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

jasonh23761 · Wednesday at 8:25 AM

hance1986 said:
Or he's just verbally T-posing.

That's exactly what he's doing.

Chojin Patriarch · Wednesday at 8:26 AM

Mr Zoat said:
18th January 2000
00:55 GMT -5

"Lord Mammon, this-."

BOOM!

The humans brace slightly as someone on Apophis's ship tests how far the 'Tollan shield' extends away from the Curia building. Narim swiftly checks his personal computer as the severe-looking woman who followed him back regains her equanimity.

I see they acted quickly to get someone who presumably has negotiating powers. I'll assume he's not flinching due to confidence in his shielding. Nice of him not to comment on their shakiness, though.

"This is High Chancellor Travell of the Tollan Curia."

I give her a shallow nod. "Pleased to meet you. Let's keep this quick. I will destroy the fleet. In return I want two things. Firstly, your help in salvaging it for System Lord Bastet. Secondly, fifty Tollan school teachers serving on my planet."

Ah, going right to the top. at least he knows she'll be doing her best to push any agreements through their parliament. And they're fairly mild demands, at that.

"School teachers. What sort of school teachers?"

"I don't know your education system. Science from basic biology to nuclear physics, and whatever you consider to be the equivalent in other fields. I know that you don't share technology with less advanced cultures; we're more advanced than you so it doesn't apply, and even if it did I'm not asking for your cutting edge researchers. Their salaries and accommodation will be covered by me, and in case Syrania is overrun I won't make any specific record of where they came from."

The details can be sorted out as you go, I suppose. Honestly, pretty much any field of science more advanced than what Earth has should do nicely.

Her eyes go down as she considers, and then shift to Major Carter.

She looks awkward. "We.. already have a similar arrangement with Lord Mammon. None of our teachers have come to any harm. And… I can't see any other way to defeat Apophis before he destroys your city."

How helpful of her. Then again, I doubt they really do have any alternative. At least it's Mammon, who's asking for reasonable things.

I gesture too her with my right thumb. "And that's from a people who still haven't been able to give me a written legal opinion that they're not trying to exterminate my species."

Travell considers for a moment longer, then nods. "The salvage teams."

One point accepted, nor for the details of the other.

"They just need to help restore the ships to working order. I'll provide the crews. No need to use your most advanced technology if you don't want to, but-"

BOOM!

"-it might be best not to have those ships in your system any longer than you have to." I smile benevolently. "Up to you."

Never mind the people aboard those ships, who are probably fairly loyal to Apophis.

She nods reluctantly. "Agreed. We will make a precise assessment on how to proceed as events unfold."

"Nifty. Then I'm your man. Narim, do you want to come and watch?"

You expect this to be easy enough you can keep an observer safe? Or are you just feeling the need to show off?

He raises his eyebrows slightly. "Do I want to watch you destroy an entire fleet by yourself?"

I smile. "Either you get to watch a god unleash his power upon his enemies or the last thing you see before your world is burned is a pompous prat make a fool of himself. There are worse things to see before your death."

Ah, he wants to show off. And establishing a powerful reputation will make future negotiations easier.

His eyes go to Travell, nods. "I accept your offer. When-."

A touch him with my left hand and transition us into the air over the city. Another plasma bolt coming in-. Deal with that, causing a high altitude explosion… Some electrical discharge which might damage the Tollan's computers a little, but it won't be much of a problem.

Unavoidable, really. Low altitude EMPs like that can be messy.

More of a problem is that two… Three nearby ion cannons have been obliterated, and I can see plumes of smoke further away. Defending guns being destroyed means that the attackers can come closer and rotate their positions less, resulting in more shots being fired towards the planet.

Not good. Still, you're taking over the defence now. So this should be short.

Narin keeps himself together, and then follows my gaze. "The cannons over the horizon can still take shots at their fleet, but the time-to-target will be far greater."

I destroy two more plasma bolts before they reach the atmosphere, but… That's from the flagship's main guns. Apophis's fleet is accelerating, and if the smaller ship-mounted guns on the regular ha'taks get into affective range…

Interesting. They have a measure of ballistic trajectory to their weapons? Then again, the fleet is high enough that beyond-the-horizon is a fair distance.

"That is impressive, but that weapon will not destroy a capital ship."

"No, that.. form of attack won't kill a capital ship within a reasonable timeframe. Oh, ah… If anyone asks, the Tollan have been experimenting with graviton-based weapons, alright?"

Oh, dear. That could be awkward if it's discovered they aren't that advanced.

"That was not agreed with-."

Transition.

Just as an excuse for what comes next.

Apophis's flagship hovers is space below us. Relatively speaking. His fleet are arrayed with Tollana as 'forwards', which has the pleasant effect of ensuring that no inconvenient windows are facing towards me. I tested it, and it is possible to detect me with a ha'tak's sensors, but only if you already know what you're looking for.

Ah, two-dimensional thinking. I suppose it makes it easier to coordinate fire if everyone is using the same alignment for targetting solutions.

"I was not aware that goa'uld had teleportation technology."

I snort with laughter. "Not teleport. Fly good."

The Tollan have some kind of FTL right? Or is that sort of thing less popular given the Gate network?

Track Apophis, because killing him is the whole point. Track ship systems, because if we're taking these ships I don't want them too damaged. Track Jaffa, because someone is going to have to kill them now that they've finally got a god they like and they aren't going to thank me for killing him.

Targetting in order of importance, I see.

And since I got a really good view of what a black hole looks like…

Singularity beam.

I wonder if he's been through the big crossover yet at this point, and has the shared technology database? Maybe, maybe not...

It looks like the structure of the flagship ripples like the surface of a pond when a stone is dropped into it. Actually what's happening is that spacetime is rippling as a cylinder about three centimetres across suddenly becomes about a thousandth of a millimetre across. That is accompanied by a burst of x-rays strong enough to fry the bridge crew and their consoles. And as an added bonus it's all unaffected by the ship's shield.

I hope he's being careful about overpenetration. The planet is serving as a backstop, isn't it? Also, if that took out Apophis, it feels... Anticlimactic.

"What-?"

Next ship. Singularity beam.

Not another goa'uld, naturally, but a senior Jaffa.

Hmm... What are the chances Apophis wasn't leading this force personally from his flagship?

Ha'tak are designed to be controlled almost completely from the pel'tak. Wreck that, and it's reduced to a space station unless the Jaffa on board are unusually technically skilled. And I doubt that's a worry here, but just in case…

Two more beams cut the link between main power and the drive systems, rendering the ships ballistic.

Being careful not to leave them in a decaying orbit, I hope. Kind of hard to salvage something like that once it goes from transportation to part of the geography.

Check the fighters… Oh, they're looking for me, they're looking for me. Shift position and fire twice. Another ha'tak mission-killed. Might be worth using my own soldiers to clear these wrecks. Or… I could hand it over to Mahes. I know that he's wanted to test my designs in actual combat. And… My own soldiers aren't really ready for something like this.

Amusing that this is such a non-threat to him that he's not even worried about anything here and is instead thinking about how to improve relations with his subordinates

Another ship dies, and then another.

"How..?"

I smile tyrannically at Narim. "I'm a god."

Oh, he is enjoying this, isn't he?

"That isn't goa'uld technology."

"It is now."

Ah, planting the seed of worry that others might have this kind of capability, eh? A useful intimidation tactic for future relations.

The remaining ships aren't even trying to reach Tollana, though none are activating their hyper drives. Good for them. Very loyal. Very dead. That still leaves the fighters and the crew, but… I don't think I need to remain here any longer.

I transition us back to the surface, near the Curia building. Major Carter has left the building and is staring up at the sky, possibly trying to spot us. I give her a casual wave as Narin and I walk towards her.

I guess he figures the local defences can handle any fighters making ground attack runs or landing craft evacuating planetside...

"Is.. that it?"

I shrug. "Well, the ships are still there, but the officers are all dead. They might try and invade with their landing craft, but you should be able to shoot down most of them. I'll head out now and ask Lord Mahes to come here and take possession. Oh, and remember that we're perfectly happy to give Klorel sanctuary, whatever the trial decides about his host. Good day."

Ah, I see he does. And now calling in his own allies to play clean-up.

Well, goes to show what a Lantern with the advantage of surprise is capable of. Let's hope he got Apophis with that first shot, and the wannabe-Supreme System Lord is now enjoying his new existence as assorted stray molecules. A pity he probably didn't feel the moment he went from biology to physics... Now for the aftermath.

I gesture too her with my right thumb.

I gesture to her with my right thumb.

A touch him with my left hand and transition us into the air over the city.

I touch him with my left hand and transition us into the air over the city.

Narin keeps himself together...

I give her a casual wave as Narin and I walk towards her.

These should be 'Narim'.

...the regular ha'taks get into affective range…

...the regular ha'taks get into effective range…

Apophis's flagship hovers is space below us.

Apophis's flagship hovers in space below us.

c3qo · Wednesday at 8:38 AM

Mr Zoat said:
I snort with laughter. "Not teleport. Fly good."

Is this a Samurai Jack references?

DAT_NOOB · Wednesday at 9:14 AM

Mr Zoat said:
Another ship dies, and then another.

"How..?"

I smile tyrannically at Narim. "I'm a god."

"You didn't think it was all for showed did you?"

Chaoswind · Wednesday at 10:06 AM

Guy has escaped dead so often that this one feels anticlimactic, but it would be funny if Apophis returns because of time travel.

Mr Zoat · Wednesday at 10:46 AM

Chojin Patriarch said:
The Tollan have some kind of FTL right?

Probably, but I don't think we ever see it.

I gesture to her with my right thumb.
I touch him with my left hand and transition us into the air over the city.
These should be 'Narim'.
...the regular ha'taks get into effective range…
Apophis's flagship hovers in space below us.

Thank you, corrected.

c3qo said:
Is this a Samurai Jack references?

Yes.

Chaoswind said:
Guy has escaped dead so often that this one feels anticlimactic, but it would be funny if Apophis returns because of time travel.

We can't all deal with our problems by blowing up suns.

WereDragon · Wednesday at 12:36 PM

Mr Zoat said:
I smile. "Either you get to watch a god unleash his power upon his enemies or the last thing you see before your world is burned is a pompous prat make a fool of himself. There are worse things to see before your death."

The role of tongue-in-cheek god fits him so well.

Singularity beam.

It looks like the structure of the flagship ripples like the surface of a pond when a stone is dropped into it. Actually what's happening is that spacetime is rippling as a cylinder about three centimetres across suddenly becomes about a thousandth of a millimetre across. That is accompanied by a burst of x-rays strong enough to fry the bridge crew and their consoles. And as an added bonus it's all unaffected by the ship's shield.

Probably not something he can repeat all that many times. Just because the standard shields don't block it doesn't mean they don't have the tech to defend once they know they need to.

"That isn't goa'uld technology."

…do they not understand the concept of technological progression? If physics supports it then anyone can discover it, given sufficient time, effort and luck.

Chaoswind · Wednesday at 12:51 PM

Goa'uld use gravity/antigravity drives for motion, so I would assume they could tweak things around with the design to make gravity based deflector shielding for their ships without inherently changing the underlying technologies that go into each warship.

Would certainly make them better warships against the future threats that are coming.

Darko · Wednesday at 1:28 PM

WereDragon said:
…do they not understand the concept of technological progression

There's a massive difference between what other Goa'uld do and what Mammon is capable of.

A Goa'uld making some advancements to their tech makes sense, but the power that Mammon is wielding is lightyears ahead of anything the Goa'uld are capable of.

It's not exactly that surprising that Narim would consider it to not be Goa'uld tech.

CrazyNoVa · Wednesday at 3:23 PM

Ngamer11 said:
Last I remember, the Sinestro Corps trapped Parallax thanks to some help from Paul, so unless they overlooked something or something happened to the Sinestro Corps, Parallax shouldn't be an issue for the foreseeable future.

You mean like how Lafleeze thought he had successfully trapped the Ophidian, only for Ophidian to escape by possessing Paul? Or like how in canon, the Guardians thought they had successfully trapped Parallax in the green central battery, only for Parallax to still possess Hal anyway?

Ngamer11 said:
I meant if Paul specifically remembered that some continuities had Batman as the creator of Brother Eye due to his rampant paranoia. He didn't read every comic that's ever existed and doesn't always have all the details of the ones he was only somewhat aware of.

Is there a single continuity where Brother Eye wasn't made by Batman? Because last I checked, Batman created Brother Eye in pretty much all of them.

Plus, Time Trapper Paul did try to pull an Infinite Crisis in the multiverse episode with Krona, which is the event where Brother Eye first debuted, so he clearly has some awareness of Infinite Crisis, and by extension Brother Eye too.

Darko · Wednesday at 3:24 PM

CrazyNoVa said:
Is there a single continuity where Brother Eye wasn't made by Batman? Because last I checked, Batman created Brother Eye in pretty much all of them

The one from the Brave and the Bold cartoon didn't make Brother Eye.

Steelplaza · Wednesday at 3:53 PM

CrazyNoVa said:
Is there a single continuity where Brother Eye wasn't made by Batman? Because last I checked, Batman created Brother Eye in pretty much all of them

Sure. OMAC and Brother Eye were original creations of Jack Kirby back in 1974 to star in their own series, and naturally Batman had no connection with them.

CrazyNoVa · Wednesday at 7:02 PM

Darko said:
The one from the Brave and the Bold cartoon didn't make Brother Eye.

Steelplaza said:
Sure. OMAC and Brother Eye were original creations of Jack Kirby back in 1974 to star in their own series, and naturally Batman had no connection with them.

Oops, my mistake. I forgot about those and I didn't watch The Brave And The Bold too much, so I didn't know.

Would Paul be open to the idea of creating a non-malicious Brother Eye akin to the one created by Myron Forest, so that he can make an army of OMACS to make L.E.G.I.O.N. stronger? After all, OMACS have been shown to be able to hold their own against both Lanterns and Reach Scarab warriors in the comics, and I imagine that Paul and Dox would want themselves some of that firepower on their side.

Mr Zoat · Wednesday at 7:42 PM

CrazyNoVa said:
Would Paul be open to the idea of creating a non-malicious Brother Eye akin to the one created by Myron Forest, so that he can make an army of OMACS to make L.E.G.I.O.N. stronger? After all, OMACS have been shown to be able to hold their own against both Lanterns and Reach Scarab warriors in the comics, and I imagine that Paul and Dox would want themselves some of that firepower on their side.

Some of the augmentations might be useful, but the downsides to the original OMAC system are fairly significant. Total amnesia and reliance on a space station that isn't that hard to destroy, which is how Buddy Blank was defeated.

CrazyNoVa · Wednesday at 11:34 PM

Mr Zoat said:
Some of the augmentations might be useful, but the downsides to the original OMAC system are fairly significant. Total amnesia and reliance on a space station that isn't that hard to destroy, which is how Buddy Blank was defeated.

What if it wasn't just limited to a singular space station? What if it was a giant galactic network of planetary satellites that can't be easily tracked down or destroyed? They could serve as planetary defense systems for L.E.G.I.O.N.-friendly planets to help them defend against the Reach.

As for the total amnesia, what if you downloaded a copy of your memory from your pre-augmentation self into your post-augmentation self?

Vaermina · Thursday at 2:53 AM

Mr Zoat said:
I just remembered that when Apophis attacked Earth, he didn't bother raising his Ha'tak's shields until the nuclear missiles were just about to hit him. The ion cannon shot is far faster.

Someone forward this to Mr Zoat.

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYvkdA7vXYU

hkim · Thursday at 6:49 AM

"Klorel" still sounds like a store-brand label for bleach.

Mr Zoat · Thursday at 9:36 AM

20th January 2000
11:21 GMT -5

"You." / "You."

Klorel and Skaara both glare at me, Klorel from inside the body of a condemned criminal Lord Mahes 'spared' from his gladiatorial arena. A volunteer looking to regain his honour by serving a god directly. And extra thirty centimetres of height and an appreciably more muscular build make Klorel look considerably more martial.

I smile. "Me. Skaara al Abydos, I don't believe that we have anything to say to one another, so I will wish you safe travels. And please let your father know that I would be most interested in purchasing both naquadah and mastadges. Perhaps in exchange for water purifiers or moisture collection technology?"

"We want nothing to do with the false gods."

I make an exaggerated shrugging gesture. "I am a simple merchant. But, as you will."

"Such insolence." Klorel looks down his nose at his former host in a way which I suspect is supposed to look imposing but just makes him look constipated. "One day I will teach you your place."

Skaara glowers back. "You had years. You failed. I did not know that 'gods' could be so weak."

"Insignificant insect! I-."

I put a construct barrier around Klorel and smile pleasantly at Skaara. The sudden appearance of a sound-proof barrier appears to take the wind out of his sails a little.

I wave my right hand in the direction of the exit. "You are of course free to leave. Colonel O'Neill, your sister and Doctor Jackson are waiting outside. They'd have been in here but Klorel insisted-.

"Sha're is free? That thing thought that she was dead."

"She was, but I have a sarcophagus."

"You raised her from the dead?" He looks uncertain. "Why? The gods do not do that."

I shrug. "Because it cost me little and improved my relations with the Tau'ri. Many of my fellow goa'uld believe that an evil deed is its own reward. I believe the opposite; that a good deed will eventually pay off."

He nods. "And you desire herd animals and the metal of the gods?"

"I am a merchant. I trade things. You know that you have things which I want. Inform your father and relay back to me what sorts of thing he might like in exchange. Or put me from your mind entirely. It's up to you and to him."

He looks at me uncertainly for a moment as his hatred wars with his sense of obligation. Then he gives me a very small nod and heads out of the ward.

Once I hear the door shut, I dismiss the construct barrier and face the constipated-looking Klorel.

His eyes flare. "You go too far."

"You are short on friends and options, Lord Klorel. I would council you that it is wise to bite your tongue until you are more aware of your situation."

"Then explain my situation."

"The Tollan weren't quite as lightly defended as your father thought. They had some manner of gravity lensing weapon." I point upwards. "The fleet your father captured from Sokar floats above this world now, neat holes drilled into the pel'taks of each ship."

Klorel frowns. "My father was slain by Sokar."

"Your father kept his host too long; he died in the custody of the Tau'ri, and they sent Sokar his corpse. Fully intact. Sokar raised him and gave him a demeaning position under him. Then Sokar was killed by the Tok'Ra and your father took his empty throne. When he heard of your capture he came here… If he had attempted diplomacy then you might have been reunited with him." I shrug mournfully. "Alas."

His expression doesn't change, but I suppose that if he were inclined to mourn then he would have done so the first time he heard of his father's death.

"Why are you here?"

"I was once your uncle's tithe-gatherer. Until I betrayed him and was rightfully cast down. Now, I rule one poor world under the guidance of System Lord Bastet. And it is from her that I pass on this offer."

"Speak it."

"Your father's Underlords try to maintain unity in the face of Heru'ur, but they will not succeed. Then Heru'ur will declare himself to be Supreme System Lord. It will doubtless take time for him to consolidate his hold on the domains of Ra and Apophis, but he was never lacking in determination and aggression."

"He is a simple-minded brute."

"No." I shake my head. "No. Were he simple-minded he would not have gotten as far as he has. Ra would not place a fool in command of his armies, and your father would not have struggled to outmanoeuvre a fool."

He appears to decide to let that go.

"You have not told me what you want."

"System Lord Bastet is… Comfortable, with the System Lords being supreme, with no one set above them. It is her intent to sponsor you in unifying your late father's domains. If you are successful, you may one day become a System Lord in your own right."

He sneers. "She wants me as a puppet."

"For now, yes, but she places no limits upon your future growth. If you have the strength and wisdom, you may regain independence and authority in the fullness of time. It is hardly practical for System Lord Bastet to constantly monitor you."

"How kind."

"Of course, if all you manage to do is grind Heru'ur's forces down to the point that she can crush him herself, that too is acceptable. Not… For you, but certainly for her."

"I-." He grimaces as he tries to work something out. "It will not be easy for me to take command."

I raise my eyebrows. "Oh?"

"After his attack on the Tau'ri… Failed, the Jaffa of Chulak rose in rebellion. They declared my father a false god."

"Ah? And if they had had a little patience and he had not come here, things could have been so very different." He holds his tongue while I think how that affects our plans. Not.. much, really. We always thought that Mahes would have to lean on people. Perhaps we could transfer across some of Sokar's Jaffa? "That will change the details, but not the core of the plan. System Lord Bastet will still be willing to sponsor you. If you accept."

"I do. I recognise that my options are limited."

"I'm glad to hear it. I will arrange for Lord Mahes to dispatch a platoon of his Jaffa to escort you to Bubastis."

"So that I may be paraded like prize cattle."

"No. So that System Lord Bastet may publically welcome you as a fellow god. It is not our intent to humiliate you, as unequal as the balance of power is in practice. Our people all have long memories, and she has no desire to humiliate you into lashing out. Now, I shall take my leave. Good day."

I transition to the entrance of the court building, wave to the departing S.G.C. party and then transition upwards to the flagship which is even now being pored over by Lord Mahes. A probe construct lets me transition myself through a wall and into one of the parts of the ship that still has atmosphere and gravity and one more transition takes me to casual walking distance of Lord Mahes himself.

"Is everything to your liking?"

He beams. "The ship is splendid. Do you think that Lord Bastet would let me keep it?"

"I think it unlikely, but perhaps she might grant it to you as an indefinite loan. Klorel has accepted the deal."

"Of course he did. I will send a squad to escort him to Lord Bastet."

"Please make it a few squads. He's being sensitive about his drop in status."

"As well he might." He nods. "Is she sending you after Heru'ur next? Or will you leave someone for the rest of us."

"I expect to be sent after him in the fullness of time. If you want him for yourself… Do not tarry."

"Hah!"

Ngamer11 · Thursday at 9:41 AM

Mr Zoat said:
"I expect to be send after him in the fullness of him. If you want him for yourself… Do not tarry."

That should say 'sent'.

Lord Ernest · Thursday at 9:50 AM

I really appreciate how Mammon and Mahes seem to be getting along, the closest thing to a friend this version of Paul has, in my opinion. But I wonder if Mahes, as well as any other of Bastet's closest Underlords, suspect Mammon of something due to his eccentricities but don't bring it up because he has Bastet's trust.

And Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone!

BR549 · Thursday at 9:55 AM

Mr Zoat said:
It is her intent to sponsor you in unifying your later father's domains.

'late' father's, I belive that should read.

Mr Zoat · Thursday at 10:13 AM

Ngamer11 said:
That should say 'sent'.

BR549 said:
'late' father's, I belive that should read.

Thank you, corrected.

Lord Ernest said:
I really appreciate how Mammon and Mahes seem to be getting along, the closest thing to a friend this version of Paul has, in my opinion. But I wonder if Mahes, as well as any other of Bastet's closest Underlords, suspect Mammon of something due to his eccentricities but don't bring it up because he has Bastet's trust.

Mahes current theory is that Mammon is Ra's ashrak, and that he spent the period between Ra's death and now grabbing Ra's reliquary and that's how he can do the things that he does. He bases this on the fact that Mammon shouldn't be anything like as nice about Ra if what he said about his history is true. It only makes sense if his rebellion was fake.

Chojin Patriarch · Thursday at 10:48 AM

Mr Zoat said:
20th January 2000
11:21 GMT -5

"You." / "You."

Klorel and Skaara both glare at me, Klorel from inside the body of a condemned criminal Lord Mahes 'spared' from his gladiatorial arena. A volunteer looking to regain his honour by serving a god directly. And extra thirty centimetres of height and an appreciably more muscular build make Klorel look considerably more martial

And more than a little more commanding than a teenage boy. That alone would make people a bit more willing to take him seriously, certainly. Clean him up a bit, he may well be handsome.

I smile. "Me. Skaara al Abydos, I don't believe that we have anything to say to one another, so I will wish you safe travels. And please let your father know that I would be most interested in purchasing both naquadah and mastadges. Perhaps in exchange for water purifiers or moisture collection technology?"

Heh. I imagine he'll be happy to take his leave of Goa'uld territory.

"We want nothing to do with the false gods."

I make an exaggerated shrugging gesture. "I am a simple merchant. But, as you will."

It's safe to say Skaara's done a bit of maturing in the time he was a host, if only by osmosis from the symbiote. still a lot of angry young man in there, though.

"Such insolence." Klorel looks down his nose at his former host in a way which I suspect is supposed to look imposing but just makes him look constipated. "One day I will teach you your place."

Skaara glowers back. "You had years. You failed. I did not know that 'gods' could be so weak."

Ah, yes, the 'look down his nose' pose. Good way to deflate that? Comment on his nose hairs needing a trim.

"Insignificant insect! I-."

I put a construct barrier around Klorel and smile pleasantly at Skaara. The sudden appearance of a sound-proof barrier appears to take the wind out of his sails a little.

At least he's sensible enough not to keep talking and waste his breathe and limited vocabulary.

I wave my right hand in the direction of the exit. "You are of course free to leave. Colonel O'Neill, your sister and Doctor Jackson are waiting outside. They'd have been in here but Klorel insisted-.

"Sha're is free? That thing thought that she was dead."

Easy mistake to make, given the last time you saw her.

"She was, but I have a sarcophagus."

"You raised her from the dead?" He looks uncertain. "Why? The gods do not do that."

Some gods do not. Other ones know an investment when they see one.

I shrug. "Because it cost me little and improved my relations with the Tau'ri. Many of my fellow goa'uld believe that an evil deed is its own reward. I believe the opposite; that a good deed will eventually pay off."

He nods. "And you desire herd animals and the metal of the gods?"

It's a good start to a trade agreement. Gaining some measure of friendship with such a valuable colony...

"I am a merchant. I trade things. You know that you have things which I want. Inform your father and relay back to me what sorts of thing he might like in exchange. Or put me from your mind entirely. It's up to you and to him."

He looks at me uncertainly for a moment as his hatred wars with his sense of obligation. Then he gives me a very small nod and heads out of the ward.

Come a long way from that scraggly young man we saw in the original movie.

Once I hear the door shut, I dismiss the construct barrier and face the constipated-looking Klorel.

His eyes flare. "You go too far."

Someone seems to be having trouble remembering which of them is the prisoner here, and which is the captor.

"You are short on friends and options, Lord Klorel. I would council you that it is wise to bite your tongue until you are more aware of your situation."

"Then explain my situation."

Oh, Mammon can do that easily. Whether you're smart enough to understand said situation...

"The Tollan weren't quite as lightly defended as your father thought. They had some manner of gravity lensing weapon." I point upwards. "The fleet your father captured from Sokar floats above this world now, neat holes drilled into the pel'taks of each ship."

And hopefully into Apophis as well. Man is hardier than a cockroach.

Klorel frowns. "My father was slain by Sokar."

"Your father kept his host too long; he died in the custody of the Tau'ri, and they sent Sokar his corpse. Fully intact. Sokar raised him and gave him a demeaning position under him. Then Sokar was killed by the Tok'Ra and your father took his empty throne. When he heard of your capture he came here… If he had attempted diplomacy then you might have been reunited with him." I shrug mournfully. "Alas."

That was kind of foolish of the SGC back then. They did realise that the host body could die but not necessarily the symbiont inside?

His expression doesn't change, but I suppose that if he were inclined to mourn then he would have done so the first time he heard of his father's death.

"Why are you here?"

And really, I don't think he mourned, so much as celebrated. Or plotted.

"I was once your uncle's tithe-gatherer. Until I betrayed him and was rightfully cast down. Now, I rule one poor world under the guidance of System Lord Bastet. And it is from her that I pass on this offer."

"Speak it."

Well, stop interrupting and he will. Impatient, much?

"Your father's Underlords try to maintain unity in the face of Heru'ur, but they will not succeed. Then Heru'ur will declare himself to be Supreme System Lord. It will doubtless take time for him to consolidate his hold on the domains of Ra and Apophis, but he was never lacking in determination and aggression."

...Unless someone were to interfere... Someone with a more legitimate claim to those worlds, perhaps...

"He is a simple-minded brute."

"No." I shake my head. "No. Were he simple-minded he would not have gotten as far as he has. Ra would not place a fool in command of his armies, and your father would not have struggled to outmanoeuvre a fool."

Rather, think of him as straight-forwards. Sensible enough to be a follower when he had to be, and canny enough to seize opportunities.

He appears to decide to let that go.

"You have not told me what you want."

Eh, Goa'uld gonna Goa'uld. Every one seems to think they are the most superior being of all... Except for the Tok'ra of course, they just hate their cousins, and by extension themselves.

"System Lord Bastet is… Comfortable, with the System Lords being supreme, with no one set above them. It is her intent to sponsor you in unifying your late father's domains. If you are successful, you may one day become a System Lord in your own right."

Owing her favours for the privilege, of course. Perhaps taking her suggestions on how he should rule a little more seriously than he might otherwise.

He sneers. "She wants me as a puppet."

"For now, yes, but she places no limits upon your future growth. If you have the strength and wisdom, you may regain independence and authority in the fullness of time. It is hardly practical for System Lord Bastet to constantly monitor you."

He's no idiot, of course. He knows he'll be closely watched for signs of ambition. Still, if he plays nice, he gets what he wants, within limits.

"How kind."

"Of course, if all you manage to do is grind Heru'ur's forces down to the point that she can crush him herself, that too is acceptable. Not… For you, but certainly for her."

Especially since Heru'er will be gunning for him. And no way would either of them bend the knee to the other.

"I-." He grimaces as he tries to work something out. "It will not be easy for me to take command."

I raise my eyebrows. "Oh?"

"After his attack on the Tau'ri… Failed, the Jaffa of Chulak rose in rebellion. They declared my father a false god."

Yes, that's hardly a bad thing. Rule poorly, you get rebellions.

"Ah? And if they had had a little patience and he had not come here, things could have been so very different." He holds his tongue while I think how that affects our plans. Not.. much, really. We always thought that Mahes would have to lean on people. Perhaps we could transfer across some of Sokar's Jaffa? "That will change the details, but not the core of the plan. System Lord Bastet will still be willing to sponsor you. If you accept."

That's got to sting, though. Not being able to use his own 'chosen people' and thus being forced to rely on borrowed troops with dubious loyalty.

"I do. I recognise that my options are limited."

"I'm glad to hear it. I will arrange for Lord Mahes to dispatch a platoon of his Jaffa to escort you to Bubastis."

"So that I may be paraded like prize cattle."

If that's how you see it, then moo a little.

"No. So that System Lord Bastet may publically welcome you as a fellow god. It is not our intent to humiliate you, as unequal as the balance of power is in practice. Our people all have long memories, and she has no desire to humiliate you into lashing out. Now, I shall take my leave. Good day."

Indeed. He does seem just the sort to chafe at even the perception of a debt owed. Still, if he's to be hanged later, then let him earn his noose fairly.

I transition to the entrance of the court building, wave to the departing S.G.C. party and then transition upwards to the flagship which is even now being poured over by Lord Mahes. A probe construct lets me transition myself through a wall and into one of the parts of the ship that still has atmosphere and gravity and one more transition takes me to casual walking distance of Lord Mahes himself.

Certainly being free with the FTL Transitions now. Then again, the ships are kind of blind thanks to him, so...

"Is everything to your liking?"

He beams. "The ship is splendid. Do you think that Lady Bastet would let me keep it?"

Well, you'll have to ask very nicely.

"I think it unlikely, but perhaps she might grant it to you as an indefinite loan. Klorel has accepted the deal."

"Of course he did. I will send a squad to escort him to Lady Bastet."

Even the most obnoxiously arrogant Goa'uld will bow when you can pin them down firmly enough.

"Please make it a few squads. He's being sensitive about his drop in status."

"As well he might." He nods. "Is she sending you after Heru'ur next? Or will you leave someone for the rest of us."

Eh, going about killing off bad rulers willy-nilly might send the wrong message to the rest.

"I expect to be sent after him in the fullness of him. If you want him for yourself… Do not tarry."

"Hah!"

It's only a matter of time, really, before Heru'er is weak enough to be assassinated and his forces divided up.

And so the loose 'b'-plot of the Stargate Paul comes to a relative endpoint, for now, with a few happy reunions for canon characters. Until something else significant happens. Wonder if we'll see anything of the Renegade's continued troubles in Pony-land before a new episode begins, or if it'll be back to OL for a denouement.

...make Klorel look considerably more martial

Missing Full stop.

"I expect to be sent after him in the fullness of him.

"I expect to be sent after him in the fullness of time.

Mr Zoat · Thursday at 11:09 AM

Chojin Patriarch said:
Missing Full stop.
"I expect to be sent after him in the fullness of time.

Thank you, corrected.

WereDragon · Thursday at 1:34 PM

Mr Zoat said:
"We want nothing to do with the false gods."

How is false gods better than evil gods? People are far more impressed when you say you killed your gods than when you claim to have rebelled against pretenders.

I believe the opposite; that a good deed will eventually pay off."

A good deed and political leverage perhaps. Just the first tends to be forgotten or ignored. Especially when dealing with corporate America.

"The Tollan weren't quite as lightly defended as your father thought. They had some manner of gravity lensing weapon." I point upwards. "The fleet your father captured from Sokar floats above this world now, neat holes drilled into the pel'taks of each ship."

Meanwhile, in the Tollan R&D HQ: We are going to build a gravity lensing weapon. Our budget is Yes and our deadline is yesterday. After that we are working on something that wil block a gravity lensing weapon.

Klorel

So has he had this brain fixed yet or is he still biologically insane?

He beams. "The ship is splendid. Do you think that Lord Bastet would let me keep it?"

I suppose it makes an acceptable show-piece. Inefficient it might be but sheer scale makes it an adequate warship.

hkim · Thursday at 4:09 PM

Mr Zoat said:
I transition to the entrance of the court building, wave to the departing S.G.C. party and then transition upwards to the flagship which is even now being poured over by Lord Mahes.

Unless he's using some kind of diagnostic chemical (a bottle of Klorel(tm) perhaps?) this should probably be "pored over".

Mr Zoat · Thursday at 7:07 PM

hkim said:
Unless he's using some kind of diagnostic chemical (a bottle of Klorel(tm) perhaps?) this should probably be "pored over".

Thank you, corrected.

AmericanNumbers · Thursday at 7:44 PM

Mr Zoat said:
Thank you, corrected.

Mahes current theory is that Mammon is Ra's ashrak, and that he spent the period between Ra's death and now grabbing Ra's reliquary and that's how he can do the things that he does. He bases this on the fact that Mammon shouldn't be anything like as nice about Ra if what he said about his history is true. It only makes sense if his rebellion was fake.

Mammon being Ra's hidden assassin/heavy who's now with Bastet makes too much sense in that setting

Vaermina · 2024-12-27T03:52:04+0000

Someone should probably warn this version of Paul that gravity weapons are the one of the few things guaranteed to get the entire might of the system lords coming down on you.

As Ba'al found out when started deploying black hole weapons sometime in the past.

Mr Zoat · 2024-12-27T06:16:55+0000

2nd May 2013
19:14 GMT -5

Wallace holds up one of his chips and stares at it. "What..? Is this?"

"Duck fat chips. It's one-. You know how really good chips need cycles of freezing and frying?"

He thinks for a moment. "No. I.. didn't. Mom usually just puts them in the oven." He frowns. "Duck fat?"

"I found the recipe online, and since I can fry, freeze and manipulate potato matter really easily, I thought I'd give it a try."

"Where do the little lines come from?"

"Shingling. You takes slices of potato, stick them together with fat, slice them into rectangles and then fry them." I stick a fork in one of mine and raise it up to eye level. "It wouldn't be worth doing without a power ring, but it definitely ensures that the flavour from the fat is present throughout."

Several of my team mates glance at each other, and Kon gets volunteered.

"Bad day, huh?"

I sag in my seat. "Yeah."

I take a bite, and even given all the faff involved… It's still basically just a chip. I've improved quite a bit on the senses I got when I first arrived in this universe -no more furry tongue for a start- but as far as I can tell, food… The improvements above a certain level aren't all that great. Duck fat, freezing and frying, the particular type of potato with exactly the right mix of constituent parts… I could just have used regular oven chips and it wouldn't have been much worse.

"How did you know?"

Kon looks across the table, at the various dishes I assembled-. Yeah, okay, displacement activity I suppose.

"'Bad' as in..?"

"I told you-" I look around the table to make it clear that I mean 'you' in the collective sense. "-that I was keeping an eye on certain people due to the actions of their parallel universe alter-egos."

Richard nods. "I didn't see anything in the daily report about any kind of disaster."

"No, it wasn't 'major catastrophe' bad, it was… One of the people I was watching broke into the old Justice League base in Detroit and used LexCorp's A.I. and some off-the-shelf magic to hack into the Justice League's records."

He blinks, eyes widening. "Seriously? What did they take?"

"Don't know. Batman's about as happy as you imagine."

He gives me a hard look. "Yeah."

I.. bow my head. Because I know that it wasn't just Batman I messed up with… With that. What I did. Bruce Wayne was a good father, with a few psychological hang-ups.

Then he got over them.

And I fucked him up.

"Is he..?"

Is he what, you-!

"I regret doing it, Richard. I don't regret much, but-. I can't-. Shouldn't… Force him to go back. How..? How.. is he?"

He sits back in his seat, everyone else looking a awkward. "He's busy with work. When he's in 'Bruce mode' I don't really notice much difference." He exhales. "I didn't really get much time to find out what he was like when he wasn't… Batman-on-the-inside."

Given how busy everyone was during that period, that.. makes sense.

"How is Talia taking it?"

"Oh, she thinks it's great." I wince. "She's been making all kinds of suggestions. But-." He thinks for a moment. "It's just advice. She's not manipulating him. I think it's things he'd thought about anyway."

I nod. "But there's a difference between contingency planning and actually implementing those contingencies." I frown. "He hasn't been to Detroit recently, has he?"

"Not that I'm aware of. Why?"

"Someone had done something in the old base, but I don't know if it was Anarky or someone else and he was just checking up on it. For obvious reasons I feel a bit awkward asking Batman…"

"I can do that." Richard looks around the table. "Okay guys, chill. I'm not happy about what Paul did, but I get it. Batman… Batman was the best choice. We needed to undo the Anti-Life as fast as possible."

"Thank you. And…" I tear my eyes away from my food and make direct eye contact with him. "There are… Things I could do-."

"Yeah, maybe…" He nods. "Don't."

"I don't trust my own judgement. But if you think it's necessary, let me know."

He takes a moment to absorb that.

"H-uh."

Kon waits for a moment, then shrugs. "So I get why messing with Batman's head makes you feel bad, but what's the problem with Anarky?"

"Because he wouldn't tell me what the problem is. Which means that I can't fix the problem. So… I helped Enginehead and… Sort of helped the man who was mind controlled into providing security-." I look at M'gann. "Any luck?"

She shakes her head. "I've never felt anything like it. It's like everything that should be in his mind just isn't there."

Oh. "Rats." She raises her eyebrows interrogatively. "The second time I died, I didn't get anyone to scan my body before I was loaded back into it. I'm told that I kept my practical skills but didn't appear to have any specific memories. The alternative would be for you to scan a Citadelian, but… Ah, the few survivors are avoiding me. For good reason, to be fair."

"What's the difference between them and Conner?"

"Kon was educated by…" I look at him. "You said it was like a dream?"

He nods. "Yeah. Some of the time."

"That creates narrative. Identity. The Citadelians just load knowledge without context."

M'gann nods. "So either he was made in a tank, or all his memories are stored somewhere else?"

I shrug. "Those are my best guesses, but that's just because those are the only options I can think."

Artemis has.. completely cleaned her plate. "So what about the powers that guy got?"

"Physical augmentations. I couldn't judge them precisely, but I'd estimate faster reflexes than a Danner enhancile with slightly less strength."

"Doesn't sound so special."

"The drawback of the Danner formula is that it only works on foetuses. Something roughly as good that can be used on anyone is a major game changer."

She nods. "Let's hope it's not, I guess. Mass produced superpowers getting given out to random nutjobs is the last thing we need."

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

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