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

Discussion in 'Creative Writing' started by Mr Zoat, Jan 27, 2019.

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  1. AmericanNumbers

    AmericanNumbers Not too sore, are you?

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    In canon, the Anti Life equation is hidden on Earth. That qualifies.
     
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  2. Mr Zoat

    Mr Zoat Dedicated ragequitter

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    Thank you, corrected.
     
  3. Silveraith

    Silveraith Argent Phantasm

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    Are.
     
  4. Mr Zoat

    Mr Zoat Dedicated ragequitter

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    Thank you, corrected.
     
  5. mastermenthe

    mastermenthe Mint Thistle

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    ...it is? Where? I don't recall this from the wiki.
     
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  6. Assblaster5000

    Assblaster5000 I trust you know where the happy button is?

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    Technically it could be counted as "hidden" on Earth. What I assume they're talking about is the fact that fragments of it just... show up sometimes on Terra Firma. Which is part of why Darkseid is interested in the planet.

    I don't think we've ever gotten so much as hint about why, aside from the theory that Earth is Fifth World I guess, but it happens fairly consistently.
     
  7. Rafin

    Rafin Not too sore, are you?

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    How much ash fits into the ring storage space? Wouldn't it be easy to transport it all into orbit if leaving it on the ground isn't what you desire to do?

    How come the ring doesn't translate the word "Dal"? What makes it different from any of the many many English/Earth-native words for ruler that exist?
     
    Last edited: Mar 18, 2023
  8. Mr Zoat

    Mr Zoat Dedicated ragequitter

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    Quite a lot, but it's awkward to put something that diffuse into storage.
    Throwing the ash into space would actually be fairly difficult. It wouldn't stay in orbit, for a start.
    Flavour, mostly. Or for the same reason that Caesar doesn't translate to baldy.
     
  9. Stsword

    Stsword Versed in the lewd.

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    Well, less "hidden on Earth," and more "hidden in humanity."

    In DC there are people who are apparently just born knowing the Anti-Life Equation, or parts thereof.

    Like Billion Dollar Bates, who thought he was just very charismatic because people just do what he asks them to do.

    Or the Forever People's ally Sonny Sumo.

    It's not actually limited to humans though, Death of the New Gods reveals that Scott knows the Anti-life Equation, and since it's unlikely he went looking for it I assume he just knows it like Bates, and it's been very much implied that the reality warping of the 5th dimensional imps is from mastery of the Anti-Life Equation.
     
  10. Bramble Thorn

    Bramble Thorn Verified Silhouette

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    Ok, what's the problem with gathering lots of the ash in one place and compressing it?
    Tech level 0 Humans can manage rammed earth, and OL has a power ring.
    Make a few devils rocks of the compressed ash he plans on taking from the atmosphere.
    This should be lots easier then cleaning the oceans, which he was able to do.
     
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  11. Mr Zoat

    Mr Zoat Dedicated ragequitter

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    Gathering lots of the ash into one place and compressing it.
    The volume was far less, as he was focusing on a relatively small area of the ocean where the particle count was highest. Once he's gathered the ash, he can do whatever he likes with it.
     
  12. Vaermina

    Vaermina Well worn.

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    Real pity he can't just create a few of those weather control unit's he helped create and stick them around the volcano's caldera to keep the ash from escaping.

    Oh wait... He could...
     
  13. Ngamer11

    Ngamer11 Experienced.

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    If I remember correctly, those used metamaterials that are too energy intensive for Paul to create with his ring.
     
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  14. Vaermina

    Vaermina Well worn.

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    I don't think so? They were being mass produced back on Earth.
     
  15. Ngamer11

    Ngamer11 Experienced.

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    I thought Io was making the original ones, and then Ted Kord brought in guys who could learn to blacksmith from her, which is how he could afford to make so many weather control units.
     
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  16. Vaermina

    Vaermina Well worn.

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    That was for producing Jovium. Not the weather control devices.
     
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  17. Ngamer11

    Ngamer11 Experienced.

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    They didn't use Jovium in those things?
     
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  18. Threadmarks: Butcher's Blood (part 10)
    Mr Zoat

    Mr Zoat Dedicated ragequitter

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    21st January 2013
    10:31 GMT


    The force field around the city crackles faintly in the distance, barely visible through the ash clouds that continue to fall. Razer and Ilana are staying behind to get updated on local news. The army in the field…

    Ah, heck.

    Looks like they've taken refuge in a small town, which is packed with refugees as well as a reasonably sized army. There doesn't seem to have been enough space in the actual buildings for everyone, and from the scraps of fabric I can see sticking out through the dust piles it looks like they tried to use their tents to create a cover over the streets. That might have worked alright for a smaller amount of ash, but it completely failed here.

    I erect a construct dome and start clearing the build up, focusing on those ash heaps that still have living people under them. Piles build up outside the town palisade, and I'm… Probably burying crop fields doing this, but nothing under there is going to be alive at this point anyway.

    I shove somewhat cooked bodies aside and hoik out a survivor, using a construct gas mask to feed them a little more oxygen to try and help him recover. With more space cleared I begin laying out the living and dead alike, a purple healing ray patching up the survivors. I don’t think… No, I haven't seen people slow-cooked like this before.

    Every day's a.. learning experience.

    With the windows of the buildings cleared, light from my constructs leaks through into the interior. I get long enough to finish my triage efforts before the first brave soul risks opening a door, the rags jammed around the frame to keep the ash out meaning that it needs a strong shove before allowing them passage. I float down and raise my right hand in greeting. While I think I can work out which of the people taking shelter are the important ones, there doesn't seem to be much marking out the Dal from the other officers.

    "Hello! You appear to be having a bit of an apocalypse."

    "That-. That we are. Ah, sir."

    A soldier. A junior one, shoved-. Yes, shoved in like sardines with.. some local people. They're all spilling out now, and-. One loses his lunch when he sees some of those that the ash fall killed, but most of them just wince or.. make a gesture that I assume is the equivalent of crossing yourself.

    "Short version: it's a volcano, I can stop it but I need to know who started it first, where's the Dal?"

    "What's a-? What?"

    "The ash. It comes from a volcano. And it will keep coming for several days. I need information, and the Dal seems like he's most likely to know."

    "You're a… An orange Lantern?" He looks up and left, taking in the size of the shield and the ash piling up outside it. "Ah, yes, yessir. He was taking shelter with the mayor, over that way." He points towards the only two-storey building in the town, which I'd assumed was a barn. "He's in there."

    "Thank you. Please check on your wounded. I think they're alright, but this is the first time I've encountered your species."

    "And the… The rest?"

    I hadn't realised, but I think he's… Young. Too young to really know what to do in situations like this. One of the others should be an NCO, but…

    "I don't know your people's funerary customs, but I suggest that you get started. Your officers should have orders for you soon."

    I fly towards the taller building, noticing that experienced-looking soldiers with-. Yes, those are plasma pistols. An elite bodyguard, or people wealthy enough to-.

    I spot the moment they see me, dart their eyes towards the shielding dome and don't go for their weapons.

    "Might I speak with the Dal, please?"

    One motions to one of the others, who steps back inside the building. I look inside as he talks to… Probably the Dal, who then proceeds to exit the building and look up at me.

    "We have you to thank for this?"

    "The barrier, yes. The volcano was set off by a nuclear device. Do you-?"

    "Damn him! He told-!"

    The Dal fights down his rage before looking back at me.

    "Dal Cryoncus made contact with me a short time ago. He claimed to have bought a weapon from off-world arms merchants that would destroy our shared enemies. He needed access to my lands to site it, and I allowed him to send a small party."

    "Are his lands close? They would have been covered by ash as well."

    "His city is shielded by mountains. They have caves to retreat to, and the prevailing winds will spare him the worst of it!"

    "Your enemies-?"

    "None of them have had dealings with off-worlders lately. We keep track of such things about one another. It can make the difference between victory and defeat in battle, it changes the terms it's wise to offer in trade, it changes… Everything. And it provides information about a city's wealth if off-worlders think that it is worth visiting."

    "Right." I land next to him and generate a construct map. I think I know which city he's talking about, but it makes sense to check. "This one?"

    He considers the map for a moment. "Yes, that one. The people who would have killed us all."

    I hear the anger in his voice, but as far as I can tell that all comes from him.

    "How fares my city?"

    "I cleaned it up and then put a shield around it. It should be fine. I suggest that you allow me to take everyone in this town there before I go to speak with Dal Cryoncus."

    He makes a gesture of compliance. "Staying here would see us all dead. I will get everyone organised."

    "Given the massive environmental damage your world has suffered, might I prevail upon you to agree to a general ceasefire? At least for a growing season or two?"

    "Who would guarantee such a thing?"

    "I'll either do it myself, or find someone else to do it on my behalf."

    He looks in the direction of his city, though I doubt that he can see much through the ashfall.

    "Are we the closest to it?"

    "Yes."

    "So we're undoubtably the worst affected. Yes, I'll agree, if my neighbours do as well. It's not as if it would be practical to launch an attack in these conditions."

    "Thank you. I'll leave you to your preparations."

    I rise back into the sky as he begins issuing orders. Transporting a few thousand people will be easier for me than arranging food and accommodation will be for him at the far end. Heh, the ash pile outside my shield is already about halfway up. It's astonishing how dangerous geology can be.

    "Illustres to Jade. Anything worrying going on?"

    "The militia are back inside. Orion and I are heading to the next nearest city to try and talk them into doing the same thing."

    "Good idea. When you say '-."

    "He's going to shoot things until they do what he says."

    "Very efficacious. I've got a lead on the nuker. I'll let you know if it's actually them."
     
    Last edited: Mar 19, 2023
  19. Darko

    Darko Connoisseur.

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    Those things were partly magical, and this planet may not have magic, so they may not work.
     
  20. Darko

    Darko Connoisseur.

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    School sucks.

    "the Dal"
     
  21. Ngamer11

    Ngamer11 Experienced.

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    That should say 'Dal'.

    That should say 'by'.
     
  22. GhostKing 666

    GhostKing 666 Know what you're doing yet?

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    Just pointing out, Paul will need more then oxygen masks and even purple healing rays to deal with the effects of long-term breathing the ash. Volcanic ash isn't normal ash, it's made of shattered bits of stone and rock. Not only can it potentially scar the insides of your lungs, but worst-case scenario results in it combining with the moisture in your lungs and becoming a sort-of cement-based mixture. He needs to get the ash out of the lungs to fully heal the inflicted.
     
  23. Vaermina

    Vaermina Well worn.

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    Pretty sure he's just doing the bare minimum here to get the locals to lead him to the most likely person to have the blood.

    Because him learning that nuke came from offworld should mean he could call in the Green's to preform a full humanitarian mission. Yet he didn't even attempt it.
     
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  24. Handlewithcare

    Handlewithcare Versed in the lewd.

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    Ah, good old fashioned saving the world.

    Good classic Paul adventures.
     
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  25. Chojin Patriarch

    Chojin Patriarch Veteran Lurker

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    Hopefully not smothered by trying to make camp in tents. No cloth could withstand that weight, much less the scalding heat. And even then, you know it's the higher-ranks that would get the sturdiest cover...

    As long as most of the people live, it's fine. Worry about feeding them later.

    ...Worst case... Well, cannibalism is easy, even with the risks of disease. :(

    Let me guess, they're all holed up in the larger buildings, in the rich part of town? :rolleyes:

    Yeah, that's about the reaction I'd expect of a young man who might never have seen a Lantern before. So when a flying, glowing alien turns up, well...

    I doubt the queasy young fellow can make more of a mess down there.

    Accurate. Volcanoes do continue to spew out debris and detritus for several days after the initial kaboom. Though I doubt it'll be too much of a problem once he gets underway on cleaning up.

    ...Hey, it could still be a barn. Often, places of leadership were also storehouses for community resources...

    Help the living... Bury the dead. Or whatever they do around here.

    Yeah, that looks like the grand poobah's hidey-hole.

    Wise men. Evidently not promoted solely on the merit of their bloodlines. :p

    That depends on what you mean by 'this'...

    I'd say the Crelanic Dal seems to be the prime suspect here, huh?

    Good to have a name, at least. But really? You believed him? I assume this was before he kicked your sister to the curb, then.

    Oh, joy. A natural fortress, huh? At least, against what the locals can bring to bear...

    I'm sure the espionage business was booming, before this.

    Which is honestly short-sighted of Cryoncus. Oh, sure, all your enemies will be dead. But so will all their land and livestock...

    Ah, a decent leader, I see. Or is he just concerned he's now a ruler without a place to rule?

    Well, road trip for the locals! I'm sure the army will appreciate not having to walk home in this weather either. :p

    Worried that some other loon will try this again or take advantage of your weakened state? Reasonable enough.

    Still, if it comforts him in this shitshow... Let him imagine.

    Anyone closer would be dead by now.

    Let's hope said neighbours are as sensible.

    Yeah, humanity ain't got anything on what Mother Nature can do...

    What's the bet the next city ends up being the lands of the guy Orion vented his annoyance on earlier? :D

    All signs point to 'Yes' thus far.

    Well, one step closer on his search. And doing a little good in the process, despite it delaying him. With any luck, he can get the Butcher's Blood, in whatever form it might have taken, and send it on back with Orion, while he lends a hand here. And maybe get on the horn to the Greenies once his objective is secured. I suspect they'd object to him taking it if they were here, after all.



    Delete 'the'.
    Too young to really know what to do in situations like this.
     
  26. Ganurath

    Ganurath Apologizes For Nothing

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    It was established back when Kara threatened to crush and breath in the black kryptonite if Paul didn't fuck her that getting dust out of someone's lungs was one of OL's few limits.
     
  27. Rafin

    Rafin Not too sore, are you?

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    I thought Paul is using some technology-based construct to filter matter out of the air. I'd be surprised if those kinds of devices never came with some kind if matter compactor or compressor, since whoever invented them would most likely not just want whatever he was collecting to all be blown out of a tube into a random direction. Hell, just mix it with moisture and freeze it, if you've got no better idea.

    After that it's just a question of transitioning into high orbit (Paul transitions all the time) and shooting the compact ash pellets hard enough to achieve at least orbital speed. And if some of it rains down in the future, well a bit of ash is not a problem. All of the ash is the problem.

    Though I'm not sure why this shouldn't also be possible when the ash is still in dust form. With all the many exotic matter guns he has available, making something that carries a dust payload should not need some kind of complicated invention. And I also don't get why storing and unstoring ash would be a problem. Just "want" to have all ash touched by his construct filter to be in storage (which is easy because he wants it to not be in the atmosphere and storage is not in the atmosphere and enlightenment takes care of the in between issues of want alignment), then fly into orbit and "want" to get rid of any and all ash in storage (which is easy because he doesn't want ash everywhere the next time someone manages to disrupt his storage space).

    Edit: I honestly don't see why this is more complicated than filtering microplastic out of the Earth's oceans and I remember him having started that before enlightenment.

    Dal, two times.
     
  28. Duke Long

    Duke Long Glomerulus

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    ’undoubtedly’?
     
  29. BR549

    BR549 This is filth! FILTH!!

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    'by'

    You know, Paul has been wanting to do more Old Fashioned Simple Superheroing.

    To be fair, he had to do a lot of Orange Crap to get here, but here he is.
     
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  30. Mr Zoat

    Mr Zoat Dedicated ragequitter

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    Thank you, corrected.
    Gesundheit.
     
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