Unreal (part 5)
Mr Zoat
Dedicated ragequitter
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29th March 2013
17:37 GMT -5
Mr. Queen is still recovering as Batman and Mr. Atom leave the room.
"Ah, what?"
"If governments regain power in their own territories, they may give conflicting instructions-."
"No, no, I get-." He turns to Alan. "Al, you get what I mean, right?"
Alan looks pointedly at me. "I've had a degree of contact with the utilitarian mindset." I shrug, smiling. "I guess Batman's reached the point where he's just tired of fighting the people we're trying to help."
"So did you want more suggestions, or..?"
"No. Were you being serious?"
"Yes. Each of those plans would stop the League undermining the Earth's political system. The alternative is moving towards replacing it."
Alan shakes his head. "I don't think it's that cut and dry, Paul."
"Alright. If an alien fleet entered the system tomorrow, would contact be handled by, A, the United Nations, B, N.A.S.A., C, Roscosmos, or D, the Justice League."
I cross my arms across my chest and raise my eyebrows.
Alan thinks for a moment. "Well, I guess it would be the Justice League, because we're the only ones with faster than light travel, and we're the only ones who could fight them away from the Earth if we had to."
"Oliver?"
"Yeah, I… Get it. And you don't think we can toe the line anymore?"
"I don't think you are toeing the line anymore. You're doing what's right but you don't appreciate what that means." I shrug. "Look, I've clearly set the cat amongst the pigeons, here. Why don't you talk about this with Black Canary and the other League members, and let me know what you decide."
"Because we get a full meeting once a fortnight, if that." He sighs. "I guess board meetings do have a point once in a while. We shoulda spotted this could be a problem."
"Do you need me to put out something clarifying that it's a personal opinion?"
Mr. Queen shakes his head. "No. Al?"
"I don't think it would help." He frowns thoughtfully. "Do you think..? Having one of us stand for office is actually a good idea?"
"I think it would mean that whoever did it wouldn't have the time to be an active superhero anymore. Then you've got the fact that none-." Oh, huh. "That the only member of the League with experience in politics is Icon."
Mr. Queen frowns. "I've dealt with politicians plenty of times."
"Yes, but you've never served in public office or worked in that area. He has. And unless you feel like standing for one of the main two American parties, you'll be limited to local politics because you won't have any support in the legislature. Executive powers only. And if you're thinking about standing in some capacity, talk to Black-"
T-t-t-t-t-t-t-ching! T-t-t-t-t-t-t-ching!
"-Canary first."
Alan generates a rotary phone construct and picks up the handset.
"You've reached Blue Lantern Two Eight One Four." He listens for a moment, then smiles. "Hey, Thana. How have you been?"
Mr. Queen leans a little closer to me. "Who?"
"Priestess of Hades. On that note, do you have a particular religious affiliation?"
"I sit next to an angel during meetings."
"I was on the team with Noriel. That doesn't make me Abrahamic."
"I'm glad to hear it." I frown for a moment, then realise that Alan's talking on the telephone. "Yeah, it was like that all over. Oh? I hadn't realised. No, no, that makes sense. Are you sure-?" He glances at me. "We can probably manage that." He nods. "Okay, I'll see you soon."
He dismisses his construct, and I mentally kick myself for not thinking about Thana before now. There's just… Been so much to do. I haven't even managed to check in on Holly and Karon more than once.
"How is she?"
"Oh, good, good. You got any leads on Themyscira?"
"Not really. I've sort of been assuming that Hephaestaean will send them back now that the Anti-Life has gone, but I don't know why that hasn't happened yet."
"Thana thinks it should still be possible to get there from the Underworld."
I nod. "Should be, but I don't feel like dying to find out."
"Apparently she's got a way in that's not quite as final as that. She wants us to come along."
"I… Can spare the time. Want me to contact Kon, Match and Donna?"
"Yeah, you do that. Ollie, you want in?"
He doesn't look enthusiastic. "I don't think it really matches my skill set. And I need to talk this whole thing over with Dinah."
"If you need someone uninvolved to talk things over with, Doctor Quinzel has a big hole in her schedule."
He looks slightly awkward. "Ah… Dinah…"
I look-. And just about keep myself from laughing. "Seriously?"
"It's not unreasonable."
Alan looks a little lost. "I'd have thought that she'd respect the need for talking through your problems with someone more than anyone."
"Normally she would, but-."
"Blonde women with large breasts are apparently a 'risk factor'."
Alan rolls his eyes, while Mr. Queen shrugs. "I mean, she's got a point. I haven't always been the best boyfriend, and not getting to hang out with women who are 'my type' isn't that big a deal if that's what it takes to convince her I'm committed this time."
I nod. "How are things with Connor?"
"Not great, but-. We're.. talking." He steps away, right hand raised in a half-wave. "Let me know how it goes with the Underworld."
Alan nods. "Sure will. Good luck with coping with ruling the world."
"Yeah, and Dad said I'd never amount to anything."
"Recognised, Green Arrow, zero eight."
"Orange Lantern to Donna. Do you have a moment?"
17:37 GMT -5
Mr. Queen is still recovering as Batman and Mr. Atom leave the room.
"Ah, what?"
"If governments regain power in their own territories, they may give conflicting instructions-."
"No, no, I get-." He turns to Alan. "Al, you get what I mean, right?"
Alan looks pointedly at me. "I've had a degree of contact with the utilitarian mindset." I shrug, smiling. "I guess Batman's reached the point where he's just tired of fighting the people we're trying to help."
"So did you want more suggestions, or..?"
"No. Were you being serious?"
"Yes. Each of those plans would stop the League undermining the Earth's political system. The alternative is moving towards replacing it."
Alan shakes his head. "I don't think it's that cut and dry, Paul."
"Alright. If an alien fleet entered the system tomorrow, would contact be handled by, A, the United Nations, B, N.A.S.A., C, Roscosmos, or D, the Justice League."
I cross my arms across my chest and raise my eyebrows.
Alan thinks for a moment. "Well, I guess it would be the Justice League, because we're the only ones with faster than light travel, and we're the only ones who could fight them away from the Earth if we had to."
"Oliver?"
"Yeah, I… Get it. And you don't think we can toe the line anymore?"
"I don't think you are toeing the line anymore. You're doing what's right but you don't appreciate what that means." I shrug. "Look, I've clearly set the cat amongst the pigeons, here. Why don't you talk about this with Black Canary and the other League members, and let me know what you decide."
"Because we get a full meeting once a fortnight, if that." He sighs. "I guess board meetings do have a point once in a while. We shoulda spotted this could be a problem."
"Do you need me to put out something clarifying that it's a personal opinion?"
Mr. Queen shakes his head. "No. Al?"
"I don't think it would help." He frowns thoughtfully. "Do you think..? Having one of us stand for office is actually a good idea?"
"I think it would mean that whoever did it wouldn't have the time to be an active superhero anymore. Then you've got the fact that none-." Oh, huh. "That the only member of the League with experience in politics is Icon."
Mr. Queen frowns. "I've dealt with politicians plenty of times."
"Yes, but you've never served in public office or worked in that area. He has. And unless you feel like standing for one of the main two American parties, you'll be limited to local politics because you won't have any support in the legislature. Executive powers only. And if you're thinking about standing in some capacity, talk to Black-"
T-t-t-t-t-t-t-ching! T-t-t-t-t-t-t-ching!
"-Canary first."
Alan generates a rotary phone construct and picks up the handset.
"You've reached Blue Lantern Two Eight One Four." He listens for a moment, then smiles. "Hey, Thana. How have you been?"
Mr. Queen leans a little closer to me. "Who?"
"Priestess of Hades. On that note, do you have a particular religious affiliation?"
"I sit next to an angel during meetings."
"I was on the team with Noriel. That doesn't make me Abrahamic."
"I'm glad to hear it." I frown for a moment, then realise that Alan's talking on the telephone. "Yeah, it was like that all over. Oh? I hadn't realised. No, no, that makes sense. Are you sure-?" He glances at me. "We can probably manage that." He nods. "Okay, I'll see you soon."
He dismisses his construct, and I mentally kick myself for not thinking about Thana before now. There's just… Been so much to do. I haven't even managed to check in on Holly and Karon more than once.
"How is she?"
"Oh, good, good. You got any leads on Themyscira?"
"Not really. I've sort of been assuming that Hephaestaean will send them back now that the Anti-Life has gone, but I don't know why that hasn't happened yet."
"Thana thinks it should still be possible to get there from the Underworld."
I nod. "Should be, but I don't feel like dying to find out."
"Apparently she's got a way in that's not quite as final as that. She wants us to come along."
"I… Can spare the time. Want me to contact Kon, Match and Donna?"
"Yeah, you do that. Ollie, you want in?"
He doesn't look enthusiastic. "I don't think it really matches my skill set. And I need to talk this whole thing over with Dinah."
"If you need someone uninvolved to talk things over with, Doctor Quinzel has a big hole in her schedule."
He looks slightly awkward. "Ah… Dinah…"
I look-. And just about keep myself from laughing. "Seriously?"
"It's not unreasonable."
Alan looks a little lost. "I'd have thought that she'd respect the need for talking through your problems with someone more than anyone."
"Normally she would, but-."
"Blonde women with large breasts are apparently a 'risk factor'."
Alan rolls his eyes, while Mr. Queen shrugs. "I mean, she's got a point. I haven't always been the best boyfriend, and not getting to hang out with women who are 'my type' isn't that big a deal if that's what it takes to convince her I'm committed this time."
I nod. "How are things with Connor?"
"Not great, but-. We're.. talking." He steps away, right hand raised in a half-wave. "Let me know how it goes with the Underworld."
Alan nods. "Sure will. Good luck with coping with ruling the world."
"Yeah, and Dad said I'd never amount to anything."
"Recognised, Green Arrow, zero eight."
"Orange Lantern to Donna. Do you have a moment?"
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