With This Ring (Young Justice SI) (Thread Fourteen)

[Steelplaza]

It would be pretty neat for OL to receive a prophecy from the Hand of the Source.

 

[CrazyNoVa]

It would be pretty neat for OL to receive a prophecy from the Hand of the Source.

Click to shrink...

Wouldn't Zoat technically be The Source, in this instance?

 

[Stsword]

They're also generally benevolent and are enemies of Darkseid.

Click to shrink...

More modern takes on Highfather tend to lead into hard man making hard decisions while hard, like in Gods and Monsters in which he goes all Red Wedding on Darkseid and his elite.

Perhaps its DC's writers being cynical towards the whole "benevolent dictator for life" thing Highfather has going on.

So while better than Darkseid, that's grading on one hell of a curve.

Zoat has made comments that make me suspect that WTR's Highfather is influenced by those more cynical takes rather than the classic "Zeus but nice."

 

[Someguy Somewhere]

There is of course a problem with OL visiting Supertown. Orion Did promise to kill him next time he saw him. And he's one of the few that might make it stick.

May wish to send some one else.

 

[Steelplaza]

OL left a terrible impression with Orion and that's pretty memorable, but on the other hand he made a considerably better impression with the Forever People and helped them deal with their traumas and regain their confidence. So it's not like OL doesn't have any friends in Supertown. Maybe just check to see that Orion isn't there before visiting, which he probably isn't. Orion spends most of his time going out and doing battle with evil.

Hey @Mr Zoat I have a question. If "where did Batman get the ability to work with New God technology" is the mystery the story is grappling with, would you say it's a "fair mystery"? That is, if someone went back and read the story and had a decent knowledge of DC lore, do you think a reader could work it out with high confidence and present a logical case based on the clues the story has presented? Or do we just not have enough evidence yet?

It's not a judgment on the story either way; there's no particular requirement for it to be a fair mystery. I'm just curious if you think a reader could work it out.

 

[Bud-E]

@Mr Zoat What if anything happened with Finn Brady Constantine's long-lost nephew? Did Paul ever introduce them or let Cheryl know about him?

 

[Mr Zoat]

Hey @Mr Zoat I have a question. If "where did Batman get the ability to work with New God technology" is the mystery the story is grappling with, would you say it's a "fair mystery"? That is, if someone went back and read the story and had a decent knowledge of DC lore, do you think a reader could work it out with high confidence and present a logical case based on the clues the story has presented? Or do we just not have enough evidence yet?

It's not a judgment on the story either way; there's no particular requirement for it to be a fair mystery. I'm just curious if you think a reader could work it out.

Click to shrink...

The New God in question hasn't appeared or been named, but when you find out who it is it should make sense. It's more how he got hold of them that makes sense than their particular identity.

@Mr Zoat What if anything happened with Finn Brady Constantine's long-lost nephew? Did Paul ever introduce them or let Cheryl know about him?

Click to shrink...

He's still in Africa. I haven't really thought about whether or not he's spoken to Cheryl, but I'm leaning towards 'no'.

 

[Steelplaza]

Let me logic this out. Batman was in possession of a power ring, a device that is capable of interstellar communication. The Peace Operative that contacted OL to start nagging him about the Question made contact with him through his power ring. The Peace Operative's ability to tap into power ring communication is presumably the result of New God technology in his creation, so it seems possible that Batman contacted some New God capable of receiving calls through power rings.

When I think "who could do that," Metron comes easily to mind. Metron also famous for designing high tech chairs. Metron also could easily have supplied a Hush Tube and even an AI capable of running New God technology. Maybe not technically a "Mother Box" or "Father Box" but.... a "Brother Box"? Yeah, Metron could have supplied the technology and then a New God AI in the form of Brother A(Eye) capable of using the technology, which explains how Batman is capable of continuing to use it. We know Mother/Father Boxes can operate New God tech for humans.

Metron is also pretty mercenary. Not for money obviously, but if Batman could find some knowledge that Metron wanted and couldn't easily take, Metron would certainly be willing and able to make a deal. More, Metron is pretty famous. I did a Story Only thread search to see if his name has come up before, and it has but mostly in Renegade updates. (I think there was one mention in a Paragon update and only as a brief aside.) Still, in those Renegade mentions Grayven frequently talks about Metron like he expects even non New Gods to easily recognize the name. So Batman might easily have heard of Metron enough to make contact.

It fits together pretty well, though leaving the question of what exactly Batman offered Metron in return for all of this.

....

And there's the central hub. Strange technology, at least two-. No, three, people visibly wired into it. That's Victor Sage, naked and with pieces of Apokoliptian technology piercing his flesh in a dozen places. A young woman I immediately recognise as Anita Fite. Her body appears to be intact, and is covered in a chirurgical gown. Her head has not been so fortunate, and several cables appear to be plugged directly into her skull. Her mouth is moving weakly and her eyes stare at nothing. The third 'person' appears to be the upper part of Black Orchid's body.

Click to shrink...

I would hate to think that the reason for trying so hard to track down the Question is that he'd be an additional specimen to trade away. Say, has anyone seen Anita Fite or Black Orchid lately?