JLA #107

"Syndicate Rules Part One: Maintenance Day"

Some members of the Justice League are observing the birth of a universe while the Flash and Martian Manhunter are on maintenance duty, performing a variety of routine tasks vital for the work of the JLA, but (at least from Flash's perspective) exceedingly dull. When they check in on the Construct (a semi-sentient being composed of complex communication signals), they discover that it has evolved more quickly than usual and is immediately hostile upon detecting their presence. Flash surmises that the hostility is largely caused by the Construct recognizing that the two heroes are 'other', a concept it finds difficult. He suggests that they should split it in some way, a task which Martian Manhunter undertakes. When they are finished, the Construct has become a large group of individually sentient electronic beings. The two heroes are pleased with a job well done, but are unaware that they are being watched by some old foes: the Crime Syndicate.