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

Vaermina · Sep 13, 2022

Mr Zoat said:
Yeah, um. I sort of forgot about that.

I'll come up with something.

The obvious is they are too big and traveling too fast for him to do that.

Duke Long · Sep 13, 2022

Vaermina said:
The obvious is they are too big and traveling too fast for him to do that.

I remember Paul subspacing some pretty big stuff in the past, so I dunno about that stopping him, but the speed sounds like a feasible reason. Has he ever subspaced something that was moving at (presumably) dozens of kilometres per second?

(I am responding to Vaermina)

Vaermina · Sep 13, 2022

Duke Long said:
I remember Paul subspacing some pretty big stuff in the past, so I dunno about that stopping him, but the speed sounds like a feasible reason. Has he ever subspaced something that was moving at (presumably) dozens of kilometres per second?

(I am responding to Vaermina)

Keep in mind, for the effects feared we should be talking a schoolbus sized chunk of solid metal traveling at hundreds of kilometers a second.

Or something smaller, that's going a lot faster.

Mr Zoat · Sep 13, 2022

Duke Long said:
I remember Paul subspacing some pretty big stuff in the past, so I dunno about that stopping him, but the speed sounds like a feasible reason. Has he ever subspaced something that was moving at (presumably) dozens of kilometres per second?

No, because he's already matching velocity. Could be that the plasma field the heat is generating would make it difficult to attach a tether, or the Spiders using interdiction fields that block subspace.

jonasquinn · Sep 14, 2022

I'll be honest, OL's subpar performance recently isn't making me any more of a fan of this whole "man with an enlightened sense of his own desires is suddenly extremely hesitant" arc

Right now the only satisfying thing ending to this arc I can see is OL realising that he was right before and while he doesn't want all heroes to be utilitarian like him he is infinitely more effective when he is one and leaves the more conventional heroism to other people

Mr Zoat · Sep 14, 2022

12th December 2012
06:55 GMT -5

Kal-El nods. "Sounds like things went well, then."

"I achieved my political objective. But that wasn't the point. Would you have done that?"

"I…" And I'm rather pleased to see him think his answer through better than he used to. "I wouldn't have handled it quite like that, no. But I can't say that I've ever had to deal with something quite like that before." He looks mildly constipated for a moment. "Do they really eat people?"

"You did read the report I wrote-"

"Good Lord, yes."

He smiles as he says it, but it's more than a little strained.

"-where I said they were number three on my hit list? Also, I'm glad that you're reading my reports and appreciate the effort you've made to improve yourself."

"I'm not sure that came out quite right, but I'll take it."

"Normally I'd.. just ignore that jab, but… I do actually mean it. I don't want you to think that I'm going to hold a grudge forever or anything. If you hadn't started reading reports then, yes, we wouldn't be having this conversation, but you're too good a person to reject sound advice."

"Alright." He nods. "Thank you. What happened next?"

"Xalitan isn't enlightened, but he's reached a level of skill where we're calling his training a success. Dox wants him to go to the front lines so that we can better assess exactly how much better he's gotten, then he'll form part of our training cadre. We've already circulated documentation to the rest of the Corps on what we did, so hopefully the ones with the most initiative will use that to improve their own training."

"Ah, good, but I meant 'what happened next to Chugragah'."

"With a heady combination of fear and gratitude, the Strand Elders acquiesced. I brought the Queen over the next day, they had a fairly civilised chat about how to switch from an import economy to an export economy, and they were kind enough to hand over all of the contact information for their merchant contacts."

"The slave traders."

"Yes."

"I realise they have it coming-."

"No." I shake my head. "No. I left that to the Green Lantern Corps. They're not major military powers and can be handled by police. Besides, I'm trying to be less violent at the moment."

"Blue Lantern mentioned something about that. That… Seems like a big departure for you."

"It is."

"Were the Justice Society International really that bad?"

"No. But for me, there's no distinction between wanting an end and wanting the means. Like… I imagine that if you really had to kill someone, you'd do it, but you'd probably feel bad about it afterwards."

"I'm… Not sure what you mean by 'had to'. I suppose there are some things… Some fights where I couldn't risk holding back. And if that happened, then… Yes. I would feel bad about it."

"That's not what I meant. But okay. The point is, I wouldn't. Usually, that requires all sorts of mental hoop-jumping or actual psychosis. For me, it doesn't. So if I think an end is worth going for, I don't worry about the means. Morally, I mean. Obviously I worry whether they're really the best way to achieve that end."

"That's a little worrying. Are you still talking to Guy and Dinah?"

"Not in the therapeutic sense."

"Do you think maybe you should?"

"No. As a result of my exposure to the orange light, my thought processes are too different from human baselines for a normal psychiatrist to apply their knowledge to. My point is that the JSI showed me that something I thought was desirable might not be. They were a well-organised world-spanning superhero organisation, ruthless when it was useful to be and friendly when it wasn't. They were exactly what I was advocating for."

"And it didn't look so good when you saw what it was actually like."

"Exactly. It probably achieves more good in the long term… Or even the medium term." I shake my head. "But I still don't want it, so I'm having a bit of a rethink."

"That sounds like a good step to take. You certainly gave me a few things to think about. It's nice to know that you're not so set in your ways that you can't take a step back."

"Right, so I've got a request. You're probably the.. second most Golden Agey superhero I know. It's not an approach that comes naturally to me, and I'd appreciate the opportunity to study how it works for you."

"You…" He raises his eyebrows. "Want to be my sidekick?"

"Yes."

"Oh. I… Wasn't expecting… 'Second most'?"

"Captain Marvel is the most, but I'm concerned that I'd have an undue influence on him."

"What about Diana? Or Alan?"

"Both killed people during World War Two. Also, they both like me more than you do."

"You're a… A lot to take in."

"Says Superman."

"I work pretty long hours."

"I make my own hours. I can spend my entire day in Metropolis without any difficulty, just hanging around until 'a job for Superman' turns up."

"You realise that you being here is going to mean that there won't be as many of those as usual?"

"Prevention is better than cure. Look, if you don't want me to hang around, that's fine. I get it. I've got far too big a body count to act surprised. But I'm.. strongly considering changing my modus operandi by addressing the behaviours that concern you, and will happily follow your directions."

He takes a slow breath.

"And you'll do what I say."

"I've dealt civilly with unrepentant Nazis, the biggest arsehole in my Corps and serial killing cannibals. I can follow instructions from you. As long as it's not something stupid like 'get a civilian identity'."

"No, I think the boat already sailed on that one. Alright. I've got things to do-"

Go to work, which isn't something that he's going to mention in the open. Even if Lex Luthor almost certainly knows, plenty of other intelligent criminals in Metropolis don't.

"-right now, but I'll check in with you in a few hours. Okay?"

"Certainly. Thank you for this opportunity. I'm sure that I can find something productive to do while you're away."

He exhales slowly then nods, before turning and flying away.

Sceptic · Sep 14, 2022

Mr Zoat said:
"Certainly. Thank you for this opportunity. I'm sure that I can find something productive to do while you're away."

A few hours later:

"What did you do?!?"

"I found something productive to do, of course."

"Argh!!!"

Lord Ernest · Sep 14, 2022

Hahahaha! Somebody pinch me, please. This should be hilarious!

Good for Xalitan, but I would totally advocate to promote him officially to Honor Guard, to show the rest of the Corps with a defined rank how advanced he is. At the very least after his stint in the front lines. And it will also communicate that the Illustres' methods are definitely effective and not mysticism and mumo jumbo.

I would like to know how Xor's fellow trainees are taking his advancement in studies and how they are progressing.

Handlewithcare · Sep 14, 2022

"This is a job for Superman and his trusty sidekick, Orange...!"

"Solved it"

"...oh"

Later, in the hall of justice

"How about team names? I was thinking...Superfriends!"

"No"

Chojin Patriarch · Sep 14, 2022

Mr Zoat said:
12th December 2012
06:55 GMT -5

Kal-El nods. "Sounds like things went well, then."

"I achieved my political objective. But that wasn't the point. Would you have done that?"

...Honestly? If he were in that situation, Superman would probably have tried to punch or catch-and-throw the shells back into orbit. He might not have succeeded, though, especially given his lower power levels in this universe...

"I…" And I'm rather pleased to see him think his answer through better than he used to. "I wouldn't have handled it quite like that, no. But I can't say that I've ever had to deal with something quite like that before." He looks mildly constipated for a moment. "Do they really eat people?"

"You did read the report I wrote-"

More than likely, but it's still a skeevy idea to think about. Reading about it is a lot different to actually witnessing the results.

"Good Lord, yes."

He smiles as he says it, but it's more than a little strained.

And why do I picture the reports reading like these chapters, minus any incriminating thoughts OL might have?

"-where I said they were number three on my hit list? Also, I'm glad that you're reading my reports and appreciate the effort you've made to improve yourself."

"I'm not sure that came out quite right, but I'll take it."

OL doesn't do compliments all that well, sadly. They're often backhanded.

"Normally I'd.. just ignore that jab, but… I do actually mean it. I don't want you to think that I'm going to hold a grudge forever or anything. If you hadn't started reading reports then, yes, we wouldn't be having this conversation, but you're too good a person to reject sound advice."

"Alright." He nods. "Thank you. What happened next?"

And at least Superman is trying to improve himself. I fancy some of the League are still running on their old methods.

"Xalitan isn't enlightened, but he's reached a level of skill where we're calling his training a success. Dox wants him to go to the front lines so that we can better assess exactly how much better he's gotten, then he'll form part of our training cadre. We've already circulated documentation to the rest of the Corps on what we did, so hopefully the ones with the most initiative will use that to improve their own training."

"Ah, good, but I meant 'what happened next to Chugragah'."

As if OL would particularly care, when he's so proud of his student for levelling up?

"With a heady combination of fear and gratitude, the Strand Elders acquiesced. I brought the Queen over the next day, they had a fairly civilised chat about how to switch from an import economy to an export economy, and they were kind enough to hand over all of the contact information for their merchant contacts."

"The slave traders."

I expect more than a few of them are going to be out of business very shortly. And likely imprisoned too.

"Yes."

"I realise they have it coming-."

Naw, OL isn't going to go after them himself. That's scrub work, not an Illustres' job.

"No." I shake my head. "No. I left that to the Green Lantern Corps. They're not major military powers and can be handled by police. Besides, I'm trying to be less violent at the moment."

"Blue Lantern mentioned something about that. That… Seems like a big departure for you."

And Kal-El's probably bracing for the inevitable explosion. Kind of expected when OL is involved in...

Pretty much anything.

"It is."

"Were the Justice Society International really that bad?"

Heh, easy to assume, isn't it? Most of the Leaguers would be morally opposed to that kind of all-powerful organisation, honestly.

"No. But for me, there's no distinction between wanting an end and wanting the means. Like… I imagine that if you really had to kill someone, you'd do it, but you'd probably feel bad about it afterwards."

"I'm… Not sure what you mean by 'had to'. I suppose there are some things… Some fights where I couldn't risk holding back. And if that happened, then… Yes. I would feel bad about it."

Admittedly, in that particular case, he felt so bad that he began to suffer from dissociative multiple personality disorder...

"That's not what I meant. But okay. The point is, I wouldn't. Usually, that requires all sorts of mental hoop-jumping or actual psychosis. For me, it doesn't. So if I think an end is worth going for, I don't worry about the means. Morally, I mean. Obviously I worry whether they're really the best way to achieve that end."

"That's a little worrying. Are you still talking to Guy and Dinah?"

I'm not sure Dinah would appreciate the scale of some of the things OL does, and Guy's Enlightened perspective would be... different.

"Not in the therapeutic sense."

"Do you think maybe you should?"

I mean... He's broken in a useful way. Do you want to mess with that? It'd be like getting Batman therapy.

"No. As a result of my exposure to the orange light, my thought processes are too different from human baselines for a normal psychiatrist to apply their knowledge to. My point is that the JSI showed me that something I thought was desirable might not be. They were a well-organised world-spanning superhero organisation, ruthless when it was useful to be and friendly when it wasn't. They were exactly what I was advocating for."

"And it didn't look so good when you saw what it was actually like."

Very much a lesson in 'be careful what you wish for, you might get it...'

"Exactly. It probably achieves more good in the long term… Or even the medium term." I shake my head. "But I still don't want it, so I'm having a bit of a rethink."

"That sounds like a good step to take. You certainly gave me a few things to think about. It's nice to know that you're not so set in your ways that you can't take a step back."

Honestly, if his goals weren't so far-reaching, he'd likely be a lot more mercurial. Worringly so.

Like Larfleeze-classic.

"Right, so I've got a request. You're probably the.. second most Golden Agey superhero I know. It's not an approach that comes naturally to me, and I'd appreciate the opportunity to study hw it works for you."

"You…" He raises his eyebrows. "Want to be my sidekick?"

Well, since you have an opening, what with Kon shifting into more of a Wonder Boy role, Mitchell not yet ready for prime-time and Kara not overly interested in the job...

"Yes."

"Oh. I… Wasn't expecting… 'Second most'?"

Don't take that as an insult. After all: Second place works harder.

"Captain Marvel is the most, but I'm concerned that I'd have an undue influence on him."

"What about Diana? Or Alan?"

And I doubt the Wizard would appreciate OL 'corrupting' Billy with things like realism or self-doubt.

"Both killed people during World War Two. Also, they both like me more than you do."

"You're a… A lot to take in."

Never have truer words been spoken.

"Says Superman."

"I work pretty long hours."

And how much sleep does a Kryptonian actually need? Honestly, an adaption akin to a catelepsean node is something I'm amazed kryptonian bio-engineers didn't add to their species.

"I make my own hours. I can spend my entire day in Metropolis without any difficulty, just hanging around until 'a job for Superman' turns up."

"You realise that you being here is going to mean that there won't be as many of those as usual?"

Though there will be more people looking up at the sky and going 'what's that?'

"Prevention is better than cure. Look, if you don't want me to hang around, that's fine. I get it. I've got far too big a body count to act surprised. But I'm.. strongly considering changing my modus operandi by addressing the behaviours that concern you, and will happily follow your directions."

He takes a slow breath.

Better than leaving him in the wind, I suppose.

Who knows what he'll get up to left to his own devices?

"And you'll do what I say."

"I've dealt civilly with unrepentant Nazis, the biggest arsehole in my Corps and serial killing cannibals. I can follow instructions from you. As long as it's not something stupid like 'get a civilian identity'."

Says the young man known as 'Cake Man' to most of humanity. There are probably tribes in the deepest depths of nowhere who would recognise him as 'Cake Man'.

Even if they didn't have the foggiest idea what a cake is.

"No, I think the boat already sailed on that one. Alright. I've got things to do-"

Go to work, which isn't something that he's going to mention in the open in the open. Even if Lex Luthor almost certainly knows, plenty of other intelligent criminals in Metropolis don't.

Ooh, that's going to be awkward. OL hanging out in Lex's city? The man will be chewing his teeth going paranoid over his presence.

"-right now, but I'll check in with you in a few hours. Okay?"

"Certainly. Thank you for this opportunity. I'm sure that I can find something productive to do while you're away."

He exhales slowly then nods, before turning and flying away.

Heh, I can imagine him praying 'Oh, lord, please don't make me regret this...'

Heh. I wonder, how many anti-Superman plans will OL foil just by being here in the next few days? I bet more than a few of Superman's rogues will be reconsidering their next caper... And the Light will probably be very wary, especially. Never mind the media going crazy speculating about things, until OL gives a frank interview to the Daily Planet...

BR549 · Sep 14, 2022

Mr Zoat said:
Go to work, which isn't something that he's going to mention in the open in the open. Even if Lex Luthor almost certainly knows, plenty of other intelligent criminals in Metropolis don't.

"If we make him keep his job, it's 8 hours less in the day he's trying to stop us."

Sojiko · Sep 14, 2022

I really love the way this conversation flows. And how Superman's personality comes across in little details. Nice.

Mr Zoat said:
study hw it works for you

"how"

Mr Zoat said:
Go to work, which isn't something that he's going to mention in the open in the open.

I think that should only be said once.

Vaermina · Sep 14, 2022

Mr Zoat said:
"And you'll do what I say."

"I've dealt civilly with unrepentant Nazis, the biggest arsehole in my Corps and serial killing cannibals. I can follow instructions from you. As long as it's not something stupid like 'get a civilian identity'."

The best order he could give...

A month without your rings for an Orange Light detox...

Akshka · Sep 14, 2022

Mr Zoat said:
"Certainly. Thank you for this opportunity. I'm sure that I can find something productive to do while you're away."

ah shit

Mr Zoat · Sep 14, 2022

Sojiko said:
"how"
I think that should only be said once.

Thank you, corrected.

Old Knife · Sep 14, 2022

Mr Zoat said:
He exhales slowly then nods, before turning and flying away.

Ohh boy. He's so streesssed. Can't even imagine what's going through his mind.

And why does this feel like the calm before the storm?
Specifically, I'm worried about the OLC creating Alpha Lantern levels of horrible unintended terrible people with Paul's skills but none of his common sense?

Darko · Sep 14, 2022

Ohh, this will be a hilarious buddy cop scenario.

Duke Long · Sep 14, 2022

Mr Zoat said:
"Ah, good, but I meant 'what happened next to Chugragah'."

It was previously spelled 'Chughraghahh'.

Darko · Sep 14, 2022

Chojin Patriarch said:
Says the young man known as 'Cake Man' to most of humanity. There are probably tribes in the deepest depths of nowhere who would recognise him as 'Cake Man'. Even if they didn't have the foggiest idea what a cake is.

Like Paul said, aliens that have never even heard of Earth will know about the cake incident 200 years from now.

Darko · Sep 14, 2022

Duke Long said:
It was previously spelled 'Chughraghahh'.

Clark probably mispronounced it.

FreeGod · Sep 14, 2022

OL hanging out in Metropolis is likely to drive Lex a little crazy. Because all of Lex's fear and paranoia about Superman are at least partly true with OL.

OL is likely to see more new anti-orange lantern weapons in the next few days than the reach will make in the next few years.

BR549 · Sep 14, 2022

Alternatively, Lex will approve of OL.

Since there's all of the power...and it's NOT in an alien.

Old Knife · Sep 14, 2022

BR549 said:
Alternatively, Lex will approve of OL.

Since there's all of the power...and it's NOT in an alien.

IN this timeline isn't Lex already neutered because all the other geniuses are getting subsidies and alien tech to play around with?
Vs
Grayven!Luthor who has control over Earth's Spacefleet?

Steelplaza · Sep 14, 2022

The status quo in this timeline is that after multiple interactions, Orange Lantern made a strong pitch to Lex Luthor to abandon his supervillainous ways and truly work for the betterment of humanity. Luthor was tempted, but ultimately unable to let go of his paranoia and arrogance. He remains a member of the Light. The SI considers him pretty much a lost cause at this point and retreats to "icy politeness" in their interactions.

jonasquinn · Sep 14, 2022

Ughhh, I'm trying to enjoy this ploline but it's really doing nothing but annoying me

It just feels like an excuse to justify OL making stupid decisions and not being as capable as usual while diluting one of the key elements that make him such a unique character. Like I said before unless this arc ends with OL deciding that conventional heroism is all well and good but not for him and he can't really afford it while leasing a war it'll have done a lot of damage t9 my ability to enjoy this story

Ganurath · Sep 14, 2022

I sense a Gotham Spree sequel in the works.

BartlettMagic · Sep 14, 2022

Lord Ernest said:
Good for Xalitan, but I would totally advocate to promote him officially to Honor Guard, to show the rest of the Corps with a defined rank how advanced he is. At the very least after his stint in the front lines. And it will also communicate that the Illustres' methods are definitely effective and not mysticism and mumo jumbo.

100% agreed. does the OLC even have an Honor Guard yet? it would be quite honorable to be the first and best example.

Ardy · Sep 14, 2022

I wonder if either Paul or Grayven are going to recruit Thessaly, Earth needs magic users willing to teach and he recruited Kalmin so an ancient high-tier magic user, part of a coven that actually scared the greek gods, and is able to live a quiet life for long periods of time seems like the perfect manager for the Kordtech Department of Magic and Making Physics Cry

Bud-E · Sep 14, 2022

Ardy said:
I wonder if either Paul or Grayven are going to recruit Thessaly, Earth needs magic users willing to teach and he recruited Kalmin so an ancient high-tier magic user, part of a coven that actually scared the greek gods, and is able to live a quiet life for long periods of time seems like the perfect manager for the Kordtech Department of Magic and Making Physics Cry

I think she might work with Grayven but I doubt she'd be as receptive to Paul. For an ancient and mysterious witch, she's all about force so any diplomatic attempts will likely be met with hostility and malice.

Mr Zoat · Sep 14, 2022

Ardy said:
I wonder if either Paul or Grayven are going to recruit Thessaly, Earth needs magic users willing to teach and he recruited Kalmin so an ancient high-tier magic user, part of a coven that actually scared the greek gods, and is able to live a quiet life for long periods of time seems like the perfect manager for the Kordtech Department of Magic and Making Physics Cry

No. The most she's getting is a reference as Circe uses her name.

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

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