Mr. Twister staggered, his movements erratic, but Samuel knew it wasn't over yet. The effects of *Yawn* weren't immediate—it would take time before the villain succumbed. Samuel's sharp eyes tracked Mr. Twister's every move, analyzing the rhythm of his attacks. He turned to M'gann.

"M'gann, get ready," Samuel commanded, his voice as steady as ever.

M'gann, catching his urgency, nodded. Her eyes glowed as she extended her hands, forming a telekinetic barrier in front of the team. At the same time, Samuel concentrated.

[Samuel used Protect! Samuel protected himself!]

An invisible, shimmering shield formed around him, glowing faintly as if anticipating the coming storm.

Mr. Twister, sensing his power slipping, screamed in rage. "YOUUUU! $! I WON'T FALl L-LIKE THIIISSS...AAAAAAAHHHHH!"

The air crackled with electricity as Mr. Twister summoned everything he had left—a massive bolt of lightning arced across the sky, merging with a ferocious twister to create a devastating wave of destruction. The combined energy tore toward the team.

The attack collided violently with M'gann's telekinetic shield, sending ripples of power across the battlefield. She braced herself, her hands trembling as she poured every ounce of her strength into holding the barrier. The force of the tornado and lightning made the ground shake, scattering debris in every direction.

"M'gann, hold it!" Robin shouted from behind, struggling to stay upright as the ground quaked beneath him.

M'gann gritted her teeth, sweat dripping down her brow. The barrier cracked, splintering under the relentless assault. "I... I can't hold it—"

The shield shattered with a deafening sound, and the backlash sent M'gann flying backward. The other team members were flung aside like ragdolls, groaning as they hit the ground.

But Samuel stood firm, his *Protect* absorbing the full brunt of the attack without a scratch. The swirling energy dissipated harmlessly against his shield.

"AAAAAAHHHH! $#%$&!" Mr. Twister screamed as the last vestiges of his attack faded. His voice slurred, his posture faltered, and his limbs slackened. His head drooped as his body wavered unsteadily.

Samuel's eyes narrowed. The moment had come.

"Now," he said sharply, his voice cutting through the chaos.

The team, bruised but recovering, snapped into action. Kid Flash darted forward in a blur, landing a high-speed kick that knocked Mr. Twister to the ground. Superboy charged in next, his fists slamming into the android's torso with raw power. Robin followed, tossing explosive discs at the fallen villain, dismantling parts of its arms and legs with pinpoint precision.

Despite their combined efforts, Mr. Twister's metallic body held firm, its reinforced plating withstanding the assault.

Samuel, observing closely, realized they needed a decisive blow. His gaze fell on Aqualad, who was forming a massive water hammer with his Atlantean weapon.

[Helping Hand (20/20): The user assists an ally by boosting the power of that ally's attack.]

Without hesitation, Samuel activated the move.

[Samuel used Helping Hand!]

Two holographic, cartoonish white hands appeared next to Aqualad. They clapped rhythmically, as if cheering him on, before fading into sparkles.

[Samuel is ready to help Kaldur'ahm!]

Aqualad looked momentarily bewildered but quickly refocused as a surge of energy coursed through him. He instinctively felt the boost in his power, and with a resolute nod from Samuel, he charged forward.

With a battle cry, Aqualad swung his water hammer with all his might, the weapon shimmering with amplified force. The blow struck Mr. Twister's head, shattering it into a mess of wires and metal. Sparks flew as the android's systems collapsed, its body twitching before falling lifeless to the ground.

As the last piece of the robot clattered to the ground, the team stood in silence, catching their breath. But their relief was short-lived. Beneath the remains of Mr. Twister, they found a hidden cockpit.

A frail, bony man emerged from the wreckage. His skin was pale, his frame almost skeletal, and his terrified eyes darted between the young heroes. Raising his hands in surrender, he stammered, "Wait! I surrender! I'll go into custody—just don't destroy me!"

M'gann stepped forward, her eyes glowing as her hands crackled with telekinetic energy. Her expression was cold and confident.

"Don't worry," she said, her voice sharp. "He's just an android. I can sense it—he's not real."

She raised her hand, prepared to dismantle him telekinetically, but before she could act, Samuel stepped forward, his tone cutting through the tense silence like ice.

"Stop."

The team turned to look at him, confused. M'gann hesitated, her glowing hands faltering.

The frail figure trembled beneath their watchful eyes, his hands still raised in surrender. Samuel stepped forward, his gaze cold and calculating, his voice cutting through the tense atmosphere.

"There's still information we might learn from this," he said, not bothering to glance at the others.

Aqualad nodded after a moment's thought. "Agreed. We'll need the League's permission before making any decisions about this… android."

As if triggered by the word, the man's demeanor abruptly shifted. His eyes widened unnaturally, and his head tilted slightly. "Just don't destroy me," he stammered. Then again. "Just don't destroy me."

The phrase repeated over and over, faster and faster, until the words blurred together in a rapid, eerie chant.

"DODODON"TDONTDEstROYDesTROYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYM-"

Robin's instincts kicked in. "Look out! It's a trap!"

Before anyone could react, Kid Flash moved in a blur, grabbing the android figure and sprinting toward the sea. "I got it!" he shouted.

Aqualad acted immediately, his Atlantean weapon glowing as he summoned a massive sphere of water, enclosing the android in a watery prison. The android's last, rapid "Just don't destroy me" was muffled by the ocean, and then—

BOOM!

The android detonated in a massive underwater explosion. The shockwave rippled through the water, sending small waves crashing against the shore. Debris sank to the bottom, but one piece floated to the surface—a single, metallic eye.

Kid Flash grinned as he darted across the water, snatching the eye before it could sink. "Hey, look! A souvenir!" he said, holding it up triumphantly.

The tension finally broke, and the team began to relax, smiling as they shared the victory.

"That was amazing!" M'gann said, her eyes glowing with excitement.

Kid flash crossed his arms, a smirk on his face. "Speedy was so wrong about this. We're going to make this team work."

Aqualad nodded, his usually serious tone carrying a note of optimism. "This team will work."

Amid the joy and camaraderie, Samuel stood apart from the group, his gaze fixed on the devastated town in the distance. His expression remained unchanged as he watched the local authorities scramble to assess the damage, powerless against the destruction that had unfolded. They hadn't been able to protect their own city, relying instead on a group of teenagers with training and powers.

Robin noticed Samuel's distant behavior. Knowing Samuel from school and aware of his history—his parents, his losses—Robin hesitated, then made a decision.

"Hey," Robin said, walking over and grabbing Samuel by the arm. "You did great today. I think you'll fit well here!"

Kid Flash chimed in too, while observing the new souvenir of his. "Yeah! I mean, beating up a helpless enemy was...a weird experience, but it was cool!"

But before anyone could say more, Samuel simply vanished.

[Samuel used Teleport!]

The team blinked in surprise, the air where he had stood now empty.

Robin sighed, shaking his head. "That insane variety of abilities… what is that guy? The last time I remembered he was just a quiet kid in school."

Kid Flash frowned, crossing his arms. "Seriously? He just pushes everyone away like that. No 'thank you,' no 'good job,' just—poof! Not cool."

M'gann, her smile softening, replied weakly, "Maybe he's just shy?"

Aqualad folded his arms, his expression thoughtful. "Whatever his personality, he proved himself today. He fits this team well."

The others exchanged glances, uncertain, before moving on with their celebrations.


Samuel reappeared in his room, the broken pieces of Mr. Twister's android body clutched in his hands. The jagged shards of metal, tangled wires, and fragments of circuitry were heavy, but Samuel held them with ease as he made his way to Red Tornado's workshop.

The android was stationed at a desk, monitoring systems and analyzing data from the recent fight. He turned slightly as Samuel approached, placing the broken parts on the table with a deliberate motion.

"These," Samuel said simply.

Red Tornado examined the fragments, his glowing eyes scanning over the damaged metal and exposed circuitry. After a pause, he said, "The actions of today were efficient. And heroic."

Samuel's tone was dry, yet firm. "You made me do it."

Red Tornado responded calmly, "I already explained my reasoning. It was necessary."

Samuel didn't argue further. He shifted his gaze to the fragments on the table. "To make the sacrifices of those children worth it, you should try to prevent threats like this as much as possible."

Red Tornado paused, his mechanical body still. "Acknowledged."

Samuel pointed to the fragments. "Mr. Twister wanted you. Badly. He wasn't just attacking us—he was searching for you."

Red Tornado's glowing eyes dimmed slightly as he processed the statement, his mechanical frame completely still. Samuel turned toward the door but stopped, glancing back over his shoulder.

"One more thing," Samuel said. "Do you know who made you? And why?"

The android didn't respond immediately, his face as unreadable as ever. The faint hum of his systems was the only sound in the room.

Samuel's gaze lingered, his own expression equally devoid of emotion. His stillness, his detached tone—it all seemed almost inhuman, eerily mirroring the machine he was addressing.

"Are you even certain," Samuel continued, "that you're an 'Artificial Consciousness'? Not just a 'weak AI' imitating one?"

For a moment, the silence between them deepened, stretching taut like a wire. Finally, Red Tornado spoke, his tone as calm and measured as ever.

"I am… reasonably certain."

"Reasonably."

Samuel didn't say more. He turned and exited the room, leaving Red Tornado alone with the broken remnants of Mr. Twister.

The android stared at the jagged fragments on the table, his glowing eyes focused but distant. The faint flickers of light within them suggested something deeper—a process of introspection, or something approximating it.

The room was silent save for the hum of his internal systems, steady and constant. Even after Samuel was gone, Red Tornado remained where he stood, motionless, the boy's parting words echoing in his circuits.