Mr Zoat
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With This Ring (Young Justice SI) (Thread Fourteen)
- Thread starter Mr Zoat
- Start date
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- self insert young justice
_The_Bomb
Not too sore, are you?
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This got a chuckle out of me.
_The_Bomb
Not too sore, are you?
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Oh man, I can wait until I catch up and see what kind of cool archeotechnology Paul has been equipping now that Hephaestaen got His upgrade! Presumably He's so much more capable now. Admittedly, He had been too busy when I last read to make anything for Paul, but I'm sure all that Anti-Life stuff has been dealt with by this point.
If y'all can't tell, it has been a while since I read. I've missed this story.
Terror Nova (supplementary, SI option)
New
Mr Zoat
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10th December 2022
15:18 GMT
Grab Endymion, increase power to flight system at a safe rate because no one wants to do a Gwen Stacy, get down and get into cover because if the other demons we've fought so far are anything to go by that Krang-thing is going to stop whining pretty quickly-
Brrt!
-and start shooting again. Right, good. I-. Endymion-. Ah, purple healing ray. I pull it out of my pouch-.
His wounds are already knitting closed, and his eyes snap open.
He stares at me for a moment.
"Sore-. Wakatta."
"Sorry, I don't speak Japanese and my translator-."
"I.. speak English."
"I assume that I'm talking to… Ah, 'Tuxedo Mask'?"
He looks at his armour-. It glows for a moment, and then is fully repaired. "I can be 'Endymion' for now."
"Right, because I need a few seconds to recharge my rings, and-."
He stands, looks up to where the severely burned, shrapnelled and stabbed Krangoid is glowering madly at us. It's clearly not sure of its footing and one of its legs doesn't appear to be moving correctly-.
Endymion leaps and swings, cutting through the face and head of the demon and causing the two sides of its head to… Sort of split open, which… Given that it's still making facial expressions doesn't appear to have entirely killed it. Still in mid-air he flicks the blood off his blade, sheathes it and then tosses a… Rose into the gaping wound.
The rose glows for a moment and then bursts with light, disintegrating the demonic flesh around it-
CLANKCRUNCHSMASH!
-and dropping the cybernetic components directly on top of me.
"Oh. Sorry, they usually either turn back to-." He stops posing, walks over and takes hold of it. "Ah, let me.. get that-."
I activate my right gauntlet's crumbler and tear through the metal. "Thank you, but it's fine. My equipment's working properly, too. Please-."
Endymion sidesteps and slashes, slicing a non-me flying skull in half.
"Do that."
Right. No… Honden here, from the looks of things, but I can still see/feel the desires that are and were, and then energy I associate with that. Pull a little in my direction…
I feel it as my rings regain a little power.
Right. Hands out, call personal lantern.
It appears in the air in front of me, and I immediately grab it.
"Recharge."
And I'm alive again! Back into subspace you go! Fix my armour-.
"Lantern to Taggart. You need help?"
"Fuck no, thanks to my new best friend."
Scan… Ah.
"How 'bout you?"
"No." I fly upwards, then head inside the tower to where Angelica is… Stirring slightly. "Mazikeen, I found Angelica. Top of the tower, there's a hidden switch-. Ah, and a gaping hole. Has Sandro recovered?"
"Not yet. I'll meet you at the-" She flaps into view, wings extended and… Hah, she's conjured daedric-looking armour just in case. "-top." She looks around at the interior of the room, and then focuses on where my alter ego's head was impaled. "What was there?"
"My head."
"Your… The orange skull?"
"He still had enough control-" Construct bracing, x-ionised wire cutters, snip… "-of his ring to block me when I tried to kill him. So I tried copying my tattoos, and he turned into that." Hold her arms in place, construct tongs and pull… Good. Again. "I'm going to ask Angelica to try fixing him, if it turns out that's possible."
Mazikeen frowns. "I'm trying to work out how they managed to bind an angel. Even a pseudo-angel like Angelica should have set them on fire if they touched her."
"I'm not sure that this Hell works like our Hell, or that these demons are demons in the sense that we're used to. I… Think that they might be fleshy creatures whose souls are made of Hell-magic rather then earthly magic, but that's conjecture on my part."
Alright, that's all the nails. Can't… Do anything for the plucked feathers or lost blood.
I point to the central plinth. "Do you need that?"
"If you want me to try to understand-."
I wave her off, nodding, then pick up Angelica and carry her outside.
Where Corporal Taggart is floating, orange aura around his body and orange-burning skull in his left hand. "He followed me home. Can I keep him?" He then stares at Angelica as I transmute a hospital bed for her to lay on. "Wait, is that an angel?"
"Technically, no. I just hacked Heaven's power grid. What happened to the cyberbullman?"
"Oh yeah, check it." He holds out my skull. "Sic 'em, boy!"
My skull shoots out, smashing through one of the pillars before looping back around and landing in his hand.
What have I done?
Maybe Angelica can fix it. First thing, healing ray on Angelica.
"Corporal?"
"I think I'll call it 'Grinnington'. 'cause it-."
"It's my skull."
"Huh?"
"Short version, at least hundreds of me were sent to a whole lot of parallel universes. He's the one that ended up here. The demons got him, and used him as the focus of some ritual magic."
"So I can't keep him?"
"Not unless your laws about slavery are very different to ours. I'm hoping that Angelica can fix him."
He nods, then looks the skull in the sockets. "Sorry, boy."
It rises out of his hand, floating there of its own volition.
"So, you got your friend back. You done?"
I nod. "Since there's no sign that Zor was ever active here and I've recovered my allies, the mission's complete. But there's no reason why we can't stay long enough to help you deal with your problems. Want to see if we can destroy Hell with anti-matter bombs?"
15:18 GMT
Grab Endymion, increase power to flight system at a safe rate because no one wants to do a Gwen Stacy, get down and get into cover because if the other demons we've fought so far are anything to go by that Krang-thing is going to stop whining pretty quickly-
Brrt!
-and start shooting again. Right, good. I-. Endymion-. Ah, purple healing ray. I pull it out of my pouch-.
His wounds are already knitting closed, and his eyes snap open.
He stares at me for a moment.
"Sore-. Wakatta."
"Sorry, I don't speak Japanese and my translator-."
"I.. speak English."
"I assume that I'm talking to… Ah, 'Tuxedo Mask'?"
He looks at his armour-. It glows for a moment, and then is fully repaired. "I can be 'Endymion' for now."
"Right, because I need a few seconds to recharge my rings, and-."
He stands, looks up to where the severely burned, shrapnelled and stabbed Krangoid is glowering madly at us. It's clearly not sure of its footing and one of its legs doesn't appear to be moving correctly-.
Endymion leaps and swings, cutting through the face and head of the demon and causing the two sides of its head to… Sort of split open, which… Given that it's still making facial expressions doesn't appear to have entirely killed it. Still in mid-air he flicks the blood off his blade, sheathes it and then tosses a… Rose into the gaping wound.
The rose glows for a moment and then bursts with light, disintegrating the demonic flesh around it-
CLANKCRUNCHSMASH!
-and dropping the cybernetic components directly on top of me.
"Oh. Sorry, they usually either turn back to-." He stops posing, walks over and takes hold of it. "Ah, let me.. get that-."
I activate my right gauntlet's crumbler and tear through the metal. "Thank you, but it's fine. My equipment's working properly, too. Please-."
Endymion sidesteps and slashes, slicing a non-me flying skull in half.
"Do that."
Right. No… Honden here, from the looks of things, but I can still see/feel the desires that are and were, and then energy I associate with that. Pull a little in my direction…
I feel it as my rings regain a little power.
Right. Hands out, call personal lantern.
It appears in the air in front of me, and I immediately grab it.
"Recharge."
And I'm alive again! Back into subspace you go! Fix my armour-.
"Lantern to Taggart. You need help?"
"Fuck no, thanks to my new best friend."
Scan… Ah.
"How 'bout you?"
"No." I fly upwards, then head inside the tower to where Angelica is… Stirring slightly. "Mazikeen, I found Angelica. Top of the tower, there's a hidden switch-. Ah, and a gaping hole. Has Sandro recovered?"
"Not yet. I'll meet you at the-" She flaps into view, wings extended and… Hah, she's conjured daedric-looking armour just in case. "-top." She looks around at the interior of the room, and then focuses on where my alter ego's head was impaled. "What was there?"
"My head."
"Your… The orange skull?"
"He still had enough control-" Construct bracing, x-ionised wire cutters, snip… "-of his ring to block me when I tried to kill him. So I tried copying my tattoos, and he turned into that." Hold her arms in place, construct tongs and pull… Good. Again. "I'm going to ask Angelica to try fixing him, if it turns out that's possible."
Mazikeen frowns. "I'm trying to work out how they managed to bind an angel. Even a pseudo-angel like Angelica should have set them on fire if they touched her."
"I'm not sure that this Hell works like our Hell, or that these demons are demons in the sense that we're used to. I… Think that they might be fleshy creatures whose souls are made of Hell-magic rather then earthly magic, but that's conjecture on my part."
Alright, that's all the nails. Can't… Do anything for the plucked feathers or lost blood.
I point to the central plinth. "Do you need that?"
"If you want me to try to understand-."
I wave her off, nodding, then pick up Angelica and carry her outside.
Where Corporal Taggart is floating, orange aura around his body and orange-burning skull in his left hand. "He followed me home. Can I keep him?" He then stares at Angelica as I transmute a hospital bed for her to lay on. "Wait, is that an angel?"
"Technically, no. I just hacked Heaven's power grid. What happened to the cyberbullman?"
"Oh yeah, check it." He holds out my skull. "Sic 'em, boy!"
My skull shoots out, smashing through one of the pillars before looping back around and landing in his hand.
What have I done?
Maybe Angelica can fix it. First thing, healing ray on Angelica.
"Corporal?"
"I think I'll call it 'Grinnington'. 'cause it-."
"It's my skull."
"Huh?"
"Short version, at least hundreds of me were sent to a whole lot of parallel universes. He's the one that ended up here. The demons got him, and used him as the focus of some ritual magic."
"So I can't keep him?"
"Not unless your laws about slavery are very different to ours. I'm hoping that Angelica can fix him."
He nods, then looks the skull in the sockets. "Sorry, boy."
It rises out of his hand, floating there of its own volition.
"So, you got your friend back. You done?"
I nod. "Since there's no sign that Zor was ever active here and I've recovered my allies, the mission's complete. But there's no reason why we can't stay long enough to help you deal with your problems. Want to see if we can destroy Hell with anti-matter bombs?"
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Darko
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"holds"
CrazyNoVa
I trust you know where the happy button is?
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If you're planning to blow up Hell, I hope for your sake that you won't catch the attention of the more powerful demon lords like Prince Ahzrak or the Motherdemon (assuming they're even around at that point in time).
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Mr Zoat
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Thank you, corrected.
NightmareWarden
Playtest Results: *happy chirping*
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Give Doomguy a plush doll of a burning orange skull to assuage his brutally crushed feelings.
CrazyNoVa
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Either that, or just give him the BFG-9000.
Chojin Patriarch
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Ah, yes. The human spine, one of the most fragile connections of the human nervous system. I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of rookie heroes caused traumatic damage through neck and spinal injuries early in their careers...
Honestly, I forgot he even carried one outside of subspace by and large. It's only really mentioned when he uses it, and easy to forget it's there any other time, just like stuff like his backup sidearms.
Hopefully the berserker pack's madness has worn off, even if the strength augmentation lingers for a while after.
Ah, i see Endymion proper went bye-bye with that last hit. This must be a rude awakening for Mamoru-kun.
Well, unless he suddenly transforms into an 'Arabian Nights' costume...
Still concerned about how he's suddenly got a lantern again. Unless he meditated to create one off-screen just before the anti-enhancement spell went out...
Hurting but not dead yet. ironically, the original game never had 'wounded' states for mobs. They were either alive and fighting or dead and possibly Gibbed. It's only the last hit point that counts here.
I half picture it going cross-eyed as it tried to look at the splitting headache...
Ah, Tuxedo La Smoking Bomber. Or a very good first attempt at it, using the Rose as a medium.
All right... Let's see this Lantern, then. perhaps you can make one for your local counterpart too, if he regains human form.
That's something Tux-boy has plenty of practice doing: Running interference for magical teammates with long attack windups.
I'm guessing just enough to regain basic functions. Reminds me of Green Lantern Priest's technique, which he's probably been studying by himself off-camera...
Better not let that out of your grasp, no telling what might happen around here.
Back to 100% per Ring, I see. Time to demolish everything tall, mean and demonic?
...I guess that answers the question of where local!Paul went, then?
So... All that's left of the Cyberdemon is one mechanical hoof and a few scraps of smoking meat?
Hopefully he doesn't revive vigorously. I doubt Mazikeen would appreciate a magical explosion against her back (assuming she's carrying him right now.)
At least she should be sensible enough to realise that was probably the local Paul, given that OL seems to be perfectly fine.
Let's hope so. Being a suped-up Lost Soul doesn't sound like a fun time.
Sounds pretty accurate, really. They certainly die the same as humans do when shot.
I shudder to imagine what might be being done with the missing feathers right now, assuming they got taken off Deimos before OL's team arrived...
Something like that. She's about as much of an angel as the locals are proper Demons. Close enough for government work, basically.
...I really hope local!Paul is merely playing along, or is in shock.
Well, at least he's a fairly powerful weapon in this state. I suspect he'd rather be human again, though...
I don't you're gonna be keeping him, soldier. Not least because...
...And then OL carved runes into him to let him absorb local magical energies. Is it any wonder he turned into a Lost Soul?
Once he snaps out of the whatever-this-mood-is, i think the local!Paul will agree with that plan.
So he's not feral, just... Overly demonic right now.
Assuming Sandro can get you all home. Don't forget to drop Mamoru back on his Earth too.
I suppose that's one way to short-circuit the rest of the Doom timeline, for now. But I do hope Local!Paul does get his human form back, since I doubt he'd want to continue an existence like this. If nothing else, a newly-made lantern might also go some way to apologising for the rough attempt at magic OL performed.
boo600
Welp
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He confirmed in a conversation with Guy that he can do it, and so can Guy. It's clearly not infinite power in-combat; batteries are still faster. But it means that destroying his battery or removing his access to it is a downgrade, not a crippling blow; he can recharge infinitely for all practical purposes as long as he has time and safety, instead of needing to husband little drops of power like Baul did. (He also confirmed Dox stomps him in a fight in that post)
BlackCoat13
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Mr Zoat
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Thank you, corrected.
Duke Long
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Huh, so they do have all their abilities back, not just the orange light. I suppose there was a bit of a delay?
Hm. So, I had been assuming that subspace didn't work in this universe, like in the last two. I don't think it has actually come up in this universe until now, so it is perhaps plausible that it does work. The only things that come to mind are that he didn't seem to be wearing a spell eater or his subspaced warded heavy armour. After the demon ritual it is possible that the wards would be turned off so they wouldn't protect him from demon magic attacks, but he did get hit by that archvile before that, which I would expect to be stopped by a spell eater. Perhaps the attack worked in some devious manner that avoided his defence, or perhaps demon magic just works in a strange way that bypasses universe 16 anti-magical defences.
Hahaha, good way to end the chapter. I suppose even if it doesn't permanently ruin Hell, it should at least kill the demons currently living there. Though if Hell is merely depopulated that might incentivise the local humans to colonise it, which could cause problems.
Neruz
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So given that the Icon of Sin was here using Paul's head instead of on Earth using John Romero's, and the Cyberdemon and Spider Mastermind were here too, it's probably safe to say that Hell hadn't quite gotten around to invading Earth quite yet.
Still probably worth looking around for a portal to Earth just in case.
Still probably worth looking around for a portal to Earth just in case.
NightmareWarden
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Well, all the tech and magic for opening a portal will be on Mars. If we aren't taking a ship to earth AND we don't want to leave the mars portal open? They're gonna need to leave a bomb in the base as they depart.
Any Doom-lore megabombs that could give Mars a real shiner?
CrazyNoVa
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"YoU cAn't JuSt shOoT a hOle iNtO thE sUrFacE oF mArS!"
Miss Martian: "The surface of what, now?"
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Steelplaza
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You know, I think it's worth a reminder at this point.
PAUL THE SI: Huh, I wonder what Boss Smiley actually is?
Instantly gets catapulted into a weeks long adventure across multiple dimensions that distracts him and leaves him entirely focused on other matters.
It's like how he'd get distracted every time he was considering following up on Constantine, but much worse. Maybe a similar mechanism?
I mean, this has been a fun adventure. I enjoyed it. I hope Zoat enjoyed writing it. But I do remember that by some coincidence, it all happened about ten seconds after Paul started to think about the nature of Boss Smiley. Makes you think. (Or rather, makes you not think.)
PAUL THE SI: Huh, I wonder what Boss Smiley actually is?
Instantly gets catapulted into a weeks long adventure across multiple dimensions that distracts him and leaves him entirely focused on other matters.
It's like how he'd get distracted every time he was considering following up on Constantine, but much worse. Maybe a similar mechanism?
I mean, this has been a fun adventure. I enjoyed it. I hope Zoat enjoyed writing it. But I do remember that by some coincidence, it all happened about ten seconds after Paul started to think about the nature of Boss Smiley. Makes you think. (Or rather, makes you not think.)
Terror Nova (part 21)
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Mr Zoat
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20th August 2013
14:43 GMT -7
I looks up as the heavy transportation shuttles of the Knights of Passage breach the cloud layer. They made pretty good time, all things considered. Living in the time of the most rapid technological development which Earth has ever undergone has rather given me an unrepresentative view of how technological progress usually works; fact is, unless you're coluan or human, change is slow and incremental. Those shuttles probably aren't all that different to the ones they used when the war was ongoing.
I smile up at them, and wave in a friendly way. I've also replaced my armour with something a little less obviously Apokoliptian. As far as I remember, Other Grayven never had anything to do with the Knights, but they'll definitely remember Apokolips. It would be difficult to cover up what I am -if they thought to look- but I'm reasonably confident that I can talk my way out of it if they actually listen to me.
Hiding isn't really an option if we're going to settle this planet, and this is a war grave. I have the utmost respect for anyone prepared to fight the most powerful New God my species has ever produced.
Perhaps a commemorative park..? My education never covered that aspect of their culture. Sinestro?
Our Source Wall was vastly different to yours, and the Knights do not exist. I have no useful data.
There are a series of quiet hisses as the shuttle's marines deploy using short-ranged teleporters. They're not pointing their weapons at me, though ring-translation of their expressions makes it clear that they're distinctly unhappy.
Their… Ah… Field Unifier steps forwards. "Who are you, stranger?"
"My name is Grayven. I'm assessing this world on behalf of a species looking for somewhere to colonise."
"Then I would recommend looking for somewhere else." He makes a negative gesture with his head fronds. "This world is a place of ill-omen. Strange and inexplicable events transpire here."
I nod. "I noticed. Does someone own it?"
"Some pilgrims like to come here to contemplate their own moral failures."
"Does it help?"
"The survivors usually think so. I don't recognise your species."
"Ah, well, no. You wouldn't. We don't do pilgrimages. If we can to visit the Source Wall, our transportation technology lets us skip the intervening distance."
"What is the name of your species? Your homeworld?"
"We actually claim two homeworlds. New Genesis is the nicer-."
Their body language switches to alert immediately, and every gun from the squad is levelled at me. A few seconds later the point defences of the shuttle follow suit.
"Apokoliptian."
"Look." I raise my hands. "I'm a defector. I left Apokolips centuries ago, because it's a horrible place. I have the greatest respect for your organisation-."
"Did you know that the tomb was here?"
"No. Didn't even know what wrecked the ecosystem. I mean, once I saw it I recognised what it was, and I disarmed Yuga Khan's traps-"
The Field Unifier lowers his weapons. I don't think it's a deliberate gesture, it looks like he's just so relieved that he doesn't think I'm a threat any longer.
"-and it turned out that one of your people was still alive in there. I performed some first aid, but I didn't want to move him in case-."
"Medic!"
I smile politely as the squad's medic hurried over. Obviously, moving the man wouldn't actually be a problem, but it sounds good and makes it clear that I'm not holding him hostage. "Just a moment. Persuader, could you open a portal, please?"
A slash in the air appears next to us, and I point to it.
"Just through there. My assistants will direct you."
The Field Unifier gestures to a couple of marines, and they go through first. A moment passes and one comes back to beckon the medic.
I give it a few moments after they pass through before returning my full attention to the Field Unifier. "So… Is there a problem with us colonising this planet? I realise that Yuga Khan made a point-."
He raises his right hand and makes a warding gesture. "Do not mention the Hell King's name to us."
"Okay. Ah. I realise that he did something here, and dumped a load of your ships on the surface to get buried… I understand if you have an objection."
"No. We would have restored this world ourselves as we have all of the others he devastated. Did you encounter any strange… Things?"
"Yes, but don't worry. That was all… His fault, and it shouldn't happen any more. Ah. But if you're worried, I can ask Highfather Izaya to check my work? Honestly, given who is responsible I'd probably ask him to anyway…"
"I thank you. And I do not think that it will be a problem. A decision will be made well above my level, and I am sure that we will recover the remains of our dead, but… There are none amongst the living with a conflicting claim to it."
Ah. Not surprising, but… Sombering.
"Well, I've got more work to do with soil samples and surveying. My people won't build anything permanent until I hear back from your organisation."
"Why do you want this world?"
"Whatever You Know Who did, it left the planet thaumically active. The species I'm working with use magic. Thaumically active worlds are hard to come by. We couldn't turn our noses up at this, even if it's a bit of a fixer upper."
"I… See. Will there be other Apokoliptians living here?"
"Ah, well, my brother and his wife are also defectors. They might want to visit, but they're happy on the planet they're currently living on."
"You don't intend to make it a refuge."
"Oh, sorry. No. For humans, maybe, depending on how things go, but I'm sorry to say that most Apokoliptians have… Adapted, to Darkseid. Himon does his best, but the vast majority regard that lamentable state of affairs as normal."
"It's a little strange to be talking to someone who lived there. For most of us, it's just-."
The marines leave the cut, the Spectre's former host between them on a stretcher. The medic follows shortly behind them, carrying the infuser system. "He should be physically fine, sir. But I'd like to evacuate-."
The Unifier makes a gesture of agreement. "Go."
The three of them hurry onto the shuttle, which lifts off at once and heads back towards the flotilla in orbit.
"What of the others?"
I raise my eyebrows. "Others?"
"Our records say that he took hundreds of prisoners."
"Ah. Well, I haven't checked the whole place, but the handful in the focal room were reduced to skeletons. I don't know what he did to them before, but I doubt that it was pleasant."
"Is it-? I would like to pray there, if that is possible. Their faith has always been an inspiration to me."
"Ah, sure. Just don't touch anything other than the floor. I don't think it's dangerous, but it's better to be certain."
He makes a gesture of compliance, and walks towards the portal.
Right, good impression made with the neighbours, planet made safe. Just have to have a quick chat with Izaya, and then I can go and give Hinon a piece of my FUCKING mind.
14:43 GMT -7
I looks up as the heavy transportation shuttles of the Knights of Passage breach the cloud layer. They made pretty good time, all things considered. Living in the time of the most rapid technological development which Earth has ever undergone has rather given me an unrepresentative view of how technological progress usually works; fact is, unless you're coluan or human, change is slow and incremental. Those shuttles probably aren't all that different to the ones they used when the war was ongoing.
I smile up at them, and wave in a friendly way. I've also replaced my armour with something a little less obviously Apokoliptian. As far as I remember, Other Grayven never had anything to do with the Knights, but they'll definitely remember Apokolips. It would be difficult to cover up what I am -if they thought to look- but I'm reasonably confident that I can talk my way out of it if they actually listen to me.
Hiding isn't really an option if we're going to settle this planet, and this is a war grave. I have the utmost respect for anyone prepared to fight the most powerful New God my species has ever produced.
Perhaps a commemorative park..? My education never covered that aspect of their culture. Sinestro?
Our Source Wall was vastly different to yours, and the Knights do not exist. I have no useful data.
There are a series of quiet hisses as the shuttle's marines deploy using short-ranged teleporters. They're not pointing their weapons at me, though ring-translation of their expressions makes it clear that they're distinctly unhappy.
Their… Ah… Field Unifier steps forwards. "Who are you, stranger?"
"My name is Grayven. I'm assessing this world on behalf of a species looking for somewhere to colonise."
"Then I would recommend looking for somewhere else." He makes a negative gesture with his head fronds. "This world is a place of ill-omen. Strange and inexplicable events transpire here."
I nod. "I noticed. Does someone own it?"
"Some pilgrims like to come here to contemplate their own moral failures."
"Does it help?"
"The survivors usually think so. I don't recognise your species."
"Ah, well, no. You wouldn't. We don't do pilgrimages. If we can to visit the Source Wall, our transportation technology lets us skip the intervening distance."
"What is the name of your species? Your homeworld?"
"We actually claim two homeworlds. New Genesis is the nicer-."
Their body language switches to alert immediately, and every gun from the squad is levelled at me. A few seconds later the point defences of the shuttle follow suit.
"Apokoliptian."
"Look." I raise my hands. "I'm a defector. I left Apokolips centuries ago, because it's a horrible place. I have the greatest respect for your organisation-."
"Did you know that the tomb was here?"
"No. Didn't even know what wrecked the ecosystem. I mean, once I saw it I recognised what it was, and I disarmed Yuga Khan's traps-"
The Field Unifier lowers his weapons. I don't think it's a deliberate gesture, it looks like he's just so relieved that he doesn't think I'm a threat any longer.
"-and it turned out that one of your people was still alive in there. I performed some first aid, but I didn't want to move him in case-."
"Medic!"
I smile politely as the squad's medic hurried over. Obviously, moving the man wouldn't actually be a problem, but it sounds good and makes it clear that I'm not holding him hostage. "Just a moment. Persuader, could you open a portal, please?"
A slash in the air appears next to us, and I point to it.
"Just through there. My assistants will direct you."
The Field Unifier gestures to a couple of marines, and they go through first. A moment passes and one comes back to beckon the medic.
I give it a few moments after they pass through before returning my full attention to the Field Unifier. "So… Is there a problem with us colonising this planet? I realise that Yuga Khan made a point-."
He raises his right hand and makes a warding gesture. "Do not mention the Hell King's name to us."
"Okay. Ah. I realise that he did something here, and dumped a load of your ships on the surface to get buried… I understand if you have an objection."
"No. We would have restored this world ourselves as we have all of the others he devastated. Did you encounter any strange… Things?"
"Yes, but don't worry. That was all… His fault, and it shouldn't happen any more. Ah. But if you're worried, I can ask Highfather Izaya to check my work? Honestly, given who is responsible I'd probably ask him to anyway…"
"I thank you. And I do not think that it will be a problem. A decision will be made well above my level, and I am sure that we will recover the remains of our dead, but… There are none amongst the living with a conflicting claim to it."
Ah. Not surprising, but… Sombering.
"Well, I've got more work to do with soil samples and surveying. My people won't build anything permanent until I hear back from your organisation."
"Why do you want this world?"
"Whatever You Know Who did, it left the planet thaumically active. The species I'm working with use magic. Thaumically active worlds are hard to come by. We couldn't turn our noses up at this, even if it's a bit of a fixer upper."
"I… See. Will there be other Apokoliptians living here?"
"Ah, well, my brother and his wife are also defectors. They might want to visit, but they're happy on the planet they're currently living on."
"You don't intend to make it a refuge."
"Oh, sorry. No. For humans, maybe, depending on how things go, but I'm sorry to say that most Apokoliptians have… Adapted, to Darkseid. Himon does his best, but the vast majority regard that lamentable state of affairs as normal."
"It's a little strange to be talking to someone who lived there. For most of us, it's just-."
The marines leave the cut, the Spectre's former host between them on a stretcher. The medic follows shortly behind them, carrying the infuser system. "He should be physically fine, sir. But I'd like to evacuate-."
The Unifier makes a gesture of agreement. "Go."
The three of them hurry onto the shuttle, which lifts off at once and heads back towards the flotilla in orbit.
"What of the others?"
I raise my eyebrows. "Others?"
"Our records say that he took hundreds of prisoners."
"Ah. Well, I haven't checked the whole place, but the handful in the focal room were reduced to skeletons. I don't know what he did to them before, but I doubt that it was pleasant."
"Is it-? I would like to pray there, if that is possible. Their faith has always been an inspiration to me."
"Ah, sure. Just don't touch anything other than the floor. I don't think it's dangerous, but it's better to be certain."
He makes a gesture of compliance, and walks towards the portal.
Right, good impression made with the neighbours, planet made safe. Just have to have a quick chat with Izaya, and then I can go and give Hinon a piece of my FUCKING mind.
Gazing Eye
Compound, Lidless, Always Watching.
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Valid crashout.
A conflict like this should be both easily noticed and notable for a Controller.
A conflict like this should be both easily noticed and notable for a Controller.
Chojin Patriarch
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Ah, the Renegade with the inevitable wrap-up of his side of the episode's plotline (both of them dealing with hellish worlds, of course.) I see it generally didn't take too long for them to take note.
So, basically trading the classic grey paramilitary armour for something more colorful and heroic. Like a lighter-and-softer version of Grayven-16's suit, I hope. Those colours did look good with yellow and orange accents...
I'd wager it's far more like the classic comics version, if anything.
That wary moment before you determine if the unknown is hostile or not.
...Not anymore. Hopefully bringing the weather under control won't be too hard now.
I'll bet they ended up regretting that choice.
I'm amazed there were ever any survivors of the Spectre's wrath...
Oh, dear. Time to be very careful what you say, Renegade...
And I wouldn't be surprised to find the ships in orbit are already adjusting for orbital bombardments. Which would not be excessive for responding to some New Gods.
Yes, the handful of good ones are rather tarred with the same brush as the bad ones, amongst these folks...
Mostly by severing the Spectre's mind from its power, which is still gonna be something that eventually comes back to haunt him, literally.
Good show, that officer. Immediate concern for the newly-revealed casualty over any threat the Renegade may represent... Not that he's remotely dismissing him as a danger.
A risky gamble, them trusting that you'd send them to the injured party. But given that he hasn't sprung a trap on them yet...
A point about the size of South-eastern England, I suspect, if the crater would be anything to go by.
And naturally there's concerns for any colonists salvaging the wrecks? I mean, disturbing the mass grave is obvious enough a worry.
Yes good plan very good plan. I'm amazed the Renegade had the sense to think of it without being nudged. ...Then again, it's his ass on the line if something goes wrong, so...
I suspect any Terran colony will most definitely be built far from this place anyway.
Not to mention altering the weather. I'm sure Weather Wizard's tech would be useful on that front, deployed en masse.
Ah, yes, that could be a deal-breaker, I suspect.
Not for New Gods, no...
Almost mythical, a realm of sinister darkness and hellish torment?
I suspect that fellow is going to be in for an interesting return to his people. He's been MIA for, what, centuries?
Oh, that's worrying. I expect any major threat would have made itself known already, though.
Something very destructive to both body and soul, I expect. More than likely something that let them be used to power the systems without a New God present...
Perhaps once all the Apokaliptian technology has been pulled out, the wreck will become something of a focus of pilgrim visitors...
Just keep it to words, Renegade. I doubt she would appreciate any attempt at physical chastisement.
And that makes a good denouement to the episode, I suppose. Renegade 100% done with Hinon and determined to find out if she actually knew anything about the Spectre's presence. OL moving to sort out Taggert's business while they wait for Sandro to revive so he can take them out of there... Wonder what will happen when they do make it back?