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

Bud-E · Oct 3, 2024

Mr Zoat said:
Martin doesn't call him that.

It doesn't bother him, he just thinks it's foolish.

Can you explain why some of the Controllers are trying to be nameless? Why do they consider their names foolish?

Steelplaza · Oct 3, 2024

Rin said:
I could easily see the Reach spinning up a few dozen more small-scale atrocities solely in response to this, just to see if it works.

That's a good plan in isolation, but the trouble is that the Reach is still trying to wage a propaganda war to pretend they are being unjustly targeted and keep as much of the universe as they can neutral. If they start "leaking" atrocities then they have to provide some actual evidence, which Supreme Commander Dox can then use to show how awful they are in the diplomatic struggle.

It might be worth trying late in the war when NEMO is invading deep into Reach territory and they have to take any advantage they can, but right now it would be very dangerous.

Bud-E said:
Can you explain why some of the Controllers are trying to be nameless? Why do they consider their names foolish?

I mean, in fairness they are weird, impossibly ancient aliens who could definitely have ideas that are difficult for humans to understand. In other words, if Zoat responds, "No I can't explain it to you actually," I think that would be a fair enough answer.

Darko · Oct 3, 2024

Bud-E said:
Can you explain why some of the Controllers are trying to be nameless? Why do they consider their names foolish?

They might think that names are for lesser races and species.

Maltusians don't really have any personality, so it's possible that they think that names are pointless.

With their powers it may be possible that they can know who each of them are without using a name, but continue to do so out of habit.

I remember reading a Babylon 5 book that focused on the Vorlons and it mentioned that because of their telepathy they don't really use names just designations that describe their personality and stance on issues.

"Kosh" for example wasn't really a name, but just a descriptor that told others that that particular Vorlon had chosen to take on the role of guide and teacher.

The Maltusians may do something similar.

PDV · Oct 3, 2024

Namelessness seems to fit very oddly with pride, and pride seems to be his main motivation in searching across realities for Effigy upgrades.

Mr Zoat · Oct 3, 2024

Bud-E said:
Can you explain why some of the Controllers are trying to be nameless? Why do they consider their names foolish?

It's not like we get a lot of information about their culture, and there are only a handful of canonically names maltusians.

Vaermina · Oct 3, 2024

Mr Zoat said:
"Scarabs are rare, and every major battle would have Orange Lanterns available to counter them. He decided it wasn't worth the drop in effectiveness against warships."

You might want to explain why it is that Scarabs are rare.

boo600 · Oct 3, 2024

Compared to the warships, and spread across the ridiculous size of Reach territory? Particularly after the Orange Lantern Corps (specifically the former Darkstars) have been going ham on them, hunting their (former) tormentors to extinction as best as they can?

I don't doubt that Scarabs show up. But jamming all that tech into something as small as a scarab takes tech and resources. It makes sense that they're rare comparatively - and even if they are rare, I'll bet that they outnumber the Corps by a lot. Particularly since they could just give the scarabs to anyone, and tend towards cloning/hive raising them purpose-built.

Mr Zoat · Oct 4, 2024

29th April 2013
About ten minutes in

Big ships.

Those are big ships.

I didn't want to say anything, but the same… 'Sense', I guess, that lets me fly where I want in space is actually letting me feel those ships. And I'm feeling them a lot more than other ships I've felt. The way Paul was going on… Yeah, I think they could kill me.

I mean, I don't know they could. But the feeling… It's not really in my stomach anymore, but it's the same sort of feeling… The feeling I'm getting is that this is something that is actually a threat to me. Like… When I started fighting things in space when the Controller gave me powers. I hadn't really gotten my head around what it was like. I thought having one guy-. No, if it was Superman-. Having me fight a giant metal spaceship was a stupid idea. It's just-. It's a giant piece of metal, right? That just doesn't make sense.

Then I actually did it, and… I don't know if it makes sense, but I'm used to it. The whole 'fly-right-up-to-the-metal-wall-in-the-sky-and-win' thing.

So we need to slow them down. The space stations in this system behind them… Forget about it. Flying around them when they can see us just isn't happening. But the ones just ahead, or off to the side, we can get them, and the ones in the systems they didn't just come from, because they obviously left some people behind to look after them. And then we get the ones closer to the planet when they keep coming. And I'm not.. worried about the small ships, even if they are harder to kill than the ones we've fought so far. They're small. The Reach don't build bad ships. They might be better at some things but from what Paul was saying their firepower isn't much different from what we've taken on before. If the Reach send them out to protect their stations… That's not a problem. Whoever gets assigned can just ignore them and do their job.

But I wanted to take the one that was right where the fleet is coming. Because… Because if I gave it to someone else and then any of them looked at me… What the fuck do I say?

"Prime…" Krillik's looking… I don't know, alien? I don't know alien expressions yet. "Can you fly faster?"

Right, focus. Like a Green Lantern.

This is the sort of time when having heroes growing up would be useful, isn't it?

It's actually easier to focus on the ships. I mean, they're in the same direction. I'm not going 'miss the system' fast, so I don't need to worry about that. Just put my foot down and try and get there a bit before the big ships-.

Will they be able to slow down? I keep getting confused about who can do that. I can stop in no time flat, and I know some ships can do that too and other ones can't because of momentum?

See, this is why I didn't pay attention in science class. That shit's so inconsistent in the real world! Sometimes things work one way and sometimes they don't and you can't tell in advance!

…

I should probably have paid attention in science class.

Go faster.

"Sorry, not used to this 'mental focus' thing."

"That wasn't why I asked. I know Controller Jevek tried our modifications on you first. I thought that you might have one that made you faster."

"I wish. No, we've all got the same stuff." Huh. "Which is kind of weird when you think about it. Not like our species are related or anything."

"I don't really think we're members of our old species anymore. Just.. burned effigies of them. We sacrifice our forms to fight the Reach. Perhaps we could be considered members of a new species, created purely to fight the Reach."

"I only picked 'Effigy' because I thought it sounded cool. I wasn't really thinking about it like that."

"Hah!" Oh, I recognise a smile! "Do 'orange lanterns' have significance in your culture?"

"Halloween I guess? We-. There's this orange gourd called a 'pumpkin'. We carve scary faces on them and then put them outside our houses."

The other kids did, anyway.

"I think the Illustres is missing an opportunity. Imagine if he replaced the boring design with a fearsome gourd-face!"

I start imagining him with a pumpkin-face, and I can't help but chuckle.

And that's the station coming up.

"Right. I'll punch a hole, you get to their computer and see what you can get. Once I've-" Killed. "-got rid of the crew then I'll try distracting the ships."

"We might not have time."

"Then we don't have time. But I'd feel like a prize idiot if it turned out it was that simple."

He sighs. "I wish I were a better computer technician. But a proper technical rig wouldn't survive… This."

"I wish for a lot of things. But none of them matter right now either. We've just got to do what we can. And… Now."

We both slow down as the space station is there, and as I look past it I can just about see the fleet heading for us. The station's got a plasma shield up but we're both disrupting and punching as hard as we can and we make a hole in a few seconds.

Could be a trap..?

And on to the station and its turrets, none of which are big enough to do anything. No ships-. The station has turned its plasma shield off. Uh. Trying to give the incoming ships a clear shot? Doesn't matter. Wall… There looks like it leads somewhere, so-

CRUNCH.

-through we go! Corridors, heavy doors closing and Reach people running-. Reach people melting and-. Bursting. Turret guns pop out of the walls and coloured gas starts getting pumped out of little… Pop-cap things. The gas smells a bit weird but I just push on through the space door.

CRUNGK.

A couple of Reach people glance back as the door breaks and melts around me, but the sensible ones keep running. Then they all break and melt too because I can fly faster than they can run.

It's so easy to feel bad if the Controller hadn't made sure I knew what sort of people they are.

"You know where we're going?!"

"Left and down a bit, I think?!"

Fucked if I've got a better idea. Didn't get briefed on the layout of this type of station. I melt whatever's in front of me and then turn, smashing though a wall, then another wall, and then… Er… A warehouse? A hangar? I set the Reach people working there on fire as I try and work out where to go next. No, wait, not that one. She's got a computer notepad thing. Grab, put the fire mostly out.

"Where's the command centre? And… What's in the crates?"

"I-. I will not tell you."

I shrug, and set her right arm on fire.

"AYYYIIEEEE!"

"Yeah. Hurts, huh?" Krillik makes another hole, and I fly through it after him. What did Paul say he did..? Right. "If you tell me where it is, I'll just go straight there and everyone else might get to live. Otherwise I'll just kill everyone flying around randomly."

"A-h-h-hieee w-won't-."

I set her right leg on fire.

"YAAAAAAAGH!"

boo600 · Oct 4, 2024

Mr Zoat said:
I should probably have paid attention in science class.

Effigy has gained Wisdom!

Mr Zoat said:
"Halloween I guess? We-. There's this orange gourd called a 'pumpkin'. We carve scary faces on them and then put them outside our houses."

The other kids did, anyway.

"I think the Illustres is missing an opportunity. Imagine if he replaced the boring design with a fearsome gourd-face!"

I start imagining him with a pumpkin-face, and I can't help but chuckle.

But he isn't a yellow lantern. That would be pointless - particularly since he already has mind control and Assimilation as threats. He doesn't want to be 'more' intimidating.

Mr Zoat said:
I-. I will not tell you."

I shrug, and set her right arm on fire.

"AYYYIIEEEE!"

"Yeah. Hurts, huh?" Krillik makes another hole, and I fly through it after him. What did Paul say he did..? Right. "If you tell me where it is, I'll just go straight there and everyone else might get to live. Otherwise I'll just kill everyone flying around randomly."

"A-h-h-hieee w-won't-."

I set her right leg on fire.

"YAAAAAAAGH!"

Torture doesn't work against normal people without things like the Lasso anyways, and you're trying it on Reach people? That's not just a war crime (which doesn't apply away from Earth and the Geneva conventions, given the galaxy), that's just dumb. And bad for PR.

Darko · Oct 4, 2024

Mr Zoat said:
isn't much difference

"different"

Mr Zoat said:
That's not a problem Whoever gets assigned can just ignore them and do their job.

"problem. Whoever"

Mr Zoat said:
I start imagining him with a pumpkin-face, and I can't help but chuckle

Is it pumpkin cake?

Mr Zoat said:
It's so easy I'd feel bad if the Controller

"It'd be so easy to feel bad if"

Mr Zoat · Oct 4, 2024

Darko said:
"different"
"problem. Whoever"
"It'd be so easy to feel bad if"

Thank you, corrected.

Chojin Patriarch · Oct 4, 2024

Mr Zoat said:
29th April 2013
About ten minutes in

Big ships.

Those are big ships.

I didn't want to say anything, but the same… 'Sense', I guess, that lets me fly where I want in space is actually letting me feel those ships. And I'm feeling them a lot more than other ships I've felt. The way Paul was going on… Yeah, I think they could kill me.

Don't worry, Marty. Everyone gets like that around giant things. That feeling of insignificance is entirely normal, and is a good way to remember you're human. Rather than being, you know, the reusable smart missiles Jevek probably wants you to be...

I mean, I don't know they could. But the feeling… It's not really in my stomach anymore, but it's the same sort of feeling… The feeling I'm getting is that this is something that is actually a threat to me. Like… When I started fighting things in space when the Controller gave me powers. I hadn't really gotten my head around what it was like. I thought having one guy-. No, if it was Superman-. Having me fight a giant metal spaceship was a stupid idea. It's just-. It's a giant piece of metal, right? That just doesn't make sense.

That's understandable. You were some random guy picked off the street to be a super-weapon...

Then I actually did it, and… I don't know if it makes sense, but I'm used to it. The whole 'fly-right-up-to-the-metal-wall-in-the-sky-and-win' thing.

...And now look at you. Kicking in doors, smashing bad guys and saving the good ones. Mostly.

So we need to slow them down. The space stations in this system behind them… Forget about it. Flying around them when they can see us just isn't happening. But the ones just ahead, or off to the side, we can get them, and the ones in the systems they didn't just come from, because they obviously left some people behind to look after them. And then we get the ones closer to the planet when they keep coming. And I'm not.. worried about the small ships, even if they are harder to kill than the ones we've fought so far. They're small. The Reach don't build bad ships. They might be better at some things but from what Paul was saying their firepower isn't much difference from what we've taken on before. If the Reach send them out to protect their stations… That's not a problem Whoever gets assigned can just ignore them and do their job.

Even if it kills them, which won't be good for your uncertainty, will it?

But I wanted to take the one that was right where the fleet is coming. Because… Because if I gave it to someone else and then any of them looked at me… What the fuck do I say?

"Prime…" Krillik's looking… I don't know, alien? I don't know alien expressions yet. "Can you fly faster?"

The perils of command. This way, at least, you show you're willing to do the things you wouldn't ask someone else to risk.

Right, focus. Like a Green Lantern.

This is the sort of time when having heroes growing up would be useful, isn't it?

Well, you do now. And you're becoming one of them.

It's actually easier to focus on the ships. I mean, they're in the same direction. I'm not going 'miss the system' fast, so I don't need to worry about that. Just put my foot down and try and get there a bit before the big ships-.

Will they be able to slow down? I keep getting confused about who can do that. I can stop in no time flat, and I know some ships can do that too and other ones can't because of momentum?

Inertialess drive tech. Because big things moving want to keep moving. Though it no doubt has a high energy requirement.

See, this is why I didn't pay attention in science class. That shit's so inconsistent in the real world! Sometimes things work one way and sometimes they don't and you can't tell in advance!

…

I should probably have paid attention in science class.

Heh. Sadly, hindsight is 20/20. Too late now.

Go faster.

"Sorry, not used to this 'mental focus' thing."

Never hurts to practise, of course.

"That wasn't why I asked. I know Controller Jevek tried our modifications on you first. I thought that you might have one that made you faster."

"I wish. No, we've all got the same stuff." Huh. "Which is kind of weird when you think about it. Not like our species are related or anything."

Well, when you're as advanced as the Maltusians are... Biology is more like play-doh.

"I don't really think we're members of our old species anymore. Just.. burned effigies of them. We sacrifice our forms to fight the Reach. Perhaps we could be considered members of a new species, created purely to fight the Reach."

"I only picked 'Effigy' because I thought it sounded cool. I wasn't really thinking about it like that."

...Amusing, but keep that poetic idea in mind. Sounded good.

"Hah!" Oh, I recognise a smile! "Do 'orange lanterns' have significance in your culture?"

"Halloween I guess? We-. There's this orange gourd called a 'pumpkin'. We carve scary faces on them and then put them outside our houses."

I get the feeling the veteran Darkstar noticed the boss was looking uncertain, and decided to distract him.

The other kids did, anyway.

"I think the Illustres is missing an opportunity. Imagine if he replaced the boring design with a fearsome gourd-face!"

I mean, the Orange sigil is kind of a face. If you looked at the Ophidian from the right angle...

I start imagining him with a pumpkin-face, and I can't help but chuckle.

And that's the station coming up.

Mood lifted. Nicely done, Krillik.

"Right. I'll punch a hole, you get to their computer and see what you can get. Once I've-" Killed. "-got rid of the crew then I'll try distracting the ships."

"We might not have time."

Then rip it out and throw it towards wherever you think will do the most damage?

"Then we don't have time. But I'd feel like a prize idiot if it turned out it was that simple."

He sighs. "I wish I were a better computer technician. But a proper technical rig wouldn't survive… This."

Not on the surface, at least. Maybe something Cybertronian...

"I wish for a lot of things. But none of them matter right now either. We've just got to do what we can. And… Now."

We both slow down as the space station is there, and as I look past it I can just about see the fleet heading for us. The station's got a plasma shield up but we're both disrupting and punching as hard as we can and we make a hole in a few seconds.

Bet he wishes he had more powers right now. Something big, flashy and destructive...

Could be a trap..?

And on to the station and its turrets, none of which are big enough to do anything. No ships-. The station has turned its plasma shield off. Uh. Trying to give the incoming ships a clear shot? Doesn't matter. Wall… There looks like it leads somewhere, so-

Or your attack blew out its capacitors. Either way, it's irrelevant.

CRUNCH.

-through we go! Corridors, heavy doors closing and Reach people running-. Reach people melting and-. Bursting. Turret guns pop out of the walls and coloured gas starts getting pumped out of little… Pop-cap things. The gas smells a bit weird but I just push on through the space door.

Heh. Viltrumite mods letting him casually ignore potent nerve gas.

CRUNGK.

A couple of Reach people glance back as the door breaks and melts around me, but the sensible ones keep running. Then they all break and melt too because I can fly faster than they can run.

Like a hot knife through slightly crunchy butter...

It's so easy I'd feel bad if the Controller hadn't made sure I knew what sort of people they are.

"You know where we're going?!"

"Left and down a bit, I think?!"

If not, turn around and fly back? It won't take that long with superspeed...

Fucked if I've got a better idea. Didn't get briefed on the layout of this type of station. I melt whatever's in front of me and then turn, smashing though a wall, then another wall, and then… Er… A warehouse? A hangar? I set the Reach people working there on fire as I try and work out where to go next. No, wait, not that one. She's got a computer notepad thing. Grab, put the fire mostly out.

Drawback of such a destructive powerset. If you don't want something burnt, you have to think about that beforehand...

"Where's the command centre? And… What's in the crates?"

"I-. I will not tell you."

Wrong answer. Your survival is kind of dependent on being useful, you know?

I shrug, and set her right arm on fire.

"AYYYIIEEEE!"

Man, so much for trying to be nice...

"Yeah. Hurts, huh?" Krillik makes another hole, and I fly through it after him. What did Paul say he did..? Right. "If you tell me where it is, I'll just go straight there and everyone else might get to live. Otherwise I'll just kill everyone flying around randomly."

"A-h-h-hieee w-won't-."

Determined, isn't she? still...

I set her right leg on fire.

"YAAAAAAAGH!"

...Wrong answer. Hopefully she comes around while she has limbs left...

Well, that took a turn. from laughing about jack-o'lanterns to burning and splattering people across the walls. Amazing what you can do if you turn off your empathy. Still, this can't be great for Marty's mood, even if he's messing up 'bad' people. Sadly, I doubt mental health is a big concern on Jevek's part, as long as they remain functional.

BartlettMagic · Oct 4, 2024

side question here, Zoat:

i was thinking about the disembodied brains that OL recently discovered, and the skills gymnastics it must have taken to fabricate a body for it and the rest of the brains that were rescued from that experimental station that got raided.

whatever happened to that one Orange Lantern Doctor? i can't remember her name, she was from Sinestro's world, and she was one of the earliest recruits. i don't think we've heard about her since then, and i had imagined she would be the equivalent of a "Ships Doctor" or "Chief Medic" or something for the Corps. it would be right within her bailiwick to be on the front line of "new body creation and integration" for those rescued brains.

Mr Zoat · Oct 4, 2024

BartlettMagic said:
side question here, Zoat:

i was thinking about the disembodied brains that OL recently discovered, and the skills gymnastics it must have taken to fabricate a body for it and the rest of the brains that were rescued from that experimental station that got raided.

whatever happened to that one Orange Lantern Doctor? i can't remember her name, she was from Sinestro's world, and she was one of the earliest recruits. i don't think we've heard about her since then, and i had imagined she would be the equivalent of a "Ships Doctor" or "Chief Medic" or something for the Corps. it would be right within her bailiwick to be on the front line of "new body creation and integration" for those rescued brains.

Lantern Soranik Natu.

She's one of the few Lanterns would could do that, but her combat abilities are behind most of her fellow Lanterns. If they picked up a lot of brains she'd be called in, and she's probably being consulted on how other N.E.O.M. elements should handle things like that in the field, but there's no real need for her to be involve in this mission at the moment.

Ngamer11 · Oct 4, 2024

Mr Zoat said:
Lantern Soranik Natu.

She's one of the few Lanterns would could do that, but her combat abilities are behind most of her fellow Lanterns. If they picked up a lot of brains she'd be called in, and she's probably being consulted on how other N.E.O.M. elements should handle things like that in the field, but there's no real need for her to be involve in this mission at the moment.

This makes me interested in learning about other specialized lanterns. The only ones I can think of are that alien who did some kind of psychic vivisection on Paul and that one alien magician who was so lacking in avarice that being overloaded on orange light constantly made him more or less even mentally. Unfortunately, I can't remember either of their names.

Edit: I remembered the magician fought Booster Gold, and found that his name was Hieronymous the Under-Achiever. Still blanking on the vivisection alien's name though.

Edit 2: After looking for Hieronymous, I found the other alien's name as they were both in Negetiations (part 1). His name is Nax.

BartlettMagic · Oct 4, 2024

Ngamer11 said:
This makes me interested in learning about other specialized lanterns

right. and i guess i should have been more specific, i didn't envision Lantern Natu being on the front lines per se, but definitely having her own mega-triage place on Maltus and being part of the brain-body reunion process there.

i work in healthcare, which is what made me think of it. i'm not sure i would have the stomach for war, but give me an Orange Ring and a whole bunch of people are going to get healthier. i would imagine it's the same for her. i'm kinda jealous that she has a finger-worn device that can pump her full of baseline stats for that many different species, common ailments and treatments, etc. etc. etc.- and of course the ability to simply want something and have it be.

Mr Zoat · Oct 5, 2024

29th April 2013
A couple minutes more

"Prime, that won't work."

Yeah, I think he's right. And… Even if she is an alien super-Nazi, I don't-. I thought she'd just cave!

"Alright." I drop her. "Maybe one of the others-."

"No, Prime." I tense for a moment, but he doesn't really sound angry or anything. "The Reach ensures its people are completely loyal. Pain won't motivate them."

"Right." Ugh, this could take-. Wait. I know Paul said that persuading them was the only thing that worked, but she was on fire when I asked. Maybe she didn't… Hear it clearly? "Okay, find another and ask before setting them on fire."

"We could just break a case open."

"Yeah, but it could be sealed.. medical stuff or something explosive. P-. The Illustres said he got killed by qwa-matter because they made it explode next to him." I shake my head. "Plenty of Reach in this place. Let's go."

Pick a direction at random… Down. Melt and slam and fly through… Armour, cables and pipes… Some electricity but not enough to hurt me, some chemicals but they don't do anything, and then I'm through.

And there's more Reach people.

I create a wall of disrupted matter-. Flame, around them.

"Okay, it's like this. I want to disable the interdiction system. If you tell me where it is, I'll fly right to it, wreck it and then leave. You'll all live, and most of this station will be in one piece. You can probably repair it in a couple of days. If you don't tell me where it is, I'll have to wreck the whole station and kill all of you. Whoever's in charge will have to make a whole new one."

I smile, but the white mask that's my face now probably… I mean, if a white mask smiled at me I'd find it creepy. But Reach people have weird faces, so-.

"Oh, and those crates up there." I point at the hole. "What's in 'em?"

The Reach people hesitate. The closest one raises a hand. "Can..? We discuss this?"

"Sure, but I kill one of you every five seconds."

I point my right hand at him, fingers extended. Then I count 'two' and drop my thumb. Two more and I drop my next finger. Then-.

The Reach people have a really quick muttered conversation, and I drop another finger.

"The interdiction system has three generators, spread out across three points in the interior portion of the station."

I think for a moment. "Glowing blue bit?"

"Ah… Well, that's part of the emitter. You'd have to actually destroy what's under there to stop it."

"Great. Thanks. And the crates?"

"That… Could be anything. They're standard transportation crates. Some probably have spare parts, some probably have food, and some probably have medical supplies…"

That's pretty reasonable. … And it's exactly what he should say to get me to leave it alone.

I drop another finger.

"So there's no problem if I destroy them all, right? Big fleet like that, they've got to have plenty of replacement stuff."

"Can we talk about-?"

I drop my last finger and fry him.

"What's in the crates?"

The next nearest Reach person looks at the other two, and they take a step away from him.

"It's-. Produce!" I glare at-. "It is! It is! From our colony. And some computer components! Fresh food makes postings like this much more civil than-"

Computer… Components.

"-deep space-."

I fry them all. "Krillik!"

"I opened a crate, Prime!"

"Brains, I know! Stick them in a… Ship or something, we'll try and take them with us! I'm going for the interdiction field generators!"

"Understood!"

Okay, so I'm… Here, and that means that the generators are… That way.

Fists out, melting on, fly!

Wall. Wall. Wall. Sparkly… Thing that isn't there any more. Wall. Thicker w-. Space. I look around-. Near the top of the space station, there's the glowing thing I spotted earlier. Easiest thing would be to fly in from the outside!

Something expensive-feeling breaks as I smash the glowing thing with both fists, metal breaking and moaning as I force my way inside. No real gaps in the structure, but: why would there be? It's a big machine.. thing, the only reason for space would be to let the engineers in to fix it when it goes wrong.

And-. Oh, I'm in a room. Reach soldiers in armour shooting at me-. Hurts a little-. Oh, those are positron rays. I actually remember the description! Magnetic containment beams firing tiny bits of anti-matter. But-

Their guns explode, killing the soldiers.

-it's still only a positron, which is about as small as matter gets before it gets weird. It's not releasing that much energy.

No engineers or scientists. I guess they already evacuated. Which means… All that machinery is the interdiction system. Pretty big.

Smash or burn?

Trick question.

Smash and burn! Burn and smash! Smash! Bu-.

Urgh, it went in my mouth.

Smash some more, and… That looks pretty wrecked. This bit of the station is exposed to space… BURN!

Right, good. Now they'll have to replace this whole section before they can turn it back on. Could… Go outside or fly through the station. Ah… Unless they've got a Scarab Warrior, the outside guns are probably bigger, so fly!

Wall, wall, some-. Hah! Confident guys with guns who I flew through without really noticing until I was past them, and… There. That's what it looks like when its in one piece. No soldiers in this one. Maybe that's who I flew through?

And keeping my mouth closed this time: Smash and burn! Burn and smash! Smash! Bu-.

AAGH!

Everything goes… Green, half the room melts away and I'm-

dAAAGH!

-rammed into the molten floor!

I push up and-.

Looks like those cruisers are here.

Lord Ernest · Oct 5, 2024

With how rare it is, I love anytime we get some alternate perspectives in this story.

Effigy Prime is really growing on me. I hate to say it like this but his perspective shows real personality rather than the usual clinical and seemingly detached perspective of the Illustres.

Chojin Patriarch · Oct 5, 2024

Mr Zoat said:
29th April 2013
A couple minutes more

"Prime, that won't work."

Yeah, I think he's right. And… Even if she is an alien super-Nazi, I don't-. I thought she'd just cave!

Reach indoctrination. Better to stonewall an interrogative enemy and delay them for someone to kill, than to play along and be marked a collaborator, if you survive... Impressive that she withstood so much pain, mind.

"Alright." I drop her. "Maybe one of the others-."

"No, Prime." I tense for a moment, but he doesn't really sound angry or anything. "The Reach ensures its people are completely loyal. Pain won't motivate them."

Remember, Marty, veteran Darkstar. He's seen how... Loyal Reach agents can be.

"Right." Ugh, this could take-. Wait. I know Paul said that persuading them was the only thing that worked, but she was on fire when I asked. Maybe she didn't… Hear it clearly? "Okay, find another and ask before setting them on fire."

"We could just break a case open."

Risky, not knowing what's in them, and you don't have codes so you'd have to use force.

"Yeah, but it could be sealed.. medical stuff or something explosive. P-. The Illustres said he got killed by qwa-matter because they made it explode next to him." I shake my head. "Plenty of Reach in this place. Let's go."

Pick a direction at random… Down. Melt and slam and fly through… Armour, cables and pipes… Some electricity but not enough to hurt me, some chemicals but they don't do anything, and then I'm through.

Love that he's so used to being indestructible now, he doesn't have any flinch reactions to such things.

And there's more Reach people.

I create a wall of disrupted matter-. Flame, around them.

Better than reminding yourself that it's practically burning shed skin.

"Okay, it's like this. I want to disable the interdiction system. If you tell me where it is, I'll fly right to it, wreck it and then leave. You'll all live, and most of this station will be in one piece. You can probably repair it in a couple of days. If you don't tell me where it is, I'll have to wreck the whole station and kill all of you. Whoever's in charge will have to make a whole new one."

So make the choice: Tell him and live, or don't tell him, and die with everyone else.

I smile, but the white mask that's my face now probably… I mean, if a white mask smiled at me I'd find it creepy. But Reach people have weird faces, so-.

"Oh, and those crates up there." I point at the hole. "What's in 'em?"

Still, their bone structure is different. So you probably look like a monstrous beast or some kind of demon, if jevek had any sense.

The Reach people hesitate. The closest one raises a hand. "Can..? We discuss this?"

"Sure, but I kill one of you every five seconds."

So talk quick, fellows.

I point my right hand at him, fingers extended. Then I count 'two' and drop my thumb. Two more and I drop my next finger. Then-.

The Reach people have a really quick muttered conversation, and I drop another finger.

Heh. Deciding who takes the heat for collaborating, eh?

"The interdiction system has three generators, spread out across three point in the interior portion of the station."

I think for a moment. "Glowing blue bit?"

Safe bet. Anything important in this kind of thing usually glows bright colours...

"Ah… Well, that's part of the emitter. You'd have to actually destroy what's under there to stop it."

"Great. Thanks. And the crates?"

Shouldn't be too had to work out which bits do what once he's gone through a few of them.

"That… Could be anything. They're standard transportation crates. Some probably have spare parts, some probably have food, and some probably have medical supplies…"

That's pretty reasonable. … And it's exactly what he should say to get me to leave it alone.

Well, wrong answer, then.

I drop another finger.

"So there's no problem if I destroy them all, right? Big fleet like that, they've got to have plenty of replacement stuff."

Not like it'd slow you down much at all. Heck, haul a couple with you and toss them into the station.

"Can we talk about-?"

I drop my last finger and fry him.

Prime example of what not answering promptly and correctly gets you...

"What's in the crates?"

The next nearest Reach person looks at other two, and they take a step away from him.

Looks like we have a volunteer.

"It's-. Produce!" I glare at-. "It is! It is! From out colony. And some computer components! Fresh food makes postings like this much more civil than-"

Computer… Components.

Now, I'd say it could be completely innocent, but... Reach.

"-deep space-."

I fry them all. "Krillik!"

Looks like this might be a rescue run, now.

"I opened a crate, Prime!"

"Brains, I know! Stick them in a… Ship or something, we'll try and take them with us! I'm going for the interdiction field generators!"

Joy. That'll slow you guys down. I wonder if the other teams are finding similar results.

"Understood!"

Okay, so I'm… Here, and that means that the generators are… That way.

Won't take too long to turn around if you miss them. There's only so much space in here, after all.

Fists out, melting on, fly!

Wall. Wall. Wall. Sparkly… Thing that isn't there any more. Wall. Thicker w-. Space. I look around-. Near the top of the space station, there's the glowing thing I spotted earlier. Easiest thing would be to fly in from the outside!

I bet the sparkly thing tickled a little.

Something expensive-feeling breaks as I smash the glowing thing with both fists, metal breaking and moaning as I force my way inside. No real gaps in the structure, but: why would there be? It's a big machine.. thing, the only reason for space would be to let the engineers in to fix it when it goes wrong.

True enough. And why use organic crew when you could send in a repair drone or something, anyway?

And-. Oh, I'm in a room. Reach soldiers in armour shooting at me-. Hurts a little-. Oh, those are positron rays. I actually remember the description! Magnetic containment beams firing tiny bits of anti-matter. But-

Their guns explode, killing the soldiers.

Ah, Viltrumite DNA upgrades. laughing in the face of tiny anti-matter explosions.

-it's still only a positron, which is about as small as matter gets before it gets weird. It's not releasing that much energy.

No engineers or scientists. I guess they already evacuated. Which means… All that machinery is the interdiction system. Pretty big.

Not once you're done with it.

Smash or burn?

Trick question.

Smash and burn! Burn and smash! Smash! Bu-.

Ooh, something nasty catch him by surprise?

Urgh, it went in my mouth.

Smash some more, and… That looks pretty wrecked. This bit of the station is exposed to space… BURN!

Ha. That'll teach you to keep your mouth closed when smashing through things. Not that your system would be much affected by swallowing a chunk of metal.

Right, good. Now they'll have to replace this whole section before they can turn it back on. Could… Go outside or fly through the station. Ah… Unless they've got a Scarab Warrior, the outside guns are probably bigger, so fly!

Wall, wall, some-. Hah! Confident guys with guns who I flew through without really noticing until I was past them, and… There. That's what it looks like when its in one piece. No soldiers in this one. Maybe that's who I flew through?

At least he didn't get any of them in his mouth.

And keeping my mouth closed this time: Smash and burn! Burn and smash! Smash! Bu-.

AAGH!

He's learning.

Everything goes… Green, half the room melts away and I'm-

dAAAGH!

-rammed into the molten floor!

...Well, that seems troublesome. Not part of the station, I suspect.

I push up and-.

Looks like those cruisers are here.

Looks like you're gonna have to deal with them, especially if you intend to haul those brains out of here.

All right, one super-powered humanoid versus at least two medium craft that I'm guessing are around a hundred meters each, or larger. Didn't look like their gun did much besides push him down, so it looks like they might be outgunned. Then again, that might not have been the fancy weapons. Time for some fistfights with spaceships, tomorrow.

...spread out across three point in the interior portion of the station.

...spread out across three points in the interior portion of the station.

The next nearest Reach person looks at other two...

The next nearest Reach person looks at the other two...

It is! It is! From out colony.

It is! It is! From our colony.

Darko · Oct 5, 2024

Mr Zoat said:
Prime, that won't work."

Yeah, I think he's right. And… Even if she is an alien super-Nazi, I don't-. I thought she'd just cave!

Yeah, torture really is a stupid and inefficient method to get reliable information.

The person you're torturing probably knew that their life was in danger before they met you, so they'll be committed to the cause.

Too much pain and they may not even be able to focus on anything other than trying to suppress the pain, or they may just pass out or die from shock.

Then there's also the fact that you really can't know if what they say is the truth.

Reading faces and body language, or what their voice sounds like is worthless since they're likely to just be grimacing or their throats will be raw and in pain due to screaming.

And there's the fact that you may not like the truth and they know that, so even if the truth will set them free, they'll think that you're a sadistic psychopath since you're torturing them and making a sadistic psychopath that has you in their power angry is not a smart move, so they'll lie.

Mr Zoat said:
The Reach ensures its people are completely loyal. Pain won't motivate them."

I'm wondering if they use genetic engineering to ensure that.

Hinon did say that they have control over their genetics.

Neruz · Oct 5, 2024

Darko said:
I'm wondering if they use genetic engineering to ensure that.

Hinon did say that they have control over their genetics.

They likely use everything; genetic engineering, indoctrination, neural manipulation, the works.

Say what you will about the Reach being evil, but they don't do half measures, especially not on things that are important.

Rebu · Oct 5, 2024

Effigy, there's such a thing as liking your work too much.

Steelplaza · Oct 5, 2024

It's looking like antimatter is the most effective anti-Effigy weapon. Prime could feel the positron beam even if it didn't have enough power to hurt him very much. Presumably a lot of their toughness upgrades are from Invincible universe "smart atoms", and antimatter is how the Invincible-SI was able to defeat that one Viltrumite. Admittedly that stuff's not exactly easy to handle, but if you've got to break out the superweapons it's important to know which superweapon to use.

Mr Zoat · Oct 5, 2024

Chojin Patriarch said:
...spread out across three points in the interior portion of the station.
The next nearest Reach person looks at the other two...
It is! It is! From our colony.

Thank you, corrected.

Lord Ernest · Oct 5, 2024

Steelplaza said:
It's looking like antimatter is the most effective anti-Effigy weapon. Prime could feel the positron beam even if it didn't have enough power to hurt him very much. Presumably a lot of their toughness upgrades are from Invincible universe "smart atoms", and antimatter is how the Invincible-SI was able to defeat that one Viltrumite. Admittedly that stuff's not exactly easy to handle, but if you've got to break out the superweapons it's important to know which superweapon to use.

I agree, although I feel like antimatter would be a pretty effective anti-anything weapon in general, no? I would imagine that there are fewer things that can resist or block antimatter, considering its nature, than the other way around.

Mr Zoat · Oct 5, 2024

Lord Ernest said:
I agree, although I feel like antimatter would be a pretty effective anti-anything weapon in general, no? I would imagine that there are fewer things that can resist or block antimatter, considering its nature, than the other way around.

It's not so great against anti-matter.

hkim · Oct 5, 2024

Lord Ernest said:
With how rare it is, I love anytime we get some alternate perspectives in this story.

Effigy Prime is really growing on me. I hate to say it like this but his perspective shows real personality rather than the usual clinical and seemingly detached perspective of the Illustres.

Right? It's so much more engaging when the POV character gives a damn.

RichardWhereat · Oct 5, 2024

Prime is a good rank for him, but eventually there will be more primes. I think they should use a word from our culture as an intensive prefix. Optimus. Paul should spread that.

boo600 · Oct 5, 2024

Steelplaza said:
It's looking like antimatter is the most effective anti-Effigy weapon. Prime could feel the positron beam even if it didn't have enough power to hurt him very much. Presumably a lot of their toughness upgrades are from Invincible universe "smart atoms", and antimatter is how the Invincible-SI was able to defeat that one Viltrumite. Admittedly that stuff's not exactly easy to handle, but if you've got to break out the superweapons it's important to know which superweapon to use.

Hmm. How much power does a single positron have? It's an anti-electron rather than a full anti-atom, so it shouldn't have as much variant as antimatter can have (no different numbers of positrons and… I forget what anti-protons are called).

The internet is failing me on this.

hkim said:
Right? It's so much more engaging when the POV character gives a damn.

The differing perspective is nice, but I do like Paul's more clinical viewpoint as well. All too often, such viewpoints are written because the author doesn't know how to write people very well. Seeing it done by someone who knows what they're doing, and thus done well, does have value to me.

RichardWhereat said:
Prime is a good rank for him, but eventually there will be more primes. I think they should use a word from our culture as an intensive prefix. Optimus. Paul should spread that.

Mwahahahahahahaha. MWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Yes. All the yes.
Especially because even Guy knows the transformers. Effigy will definitely know who Optimus is - and his reaction would be hilarious.

Mr Zoat · Oct 5, 2024

boo600 said:
Hmm. How much power does a single positron have? It's an anti-electron rather than a full anti-atom, so it shouldn't have as much variant as antimatter can have (no different numbers of positrons and… I forget what anti-protons are called).

The internet is failing me on this.

Here you go. I don't understand what the answer means, but there it is.

Especially because even Guy knows the transformers. Effigy will definitely know who Optimus is - and his reaction would be hilarious.

He might not, actually. He's too young for the eighties series and had a rubbish childhood. He'd probably vaguely recognise a picture of Optimus Prime, but he wouldn't necessarily know the name.

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