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

Citizen · Jun 10, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
"Dude." The second soldier glances at his financially-motivated colleague. "It's just like in War Fury."

LEGION needs this man of culture in their ranks desperately.

Chojin Patriarch · Jun 10, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
13th February 2013
19:15 GMT -5

The two remaining soldiers very slowly move their guns out to the side, one hand around the barrel and nothing anywhere near the trigger.

"Um…" The one on the left looks at the small pile of gold behind me. "You… Mentioned payment?"

Indeed. No need for empathic vision when you can practically see the currency symbols in their eyes.

And very good show of surrendering, lads. Some might have forgotten to show they couldn't use their guns.

"Yes, we need some information and I'm hoping that you can provide it. Someone we wish-."

"Dude." The second soldier glances at his financially-motivated colleague. "It's just like in War Fury."

...Seriously? One of the guys who took the offer is a science-fiction geek? Or at least his world's equivalent.

"Shut up."

"I'm sorry? 'War Fury'?"

And it sounds like his buddy has heard this spiel before.

"Yeah, it's a television series. Ah. Your species has those, right?"

I consider the state of television during the current Anti-Life infestation, where Batman authorised the use of worldwide jammers to prevent it being a transmission vector.

Still better than Final Crisis, where everything with a screen got hacked to broadcast the Anti-Life equation.

"Not… Right now, but I know what you mean. So… What..? Happens in War Fury?"

"There's this guy-. One of my species? Some stuff happens, and he gets recruited to fight for this alien warlord, wins a ton of battles, and… Ah… Meets a bunch of alien women." He glances at Dreamer. "Hot ones. Not like-. I mean, I'm sure she's-. You? Are very attractive by your species standards-."

Dude... Just stop before you put more of your paw into your mouth? We get the picture. You mean hot for a statejian.

"I… Get the idea. And that's something that you want to do?"

"S-?" First soldier looks shocked. "Seriously?"

Heh. OL making people's dreams come true.

"I mean, I can't recruit you right now, but the alliance I'm part of is fighting the largest empire in this galaxy, and we can always use… Are you infantry, or do you have specialised skills?"

Second soldier looks like he's having about a decade's worth of birthdays at once. "We're trained as marines. You know, landing and boarding operations… But we're always eager to learn new skills!"

Like this thing called 'kissing'.

Oh, I'm sure they're experts in the local form, but you never know with alien babes.

"Okay. Well, once this trip is over, I can get a L.E.G.I.O.N. recruitment flotilla sent this way. Might take a little while to get here, but it's not really a problem for me. I doubt that you'll answer to Supreme Commander Dox personally for a very long time, and… You'll have to work out the attractive females thing yourself-¬"

"No problem!"

I think OL just made a friend for life.

"-but that can happen."

First soldier isn't anything like as excited. "I'd… Rather have cash. I'll probably join up if they actually turn up, but I don't know you."

Sensible fellow.

"Perfectly reasonable concern."

I use a construct to pick up the valuables, split the piles in half and proffer a half-pile to each of them.

Let's hope there's no arguments over specifics.

"No point trying to fight you." First soldier shrugs. "It was pretty obvious that we weren't doing anything against your force field."

The soldiers are take the opportunity to squirrel their bribe money away in various parts of their armour.

If you didn't catch the picture yesterday: Statejians. Basically, blue bear-monkeys in silver flying armour. And it's good to see such common sense out there.

Vykin nods. "I understand. We mean no slight on your honour."

"Honour? No, it's just dumb to keep attacking someone you can't hurt. I hate getting dumb orders."

...He's not wrong.

T.V. enthusiast nods companionably, while the other decides to try hiding a ruby in his stock in place of one of his spare power cells. After checking that it fits, he looks up. "What did you want to know?"

Dreamer waves her right hand, and images of Ub'x and Peldak appear just in front of them. "Do you know these people?"

Much easier than a holo, I suppose. And her projections probably have scent traces included.

"The one with the head fronds… That's from Qualar IV, yeah?" She nods. "Don't they fall over if you look at them funny?"

"This one would be different."

Well, now, anyway. Bet she had to set a routine in her Ring up to counter that if she did have a fainting fit...

The two of them peer at the images for a few moments, before performing a negative gesture. The ruby-squirreler also makes a gesture of appeal. "Is there anything else we might know them by?"

"Indigo force fields, like the force fields Lanterns use."

See, if you'd lead with that, you could have saved a minute or two.

The two of them twitch, then make an affirmative gesture. Squirreler raises the screen mounted on his right arm. "Display attack on dockyard eight, highlights."

A fairly standard docking cradle network with central hub design. A few unique touches, but for the most part there are only so many ways to make a space dock that make sense. Form comes from function almost exclusively.

Unless your tech is so advanced that you can afford to be fancy. But by that point, you probably won't need spacedocks.

An indigo speck appears, slamming into the force field protecting the important military asset. Defence turrets deploy and open fire a moment later, the indigo blur ducking and dodging as they evade.

I narrow my eyes. The constructs look-.

Ah, that'll be the lizard-chicken girl. Rookie Ring-slingers usually feel godlike at first.

"Bad constructs." Bd'g floats next to my head. "She's not channelling compassion well. She's just fighting because she wants to."

I nod. "And she's not even denting those shields."

Loving the commentary by the experienced Lanterns... "4 out of 10, try better."

Squirreler indicates a negative. "Our shields are tuned to block constructs."

"Really?" I frown. "No offence intended to your engineers, but specific construct-blockers are usually something species a good deal more advanced than yours start developing."

And usually by those who tend to have issues with Lantern-related matters.

"Oh, yeah, yeah, don't worry. We bough the design these bald guys with bug-eye cybernetics years ago."

"Qwardians." I generate a construct image of Varnathon. "Like this?"

Oh, that asshole. Figures.

T.V. addict makes another affirmative gesture. "He said… He said they… Ah… Were releasing their previous-generation shield designs for export because… They were upgrading their own fleet."

Squirreler points to his computer screen. "See, this is where it-"

Kind of glad that asshole is dead and gone now.

Peldak stops moving, the point defences shooting holes in her construct shield as whatever camera was recording this zooms in. She trembles-.

Her construct barrier turns green, patching its holes as light surges along its surface. Now the point defence shots are being absorbed or deflected, and she looks decidedly satisfied with that eventuality.

Oh, right. Indigo's can copy other colours. Handy trick.

Bd'g frowns. "Huh. Did you know they could do that?"

"I wasn't sure."

I mean, did Ub'x ever do it in front of OL?

That covers her defence, but her energy bolts still aren't penetrating the shield. Finally she moves on to trying a… Denture construct? And she's clearly making an effort -I can see the shield being stressed- but it doesn't go through. She pulls back and flies away.

"Okay, we-."

Bet she's feeling a bit more angry now than anything...

"It hasn't finished."

The camera angle changes to an external facing, zooms in on-. She's grabbed a wreck with a construct tether and is accelerating towards the dock. This time secondary batteries open fire, striking the wreck and punching through-.

Ah. Rock doesn't work? Try a bigger rock!

Most ship-scale weapons are designed to mission-kill ships, not completely disintegrate them. Peldak is a small and agile target, her tether isn't much bigger and while the ship is taking holes it isn't breaking apart. The accurate but unfocused fire continues for several seconds before someone gets the gunnery under orders and they target… The bow of the ship, where the construct tether is attached.

They hit, so Peldak… Flies around behind the wreck and starts pushing it.

Yeah, generally you want to be able to loot the wrecks, after all. Bit harder here on Earth sink damaged ships tended to sink, though.

It gets closer, weapons continuing to fire.

Closer. It's taking some damage, but it's got enough momentum at this point that it doesn't matter.

Heh. Like a train-wreck in slow motion.

Closer.

Closer-.

It slams into the shields and shatters, achieving nothing.

...Welp, so much for 'bigger rock'. Any other ideas, hon'?

"Yeah, she basically vanished after that. No further sightings."

"Thank you. We can follow up on that in orbit."

That's got to be embarrassing.

Well, not a great showing for the rookie Indigo Tribesman.

...Tribeswoman? Anyway... Some surprising facts from these two ordinary marines. Guess stuff like the upgraded shields was popular in the scuttlebutt circles for a while, I suppose. And a good solid lead on Peldak, if not Ub'x. Might be a challenge to follow up on it, though, if the military is still feeling belligerent.

Mr Zoat · Jun 10, 2023

Darko said:
"bought the design from these"

Silveraith said:
Deserves a second look.

Thank you, corrected.

Signaller · Jun 10, 2023

Why hasn't Paul tried the omnicognisance thing?

Lord Ernest · Jun 10, 2023

Signaller said:
Why hasn't Paul tried the omnicognisance thing?

What, for the whole Galaxy? Last time he tried that was on Earth and he was there for a pretty long time. You want him to be frozen for half a century looking for the Indigo Lanterns?

Duke Long · Jun 10, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
He glances at Dreamer. "Hot ones. Not like-. I mean, I'm sure she's-. You? Are very attractive by your species standards-."

'species'' ?

Mr Zoat said:
You'll have to work out the attractive females thing yourself-¬"

Is the ¬ deliberate? If so, what does it signify?

Mr Zoat said:
, yeah, yeah, don't worry. We bought the design these bald guys with bug-eye cybernetics years ago."

'from these'

Mr Zoat said:
Finally she moves on to trying a… Denture construct?

I thought her species had toothless beaks? Is the construct beak-shaped or is this just weird?

I'm surprised that these soldiers are okay with doing this deal. Is the government not as evil as it seems? Because I would expect them to be executed or at least severely punished for this.

DeathReaperZ · Jun 10, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
Once, when my sister was having trouble parking her car with me in the front passenger's seat, I offered to get out in case my presence was creating a distraction. I was later informed that that was the incorrect thing to do, because by doing that I was drawing attention to her problem.

Did this actually happen?

Mr Zoat said:
Vykin looks at Dreamer for a moment before answering. "Between thirteen and sixteen. New Gods live indefinitely, but our early years are much like yours."

Literally none of them look younger than 20. I'd like to know which one of them is 13.

Mr Zoat said:
"That's just… Life?"

Yes.

Mr Zoat said:
Not all worlds have full geophysics scans on file. Rocks are not an uncommon geological feature.

Is it just me, or was his ring sassier than normal there?

Mr Zoat said:
"By the time I was first exposed to the Anti-Life I was already so resistant to it that I barely felt it, just a discordant buzz of nonsense. However, achieving that state did require me to fully integrate all of my most disgusting and monstrous repressed desires into my consciousness. I believe that's a close equivalent. My current clarity-."

Is he talking about his enlightenment, or something else that I have forgotten about?

Mr Zoat said:
Wait, do I actually know more than the Justice League? Okay, Batman's ability to gain intelligence is a lot less in places with no real contact with the surface world and no electronics, but I'd have thought…

Well, that's a surprise.

Mr Zoat said:
"Looks like she's got fat in all the right places."

Things really went downhill for Guy in the Renegade's universe, huh?

Mr Zoat said:
"Language. Does the League have a plan?"

The Pony world's been hitting him hard.

Mr Zoat said:
I can see a handful of total morons hanging around the beach to take pictures of the situation just staring like the gormless morons they are. I could say something about the fact that we're just going to reduce the force of the water and not block it completely, but if they're this dumb then I think their lives are a worthy offering to the Great God Darwin-.

Wonder if Darwin would be the New God of Evolution or something.

Mr Zoat said:
"I'm in reserve, case anything else crazy happens." He stares out to see, squinting. "You breakin' it up?"

Sea?

Chojin Patriarch said:
Man, the sheer difference between Paragon and Renegade timeline Guy. The former has Ion on his side, is dating Ice and is an Honour Guard. The latter? Uh... At least he's not comatose?

Might have been better for him to stay in that coma.

Mr Zoat said:
"The Whiz Wagon."

Hey, at least it wasn't the Jizz Jet.

Mr Zoat said:
I follow the Forevercar through the boom tube to a point-. To a point on the surface of Qualar IV, no doubt terrifying the native population into a collective coma.

And he continues him without skipping a beat.

Mr Zoat said:
I scan yep, yep, every native within hearing range of the boom has indeed fainted. Fortunately, they've designed their vehicles and appliances with the fact that the operators might collapse at any time with no notice into account. Might be an export market for narcoleptics on Earth, if the shipping distance wasn't completely ridiculous.

Is this a canon species?

Mr Zoat said:
Their technology is interesting in how unconsciousness-friendly it is. Their social organisation is peacefully unified, because anything else was just impractical. They have no interest at all in travelling in space and are generally unambitious, because anything else is just impractical. Their music is… Very soothing, actually.

Doesn't seem like a bad place to live to be honest.

Mr Zoat said:
"Just trying to work out why Ub'x came here. Or… Wherever, if not here. Then I got the Wiki disease and started following links. Can you imagine what music a people like this would create?"

I hate when that happens and two hours later I end up learning about the complete history of the M1 Garand, and its significance in modern culture or something.

Mr Zoat said:
"You don't sound incisive."

Way to be blunt Paul.

Mr Zoat said:
"Did you inherit tits from a non-Japanese ancestor? American? Dutch? Is there some secret monastery somewhere where Japanese women can apprentice themselves to learn the Secret of Tits? Do they all blow up like a pair of balloons when they achieve mastery?"

I don't doubt in the slightest that he's having fun with this.

Mr Zoat said:
"If I was actually here, Sergeant Tits wouldn't know what hit-!"

Diabo shoves me into his pocket, and I make the appropriate 'muffled protest' noises.

Yep, he is having fun.

Mr Zoat said:
The lieutenant waves Diabo forward as the door guard opens the door, numerous cameras pointing at it. Diabo does another scan, and the ring's sensors and database explain what he's seeing. It's a little strange that despite my current connection I'm actually far more disconnected from the ring's systems than I was when I wore it. It is nice to have access to digital clocks again, though. Maybe I should see if they'll sell us an atomic clock? No, something that will calibrate itself based on local daylight hours would be better, as I doubt that our world has a 24-hour day.

I surprised he couldn't just want to know the time and then just know it. How did he end up in the ring again?

Chojin Patriarch said:
Probably because you don't have a brain right now, OL, and thus the Ring isn't interfacing with it for you.

But what about species that don't have brains normally, how would a ring interface with them? It seems like either energy beings and other species without brains got the short end of the stick, or they can interface with power rings differently.

Mr Zoat said:
"Why not? I'm the most important thing in the universe."

Sometimes I wonder when somebody's gonna smack him for that satire.

Mr Zoat said:
Ub'x gives me a funny look. The problem is that since he's an unusually vertical beaver it makes me want to scratch him under the chin, rather than reconsider what I just said.

I doubt Paul's fingers would still be intact after he tries to scratch him under his chin.

Mr Zoat said:
"Y-. N-. Yes, for… Reasons you might know if you spoke to a maltusian."

Because Earth is the centre of the Universe, narrative wise.

Mr Zoat said:
Unsurprisingly, the illusionary Ub'x is shown standing next to an unconscious native. Ub'x appears to be taking the opportunity to file his teeth. I hadn't realised that was something that he needed to do. I sort of assumed that at some point in his species' development, as they stopped needing to spend so much time gnawing on wood, evolution would have led to a gradual slowing of the growth of their teeth. But I guess not.

Perhaps they kept them for self-defence?

Mr Zoat said:
Ub'x touches the cutting edge of his teeth, and realises… Something. Ah, he's decided that they were too sharp, and is filing the edge flatter.

This is some Looney Tunes stuff right here.

Mr Zoat said:
The native appears to have lost consciousness-. Wait. There really was a native who wanted to be evil but couldn't?

Surprise.

Mr Zoat said:
Ring, quick scan-? Ah. No, no species on this planet has fur. Symbiotic mould is indeed the closest they have, and that's an insect-analogue only thing.

Do the native animals have other methods of warming themselves up, or do they not get cold weather here?

Mr Zoat said:
"If I faint three times in succession, it takes a little more to trigger the response again. Not much more though. Hang-. Hang on."

Kek.

Mr Zoat said:
"That's about enough of that. But that was definitely consent." He waves his staff-.

And proper consent is all you need-

Mr Zoat said:
I frown. "How 'good' are we talking-?"

On a scale of "My bones just popped in a really satisfying way" to "I just had an orgasm"

Mr Zoat said:
I attach filaments to all but two of the soldiers and transition them halfway across the continent.

And he leaves the New Gods there. Not that they would really be harmed, but still.

Chojin Patriarch said:
...And now I'm picturing Moonrider as being just a little high, between the successful Godspeech and the healing rays.

Not as high as the moon I hope.

Chojin Patriarch said:
Amusing that the youngest of them is such a big-brotherly type. I mean, actual youngest or not, I still hope he is the youngest, just for the comedic potential.

I hope for that too.

Chojin Patriarch said:
Just rap on his helmet with the butt of your pistol or something, cowboy.

I doubt he'd feel anything that wasn't buckshot through his armour.

Senevri said:
Eh. These Gods saw Paulphidian and skedaddled. Not much he can do to really top that.

Unless he summons and merges with the Ophidian again, but this time they're in complete control of themselves.

1)Found your YouTube account by the way. You have a surprising amount of Nightcore in your music playlist.
2)Is there a way to change my name on this site without getting a new account?

Assblaster5000 · Jun 10, 2023

DeathReaperZ said:
Is he talking about his enlightenment, or something else that I have forgotten about?

Enlightenment. It wasn't exactly a pleasant experience.

DeathReaperZ said:
How did he end up in the ring again?

Local metaphysics basically said he was close enough to a god (plus interference from the native ones I think?) that he got trapped in it because that's just how gods work there, more or less. Maybe. It's been awhile since that side story first started.

DeathReaperZ said:
2)Is there a way to change my name on this site without getting a new account?

IIRC you just talk to one of the mods. I'm not sure what the best way of going about that is, but they'll do it if you ask.

Mr Zoat · Jun 10, 2023

Duke Long said:
'species'' ?
'from these'

Thank you, corrected.

Is the ¬ deliberate? If so, what does it signify?

Weird. It's not there in my copy.

I thought her species had toothless beaks? Is the construct beak-shaped or is this just weird?

Yes, but they're not stupid. They know what other species look like.

I'm surprised that these soldiers are okay with doing this deal. Is the government not as evil as it seems? Because I would expect them to be executed or at least severely punished for this.

They're a violent people, but they're not evil in the way that the dominators, psions, spider guilders or Apokolips are. Give them a worthwhile target and they'll be happy to focus on that.

DeathReaperZ said:
Did this actually happen?

That's how I remember it.

Is he talking about his enlightenment, or something else that I have forgotten about?

Enlightenment.

Things really went downhill for Guy in the Renegade's universe, huh?

It's more that they went uphill slightly rather than a lot.

The Pony world's been hitting him hard.

No, that's parenthood. Children copy what they see. If you don't want them to swear, don't shout 'DON'T FUCKING SWEAR' at them.

Wonder if Darwin would be the New God of Evolution or something.

He was too committed to Christianity to get involved in that sort of thing.

Sea?

Thank you, corrected.

Might have been better for him to stay in that coma.

Not really.

Is this a canon species?

Yes.

I surprised he couldn't just want to know the time and then just know it. How did he end up in the ring again?

Went through into their world but was bumped into the god layer due to his power level.

Perhaps they kept them for self-defence?

They're not really the right shape for that.

1)Found your YouTube account by the way. You have a surprising amount of Nightcore in your music playlist.

How is it surprising?

2)Is there a way to change my name on this site without getting a new account?

There isn't a way to change your name by getting a new account. They're weirdly strict on multiple accounts here.

Celtic Spartan · Jun 10, 2023

huh just had a thought what if the indigo lanterns aren't a tribe like in the comics but just another normal corps. due to Paul's meddling.

Duke Long · Jun 10, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
Yes, but they're not stupid. They know what other species look like.

I'm just surprised that she would default to a structure that doesn't occur in her species. But I guess there are probably toothed animals on their world, so I suppose it isn't that weird for them to have teeth as a familiar concept.

Stsword · Jun 10, 2023

Celtic Spartan said:
huh just had a thought what if the indigo lanterns aren't a tribe like in the comics but just another normal corps. due to Paul's meddling.

Hal Jordan's predecessor, who died years before Paul even showed up in this universe, was instrumental to forming the Indigo Tribe.

So their differences would logically have formed from pre-existing differences.

Like Zoat's Guardians are not as sociopathic as the comics version, which meant that Sur didn't decide that the Guardians were a threat to the universe and hence didn't form the Indigo Tribe to brainwash the Guardians into having empathy.

Mr Zoat · Jun 10, 2023

Duke Long said:
I'm just surprised that she would default to a structure that doesn't occur in her species. But I guess there are probably toothed animals on their world, so I suppose it isn't that weird for them to have teeth as a familiar concept.

Her new boss has particularly impressive biting teeth and sharpened them in her presence.

Mr Zoat · Jun 11, 2023

13th February 2013
19:23 GMT -5

The blue-furred man looks at me sceptically. "The biggest empire in the galaxy?"

Behind me, I hear Serifan's complaints muffled by Bear's hands.

"Yes indeed. The Reach have been very successful, expanding over the centuries. Sending you a map now."

He looks away from the camera, presumably at a second screen. "Huh. Doesn't look that big."

"On a map of the galaxy the size of-" Quick scan. "-the screen you're looking at, you can actually see it. No other empire covers that much area. It incorporates hundreds of worlds, habitable worlds with breathable atmospheres, not worlds total. Probably the most powerful fleet in the galaxy in conventional terms."

"How 'conventional'?"

"New God ships have more advanced weapons and shields, but are far less numerous. Qward, the Dominion… They might have ships that are more advanced in one or two areas. I don't know what would happen if a Qwardian fleet with qwa-energy weapons fought the Reach fleet. But in terms of power projection, numbers and general technological might, theirs is the overall best."

"And you want us to fight?"

I shrug. "I don't have a strong feeling either way. Will you slow us down?"

He bears his teeth. "Is that you and your weird flying car in front of my weapon batteries?"

I shrug. "Shoot it. It's not my car."

"HAH!"

Moonrider frowns at me. "Please don't tell him to shoot the Whiz Wagon."

"I promise you that I will never tell him to do that." I return my attention to the dock commander. "So do we have an agreement?"

"Any Lanterns in this war?"

"Yes, but they'll be on your side. You can even suggest people for us to recruit into the Corps."

"Ah, my gonads are quivering in anticipation! A war, a grand war! What's the prize?"

"We pay in raw materials, technology and colonisation rights. You'll have to negotiate once you get there."

"Sold! Scan for your weird lizard Lantern all you want. I've got a war to prepare for!"

The screen winks out.

Honestly, I'm a little surprised by how eager for a fight these people are. I know that 2814 is actually pretty peaceful due to The Traitor killing everyone capable of making a nuisance of themselves… Not his specific intent, obviously, just the result of killing everyone who got his attention. But the idea that a whole species would go 'you got a war, gimme gimme gimme' is something I can't help but find odd.

The Forevercar flies towards the dock which Peldak failed to attack, Bear releasing the irritated-looking Serifan from his friendly but firm grip.

"That was rude, Bear." Discordant Chimes.

"You know why I did it." His eyes flick my way for a moment as the Forevercar comes to a halt at Dreamer's gesture. "Lantern, can we talk?"

"Yes."

"I… Somewhere…" He looks at the image of Peldak Dreamer has conjured. "They don't need me for this. Or you."

"Ah. Yes." I tether him with a construct and float him out of his seat. "We'll be back shortly."

Moonrider nods as I fly Bear around the dock into an empty cradle, a location with no lines of sight to his friends or any windows.

"So. What do you need?"

"I thought we might need to fight. You asked them to fight, but for you, not against you."

"It's a convergence of interests. They're a nuisance here, but they'll be useful in the periphery. They like fighting."

He nods distractedly. "I'm good at fighting. But I've never liked it. Highfather taught us that it takes a stronger person not to fight, but… Uh. It seems to me that if you're strong enough, you don't need to. If the person you want to stop doesn't think they can beat you, and you don't want to fight them, then you can talk things out. Once we were attacked by a group of Apokoliptian Lowlies and I was strong enough to grapple them and hold them until they tired themselves out. None of us were hurt, and they only had a few bruises. If I hadn't been strong -really strong- then I couldn't have done that."

"Then I must ask your forgiveness, because I'd sort of gotten the impression that you left that sort of thing to Infinity Man."

"Sometimes we call Infinity Man because we aren't strong enough to fight and we need to. But he isn't good at talking. And he's terrifying. If we call him, no one will talk to us. We can't solve problems like that."

I nod. "What happened to the Lowlies?"

"They thought that we were of Apokolips. When we showed them that we were not, they were happy to see us. We spent a few days helping them build their village." He smiles faintly. "It was a good day."

I'd like to ask about Drax. But… Not the time.

"What did the Anti-Life say to you?"

"It wasn't anything I hadn't heard before. It was what-."

He looks away.

"Bear, I want to help. The Anti-Life only has the control you give it. It can make you think some fairly disturbing things, but once-."

"They found them. They found… The Lowlies we helped. They… The Anti-Life said… Things to me, and they put me in one of-of…"

He looks away, raising his right hand to cover his face.

"They have arenas, where warriors kill one another for the Elite's entertainment. They made me think… And I killed them. I tore them apart. With my bare hands. It wasn't even a fight, they were just…"

I gently lay my right hand on his shoulder.

"And if you'd been weaker, you wouldn't have been able to kill them."

"Yes." He slides his hand to the side so that it's only covering half his face, and what I can see is a picture of misery. "Yes."

"That's what the Anti-Life does. Everything that is proud and noble and worth something is undermined and flipped on its head. It… Wouldn't be evil if it wasn't evil. There is no greater purpose in the suffering he causes, other than satisfying him. If it helps, the fact that you can still feel bad about it is something to be proud of. Because he wasn't trying to leave you with that capacity. He wants you to think that sort of thing is normal. Or to think you shouldn't have helped those people in the first place."

"We shouldn't have gone there. If-."

"You're not responsible for Darkseid being evil, Bear. He was like that a long time before you were born. Pointless suffering is what he does, and the best you can do is mourn and then do what you can to prevent it happening to anyone else."

"But what if I can't?"

"Then you find someone who can and you make sure they've got the tools they need. But I wouldn't count yourself out just yet."

Darko · Jun 11, 2023

It's honestly very nice to see Paul helping people with their emotional problems.

Mr Zoat said:
The blue-furred man looks at me sceptically. "The biggest empire in the galaxy?"

Behind me, I hear Serafin's complaints muffled by Bear's hands

Well you may be more powerful than them, but they control more territory.

Mr Zoat said:
Moonrider frowns at me. "Please don't tell him to shoot the Whiz Wagon."

"I promise you that I will never tell him to do that

I don't believe that at all.

Mr Zoat said:
"Ah, my gonads are quivering in anticipation

Now I wanna watch TTS.

Mr Zoat said:
He nods distractedly. "I'm good at fighting. But I've never liked it. Highfather taught us that it takes a stronger person not to fight, but… Uh. It seems to me that if you're strong enough, you don't need to. If the person you want to stop doesn't think they can beat you, and you don't want to fight them, then you can talk things out. Once we were attacked by a group of Apokoliptian Lowlies and I was strong enough to grapple them and hold them until they tired themselves out. None of us were hurt, and they only had a few bruises. If I hadn't been strong -really strong- then I couldn't have done that."

"Then I must ask your forgiveness, because I'd sort of gotten the impression that you left that sort of thing to Infinity Man."

"Sometimes we call Infinity Man because we aren't strong enough to fight and we need to. But he isn't good at talking. And he's terrifying. If we call him, no one will talk to us. We can't solve problems like that

This is surprisingly very wise.

I don't remember much about his character from the show aside from being boisterous, but this was nice.

RichardWhereat · Jun 11, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
I shrug. "Shoot it. It's not my car."

"HAH!"

Moonrider frowns at me. "Please don't tell him to shoot the Whiz Wagon."

"I promise you that I will never tell him to do that." I return my attention to the dock commander. "Shoot the Forevercar."

Fixed your typo.

goricnac · Jun 11, 2023

Darko said:
I don't believe that at all.

It's true, because he will never call it the Whizz Wagon

Chojin Patriarch · Jun 11, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
13th February 2013
19:23 GMT -5

The blue-furred man looks at me sceptically. "The biggest empire in the galaxy?"

Behind me, I hear Serafin's complaints muffled by Bear's hands.

What, cowboy? Feeling a bit slighted by OL's statement? Not sure why, I don't remember New Genesis ever having imperial ambitions. Or are you just wanting a chance to start a fight and finally get to shoot something?

"Yes indeed. The Reach have been very successful, expanding over the centuries. Sending you a map now."

He looks away from the camera, presumably at a second screen. "Huh. Doesn't look that big."

It's a lot more systems than your race has ever managed to conquer, I suspect...

"On a map of the galaxy the size of-" Quick scan. "-the screen you're looking at, you can actually see it. No other empire covers that much area. It incorporates hundreds of worlds, habitable worlds with breathable atmospheres, not worlds total. Probably the most powerful fleet in the galaxy in conventional terms."

"How 'conventional'?"

And a galaxy is a big thing, so anything visible on a map large enough to see both it and the whole galaxy is big.

"New God ships have more advanced weapons and shields, but are far less numerous. Qward, the Dominion… They might have ships that are more advanced in one or two areas. I don't know what would happen if a Qwardian fleet with qwa-energy weapons fought the Reach fleet. But in terms of power projection, numbers and general technological might, theirs is the overall best."

"And you want us to fight?"

Heh. He sounds eager. Guess he's not really grokking the sheer scale of the idea.

I shrug. "I don't have a strong feeling either way. Will you slow us down?"

He bears his teeth. "Is that you and your weird flying car in front of my weapon batteries?"

Heh. Good to see even other species think the Whiz Wagon is odd-looking.

I shrug. "Shoot it. It's not my car."

"HAH!"

And frankly, a few bullet holes wouldn't hurt its looks.

Moonrider frowns at me. "Please don't tell him to shoot the Whiz Wagon."

"I promise you that I will never tell him to do that." I return my attention to the dock commander. "So do we have an agreement?"

Though you'll not that he's not telling him not to shoot, either.

"Any Lanterns in this war?"

"Yes, but they'll be on your side. You can even suggest people for us to recruit into the Corps."

And given what they've shown of their desires thus far, they'd probably make good soldiers.

"Ah, my gonads are quivering in anticipation! A war, a grand war! What's the prize?"

"We pay in raw materials, technology and colonisation rights. You'll have to negotiate once you get there."

Bit of a trek, though. I hope these guys have decent FTL speeds.

"Sold! Scan for your weird lizard Lantern all you want. I've got a war to prepare for!"

The screen winks out.

Heh. Quite the enthusiastic fellow, isn't he?

Honestly, I'm a little surprised by how eager for a fight these people are. I know that 2814 is actually pretty peaceful due to The Traitor killing everyone capable of making a nuisance of themselves… Not his specific intent, obviously, just the result of killing everyone who got his attention. But the idea that a whole species would go 'you got a war, gimme gimme gimme' is something I can't help but find odd.

The Forevercar flies towards the dock which Peldak failed to attack, Bear releasing the irritated-looking Serifan from his friendly but firm grip.

...'The Traitor'?

What was that again? As for the statejian's love of war, it's kind of refreshing to see someone who doesn't worry too much about taking territory, disposing of hated foes or other less reasonable drives for war.

"That was rude, Bear." Discordant Chimes.

"You know why I did it." His eyes flick my way for a moment as the Forevercar comes to a halt at Dreamer's gesture. "Lantern, can we talk?"

Serifan's got a big mouth and issues with authority? Kind of goes with the whole 'cowboy' personality.

"Yes."

"I… Somewhere…" He looks at the image of Peldak Dreamer has conjured. "They don't need me for this. Or you."

It'd probably just be restating things we've already seen for the most part.

"Ah. Yes." I tether him with a construct and float him out of his seat. "We'll be back shortly."

Moonrider nods as I fly Bear around the dock into an empty cradle, a location with no lines of sight to his friends or any windows.

Ah, the big kid needing his own pep talk now? All we need is Serifan to have a heart-to-heart and he'll have a full set.

"So. What do you need?"

"I thought we might need to fight. You asked them to fight, but for you, not against you."

And it persuaded them not to fight you guys. So no harm done.

"It's a convergence of interests. They're a nuisance here, but they'll be useful in the periphery. They like fighting."

He nods distractedly. "I'm good at fighting. But I've never liked it. Highfather taught us that it takes a stronger person not to fight, but… Uh. It seems to me that if you're strong enough, you don't need to. If the person you want to stop doesn't think they can beat you, and you don't want to fight them, then you can talk things out. Once we were attacked by a group of Apokoliptian Lowlies and I was strong enough to grapple them and hold them until they tired themselves out. None of us were hurt, and they only had a few bruises. If I hadn't been strong -really strong- then I couldn't have done that."

Heh. A gentle giant, eh? Not an uncommon sentiment amongst the big guys of the narrative cosmos.

"Then I must ask your forgiveness, because I'd sort of gotten the impression that you left that sort of thing to Infinity Man."

"Sometimes we call Infinity Man because we aren't strong enough to fight and we need to. But he isn't good at talking. And he's terrifying. If we call him, no one will talk to us. We can't solve problems like that."

Man, you are talking OL's language here. He likes to achieve more through diplomacy than he would violence.

I nod. "What happened to the Lowlies?"

"They thought that we were of Apokolips. When we showed them that we were not, they were happy to see us. We spent a few days helping them build their village." He smiles faintly. "It was a good day."

Compared to some of the stuff he's probably had to see, it would be.

I'd like to ask about Drax. But… Not the time.

"What did the Anti-Life say to you?"

Oh, this'll be good.

"It wasn't anything I hadn't heard before. It was what-."

He looks away.

Ah, the old 'your strength is only good for one thing: hurting people' accusation, eh?

"Bear, I want to help. The Anti-Life only has the control you give it. It can make you think some fairly disturbing things, but once-."

"They found them. They found… The Lowlies we helped. They… The Anti-Life said… Things to me, and they put me in one of-of…"

Remember, he is only a boy, really. A huge, powerful boy, but still just a boy.

He looks away, raising his right hand to cover his face.

"They have arenas, where warriors kill one another for the Elite's entertainment. They made me think… And I killed them. I tore them apart. With my bare hands. It wasn't even a fight, they were just…"

No need to guess what they made him think. I'm betting it involved his friends in pain...

I gently lay my right hand on his shoulder.

"And if you'd been weaker, you wouldn't have been able to kill them."

But then they might have been able to kill you. And as nice as it would be to claim that's okay...

"Yes." He slides his hand to the side so that it's only covering half his face, and what I can see is a picture of misery. "Yes."

"That's what the Anti-Life does. Everything that is proud and noble and worth something is undermined and flipped on its head. It… Wouldn't be evil if it wasn't evil. There is no greater purpose in the suffering he causes, other than satisfying him. If it helps, the fact that you can still feel bad about it is something to be proud of. Because he wasn't trying to leave you with that capacity. He wants you to think that sort of thing is normal. Or to think you shouldn't have helped those people in the first place."

OL putting that massive persuasion skill to good use for once.

"We shouldn't have gone there. If-."

"You're not responsible for Darkseid being evil, Bear. He was like that a long time before you were born. Pointless suffering is what he does, and the best you can do is mourn and then do what you can to prevent it happening to anyone else."

And accepting that even if you try your best, that there will be times when it isn't good enough either.

"But what if I can't?"

"Then you find someone who can and you make sure they've got the tools they need. But I wouldn't count yourself out just yet."

Something which OL is rather good at. Even if he could do it himself, he'll help to empower others so they can deal with their problems themselves...

A rare chance for OL to play the wise old mentor to someone much younger than him. We never saw that with the Team. It's still a little sad to hear that someone as young as Bear presumably is was put into that situation to start with, though. It's a pity we likely won't get to see OL give Highfather a good old 'Commander Shepard'-style lecture.

Duke Long · Jun 11, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
Scan for your weird lizard Lantern all you want.

I thought she was a bird person? Are they actually more like lizards in their biology, or do the statejian lizard-analogues have beaks or something?

Mr Zoat · Jun 11, 2023

Duke Long said:
I thought she was a bird person? Are they actually more like lizards in their biology, or do the statejian lizard-analogues have beaks or something?

She's an alien, so isn't related to any Earth species. She looks more reptilian to me, but she isn't one.

m_d · Jun 11, 2023

Chojin Patriarch said:
...'The Traitor'? What was that again?

Devlos Ungol. The person who was put into a suit of power armour derived from a part of the Anti-Monitor's armour and went on a sector spanning killing spree. Paul encountered him in Ways and Means part 15, and fought him with that flaming skin human, Effigy A.K.A. Martyn van Wyck, who'd been experimented on by Controller aligned Maltusian Jevek Jos Jar in an effort to come up with a non-emotional spectrum based "powerful and controllable weapon-servitor" by incorporating learnings from the Burning Martian.

BoML · Jun 11, 2023

Chojin Patriarch said:
...'The Traitor'? What was that again?

That would be Devlos Ungol, the biggest and most notorious pirate in Sector 2814, believed to have been dead for a long time, which was...very much *not* accurate at all...and now permanently ashes in a jar in Hades' custody in the Underworld. I *think* the first time he was mentioned by name was here.

EDIT: Ninja'd.

Darko · Jun 11, 2023

Chojin Patriarch said:
presumably is was put into that situation to start with, though. It's a pity we likely won't get to see OL give Highfather a good old 'Commander Shepard'-style lecture

Highfather probably did do a lot to help them recover since after they were rescued they were barely functional, but now they're at least able to talk and do things.

Paul just finished their therapy.

Though it is possible that he could have been the necessary element to complete it since he's a stranger.

Anyone with any knowledge of even the basics of therapy will tell you that having a close friend or family member as a therapist can be a bad idea since the sessions can get extremely emotional on both sides and the reason that person is in therapy may be connected to said friend or family member, so they may be reluctant to open up.

And that's something we have to remember about the Forever People and Highfather.

They're basically a family.

When Paul first met Highfather face to face he was apparently training some children to potentially take over the Forever People's role in summoning Infinity Man should the current ones may not fully recover.

It's highly likely that he also trained the current ones and during that they may have viewed him as a father figure, or like a grandfather.

That may have potentially hampered their therapy since they don't want to disappoint him.

In this chapter we learned that Bear killed innocent people.

It wasn't his fault and he didn't have a choice, but he still feels guilt about it.

In order for him to get better he needed to tell about what he did, but he may have been reluctant to discuss it with Highfather since what he did goes against Highfather's teachings.

Highfather would understand that it wasn't his fault, but Bear would still feel like shit for what happened and thus doesn't want to discuss it because he fears he'll disappoint Izaya.

Bud-E · Jun 11, 2023

Darko said:
Highfather probably did do a lot to help them recover since after they were rescued they were barely functional, but now they're at least able to talk and do things.

Paul just finished their therapy.

Though it is possible that he could have been the necessary element to complete it since he's a stranger.

Anyone with any knowledge of even the basics of therapy will tell you that having a close friend or family member as a therapist can be a bad idea since the sessions can get extremely emotional on both sides and the reason that person is in therapy may be connected to said friend or family member, so they may be reluctant to open up.

And that's something we have to remember about the Forever People and Highfather.

They're basically a family.

When Paul first met Highfather face to face he was apparently training some children to potentially take over the Forever People's role in summoning Infinity Man should the current ones may not fully recover.

It's highly likely that he also trained the current ones and during that they may have viewed him as a father figure, or like a grandfather.

That may have potentially hampered their therapy since they don't want to disappoint him.

In this chapter we learned that Bear killed innocent people.

It wasn't his fault and he didn't have a choice, but he still feels guilt about it.

In order for him to get better he needed to tell about what he did, but he may have been reluctant to discuss it with Highfather since what he did goes against Highfather's teachings.

Highfather would understand that it wasn't his fault, but Bear would still feel like shit for what happened and thus doesn't want to discuss it because he fears he'll disappoint Izaya.

I fully agree with everything you just said I am currently in school to be a therapist and all that you said is completely true to what we know about psychology... For humans at least I don't know how well you could apply this knowledge to The New Gods.

Ardy · Jun 11, 2023

Bud-E said:
I fully agree with everything you just said I am currently in school to be a therapist and all that you said is completely true to what we know about psychology... For humans at least I don't know how well you could apply this knowledge to The New Gods.

the same but more arrogant

Doccer · Jun 12, 2023

Anybody else get vibes of Hellsing's Major from this alien practically creaming himself over a grand war?

BR549 · Jun 12, 2023

Darko said:
It's highly likely that he also trained the current ones and during that they may have viewed him as a father figure, or like a grandfather.

That may have potentially hampered their therapy since they don't want to disappoint him.

In this chapter we learned that Bear killed innocent people.

It wasn't his fault and he didn't have a choice, but he still feels guilt about it.

In order for him to get better he needed to tell about what he did, but he may have been reluctant to discuss it with Highfather since what he did goes against Highfather's teachings.

Highfather would understand that it wasn't his fault, but Bear would still feel like shit for what happened and thus doesn't want to discuss it because he fears he'll disappoint Izaya.

To be specific, Izaya wouldn't be mad. He might, however, be dissapointed.

It may be the ur-Dad Joke but it's (a) absolutely a true thing and (b) absolutely as devastating as the meme version makes it out to be.

And so if you're worried you might dissapoint your (High)father, you don't tell dad...

Mr Zoat · Jun 12, 2023

13th February 2013
19:27 GMT -5

I open my mouth, then close it again as Moonrider shakes his head at me.

The illusory image of Peldak floats in space in front of Dreamer, staring at her. For her species that's not a sign of aggression: they don't have any psychological mechanisms relating to their ability to threaten each other because they can't threaten each other.

"Why did you attack this shipyard?"

"Because it was there. They use it for making warships. If they can't make warships then they're not a problem for anyone else."

"Why wasn't Doctor Ub'x with you?"

"Because he had other things to do and thought it was foolish." Her fronds twitch. "And he was right. I should have practiced first; I was too overjoyed at being able to do anything to think about what I should do."

"Where did you go afterwards?"

"What's it to you?"

"We need to speak with you, to get your help with something that needs an Indigo Lantern. Either you or Ub'x or anyone else he has recruited would be fine."

"Why do you need one of us?"

"One of our friends has gone mad with rage. The Orange Lanterns have told us that your ring can fix him."

"Um. Maybe. You would have to ask Ub'x or-."

The illusion wavers for a moment, causing Dreamer to gasp and grasp her head with her right hand.

"Lantern Peldak, where did you go after leaving here?"

"I just flew to the next system over so I could practice some. I didn't have anywhere else in mind." She twitches and fades. "I should work on that…"

And gone. I'd ask Dreamer how she is, but Vykin and Moonrider are checking her over. Okay, next system is… Ah, two she could be talking about, one with three gas giants and the other with two. Some automated mining, but the local species haven't anything like mined out their own system yet and no one else wants to start working so close to them.

"I'll take a look."

Wanting to get better, stronger. Learning to focus emotions should disrupt the general feel of residual desires…

I step out

and reappear next to the upper level of a hydrogen siphon. I can see the damage where the main magnetic column has been repeatedly pierced, and the armour plates slowly drifting away where they've been torn off and the charred metal where the defence turrets were destroyed. Not a lot of defences on something like this. An attacker would almost certainly prefer to take it intact so that they could use it in its former owner's place, and not putting heavier defences in places helps keep the cost down.

Hm.

Looks like standard energy pulses, various strengths. I drift around to one that feels like desire, but I can't see anything that would mark this turret out as more or less significant than the others.

How did she do that?

I… Dimly remember Indigo Lanterns being able to use other colours in the comics, but knowing what I do now about power rings… That doesn't make sense. Power rings are connected to a single emotion by their very structure, and naturally crowd the others out. You could make a ring that linked to multiple colours, but it would tear itself apart the moment you felt more than one emotion about something. Compassion isn't… Special in that sense, and in any case Dreamer's dream image showed us the simple indigo ring that I expected.

It should only work for compassion.

But that's clearly not the case.

BOOM!

I drift away from the damaged siphon as the Forevercar flies in, followed by Lightray and B'dg-. I hope he's got permission to be out of his Sector. I'd hate to get him in trouble for helping me. Dreamer makes eye contact with me and I gesture to the siphon with my right arm…

And look down at the swirling clouds of the gas giant below us, the siphon's funnel getting smaller and smaller before vanishing into invisibility well before it reaches the storm-wreathed atmosphere. It's… Actually beautiful.

Once this whole mess with the Anti-Life is over, I'd… Actually quite like to do a little sightseeing. Hopefully without spending the whole time working like last time.

I shake my head and fly back towards where Dreamer has summoned the local dream of Peldak. She's better able to interrogate it than I am, and I shouldn't just stick my oar in while she's getting reaccustomed to her own abilities. Instead, I fall in besides Lightray, who appears to be taking a similarly hands-off approach.

"Lightray, I have a question."

"Really? I have several."

"I'm happy to share any mission-critical information you want, and trade for most other things."

"No, I mean, in general."

I turn to look him full in the face, but he's… He's decided to be a nuisance. Fine, I'll just ask, then.

"With Infinity Man working for Apokolips, what happens to Prince Drax?"

He looks uncertain. "How do you know that name?"

"The fact that Uxas had a brother isn't a secret. The fact that he was friends with Izaya is not known to many, but it wasn't a secret either. The place on Apokolips where the Omega Force was stored before Uxas bonded with it isn't anything like as secure as it used to be. It wasn't as hard as you might think to work out that tales of Drax's death were somewhat exaggerated."

"I… See. I hadn't realised that your Lantern Corps' intelligence gathering was so… Thorough."

"The Reach are a problem for us now, but we know that we're going to have to deal with Darkseid afterwards. And that means that we need to know what's going on."

"Last time a Lantern Corps attacked Apokolips, it did not go well for them."

"Failure is just the opportunity to begin again more intelligently. So: Drax."

"We don't know. The Forever People were our only way of contacting him. We are.. aware that Infinity Man's corrupted presence on your homeworld is our responsibility and we wish to deal with it as swiftly as possible. But we can't send it back to him in its corrupted state. We don't even know if he's still alive."

"If he's dead, can we send it back to wherever he was?"

"It… Would be better not to, but… Yes."

"Is there another way to get there?"

"Technically, yes. You get hit by the Omega Effect, and then you get very lucky."

The image of Peldak vanishes, and I give Dreamer my full attention.

"Where to, then?"

"Talok IV. She wanted to master her fear of the dark."

"Then let's go!"

Darko · Jun 12, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
working so closed to them.

"so close"

Mr Zoat said:
"Technically, yes. You get hit by the Omega Effect, and then you get very lucky

But few to none get lucky.

NightmareWarden · Jun 12, 2023

Hmm. Indigo lanterns can either teleport (comic canon) or they can make portals. If it is the latter, then maybe the planet Nok has an incomplete collection of Lantern Rings. Multiple colors. And Indigo lanterns are temporarily connecting to those rings in order to fake a multi-color ring.

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

Well worn.

Veteran Lurker

Dedicated ragequitter

Know what you're doing yet?

At the End...

Glomerulus

In the Void.

I trust you know where the happy button is?

Dedicated ragequitter

Not too sore, are you?

Glomerulus

Versed in the lewd.

Dedicated ragequitter

Dedicated ragequitter

Connoisseur.

Aia airëa Fëanáro.

I trust you know where the happy button is?

Veteran Lurker

Glomerulus

Dedicated ragequitter

Fascinated by storytelling

I trust you know where the happy button is?

Connoisseur.

Stand up so I can push you down!

I trust you know where the happy button is?

Versed in the lewd.

This is filth! FILTH!!

Dedicated ragequitter

Connoisseur.

Versed in the lewd.

Users who are viewing this thread