20th January 2013
21:09 GMT
My giant radar construct is pointing directly at New Genesis while Lantern Lacuray maps local space under Ragnar's observation. I never actually asked Mr. Free how best to get in contact with his people, and… I should probably have brought Lantern Allyn along. Or maybe they'd have considered that an aggressive move?
"…
that area looks like it was either subjected to kinetic bombardment, or else a very big bomb."
Ragnar nods. "Yes, good. Why do you think they targetted
that point?"
She thinks for a moment, then
calls up… A map of the planet's waterways. Most of the crater they're looking at is an inland sea now, but by checking the neighbouring landforms and the routes of the remaining rivers, it should be possible to
somewhat recreate what used to be there.
Meanwhile…
"This is the Illustres of the Orange Lantern Corps calling Supertown.
"
No, wait, maybe I'm doing this wrong. I close my eyes,
fading from the material as I project my desire for communication through the Honden. That's not exactly how the New Gods-.
Righteous Authority.
A giant translucent face appears a little way in front of us.
Male, pale skinned and with white hair and beard. No moustache, which means it looks like he has a mane framing his face. That matches the image of what I was expecting Highfather Izaya to look like.
"I hear you, Illustres."
I bow.
"Highfather. Thank you for responding.
"
Blessing of Benevolence.
"My son's allies on Earth have already requested the aid of New Genesis. If you are here to repeat their request, I regret to tell you that have sent all that I can."
"Not exactly. I believe that I have a power ring-based solution to the Anti-Life infestation. However, there are certain components I need before I can put it into effect.
"
Cease.
"Say no more. You and your colleagues may approach New Genesis. I will greet you when you arrive."
"Thank you!
"
The floating head fades as Lantern Lacuray stares after him.
"What was that?"
"It was their ruler, Highfather Izaya the Inheritor."
"No, I-. It wasn't a hologram. There's no projection signal or display medium. It wasn't a telepathic narrowcast or plasma construct. What was it?"
"Reality superposition.
"
"What-? How..?"
"I just made that up. Izaya is empowered by the Source, so he
might just be able to tell reality to put his head somewhere but I'm not concluding that based on any particular intelligence. Shall we?
"
She nods, while Ragnar crosses his arms and shrugs to demonstrate that it will take more than a giant head to impress
him. I tether them both and then space blurs around us before we appear high up in the atmosphere of New Genesis.
Hm.
Aside from the faint.. golden smudge of Supertown itself, New Genesis looks completely pastoral. I can't see any roads or buildings… I guess the primitives wouldn't use things like that, and the… Local insectoids live underground.
Thinking about the primitives… Oh, I just spotted… They've still got New God physiology, haven't they? So it's not as if they're making life all that difficult for themselves by returning to nature. It's… Like a human going 'off-grid' with a miniature nuclear power plant to fuel all the mod-cons made by their personal matter transmuter. Or like reaching the top of Everest in a plane. Or dynamite fishing rather than grabbing the fish with your bare hands. Living without technology is impressive when a normal human does it, but with New Gods…
"Is it a hunting reserve?"
I look at Ragnar with my left eyebrow raised. He gestures to the planet with his right hand.
"They've removed all marks of industrial civilisation from their homeworld. Did they want a place to hunt?"
"No. Though I don't know enough of their history to know how they ended up like this.
"
"There."
Lantern Lacuray points, not at the planet but out into space. Their fleet, ships with silver armour and… Weird glowing patches, and… Pipes? There are shared design elements across the fleet but as far as I can see each ship is unique. I'm not… Sure what I'm looking at, but they're on station in case of trouble.
"They don't look like Grayven's ship."
"New Genesis and Apokolips share a technology base, but they have a rather different design philosophy. Alright, down we go.
"
I aim at Supertown and accelerate, the atmosphere parting around me. I
could just appear there -and given boom tubes they're probably used to that sort of thing- but I think for a first meeting I should take things a little slower.
And the clouds parts and I see that
being a New God doesn't give you taste.
"It's very… Gold." Ragnar sounds puzzled. "Were they concerned about lasers?"
"Wouldn't that blind them when the sun shines on it?"
"We're not here to criticise their horrible taste in city decoration-.
"
"
Horrible?" I glance at my other side, where a white-suited-. That's
Lightray. "As opposed to your grim grey ensemble?"
No technological aid I can see and he's effortlessly keeping pace with us. And not having to shield his face. Superman tends to squint a bit if he flies at this speed.
"It doesn't show the dirt.
"
"Is
that what they told you?"
"No, that's-. You don't know what orange power rings do, do you?
"
"Let you mimic even a fraction of our power?"
"Whatever we want. I'd have to
want to be dirty to get dirty.
"
He tilts his head, pointedly focusing his attention on my cuirass.
"Your mental dysfunctions are yours to deal with."
"Which way to Highfather?
"
"This way."
He accelerates, drawing ahead and leaving a trail of gold behind him. He leads the way towards a… Park near the city's rim.
"Did we come at a bad time?
"
"When it's you? Hah, it's
always a bad time!"
I turn my head to make eye contact as he smirks.
"Have we met before?
"
He blinks, frowning, before breaking into a grin.
"Hah!"
