Follow along with the video below to see how to install our site as a web app on your home screen.
Note: This feature may not be available in some browsers.
Something resulted in this version to decide that mind control was the best way to fix the Earth. I'm torn on why. The explanation I'm leaning towards is that he got a copy of the evil serum, didn't hear the name and couldn't detect evil in his tests and used it on himself.
I give it a year before the Guardians send Blue Lanterns to kill him and free all the beings he enslaved.
I'm pretty sure that just makes it worse."I wouldn't call that 'rape'. It was really… More like murder."
He took on the role of a villain in a standard DC universe.I'm intrigued by this Paul and want to see more. He's rational and ruthless.
Grayven: "The next time someone complains about me going too far, or being too extreme, I'm going to point at you. 'Oh no, you killed that unrepentant mass-murderer, you're a supervillain! Yeah, get back to me when I'm murdering and raping good people, just because they aren't prioritising themselves the way I'd prefer.""If I were 'evil', I'd be doing it for the sake of causing suffering. As it is, I'm doing it for my own selfish benefit. To efficiently realise my goals. And often that means that other people benefit as well. Sometimes, that means convincing a group of isolationist primitives to share a groundbreaking technology, sometimes it means convincing vigilantes to adopt a utilitarian standard when it comes to dealing with unrepentant serial killers-."
"And sometimes it means raping Wonder Woman."
I frown. "I wouldn't call that 'rape'. It was really… More like murder. Her original personality and values don't exist any more; it's like her body is inhabited by a new person who's a bit like her former self. That's.. why your effort to free her didn't work, by the way. You were trying to remove a spell which.. wasn't there. It couldn't work any more than a fire extinguisher can turn ash into wood. There's no binding to remove."
And now she's crying. Oh dear.
It doesn't matter if its worse or not, the important thing is that we use the right terms so no one gets confused.
he forgot to check for a goatee.Here's a real question.
Why would Paul share anything with a monster like that?
I give it a year before the Guardians send Blue Lanterns to kill him and free all the beings he enslaved.
Here's a real question.
Why would Paul share anything with a monster like that?
Hmm, from the context of the Chapter, this isn't an OL we've seen before. One who went whole hog on desire 'adjustment' using the Orange Light...12th April
08:08 GMT -5
"And done."
I open my eyes, sitting up as I carefully look over the hundreds of tiny tattoos which now cover my body. As I watch as they fade, the token shapes absorbed into my augmented metaphysique. But I make sure to note exactly what they look like. Even now, even knowing that the person who worked on me is literally incapable of wanting to act contrary to my interests, I'm not entirely comfortable putting myself in her hands.
So, he has at least acquired a second ring from somewhere... Larfleeze, presumably, given the mention of the Battery later.I know that evil overlords traditionally aren't good at trusting people, but in my defence, this is Circe.
I put my rings back on my fingers, opening and closing my fists as my environmental shield re-engages. "Is it working?"
He was in a hurry. What with the whole 'On a Lord of Chaos' shit-list' angle. Frankly, he's lucky they've worked as well as they have (barring his little demonic head-trip.)She triggers her Nabu-ring to conjure an ankh and presses it against my chest. The golden light of Nabu's totemic image fades and fails almost immediately. And I can't help but feel a little sorry for my alter-ego. As remarkable as his achievements are, he had Constantine and Sackville create his tattoos before he fully investigated what micro-inscriptions could achieve. That's the problem with being an early adopter, I suppose.
Aw, all she needs now is a head-pat and the 'sempai noticed me!' circle is complete."Thank you. Good work."
A blush of pleasure appears on her face, and the illusion covering the orange of her irises flickers slightly.
Eh, At least with Alucard, you know he's doing it because it's interesting. This one, she's had her brain Orange Tang'd into absolutely loyalty.
Ah, seeing someone do it differently. And he didn't have to brainwash everyone into sensible people to do it...I float off the bier and then don my clothes and my armour. And inwardly I sigh. I thought I had everything covered, but a parallel universe version of me went and trumped me. Merging with the Ophidian? Achieving enlightenment? Okay, that was a desperation hail Mary, but still... I can't deny that I'm impressed. And letting Krona get the drop on me like that. I'll be rewriting a few Standard Operating Procedure documents, I don't mind telling you.
So, only really benefits the elite skill-level."How long will it take you to incorporate this new information into the curriculum?"
She shakes her head.
"None of it really changes what we teach at the entry level. We could improve the tattoos the Atlantean battlemage students receive, but it might limit what they can do later in their lives."
I wonder, is she afraid of disappointing him in a friendly sense, or of what his reaction would be to failure?I frown. "Don't the tattoos they already use do that?"
"No, they're weak enough that they can be removed far more easily." Her eyes widen slightly as an idea occurs. "But we could switch them over to enchanted bracers entirely. The bindings the other Constantine developed would work perfectly to enable a switch over from body tattoos. Ah-." She looks nervously at me. "It wouldn't have worked for you, the warding tattoos wouldn't allow for it."
Man, this feels like something out of Injustice... Like someone bit down on the stupid evil fruit and ran with it."Don't worry. I understand that technical specialists need more precision that non-specialists like myself. Let Queen Mera know that you have my approval."
Circe nods. "And I'll try and find our version of this 'Sephtian'. There's no reason why we can't recruit him just as easily as your doppelgänger did. A soft sell; special measures won't be necessary." I nod. "A shame about our Constantine."
And that calmness is enough to send a shudder down the spine...I nod again. I hadn't realised that he was so principled. Even after I got hold of his brain, he preferred to die rather than be controlled. I can respect that. And it was a useful lesson; if you really want to keep somebody, make sure that you take away all of their choices.
I smile at Circe. "If there's nothing else, I've got an interrogation that requires my personal attention."
Wow. This version goes way past the Renegade's level of douchebag. He's rivalling Illusive Man for manipulative bastard..."No, that's everything. I'll see you again at our next briefing."
She fades away in a cloud of glitter.
It's so nice when people take full advantage of the opportunities I force upon them.
Is it significant that no-one uses his given name?I head out of the door and down the corridor, towards the more heavily secure parts of the tower. Things become so much easier to make happen when ego is taken out of-.
"Hey, Orange!"
Oh, man, some part of Ollie deep down must be screaming in horror at this...Ollie waves as I head past the training area where he's overseeing a class.
"Green Arrow. How are things?"
At least some things about him are still recognisable...He looks around the tired but enthusiastic metahumans in his charge.
"Ah, the kids are doing great. I'm organising a soccer tournament after class. Any chance you could put in an appearance?"
I nod happily. "Wouldn't miss it. As long as you don't expect me to call it 'soccer'."
I'm guessing she needs special attention because of her own Mind-control abilities. Don't tell me this OL is researching Anti-Life...He chuckles. "Great. Ah. Is Empress going to be back in class soon?"
I nod. This is the advantage of changing a person's motives without altering their intellect or imposing 'Asimovs'; they can still question you. Especially if they think you're acting against your own interests. "Oh yes, I just need a quick word with her. Shouldn't take more than an hour, if that. In fact, if you'll excuse me..?"
Which raises questions about how much control he exercises over people like the League.He waves me off, and I continue on my way. He's an excellent role model for the trainees, and this is a far better use of his abilities and character than trying to keep up with superpowered brawlers on the front line. I'm not sure whether I'll have extended periods of field experience continue to be a requirement for teaching here in the future. There are obvious advantages, but it's not as if schools require biology teachers to have worked as doctors.
...Shiiiiit... I'm amazed no-one he's controlling has asked yet: "Are we the baddies? Because... That sounds like something the baddies would do..."Diana's on guard duty, making sure that Anita remains where she is. Heh, I remember very well how resistant Diana is to mental intrusion. When I made my move she lasted longer than anyone else on the League; I had to tie her to the Orange Central Power Battery with her own lasso before I could muster enough power to dominate her, and didn't that cause trouble. Fortunately, she's just as resistant to further changes as she was to mine, which means that Anita's arcane coercion abilities won't do a thing.
Oh, no... That just sounds so wrong... So, so wrong...
Seriously, eeeyurrrgh. I find myself hoping Paragon OL learns about this alt's universe and beats his ass. With his own lantern.I know it's unprofessional, but rather than wait for her to complete the security scans I just walk up to her and kiss her. She responds happily, because who wants miserable slaves? Of course, she's in full armour so I can't fondle her arse or breasts… Ah well, it's not like either of us are getting any older.
Well, at least he's serious about things like security.I pull back, smiling. "Is Anita causing any trouble?"
She shakes her head. "No. Now stand still. You implemented this procedure."
I nod and hold up my arms as she completes the identity check, then walk into the airlock as she buzzes me through.
How... How have you not asked yourself "Is this really the right thing?" Did this OL alter his own desires first?Anita's eyes dart to me, but her self-control is good enough that she doesn't immediately make a move. Not that the chair she's trapped to gives her a lot of room to move, but a lot of people I've had in this position have strained against it anyway.
Though that.. could just be the drugs…
...Because you're fucking psycho-evil? This is the kind of Universe the regular League would come in guns blazing to clean up..."Anita-."
"Are you going to rape me too?"
I frown. "Now, why would you say a thing like that?"
He's been drinking his own Kool-aid so long, his brain is as pickled as the people he's mind-whammied..."I saw what you did to Wonder Woman. You're fucking evil."
"No." I shake my head. "No. I'm.. bad. Perhaps very bad. But I'm not evil."
In other words, he's made Batman kill the Joker. And likely any other particularly bad Gotham Crazies..."You mind control people and rape them."
"If I were 'evil', I'd be doing it for the sake of causing suffering. As it is, I'm doing it for my own selfish benefit. To efficiently realise my goals. And often that means that other people benefit as well. Sometimes, that means convincing a group of isolationist primitives to share a groundbreaking technology, sometimes it means convincing vigilantes to adopt a utilitarian standard when it comes to dealing with unrepentant serial killers-."
And he sees nothing wrong with that at all. He's gone completely round the bend..."And sometimes it means raping Wonder Woman."
I frown. "I wouldn't call that 'rape'. It was really… More like murder. Her original personality and values don't exist any more; it's like her body is inhabited by a new person who's a bit like her former self. That's.. why your effort to free her didn't work, by the way. You were trying to remove a spell which.. wasn't there. It couldn't work any more than a fire extinguisher can turn ash into wood. There's no binding to remove."
Incoming mind-rape. Not that he'd call it that, clearly. It's merely 'encouraging a cooperative mindset.'And now she's crying. Oh dear.
"Now, obviously I need to know everything about how you found out, and the names and locations of anyone else who suspects or whom you spoke to about your suspicions… But I can see this is very stressful for you, and I don't like inflicting unnecessary suffering when I don't profit from it."
And elsewhere in the universe, Darkseid finds Himself with the most raging envy boner and He doesn't know why. And He hates it.I raise my left hand in benediction as my rings glow and I activate the Left Eye of Zoltec.
"So why don't I take your suffering away?"
Not that the chair she's strapped to...
Well, that was an extremely fast track from "I wonder what this new Paul is like." to "I hope someone murders him."
I give it a year before the Guardians send Blue Lanterns to kill him and free all the beings he enslaved.
I'm intrigued by this Paul and want to see more. He's rational and ruthless.
He took on the role of a villain in a standard DC universe.
That's the exact opposite of rational, because in the standard DC universes, The Book of Fate dictates that Villains always lose.
Here's a real question.
Why would Paul share anything with a monster like that?
Ok. I really hope you introduced us to this Paul (in name only) only so that he can be roflstomped by our virtuous Mc tomorrow.
Like I'm talking a real good curbstomp. Like, one worth singing the curbstomp song for.
He's really more like Darkseid. Rather than be a brutalist tyrant and enforce his rule with hopelessness, he's an enlightened tyrant who uses his mental influence abilities to make people want to do what he wants. The Justice League would obviously oppose someone using mind control as he does, even if there was a net utilitarian gain... So they had to go. And if they have to go anyway... May as well use them.It's possible, but I don't think that's very likely. Paul is basically Larfleeze-lite in this scenario, except he's rewiring desires instead of turning people into constructs.
Don't be ridiculous. What possible advantage is there is leaving him the ability to scream?Oh, man, some part of Ollie deep down must be screaming in horror at this...
"Encouraging a cooperative mindset by mind-rape. I prefer descriptions to be accurate."Incoming mind-rape. Not that he'd call it that, clearly. It's merely 'encouraging a cooperative mindset.'
Thank you, corrected.
Mmmhmm. Remind me how long Darkseid has been ruling Apokalypse?That's the exact opposite of rational, because in the standard DC universes, The Book of Fate dictates that Villains always lose.
Mmmhmm. Remind me how long Darkseid has been ruling Apokalypse?
Completely wiping out the personalities of villains so that you can use their talents for the betterment of society is a good thing
Well, they're effectively new people in pre-existing bodies. But they're still actually the original person, just altered on a fundamental level.Also, like Paul said, there is no one to free, and no enchantment or mind control to remove. They're essentially new people in pre-existing bodies.
Wow.
Ok. New baseline for the Paul that i hate.
Yikes... that's quite a bit lower than the other times.
Kill him please. There is almost nothing i hate more than forced personality destruction/overwriting.
I completely disagree. Temporarily altering them for a specific objective, fine. Anything else no. It's the most unethical thing I can imagine. Just killing them would be better. Free will is paramount. It's removal is monstrous.