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

I used to feel a churning in my stomach when those things pointed at me. One of the few things in the world that could kill me, pointing at me every time. Now, nothing.
This seems strange. Enlightenment should be more about awareness than overcoming, no? Like, he should feel exactly how much less he fears the guns. Or is there some other reason this particular fear became exactly zero?

"I am entity Volthoom. Perhaps they see you in a similar way?"
Woah, there. That's the first ever question I've seen by Volthoom. Didn't think it capable of that. Is it actually a person after all?

There's some kind of history there that's passing entirely over my head to explain why power ring specifically wants Ultraman dead.
Ultraman is such an asshole that you don't need an additional reason. The extra punchiness he brings to the table is not worth everything else he is and does. And when he calls himself a leader he actually expects the others to accept his bullshit and follow his whims. Lastly, he's not the kind to be nin-lethally deposed and made a useful second in command.
 
Now, why do I get the feeling Harrolds is about to start a new era of unrelenting oppression for the people of Earth -16, though?
I feel like fear enlightenment should make him a much more agreeable tyrant. A lot of the oppression that tyrants inflict on their population is due to paranoia. But a power ring allows for actually effective surveillance and a fiefdom the size of a planet allows for living in absolute luxury and all kinds of additional vanity projects without making a real dent into the overall national budget. The worst that could happen is either his ingroup/outgroup protecting some real sadistic assholes, or people whose squabbling for position does a lot of regularly occuring collateral damage, or an ingroup so large that his regime is racist. Or that he cares so little about actual governing that it gets fucked up by whoever does it for him. Or I guess the kind of stupidity that is worse than malice.
 
Thank you, corrected.
For a moment I was surprised by Harrolds being able to stop Ultraman dead, but then I remembered that one of the Green Lanterns tanked being punched through an entire planet by Malvolio earlier. Guess I forgot how tough a proper Green Lantern is to brute force.
Kryptonians are stronger... If they know what they're doing.
 
Ultraman snorts kriptonite?


It's this the guy that was small Ville Superman strong and then gets stronger in the pressense of green kriptonite somehow, even though blue fucks him over?


I never understood that nonsense.
 
Well I didn't understand that middle sentence.


In short Kriptonite rules make no sense, with different colors generating different outcomes and sometimes the same colors producing different results on a per kriptonian basis.

Is far more simple to keep things straight when they do the same thing and that isn't always the case with Kriptonite in your fic (a result of Detective Comics inconsistent sources).

I mean Kara wanting to fuck Paul after touching black kriptonite was an interesting plot development, but more often than not I consider their involvement detrimental to the plot.
 
21st January 2013
11:38 EST

"Here comes the new boss, different from the old boss." I give them a moment to retake their seats, or in Deathstorm's case make a new one from thin air. And then I very pointedly sit down in what used to be Ultraman's seat. "Owlman. What's been happening while I've been gone?"
Did Power Ring take Deathstorm's chair? Why wouldn't he take Ultraman's?
 
In short Kriptonite rules make no sense, with different colors generating different outcomes and sometimes the same colors producing different results on a per kriptonian basis.

Is far more simple to keep things straight when they do the same thing and that isn't always the case with Kriptonite in your fic (a result of Detective Comics inconsistent sources).

I mean Kara wanting to fuck Paul after touching black kriptonite was an interesting plot development, but more often than not I consider their involvement detrimental to the plot.
Yes, different colours of kryptonite doing different things is DC canon. Each piece of red kryptonite causes a different mutation, but other than that they're fairly consistent about what each colour does.
Did Power Ring take Deathstorm's chair? Why wouldn't he take Ultraman's?
I very pointedly sit down in what used to be Ultraman's seat.
 
I feel like fear enlightenment should make him a much more agreeable tyrant. A lot of the oppression that tyrants inflict on their population is due to paranoia. But a power ring allows for actually effective surveillance and a fiefdom the size of a planet allows for living in absolute luxury and all kinds of additional vanity projects without making a real dent into the overall national budget. The worst that could happen is either his ingroup/outgroup protecting some real sadistic assholes, or people whose squabbling for position does a lot of regularly occuring collateral damage, or an ingroup so large that his regime is racist. Or that he cares so little about actual governing that it gets fucked up by whoever does it for him. Or I guess the kind of stupidity that is worse than malice.
Yeah, half the reason Tyrants are so horrible as rulers is they get so paranoid about being killed or forced out of power by someone or some group of people. Fear Enlightenment should greatly mitigate that especially when he has a power ring for surveillance and protection. I can see this Power Ring telling Owlman that he gets to stay no 2 in order to help keep the rest of the Society in check and keep the Society the top dogs in the Solar System.
 
Fear Ourself (part 22)
21st January 2013
17:21 EST


"Oh." Thomas spots my guest the moment the egg-covered airlock doors to the Fortress's interior opens. "And here I was nearly starting to respect you."

I stick up a construct wall but he's already stopped.

"She looks like an ofisuredī blow-up doll. If that's what you want, I can get you a better one." He tilts his head slightly to the side. "Or is it that you want to take everything that Ultraman had?"

"Owlman, you'd probably survive if I threw you off the Fortress, but I don't think you'd enjoy it much. So why don't you fuck off on your own?"

A very thin smile appears on his lips. "I'll check in with you once I've had the chance to go over Ultraman's ongoing projects. They should be fine. I can't imagine that he had any useful input into them."

I pointedly watch as he walks back across the landing pad and gets back into the owlwing. I keep watching until it's off the Fortress, and then activate the shield. And then I breathe out, and pull an injector containing a load of red kryptonite out of my equipment harness before turning around.

Thomas was right. It's obscene, really. And not remotely attractive to anyone who knows what women actually look like. Tits like beach balls, bursting out of a blouse and jacket combo. A belt-skirt that would nearly work, except that her ass is weirdly out of proportion with her legs and waist. And she's watching me…

"Here."

I toss the injector to her and she catches it with impressive precision.

"Red? You..?"

"Yeah. Dead."

She grimaces, pulls the blouse away from her right breast and jams the injector into an exposed vein before pushing the plunger.

And then she sags, breasts shrinking and ass tightening to proportions that looks like those of a normal human woman. She's not, but from the outside you wouldn't know the difference. There are a few other changes as well: her facial proportions shift back into what I remember, and… She actually gets a little taller.

She puts the empty injector on the table and pulls her clothes tighter around her, buttoning up the formerly unbuttonable blouse.

"Good riddance."

"I'm not arguing. You alright?"

She looks at me like-. Yeah, okay. "No."

"Sorry, stupid question. You..? Yourself?"

"Yes." She moves her arms and legs, clothes no longer fitting properly. "As far as I remember. I'll check the records later." She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath in, then opens then as she snorts the air out, making eye contact with me. "Thank you."

I just nod.

"The last living member of my species and he turned out to be completely worthless. So, you're in charge. What happens now?" She walks awkwardly over to a seat -the only one in the room, because why would Ultraman ever offer a seat to someone else?- with one hand on her skirt and another around her chest, and sits down. "I assume that you're taking control of his syndicates."

"I could. I'd rather offer them to you."

I take a few steps closer, and when she doesn't freak out I make myself a chair and sit down opposite her.

"Why?"

"You told me you had the training."

"I'm a trained infiltration administrator, yes. I could do the job. Nightwing knows I couldn't be worse at it." She snorts quietly. "You know that I was trained to make myself indispensable to planetary governments in order to facilitate the kryptonian conquest of those worlds, right?"

"Until your people tried it with Godfather Izaya, yeah. But I think I can trust you. Not like there's anyone left you can hand this place over to."

She nods cautiously. "That still doesn't explain 'why'?"

"Ultraman was a fool. His people are used to having free rein. If I take it over, I'm going to get nothing but idiots fighting me for years before I turn it into something I can actually use. I'd rather give it to you. They know you-."

"They know me as his toy!"

"It's no secret, what Owlman and Superwoman are doing. Make up something about needing to continue the species, then fry anyone who mentions it twice with heat vision."

"You recovered his kryptonite stash?"

"What was left."

She snarls. "He burned through a lifetime supply in a year! The kryptonite was there for the final push, not for daily use! He was supposed to become an opinion-former, not a warlord! Gah!"

"Why did you two even come to Earth in the first place?"

"We were configured to infiltrate New Genesis. When that… Fell through, this was the only place we could come."

"Configured? So… This isn't how you really look?"

She frowns at me. "Yes, it's how I really look..?" Her forehead flattens out as she gets my point. "Oh. No, we're configured in the womb. I've always looked… Human. It's easier if the children grow up in the form they'll need. My parents look-. Looked different, but this is me."

She snorts, looking away.

"Glory to Krypton."

"You going to be alright, taking over?"

"I'll use a few kryptonite injections to make my point, then use equipment from his armoury the rest of the time. That was why he was such a moron, I'm sure of it. Kryptonite overuse is a bad idea."

"But you'll be okay?"

"I'll have to be. And I'll tell my syndicate to play nice with yours; I know which side my bread is buttered on. What's next for the Syndicate, oh Chairman? Ultraman was babbling something about the anti-matter universe."

"The traits that make a good leader don't make a good follower. And down there-" I glance towards the window, through which we can see the Earth. "-is a planet full of people who think they should be the boss. The anti-matter version of Earth is having a hard time right now."

"And they're so weak-willed that they'll make a better workforce than the local humans." She nods. "How hard a time?"

"They've been infected with psychic clinical depression and attacked by their evil version of Darkseid."

"So they'll volunteer. How charitable-" My ring flashes. "-of you."

"The path to profit may be paved with good intentions, but it's probably a coincidence. Yeah?"

Sinestro's face appears over my ring, and I sit up a little straighter.

"Sinestro."

"Good to see you again, Power Ring. I trust that things went well?"

"Yeah. They did. I'm ready for the next step. And so's Lysis. Let's get this done."
 
Last edited:
So Paul was being played the entire time.

This just keeps getting better and better.

"Until your people tried it with Godfather Izaya, yeah

Now I can't help but imagine him sitting in a dark room while people come to him to ask for favors.

He was supposed to become an opinion-former, not a warlord! Gah!"

He was supposed to become a politician?

The Kryptonians truly had some fucked up goals.

We were configured to infiltrate New Genesis. When that… Fell through, this was the only place we could come."

"Configured? So… This isn't how you really look?"

She frowns at me. "Yes, it's how I really look..?" Her forehead flattens out as she gets my point. "Oh. No, we're configured in the womb. I've always looked… Human. It's easier if the children grow up in the form they'll need. My parents look-. Looked different, but this is me."

So they're like the Kryptonians from that fanfic where they're eels.
 
In Smallville IIRC there was green, red, blue and black (superheated green) kryptonite, plus one-off uses of glitter (modified red, plus Zatanna's magic) and silver (fake, created by brainiac, caused paranoia). They added gold in the last season but only in very small quantities, both on earth 1 and 2.

They established that green and blue had inverse effects on Bizarro (boosting and supercharging, to the point of losing containment), but the same effects on earth-2 kryptonians as earth-1, which I think is different to Zoat's rule that (say) blue-1 and blue-2 might look about the same but can have entirely different mechanisms and effects on K-1 and K-2. Zoat also established that at least in the Renegade timeline, red K has the comics' traditionally random effects rather than Smallville's consistent effect.

We never saw earth-2 kryptonians or Bizarro interact with black, red, "silver" or "glitter", or Bizarro with gold.

When Bizarro drained Green it turned white, but that was implied to be a reduced to a paperweight instead of the comics' white K working on plants.
 
so i just came back after not reading this for a while....did paul get a green ring? or is this an alternate paul? did final crisis happen in the alternate paul's earth too? is the fact that ultraman is an infiltrator from krypton a thing from the comics? or did zoat copy from Invincible?
 
so i just came back after not reading this for a while....did paul get a green ring? or is this an alternate paul? did final crisis happen in the alternate paul's earth too? is the fact that ultraman is an infiltrator from krypton a thing from the comics? or did zoat copy from Invincible?
were looking in Power Ring right now.
 
21st January 2013
17:21 EST


"Oh." Thomas spots my guest the moment the egg-covered airlock doors to the Fortress's interior opens. "And here I was nearly starting to respect you."

I stick up a construct wall but he's already stopped.
Heh. Ultraman not dead even a day and already the vultures are gathering to pick over his loot. No loyalty amongst erstwhile allies in this universe. Still, no doubt he had a few nice toys that everyone would want to get their hands on, so it's understandable.

"She looks like an ofisuredī blow-up doll. If that's what you want, I can get you a better one." He tilts his head slightly to the side. "Or is it that you want to take everything that Ultraman had?"

"Owlman, you'd probably survive if I threw you off the Fortress, but I don't think you'd enjoy it much. So why don't you fuck off on your own?"
An Office Lady? Curious. I wonder who this could be? (And why doesn't it surprise me that Owlman knows the Japanese slang term for them? :D Closeted Weeaboo!)

A very thin smile appears on his lips. "I'll check in with you once I've had the chance to go over Ultraman's ongoing projects. They should be fine. I can't imagine that he had any useful input into them."

I pointedly watch as he walks back across the landing pad and gets back into the owlwing. I keep watching until it's off the Fortress, and then activate the shield. And then I breathe out, and pull a injector containing a load of red kryptonite out of my equipment harness before turning around.
No doubt Ultraman had more than a few irons in the fire dependent on his super-strength intimidating 'lesser' folk into toeing his official line...

Thomas was right. It's obscene, really. And not remotely attractive to anyone who knows what women actually look like. Tits like beach balls, bursting out of a blouse and jacket combo. A belt-skirt that would nearly work, except that her ass is weirdly out of proportion with her legs and waist. And she's watching me…

"Here."
Seriously, who even is this person? o_O The local equivalent of Kara Zor-El?

I toss the injector to her and she catches it with impressive precision.

"Red? You..?"
...Shit, she's a Kryptonian, isn't she? And from the sounds of it, under the effects of a Kryptonite-induced metamorphic event. o_O ...Wonder which colour does that in this universe, if Red can fix it?

"Yeah. Dead."

She grimaces, pulls the blouse away from her right breast and jams the injector into an exposed vein before pushing the plunger.
At least there's plenty of space to aim. :oops:

And then she sags, breasts shrinking and ass tightening to proportions that looks like those of a normal human woman. She's not, but from the outside you wouldn't know the difference. There are a few other changes as well: her facial proportions shift back into what I remember, and… She actually gets a little taller.

She puts the empty injector on the table and pulls her clothes tighter around her, buttoning up the formerly unbuttonable blouse.
Not providing new clothes, Harrolds? Or is that level of precision still a little beyond you right now? Or would she take offence at the offer?

"Good riddance."

"I'm not arguing. You alright?"
...Still, it sounds like he has history with her.

She looks at me like-. Yeah, okay. "No."

"Sorry, stupid question. You..? Yourself?"
I doubt Ultraman would have had the smarts to apply any mental conditioning, but KIMEs do have mental effects sometimes.

"Yes." She moves her arms and legs, clothes no longer fitting properly. "As far as I remember. I'll check the records later." She closes her eyes and takes a deep breath in, then opens then as she snorts the air out, making eye contact with me. "Thank you."

I just nod.
And enjoy the effect that deep breath had on her no-doubt-still-impressive physique? Discreetly, of course.

"The last living member of my species and he turned out to be completely worthless. So, you're in charge. What happens now?" She walks awkwardly over to a seat -the only one in the room, because why would Ultraman ever offer a seat to someone else?- with one hand on her skirt and another around her chest, and sits down. "I assume that you're taking control of his syndicates."

"I could. I'd rather offer them to you."
Definitely feeling either Evil Kara, Ursa or Faora vibes from her...

I take a few steps closer, and when she doesn't freak out I make myself a chair and sit down opposite her.

"Why?"
Hmm.. What cape name could she take, I wonder? Superwoman is out, of course. Ultrawoman? Power Woman?

"You told me you had the training."

"I'm a trained infiltration administrator, yes. I could do the job. Nightwing knows I couldn't be worse at it." She snorts quietly. "You know that I was trained to make myself indispensable to planetary governments in order to facilitate the kryptonian conquest of those worlds, right?"
Nightwing, in this case, being a dark deity of Old Krypton, and presumably one of evil (rather than hunting it) in this universe.

"Until your people tried it with Godfather Izaya, yeah. But I think I can trust you. Not like there's anyone left you can hand this place over to."

She nods cautiously. "That still doesn't explain 'why'?"
'Godfather' Izaya, eh? Let me guess, he makes worlds 'offers they can't refuse'? Ones where New Genesis invade them if they refuse their 'protection'...

"Ultraman was a fool. His people are used to having free rein. If I take it over, I'm going to get nothing but idiots fighting me for years before I turn it into something I can actually use. I'd rather give it to you. They know you-."

"They know me as his toy!"
I suspect after the first couple of atrocities, they'll cotton on that you're not to be messed with.

"It's no secret, what Owlman and Superwoman are doing. Make up something about needing to continue the species, then fry anyone who mentions it twice with heat vision."

"You recovered his kryptonite stash?"
Since in this universe, Kryptonians draw power from the irradiated minerals, rather than die of super-cancer.

"What was left."

She snarls. "He burned through a lifetime supply in a year! The kryptonite was there for the final push, not for daily use! He was supposed to become an opinion-former, not a warlord! Gah!"
Bet he saw how they reacted and went 'I could become a big deal around here. Much better than being a soldier!'

"Why did you two even come to Earth in the first place?"

"We were configured to infiltrate New Genesis. When that… Fell through, this was the only place we could come."
Going by the 'last of their kind' comments, Krypton in this universe is just as assploded as the matter universe, huh?

"Configured? So… This isn't how you really look?"

She frowns at me. "Yes, it's how I really look..?" Her forehead flattens out as she gets my point. "Oh. No, we're configured in the womb. I've always looked… Human. It's easier if the children grow up in the form they'll need. My parents look-. Looked different, but this is me."
Designer genetics. A common trait of late-era Krypton. In some continuities, it's why they're strong and tough even without yellow sun radiation.

She snorts, looking away.

"Glory to Krypton."
Nothing left but smoking ashes now.... So better to find something new.

"You going to be alright, taking over?"

"I'll use a few kryptonite injections to make my point, then use equipment from his armoury the rest of the time. That was why he was such a moron, I'm sure of it. Kryptonite overuse is a bad idea."
Because of course dosing yourself with super-serums is bad. But it does explain so much, I suppose.

"But you'll be okay?"

"I'll have to be. And I'll tell my syndicate to play nice with yours; I know which side my bread is buttered on. What's next for the Syndicate, oh Chairman? Ultraman was babbling something about the anti-matter universe."
The Positive Universe, once again. Man, it can be hard to keep track of things...

"The traits that make a good leader don't make a good follower. And down there-" I glance towards the window, through which we can see the Earth. "-is a planet full of people who think they should be the boss. The anti-matter version of Earth is having a hard time right now."

"And they're so weak-willed that they'll make a better workforce than the local humans." She nods. "How hard a time?"
Don't underestimate them, now. You might find some nasty surprises popping up...

"They've been infected with psychic clinical depression and attacked by their evil version of Darkseid."

"So they'll volunteer. How charitable-" My ring flashes. "-of you."
Oh, someone calling him? Via Ring Transmission, at that...

"The path to profit may be paved with good intentions, but it's probably a coincidence. Yeah?"

Sinestro's face appears over my ring, and I sit up a little straighter.
:confused: ...Fuuuuuck. This whole episode was a Sinestro plot, wasn't it?

"Sinestro."

"Good to see you again, Power Ring. I trust that things went well?"

"Yeah. They did. I'm ready for the next step. And so's Lysis. Let's get this done."
Well, then. Sinestro Corps, coming eventually!

I'm guessing 'Ultrawoman' there (or whatever criminal cape name she chooses) is something of an OC. Not that there's a lot about any version of the reversed-morality Earths on the main DC Wiki. But that twist at the end. :eek: Goddamn, did anyone see that coming? It looks like Sinestro won't have to use Deputy Rings for much longer, now that Lysis has the information she needs to begin mass-production...

so i just came back after not reading this for a while....did paul get a green ring? or is this an alternate paul? did final crisis happen in the alternate paul's earth too? is the fact that ultraman is an infiltrator from krypton a thing from the comics? or did zoat copy from Invincible?
It's a tale. To sum up: This is the Anti-Matter Universe's of Earth 16's Joseph Harrolds, aka Power Ring of the Crime Syndicate. Not 'Power Ring Blue' Paul's universe, that's Earth -14.

OL was investigating Kalmin's backstory of killing a planet with Fear when they found him (as seen in this episode.) Apparently, he was in search of a power-up to his ring-slinging skills... And he got that. In spades.

Believe me, you definitely want to go catch up. ;) It's quite a ride.
 
This starting to make less sense. I'm I get Sinestro and Lysis working together, but why Power Ring also am I to believe that Power Ring gaining fear enlightenment was on purpose or just a happy accident? Another thing I'm wondering now was Harrold and Parallax target the approved target was this always a plot against Paul?
 
Heh. Ultraman not dead even a day and already the vultures are gathering to pick over his loot. No loyalty amongst erstwhile allies in this universe

No honor among thieves.

Nightwing, in this case, being a dark deity of Old Krypton, and presumably one of evil (rather than hunting it) in this universe

He could still be a hunting deity, just a god of evil hunting.

Godfather' Izaya, eh? Let me guess, he makes worlds 'offers they can't refuse'? Ones where New Genesis invade them if they refuse their 'protection'...

And if they refuse I'm betting he sends Orion, the passionless son of Darkseid who he kidnapped and brainwashed into serving him, so that he can convince them why New Genesian protection is needed.

Going by the 'last of their kind' comments, Krypton in this universe is just as assploded as the matter universe, huh?

I'm guessing Izaya wasn't too pleased with their little takeover attempt.
 

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