"Magic probes revealed that everyone was under the effect of an intelligence suppressor, from about the time that Dru-Zod appeared. The only exception was Amon, which was probably because his magic protects him from things like that automatically."
He nods. "And your ring doesn't?"
Think about what you just said. A thought-controlled device that you just asked whether it can operate indefinitely?
I shake my head. "My heavy armour does, there's a… Thing in the helmet. But do you remember that thing a few years ago with Bane?"
He thinks for a moment. "He used Doctor Psycho's brain as a telepathic weapon."
Which is still
such a crazy comic-booky moment. At least the misogynistic midget is out of the picture.
"Just so. I tried it with M'gann and it's possible to work around telepathic intrusion with a power ring, but it's not something… Not something I could keep up full time."
He nods. "I'm the same with the theta wave state. People who master it are supposed to be able to leave it running as by that stage it's completely instinctual, but I'm not quite there yet."
Jordan nods. "Any idea where it was coming from?"
And that is the million-dollar question, isn't it? Who did it?
Why?
"No. No sign of any sort of device that could have that effect on the Xenon base, no teleport residue, nothing. No sign of a curse or implant on anyone who was there. General Dru-Zod claims to have had no idea it was going to happen and that he just took advantage of circumstances." I shrug. "Which was a pretty good show of initiative on his part, but is completely credible as an answer."
So whatever happened, it may have been linked to the Phantom Zone itself. Some emission from the portal they didn't notice before, perhaps? Or someone standing just inside the entry on the Zone side, thinking hard at them in hopes of escaping.
Jordan sage slightly. "Great. The trial of the century is happening in my Sector and my brain can get turned off at any time."
"Well, on the plus side, sir-"
If this is going to be a wisecrack about Jordan's intelligence, please don't...
His eyes narrow. "Watch it."
"-this isn't technically your Sector, so it's really Lantern Stewart and Lantern Savenlovich's problem."
Huh. That is an honestly accurate point. Though as an Honour Guard, he does have clearance to step in, doesn't he?
"Arisia wants to go, and there's no sense sending more than one Green Lantern." I frown-. "Fully qualified Green Lantern."
Arnus looks pensive. "Do you have any idea how to prevent it from happening again?"
Plus there'll be at least one other Lantern besides OL and Arisia: Ghi'ata. I assume she's going along out of curiosity.
"A full mind shield system should do it. Everyone would have to wear full body armour because there are ways to get in via the peripheral nervous system. I can put something together for everyone inside an hour."
"That would be… Militaristic."
...He could make them colourful and individualised? They might end up looking like MCU costumes, but...
"Yes."
"And therefore inappropriate for a civilian tribunal."
You don't think there's going to be other military representatives present from the non-litigious interested worlds?
"Xudar is a good deal more sane in its technological development than Earth is. They're laying on extra security and screening all visitors. And we know everyone on Earth who has interstellar capacity. Other than asking Amon to stick by the prisoners every step of the-."
And he's just
one person. ideally, you want a shift rotation of some kind...
"Hey, guys!" William Batson strolls into the meeting room in Captain Marvel mode. "Osiris told me about the brain drain ray."
We all perk up slightly, Superman nodding. "Are you free to attend the trial?"
Well, there's potentially one more immune hero ready to serve...
He winces. "Ah, no. Sorry. But Mary Marvel can. That way, Osiris won't have to try staying awake all day."
Jordan smirks. "You can do that, can you?"
Why not Freddy 'Sergeant Marvel' Freeman as well? That way you get an eight hour shift cycle. Or was he busy?
William looks awkward for a moment. "Yeah, but it's not a good idea."
Jordan nods. "Tell me about it."
Yeah, human brains aren't built for that kind of uptime. We need eight hours of sleep a day or so to stay stable. Not always
easy, depending on circumstances...
"I'd… Rather not. It was pretty embarrassing, and-."
"No, I mean, I did the same thing when I got my ring." He shrugs. "It wasn't easy working two full time jobs, so I tried cutting out sleep. Not a smart thing to do."
And no doubt his productivity in both jobs suffered for it. Bet that was a strange week for his friends, though.
"Oh." William looks reassured, his eyes drifting towards me.
"No. I am a paragon of flawless judgement and am offended you would even think that."
Mostly because he knows better than to try and force himself to stay awake using Desire. Only time that really happened was during his first Embodiment session with the Ophidian, wasn't it?
"Ah…" He looks thoughtful. "That brain drain ray isn't still affecting you, right?"
Superman clears his throat. "What have you told Mary's parents?"
Ah, the drawback of them not knowing she's basically a magical girl henshin hero. No, seriously, she transforms into an alternative form using a magic word, gains magical powers while transformed, and fights super-powered villains. How is that not on par with Sailor Moon or
Pretty Cure?
"That we're going camping, with my uncle supervising us."
"And if they check..?"
I suppose that's a logical way to do it, especially if she can get back to Earth quickly via Zeta Tube.
"We're in a cell phone dead zone with no reception. And we're actually gunna be there." He shrugs. "It'll only take us a few seconds to fly back to Fawcett each day, and my Justice League communicator will still work."
Superman nods. "Okay, good. Does she know that if he's found guilty, he'll be executed?"
You think she doesn't know how the justice system works?
"Um." William looks confused. "Did you think we didn't see people die after the Anti-Life happened?"
Kal-El sags slightly. "Ah. No, I suppose not."
It's just depressing to think that preteen kids have been through that sort of thing before they hit high school.
"At least this time he deserves it. Ah, not that I want to prejudge the trial. If he did it, I mean." He turns to Arnus. "Has he said anything about that?"
"It would not be appropriate to discuss my client's defense strategy."
Quit fishing for scuttlebutt, Billy.
"Oh. No, okay, I-. I guess you've got a point. Is Lar-On okay?"
"Yes. Unless Superman wants to volunteer for further studies-"
I doubt it. Nice of Billy to ask, though.
He shakes his head. "I don't."
"-then I'm as sure as I can be that he won't transform again. The red kryptonite samples are in subspace, so-."
Ah, OL playing packrat again. Never throw away anything superhero adjacent, never know when it might be useful.
Superman frowns. "Why didn't you just destroy them?"
"Well, because in the long term I think red kryptonite should be studied in case it can be used to do something useful. And I can't think of anywhere I could put them that's more secure."
After all, anywhere that isn't basically in his pocket is vulnerable to break-ins.
"Can't you just get more from Krypton?"
"Yes, but werewolves have rapid regeneration. You saw what happened whenever you hurt Lar-On. These flakes could save someone's life."
Huh, that's actually a good idea. Since OL can't be everywhere near a kryptonian, and most of the other Lanterns aren't really suited to anything more than first-aid, besides Alan.
He doesn't look happy, but he does nod. "Okay, that's a good point. Just keep it away from me."
"Would-?"
"Unless I'm dying. Then you can expose me to it."
Ah, yes. got to be very precise about your wording around OL. Good to see he remembers.
"I will bear that in mind. So, ah… If there's nothing else, we can transport the prisoners to their holding cells on Xudar?"
Jordan shrugs. "What happens if we get ambushed on the way?"
With this many Lanterns and superheroes around? They'd be very strong or very foolish.
"Xudar can try the survivors as well. Dru-Zod didn't have a lot of supporters, and anyone who might have been sympathetic died when Krypton was destroyed. The people who hate him most have approved the trial. I can't think of any reason anyone else would want to intervene."
Never say never, OL. I can just see the Light going 'Having a couple of veteran kryptonian soldiers in our pocket might be useful', even if Lex objects.
Jordan and Arnus look at Kal-El, who nods.
"Then let's get this show on the road."
Gather the Team, it's time for a road trip!
