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

fwrty · 2025-12-12T08:22:09+0000

Mr Zoat said:
My attitude towards evil has not changed

Chad Geoffrey: "I will not tolerate the forces of evil!"

Breadnaught · 2025-12-12T08:22:20+0000

Mr Zoat said:
"No? I don't leave mine behind, and everyone else brings their exotic equipment. But… I don't know what you're imaging, but we're all friends. Two of us are even married to each other."

Did Circe and Adom get hitched? I know she was interested, but didn't think it had gone that far. Which would make sense if it happened off screen.

Darko said:
I like to imagine that they did it over Oggar's corpse.

They totally drank wine from a cup made from his skull at their wedding.

Duke Long · 2025-12-12T09:00:34+0000

Mr Zoat said:
"It's not practical to probe everyone in the country, but you can protect against unnecessary usage by requiring warrants, or allowing an independent review if it looks like someone's overusing it. Plus, it's done wanders for the economy, and communal violence is at an all-time low. But -to be clear- use of that facility is in no sense compulsory. There are other option, or perhaps you're happy with the criminal justice system just-"

'wonders'

Mr Zoat said:
"I read a comic a while ago. There was a… Bit in it about an arms company. They'd been bribing senators to get contracts, the bribed them more to hush it up when the substandard weapons they sold didn't work properly. And one of their former P.R. people talked to a C.I.A. new hire about it, and the rookie asked why there wasn't a bigger fuss about it. And the P.R. guy says, 'because it's not a secret'. Talk to anyone on the street about the military-industrial complex, and they'll know what you're talking about. They know it's happening, even if they don't know the details. And they don't care. You think John Smith of Nottingham can get a copy of the Justice League's minutes? You think he cares?"

'then'

Mr Zoat said:
"No? I don't leave mine behind, and everyone else brings their exotic equipment. But… I don't know what you're imaging, but we're all friends. Two of us are even married to each other."

'imagining'

Chojin Patriarch · 2025-12-12T09:08:21+0000

Mr Zoat said:
12th August 2013
16:30 GMT

"The Prime Minister will see you now."

For those who don't remember, that would be Geoffrey Talbot, a Hellblazer alumni who the Renegade discovered to possess entirely natural Rage Enlightenment due to his frustrations about corruption in everything. The Renegade made him Prime Minister after cleaning out the British Government.

I nod and smile politely as I rise from my construct chair and follow the Principal Private Secretary towards the Prime Minister's office. A little young for the role, really, but given the root and branch 'reform' that the British Civil Service underwent there's a lot of that going around. At least he's not terrified either of me or his employer.

Yes, I imagine a lot of the older staff members were lost in the purges or simply 'retired' gracefully.

He knocks smartly on the door, then pushes it open. "Mister Grayven for you, Prime Minister."

Geoffrey nods to me. "Yes, I know who he is. Does this need to be a private meeting?"

Entirely a natural concern, given his work with the Renegade.

"No." I glance at the P.P.S.. "The lad looks reliable."

"He is. Come on, come on, sit down-" He gestures to the… Large reinforced chair just in front of his desk. "-and tell me what this is about. Had that thing dragged up from the basement for you."

How considerate of him. No doubt the Renegade called ahead, of course. You don't just drop in on a head of state like that with no warning, after all.

"Much appreciated." I stroll forwards and sit down as P.P.S…. Timothy Sotheby, takes up position on a chair at the side of the room, ready to take notes or offer information which may have slipped his master's mind. "So, to put your mind at ease-"

"Hmn."

Dangit, why am I imagining a youngish Chris Barrie (as Gordon Brittas, specifically) right now?

And I bet you are too, now.

"-I'll start by saying that there isn't a disaster that requires immediate attention, legal or otherwise. No criminal conspiracy or anything like that." After all, we're not criminals. "It's more of an… Offer."

"That sounds dubious, but keep going."

Yes, suspicious as hell, especially given the sort of thing he helped to root out in the government before.

"Some people I work with like to get together every few months to coordinate our efforts in improving the world. I suggested that you might be a good addition."

He doesn't look impressed. "Is this my invitation to the Bilderberg Group?"

An unofficial diplomatic conference of sorts, at the eponymous hotel. Kind of an obvious reference once you know about it.

"HAH!" I raise my right arm, forefinger extended. "Yes! None of the others got the joke!"

"What are you talking about?"

Admittedly, most of the people he works with aren't the sort to know (or care) about those things. Two ancient beings of mystical power, two superscientists (one of which is a corporate leader) and a being of elemental shadow who is very much a private citizen.

"I booked a room at the Bilderberg Hotel for our first meeting just to make that reference. None of the others got it." He regards me levelly. "We're not part of the actual Bilderberg Group. I'm not, anyway. The others might be, but they haven't told me if they are. We're exclusive, not exclusive."

Although the Renegade probably has enough global cachet to actually be invited. Adom would probably be a less likely guest, though, assuming he's taken control of Kahndaq here.

"Has this group been meeting for long?"

"Coming up two years. We started just after I got back to Earth from my little field trip."

Which is around the same time that the British Government got cleaned up, which I expect Talbot to take very close notice of.

"Did they advise you on your actions towards the former British government?"

"No, that was more of a me thing."

Much like the old Light, they encourage each member to engage in their own projects, but coordinate to avoid conflicts of interest... The only difference is their focus.

"This whole thing smacks of the sort of secret society bullshit that we worked together to purge."

"The main difference is that we're not doing this to gain power."

"You took over Africa."

I'm sure it looks that way in both cases, but the specifics are quite different.

"No, I forced the governments of the most corrupt parts of the world to stop being corrupt. I forced hilariously biased police forces to actually enforce the law in a fair and even handed manner. And aside from the private security company which is doing it turning a small operating profit -and having an excellent end-user satisfaction report- I haven't benefited financially at all."

Just took the fear of being shredded by a super-fast assassin to get them straightened out. The trick is keeping them there after they think the danger's passed...

"You use telepaths, Grayven."

I flap my right hand. "You can mind control some of the people all of the time and all of the people some of the time. You can't mind control all of the people all of the time."

Not quite the way the phrase is used, but the principle counts.

"Telepaths in law enforcement."

"Yeah, and it works really well. Are you telling me you wouldn't have liked something like that when you were in the force?"

He snorts. "I would, at that."

Given he raged himself into Enlightenment because he couldn't sort things out, I can see the appeal.

"It's not practical to probe everyone in the country, but you can protect against unnecessary usage by requiring warrants, or allowing an independent review if it looks like someone's overusing it. Plus, it's done wanders for the economy, and communal violence is at an all-time low. But -to be clear- use of that facility is in no sense compulsory. There are other option, or perhaps you're happy with the criminal justice system just-"

Keep in mind he was a good cop in a bad system. Hence the rage.

He actually smiles. "Heh."

"-the way-. Hah! Yeah, I can't finish that sentence. But-. Look. There are exotic options that aren't in widespread use for a variety of reasons, and… My friends and I got tired of waiting. We've got a project coming up that we think you could help with, and in return there are things that we can do for you."

Waiting for people to actually realise those options exist, and start using them, of course. But people will be people, and take the path of least resistance and effort.

He nods. "What happens if I say 'no'?"

"I have to try talking Jon into it. Or possibly the Chinese. Suboptimal neither way. Or we twist arms in Africa until they federate and get the new president to demand a U.N. Security Council seat." I sigh, shrugging. "It's a lot of extra work either way. You're the better choice."

And I'm sure it'll be great for the British economy. Not that the prime Minister is meant to profit from that sort of thing...

"And if I'm interested, then back out and shout what I know to the rooftops?"

"I read a comic a while ago. There was a… Bit in it about an arms company. They'd been bribing senators to get contracts, the bribed them more to hush it up when the substandard weapons they sold didn't work properly. And one of their former P.R. people talked to a C.I.A. new hire about it, and the rookie asked why there wasn't a bigger fuss about it. And the P.R. guy says, 'because it's not a secret'. Talk to anyone on the street about the military-industrial complex, and they'll know what you're talking about. They know it's happening, even if they don't know the details. And they don't care. You think John Smith of Nottingham can get a copy of the Justice League's minutes? You think he cares?"

I'm guessing that is a reference to events from early in 'The Boys', concerning Vought-American. It sounds like the sort of darker-and-edgier crap that world would produce. The weapons, incidentally, were their version of the M-16, and they were historically even worse than the original rollout, if I remember right. Catastrophic mechanical failures rather than misinformed troops.

I sit back slightly.

"Yes, the extra public attention we'd get for… Maybe two weeks? Would be a bit of a nuisance… But that's it. 'Powerful people meet, talk'. Heck, you were the one who mentioned the Bilderberg Group. It's not news, except in the specific."

And most people won't look deeper than the headlines. Those that do and decide it's bad would be seen as among the tinfoil-hat crowd, I suspect.

"And if I'm at least curious?"

"Then you pop along to the next meeting and say 'hello'. They all know about you of course -the publically available information only- and you've probably heard of some of them. And… If you think there's something they can help you with, ask. If you want to know about their objectives… Ask."

It might take a couple of such meetings to actually see that kind of openness, though. Most of them are a little wary of strangers. Except Cranius, I suspect.

He raises his right hand slightly, indicating his ring. "Am I expected to leave this at home?"

"No? I don't leave mine behind, and everyone else brings their exotic equipment. But… I don't know what you're imaging, but we're all friends. Two of us are even married to each other."

In the case of The Shade and Adom, they are their exotic equipment, after all.

He thinks for a moment. "Is it your horse woman?"

"No it's not.. Luna. She thinks Cluedo involved an excessive amount of sinister plotting. And we're not married.. yet. That's actually… Part of what this is about."

That's actually kind of cute.

"You're assembling a secret sinister cabal to… Plan your wedding?"

"No. There's a problem I have which means that I can't get married yet, and my colleagues are helping me deal with it."

Admittedly, it's not really something to talk about in the open like this. Too many things that might cause a panic, after all.

"I think you can get a pill these days."

I glower faintly. "I don't have trouble sustaining an erection, thank you."

And if he did, he'd probably try the Rings first.

"No, I thought you were talking about the clap."

I glower harder. "No."

Just because he's dating a sapient mythical equine doesn't mean he's discovering all sorts of exotic diseases. Though I suspect the down-market tabloids are having a field day with that sort of story. Well, the 'Superhero dating magical horse princess' angle, not the other stuff.

"Hm. Alright, fine. Give me the date and I'll put it in the diary. But to be clear: I was happy to die striking a blow against the former government. My attitude towards evil has not changed."

I smile. "I'm glad to hear it. I'm sure you'll fit right in."

That could be a bit awkward if he actually takes exception to them...

Ah, the joy of knowing the man in charge. For now at least. If Talbot does get along with the New Light, then things will proceed quite efficiently, I bet. The key word there being 'if'. I don't doubt the Renegade could shut down Talbot's Ring if he tries anything aggressive, but doing so would absolutely ruin their association. And that would be counter-productive...

Mr Zoat · 2025-12-12T09:40:03+0000

Ngamer11 said:
That should say 'options'.

Duke Long said:
'wonders'
'then'
'imagining'

Thank you, corrected.

Darko · 2025-12-12T09:45:00+0000

Chojin Patriarch said:
In the case of The Shade and Adom, they are their exotic equipment, after all.

Most of the New Light is technically their own exotic equipment since most of them have magic power.

Chojin Patriarch said:
And if he did, he'd probably try the Rings first.

Many men fear not being able to rise to the occasion, so the yellow ring may work.

Signaller · 2025-12-12T10:12:44+0000

Mr Zoat said:
"I have to try talking Jon into it. Or possibly the Chinese. Suboptimal neither way.

Either way

Signaller · 2025-12-12T10:19:22+0000

AverusBlack said:
Oa.

Since he'd joined the corps, his feelings about it had changed. To begin with, it was interesting 'cuz it was all so alien, and the whole ring thing had really kept his attention. Then for a while it was more like a workspace, like an office you spent a lot of time at. But now? Now it was a little like home.

Just, y'know, without the insanity.

As he curved his downward descent to land on the pale green walkway, he rolled his shoulders, tugging his jacket in a gesture he was barely aware of doing. He'd never been to this particular building before. It really said something about his status in the corps these days that Ganthet himself was pulling him in for consultations. It was enough to get to a mans head if he let it, and he didn't plan on letting it.

The door, an ornate model with a split down the middle of it and the green sigil engraved on its face in the form of a thousand small writings, opened for him as he approached. He squinted at the writing a little, but the ring wasn't translating for him. Or maybe it was just so alien that the ring was having to work for it. His passing curiosity about the door design wasn't anything close to being outweighed by his curiosity about why he was here, though.

The door led him to a plain looking hallway with another door, but behind that door lay Ganthet's research lab. He blinked a few times as he looked around at all the gidgets and thingamajigs, all of it looking very important and alien. It suddenly occurred to him that, in many respects, it looked a lot like the setup he had seen down in the ring forges that one time. The whole thing just looked like a traditional forge to him, but he knew better than to think that.

The room was circular, with a small stairway leading down while the edge he was standing on ran around the rim of the pit below. At the other end of the room stood - well, hovered - Ganthet in front of some kind of interface. Down in the pit sat what looked to him like a half-finished personal lantern. A blue half-finished personal lantern. Sitting just below it was what looked a lot like a blue ring, too.

"I'm glad you could make it, Lantern Gardner. How fares Earth?"

He knew damn well that Ganthet probably already knew the answer. But he did appreciate the effort at being personable. "Well, most of the fires are out. Enough that Supes and the gang are letting themselves get distracted with that whole... thing. This your work?" He gestured down at the pit.

"Indeed." Ganthet rose up and over the console, slowly lowering himself down to the nascent lantern. "You may not be aware, but I have been making efforts in my spare time to develop a blue ring prototype. Certainly, I never expected to be beaten to it by a Qwardian. Your friend Alan was kind enough to allow me to scan his lantern and ring, and it has actually been rather helpful. I believe that the ring and lantern may even be complete within the month. Can you guess why I have asked you here?"

He rubbed his chin, giving it some thought without answering immediately. Ganthet was the sort to appreciate a considered answer over a glib one. "The older techniques I've been researching?"

"Not quite. My intention was originally to finish the prototype so that I could demonstrate to my brothers and sisters that our use of the green light could be further strengthened with the blue. Most of the difficulty lay in the ability to access constructs at will. Do you know why the orange Illustres had to have the Qwardian make it?"

"Yeah, he was a little grumpy about it the one time it got brought up. I think he was more annoyed with himself though, 'cuz he didn't think to ask the Controllers about making one before everyone got aligned to orange, he said."

"Just so. It's one of the reasons I struggled to build this prototype despite the fact we have been making power rings for mortals for a million years. I have been green for a very, very long time. And the truth is that I think your friend has a point when he says that drifting too far into monochromatism isn't a good thing."

"You think Paul is right about something?" He couldn't help but smile a little. "Should I alert the honour guard now, or after I leave?"

"After you leave. Perhaps you'll have changed your mind by then." Ganthet gave him a wry grin. "No, the truth is that I struggled with some of the basic functions because I have forgotten what it is like to feel hope." The smile began to slip from his face. "For eons, the Guardians of the Universe have worked for the good of all. But we're not infallible. You've read the unabridged version of the Book of Oa and you know this to be true."

He nodded, drifting down the steps towards the ring and lantern as he listened.

"Traditionally, we program the rings to seek out their bearers. I know I'm not telling you anything you don't already know, but the criteria for those searches was set quite a long time ago and has only undergone revisions since then. We make small changes where circumstances have taught us they are necessary, but the core remains the same."

It dawned on him suddenly why he was here. "You want advice for what kind of bearer to look for."

Ganthet nodded to him.

He took a deep breath, resting his hands on his hips and exhaling hard, letting his cheeks puff out. "Whooo. That's a tall order, sir. I have no idea who to recommend. It's like having somebody ask you what your favourite song is." He held a hand up, frowning. "Mind if I take a few minutes to think?"

"Not at all. Though you may wish to step back to the top of the stairs in the meantime."

He jogged up them quickly, then sat down at the top step as Ganthet drifted back to his console and got back to work. A blue construct fabrication array formed above the pit and he let his mind drift as he watched his boss work on his experiment. What kind of person would make a good blue lantern? More importantly, what were they to do?

"So... were you just thinking of issuing blue rings to serving green lanterns, or founding a second corps alongside ours?"

"The second. We would pair a blue lantern with the green lanterns of a given sector so that they could act as support."

"What, like, healing and stuff?"

Ganthet shook his head. "The blue light and the green light are... not close, exactly, but they complement each other in a way that yellow and green do not and never could. The healing would be a great help in saving the lives of our lanterns, it's true. The high turnover rate of this work is something that has long been accepted as a necessity, but I think it would be better if so many of our lanterns didn't die in the line of service. The crypts are the one part of Oa I do not love to see grow. But one of the uses of the blue light is that it can supercharge a green ring and that can be very helpful."

"Whoa, what? Alan's never used his ring like that."

"Lantern Scott had a damaged green ring converted into a blue one. I've yet to understand quite how Kalmin managed to do that, but I believe the limitation may be in my inability to feel hope for myself. It's entirely possible that Lantern Scott can supercharge the rings around him and simply never realized it because the Qwardian thought it should be a..." He seemed to struggle for a euphamism. "...An opt-in function."

He found himself nodding. "Yeah, that sounds like somethin' he'd do. The guys a real piece o' work. Guess I'll have to ask Alan 'bout that when I get home, then. Okay, so, you want people who... inspire hope? Bolster the hope of other greenies?"

Ganthet nodded absentmindedly as he manipulated the controls, the array lifting the blue personal lantern upward and beginning to... do... he looked away from it, blinking hard. Something more than three dimensions going on there he didn't quite understand that his brain was complaining about looking at. "Originally, I thought to program the traits I hoped would suit a blue ring user into a seeker protocol and simply let the ring choose for itself. Seeing a blue ring made without the functional limitations I thought were necessary made me rethink that approach, if only because it became obvious that I had a blind spot due to my alignment with the green."

"No, I think you're on the money there. Seeker ain't a bad approach. I honestly have no idea who to recommend other than Alan. Hmmm. That one girl..." He snapped his fingers a couple times, trying to remember. "The hot one Paul brought around that one time, she was supposedly great with Alan's ring when he let her try it out for about five minutes."

Ganthet didn't say anything for a few seconds, then glanced at him. "Ah, Lantern Koriand'r. The record shows she is a serving orange lantern, however."

"Yeah, sure, but Paul seemed to really think she'd make a great blue. You mind if I ask something?"

"No, of course. What is it?"

"Is this so the Controllers don't found their own blue corps? I kinda got the impression that influence is what Maltusians really care about among each other."

"Yes and no. I have been researching this for a long time now, but you're not entirely incorrect when you say that I'm trying to get this off the ground so that they don't do it first. The truth is that if our cousins make an effort to found their own blue corps... we don't have the protections in place that we do with the green light. We can't really stop them from it. But they also don't seem to be moving in that direction, either."

He stood up suddenly as the door behind him opened, coming to attention as Guardian Sayd drifted into the lab. "Ah, you began without me?"

"I believe Lantern Gardner and I have settled on a possible candidate. With the delay in finishing the personal lantern, that should be sufficient time to contact the orange Illustres and make arrangements for her?"

"Eeehhhhh..." He dithered a little. "He's got his hands full with the Zod trial. But she's in Vega, it wouldn't be hard for Green Man to have a talk with her."

"It might be best if it didn't seem like we're trying to poach orange lanterns."

He shrugged, thinking back to Paul telling him he'd offered Jack Chance an orange ring. Ain't like he never gave it a shot himself. He knew Sayd was probably right, though. "Yeah, okay, I'll talk to him about it next chance I get. This won't be done tomorrow, right? I got a few weeks, you said?"

"My time spent working on this project is what you might call my 'down time'. I'm afraid I don't get as much of it as I'd quite like. So yes, it won't be immediate."

"Great! Should I scram so you can work, then?"

"Yes, but take the time to contact the orange Illustres, if he isn't busy." He nodded, then headed out, walking backwards and sketching the two guardians a lazy salute.

As the door closed from his departure, Sayd turned to Ganthet. "Are you sure this is the best course, sending it to somebody marked by orange?"

"Nothing in life is sure but death, dear sister. We've gotten too comfortable in our self-assuredness. And if she proves to be a bad candidate, there is always Earth, or the seeker option."

She wasn't entirely sure if he was joking about Earth. He had spent more time with the human lanterns than most of the Guardians did. But as she watched him work, she also found herself privately agreeing with him. Change and adaptation were the cornerstones of survival and if the Guardians of the Universe were to survive their dwindling numbers, perhaps a change in approach might be in order.

The real question was, could they convince the others?

So with Zoat's approval, is this now part of WTR canon?

Ngamer11 · 2025-12-12T11:05:10+0000

Signaller said:
So with Zoat's approval, is this now part of WTR canon?

Seeing as it's in the omake index, no it is not.

Mr Zoat · 2025-12-12T11:35:20+0000

Signaller said:
Either way

Thank you, corrected.

jasonh23761 · 2025-12-12T13:23:49+0000

Ah, Red Geoff, how I've missed you so.

Mr Zoat · 2025-12-12T13:46:27+0000

jasonh23761 said:
Ah, Red Geoff, how I've missed you so.

It might be a transatlantic thing, but in the U.K., 'Red X' would only be used to refer to a Communist.

Zig · 2025-12-12T14:21:11+0000

Mr Zoat said:
It might be a transatlantic thing, but in the U.K., 'Red X' would only be used to refer to a Communist.

Red X is a communist?

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

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