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

Ardy · May 9, 2023

Doccer said:
Where did it say that?

Also, something I've noticed the more I read this is that a debuff Green lantern is basically a Power ranger. Seriously think about it! He has a powerful item on hand that allows him incredible power gives him an armored suit and allows them a number of weapons and attacks with a color coding, he has an old mentor training and advising him, who once did this thing until peace was more or less achieved and now that a great evil has come to tear apart the people and "Conquer Earth!" There's now a new generation (of 1) to save the world again, and his identity is sealed and he is even automatically respected on sight because of the profession of what he's wearing.
This is awesome . Never realized how much I wanted a Roswell Conspiracies - Power Ranger fic till now.
He's not Roswaul he's Ranger Paul!
I think I want a whole fic of just this.

I think this year's April Fools is supposed to take place in Angel Grove, so looking forward to that.

PDV · May 9, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
Also, really, America?

Not our fault you changed the spelling. Also, even Brits use the double L more often than not. About 60/40.

Doccer · May 9, 2023

Ardy said:
I think this year's April Fools is supposed to take place in Angel Grove, so looking forward to that.

Isn't this years April's Fools already past?

Mr Zoat · May 9, 2023

Doccer said:
Isn't this years April's Fools already past?

I do April Fools episodes when it's April in-universe.

Mr Zoat · May 10, 2023

4th November 1999
11:36 GMT

A smaller grove, and the flowers here seem more decorative than arable, and the crystals on the wall arranged for their decorative properties rather than purely to provide light. There's no… Bed, or desk, or any other sign that this is a work space, so I'm going to assume that this is some sort of banshee drawing room. Purple hair and the other banshee who followed us stay outside the entryway, with the crystals growing across it to seal the room at a wave of Queen Mab's right hand.

Right, then how to-?

"You are not Percival."

She sounds irritated, facing away from me as she shakes the teeth out on a workbench.

"He could make his armour larger than his body, but you have the proportions wrong. Are you a siren, perhaps?"

Um. Okay, maintaining any sort of pretence around someone who actually knows Percival. Or.. knew Percival. I can just write a description of my relationship with Percival down on paper and she can check it herself. But…

"No. I'm a human sworn to his service."

She holds out her left hand and the runic stone glows briefly before floating through the air to land in her palm. She looks at it for a moment, then nods.

"He gave this to you of his own free will, at least." She puts it down next to the pile of teeth and turns around, eyeing me suspiciously. "But it has been a long time since I have spoken to him."

"A long time for a human, a banshee, a maltusian… They aren't the same." I dismiss my construct helmet. "I'm halfway convinced that Percival predates this star system."

She studies me with renewed intensity, but doesn't appear to find anything objectionable. "You were hiding your face, but you're showing it to me. Why?"

"I can't sleep with my eyes open. The fewer people who know who I am, the better. But… You're friends with Percival-."

"Is that what he calls it?"

"Ah… If you.. want me to take him a message, I can certainly do that?"

"Aye, I will."

"You, ah, know Percival, and as far as he knows aren't allied to anyone. Your only interest is the good of the banshees on Earth, and since I don't intend to threaten your people in any way, there's no reason for you to share any information I give you about me."

"Perhaps I think that you have already seen enough to be a threat yourself?"

"No. If that was the case you'd have called in your guards and blasted me. You're annoyed with Percival, but from the sound of it you're annoyed because he's been an inconsiderate friend, rather than an enemy. And I.. do have some things to offer you."

"Such as?"

"I am more than happy to aid you in any way not detrimental to the interests of the law-abiding people of Earth. If the lycans or vampires are making nuisances of themselves, I'm happy to deal with the issue for you."

"We're perfectly capable of dealing with them on our own."

"The impression I got was that your population isn't that big. Every fight you take involves you risking people you can't replace. I'm not as powerful as Percival, but with his help I can fake it for a while. And I'm far easier for him to replace."

"And what about the Alliance?"

"I was going to ask you about that, actually. I briefly met a banshee Alliance agent-" She scowls. "-in London. I… Didn't think your people did that… Sort of thing."

"Sh'lainn Blaze. She left, and she'll not be coming back."

"Is she something we should be concerned about?"

"I don't… I don't think that she'll betray us. Beyond joining the Alliance in the first place. And she doesn't know about Percival; she was born after his last visit."

Um…

"The way you.. phrased that-."

"She's not his, if that's your meaning. No, Sh'lainn abandoning her own people to run around with the Alliance is not any sign that I want anything to do with them."

"Good show. Do you have any contact with other non-human sophonts on Earth?"

"Aye. Not often, but I do. Would you be wanting to get in touch with them?"

I nod. "Yes. My offer to you isn't exclusive. This… Secrecy thing, it shouldn't be necessary. It doesn't help you, it doesn't help us humans… I… Can't think of anyone it does help, not unless the Alliance board of directors are getting rich drip feeding alien technology into the market. Oh, sorry, that's-. Something else I want to offer. I can fly faster than light with passengers. If you decide-."

"You could help us run away."

"Humans have undergone an industrial revolution since you settled Earth. There aren't all that many places you can live comfortably anymore. I could help you return to a banshee world, or move you somewhere more primitive. If you wanted. Or on the other hand, I could act as an escort to banshees who… Ah. Wanted to explore the surface in safety."

Queen Mab's face relaxes a little.

"That may help. Sh'lainn's mother had the same adventurous spirit. But she and I grew up on the same world together. She lived our culture, and was loyal to me."

"And without either that personal bond or that cultural background…" I nod. "Sh'lainn grew up surrounded by things she wasn't allowed to touch."

"She could touch. But we're not a part of it."

"So would me offering to escort groups of banshees around be helpful… Or make the situation worse?"

"Staying as we are solves nothing. We can try it, and see what happens. Sh'rain will appreciate it, I'm sure." Queen Mab looks away for a moment. "I used to have talks like this with Percival."

I nod. "Sometimes an outsider's perspective is useful."

"True enough." She thinks for a moment. "What do you know about the Alliance?"

"Not a lot. They appear to be a paramilitary organisation tasked with preserving the secret of non-human sophont life on Earth, while simultaneously regulating it."

"'Regulating'?" She huffs.

"Ruthlessly repressing? I didn't want to draw a firm conclusion from the handful of actions I've seen."

"We had our first encounter with them about t'irty years ago. They haven't made us a priority, but they've been trying to find out where we come from. With Sh'lainn working for them, perhaps they'll realise that we don't want to fight them."

"If you want peace, prepare for war."

"And how would we do that?"

"Bypass the Alliance. Form an accord with peacefully inclined non-humans and then make contact with governments. In private, at first. Find out how connected to the governments of the world the Alliance actually is, because I heard a lot of American accents from their operatives."

"There are risks to that."

"There are. As I said, if it all falls apart I'm happy to evacuate you. But it'll be easier if you and any other civilised elements can present a united front."

She nods. "I can tell you where to go to speak with the leader of the Conduit. That's what they call themselves. And I'll write a letter for you to give to Percival. But before you head off to meet either of them, I want you to give a full report on what happened with you fighting the Alliance soldiers with Sh'lainn."

"Certainly, your majesty."

Darko · May 10, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
would be offering to escort

"would offering"

Mr Zoat · May 10, 2023

Darko said:
"would offering"

Thank you, corrected.

Chojin Patriarch · May 10, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
4th November 1999
11:36 GMT

A smaller grove, and the flowers here seem more decorative than arable, and the crystals on the wall arranged for their decorative properties rather than purely to provide light. There's no… Bed, or desk, or any other sign that this is a work space, as I'm going to assume that this is some sort of banshee drawing room. Purple hair and the other banshee who followed us stay outside the entryway, with the crystals growing across it to seal the room at a wave of Queen Mab's right hand.

A properly private meeting, I see. Not 'A discussion with several guards in the room'... Which shows how much trust they had in Percival that he could be allowed to be alone with their leader. Now, let's see if the Emerald Knight can earn it for himself.

Right, then how to-?

"You are not Percival."

Well, that's a fine way to start off. At least it settles that difficulty.

She sounds irritated, facing away from me as she shakes the teeth out on a workbench.

"He could make his armour larger than his body, but you have the proportions wrong. Are you a siren, perhaps?"

...Explains the comment about 'being sensitive about his height' from yesterday. Presumably Percival's shell was a little stouter in the belly.

Um. Okay, maintaining any sort of pretence around someone who actually knows Percival. Or.. knew Percival. I can just write a description of my relationship with Percival down on paper and she can check it herself. But…

"No. I'm a human sworn to his service."

Nice to be able to speak for once while wearing the armour, eh?

She holds out her left hand and the runic stone glows briefly before floating through the air to land in her palm. She looks at it for a moment, then nods.

"He gave this to you of his own free will, at least." She puts it down next to the pile of teeth and turns around, eyeing me suspiciously. "But it has been a long time since I have spoken to him."

I assume simple telekinesis like that is a common ability for the Banshee. Presumably how Sh'lainn flew off the plane earlier.

"A long time for a human, a banshee, a maltusian… They aren't the same." I dismiss my construct helmet. "I'm halfway convinced that Percival predates this star system."

She studies me with renewed intensity, but doesn't appear to find anything objectionable. "You were hiding your face, but you're showing it to me. Why?"

And once more, we're reminded that Maltusians are an old, old species.

"I can't sleep with my eyes open. The fewer people who know who I am, the better. But… You're friends with Percival-."

"Is that what he calls it?"

...Oh, there's definitely history there. Perhaps a little romantic attraction on her part.

"Ah… If you.. want me to take him a message, I can certainly do that?"

"Aye, I will."

I'm guessing this is why Percival stayed home.

"You, ah, know Percival, and as far as he knows aren't allied to anyone. Your only interest is the good of the banshees on Earth, and since I don't intend to threaten your people in any way, there's no reason for you to share any information I give you about me."

"Perhaps I think that you have already seen enough to be a threat yourself?"

What, you aren't curious about him?

"No. If that was the case you'd have called in your guards and blasted me. You're annoyed with Percival, but from the sound of it you're annoyed because he's been an inconsiderate friend, rather than an enemy. And I.. do have some things to offer you."

"Such as?"

Regular deliveries from the modern world, perhaps? Even if they can't use stuff like computers to access the internet, they can still appreciate books and the like.

"I am more than happy to aid you in any way not detrimental to the interests of the law-abiding people of Earth. If the lycans or vampires are making nuisances of themselves, I'm happy to deal with the issue for you."

"We're perfectly capable of dealing with them on our own."

Though I suspect their operations are a little more defensively oriented. Preventing hostile parties from finding their access locations and the sort.

"The impression I got was that your population isn't that big. Every fight you take involves you risking people you can't replace. I'm not as powerful as Percival, but with his help I can fake it for a while. And I'm far easier for him to replace."

"And what about the Alliance?"

And the more you use the Ring, the better you'll be at using it. Nothing like Earth Bullshit™ for power-levelling lanterns.

"I was going to ask you about that, actually. I briefly met a banshee Alliance agent-" She scowls. "-in London. I… Didn't think your people did that… Sort of thing."

"Sh'lainn Blaze. She left, and she'll not be coming back."

Ah. Not a happy parting, then.

"Is she something we should be concerned about?"

"I don't… I don't think that she'll betray us. Beyond joining the Alliance in the first place. And she doesn't know about Percival; she was born after his last visit."

Well, that's a bonus. Though they do know about the Emerald Knight now...

Um…

"The way you.. phrased that-."

I mean... She's quite the attractive lady... And maltusians do have all the needs of a sapient species.

"She's not his, if that's your meaning. No, Sh'lainn abandoning her own people to run around with the Alliance is not any sign that I want anything to do with them."

"Good show. Do you have any contact with other non-human sophonts on Earth?"

...Aw. Makes sense, I guess. She'd probably have been a lot more powerful if she was part-maltusian.

"Aye. Not often, but I do. Would you be wanting to get in touch with them?"

I nod. "Yes. My offer to you isn't exclusive. This… Secrecy thing, it shouldn't be necessary. It doesn't help you, it doesn't help us humans… I… Can't think of anyone it does help, not unless the Alliance board of directors are getting rich drip feeding alien technology into the market. Oh, sorry, that's-. Something else I want to offer. I can fly faster than light with passengers. If you decide-."

I honestly wouldn't be surprised if they were slowly nudging human technology up a bit, for whatever reasons.

"You could help us run away."

"Humans have undergone an industrial revolution since you settled Earth. There aren't all that many places you can live comfortably anymore. I could help you return to a banshee world, or move you somewhere more primitive. If you wanted. Or on the other hand, I could act as an escort to banshees who… Ah. Wanted to explore the surface in safety."

They've probably already noticed the increased amounts of electromagnetic signals crossing the world, as transmissions become more widespread. I'm guessing that's part of the reason they live underground.

Queen Mab's face relaxes a little.

"That may help. Sh'lainn's mother had the same adventurous spirit. But she and I grew up on the same world together. She lived our culture, and was loyal to me."

So, the girl was close as a niece to you. Yeah, I suspect no-one was happy after she left.

"And without either that personal bond or that cultural background…" I nod. "Sh'lainn grew up surrounded by things she wasn't allowed to touch."

"She could touch. But we're not a part of it."

But she wanted to be. Let's hope her protection stays effective.

"So would be offering to escort groups of banshees around helpful… Or making the situation worse?"

"Staying as we are solves nothing. We can try it, and see what happens. Sh'rain will appreciate it, I'm sure." Queen Mab looks away for a moment. "I used to have talks like this with Percival."

Let the younger ones who might have some wanderlust have controlled excursions, eh? See if they think the modern world is as nice as they think it is or not...

I nod. "Sometimes an outsider's perspective is useful."

"True enough." She thinks for a moment. "What do you know about the Alliance?"

A fresh pair of eyes can always spot the issues you might be too close to notice.

"Not a lot. They appear to be a paramilitary organisation tasked with preserving the secret of non-human sophont life on Earth, while simultaneously regulating it."

"'Regulating'?" She huffs.

Yeah, armed strike squads does seem a little more than 'regulation'. Though given some of the parties involved...

"Ruthlessly repressing? I didn't want to draw a firm conclusion from the handful of actions I've seen."

"We had our first encounter with them about t'irty years ago. They haven't made us a priority, but they've been trying to find out where we come from. With Sh'lainn working for them, perhaps they'll realise that we don't want to fight them."

Sadly, I doubt it. Not if their leadership is as compromised as it appears to be.

"If you want peace, prepare for war."

"And how would we do that?"

Since, you know, they're not exactly a warlike people. Despite being able to fly and shoot energy blasts. They're still as squishy as humans are, though?

"Bypass the Alliance. Form an accord with peacefully inclined non-humans and then make contact with governments. In private, at first. Find out how connected to the governments of the world the Alliance actually is, because I heard a lot of American accents from their operatives."

"There are risks to that."

Imagine the faces of the Alliance folks, though, when, say, England comes out and declares 'Yes, we've been in contact with extra-terrestrial beings.' The screams might be audible in the caverns.

"There are. As I said, if it all falls apart I'm happy to evacuate you. But it'll be easier if you and any other civilised elements can present a united front."

She nods. "I can tell you where to go to speak with the leader of the Conduit. That's what they call themselves. And I'll write a letter for you to give to Percival. But before you head off to meet either of them, I want you to give a full report on what happened with you fighting the Alliance soldiers with Sh'lainn."

"Certainly, your majesty."

'Conduit', eh? I'm guessing that's the Faun-folk and goblins. Or a group we haven't seen yet.

Somehow, I suspect her letter to Percival will be sweet and scathing in equal measures. The lady seems to have taken his absence a little personally. Still, giving the Emerald Knight an 'in' with other peaceful non-terrestrial groups will be a bonus. And Sh'lainn can serve as a reasonably friendly point of contact with the Alliance, if he feels the need to do so...

Darko · May 10, 2023

Chojin Patriarch said:
I mean... She's quite the attractive lady... And maltusians do have all the needs of a sapient species

Not necessarily.

Maltusians seem to become fairly robotic in their behavior after a certain amount of time, so he may have lost any desires.

Duke Long · May 10, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
There's no… Bed, or desk, or any other sign that this is a work space, as I'm going to assume that this is some sort of banshee drawing room.

This works, but maybe it should be, 'so I'm going to'?

Mr Zoat said:
"So would me offering to escort groups of banshees around be helpful… Or making the situation worse?"

'make the situation'

lancelot · May 10, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
Alright, just… Politely walk forwards and… Ah, not ask if anyone's home… Glow more brightly?

I like everything about this but the part where you play at being mute for a dumb as fuck reason. It's annoying, pointless, and he comes across as an idiot. You could have the ring speak for you, you have buy or construct a simple fucking voice changer, you could make construct signs with words on them, or just fucking talk.

BrotherofaStudio · May 10, 2023

Negotiations seem to have gone rather well between Mab and Paul, really interested in seeing how things go. Other than Rinaker blowing a gasket when he finds out. In regards to Magitech and Biotech, I don't think the Banshee have enough technology for it to even be considered Magitech. As for Biotech, what I had in mind (Olkari from Voltron legendary defender, Yuuzhan Vong from Star Wars and the Maximals from Transformers Beast Machines) I already stated and agree doesn't exist in Roswell Conspiracies. Except when Sh'lainn was affected by the Iron Death and was mutating the technology around her but that's not a good thing. Has that happened yet offscreen?

Mr Zoat · May 10, 2023

Duke Long said:
This works, but maybe it should be, 'so I'm going to'?
'make the situation'

Thank you, corrected.

lancelot said:
I like everything about this but the part where you play at being mute for a dumb as fuck reason. It's annoying, pointless, and he comes across as an idiot. You could have the ring speak for you, you have buy or construct a simple fucking voice changer, you could make construct signs with words on them, or just fucking talk.

Making complex constructs with a green ring requires that the person doing so accurately pictures everything about them. The SI doesn't have anything like the level of understanding of a voice changer effective enough to be worth using that he would need to generate a construct of one. Making construct words would distract him from his armour construct.

BartlettMagic · May 10, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
Making complex constructs with a green ring requires that the person doing so accurately pictures everything about them. The SI doesn't have anything like the level of understanding of a voice changer effective enough to be worth using that he would need to generate a construct of one. Making construct words would distract him from his armour construct.

this is something that i've noticed with the way you describe the Green Knight's mindset going into battle. are the ring AI's really that different between the colors of the spectrum? it feels like the Orange ring AI acts as a turbo processor for the SI's mind. i understand the argument of needing to focus on all of the individual parts of the mechanism, but doesn't the ring hold the schematic, rather than the mind of the user? like when the Illustres forms cold gun constructs, he's not forming all the components in his mind and focusing on them in the middle of a battle with Reach ships, right? i suppose the yellow ring that Renegade holds is different as well then, since it speaks in Sinestro's voice. is this all because of the differences in the users? is it a difference in ring colors, and therefore AI? is it a difference in ring forgers?

Mr Zoat · May 10, 2023

BartlettMagic said:
this is something that i've noticed with the way you describe the Green Knight's mindset going into battle. are the ring AI's really that different between the colors of the spectrum? it feels like the Orange ring AI acts as a turbo processor for the SI's mind. i understand the argument of needing to focus on all of the individual parts of the mechanism, but doesn't the ring hold the schematic, rather than the mind of the user? like when the Illustres forms cold gun constructs, he's not forming all the components in his mind and focusing on them in the middle of a battle with Reach ships, right? i suppose the yellow ring that Renegade holds is different as well then, since it speaks in Sinestro's voice. is this all because of the differences in the users? is it a difference in ring colors, and therefore AI? is it a difference in ring forgers?

The problem comes from using the colour. Orange Lantern doesn't want something? Nothing happens. A green light user has to focus on the image of the thing they want in order to make the construct form. Processing power has nothing to do with it.

Kurai · May 10, 2023

Chojin Patriarch said:
'Conduit', eh? I'm guessing that's the Faun-folk and goblins. Or a group we haven't seen yet...

Yes to the first - as I remember, it's presented as being something like the Underground Railroad; a support group of and for the more peaceful species (or members of species) that tries to keep themselves off the radar of both the Alliance and the more aggressive elements (the vampires, the lycanthropes, et al). Hence, safehouses, covert hospitals like the attacked one, and so forth.

. . . And that is FAR more reasonable than I ever remember Queen Mab being (she's normally more in line with her Dresden Files namesake in attitude). Percival must've meant a great deal to her, for her to be so neutral to a human. I'm intrigued.

lancelot · May 10, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
The problem comes from using the colour. Orange Lantern doesn't want something? Nothing happens. A green light user has to focus on the image of the thing they want in order to make the construct form. Processing power has nothing to do with it.

And the reason the Ring AI can't talk for him to keep up this pointless game is because?

BartlettMagic · May 10, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
The problem comes from using the colour. Orange Lantern doesn't want something? Nothing happens. A green light user has to focus on the image of the thing they want in order to make the construct form. Processing power has nothing to do with it.

so, to use a different example, if Alan wants to maintain a 1TB file on his ring that is a Universe Wiki, he has to constantly be hoping that the file exists and stays correct? a Zamaron has to intensely love that file and it will stay consistent?

the whole thing is wild. i mean i'm perfectly happy to make suspensions of disbelief so none of this is an issue for me. it's all just so absurd and i love it.

Mr Zoat · May 10, 2023

Kurai said:
. . . And that is FAR more reasonable than I ever remember Queen Mab being (she's normally more in line with her Dresden Files namesake in attitude). Percival must've meant a great deal to her, for her to be so neutral to a human. I'm intrigued.

Yes, but she's normally dealing with the Alliance or vampires. When the Shadoan turned up she was perfectly happy to work with Walter Logan, and just before that she'd been willing to work with the new leader of Intracom.

BartlettMagic said:
so, to use a different example, if Alan wants to maintain a 1TB file on his ring that is a Universe Wiki, he has to constantly be hoping that the file exists and stays correct? a Zamaron has to intensely love that file and it will stay consistent?

the whole thing is wild. i mean i'm perfectly happy to make suspensions of disbelief so none of this is an issue for me. it's all just so absurd and i love it.

No.

Maintaining a record and not doing anything with it is fine.

Pinklestia · May 10, 2023

Darko said:
Maltusians seem to become fairly robotic in their behavior after a certain amount of time,

That was the result of deep diving into the Green Light and self lobotomy they did to themselves after a great many disasters and since Percival Predates a lot of that...

Darko · May 10, 2023

Pinklestia said:
That was the result of deep diving into the Green Light and self lobotomy they did to themselves after a great many disasters and since Percival Predates a lot of that...

Not really.

Other Maltusians, who haven't connected to the Green Light, or any light, apparently lack much of a personality as well and only use a fake one to help them deal with mortals.

Stsword · May 10, 2023

Doccer said:
Where did it say that?

I looked for it, but eventually it came to the point i could use my energy to keep looking or mow the lawn like I've been having to do for days.

So I might have imagined it.

Vaermina · May 10, 2023

BartlettMagic said:
this is something that i've noticed with the way you describe the Green Knight's mindset going into battle. are the ring AI's really that different between the colors of the spectrum? it feels like the Orange ring AI acts as a turbo processor for the SI's mind. i understand the argument of needing to focus on all of the individual parts of the mechanism, but doesn't the ring hold the schematic, rather than the mind of the user? like when the Illustres forms cold gun constructs, he's not forming all the components in his mind and focusing on them in the middle of a battle with Reach ships, right? i suppose the yellow ring that Renegade holds is different as well then, since it speaks in Sinestro's voice. is this all because of the differences in the users? is it a difference in ring colors, and therefore AI? is it a difference in ring forgers?

BartlettMagic said:
so, to use a different example, if Alan wants to maintain a 1TB file on his ring that is a Universe Wiki, he has to constantly be hoping that the file exists and stays correct? a Zamaron has to intensely love that file and it will stay consistent?

the whole thing is wild. i mean i'm perfectly happy to make suspensions of disbelief so none of this is an issue for me. it's all just so absurd and i love it.

The problem is Mr Zoat invented the whole "The Ring AI does the heavy lifting" thing himself and then only applied it to specific ring colors.

So you have Orange Rings running on Zoat logic, and Green Rings running on original logic.

Pinklestia · May 11, 2023

Darko said:
Not really.

Other Maltusians, who haven't connected to the Green Light, or any light, apparently lack much of a personality as well and only use a fake one to help them deal with mortals.

That's bad writing. Also we really haven't seen anyone nit connected to at least one of the lights unless that's post Flash point abd you know how Zoat feels about that

Darko · May 11, 2023

Pinklestia said:
That's bad writing

It's still what Zoat wrote.

Pinklestia said:
Also we really haven't seen anyone nit connected to at least one of the lights unless that's post Flash point abd you know how Zoat feels about that

Though it has been mentioned many times since we first saw that Hinon's crotchety grandma personality wasn't real that other Maltusians, even ones not connected to a light, have false personalities because of their very, very old age.

Doccer · May 11, 2023

Stsword said:
I looked for it, but eventually it came to the point i could use my energy to keep looking or mow the lawn like I've been having to do for days.

So I might have imagined it.

Their uncaring for his silence argued that it might have been said off screen.
Mr Zoat
Did Percival ever say that? Was he a silent Green Knight?

Pinklestia · May 11, 2023

Darko said:
Hinon

Hinon didn't went to live on Earth even before humans were a thing, Percival is either the Maltusian equivalent of an Xeno anthropologist or just hates the others of his species due to reasons.

I don't think even the White Light was on Earth by the time he moved there.

Unless he is actually on Earth because the White Light is on Earth.

As someone who keeps interacting with younger lived species all the time, unlike most Maltusians, his kind old man personality is probably not faked. Not to mention he used to be playing "Hero" so he is not indifferent to others problems.

Uh.. is he the Maltusian equivalent of Diogenes? Going to live on Earth when it was so primitive, lives a simple life by choice, used to date a queen, is very wise and is advicing a "young knight".

Mr Zoat · May 11, 2023

6th February 2013
21:35 GMT -5

Okay…

I look around, but there's no sign of Luthor. No oddly muffled sounds that would tell me there was a hologram or illusion, no radiation from a teleporter or exotic monitoring device and no bald man in a business suit. I'm definitely where he wanted me to be-.

I wince slightly as I really open up my vision powers, just in case Ultrawoman sent someone after me. No one I can see.

"Luthor? I'm here?"

There's a tiny shimmer that I probably wouldn't have noticed if I wasn't already looking for anything out of the ordinary, and then… He appears.

I guess… Objectively, a yellow 'L' isn't any worse than a yellow 'S'. The beard's… Ah, an interesting choice. There's a joke on the internet about goatee beards being a sure sign that someone's an evil duplicate, but this Lex Luthor is a good duplicate.

He stares at me for a couple of seconds.

"Are you ready to-?"

"No kryptonite radiation. But you flew here. Did you use some sort of device?"

"Ah, I've got a kinetic belt back home, but I didn't bring it in case the CSA got hold of it."

"You keep your powers-. What powers them, then?"

"Normally I'd say 'sunlight'… But according to Jor-El, the radiation-."

"A different trigger-wavelength, of course. Objectively, there's no real reason-. Even a substance as energetic as kryptonite couldn't provide enough power to allow Ultraman to do what he could do. Fortunately, my equipment is designed to cope with empowered kryptonians."

I increase my visual wavelengths again, just in case. Robin said he was a good guy, but he also said that the good guys here didn't seem to know what they were doing. He's definitely scanning me with something, but it doesn't look-.

"No need to be concerned. I'm using my neural analyser to decipher your thought processes. Ah, you're… Younger than you look. Honest, though, and… Without the aggression I'm used to seeing. What do you call yourself?"

"Match."

"A curious choice."

I shrug. "I was made to be a match for Superman. Our Ultraman. They didn't get it right and I went mad with anger. After I got fixed… I don't get angry much."

"You were made in a laboratory… As a weapon?" I nod. "My dear boy, that's dreadful. I had thought that things like that wouldn't happen on your Earth, but I see that I was being excessively optimistic. Again."

"It happens, but everyone involved gets in big trouble when people find out about it." Batman did a lesson on facial tells, and as far as I can tell he's serious about how much that troubles him. "You're really not like our Lex Luthor."

"I dread to ask…"

"He's an evil businessman who somehow hasn't ever been convicted for anything serious."

"I suppose it could have been worse." … "No, it's actually a bit of a relief. His evil is at least regulated by a functioning society he has the sense not to destroy."

"I guess. So, what did you want to talk about?"

"With the information available to you, do you genuinely believe that this is in the best interest of both our Earths?"

"I… Don't know. I'm not even a superhero, really. I just.. had to get involved when the world started falling apart." He smiles a little, but… What else could I do? "I've heard… Ah, a friend of mine, talk about what it takes to change societies like this, and it's… It's not nice stuff. You know?"

"Yes, I know very well."

"But it works. That friend? There's a whole area of space that used to be… Just as evil as this Earth is. And now it's not. They had to do some… They wiped out two whole species. But it worked, and… Other than, like, taking every single member of both species and building some sort of… Prison planet for them, I don't know how else they could have done it. But… Even if that was the best thing overall… I don't think I could have done it." I shrug awkwardly. "Because wiping out two species is…"

"It's brutal. I understand your hesitancy very well. It's never possible to know in advance whether the atrocity you commit… Will actually achieve the end you seek. And if it doesn't, then all that blood… How certain was your friend?"

"He only wiped out one of those species. And they were clones of this one warlord… You'd have to ask him about it."

Does it count if there's still a few of them left?

"My issue is this: I know that what I'm doing isn't working. The CSA reigns supreme and Ultrawoman has made more progress toward fixing the problem in a month than I have in… Too many years to recall. But are we really so damned that only a programmable virus can save us? And can I trust the CSA with a technology so open to abuse?"

"Ah… Honestly? If someone told me you were, I wouldn't be able to argue against it. If there even is a biological difference. She didn't say anything about finding one, she just assumed that it exists."

"The alternative being that our civilization is so vile that this is what it produces, generation after generation."

"Or it's something else. Magic, or a telepathic field effect? Once the Anti-Life is gone, we could probably help. See if there's a less evil way to turn your world around."

"It would be nice to have allies again. But I feel dreadfully apprehensive."

"You're going to be living on a world with the Anti-Life. Apprehension is-."

"Oh, I'm not worried about that. My neural feedback generator will detect and purge foreign mental contamination."

"I-? Is that something you can make more of?"

He frowns thoughtfully. "It's an intelligent system. It needs to be trained, and it's complicated enough that you couldn't outfit five billion people."

"No, but for a few dozen people who keep getting exposed while they fight Mannheim and the Justified…"

"I haven't field tested it, but… It should help." He sighs. "Alright. I agree." He holds out his right hand. "Take my hand."

I take-.

Space twists, and we're outside the warehouse they're using for the portals.

"Alexander!" Ultrawoman walks over, smiling. "I almost thought you weren't coming."

"I'm still torn about it. But you know how I am when people need my help."

"And these ones will actually feel grateful for what you do! Now, I won't be going through myself because I have no desire to expose myself to the Anti-Life, but we'll keep the portals where they are while you and the young people negotiate with their bosses."

"I understand. Do you have a way to communicate through the portals?"

"No, you'll have to send a messenger. Or work it out yourself."

"I'm sure I can come up with something. Very well, Match. We-."

"Before you go. I was wondering why a man of your intelligence never joined the CSA just to moderate their actions. Given how often Ultraman did-."

"Because I have moral principles." Lex is glaring at her. "I wouldn't expect you to understand."

"Does a desire to do good that doesn't translate into good outcomes actually matter?"

Lex's expression hardens. "And now you've proven that you don't. And I don't think I could explain it to you so that you would understand. Good day."

Chojin Patriarch · May 11, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
6th February 2013
21:35 GMT -5

Okay…

I look around, but there's no sign of Luthor. No oddly muffled sounds that would tell me there was a hologram or illusion, no radiation from a teleporter or exotic monitoring device and no bald man in a business suit. I'm definitely where he wanted me to be-.

Ah, Match meeting with Alexander Luthor? Probably the safest option, given that any countermeasures Luthor could employ would target local Kryptonians. Also, he's the most mobile of the Team present...

I wince slightly as I really open up my vision powers, just in case Ultrawoman sent someone after me. No one I can see.

"Luthor? I'm here?"

I'm guessing some of the local electromagnetic wavelengths he can perceive aren't pleasant to his senses.

There's a tiny shimmer that I probably wouldn't have noticed if I wasn't already looking for anything out of the ordinary, and then… He appears.

I guess… Objectively, a yellow 'L' isn't any worse than a yellow 'S'. The beard's… Ah, an interesting choice. There's a joke on the internet about goatee beards being a sure sign that someone's an evil duplicate, but this Lex Luthor is a good duplicate.

A very old-fashioned fellow, it seems. His design style is very Golden Age.

But then, when you can build technology straight from Buck Rogers or Flash Gordon... Why not dress the part?

He stares at me for a couple of seconds.

"Are you ready to-?"

No doubt conducting some deep scans. Wonder if Match has similar DNA to Ultraman?

"No kryptonite radiation. But you flew here. Did you use some sort of device?"

"Ah, I've got a kinetic belt back home, but I didn't bring it in case the CSA got hold of it."

Definitely a good idea. Though now I wonder if Icon has a local counterpart who also got stuck on Earth... And whether he tried to get off-world ASAP when he realised what it was like.

"You keep you powers-. What powers them, then?"

"Normally I'd say 'sunlight'… But according to Jor-El, the radiation-."

Let's hope the local sun isn't bad for him. Hopefully a bit of sunbathing back home should see him right.

"A different trigger-wavelength, of course. Objectively, there's no real reason-. Even a substance as energetic as kryptonite couldn't provide enough power to allow Ultraman to do what he could do. Fortunately, my equipment is designed to cope with empowered kryptonians."

I increase my visual wavelengths again, just in case. Robin said he was a good guy, but he also said that the good guys here didn't seem to know what they were doing. He's definitely scanning me with something, but it doesn't look-.

I mean, when every motherfucker is out for themself, and you're considered neurally divergent simply because you have empathy for other people... It'd be hard to find your way.

"No need to be concerned. I'm using my neural analyser too decipher your thought processes. Ah, you're… Younger than you look. Honest, though, and… Without the aggression I'm used to seeing. What do you call yourself?"

"Match."

Not exactly the most inspiring name, is it? He really needs to find something more... Heroic.

"A curious choice."

I shrug. "I was made to be a match for Superman. Our Ultraman. They didn't get it right and I went mad with anger. After I got fixed… I don't get angry much."

Given he's probably well aware of how much of a 'world of cardboard' he lives in, I'm not surprised.

"You were made in a laboratory… As a weapon?" I nod. "My dear boy, that's dreadful. I had thought that things like that wouldn't happen on your Earth, but I see that I was being excessively optimistic. Again."

"It happens, but everyone involved gets in big trouble when people find out about it." Batman did a lesson on facial tells, and as far as I can tell he's serious about how much that troubles him. "You're really not like our Lex Luthor."

For one thing, Lex would never let anything show like that.

"I dread to ask…"

"He's an evil businessman who somehow hasn't ever been convicted for anything serious."

Don't forget, he's also a super-genius scientist. Though that's probably not as important these days.

"I suppose it could have been worse." … "No, it's actually a bit of a relief. His evil is at least regulated by a functioning society he has the sense not to destroy."

"I guess. So, what did you want to talk about?"

Well, Lex wouldn't destroy it unless there was some tangible benefit in it for him.

"With the information available to you, do you genuinely believe that this is in the best interest of both our Earths?"

"I… Don't know. I'm not even a superhero, really. I just.. had to get involved when the world started falling apart." He smiles a little, but… What else could I do? "I've heard… Ah, a friend of mine, talk about what it takes to change societies like this, and it's… It's not nice stuff. You know?"

"Yes, I know very well."

You mean OL? Yes, I rather suspect he would also know...

"But it works. That friend? There's a whole area of space that used to be… Just as evil as this Earth is. And now it's not. They had to do some… They wiped out two whole species. But it worked, and… Other than, like, taking every single member of both species and building some sort of… Prison planet for them, I don't know how else they could have done it. But… Even if that was the best thing overall… I don't think I could have done it." I shrug awkwardly. "Because wiping out two species is…"

Wow, Mitchell's being real talkative. Something about Alexander that just makes you want to be honest, huh?

"It's brutal. I understand your hesitancy very well. It's never possible to know in advance whether the atrocity you commit… Will actually achieve the end you seek. And if it doesn't, then all that blood… How certain was your friend?"

"He only wiped out one of those species. And they were clones of this one warlord… You'd have to ask him about it."

True. The Citadelians were OL's work. The Psions? That's on the rest of Vega's populations.

Does it could if there's still a few of them left?

"My issue is this: I know that what I'm doing isn't working. The CSA reigns supreme and Ultrawoman has made more progress toward fixing the problem in a month than I have in… Too many years to recall. But are we really so damned that only a programmable virus can save us? And can I trust the CSA with a technology so open to abuse?"

And that's still a big assumption to make. What if they find out that there's nothing different in the flesh?

"Ah… Honestly? If someone told me you were, I wouldn't be able to argue against it. If there even is a biological difference. She didn't say anything about finding one, she just assumed that it exists."

"The alternative being that our civilization is so vile that this is what it produces, generation after generation."

Honestly, they're kind of lucky their DNA is even similar. The Source works in mysterious ways and all that...

"Or it's something else. Magic, or a telepathic field effect? Once the Anti-Life is gone, we could probably help. See if there's a less evil way to turn your world around."

"It would be nice to have allies again. But I feel dreadfully apprehensive."

Well, that's entirely natural. You have no idea what the world on the other side is like normally, after all.

"You're going to be living on a world with the Anti-Life. Apprehension is-."

"Oh, I'm not worried about that. My neural feedback generator will detect and purge foreign mental contamination."

...That sounds improbable. Also very useful. But hey, Comic Book super-science, huh?

"I-? Is that something you can make more of?"

He frowns thoughtfully. "It's an intelligent system. It needs to be trained, and it's complicated enough that you couldn't outfit five billion people."

Dang. So not all that useful.

"No, but for a few dozen people who keep getting exposed while they fight Mannheim and the Justified…"

"I haven't field tested it, but… It should help." He sighs. "Alright. I agree." He holds out his right hand. "Take my hand."

As long as it isn't locked solely to his way of thinking. Or triggers some kind of negative feedback loop that plunges people deeper into Anti-Life depression...

I take-.

Space twists, and we're outside the warehouse they're using for the portals.

Convenient.

"Alexander!" Ultrawoman walks over, smiling. "I almost thought you weren't coming."

"I'm still torn about it. But you know how I am when people need my help."

Probably so well that she can plan around his responses...

"And these ones will actually feel grateful for what you do! Now, I won't be going through myself because I have no desire to expose myself to the Anti-Life, but we'll keep the portals where they are while you and the young people negotiate with their bosses."

"I understand. Do you have a way to communicate through the portals?"

...Man, Batman is going to blow a gasket at this rate...

"No, you'll have to send a messenger. Or work it out yourself."

"I'm sure I can come up with something. Very well, Match. We-."

And I have no doubt that he could. Superior-level intellect, after all...

"Before you go. I was wondering why a man of your intelligence never joined the CSA just to moderate their actions. Given how often Ultraman did-."

"Because I have moral principles." Lex is glaring at her. "I wouldn't expect you to understand."

And he didn't want to dirty himself by associating with them? Or is he a little worried that he might become more like them eventually?

"Does a desire to do good that doesn't translate into good outcomes actually matter?"

Lex's expression hardens. "And now you've proven that you don't. And I don't think I could explain it to you so that you would understand. Good day."

Yeah, no love lost between them...

So, I give it maybe a day before Luthor manages to develop his own dimensional tunnelling technology and communication devices. Assuming he gets the chance over there, and all hell doesn't break loose. Canis is still working under his own initiative, after all. And Batman is really going to be in for a surprise when he finally hears what the Team got up to.

"You keep you powers-. What powers them, then?"

"You keep your powers-. What powers them, then?"

I'm using my neural analyser too decipher your thought processes.

I'm using my neural analyser to decipher your thought processes.

Katillno · May 11, 2023

I always love good Luthors especially if they have a luscious red mane

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