Kori!" Joseph called in Tamaranean as he left Captain Atom's side and flew toward her.
"Joseph!" she replied, beaming as she broke away from Wonder Woman and met him mid-air. The two embraced, a moment of warmth between friends reunited.
They were at the Themysciran embassy. Joseph and Captain Atom had been patrolling Washington D.C. in Wonder Woman's temporary absence when his mentor informed him that Koriand'r had returned.
"I like your new suit," she said, eyeing him with a pleased expression.
"Thanks. I like yours too," Joseph replied, taking in her outfit.
Her new attire blended Tamaranean tradition with Amazonian practicality. The bottom of her leotard had been replaced with a flowing skirt, her boots now knee-high with pink crystals embedded at the knees. Silver bands adorned her upper arms, and two new silver bracelets connected to purple fingerless gloves, each accented by another pink crystal. Silver linings traced the edges of her ensemble, adding an elegant touch.
"Thanks! I got it from Io, an Amazon weaponsmith on Themyscira. I have to tell you all about it—the place is breathtaking, and the food? Incredible!" she said excitedly.
Joseph smiled at her enthusiasm. Koriand'r had always possessed an infectious energy, and it was good to see that hadn't changed.
"I'd love to hear all about it," he said. "But first, tell me—how was the training?"
Kori beamed. "Amazing! The Amazons are such fierce warriors. They taught me so much—their combat techniques, their philosophy, their way of life. It was an experience I'll never forget."
Wonder Woman and Captain Atom approached, both watching the exchange with amused approval.
"I must say, Koriand'r has impressed even the most seasoned of my sisters," Wonder Woman said warmly. "Her dedication to the warrior's path is remarkable."
Kori's cheeks darkened slightly at the praise. "Thank you, Diana." She turned back to Joseph. "And you? What have you been up to?"
Joseph chuckled. "Oh, the usual. Fighting crime, training, getting thrown around by Captain Atom."
Kori's eyes widened. "Captain Atom is your mentor?"
Joseph nodded. "Yeah, he's been helping me figure out how to control my abilities. I finally managed to tap into the Nova Force properly."
Kori's smile grew. "That is wonderful! You must show me!"
Joseph glanced at Captain Atom, who gave him a nod. "Go ahead."
Stepping back, Joseph exhaled and concentrated. The familiar energy within him pulsed, eager to be unleashed. He raised a hand, and with a controlled release, a beam of golden energy erupted from his palm, streaking through the sky before dissipating into the clouds.
Kori clapped her hands together. "That is incredible! It's almost like my Starbolts. Your power has grown so much!"
Joseph grinned. "Still a long way to go, but I'm getting there."
"Indeed," Captain Atom said. "Your progress over the last two weeks is commendable, but there is still much refinement needed. Tapping into the Nova Force is one thing—mastering it is another."
Wonder Woman crossed her arms. "Perhaps a sparring match would be a good way to gauge his progress."
Kori's eyes sparkled. "Oh yes! A friendly match between us! What do you say, Joseph?"
Joseph smirked. "You really want to fight me right after getting back?"
Kori floated into a ready stance, her hands glowing with energy. "It has been a while since I've had a good challenge."
Captain Atom stepped forward. "Very well. This will be a controlled match—no lethal force, no unnecessary destruction. The goal is to test Nova's ability to control his newfound power. But first, let's relocate. Follow me."
Captain Atom floated to a high altitude before flying ahead. Joseph declined his offer for assistance, determined to keep up under his own power.
As they flew, Captain Atom gradually increased his speed. Kori, leaving behind a green trail, and Wonder Woman kept pace effortlessly. Joseph pushed himself, keeping steady until they neared Mach 2. His body protested, and Captain Atom, noticing his struggle, leveled off at Mach 1.8.
When they arrived, Joseph tried to appear unfazed, but Kori shot him a knowing glance. He sighed. There was no fooling her.
"Are you ready?" she asked.
Joseph cracked his knuckles. "Now I am. Let's do this."
Kori wasted no time. She shot forward, launching a barrage of Starbolts. Joseph raised a force field, deflecting most of them before dodging the last. He countered with a concentrated energy blast, but Kori twisted mid-air, evading it with ease.
She was faster than before. Clearly, the Amazons had sharpened her reflexes. Closing the distance in an instant, she aimed a punch at his ribs. Joseph barely managed to block, skidding back from the impact.
"Not bad," he admitted.
Kori didn't reply. Instead, she flipped back and hurled an arcing Starbolt. Joseph absorbed the impact, channeling the energy through his body before releasing it as a shockwave, forcing her to retreat.
She didn't give him a moment to recover. Blitzing forward again, she spun mid-air and delivered a powerful kick to his midsection. Joseph grunted, flipping backward before stabilizing himself with anti-gravity control.
He retaliated by generating a gravitational pulse beneath Kori, pulling her downward before launching a concussive Nova Force blast at her. She countered by aiming a Starbolt with increased intensity at it. The explosion sent them both flying in opposite directions.
Joseph righted himself mid-air, breathing heavily. Kori did the same, grinning. "This is fun!"
Joseph smirked. "You and I have different definitions of fun."
Captain Atom clapped his hands. "That's enough. Good work, both of you."
Joseph and Kori floated back down, where Wonder Woman and Captain Atom stood. Diana nodded approvingly. "You both showed great skill. There is still much to learn, but this was an excellent display."
Kori turned to Joseph. "I hope we can train together more often."
Joseph nodded. "Yeah. That'd be great."
Captain Atom crossed his arms. "For now, let's wrap things up. Joseph, you still have much to refine, but your control over your energy is progressing well. Keep at it."
Wonder Woman smiled at Kori. "And you, Koriand'r, have honored your Amazon training well. I expect great things from both of you."
Kori beamed. "Thank you, Diana."
Joseph rolled his shoulders, still feeling the sting of their match. He turned to Kori. "So, you were saying something about Themyscira's cuisine?"
Kori's eyes lit up. "Oh! Yes! The fruit was divine, and the way they prepare their roasted meats—"
Joseph chuckled as she launched into an excited retelling of her time on the island. Even after all the fighting and training, moments like these made it all worth it.