Bloodalchemy
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I could still be the case. It just wasn't meant to be spoiled this early.
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With This Ring (Young Justice SI) (Thread Fourteen)
- Thread starter Mr Zoat
- Start date
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- self insert young justice
PDV
Revelation That Uncertainty Is Itself An Answer
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My money's on "evil duplicates" but it's anybody's game.
Sordid Snake
(Verified Viper)
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"Come and look upon the heart!"
I agree with numerous other posters that odds are good that Edge wants revenge for his father and has made this as a trap for Alan, the religion he has gotten is the Religion of Crime(1), and the Lord standing behind Bruno is Darkseid.
(1) Done lots of Evil and don't want to end up in Hell? Switch to a religion where you are rewarded(2) for being Evil!
(2) So what actually happens to Darkseid-worshippers after their death? Has there ever been a canon answer?
Windona
Beetle Queen of Crackshipping
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At this point it would be a plot twist if Bruno wasn't evil.
Yeah, my thoughts went to Bruno Manheim. But Religion of Evil and Darkseid worshiping doesn't quite make sense for the Alliance of the Just unless they're secretly all anti lifed or brainwashed in a way Paul can't pick up.
Yeah, my thoughts went to Bruno Manheim. But Religion of Evil and Darkseid worshiping doesn't quite make sense for the Alliance of the Just unless they're secretly all anti lifed or brainwashed in a way Paul can't pick up.
Ngamer11
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A while back Empress went missing, so this may tie into that.
rdfox
Know what you're doing yet?
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Orrrrrrrr... in what could be an even more interesting plot twist, Edge is genuine about his reform and is being pretty much completely honest about things, and doesn't know that his sponsor is on the dark side? (No pun intended.) It would add some pathos to the story and some moral dilemma to Paul and Alan's position if they find out that Bruno Mannheim's ministry of a possibly evil religion has genuinely reformed the man behind the Alliance, and that pulling the rug out from under him by taking Mannheim down might well cause Edge to fall back into his old habits.
As for it being odd for him to ask about his father at that point, it's not that implausible. Often, if someone encounters a celebrity or such who they had a brush with or other connection to before, if it's anything that seems like it might be at all memorable, they might well ask if the person remembers it--in this case, for example, to hear Alan's side of the story as opposed to just his father's. Of course, as with this case, most of the time, they get the legendary M. Bison response: "For you, the day Bison graced your village was the most important day of your life. But for me, it was Tuesday."
(Sometimes, you get lucky. When I was four years old, I met astronaut Jack Lousma at a meet-and-greet and dinner presentation in my hometown that my father had gotten us tickets for, because I was a huge space fan. I met him again about seven or eight years later, when he was speaking at the opening of a new wing of the local National Cemetery, and as soon as he heard my name, he said something along the lines of, "Oh, yeah, that kid I met back in '82? Wow, you've grown!" But I suspect that was partly because Dad had mentioned at the meet-and-greet that I was reading Aviation Week and Space Technology on a regular basis by then... kind of memorable pastime for a four-year-old kid!)
As for it being odd for him to ask about his father at that point, it's not that implausible. Often, if someone encounters a celebrity or such who they had a brush with or other connection to before, if it's anything that seems like it might be at all memorable, they might well ask if the person remembers it--in this case, for example, to hear Alan's side of the story as opposed to just his father's. Of course, as with this case, most of the time, they get the legendary M. Bison response: "For you, the day Bison graced your village was the most important day of your life. But for me, it was Tuesday."
(Sometimes, you get lucky. When I was four years old, I met astronaut Jack Lousma at a meet-and-greet and dinner presentation in my hometown that my father had gotten us tickets for, because I was a huge space fan. I met him again about seven or eight years later, when he was speaking at the opening of a new wing of the local National Cemetery, and as soon as he heard my name, he said something along the lines of, "Oh, yeah, that kid I met back in '82? Wow, you've grown!" But I suspect that was partly because Dad had mentioned at the meet-and-greet that I was reading Aviation Week and Space Technology on a regular basis by then... kind of memorable pastime for a four-year-old kid!)
Mr Zoat
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So I guess the choice is between sewing, doughnuts or a buddy system.
Stsword
Versed in the lewd.
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Darko
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I don't think she went missing, but it was kinda implied that she could be behind Crimson Avenger and her killing spree, along with all those people having their sins wiped from Hell's books.
Darkseid could be trying to get his own army of Earth superhumans, but the League is too well protected.
The sins being wiped could imply that their souls were either destroyed and that somehow destroyed their records, or their souls somehow went to Darkseid and it wiped their sins.
Darko
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Not sure if it's been stated in either comics or this story.
Though when renegade went to Apokolips he saw a guy jump off a building to his death and thought that even death wouldn't be the end of the poor guy's suffering.
This could imply that Darkseid absorbs their souls after death, or the souls linger on Apokalips because their pain makes it difficult for them to pass on and they continue to provide power for Darkseid even in death.
mastermenthe
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Thank you for the disturbing reminder that Apokalips and New Genesis are technically celestial realms, and therefore viable afterlife targets for a soul to get stuck into for eternity.
Pete Tong (part 4)
Mr Zoat
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31st December 2012
09:48 GMT -5
Boots approach from behind me, then stop and wait as I keep scanning.
"Have you found some problem, Orange Lantern?"
"No, no, it's all good." I pull the upper part of my body out of the maintenance hatch and turn to face Marcus. "I mean, it's… Pretty clear that you had a bunch of hyper-cognitive scientists working on this rather than using standardised components-"
"The peril of the cutting edge."
"-so your maintenance is going to be fun, but everything looks like it's going to do the job. Honestly, I'm impressed that you've been able to talk so many people into donating their time like this."
"We owe that in part to you. KordTech's grant program has brought a good many such masters of technology out of their basements and garage workshops and into the light of day. A good many were willing to lend us their aid."
I wince a little. "I know you're doing good work, but… Please tell me that Ted didn't just send you the mailing list-."
"No no-" He shakes his head. "-no. Nothing so untoward. A few chose to join us, and through KordTech they were in communication with one another. Word got around."
I nod, relieved. "I suppose that with everything that's been going on, a lot of people see the advantage of a system like this."
"Honesty, industry and prudence. It is pleasing to see civic virtue displayed unprompted, and used to construct such a magnificent edifice."
"I know. I didn't realise-" I close the hatch and lock it in place. "-that super-architects were a thing."
"I'm not sure about 'super', but a Brazilian man named Helmut Schreiber volunteered his time, and I must say that I'm pleased with his work. Oh, do you know him?"
"We met. If he hasn't chosen to share the circumstances then I probably shouldn't either. But I know he does good work. Is he..? In America at the moment?"
"Brazil has little use for architects… Architects who cannot form buildings from trees."
I nod awkwardly. Yeah. Just because it's useful for humanity to have a superpowered civilisation doesn't mean that plenty of people weren't adversely affected. 'Brazil' technically still exists, but it's a fraction of what it was and it probably doesn't have much use for the sort of buildings that he specialised in. I hadn't realised that the Schreiber family were displaced to America, but it's nice to know that he's found his feet.
"Please pass on my regards when you next see him. Ah, what other site are you using in the demonstration?"
"Seattle."
"Okay, I can go there and check-."
"All we need from the Seattle site is a beacon signal, and if it doesn't work then the transport sequence won't initiate because there's no where for it to go."
True. And my replacement bodies are ready in Bir Tawil if something goes majorly wrong. And if something goes a little wrong then I've got my power rings.
"Alright. Um. How-?"
"Alpha Centurion to control. Two to Seattle, please!"
"So-?"
…
And… The room is slightly different, and there are a few technicians who weren't there-.
31st December 2012
07:50 GMT -7
"Huh. Smooth transition."
"Retained all your fingers, I trust?"
I make a show of checking, but my ring reports that nothing untoward happened. Time loss… A tiny fraction of a second longer than the system could manage, but pretty good for Earth's first effort. Extremely good, if I'm being honest. I think it… Yes, it's slightly less efficient than my Dolmen Gates, and… Those can be mass produced far easier. But without the need for paired Gates… No, this system can't be used for global transit due to signal interference, but it is pretty much ideal for its purpose.
"Yep, all there. Mind if I take a look at the inner mechanisms on this side?"
Marcus looks over to one of the engineers, who shrugs and then nods.
"Certainly. We need to be back inside ten minutes, but if that isn't enough you could always come back. But I assure you, they're all built to the same template."
But Seattle building regulations aren't the same as Washington D.C.'s building regulations. The terminus is similar enough that it's clear that it belongs to the same group, but different enough that the people who work here can tell the difference.
The technician who nodded at Marcus unlocks the closest maintenance panel and then steps back so I can have a look. The structure is warded so a general scan isn't going to get me what I need. On the other hand, I've gotten used to having to work at it while I'm on Earth. I can send out hundreds of tiny filaments to perform optical scans of -or as we technical specialists call it 'looking at'- the machinery, performing sonic scans and generally letting me get a idea of what's there.
"Mister Edge mentioned a Father Bruno?"
"Yes, I believe that's his priest."
"Have you met him?"
"I… I think we were introduced at.. some meeting or other. I don't really remember. We practice different denominations of Christianity. But I know that Vincent sets a great store by him."
Everything… Looks like it's supposed to.
"Do you remember Bishop Arius?"
"Ah… No. Should I?"
"I was wondering how big a deal he was in the early church, but if you haven't heard of him perhaps his… Teachings didn't really penetrate."
"Doctrine was far less controlled in those days. A bishop couldn't simply phone the Pope whenever a contentious issue arose. What exactly did he believe?"
"Ah…"
"Oh." He nods.
"Something about God the Father being prior to God the Son, in virtue of that being what the terms 'father' and 'son' required, but I'm afraid that my understanding of the Trinity isn't good enough to fully explain it."
"Yes, that sounds like something which the church fathers would have considered absolutely thrilling to discuss, and which not a single Roman Christian could have comprehended, myself included. I have to say that I've never studied the deeper theory of the religion, and I… I admit that I've long suspected that I'd react to it in fairly pagan terms if I did. Have you..? Satisfied yourself?"
I dismiss my filaments. "Yes, looks good. I'm happy to report that the Alliance of the Just's teleportation system is in good order."
"Excellent." He hesitates for a moment. "It's probably silly, but I'm half expecting something to go wrong just because it's the official event. It would take an insane fool to try something…"
"But we're not exactly short of those on Earth. Well, look at it this way: if they do, they'll be one less insane fool around to bother anyone afterwards."
09:48 GMT -5
Boots approach from behind me, then stop and wait as I keep scanning.
"Have you found some problem, Orange Lantern?"
"No, no, it's all good." I pull the upper part of my body out of the maintenance hatch and turn to face Marcus. "I mean, it's… Pretty clear that you had a bunch of hyper-cognitive scientists working on this rather than using standardised components-"
"The peril of the cutting edge."
"-so your maintenance is going to be fun, but everything looks like it's going to do the job. Honestly, I'm impressed that you've been able to talk so many people into donating their time like this."
"We owe that in part to you. KordTech's grant program has brought a good many such masters of technology out of their basements and garage workshops and into the light of day. A good many were willing to lend us their aid."
I wince a little. "I know you're doing good work, but… Please tell me that Ted didn't just send you the mailing list-."
"No no-" He shakes his head. "-no. Nothing so untoward. A few chose to join us, and through KordTech they were in communication with one another. Word got around."
I nod, relieved. "I suppose that with everything that's been going on, a lot of people see the advantage of a system like this."
"Honesty, industry and prudence. It is pleasing to see civic virtue displayed unprompted, and used to construct such a magnificent edifice."
"I know. I didn't realise-" I close the hatch and lock it in place. "-that super-architects were a thing."
"I'm not sure about 'super', but a Brazilian man named Helmut Schreiber volunteered his time, and I must say that I'm pleased with his work. Oh, do you know him?"
"We met. If he hasn't chosen to share the circumstances then I probably shouldn't either. But I know he does good work. Is he..? In America at the moment?"
"Brazil has little use for architects… Architects who cannot form buildings from trees."
I nod awkwardly. Yeah. Just because it's useful for humanity to have a superpowered civilisation doesn't mean that plenty of people weren't adversely affected. 'Brazil' technically still exists, but it's a fraction of what it was and it probably doesn't have much use for the sort of buildings that he specialised in. I hadn't realised that the Schreiber family were displaced to America, but it's nice to know that he's found his feet.
"Please pass on my regards when you next see him. Ah, what other site are you using in the demonstration?"
"Seattle."
"Okay, I can go there and check-."
"All we need from the Seattle site is a beacon signal, and if it doesn't work then the transport sequence won't initiate because there's no where for it to go."
True. And my replacement bodies are ready in Bir Tawil if something goes majorly wrong. And if something goes a little wrong then I've got my power rings.
"Alright. Um. How-?"
"Alpha Centurion to control. Two to Seattle, please!"
"So-?"
…
And… The room is slightly different, and there are a few technicians who weren't there-.
31st December 2012
07:50 GMT -7
"Huh. Smooth transition."
"Retained all your fingers, I trust?"
I make a show of checking, but my ring reports that nothing untoward happened. Time loss… A tiny fraction of a second longer than the system could manage, but pretty good for Earth's first effort. Extremely good, if I'm being honest. I think it… Yes, it's slightly less efficient than my Dolmen Gates, and… Those can be mass produced far easier. But without the need for paired Gates… No, this system can't be used for global transit due to signal interference, but it is pretty much ideal for its purpose.
"Yep, all there. Mind if I take a look at the inner mechanisms on this side?"
Marcus looks over to one of the engineers, who shrugs and then nods.
"Certainly. We need to be back inside ten minutes, but if that isn't enough you could always come back. But I assure you, they're all built to the same template."
But Seattle building regulations aren't the same as Washington D.C.'s building regulations. The terminus is similar enough that it's clear that it belongs to the same group, but different enough that the people who work here can tell the difference.
The technician who nodded at Marcus unlocks the closest maintenance panel and then steps back so I can have a look. The structure is warded so a general scan isn't going to get me what I need. On the other hand, I've gotten used to having to work at it while I'm on Earth. I can send out hundreds of tiny filaments to perform optical scans of -or as we technical specialists call it 'looking at'- the machinery, performing sonic scans and generally letting me get a idea of what's there.
"Mister Edge mentioned a Father Bruno?"
"Yes, I believe that's his priest."
"Have you met him?"
"I… I think we were introduced at.. some meeting or other. I don't really remember. We practice different denominations of Christianity. But I know that Vincent sets a great store by him."
Everything… Looks like it's supposed to.
"Do you remember Bishop Arius?"
"Ah… No. Should I?"
"I was wondering how big a deal he was in the early church, but if you haven't heard of him perhaps his… Teachings didn't really penetrate."
"Doctrine was far less controlled in those days. A bishop couldn't simply phone the Pope whenever a contentious issue arose. What exactly did he believe?"
"Ah…"
"Oh." He nods.
"Something about God the Father being prior to God the Son, in virtue of that being what the terms 'father' and 'son' required, but I'm afraid that my understanding of the Trinity isn't good enough to fully explain it."
"Yes, that sounds like something which the church fathers would have considered absolutely thrilling to discuss, and which not a single Roman Christian could have comprehended, myself included. I have to say that I've never studied the deeper theory of the religion, and I… I admit that I've long suspected that I'd react to it in fairly pagan terms if I did. Have you..? Satisfied yourself?"
I dismiss my filaments. "Yes, looks good. I'm happy to report that the Alliance of the Just's teleportation system is in good order."
"Excellent." He hesitates for a moment. "It's probably silly, but I'm half expecting something to go wrong just because it's the official event. It would take an insane fool to try something…"
"But we're not exactly short of those on Earth. Well, look at it this way: if they do, they'll be one less insane fool around to bother anyone afterwards."
Last edited:
Darko
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Nice to hear that he's doing okay.
"at the"
Smart man.
Or Apokolips.
True, but some people could call you an insane fool, so it's not all that good.
Whenever Possible
Versed in the lewd.
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Humanity is advancing towards the stars thanks in part to the hard work and design philosophy of a clone of Adolf Hitler.
Someguy Somewhere
The Critical Fumbler
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Oh so much said in oh so little. Mr Zoat, I have just one thing to say to you:
Gromweld
Learning By Mistake
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For anyone else that can't make it out, there's a black-lettered elipsis after the "So-?" which... probably means Anti-Life, in this context.
If I were to guess:
I suspect the system might be subtly exposing them to Anti-Life over each use - a small enough exposure that a single trip would be negligible, a few trips won't do much, but constant use (like is intended for their group) will Justify people over time.
BlackCoat13
I trust you know where the happy button is?
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Look, Paul, we know you like the Arcano-Tech Revolution, but what exactly are you doing in that maintenance hatch?
Darko
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Who knows what this spider-loving freak does.
Lord Ernest
At the End...
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I know it's a fool's hope, but I wish for the event to go smoothly. That they discover the shoe dropping before or after the event, so that the Alliance can survive whatever bullshit is behind it or trying to corrupt it. But well, it's a fool's hope.
Hey, come on, no kink-shaming.
Hey, come on, no kink-shaming.
moralrelativity
Recovering pendant.
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Karmic Acumen
The long-suffering one
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Hitler's clone is now fascism-adjacent despite all attempts to the contrary. Great.
Also, this approach to the anti-life equation seems mighty scurrilous for the Dark Ham. Like what a rat might do.
Also, this approach to the anti-life equation seems mighty scurrilous for the Dark Ham. Like what a rat might do.
Mr Zoat
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Thank you, corrected.
Darko
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It's possible that one of his subordinates was just given free reign to spread the Equation in some way and chose this.
Chojin Patriarch
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Going by the lack of concern, it's entirely what it claims to be. Which is almost disappointing. Still, doesn't mean that something can't happen during the transit, or at the destination. Though I expect they've been very careful about avoiding possible technical hitches.
At least they're benign, and apparently willing to co-ordinate and cooperate.
Glad OL's ideas could be of help, then.
Meaning the Alliance has more than a few gadgeteers, inventors and assorted technical types amongst their ranks. Handy, if nothing else.
Better than having them fighting muggers with stun-rays or turning to crime out of frustration.
Oh, hey, the clone of Adolf Hitler! There's a callback for you keeping score.
And he's probably a bit too old to go retraining as a Druid or Geomancer.
I'm sure he'll be amused to hear you said hello, OL.
A literal cross-country trip, eh? A good... 2,500 Miles as the transmat beam flies?
How safe. Let's hope nothing does go wrong, then.
...Probably a good thing he's not up on popular culture. I doubt a modern person could have resisted making a 'Two to beam up' joke...
...And now I'm just a little worried. I hope that's just a momentary cessation of perception, and not something worse.
Is that a potential side-effect? Because if it is, then maybe your system isn't quite ready for prime-time?Well, the joy of hyper-cognitives working in concert...
I doubt they'd be any different than the Washington site. But you never know.
I would at least hope they have signs declaring which terminus you're at in big block letters, to avoid any potential confusion. Like, a huge 'SEATTLE Terminus' on the walls.
Very smart of them, at least. Make it a bit harder to fiddle with the designs remotely... Via arcane means, anyway.
Still hoping to hear a full name for the fellow.
For all we know right now, Bruno is his last name...Ah, he's one of those forgettable types, eh?
For the uninformed: Arius. Naturally, the early Christian faith was not so... Organised as it is today.
Aw, hoping for a bit of dirt on a historical figure? One of the amusing options for conversation with someone dating back to that era.
...Let's just say it was controversial at the time and leave it at that. Don't need any religious arguments in the thread...
And what with it being a millennium and a half (or more) ago, details are sketchy.
As ever, those most dedicated to the minutiae of a matter always seem arcane to those who don't. Like modern Information Technology sciences...
And OL's probably half-expecting just such an occurrence himself, if only due to dramatic irony.
...Is anyone else concerned about that little spot of darkness during the transit? The joy of the colours used: we can't tell whether that's a momentary cessation of consciousness or a tiny little bit of Justification being applied. Which OL would no-sell anyway, because Enlightenment. Still, at least it looks safe enough other than that. Last thing you want is a moment like the Transporter accident from 'Star Trek: The Motion Picture'...
A tiny fraction of a second longer than their system could manage...
AmericanNumbers
Not too sore, are you?
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So Manheim, probably the Crime Bible, Intergang and a clone of Hitler?
It'll be hilarious if it's a red herring and it's on the up and up with no Darkseid.
It'll be hilarious if it's a red herring and it's on the up and up with no Darkseid.
