed, Mr. Gray. But as they say... fuck around and find out." His voice was ice-cold, the threat unmistakable.

Gray visibly gulped at the words, his face pale. "Of course," he stammered. "We'll keep in touch."

With that, Tom ended the call, the display returning back to home screen.

From behind him, Gwen's voice broke the silence. "Are you sure you want to deal with politicians, Tom? They're known for being unreliable."

Tom chuckled softly, not turning to face her holographic figure at the corner. "Never underestimate the power of greed," he replied, his smirk still firmly in place.

….

Back in Washington D.C., the sun shone brightly over the grand ceremony being held near the Justice League's headquarters. The atmosphere was festive, with banners waving in the wind and crowds of civilians gathered to watch their heroes receive medals for their valor.

League members stood on a raised platform, each receiving honors for their courageous deeds over the past few months. Applause echoed through the air, and camera flashes lit up the stage as one by one, the heroes stepped forward to accept their medals from the government officials.

However, not all members of the League were present. Green Lantern, along with a few others, were notably absent. While those in attendance tried to maintain focus on the celebration, their absence left a lingering tension among the crowd. Still, the ceremony continued without a hitch. That is, until it was Superman's turn to address the crowd.

The Man of Steel stepped up to the podium, his blue cape fluttering lightly in the breeze. His confident smile reassured the masses, and he began to speak. "On behalf of the Justice League, I want to extend our deepest gratitude to the people of this great nation and to our government for their unwavering support. Together, we—"

His words were abruptly cut off by a thunderous explosion that shook the very ground beneath them. Panic erupted instantly. Screams filled the air as civilians scattered in every direction, desperate to flee from the source of the blast. Government agents, initially caught off guard, quickly sprang into action, ushering VIPs to safety. The once celebratory atmosphere had turned to chaos in the blink of an eye.

"Get down!" Batman barked, his sharp voice cutting through the confusion as he immediately leaped into action, his cape flaring as he scanned the skies for any signs of the attacker.

Hovering ominously above the panicked crowd, they saw the source of the chaos—A.M.A.Z.O. The android floated in the air, its metallic frame gleaming in the sunlight. Its cold, lifeless eyes glowed an unsettling red, and it radiated an aura of deadly purpose. The robot's expressionless face revealed no hint of emotion, its gaze fixated solely on the League members below.

The crowd of civilians, already in a frenzied panic, stampeded in all directions, desperate to escape the perceived terrorist attack. Children screamed as their parents frantically searched for safety, and the sound of sirens began to wail in the distance. Amid the chaos, a group of four Secret Service agents, clad in sharp black suits and dark shades, formed a protective barrier around the president, guiding him swiftly towards an armored vehicle.

"Get the president out of here now!" Batman commanded, his voice urgent and authoritative. He turned to Cyborg, who was already accessing the city's surveillance grid, scanning for the safest evacuation route.

"I've got it," Cyborg responded, his mechanical eye glowing as he projected the path. "This way!" He darted toward the president's entourage, shielding them from any potential danger as they retreated to safety.

Meanwhile, Batman threw a series of Batarangs towards the android in an attempt to draw its attention. The sharp projectiles spun through the air with precision, but A.M.A.Z.O effortlessly dodged them, as if anticipating every move.

In the blink of an eye, Superman shot upwards, his fist aimed directly at A.M.A.Z.O's face. The blow was intended to knock the android out of the sky, but at the last possible moment, A.M.A.Z.O's chest transformed.

A symbol resembling the House of El's Kryptonian crest appeared across its chest. Superman's punch connected with an earth-shattering thud, but instead of sending the android flying, the impact only pushed it back a few feet. The Man of Steel hovered there, his brow furrowing in confusion.

"Did I just imagine that, or did that thing scan Superman mid-fight?" Flash asked aloud, his tone incredulous as he observed from the ground. His eyes darted nervously between Superman and the android, anticipation building in the pit of his stomach.

Before anyone could answer, A.M.A.Z.O's eyes glowed brighter, releasing twin beams of red-hot energy. The heat vision caught Superman off guard, sending him hurtling backward in the air.

The android followed with blinding speed, closing the gap almost instantly. With terrifying precision, it landed a devastating blow to Superman's midsection, sending him crashing into the pavement below.

Superman's body hit the ground with enough force to crack the concrete, leaving a jagged trail as he skidded across the street, his iconic cape torn and tattered. Gritting his teeth, Superman pushed himself to his feet, his body already healing from the assault. "Nope, it did do that," Flash muttered, answering his own question from before.

From above, Wonder Woman launched herself into the fray. With a powerful grunt, she swung her fist, aiming to deliver a mighty blow to the android. A.M.A.Z.O calculated her movement with pinpoint accuracy, effortlessly sidestepping her attack.

It caught her arm mid-swing, yanking her forward before slamming its head into hers. The impact was like two mountains colliding, and even Wonder Woman, a warrior with god-like strength, staggered from the blow.

Batman, watching from below, narrowed his eyes. "It's mimicking Superman's powers," he muttered under his breath. "This robot must be some kind of Kryptonian-based technology."

Superman, now back on his feet, shot up again to rejoin the fight. Before he could reach A.M.A.Z.O, the android unleashed a beam of energy toward the panicked civilians below. Without hesitation, Superman dove to intercept the blast, throwing himself in front of the innocent bystanders and shielding them with his indestructible body.

"Did you say robot?" Green Arrow called out, his voice tense as he reached for his quiver. He quickly selected three specialized arrows, each tipped with an electrical charge designed to disable high-tech targets. He fired them in rapid succession. The arrows hit A.M.A.Z.O squarely in the chest, delivering a powerful jolt of electricity through its frame. But the android remained unfazed.

"Well, that did nothing except piss it off," Flash remarked dryly, his voice crackling with nervous energy. In an instant, he shot forward, moving so fast that he became a blur. He ran in circles around the android, generating a vortex of flames as Batman hurled explosive Batarangs into the cyclone. The fire intensified, surrounding A.M.A.Z.O in a furious inferno.

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