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

Mr Zoat · Nov 14, 2023

Ngamer11 said:
That should say "He'd".

Thank you, corrected.

Now that more people are aware of the Life Entity, is there any chance someone with malicious intent can get this info from any of them?

'More' isn't very many. But yes.

Ngamer11 said:
Part 18 is missing in the TOC.

Actually, I missed a close bracket and the forum got confused. But I've fixed it now.

BR549 said:
Is this gonna result in White Lantern Bruno Mannheim, I wonder?

No. He's only able to do this because the others are shoving their emotions into his brain. Rethink his life, gosh yes. Become a Lantern, no.

'scam'.

Thank you, corrected.

moralrelativity said:
thought -> though
they're -> they've
thought -> though

I think I already did these. Where are you seeing them?

Duke Long said:
'able to'?

Thank you, corrected.

Darko · Nov 14, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
-. He grabs into me

"onto me"

Though given their current state, it may fit.

Mr Zoat said:
both hand the Anti-Life-

"both want"

Mr Zoat said:
And then it's gone, and everything's gone, and we're back in Washington.

Next to Finality Man

Who is now hopefully back to being Infinity Man.

Darko · Nov 14, 2023

Chojin Patriarch said:
I see Mannheim and Orion have a bit in common, eh

Heck, the same can be said of Darkseid given how his mother treated him.

Azure Mirage · Nov 14, 2023

Batman is gonna go all Panopticon on Earth now. Fudge. Welp, let's see how Finality Man is dealt with before plans within plans within plans are enacted by Batman.

Mr Zoat · Nov 14, 2023

Darko said:
"onto me"
"both want"

Thank you, corrected.

Chojin Patriarch said:
Unneeded space.
...the few remaining strands trying to connect to him.
We both want to be out of here, and we both want the Anti-Life-

Thank you, corrected.

Firewillreign · Nov 14, 2023

I take back my earlier sentiment

Paul really should have waited for Sonestro instead. At least with that touches, the betrayal is guranteed and expected and you can plan and mitigate the fallout.

With Batman, assuming Mr Zoat leaves him his usual bag themed plot armour, the only guarantee is that you won't see it coming no matter how prepared you think you are.

RoninSword · Nov 14, 2023

Firewillreign said:
I take back my earlier sentiment

Paul really should have waited for Sonestro instead. At least with that touches, the betrayal is guranteed and expected and you can plan and mitigate the fallout.

With Batman, assuming Mr Zoat leaves him his usual bag themed plot armour, the only guarantee is that you won't see it coming no matter how prepared you think you are.

There was no 'waiting' required for Sinestro, there was needing to explain what the ultimate plan was so that Sinestro would be satisfied it's not a trap for him or any of his (Sinestro) recruits, which Paul wasnt willing to do.
I disagree with not using Sinestro or his recruits as well but /shrug
Edit: I imagine that Sinestro would be aware of the White Light from his time as First Lantern but no guarantees.

Vaermina · Nov 14, 2023

Firewillreign said:
I take back my earlier sentiment

Paul really should have waited for Sonestro instead. At least with that touches, the betrayal is guranteed and expected and you can plan and mitigate the fallout.

With Batman, assuming Mr Zoat leaves him his usual bag themed plot armour, the only guarantee is that you won't see it coming no matter how prepared you think you are.

Batman uses Paul's true name to banish him to a dimension where the Orange Light doesn't work.

Ngamer11 · Nov 15, 2023

RoninSword said:
Edit: I imagine that Sinestro would be aware of the White Light from his time as First Lantern but no guarantees.

He would've been privy to GLC secrets, but the White Light is something that's too important for the Guardians to willingly reveal to one of their lanterns unless absolutely necessary, so I doubt Sinestro knows about it.

Bud-E · Nov 15, 2023

Is Manaheim still a New God? Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't the White Light just purge the Anti-Life out of him?

Old Knife · Nov 15, 2023

Mannheim is going to be a white lantern.
I wonder what that looks like.

And since the anti-life is connected to the earth's Thaumausphere. The white light will rush through there and bring back the age of the gods.

This will be Hillarious and no one will recognise earth when it's done.

Delta/Soul · Nov 15, 2023

Mr Zoat, how much time do you have that you are able to write… however many chapters you made for this story?

Azure Mirage · Nov 15, 2023

I have observed that Zoat writes like a thousand words a day or so, and has a buffer sometimes. I have followed him across two previous sites, and that is what I have observed from years as a reader.

He posts once a day regularly and sometimes fights through illness to do so. At this point, he could start a patreon and make bank holding back parts. But God bless him, he has not.

Mr Zoat · Nov 15, 2023

17th February 2013
20:43 GMT

Eyesredchargingrailguncrumb-!

"No." Mannheim is still illuminated by an inner white glow as he raises his hands. "No one else."

A white wave passes through Finality Man, turning grey into gold and blue so that it more closely resembles Prince Drax's armour. Its golden eyes flare for a moment, then-

BOOM!

-it opens a boom tube beneath its own feet and falls into it.

"And now…" Mannheim turns towards the former Alliance Headquarters. "That thing. I-."

The blaster bolt hits him in the chest and knocks him to the ground.

Damn it! I dash over to him, creating a construct shield-

"I honestly believed that this would work."

A weird… Relief Mannheim walks towards us, shimmering black, blaster in his right hand.

"And yet you cut off my origin from my present. That's an interesting avenue of attack. Not one I would have considered."

"Father."

"A pale imitation, due to be reunited with my true self momentarily."

Graviton deflator, railgun with everything-. No. Message everyone. White light blast in two, one-.

"YAAAGH!"

Orion flies across the ground and slams into him! It takes… Shadow Mannheim off his feet but he turns with the impact, getting his right hand up to turn Orion's head aside before he can vomit blood all over him.

"Such beautiful, savage rage." Shadow Mannheim gets his feet under him and then backhands Orion into a nearby building. "Become the beast."

I fire, hitting him with mage slayer and crumbler rounds while Nommo ministers to real Mannheim. Batman is keeping his attention on our surroundings as the Justifiers are probably still coming. Carol looks like she's barely standing while Malvolio has scrambled to catch everyone that he dropped from his prison construct before they can hit the ground. Alan honestly looks a little behind events.

My railgun rounds hit home, but all it does is make his image… Glitch a little.

"An interesting -if futile- effort."

They're not hitting the far side of him so they're not just passing through. We've shut him off from his original body and the magic he stole, but he's still got an Anti-Lifed planet to power him. Ah.

Orion staggers out of the building, his horns glowing red horns and growing larger. And I can feel-.

Ah, shi-.

His right fist slams into my construct armour, completely destroying it through a combination of raw physical power and the corrosive power of the red light.

Message to Dr. Mist. Use the Mask. Turn down his anger.

I duck back and pwguer!

Ah, he hit me in the chest hard enough to break my shields and crater my cuirass. Left ribs… Broken, I think.

"Bringing my son was foolish."

New Gods can grow back arms.

I trigger my crumbler gauntlets and punch as his right arm, trying to-.

His flaring environmental shield disintegrates the gauntlet and I snatch what's left back before I lose the hand as well.

"Calm."

"G-hyeh?"

Orion's confused snort I.. probably a sign that Nommo's managed something-.

I turn my head in his direction to see the Medusa Mask melt, running down his face and dripping onto the floor. Alan's taken over ministering to Mannheim, who's showing a few signs of life.

"Orion, you need to focus. You hate your father more than anything. You're this close to actually wounding him!"

"I…" The horns fade, whatever Shadow Mannheim did to him needing him being maniacally angry to work.

Great. Back off and heal myself-.

Lantern Stewart creates a bubble shield around Shadow Mannheim. Shadow Mannheim looks up at him in disbelief, then casually slams it aside as he walks out. Ghia'ta covers him in glowing crystals, but they melt immediately.

"Love? Really? Unreliable at the best of times."

"Blue-."

"No."

Mannheim pulls himself up onto all fours, then points at his negative doppelgänger. A ripple of white light passes through him, making him wince.

"I offered you a place of rare honour. You should have remained my servant."

"I shouldn'a ever bought what you were sellin'. Get the Hell outta here."

Another wave of white and Shadow Mannheim visibly fades a little before regaining his strength.

"The network-!"

"Yeah." Mannheim looks around. "Give me a boost?"

"Show me your ultimate folly. This… 'Life force' that resists me."

I can still feel the link between the seven of us and Mannheim, and it's simplicity itself to let the orange light flow, and it looks like the others feel the same. Mannheim glows brilliantly-

"Mm."

There's a shimmering… Something just behind him. It's distorting-.

Graviton deflator fire.

There's a small burst of energy as I destabilise… Whatever that was. Shadow Mannheim actually starts.

Hah. No escape for you. No taking what you learned back to actual Darkseid.

Mannheim looks upwards, white light flowing off him and into the former Alliance of the Just headquarters in an approximation of my original plan. The glowing orange lines fade, replaced with brilliant white as the vital force of life itself shines out of the building. A moment passes and I feel it pass through me on its way out across the network. Scans show the remaining Justifiers who had been fighting other Justice League forces either dropping to the ground or staggering and looking around in stupefied bewilderment.

"Another time, then."

Shadow Mannheim fades out of existence as his bond with the network is destroyed. Nothing left to sustain him.

And then I look out across the wrecked city, and-.

"Lantern."

Orion walks towards me, pulling the ring off his finger. I'm pleased to see that his face is back to normal, but that just lets me see how unhappy with me he is.

"I would have words with you."

Mr Zoat · Nov 15, 2023

Delta/Soul said:
Mr Zoat, how much time do you have that you are able to write… however many chapters you made for this story?

Ngamer11 · Nov 15, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
I turn my head in his direction to see the Medusa Mask melt, running down his face and dripping onto the floor. Alan's taken over ministering to Mannheim, who's showing a few signs of life.

A shame about the Medusa Mask. Hopefully Paul will be able to get help from an actual Indigo Lantern in the future if this is ever necessary again.

Mr Zoat said:
Orion walks towards me, pulling the ring off his finger.

"I would have words with you."

Good news, he's not insane with rage. Though that doesn't mean he won't punch Paul in the face.

Vaermina · Nov 15, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
Orion walks towards me, pulling the ring off his finger.

"I would have words with you."

Punch him in the face! He totally deserves it!

Trickster2002 · Nov 15, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
"I shouldn'a ever bought what you were sellin'. Get the Hell outta here."

Mr Zoat said:
Shadow Mannheim fades out of existence as his bond with the network is destroyed. Nothing left to sustain him.

VICTORY!!!

moralrelativity · Nov 15, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
A white wave passes through Finality Man, turning grew into gold and blue

grew -> grey

Mr Zoat said:
did to him needing him being maniacally angry

needing -> needed

Lord Ernest · Nov 15, 2023

Well done. Not as cathartic as I would have liked it, but it seems the day is won. And if the Justifiers themselves were decontaminated by the White Light wave, then the Thaumosphere and the rest of the planet's population should as well, no? No remaining Anti-Life'd individuals or any of those that had "internalized" it or whatever, right?

Because it's gonna be rough already re-establishing society. If on top of that they also need to watch out for pockets of Anti-Life worshipers now, with who-knows-what Apokolips technology they may be in possession of, the recovery period will be even worse.

At least the Illustres can be happy that, whatever fuck ups there were in the build up or whatever consequences there are, his strategy panned out and the Earth is saved from becoming Apokolips 2.0 or Anti-Life experiment #1984.

Vaermina · Nov 15, 2023

Lord Ernest said:
Well done. Not as cathartic as I would have liked it, but it seems the day is won. And if the Justifiers themselves were decontaminated by the White Light wave, then the Thaumosphere and the rest of the planet's population should as well, no? No remaining Anti-Life'd individuals or any of those that had "internalized" it or whatever, right?

Because it's gonna be rough already re-establishing society. If on top of that they also need to watch out for pockets of Anti-Life worshipers now, with who-knows-what Apokolips technology they may be in possession of, the recovery period will be even worse.

At least the Illustres can be happy that, whatever fuck ups there were in the build up or whatever consequences there are, his strategy panned out and the Earth is saved from becoming Apokolips 2.0 or Anti-Life experiment #1984.

Is it?

Realistically Darkseid should be on his way with a full warfleet to find out just how Earth was able to purge his Anti Life infection.

Ngamer11 · Nov 15, 2023

Vaermina said:
Is it?

Realistically Darkseid should be on his way with a full warfleet to find out just how Earth was able to purge his Anti Life infection.

Honestly, right now Earth should be little more than an interesting planet that could have some interesting info on it. I don't doubt there are other planets that are just as, if not more, interesting in Darkseid's eyes. The only thing that would get him to personally visit Earth is learning of the Life Entity's existence and presence there, and I hope that never happens.

Chojin Patriarch · Nov 15, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
17th February 2013
20:43 GMT

Eyesredchargingrailguncrumb-!

"No." Mannheim is still illuminated by an inner white glow as he raises his hands. "No one else"

Oh, my. He is just saturated in White Light, isn't he? This is the point where he's either going to be your greatest ally in this fight... Or your greatest foe yet. I suppose it depends on whether he's still carrying any of the Anti-Life or if it's completely purged...

A white wave passes through Finality Man, turning grew into gold and blue so that it more closely resembles Prince Drax's armour. Its golden eyes flare for a moment, then-

BOOM!

Reprogrammed an an instant, I bet. Such is the uber-hax of the White Light.

-it opens a boom tube beneath its own feet and falls into it.

"And now…" Mannheim turns towards the former Alliance Headquarters. "That thing. I-."

Wonder if it's back on New Genesis, or returned to the pocket dimension Drax is convalescing.

The blaster bolt hits him in the chest and knocks him to the ground.

Damn it! I dash over to him, creating a construct shield-

Shit, lucky shot by a rando, or...

"I honestly believed that this would work."

A weird… relief Mannheim walks towards us, shimmering black, blaster in his right hand.

...And from that description, I'm picturing something like Mr Negative, the Spiderman villain. It's suitably spooky, at least.

"And yet you cut off my origin from my present. That's an interesting avenue of attack. Not one I would have considered."

"Father."

So, all of the... Power it's absorbed allowed the Anti-life Fragments in Mannheim to... Maintain its own existence... Somehow. Makes as much sense as anything else New God related.

"A pale imitation, due to be reunited with my true self momentarily."

Graviton deflator, railgun with everything-. No. Message everyone. White light blast in two, one-.

Yeah, best to block any Boom Tubes, OL. I don't think you want this bundle of data getting away.

"YAAAGH!"

Orion flies across the ground and slams into him! It takes… Shadow Mannheim off his feet but he turns with the impact, getting his right hand up to turn Orion's head aside before he can vomit blood all over him.

Which at leasts suggests it's concerned about suffering damage. It can be killed.

"Such beautiful, savage rage." Shadow Mannheim gets his feet under him and then backhands Orion into a nearby building. "Become the beast."

I fire, hitting him with mage slayer and crumbler rounds while Nommo ministers to real Mannheim. Batman is keeping his attention on our surroundings as the Justifiers are probably still coming. Carol looks like she's barely standing while Malvolio has scrambled to catch everyone that he dropped from his prison construct before they can hit the ground. Alan honestly looks a little behind events.

Give him a second, OL. He just had one hell of a few minutes. Though it's interesting that you can tell who's the most used to esoteric bullshit by their reactions...

My railgun rounds hit home, but all it does is make his image… Glitch a little.

"An interesting -if futile- effort."

It's mainlining an entire afterlife's worth of magical energy, after all...

They're not hitting the far side of him so they're not just passing through. We've shut him off from his original body and the magic he stole, but he's still got an Anti-Lifed planet to power him. Ah.

Orion staggers out of the building with glowing red horns growing out of his head. And I can feel-.

Ah. Okay, so the shit is still dripping off the fan. Earth hasn't been cleansed.. Yet.

Ah, shi-.

His right fist slams into my construct armour, completely destroying it through a combination of raw physical power and the corrosive power of the red light.

Goddammit, Orion.

I knew this would happen.

Message to Dr. Mist. Use the Mask. Turn down his anger.

I duck back and pwguer!

Ah. Zagged when you should have zigged, huh?

Ah, he hit me in the chest hard enough to break my shields and crater my cuirass. Left ribs… Broken, I think.

"Bringing my son was foolish."

Because there's no doubt plenty of hidden hooks in Orion's soul from Apokalips...

New Gods can grow back arms.

I trigger my crumbler gauntlets and punch as his right arm, trying to-.

Not holding back, I see. The situation is that desperate, after all.

His flaring environmental shield disintegrates the gauntlet and I snatch what's left back before I lose the hand as well.

"Calm."

Well, OL isn't exactly the most melee-oriented Lantern, after all...

"G-hyeh?"

Orion's confused snort I.. probably a sign that Nommo's managed something-.

And I half-picture him just flopping on his face as all that rage cuts out mid-flight...

I turn my head in his direction to see the Medusa Mask melt, running down his face and dripping onto the floor. Alan's taken over ministering to Mannheim, who's showing a few signs of life.

"Orion, you need to focus. You hate your father more than anything. You're this close to actually wounding him!"

Oh, that's bad. Hopefully he can still manage to summon Compassion without it.

"I…" The horns fade, whatever Shadow Mannheim did to him needing him being maniacally angry to work.

Great. Back off and heal myself-.

Seems almost dazed after the anger went 'poof'. Not uncommon. The human body isn't really meant to handle that much rage all at once, and a New God body is much the same despite the higher tolerances.

Lantern Stewart creates a bubble shield around Shadow Mannheim. Shadow Mannheim looks up at him in disbelief, then casually slams it aside as he walks out. Ghia'ta covers him in glowing crystals, but they melt immediately.

"Love? Really? Unreliable at the best of times."

Speak for yourself, nobody.

"Blue-."

"No."

Ah, Mannheim's back with you? Perhaps he can put that energy he's packing to use, then.

Mannheim pulls himself up onto all fours, then points at his negative doppelgänger. A ripple of white light passes through him, making him wince.

"I offered you a place of rare honour. You should have remained my servant."

That actually hurt it, you'll note. Might well be possible that only Mannheim can damage it, White Light or not.

"I shouldn'a ever bought what you were sellin'. Get the Hell outta here."

Another wave of white and Shadow Mannheim visibly fades a little before regaining his strength.

And each denial weakens it. Looks like it's only holding together as well as it is because of its bond to Mannheim.

"The network-!"

"Yeah." Mannheim looks around. "Give me a boost?"

Assuming the doppelganger gives you the chance...

"Show me your ultimate folly. This… 'Life force' that resists me."

I can still feel the link between the seven of us and Mannheim, and it's simplicity itself to let the orange light flow, and it looks like the others feel the same. Mannheim glows brilliantly-

Ah, it's overconfidence will prove it's downfall.

"Mm."

There's a shimmering… Something just behind him. It's distorting-.

Hush Tube! First time OL's ever 'seen' one, isn't it?

Graviton deflator fire.

There's a small burst of energy as I destabilise… Whatever that was. Shadow Mannheim actually starts.

No escape now, blobby. Enjoy the good feelings coming your way.

Hah. No escape for you. No taking what you learned back to actual Darkseid.

Mannheim looks upwards, white light flowing off him and into the former Alliance of the Just headquarters in an approximation of my original plan. The glowing orange lines fade, replaced with brilliant white as the vital force of life itself shines out of the building. A moment passes and I feel it pass through me on its way out across the network. Scans show the remaining Justifiers who had been fighting other Justice League forces either dropping to the ground or staggering and looking around in stupefied bewilderment.

Let's hope that whitewashing includes a free course of trauma-preventing selective amnesia. Or a lot of those folks are not going to be well.

"Another time, then."

Shadow Mannheim fades out of existence as his bond with the network is destroyed. Nothing left to sustain him.

Break out the party poppers, this shit is done!

And then I look out across the wrecked city, and-.

"Lantern."

...Ah, right. Orion.

Orion walks towards me, pulling the ring off his finger.

"I would have words with you."

Almost as menacing as when a battle-damaged Thor utters those words...

Well, the battle is done, the day is won, and now it's time to tally up the wounds. Which will likely lead off with Orion applying some percussive correction to OL after everything he went through.

And likely a 'Do not contact me again' farewell. Let's just hope Mannheim drained all that excess White Light Energy off with that big finale, though. Could be troublesome if he can still use it later.

iamnuff · Nov 15, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
"Lantern."

Orion walks towards me, pulling the ring off his finger.

"I would have words with you."

He told you that it was gonna suck, dude.
You said that you could handle it.

NightmareWarden · Nov 15, 2023

Okay, possible new ally Mannheim and a sane Orion. That's worth the loss of the mask. Mildly surprised that Batman's crummy yellow ring isn't sparking though. I'm not sure where the robot is headed, but I reckon it is to the dangerous laser realm for repairs. Not ready to be hooked back up to the forever team.

I wonder if Batman is capable of bugging or learning anything from good!Lex before the opportunity vanishes.

Remember the terrible effects on the Green and the Grey when this all started? I suspect a lot of problems will flare up while the thaumasphere heals.

Stsword · Nov 15, 2023

Ngamer11 said:
A shame about the Medusa Mask. Hopefully Paul will be able to get help from an actual Indigo Lantern in the future if this is ever necessary again.

It might be premature to mourn the loss just yet.

Originally there were 12 Medusa Masks, one per emotion like the Comedy and Tragedy mask, but Hayden turned them all into a single faceplate.

Which indicates that changes of form don't destroy the underlying enchantment.

For that matter a Raven series had the government researching the mask and thinking that they could recreate it after she destroyed it, which I thought was weird, but whatever.

And despite Raven destroying the Medusa Mask, Black Lantern Hayden had a working Medusa Mask. Whether you want to chalk that up to being created via a black power ring or writers and editors not keeping track of continuity is up to you.

Vaermina · Nov 15, 2023

Ngamer11 said:
Honestly, right now Earth should be little more than an interesting planet that could have some interesting info on it. I don't doubt there are other planets that are just as, if not more, interesting in Darkseid's eyes. The only thing that would get him to personally visit Earth is learning of the Life Entity's existence and presence there, and I hope that never happens.

How many other planets purged a full anti life infection?

PepeTheFrog · Nov 15, 2023

Mr Zoat said:
"Lantern."

Orion walks towards me, pulling the ring off his finger.

"I would have words with you."

Am I just colour blind or did Orion lose his red quotation marks/enlightenment?

Bigking321 · Nov 15, 2023

Well, the day is won.

Time to pay for the victory.

Shrug. Want the ends, want the means.

Lord Ernest · Nov 15, 2023

PepeTheFrog said:
Am I just colour blind or did Orion lose his red quotation marks/enlightenment?

Colored quotations with normal text means you're enlightened or the emotion/force is properly integrated in your soul. But colored quotations and text means that you're completely submerged in said emotion/force.

Whatever Mannseid did to Orion seems to have refocused the anger to the Illustres, and when Dr. Mist used the Medusa Mask it took him out of the enraged state he has been since the Red Power Ring got forged. Or at least that's how I saw it.

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

Dedicated ragequitter

Connoisseur.

Connoisseur.

Know what you're doing yet?

Dedicated ragequitter

Not too sore, are you?

Sky God

Well worn.

Experienced.

Stand up so I can push you down!

Not too sore, are you?

Versed in the lewd.

Know what you're doing yet?

Dedicated ragequitter

Dedicated ragequitter

Experienced.

Well worn.

Your first time is always over so quickly, isn't it?

Recovering pendant.

At the End...

Well worn.

Experienced.

Veteran Lurker

Connoisseur.

Versed in the lewd.

Versed in the lewd.

Well worn.

Alt Accounts are for Alt-Tabbing

Not too sore, are you?

At the End...

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