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

Vaermina · Aug 10, 2022

Coda said:
It isn't cruel on its own, although the circumstances of individual cases might be cruel, which would go right back to indemnification only applying to the actual homicide and not other actions that might surround it.

It also isn't unusual, as it is already well-established that lethal force is permitted when there is a clear and present danger, as well as being well-established that lethal force is explicitly authorized against prison escapees if they ignore clear warnings.

That's kind of the opposite of how it works.

Basically the government has a list of execution methods that aren't considered cruel and unusual, and everything else is considered by default to be cruel and unusual.

Meaning by ordering the death of someone, but leaving the method of that death completely open, any such law would run face first into the 8th Amendment.

Going back a bit, there's also the general problem with the second part of Grayven's law that it might violate the 8th on principle due to Atkins v. Virginia.

Cuchulin · Aug 10, 2022

Mr Zoat said:
Populism, sure. Anti-corruption? Certainly people at the time might have seen it as a way of reducing corruption. People vote for things and get the opposite all the time. Historically, greater centralisation of power is at best weakly associated reduced corruption.

If we are talking about a what I think? Then yes, it was partly Anti-corruption as US senators used to be appointed by state governments. Those state governments in turn were often utterly and obviously controlled by Railroad corporations or a one of a few other types of businesses like oil.
So having them be chosen directly by the voters was a significant improvement.

Mr Zoat · Aug 10, 2022

21st November 2012
08:18 GMT +3

We hear the thuds and thumps of axe work before we see the island's therapy farm. Since it was out of use for decades the Amazons were perfectly happy to let nature reclaim it, and now it looks like it's going to be put back into action they're having the old staff and the other inmate clear it.

"Who are they?"

"Who's my nemesis?"

John gives me a sidelong look. "Fate."

"No, he was my enemy." We continue walking through the woodland, John managing the terrain surprisingly well for a man who avoids all forms of physical exercise. "Classically, a nemesis should arise directly from the hero's own actions and failings, which means that mine is probably some Reach politician whose name I'll never know. In the modern context, a nemesis is someone who the hero fights, whose nature is related to theirs in some way, either similar or as a sort of reflection of it."

He looks at-.

"Yes, I know that I just sounded like I'm massively up myself and self-absorbed to the point that I'm dismissing wider human civilisation in order to make a drama out of my own life, but I'm talking about how people usually describe the relationship."

"So, what, my nemesis is… Who?"

"I would have guessed Chantinelle or Golden Boy, but they're not really your enemies. The First, probably."

John looks ahead of us through the trees.

"Whatever happened to him, hey?"

"The other demon lords decided to sit on him to prevent him getting his power back. Unfortunately, I don't know a good way to keep him down permanently other than sticking him on the Source Wall. And that's a bit awkward."

"And yours is that Truggs bloke."

"Right. Because..?"

"You both really like hearin' yourself talk?"

"Uplift. The improvement of human civilisation."

"Did you lock me in a cabin in the woods so at the end of it I'd find hearing this interesting?"

"He was sending people to parallel universes to steal things. Technology, mostly, but he also abducted a demon-possessed Supergirl."

John stops, and-.

Warning! Spell eater temperature increasing.

"You banished it."

"Of course we banished it, she's kryptonian. We're not insane. Turns out that a kryptonian demon possessed her reality's Superman and he passed the corruption along. She was catatonic for a while, but now she's up and about and having constant waking nightmares about what she did under the influence."

"Always wondered what would happen if Superman went off the rails."

"I can show you the recordings if you like. Though I should warn you, I fought him alongside a taskforce of superpeople from a Nazi-ruled parallel universe."

"Not what Churchill would have done."

"It's usually easy to keep demons out of the material universe. That was a world where it wasn't."

We breach the tree line, the land on the far side covered in tree trunks. A kryptonian like Kara is easily strong enough to pull them out of the ground, but because we're serious about the 'not being stupid' thing she's working at physical strength only.

John steps on a stick and her head snaps around and I see the pulse of fear grow as she sees us and her memories start playing again. How she realised that something was wrong with Kal-El, how she tried to escape but he was faster than he'd ever been. And later, how she didn't change completely right away and people didn't always realise that they needed to run from her as well.

Our Superman wanted to visit, but… We're all pretty sure that wouldn't be a good idea.

"Did you get that?"

"Don't need to be a magician to see someone's face. You want me to talk to her?"

"We already tried Ambrose. He said that he wasn't fucked up enough to relate to her."

One of the Amazon guards spots that Kara 666 isn't with us anymore and cautiously steps closer.

"Kara. Kara. You are safe. There are no demons here. You haven't hurt anyone."

Kara blinks and appears to come out of it, though her heart rate is still accelerated and she's still panting for breath.

"Good morning, Kara Zor-El."

"H… Hhh… Hello."

She doesn't look relieved to see me. Or anyone else. I did ask if Kon could visit and she didn't come out of her room for the rest of the day. I told her what happened with her Kal-El, but… It didn't really help either. I left her the recording but she hasn't watched it.

John and I walk closer. Slowly, and making sure to keep our hands visible. I don't think that would set her off, but I didn't think a storm cloud would either and she spent an hour screaming in panic.

"This is my friend John Constantine." For a moment I'm worried that some part of the demonic outbreak resulted in her meeting their version of him, but from the default-worried look on her face that doesn't appear to be the case. "He's staying on this island too. Are you alright talking to him?"

"W… What-what-what is he here for?"

John shrugs. "Same as you, from the sounds of things. Didn't go quite as bad, but it could have done if it had gone on much longer."

A small and very shaky head nod.

"Thank you. I'll leave you to it, then."

I raise my right hand-.

"L… L-Lantern."

"Yes?"

"Can-can-c… When can I g… Go home?"

"We don't have a portal set up, though we do have the coordinates. Assuming that no one on your home parallel's side has set up a shield, we can go back with a few hour's notice. We were planning on leaving it until you were a little more recov-"

She's shaking her head vigorously.

"-ered. No?"

"Nnn… Need to go back. F… F… Fix thing-. Things."

"They don't really have the facilities to help you there, but if you're sure, I'll assemble a portal and check the connection."

She nods, though the unspoken problem there is what happens if they don't want her back.

"Very well. I'll return after I've paid them a visit."

Darko · Aug 10, 2022

Mr Zoat said:
Yes, I know that I just sounded like I'm massively up myself and self-absorbed to the point that I'm dismissing wider human civilisation in order to make a drama out of my own life, but I'm talking about how people usually describe the relationship."

Quote marks should be orange.

Mr Zoat said:
"And yours is that Truggs bloke."

"Right. Because..?"

"You both really like hearin' yourself talk

Ha!

Ngamer11 · Aug 10, 2022

Mr Zoat said:
"He was sending people to parallel universes to steal things. Technology, mostly, but he also abducted a demon-possessed Supergirl."

I honestly thought she was already shipped back home. Mr Zoat, why exactly did Truggs abduct her in the first place? He wanted/needed a Kryptonian to experiment on or something?

Chojin Patriarch · Aug 10, 2022

Mr Zoat said:
21st November 2012
08:18 GMT +3

We hear the thuds and thumps of axe work before we see the island's therapy farm. Since it was out of use for decades the Amazons were perfectly happy to let nature reclaim it, and now it looks like it's going to be put back into action they're having the old staff and the other inmate clear it.

"Who are they?"

I suppose it makes good therapy, all right. Getting to hit things with sharp objects, rip out weeds and knocking about rocks. And for some people that's probably a good way to relieve stress.

"Who's my nemesis?"

John gives me a sidelong look. "Fate."

Pfft. A tin hat with the memories of a man and a bit of power? Hardly.

"No, he was my enemy." We continue walking through the woodland, John managing the terrain surprisingly well for a man who avoids all forms of physical exercise. "Classically, a nemesis should arise directly from the hero's own actions and failings, which means that mine is probably some Reach politician whose name I'll never know. In the modern context, a nemesis is someone who the hero fights, whose nature is related to their in some way, either similar or as a sort of reflection of it."

At least one good thing came of Quinn's physical upgrades: the new John is in damn good shape for his age. As for a good example of a Nemesis: Joker, to Batman. Both are broken in different ways. One has an iron-clad code of behaviour, the other is as ephemeral as the wind in terms of personality. One seeks to bring order to a chaotic world, if only for a little while, the other seems mortally offended that no-one else sees how stupid that is.

He looks at-.

"Yes, I know that I just sounded like I'm massively up myself and self-absorbed to the point that I'm dismissing wider human civilisation in order to make a drama out of my own life, but I'm talking about how people usually describe the relationship."

And a close personal example often makes it easier to explain.

"So, what, mine nemesis is… Who?"

"I would have guessed Chantinelle or Golden Boy, but they're not really your enemies. The First, probably."

Honestly? John's nemesis is himself. Every time he tries to do something good, it usually ends up going bad. He basically sabotages everything good he's ever gained, in part because he doesn't think he deserves to have it...

John looks ahead of us through the trees.

"Whatever happened to him, hey?"

Well, after getting stabbed with the Sword, I doubt he would prove to be much trouble, if his rivals got to him before he could reclaim his power again.

"The other demon lords decided to sit on him to prevent him getting his power back. Unfortunately, I don't know a good way to keep him down permanently other than sticking him on the Source Wall. And that's a bit awkward."

"And yours is that Truggs bloke."

And I bet the Free's Mother Box would object to opening up a Boom Tube to such a prestigious location for such a frivolous purpose.

"Right. Because..?"

"You both really like hearin' yourself talk?"

...He's not wrong.

"Uplift. The improvement of human civilisation."

"Did you lock me in a cabin in the woods so at the end of it I'd find hearing this interesting?"

I mean, is it working? I'm sure you could make yourself useful in improving humanity's lot... Somehow?

"He was sending people to parallel universes to steal things. Technology, mostly, but he also abducted a demon-possessed Supergirl."

John stops, and-.

Yeah, he knew instantly how bad that would be.

Warning! Spell eater temperature increasing.

"You banished it."

Checking for traces of demonic contact in OL? Sensible, but a bit rude.

"Of course we banished it, she's kryptonian. We're not insane. Turns out that a kryptonian demon possessed her reality's Superman and he passed the corruption along. She was catatonic for a while, but now she's up and about and having constant waking nightmares about what she did under the influence."

"Always wondered what would happen if Superman went off the rails."

Well, good to hear she's.. not catatonic anymore? I don't know if she considers the nightmares any improvement.

"I can show you the recordings if you like. Though I should warn you, I fought him alongside a taskforce of superpeople from a Nazi-ruled parallel universe."

"Not what Churchill would have done."

You take the allies you can get, in that sort of situation.

"It's usually easy to keep demons out of the material universe. That was a world where it wasn't."

We breach the tree line, the land on the far side covered in tree trunks. A kryptonian like Kara is easily strong enough to pull them out of the ground, but because we're serious about the 'not being stupid' thing she's working at physical strength only.

Though I expect she can still lop a tree down with a single axe-blow... If the axe could take it.

John steps on a stick and her head snaps around and I see the pulse of fear grow as she sees us and her memories start playing again. How she realised that something was wrong with Kal-El, how she tried to escape but he was faster than he'd ever been. And later, how she didn't change completely right away and people didn't always realise that they needed to run from her as well.

Our Superman wanted to visit, but… We're all pretty sure that wouldn't be a good idea.

Oh, goodness, no. I rather suspect it would result in a screaming fit louder than a nuclear blast, followed by a raging barrage of super-speed punches.

"Did you get that?"

"Don't need to be a magician to see someone's face. You want me to talk to her?"

...I mean, you can commiserate over being fucked by demons?

"We already tried Ambrose. He said that he wasn't fucked up enough to relate to her."

One of the Amazon guards spots that Kara 666 isn't with us anymore and cautiously steps closer.

...Okay, yeah, that's... I don't think she'll ever be okay, then.

"Kara. Kara. You are safe. There are no demons here. You haven't hurt anyone."

Kara blinks and appears to come out of it, though her heart rate is still accelerated and she's still panting for breath.

Panic attack barely averted. It'd be a pain after all they went through to recover John, only to lose him to a PTSD-suffering Kryptonian...

"Good morning, Kara Zor-El."

"H… Hhh… Hello."

I can just imagine her having to unstick her jaw enough to speak, even if it's through gritted teeth.

She doesn't look relieved to see me. Or anyone else. I did ask if Kon could visit and she didn't come out of her room for the rest of the day. I told her what happened with her Kal-El, but… It didn't really help either. I left her the recording but she hasn't watched it.

John and I walk closer. Slowly, and making sure to keep our hands visible. I don't think that would set her off, but I didn't think a storm cloud would either and she spent an hour screaming in panic.

...Yikes. I think she's gonna need a long time to heal, if she ever does...

"This is my friend John Constantine." For a moment I'm worried that some part of the demonic outbreak resulted in her meeting their version of him, but from the default-worried look on her face that doesn't appear to be the case. "He's staying on this island too. Are you alright talking to him?"

"W… What-what-what is he here for?"

I mean, could we tell the difference between a Demon-possessed Constantine and the regular flavour? More likely their John died in the first day or two.

John shrugs. "Same as you, from the sounds of things. Didn't go quite as bad, but it could have done if it had gone on much longer."

A small and very shaky head nod.

Which makes you lucky as hell, John. Some of the Golden Boy finally rubbing off, perhaps.

"Thank you. I'll leave you to it, then."

I raise my right hand-.

"L… L-Lantern."

Ah. I wonder what she needs form him?

"Yes?"

"Can-can-c… When can I g… Go home?"

...Are you sure that's a good idea? Can you deal with everyone looking at you and seeing the demon that wore your face?

"We don't have a portal set up, though we do have the coordinates. Assuming that no one on your home parallel's side has set up a shield, we can go back with a few hour's notice. We were planning on leaving it until you were a little more recov-"

She's shaking her head vigorously.

"-ered. No?"

Amusing that they've reached the level that they can casually talk about travelling between universes.

"Nnn… Need to go back. F… F… Fix thing-. Things."

"The don't really have the facilities to help you there, but if you're sure, I'll assemble a portal and check the connection."

Again, is that really a good idea?

She nods, though the unspoken problem there is what happens if they don't want her back.

"Very well. I'll return after I've paid them a visit."

...Well, on her own head be it...

Ouch. It feels strange to see any Supergirl in that sort of shape, mentally. I almost hope her home dimension tells her to 'stay there, get yourself into a better place first.' Because at this rate, she may well find herself a pariah amongst the people of Earth-666. And she seems fragile enough that things would not end well for her...

NightmareWarden · Aug 10, 2022

Ngamer11 said:
I honestly thought she was already shipped back home. Mr Zoat, why exactly did Truggs abduct her in the first place? He wanted/needed a Kryptonian to experiment on or something?

Why? Because Truggs ships Conner with Kara, not Miss Martian.

Grimnar · Aug 10, 2022

Mr Zoat said:
"Classically, a nemesis should arise directly from the hero's own actions and failings, which means that mine is probably some Reach politician whose name I'll never know. In the modern context, a nemesis is someone who the hero fights, whose nature is related to their in some way, either similar or as a sort of reflection of it."

What a Shit explanation.

Here's the main man to give you the real deets.

Mr Zoat · Aug 10, 2022

Darko said:
Quote marks should be orange.

Thank you, corrected.

Ngamer11 said:
I honestly thought she was already shipped back home.

Quite aside from her mental state, the SI and Friends were concerned that one of Superman's chief enforcers wouldn't exactly be welcomed back, even if people knew she was possessed at the time.

Mr Zoat, why exactly did Truggs abduct her in the first place? He wanted/needed a Kryptonian to experiment on or something?

With Starrotech nullified, it was determined that it would be useful to have a new way to control superheroes. 'Bind a demon and stick it in' seemed like a viable option.

Darko · Aug 10, 2022

Chojin Patriarch said:
At least one good thing came of Quinn's physical upgrades: the new John is in damn good shape for his age

I don't think it's because of Quinn.

John was always surprisingly strong and the demon blood from Nergal helped.

Chojin Patriarch said:
Well, after getting stabbed with the Sword, I doubt he would prove to be much trouble, if his rivals got to him before he could reclaim his power again.

The last time he regained his power was with the help of a demon who he later killed, so I doubt a lot of others will be eager to assist him.

Chojin Patriarch said:
And I bet the Free's Mother Box would object to opening up a Boom Tube to such a prestigious location for such a frivolous purpose.

If they stick hom in it then they are neutralizing a massive potential threat that is probably more powerful than Darkseid, so she may not object.

Chojin Patriarch said:
He's not wrong.

No siree.

Chojin Patriarch said:
Are you sure that's a good idea? Can you deal with everyone looking at you and seeing the demon that wore your face?

Everyone wore a demon face there, so that's one potential solution.

A really depressing one.

Handlewithcare · Aug 10, 2022

Ouch. Yeah, comics gloss over mental trauma most of the time.

They just need to get up and punch someone and they're hunky dory.

Unless the trauma is part of their backstory, then it stays forever.

And Kara really is in no shape to go back.

Stsword · Aug 10, 2022

Handlewithcare said:
Ouch. Yeah, comics gloss over mental trauma most of the time.

They just need to get up and punch someone and they're hunky dory.

Unless the trauma is part of their backstory, then it stays forever.

And Kara really is in no shape to go back.

This story did the same with the Lazarus Pit, really.

Every time someone uses the Lazarus Pit they go temporarily insane.

So that's like a psychotic break every time.

Only a couple of times? Sure, I can see someone bouncing back from that.

But seriously, after a certain point there's no way someone comes back from that without permanent trauma to their psyche. Ra's definitely needed a psychiatrist after dozens if not hundreds of resurrections.

And Anti-Green Paul resurrecting every day via a Lazarus Pit? It's not like I can see the anti-green ring having a problem with him losing some sanity points.

Ngamer11 · Aug 10, 2022

Stsword said:
This story did the same with the Lazarus Pit, really.

Every time someone uses the Lazarus Pit they go temporarily insane.

So that's like a psychotic break every time.

Only a couple of times? Sure, I can see someone bouncing back from that.

But seriously, after a certain point there's no way someone comes back from that without permanent trauma to their psyche. Ra's definitely needed a psychiatrist after dozens if not hundreds of resurrections.

And Anti-Green Paul resurrecting every day via a Lazarus Pit? It's not like I can see the anti-green ring having a problem with him losing some sanity points.

Nyssa had a unique formula which seemed to either lessen or remove the insanity drawback. Also, his repeated deaths and resurrections led to the creation of his very own soul, so I wouldn't be surprised if that version of Paul had some form of resistance or outright immunity to the negative effects of a Lazarus Pit.

Coda · Aug 10, 2022

Mr Zoat said:
"So, what, mine nemesis is… Who?"

"my nemesis" I think?

Vaermina said:
That's kind of the opposite of how it works.

Basically the government has a list of execution methods that aren't considered cruel and unusual, and everything else is considered by default to be cruel and unusual.

Meaning by ordering the death of someone, but leaving the method of that death completely open, any such law would run face first into the 8th Amendment.

That's not how that works, on two fronts:

First, that list does not define what is or is not "cruel and unusual." It's a policy rule defining instructions for what to do. Going outside of it isn't unconstitutional, just the normal kind of illegal.

Second, that list is defined by legislation. Which means it can be amended by legislation. Like it was in US Prime a few years ago. And like, you know, THIS legislation.

Vaermina said:
Going back a bit, there's also the general problem with the second part of Grayven's law that it might violate the 8th on principle due to Atkins v. Virginia.

Uh... Did you read what you linked? Because you linked the dissenting opinion. You linked a persuasive argument that the conclusion may have been decided wrongly. Take a look at this excerpt:

Assuming, however, that there is a direct connection between diminished intelligence and the inability to refrain from murder, what scientific analysis can possibly show that a mildly retarded individual who commits an exquisite torture-killing is "no more culpable" than the "average" murderer in a holdup-gone-wrong or a domestic dispute? Or a moderately retarded individual who commits a series of 20 exquisite torture-killings? Surely culpability, and deservedness of the most severe retribution, depends not merely (if at all) upon the mental capacity of the criminal (above the level where he is able to distinguish right from wrong) but also upon the depravity of the crime–which is precisely why this sort of question has traditionally been thought answerable not by a categorical rule of the sort the Court today imposes upon all trials, but rather by the sentencer's weighing of the circumstances (both degree of retardation and depravity of crime) in the particular case.

Doesn't that read to you like the dissenting justices were anticipating the circumstances that are demonstrated to be quite real in US 16? This is exactly the kind of thing I meant when I said that US 16 jurisprudence would have evolved differently.

Furthermore, even in US Prime, you have Hall v Florida, ruled 12 years later, which overruled the rubric established in Atkins v Virginia. Hall v Florida requires that the sentencing judge must be allowed to use their judgment based on multiple factors to determine whether or not a mentally-handicapped person is too incapacitated to be executed. In this particular case, the ruling meant that the death penalty was remanded for Hall, but Hall was also demonstrated to have been a long-time victim of child abuse who could not have known that his actions were wrong. Furthermore Hall was said to not even be capable of formulating a plan to steal a car, drive to a convenience store, and murder a woman -- he was, in fact, the patsy. He had been manipulated by another person into committing the crime, and that other person wasn't even considered for the death penalty despite being the one who masterminded the whole operation.

THAT is the kind of handicap that jurisprudence is talking about when they say that some people are too incapacitated to be executed -- not cases like Joker, who might have impaired moral faculty but is perfectly capable of making long-term plans.

Mr Zoat · Aug 10, 2022

Coda said:
"my nemesis" I think?

Thank you, corrected.

Windona · Aug 11, 2022

Poor Kara 666. It's no surprise she's so shaken up- especially if her trauma from the loss of Krypton hadn't fully recovered and then she had to deal with That Shit. I wonder how Superman 666 is holding up...

Ngamer11 · Aug 11, 2022

Windona said:
Poor Kara 666. It's no surprise she's so shaken up- especially if her trauma from the loss of Krypton hadn't fully recovered and then she had to deal with That Shit. I wonder how Superman 666 is holding up...

He's probably still in a coma.

Bud-E · Aug 11, 2022

Windona said:
Poor Kara 666. It's no surprise she's so shaken up- especially if her trauma from the loss of Krypton hadn't fully recovered and then she had to deal with That Shit. I wonder how Superman 666 is holding up...

Likely even worse. I would be surprised if he hadn't killed himself. I'm really curious how Mr. Terrific-666 is holding up being the lantern of post-hell earth.

Cuchulin · Aug 11, 2022

Handlewithcare said:
Ouch. Yeah, comics gloss over mental trauma most of the time.

They just need to get up and punch someone and they're hunky dory.

Unless the trauma is part of their backstory, then it stays forever.

And Kara really is in no shape to go back.

Lucky for Marvel it has a superhero that also has a PHD in the field of mental health,

Mr Zoat · Aug 11, 2022

21st November 2012
07:24 GMT +2

"…go home. Is that something you can arrange?"

Dr. Sivana nods distractedly, his hands working on the internal mechanisms of a many-eyed robot which appears to be simultaneously watching fifty screens worth of… Romantic comedies. After a moment he pulls them free and turns it on. Its head spins slowly for several rotations, then starts getting faster and faster until smoke starts pouring from its neck pivot.

Dr. Sivana grunts, then presses the 'off' switch. The robot's eye stalks sag immediately, and the mad spinning slows to a stop.

"I already visited that laboratory. I didn't want my alter ego's equipment being used to implicate me. Could you please remove the head?"

"Sure." I create a dock crane construct and haul the head up off the neck piece. "Where do you want it?"

He points to a nearby bench, and I carefully deposit it down next to the machine tools.

"What are you..? Trying to do with this?"

"I was-." He picks up a remote control and one by one turns off the screens. "I was attempting to create a synthetic mind that could help me in understanding 'romance'."

"Doctor, you have four children."

"And Venus did not-" He walks over to the bench and connects a cable to a port on the robot's head. "-really approve of the methods by which we conceived them. Particularly Georgia and Junior. To me, it seemed perfectly logical to improve them beyond what natural selection would create. But…"

He sighs.

"I have trouble understanding people. And if our second try at marriage is going to work, then I need to get better at it."

"By having a robot watch romantic comedies."

"Yes. A robot designed to perform a complex but extremely logical analysis of human social conventions will be able to understand them on a level no human can match and explain them to me in a purely logical way that I can understand. And then I'll be able to become the husband that Venus deserves."

"Doctor." I hesitate… Then gird my loins and cautiously pat him on the left shoulder with my right hand. "Venus fell in love with you the first time when your social skills were even worse than they are now. I don't think that an analysis of trends in romantic fiction is what you need."

"I-." He twitches slightly. "Perhaps not."

"I think-."

"But I'll know for certain once I've made one."

"Okay, I didn't want to do this, but do you know who Steven Dayton is?"

Dr. Sivana stops working. "An entirely inappropriate comparison. The 'mento helmet' was imprecise in its augmentative-."

"My point is that he spent all his time doing things with his helmet to try and prove that he was worthy, rather than actually spending time with the woman he loved. At the very least I'm sure that Venus would find this amusing to watch."

"That-." He blinks several times in quick succession. "I suppose that she might find it entertaining. I'm sure that she would have some input for me on the cultural aspect."

"Yes." … "So, the portal?"

"I'll go and check on it. I assume that you want to go to America?"

"Please. Can you have the portals that precise?"

"Yes, it's no trouble." He lays down his tools and heads for the workshop door. "I'll do final checks and set it in the 'ready' position for when your group is gathered."

"Thank you."

I raise my right hand to my forehead,

step out, and

reappear in the open air above Dr. Sivana's semi-concealed workshop. It's location is… Known to those in the know, but isn't broadcast publically due to the panic that is likely to occur. And the damage to house prices. Despite all the people that the Sheeda killed, house prices remain buoyant across Europe and North America. People trying to move to places that could defend themselves effectively, I suppose.

"Orange Lantern to-."

I was going to say 'Blue Lantern', but it's just past midnight on the American east coast right now and Alan needs his sleep.

"Orange Lantern to Watchtower."

"Green Arrow here."

"I-."

"Gimme a moment. I'm still bracing myself."

"It's nothing like that."

"I don't think you think about things 'like that' the same way other people do." I hear him take a deep breath, and I know that he's only half-joking. "Okay. Hit me."

"I'm taking the Supergirl who was possessed by a demon back to her parallel at her request."

"I thought Diana said she was in therapy."

"She is, but it's.. sort of voluntary. She should have someone watching her, but she's not a danger to herself or others. Given how badly hammered her Earth was… They could really use her."

"So…"

"So I was going to ask if anyone from the League wants to pay them a visit. At this point there are all sorts of lessons they'll have learned about containing a demonic outbreak. I'd ask my-."

Inwardly, I sigh. 'My team mates'? Really? Unless I'm talking about N.E.M.O., that hasn't been true for a while. Which is… Not 'fine' exactly, but I'm not a trainee any longer and I didn't want to join the League. We've grown apart. Though I'm sure I could handle that better.

"My friends, but it's the middle of the school week."

"Not sure how much use you'd have for a guy with a pointy stick launcher."

"Little to none, but a former CEO with knowledge of logistics could be useful. If you're available."

"I'll put the word out. And I'll talk to Dinah about coming along."

"It's not exactly a couples get-away, sir."

"Sure, but I can't just disappear without telling her."

Yes, maybe I should message Jade about this before we leave.

"Okay. Call me back in ten minutes?"

"How exactly are you getting there? You're not going via Nazi-Earth, are you?"

"No, Doctor Sivana's got a portal ready to go."

"Oh, how about that. Doctor Sivana." There's a brief pause. "Dinah says she needs me to put up some shelves today. Too bad, huh?"

Whenever Possible · Aug 11, 2022

Jump-Cut to Green Arrow making a bulk batch of chili for a refugee camp on demon!earth

Darko · Aug 11, 2022

Mr Zoat said:
Dr. Sivana nods distractedly, his hands working on the internal mechanisms of a many-eyed robot which appears to be simultaneously watching fifty screens worth of… Romantic comedies. After a moment he pulls them free and turns it on. It's head spins slowly for several rotations, then starts getting faster and faster until smoke starts pouring from its neck pivot

I'm assuming he's trying to learn about romance.

Just be careful, those types of movies can have some really horrible lessons.

Mr Zoat said:
approved of the methods

"approve"

Mr Zoat said:
the panic that it likely to occur. And the damage to house prices. Despite all the

"that is"

Mr Zoat said:
Green Arrow here."

"I-."

"Gimme a moment. I'm still bracing myself

Ha!

Mr Zoat said:
don't think you think about things 'like that' the same way other people do.

He's got you there.

Handlewithcare · Aug 11, 2022

Cue next update, Paul going through the available heroes:

Red Tornado: "Got a Doctor's appointment, sorry"

Aquaman: "I need to shark sit"

Diana : "Kon has a piano recital"

Kon: "I don't play..."

Diana: "You do now, Kon"

Manhunter: "I need to wash my hair"

"You don't have hai..."

Manhunter: grows a mane

"Okay, okay, I get it, jeez"

Chojin Patriarch · Aug 11, 2022

Mr Zoat said:
21st November 2012
07:24 GMT +2

"…go home. Is that something you can arrange?"

Dr. Sivana nods distractedly, his hands working on the internal mechanisms of a many-eyed robot which appears to be simultaneously watching fifty screens worth of… Romantic comedies. After a moment he pulls them free and turns it on. It's head spins slowly for several rotations, then starts getting faster and faster until smoke starts pouring from its neck pivot.

...To be fair, most people would react that way if they had to endure that much rom-com rubbish.

Suicide by unscrewing its own head does sound a bit excessive, though. What on Earth is he working on?

Dr. Sivana grunts, then presses the 'off' switch. The robots eye stalks sag immediately, and the mad spinning slows to a stop.

"I already visited that laboratory. I didn't want my alter ego's equipment being used to implicate me. Could you please remove the head?"

Well, good to know he's already on top of the alternate dimensional portal business, at least. Not surprising, he's one of the few geniuses smart enough to be willing to work with alternates, and not trust them further than he could throw them.

"Sure." I create a dock crane construct and haul the head up off the neck piece. "Where do you want it?"

He points to a nearby bench, and I carefully deposit it down next to the machine tools.

Admittedly, this raises the question: Why not just use a virtual AI that can 'watch' hundreds of rom-coms in a couple of minutes, instead of physically playing the films?

Or is it a Sivana thing?

"What are you..? Trying to do with this?"

"I was-." He picks up a remote control and one by one turns off the screens. "I was attempting to create a synthetic mind that could help me in understanding 'romance'."

...Then why are you using Romantic Comedies as your input. Garbage In, Garbage Out.

"Soft Science!"
Hush, Thaddeus Junior!

"Doctor, you have four children."

"And Venus did not-" He walks over to the bench and connects a cable to a port on the robot's head. "-really approved of the methods by which we conceived them. Particularly Georgia and Junior. To me, it seemed perfectly logical to improve them beyond what natural selection would create. But…"

...That's probably more than anyone wants to know about his sex life, I suspect. Or lack of it, as the case may be.

He sighs.

"I have trouble understanding people. And if our second try at marriage is going to work, then I need to get better at it."

At least he's willing to put the work into changing. There are some that practically typify the comedic definition of insanity: Doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting different results.

"By having a robot watch romantic comedies."

"Yes. A robot designed to perform a complex but extremely logical analysis of human social conventions will be able to understand them on a level no human can match and explain them to me in a purely logical way that I can understand. And then I'll be able to become the husband that Venus deserves."

...Well, at least he isn't making it watch romantic anime. That'd be even worse for actual romantic skills.

"Doctor." I hesitate… Then gird my loins and cautiously pat him on the left shoulder with my right hand. "Venus fell in love with you the first time when your social skills were even worse than they are now. I don't think that a analysis of tends in romantic fiction is what you need."

"I-." He twitches slightly. "Perhaps not."

Well, at least he can see his mistake... Once upon a time, he would just have doubled-down.

"I think-."

"But I'll know for certain once I've made one."

Robot: "Delete me now, please..."

"Okay, I didn't want to do this, but do you know who Steven Dayton is?"

Dr. Sivana stops working. "An entirely inappropriate comparison. The 'mento helmet' was imprecise in its augmentative-."

If you're wondering, that's Mento, of the Doom Patrol. Famous for being nuts thanks to the mentioned tech.

"My point is that he spent all his time doing things with his helmet to try and prove that he was worthy, rather than actually spending time with the woman he loved. At the very least I'm sure that Venus would find this amusing to watch."

"That-." He blinks several times in quick succession. "I suppose that she might find it entertaining. I'm sure that she would have some input for me on the cultural aspect."

And maybe a suggestion to have it read some bodice-rippers, for a little more action in the bedroom.

Just be cure to have a glossary for the euphemisms.

"Yes." … "So, the portal?"

"I'll go and check on it. I assume that you want to go to America?"

Hardly essential, but it would save a commute.

"Please. Can you have the portals that precise?"

"Yes, it's no trouble." He lays down his tools and heads for the workshop door. "I'll do final checks and set it in the 'ready' position for when your group is gathered."

And he'll endeavour to be as far from that particular site as he can, just to avoid any issues.

"Thank you."

I raise my right hand to my forehead,

step out, and

So, that's the ride prepared. Booking for two people, or are you planning on including company?

reappear in the open air above Dr. Sivana's semi-concealed workshop. It's location is… Known to those in the know, but isn't broadcast publically due to the panic that it likely to occur. And the damage to house prices. Despite all the people that the Sheeda killed, house prices remain buoyant across Europe and North America. People trying to move to places that could defend themselves effectively, I suppose.

"Orange Lantern to-."

Now, would a Sivana laboratory increase the defensive potential or a neighbourhood, or lower it, I wonder? I suspect some folks would happily tolerate a robot rampage every other month in return for nice, safe streets the rest of the time...

I was going to say 'Blue Lantern', but it's just past midnight on the American east coast right now and Alan needs his sleep.

"Orange Lantern to Watchtower."

Monitor Duty Officer: "Aw, shit." Hovers hand over the panic button.

Which is Orange.

"Green Arrow here."

"I-."

"Gimme a moment. I'm still bracing myself."

...Still not ruling out the 'all hands on deck' alert being at the ready.

"It's nothing like that."

"I don't think you think about things 'like that' the same way other people do." I hear him take a deep breath, and I know that he's only half-joking. "Okay. Hit me."

At least they're learning how to manage him.

"I'm taking the Supergirl who was possessed by a demon back to her parallel at her request."

"I thought Diana said she was in therapy."

Now, there's a wide range of ground for 'therapy' to cover, you know...

"She is, but it's.. sort of voluntary. She should have someone watching her, but she's not a danger to herself or others. Given how badly hammered her Earth was… They could really use her."

"So…"

I still say it's a bad idea, but OL gonna OL.

"So I was going to ask if anyone from the League wants to pay them a visit. At this point there are all sorts of lessons they'll have learned about containing a demonic outbreak. I'd ask my-."

Inwardly, I sigh. 'My team mates'? Really? Unless I'm talking about N.E.M.O., that hasn't been true for a while. Which is… Not 'fine' exactly, but I'm not a trainee any longer and I didn't want to join the League. We've grown apart. Though I'm sure I could handle that better.

Such is life. Especially when you're a decade older than your friends without them knowing.

"My friends, but it's the middle of the school week."

"Not sure how much use you'd have for a guy with a pointy stick launcher."

Are you seriously still salty about that, Ollie?

"Little to none, but a former CEO with knowledge of logistics could be useful. If you're available."

"I'll put the word out. And I'll talk to Dinah about coming along."

...Cue immediate avalanche of 'Oh god, no' responses.

"It's not exactly a couples get-away, sir."

"Sure, but I can't just disappear without telling her."

Yes, maybe I should message Jade about this before we leave.

Still, not the most romantic getaway you've taken her on.

"Okay. Call me back in ten minutes?"

"How exactly are you getting there? You're not going via Nazi-Earth, are you?"

...Let's go with 'he knows a guy'. Not sure the League would approve...

"No, Doctor Sivana's got a portal ready to go."

"Oh, how about that. Doctor Sivana." There's a brief pause. "Dinah say's she needs me to put up some shelves today. Too bad, huh?"

...Yeah, I don't think he's gonna get too many takers.

Somehow, I get the feeling a lot of the League are going to be 'washing their hair' or 'on stakeout' when they get the call. Which means this could be a lonely trip. Which is probably how it should be anyway. I suspect Kara-666 isn't all that interested in having company for what may well be a 'walk of shame' when she gets home. And probably safest not to have any of the League's big guns taking a trans-universal road-trip...

Tavarokk · Aug 11, 2022

Mr Zoat, apropos of nothing, has the market caught on that LexCorp is persona non grata in a better part of the supernatural circles nowadays? I reckon with the surge of magic and supertech integration that's been going lately it'd stand out a lot more that none of the big names trust them with anything, and it could have interesting knock-on effect on the mundane business side.

Darko · Aug 11, 2022

Chojin Patriarch said:
Not surprising, he's one of the few geniuses smart enough to be willing to work with alternates, and not trust them further than he could throw them.

Yep, the last time thet all ended up betraying each other.

Chojin Patriarch said:
Admittedly, this raises the question: Why not just use a virtual AI that can 'watch' hundreds of rom-coms in a couple of minutes, instead of physically playing the films? Or is it a Sivana thing?

It wouldn't be a mad scientist thing if it wasn't somehow wasteful.

Chojin Patriarch said:
Now, would a Sivana laboratory increase the defensive potential or a neighbourhood, or lower it, I wonder

Tough to say.

Chojin Patriarch said:
Cue immediate avalanche of 'Oh god, no' responses.

Dinah: HAHAHAHA!...Oh, you're serious. Ollie, I think we need to rethink our relationship.

Chojin Patriarch said:
Still, not the most romantic getaway you've taken her on.

No shit.

Mr Zoat · Aug 11, 2022

Darko said:
"approve"
"that is"

I don't think that a analysis of tends in romantic fiction is what you need.

Thank you, corrected.

Tavarokk said:
Mr Zoat, apropos of nothing, has the market caught on that LexCorp is persona non grata in a better part of the supernatural circles nowadays? I reckon with the surge of magic and supertech integration that's been going lately it'd stand out a lot more that none of the big names trust them with anything, and it could have interesting knock-on effect on the mundane business side.

Trying to make LexCorp persona non grata is surface world magic circles would be like trying to make Elon Musk persona non grata in electric car circles. It's simply not practical due to market penetration.

Darko said:
It wouldn't be a mad scientist thing if it wasn't somehow wasteful.

It's because humans watch things with eyes.

Bud-E · Aug 11, 2022

Mr Zoat said:
Inwardly, I sigh. 'My team mates'? Really? Unless I'm talking about N.E.M.O., that hasn't been true for a while. Which is… Not 'fine' exactly, but I'm not a trainee any longer and I didn't want to join the League. We've grown apart. Though I'm sure I could handle that better.

I'm glad Paul realized it it feels like he hasn't spent much time with them at all recently. I was starting to wonder if he was even on the team anymore.

iamnuff · Aug 11, 2022

I get that she's in therapy voluntarily but she's so post-traumatic that I can't imagine it's a good idea to let her soak up yellow sunlight.

She's one bad flashbacks away from smashing up a city.

NightmareWarden · Aug 11, 2022

I bet Melinoe could learn a few tricks about madness AND nightmares if she observes Sivana's next few experiments. Poor little robot head, tortured so soon after your ~~birth~~ assemblyday.

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

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