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

Darko · Mar 12, 2025

Mr Zoat said:
No, the wings are why he has any memories at all

That's just more worrying.

I remember that after that whole Crisis of Infinite Pauls thing, Lan was shown to have apparently gone to Apokalips where he rescued a little girl.

I'm wondering if during his time there, Darkseid was able to implant the Anti-Life into him.

Lord Ernest · Mar 12, 2025

Wheenesss said:
From what I remember, Angel Paul had been sent to the DCEU, since his original debut happened in Suicide Squad 2016.

I... don't think that's true? If I recall, Angel SI first appeared as part of Task Force X in the Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay movie, which is part of the DC Animated Movie Universe.

That universe started with the Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox movie, in 2013. It was a whole thing, with an overall Darkseid plot that ended with Flash having to reset the universe in Justice League Dark: Apokokips War in 2020, because essentially the heroes had lost and a lot of people had even been turned into evil cyborgs working for Darkseid, I think? My memory is spotty on the movie itself.

My working theory is that this Angel SI got reset due to Flash's shenanigans, same as everyone else, but the presence of the wings affected his reset. Now he's an "angel", doesn't recall he's an SI but still has some of his memories, from before he came to this universe and from before the reset. I might be wrong, of course, but it's what makes sense to me.

Wheenesss · Mar 12, 2025

Lord Ernest said:
I... don't think that's true? If I recall, Angel SI first appeared as part of Task Force X in the Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay movie, which is part of the DC Animated Movie Universe.

That universe started with the Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox movie, in 2013. It was a whole thing, with an overall Darkseid plot that ended with Flash having to reset the universe in Justice League Dark: Apokokips War in 2020, because essentially the heroes had lost and a lot of people had even been turned into evil cyborgs working for Darkseid, I think? My memory is spotty on the movie itself.

My working theory is that this Angel SI got reset due to Flash's shenanigans, same as everyone else, but the presence of the wings affected his reset. Now he's an "angel", doesn't recall he's an SI but still has some of his memories, from before he came to this universe and from before the reset. I might be wrong, of course, but it's what makes sense to me.

Op. Yeah you're right. Looking back on that snippet it was that movie, because they talk about the 'Get Out Of Hell Free' card. My mistake. Although as you said reality got reset by The Flash's shenanigans. However that shouldn't have resulted in Gunn's Creature Commandos?

The DCAMU became the Tomorrowverse, which itself died in an adaptation of Crisis On Infinite Earths. A new universe was born as a result, but we have no idea what that new universe looks like.

Lord Ernest · Mar 12, 2025

Wheenesss said:
Op. Yeah you're right. Looking back on that snippet it was that movie, because they talk about the 'Get Out Of Hell Free' card. My mistake. Although as you said reality got reset by The Flash's shenanigans. However that shouldn't have resulted in Gunn's Creature Commandos?

The DCAMU became the Tomorrowverse, which itself died in an adaptation of Crisis On Infinite Earths. A new universe was born as a result, but we have no idea what that new universe looks like.

I didn't follow the movies after Apokolips War, so I can't really comment. I was interested in the Crisis On Infinite Earths but didn't manage to get them. If that continuity got destroyed or reshuffled maybe it counts as the previous incarnation of James Gunn's new thing?

Mr Zoat · Mar 12, 2025

Mr Zoat said:
@itsnatatumah
You know what you did.

Though in answer to your question, it's because at this point in history he likes what Games Workshop is doing. A certain company didn't become a shareholder in GW until 2023, whereas Kraft were trying to buy it right there and then.

Doccer · Mar 13, 2025

There's also the fact that Circe hired a group of incels to wage war instead of assassins to kill the one in charge. Or disguise herself as a maid or knight and kill her via poison or something.
There is also the question of where she got that armor and it's laser gauntlet.
As well as why the armor folded like paper mache against the incels guns but could apparently take on the US and the Justice League.

Mr Zoat · Mar 13, 2025

27th May 2013
13:33 GMT -5

"I can't help but find this a bit weird."

I hear Richard snort over the radio. "Gotham doesn't only exist at night, you know."

Nothing in here aside from some shelving. Back outside…

"No, I mean, you not being out in the field with me."

"Why? You worried?"

"No, no… It just seems like something you'd want to do."

"I would, but… With everything that's happened with Batman… I get it. What you said about efficiency. It didn't really matter when the world was working, but if I can do more good telling other people where to go… I think that's what I need to do."

I carefully open the door of the next warehouse, tumblers rotating at my ring's direction.

"Heh."

"What?"

"Oh, I just pictured you in a gamer chair, surrounded by fast food wrappers and empty energy drink cans-."

"That's not gunna happen. I still get out into Gotham. But some of us can't move at the speed of light. And… If I wanna help make the whole world a better place, I need to affect other places. I guess… I mean, this is what Batman's been doing."

"Are you just dodging your mother?"

The lock clanks open, and I use a pair of spreader constructs to open it fully.

…

"No?"

"Robin, it's perfectly normal to-."

"Yeah, I-. Already had this talk. But talking about it doesn't mean that you don't feel it. And she's…"

I think this facility used to do paint mixing? Some of the smaller machines have been removed, but the larger pieces are still here. I'm not sure if the owners just did a runner or if they were planning on opening it back up if the demand ever materialised.

"She's what?"

"I never really thought her relationship with Batman would work, you know? I get that she's attractive, and… Yeah, I've heard the jokes about who he dates. But she's the daughter of Ra's al Ghul. The head of an international assassin cult. And she was fine with all that. I never thought she'd actually switch sides for real."

I scan the interior, searching for-. Huh. It's amazing what you miss by over thinking things, but I did learn from Richard finding Richie Simpson before me or Wallace. Don't just scan for hidden spaces, look for power lines, patterns in the dust, an air current where the architectural plans say there shouldn't be one…

"I apologise. I didn't think it would get this far either. Found it."

I drift up and over the rim of one of the mixing vats. You wouldn't think that a supervillain would have the skills to hide a false bottom in one of these. It's basically a solid piece of steel with an arm for a mixing paddle. But…

I deploy a construct crumbler arm and a construct suction cup, applying the cup to the middle of the vat before crumbling a circle around it. And lift…

A small basement with an electronics workshop, bits and pieces of circuitry arrayed in… Places which presumably make sense to the person who put them there.

I notice that I've already deployed a construct electronic components rack and started sorting them properly, and-. And I stop, and set my ring to put them back where it found it.

"Confirming the presence of a workshop. And…" I take a closer look at one of the helmets on the desk. "What's either an Apokoliptian Justifier helmet, or a very close replica. No occupants discovered yet."

"I doubt that we'll get that lucky, but keep looking anyway."

"Will do."

Regular crime is way down. Even supervillains… With the economy toast, stealing just isn't an effective way to gather resources, not compared to being hired to do something productive. But rational arguments don't matter much when you're insane.

In theory, all examples of Apokoliptian technology should have been handed in. In practice… I understand someone who got stuck as a Justifier for a month wanted to keep their helmet. Just as a memento of something horrible which they survived. Something to show the grandchildren. So when we find someone who's done that without nefarious intent, we just take out the circuitry to render it permanently non-functional before handing it back.

Now, in theory, without a way to project Anti-Life, the helmets are pretty harmless. The only other source of Anti-Life I know about is Darkseid… And possibly Despair. And if either of them start messing around on Earth then we'll have bigger things to worry about than one guy in a helmet.

But.

Earth is weird. There are probably ways to project other things through the system. There are probably people other than New Gods who can modify them and use them for… Something untoward. So we need to find out who's playing around with them.

Checking the airflows again-.

"Mmmmpgh!"

"Found someone."

It's-. It's slotted into the floor. I guess… Someone built a slot with some sort of… Restraint frame built into it, which they can raise or lower at will. It-. I check the mechanism as best I can, but Apokoliptian technology disrupts ring scans and I'm reluctant to try anything else just in case it's booby trapped.

But okay. If it's something the site owner is working on, they're going to need to test it fairly regularly. The deployment system isn't going to be that complicated, because it would create a problem for them. The control to raise the prisoner compartment is a button on a box connected to the wall by a thick cable. I can just press it, but there's a hole for a key… And the key's attached to it by a piece of string, which is lazy…

Too lazy.

I send a filament into the key hole, checking for-. Yes, that's a detonator. Which matches the key on the string. So either there's another key here somewhere or they have it with them. Why did it have to be the one Gotham criminal who's actually good at electronics?

Look around, where could it be? If he was working at the bench there, he's shorter than me, so-.

A construct filament pulls out a key that was sellotaped to the underside of the bench. Check the pattern of the teeth… Looks like it should work. Alright, but set up constructs to detect electrical impulses and another to slam shield constructs down to protect the victim just in case. All in place? Okay, insert the right key and press the button…

The vertical… Tray, rises out of the floor, a man in a stained white t-shirt and boxer shorts handcuffed to the frame with… An ersatz claymore strapped to his side and a ball gag in his mouth. I put a safe construct around the mine as the man manages to focus on me and realises that I'm not his captor.

"Mruh?"

"I'm here to rescue you. Please indicate any traps that I haven't noticed as quickly as possible."

Chojin Patriarch · Mar 13, 2025

Mr Zoat said:
27th May 2013
13:33 GMT -5

"I can't help but find this a bit weird."

I hear Richard snort over the radio. "Gotham doesn't only exist at night, you know."

Though it probably looks a lot less fancy in the daytime. All that gothic architecture probably doesn't have the same atmosphere when it's in full sunlight, rather than the glow of the streetlights below...

Nothing in here aside from some shelving. Back outside…

"No, I mean, you not being out in the field with me."

Huh, playing 'guy in the chair', is he? what are, they going to start calling him Oracle soon?

"Why? You worried?"

"No, no… It just seems like something you'd want to do."

And, to be fair, his powerset is very useful in the field. Especially after his Dannering.

"I would, but… With everything that's happened with Batman… I get it. What you said about efficiency. It didn't really matter when the world was working, but if I can do more good telling other people where to go… I think that's what I need to do."

I carefully open the door of the next warehouse, tumblers rotating at my ring's direction.

So he's serving the same role for the junior operatives? Respectable enough.

"Heh."

"What?"

"Oh, I just pictured you in a gamer chair, surrounded by fast food wrappers and empty energy drink cans-."

Eh, with his metabolism, they'd have to be big snacks. Danner enhanciles do need more calories to stay healthy. I have to wonder if he's been eating enough these days?

"That's not gunna happen. I still get out into Gotham. But some of us can't move at the speed of light. And… If I wanna help make the whole world a better place, I need to affect other places. I guess… I mean, this is what Batman's been doing."

"Are you just dodging your mother?"

Heh. Cutting right to the heart of the matter, eh?

The lock clanks open, and I use a pair of spreader constructs to open it fully.

…

"No?"

Don't sound all that sure of yourself, Robby.

"Robin, it's perfectly normal to-."

"Yeah, I-. Already had this talk. But talking about it doesn't mean that you don't feel it. And she's…"

Still feeling suspicious of her, after all this time?

I think this facility used to do paint mixing? Some of the smaller machines have been removed, but the larger pieces are still here. I'm not sure if the owners just did a runner or if they were planning on opening it back up if the demand ever materialised.

"She's what?"

Heck, some of the parts may well have been looted by someone or other. Industrial mixers have some strong motors.

"I never really thought her relationship with Batman would work, you know? I get that she's attractive, and… Yeah, I've heard the jokes about who he dates. But she's the daughter of Ra's al Ghul. The head of an international assassin cult. And she was fine with all that. I never thought she'd actually switch sides for real."

Would you prefer Catwoman? Bruce isn't a monk, he does have needs, even if he mostly subsumed them into his work.

I scan the interior, searching for-. Huh. It's amazing what you miss by over thinking things, but I did learn from Richard finding Richie Simpson before me or Wallace. Don't just scan for hidden spaces, look for power lines, patterns in the dust, an air current where the architectural plans say there shouldn't be one…

Those warding spells proving an annoyance even now. Or apokaliptian technology, which is more likely if they're looking for Anarky.

"I apologise. I didn't think it would get this far either. Found it."

I drift up and over the rim of one of the mixing vats. You wouldn't think that a supervillain would have the skills to hide a false bottom in one of these. It's basically a solid piece of steel with an arm for a mixing paddle. But…

Now that's an impressive piece of work. I suppose he figured if it's disused...

I deploy a construct crumbler arm and a construct suction cup, applying the cup to the middle of the vat before crumbling a circle around it. And lift…

A small basement with an electronics workshop, bits and pieces of circuitry arrayed in… Places which presumably make sense to the person who put them there.

And that probably looks like an explosion in an electronics store to most people, I bet.

I notice that I've already deployed a construct electronic components rack and started sorting them properly, and-. And I stop, and set my ring to put them back where it found it.

"Confirming the presence of a workshop. And…" I take a closer look at one of the helmets on the desk. "What's either an Apokoliptian Justifier helmet, or a very close replica. No occupants discovered yet."

Worrying. I wonder if they were taking bits out, putting bits in, or both?

"I doubt that we'll get that lucky, but keep looking anyway."

"Will do."

I'm guessing Lonnie has been making these boltholes all over the place, using hacked Zeta Tube access?

Regular crime is way down. Even supervillains… With the economy toast, stealing just isn't an effective way to gather resources, not compared to being hired to do something productive. But rational arguments don't matter much when you're insane.

And they probably end up back in jail quickly.

In theory, all examples of Apokoliptian technology should have been handed in. In practice… I understand someone who got stuck as a Justifier for a month wanted to keep their helmet. Just as a memento of something horrible which they survived. Something to show the grandchildren. So when we find someone who's done that without nefarious intent, we just take out the circuitry to render it permanently non-functional before handing it back.

That would be a morbid-as-hell momento, but a rad one.

Now, in theory, without a way to project Anti-Life, the helmets are pretty harmless. The only other source of Anti-Life I know about is Darkseid… And possibly Despair. And if either of them start messing around on Earth then we'll have bigger things to worry about than one guy in a helmet.

Damn straight...

But.

Earth is weird. There are probably ways to project other things through the system. There are probably people other than New Gods who can modify them and use them for… Something untoward. So we need to find out who's playing around with them.

I suspect Lonnie has been doing just that. Learning how they're put together, and working out how to modify them...

Checking the airflows again-.

"Mmmmpgh!"

"Found someone."

Hopefully in decent shape. I wonder how long ago Lonnie was here?

It's-. It's slotted into the floor. I guess… Someone built a slot with some sort of… Restraint frame built into it, which they can raise or lower at will. It-. I check the mechanism as best I can, but Apokoliptian technology disrupts ring scans and I'm reluctant to try anything else just in case it's booby trapped.

Logical, really. What's a foot or two out of the floor when you've already dug underground? And as long as you don't interfere with underground lines...

But okay. If it's something the site owner is working on, they're going to need to test it fairly regularly. The deployment system isn't going to be that complicated, because it would create a problem for them. The control to raise the prisoner compartment is a button on a box connected to the wall by a thick cable. I can just press it, but there's a hole for a key… And the key's attached to it by a piece of string, which is lazy…

To borrow a line: "That's bait." Presumably he's hoping whoever found this would be dumb enough to take things at face value. Too bad they got OL.

Too lazy.

I send a filament into the key hole, checking for-. Yes, that's a detonator. Which matches the key on the string. So either there's another key here somewhere or they have it with them. Why did it have to be the one Gotham criminal who's actually good at electronics?

On the upside, now that you've found it, it's child's play to disarm, or simply remove the explosives by tracing the wiring.

Look around, where could it be? If he was working at the bench there, he's shorter than me, so-.

A construct filament pulls out a key that was sellotaped to the underside of the bench. Check the pattern of the teeth… Looks like it should work. Alright, but set up constructs to detect electrical impulses and another to slam shield constructs down to protect the victim just in case. All in place? Okay, insert the right key and press the button…

Man, tricksy little brat. And paranoid.

The vertical… Tray, rises out of the floor, a man in a stained white t-shirt and boxer shorts handcuffed to the frame with… An ersatz claymore strapped to his side and a ball gag in his mouth. I put a safe construct around the mine as the man manages to focus on me and realises that I'm not his captor.

I'd ask where he got a claymore, but slipping into a military armoury is probably not difficult for Lonnie at this point.

"Mruh?"

"I'm here to rescue you. Please indicate any traps that I haven't noticed as quickly as possible."

Of course, that's hoping that he'd know of any. Still, easy enough to ask.

So, the hunt for Anarky continues, I see. And amusingly, reinforces the logic of the title. Lonnie is fleeing and hiding from the authorities... The Man. Why do I get the feeling that if they don't find him soon, he'll do something really troublesome, like a super-terrorist attack on a government site? In which case, the sooner they find him the better.

Darko · Mar 13, 2025

Mr Zoat said:
"Oh, I just pictured you in a gamer chair, surrounded by fast food wrappers and empty energy drink cans-."

"That's not gunna happen

Even if he does eat like that, his Danner biology may be able to prevent him becoming fat.

Duke Long · Mar 13, 2025

Mr Zoat said:
**Then-** Her forms shifts once again, from sharkwoman to star conqueror. **-I'm fairly confident.**

'form'

Mr Zoat said:
Send ship status and… Short term directive: repair ship, long term direction: repair Federation.

Ave, Lanterna.

'long term directive:'?

Mr Zoat said:
Robert and Zatanna wince, and-

"There's more of them!"

-the illusions sheltering us drops. But at least we know where we're going.

'illusion'
or
'drop'?

Mr Zoat said:
"Tfel!"

-narrowly miss us as they go flying passed us and into the pursuing soldiers, forcing them to evade. The initial pressure wave having died down I dismiss the anchors and power onwards.

'past us'

Mr Zoat said:
"We got attacked by a blood mage earlier, who could leach our abilities by biting things. He didn't resist the mind control, so-."

"Reves noitcennoc!"

"Thank you. It-." She looks nervous. "What?"

'leech'?

Mr Zoat said:
Ah! Indirect, that's clever. Doesn't help me because my tattoos mean that the spell can't find me, but it should help everyone else. I expand my filament into an insulated cable and pour electricity into it. Not a good attack in salt water, but it it's only conducting where he's bitten into it-.

AAAGH-my leg!

'if it's'?

Mr Zoat said:
Keep working on the darkness, try-. Binding the ones who are already bleeding, and… Expend my awareness further, becauZ-Z-Z-Z-!

Because my leg's gone again and my constructs just weakened and a couple of sharks just bit through their chains and I don't know if they're lower level magicians or if my main target did that for them.

'Expand'?

Mr Zoat said:
Ah. Okay. Giant rectangular construct, to suck the sand out of the water as it moves through. Another large construct, keeping more to be drawn from the sea floor. Expanded awareness, and-.

'keeping more from being'?

Mr Zoat said:
I'm wearing a tau empire gue'la space suit, lightly armoured and unarmed aside from the ring. Mr. UR-025 came as he was, his right fist scratching off the remains of what the discoloured patch on his chassis suggests was a Mechanicus skull-cog. His left arm mounts a rotary cannon of some sort. Looks a little chunkier than a modern assault cannon, particularly from this angle, but it's nothing that my construct barriers can't survive.

'Tau Empire' for consistency.

Mr Zoat said:
"Do not call me human technology. I am a free being."

"I don't mean it as in property. You're an intelligent being in your own right. I understand and respect that. The… Re-emergence of serfdom is one of the… Many things I don't like about the Imperium."

Another possibility is that he might've been designed by another AI. I imagine they were better designers than most humans, though the gap might be closed by help from the 'Omnissiah', if you're going with that.

Mr Zoat said:
"Popular fiction is not why I feel the way I do about your species. Though my archival record indicate that I disliked that episode when I watched it."

"So you don't have it stored on you?"

'indicates'?

Edit:

Mr Zoat said:
While certainly not fun, using voidsuits to destroy tyranid capital ships is far more resource-efficient than using large fleets. Our efforts combined with my ability to accurately track the hive fleets over strategically significant distances means that we've actually gotten a little time and a little space. I wanted to get back to analysing the moon ship… And spend a little time with my son. But T'suam has been studying human psychology…

No, it's my fault. After I mentioned to Gru that human productiveness fell off dramatically after a certain number of hours that were far less than what the Imperium generally expects menials to work, she… Took advantage of her rank to arrange for trials to be run. And since T'suam and Bo'ohk have had input on the development of a human body language analysis system to aid in Tau Empire diplomatic efforts, my oversight committee has determined objectively that I'm working too hard and am about to become inefficient.

'Tsua'm'
'Tsua'm'

Mr Zoat said:
"Cor, nice tinboy, boss." I tilt my and see Gremlin watching UR-025 on a screen. He's standing… Near the main A.I. housing compartment. "Where'd you get 'im?"

'my head'?

Mr Zoat said:
A.I.s communicate in high-density machine code. Ring translation defaults to realtime translation.

Cool.

Mr Zoat said:
"Ah fink… Yeah, Oo-arh just insulted Eterie's build quality, an' da build quality of 'is shipyard, an' da build qwali'y of 'is whole ship class…"

Ha!

Mr Zoat said:
There's a flash as the internal… I don't think it's a standard warp-based teleporter, but I'm not sure exactly what it is. UR-025 appears as the light fades, his optical sensors running over me Tsua'm and then Gremlin.

'Tsua'm'

Mr Zoat said:
"Orkiod thinker strain. Mythological. Extinct."

'Orkoid'

Mr Zoat said:
Tsau'm sits up a little straighter as Gremlin glares at UR-025. "U'r zero two five, on behalf-."

"Mayflies."

Tsau'm smiles awkwardly-.

'Tsua'm'
'Tsua'm'

Mr Zoat said:
"By which I mean that I have seen thousand of minor alien civilisations arise, prosper for a time and then been cast down. Usually by humans." His head rotates to glare at Gremlin for a moment before turning back. "Or orks. The eldar seldom bother with total extermination. The tyranids are new. Their deeds are not."

'thousands'
'be cast'?

Mr Zoat said:
"You believe that your philosophy makes you different. Your ideal of universal service to the betterment of all. It is unusual, but it is not new. Even less idealistic interspecies alliances have occurred before. They died."

Tsau'm nods. "Can you tell us why?"

'Even more'?
'Tsua'm'

Mr Zoat said:
"I will prepare an archive for the Tau Empire." He turns his head to Tsau'm. "Please try to last at least the one hundred and seventy years it will take me to fully characterise your people."

'Tsua'm'

NightmareWarden · Mar 13, 2025

Has Alan asked any amazonian necromancers or any of the new Christian superheroes about Rose Canton? He should be able to talk to her now that Heaven is more reasonable. And Themyscira is back, so they are available again. I figure think of her might have helped him through the Anti-Life while Paul was gone and the state of the world was... Challenging his resolve. I just figure now that he has a new lease on life and some time his passed, some of Paul's ideas might have set off some unforseen consequences.

I mean, I bet a living Rose will pop up from another timeline or dimension eventually. Most versions of DC didn't handle her like your Young Justice timeline did, but she was still a character elsewhere, I figure.

Ardy · Mar 13, 2025

Zoat, we never concluded who replaced Zeus with captain Marvel, he was "thinking" about the Japanese lightning god or maybe Zauriel (we'll his bosses through Zaurie) but to my knowledge we didn't get confirmation, though there was a reference during the anti-life to him having the ability to transform back again. I think.

And also Blue's kids talk with Shade

Mr Zoat · Mar 13, 2025

Duke Long said:
'form'
'long term directive:'?
'illusion'
or
'drop'?
'past us'
'leech'?
'if it's'?
'Expand'?
'keeping more from being'?
'Tau Empire' for consistency.
'indicates'?
'Tsua'm'
'Tsua'm'
'my head'?
'Tsua'm'
'Orkoid'
'Tsua'm'
'Tsua'm'
'thousands'
'be cast'?
'Even more'?
'Tsua'm'
'Tsua'm'

Thank you, corrected.

Another possibility is that he might've been designed by another AI. I imagine they were better designers than most humans, though the gap might be closed by help from the 'Omnissiah', if you're going with that.

I'm not sure exactly where the term 'Omnissiah' entered the 40K lexicon, but it was after my time.

NightmareWarden said:
Has Alan asked any amazonian necromancers or any of the new Christian superheroes about Rose Canton?

No.

He should be able to talk to her now that Heaven is more reasonable. And Themyscira is back, so they are available again. I figure think of her might have helped him through the Anti-Life while Paul was gone and the state of the world was... Challenging his resolve. I just figure now that he has a new lease on life and some time his passed, some of Paul's ideas might have set off some unforeseen consequences.

Trying to talk to Rose at this point would be reopening a very painful wound. And even after his contact with the SI, he doesn't really think in that sort of way.

Ardy said:
Zoat, we never concluded who replaced Zeus with captain Marvel, he was "thinking" about the Japanese lightning god or maybe Zauriel (we'll his bosses through Zaurie) but to my knowledge we didn't get confirmation, though there was a reference during the anti-life to him having the ability to transform back again. I think.

Probably one of them. He has one now, but it isn't story-relevant at the moment.

And also Blue's kids talk with Shade

I'm sorry?

Ardy · Mar 13, 2025

Mr Zoat said:
Thank you, corrected.

I'm not sure exactly where the term 'Omnissiah' entered the 40K lexicon, but it was after my time.

No.

Trying to talk to Rose at this point would be reopening a very painful wound. And even after his contact with the SI, he doesn't really think in that sort of way.

Probably one of them. He has one now, but it isn't story-relevant at the moment.

I'm sorry?

Alan Scott had a talk with the shade about tracking down one of his kids that could have happened in his marriage to rose, and when it did happen in the alternate reality they visited his son had Shadowland powers, Alan was gonna talk to Shade about potentially tracking him down in our reality (if he exists)

Mr Zoat · Mar 13, 2025

Ardy said:
Alan Scott had a talk with the shade about tracking down one of his kids that could have happened in his marriage to rose, and when it did happen in the alternate reality they visited his son had Shadowland powers, Alan was gonna talk to Shade about potentially tracking him down in our reality (if he exists)

Thank you for reminding me. I'll try and mention something about that.

Mr Zoat · Mar 14, 2025

27th May 2013
13:39 GMT -5

"Cutting now."

My construct shears snip through the handcuff around his right ankle, and his weight transfers to my support construct. He's been here a while, and his captor hasn't been generous with the food or water.

Or the toilet visits, but I cleaned up the mess without making reference to it.

Chnk!

The thin strip of plastic explosive around the handcuff goes off, but my construct box easily contains it. And-

Boompf!

-the claymore goes off a moment later. Seeing no other threat, I offer him my hands and help him out of the frame and onto his captor's chair. Having already checked it for explosives or switches.

"Thank you. Thank you."

I nod, smile professionally, and take an isotonic drink out of subspace and offer it-. I remove the lid, stick a straw in and then put it on the workbench within convenient reach.

"You've been through a rather unpleasant experience, but I have questions for you the moment you're capable of answering."

He nods, then reaches out with his right hand to take the drink. But his hand's shaking, and he has trouble getting a grip as his fingers refuse to cooperate. He then moves both of his hands around the base to stabilise it before leaning in and sucking on the straw. A suck, then he pulls back and needs a couple of tries to swallow successfully. Another suck, and this mouthful goes down a little easier.

I leave him to it. "Robin, can you hear me?"

"I didn't go anywhere, Oh El. You just stopped talking."

"One kidnap victim-. Is there anyone else here as far as you know?"

"N-. No. He said-. He said, 'one at a time'."

I nod. "One kidnap victim. Should make a physical recovery in a couple of days. Some booby traps, but it's all mundane stuff. Reasonably impressive engineering. I didn't think that was his thing."

"You'd be surprised what skills they pick up. And I think there's some sort of freelance henchmen build crew somewhere."

"And they're still operating?"

"Nothing definite, but there's no reason why they couldn't have built it before. Maybe for someone else."

I nod to myself. "Is it worth notifying the police?"

"In Blüdhaven?"

How best to describe the place that has been called Gotham's evil twin? It's like, you see Gotham, and then you find out that there's a city that Gotham doesn't mention in polite company. Well, how about mentioning the fact that Gotham actually had a pretty good survival rate during the Anti-Life period. Being under sporadic threat made its people resilient, and having Batman looking after them gave them the capacity to keep hoping.

Blüdhaven pretty much just laid down and died. It's basically a ghost city now. I half-joked about letting Swamp Thing have it and… No one argued against it.

And the half part was that I didn't say that I'd clear the site first.

"The local F.B.I. office is up and working, isn't it?"

"No jurisdiction. He hasn't committed any federal crimes."

"Gotham police?"

"Not their beat."

"Congregation? Green Arrow told me that Big Barda's expanding their repertoire."

"They don't have any scene of crime people. They can do security if you can think of a reason for maintaining the site."

"No, I-. I guess not." I look around. "I guess we don't even need this as evidence, really."

"No, we do. Just not to get a conviction. Your recordings, testimony and the victim's testimony will be plenty."

"And he's just going back to Arkham anyway, so there's barely any point bringing a.. case."

"Kinda takes the shine off it, huh? We still need to know exactly what he was doing, though, so make sure you drop off the helmet and any other Apokoliptian technology."

"Will do. Orange Lantern out."

I return my full attention to the man, who has finished the drink and is.. doing simple stretches to try and get his limbs back under control.

"Feeling a little better?"

"A little." He looks me in the eye. "You haven't got the little fuck?"

"I'm afraid not. Ah, I'm sorry. I'm Orange Lantern."

"Ah…" That makes him look away. "I'm Kai. Uh. What do you need to know?"

"Who took you?"

He frowns. "You don't know?"

"I need to hear it from you."

"Mad Hatter. Crazy leprechaun mother fucker. Got the drop on me, stuck one of them-" He glances at the partially-dismantled Justifier helmet. "-on me, and I was just-. Doing whatever he said."

"His standard behaviour involves him kidnapping girls and forcing them to take part in tea parties. I assume that he didn't do that to you?"

"He gave me tea. Just… Poured it on me, while I was…"

His eyes are drawn back to the frame he was cuffed to.

"Did he mention any sort of reason?"

He shrugs. "Something about nicer hats? I didn't-. I kind of tuned him out after a while. I guess it's…" He looks down. "I was a Justifier."

"Yes. I know. But did he say that, or-."

"It's my helmet. So either I'm the unluckiest guy in the world, or he knew."

I nod. "A few other people known to have been Justifiers have gone missing recently. Now, despite the Justice League's pronouncements, some people have been taking what happened out on them. But this is… More focused. I don't know if you're in contact with the others, but I strongly suggest that you get a warning out if you are." He nods. "Is there anyone at home? Anyone I can leave you with while you recover?"

His head droops, then he shakes it.

"Okay, well… I guess I can stick around for a few minutes. You..? Lived in Gotham long?"

Coltsguy · Mar 14, 2025

Mr Zoat said:
"Okay, well… I guess I can stick around for a few minutes. You..? Lived in Gotham long?"

You forgot to ask if he came here often.

Ardy · Mar 14, 2025

Aw come on, he should've been in Arkham and starved when everything collapsed or dead from anti life driving him even more nuts, he's still out and killing people?

Fuck it, go full Grayven on him since apparently the actual apocalypse won't chill him TF out

Chojin Patriarch · Mar 14, 2025

Mr Zoat said:
27th May 2013
13:39 GMT -5

"Cutting now."

My construct sheers snip through the handcuff around his right ankle, and his weight transfers to my support construct. He's been here a while, and his captor hasn't been generous with the food or water.

So starved, suffering from restraint-related damage, and likely a mess downstairs. This guy might have a bit of work ahead of him to get better from this just in the physical sense, never mind the psychological.

Or the toilet visits, but I cleaned but the mess without making reference to it.

Chnk!

Good plan. I doubt his already-battered ego would be happy about acknowledging that.

The thin strip of plastic explosive around the handcuff goes off, but my construct box easily contains it. And-

Boompf!

That'll be the claymore. Power Rings make such a mockery of deathtraps, don't they?

-the claymore goes off a moment later. Seeing no other threat, I offer him my hands and help him out of the frame and onto his captor's chair. Having already checked it for explosives or switches.

"Thank you. Thank you."

It'd be a crazy person to boobytrap their own chair. Then again, this whole setup... 'Crazy' doesn't begin to describe it. I don't think this was Lonnie, certainly.

I nod, smile professionally, and take an isotonic drink out of subspace and offer it-. I remove the lid, stick a straw in and then put it on the workbench within convenient reach.

"You've been through a rather unpleasant experience, but I have questions for you the moment you're capable of answering."

Limit his intake. Good plan. If he tried to scull it, most of it would end up on the floor when he vomited it back up.

He nods, then reaches out with his right hand to take the drink. But his hand's shaking, and he has trouble getting a grip as his fingers refuse to cooperate. He then moves both of his hands around the base to stabilise it before leaning in and sucking on the straw. A suck, then he pulls back and needs a couple of tries to swallow successfully. Another suck, and this mouthful goes down a little easier.

I can't begin to imagine the pins-and-needles he'd have been suffering... Or the bedsores.

I leave him to it. "Robin, can you hear me?"

"I didn't go anywhere, Oh El. You just stopped talking."

I assume he was checking in on others while he waited for OL, then. No point being silent for just one person.

"One kidnap victim-. Is there anyone else here as far as you know?"

"N-. No. He said-. He said, 'one at a time'."

Ominous. Presumably not a physical fighter, if he was minimising the potential resistance.

I nod. "One kidnap victim. Should make a physical recovery in a couple of days. Some booby traps, but it's all mundane stuff. Reasonable impressive engineering. I didn't think that was his thing."

"You'd be surprised what skills they pick up. And I think there's some sort of freelance henchmen build crew somewhere."

There was at least one person leading such a group.

"And they're still operating?"

"Nothing definite, but there's no reason why they couldn't have built it before. Maybe for someone else."

Gotta wonder how many such lairs are hidden out there, abandoned after their only use. The ones that didn't get blown up, burned down or straight-out flattened, anyway.

I nod to myself. "Is it worth notifying the police?"

"In Blüdhaven?"

Shiiiit. Well, sod that.

How best to describe the place that has been called Gotham's evil twin? It's like, you see Gotham, and then you find out that there's a city that Gotham doesn't mention in polite company. Well, how about mentioning the fact that Gotham actually had a pretty good survival rate during the Anti-Life period. Being under sporadic threat made its people resilient, and having Batman looking after them gave them the capacity to keep hoping.

Probably some of the most resilient people in all of DC America, given the stuff that hits their city. Metropolis might get aliens, but Gotham gets the crazies.

Blüdhaven pretty much just laid down and died. It's basically a ghost city now. I half-joked about letting Swamp Thing have it and… No one argued against it.

And the half part was that I didn't say that I'd clear the site first.

Heh, throwing in a shit-ton of fertiliser. Sadly, the League would probably insist on people being recovered for proper burial, deserving of it or not.

"The local F.B.I. office is up and working, isn't it?"

"No jurisdiction. He hasn't committed any federal crimes."

I guess Gotham and Blüdhaven are in the same state, so no kidnapping and transporting across state lines...

"Gotham police?"

"Not their beat."

Most of them would probably rather forget it existed entirely.

"Congregation? Green Arrow told me that Big Barda's expanding their repertoire."

"They don't have any scene of crime people. They can do security if you can think of a reason for maintaining the site."

Bit of an oversight. Still, I doubt there's much crossover between CSI and superpowered vigilante. And yes, I'm counting Flash.

"No, I-. I guess not." I look around. "I guess we don't even need this as evidence, really."

"No, we do. Just not to get a conviction. Your recordings, testimony and the victim's testimony will be plenty."

Ah, the shortcuts of a world with Vigilantes. Especially after such a major disaster. Then again, OL provides plenty of physical evidence recording anyway with his ring scans...

"And he's just going back to Arkham anyway, so there's barely any point bringing a.. case."

"Kinda takes the shine off it, huh? We still need to know exactly what he was doing, though, so make sure you drop off the helmet and any other Apokoliptian technology."

Ah, one of Arkham's fine former residents? No wonder things were so... Deathtrap-y.

"Will do. Orange Lantern out."

I return my full attention to the man, who has finished the drink and is.. doing simple stretches to try and get his limbs back under control.

Impressive recovery. Especially if OL didn't give him a once-over beforehand.

"Feeling a little better?"

"A little." He looks me in the eye. "You haven't got the little fuck?"

Even if they did, I suspect they wouldn't be letting you anywhere near him. Because I have no doubt that you'd have your hands around their throat in an instant, even in that shape.

"I'm afraid not. Ah, I'm sorry. I'm Orange Lantern."

"Ah…" That makes him look away. "I'm Kai. Uh. What do you need to know?"

Huh. Interesting. A former vigilante? No, from the looks of it, a merc with a definite theme.

"Who took you?"

He frowns. "You don't know?"

Please, do share with the audience.

"I need to hear it from you."

"Mad Hatter. Crazy leprechaun mother fucker. Got the drop on me, stuck one of them-" He glances at the partially-dismantled Justifier helmet. "-on me, and I was just-. Doing whatever he said."

Presumably using his own signature mind-control technology, rather than anything Apokaliptian. I get the feeling he's been studying the Justifier helmets, though, for ideas to improve his stuff with.

"His standard behaviour involves him kidnapping girls and forcing them to take part in tea parties. I assume that he didn't do that to you?"

"He gave me tea. Just… Poured it on me, while I was…"

So he's graduated from 'mere' psychological abuse to actual physical abuse. That seems a worrying sign.

His eyes are drawn back to the frame he was cuffed to.

"Did he mention any sort of reason?"

He shrugs. "Something about nicer hats? I didn't-. I kind of tuned him out after a while. I guess it's…" He looks down. "I was a Justifier."

Oh, that's definitely a bad thing. Tetch getting better mind-control tech? Not good for anyone.

"Yes. I know. But did he say that, or-."

"It's my helmet. So either I'm the unluckiest guy in the world, or he knew."

Yeah, it seems improbable. So possible foreknowledge, maybe based on records of known Justified individuals...

I nod. "A few other people known to have been Justifiers have gone missing recently. Now, despite the Justice League's pronouncements, some people have been taking what happened out on them. But this is… More focused. I don't know if you're in contact with the others, but I strongly suggest that you get a warning out if you are." He nods. "Is there anyone at home? Anyone I can leave you with while you recover?"

That would be interesting, to find out those who went through the torture of being Justifiers were reaching out to each other for... Fellowship? Comfort in shared suffering?

His head droops, then he shakes it.

"Okay, well… I guess I can stick around for a few minutes. You..? Lived in Gotham long?"

...I get the feeling that once he's strong enough, he'll be back in a dog-themed supersuit, hunting down the Hatter...

Well, amusing to see OL is still as awkward with aftercare as he ever was. He's very much the 'fix a situation, then flit off and let other people handle the messy cleanup' kind of guy, isn't he? Unless it's something he's personally invested in, then he's all in. Anyway, Jervis Tetch messing with Justifier helmet tech? Worrying. Yet another concerning thing to watch out for.

My construct sheers snip through the handcuff...

My construct shears snip through the handcuff...

...but I cleaned but the mess...

...but I cleaned up the mess...

Mr Zoat · Mar 14, 2025

Chojin Patriarch said:
My construct shears snip through the handcuff...
...but I cleaned up the mess...

Thank you, corrected.

BlackCoat13 · Mar 14, 2025

Mr Zoat said:
"One kidnap victim-. Is there anyone else here as far as you know?"

Mr Zoat said:
I nod. "One kidnap victim.

kidnapping / kidnapped victim-.
kidnapping victim.
Kidnap is only used as kidnap in present tense as a verb. "I will kidnap you."
Unless it's different in British English?

Mr Zoat · Mar 14, 2025

BlackCoat13 said:
kidnapping / kidnapped victim-.
kidnapping victim.
Kidnap is only used as kidnap in present tense as a verb. "I will kidnap you."
Unless it's different in British English?

I wasn't sure but apparently it is.

Darko · Mar 14, 2025

Mr Zoat said:
How best to describe the place that has been called Gotham's evil twin

I'd say it's similar to Abridged Slug and Guru.

Mr Zoat · Mar 14, 2025

Mr Zoat said:
"More to the point, I imagine that you all have reasons to not want to be on Cybertron at the moment."

Thank me, corrected.

NightmareWarden · Mar 14, 2025

So the crazies are expanding their victim profiles to include the people they blame for making the Antilife so miserable? Because it isn't just Mad Hatter doing this.

Duke Long · Mar 14, 2025

Decided to use a spoiler because I remembered that some people might dislike a big list of quotes and corrections taking up space.

Mr Zoat said:
"You know, I-" I walk over to the circle indicated. "-watched a play once where a magician created his circle using lights mounted on the ceiling rather than any-" He's pulling a disgruntled expression. "-thing physical. Not workable?"

Why does he say it's from a play? Didn't he see Brain do this about fifteen yonks ago? I think he made a teleportation circle to escape with Mallah? Did he just not want to give away that it was definitely possible? But then why mention it at all?

Mr Zoat said:
"Please remove your clothes so I can see where to attach this. And your rings, so that I can get clear readings."

Uh… I'm really hoping Ahri'ahn will turn out to be an ersatz ally, but I think taking off the rings is going a bit far.

Mr Zoat said:
"I imagine that international relations in your youth might be likened to a huge room sparsely populated by emaciated dwarves. Now it is a small room inhabited by heavily armed ogres. No one can move without bumping into someone else, and sudden and unexpected actions can result in undesirable escalation. While you may well argue that you can act as you wish in Atlantean territory… We're all so close together than one country's problems have a way of rapidly becoming everyone's problem."

'that one country's'
I like this metaphor.

Mr Zoat said:
From one main enchanting space to a dozen or so, and there are a lot fewer people working at each one. I'm not completely sure how that's possible; he had some ideas for automation, but magic doesn't respond well to that sort of thing, generally speaking. The soul of a human caster capable of bridging the gap between the corporal and the ideal form is a fundamental part of… Atlantean magic, at least, and most other forms of non-evil magic. Unclean magic can bind souls to skip that step, but that doesn't sound like Ahri'ahn's thing, and it would be a fairly large departure from normal Atlantean conduct. Not to mention being very illegal.

This works, but I think 'corporeal' is more conventional.

Mr Zoat said:
I hold out my hands, and the skull helmet appears in them.

"Desperate, are we?"

Nice! I thought this guy was looking after the Tower of Fate or something, glad that we get to see him.

Mr Zoat said:
"The technique we used exposed me forcefully to some more uplifting emotions. Plus… It showed me that he didn't actually want any of this to happen. He just wanted to be a slightly better mugger. I didn't see any point in killing him. Particular when -as you say- he could do useful work." I shrug. "And when he said that he regretted the whole thing, I knew that he was telling the truth, and genuinely wanted to reform. I mean, if killing him would have ended it faster then I would have killed him, but it.. wouldn't."

'Particularly'

Mr Zoat said:
"That, ah…" The two of them walk into the living area and take the settee opposite us, Scott looking decidedly pensive. "That wasn't why… Have you..? Though about how safe it is-. And I don't just mean Rogue's power, but there are still plenty of people who support the Friends of Humanity, and then there's-. It took a while for me to find out that-" He touches his glasses. "-ruby quartz could block my eye beam. I was.. effectively blind for years before the Professor figured it out."

'Thought'

Mr Zoat said:
I wince. I thought that was a dodgy one. "And… Were they breaking in, or just psyching themselves up to ask to if they could study here?"

Extraneous 'to'?

Mr Zoat said:
He looks up, eyes… I'm assuming they're getting wider, but the mask makes it look like they're wide all the time, as two more sentinels trudge our way. Scott blasts one in the next from the entrance, sending the head flying into the side wall. The other extends an arm in both directions, a volley from each palm forcing Scott into cover and wrecking my shield.

Something wrong with the penultimate sentence, I think.

Mr Zoat said:
"You..? Don't remember Koryak?"

"You once told me that you use your ring to enhance your memory. Not all of us have your recall."

"Koryak." He looks fairly blank. "Okay, do you remember when Orm unleashed Oceanus?"

Honestly I was almost prepared to accept that Oh El was the one being fucked with rather than Kaldur. I still don't remember Koryak even after his identity was explained.

Mr Zoat said:
The animated corpse considers for a moment, then snarls and thrust his arms into the sky as the land leaps to respond!

'thrusts'
I liked this look at Kor, very cool stuff. Both the history and the wizards. Especially liked the primate wizard, assuming that's what he was.

Mr Zoat said:
"Thet I do not heff. I would know if it I saw it again."

"How are you at passing through unearthly realms?"

"It is my job."

'it if'

Mr Zoat said:
Alright, conceptual level geomancy. Impressive, but he's using physical actions and I've seen the same thing from Rama Kahn. It's not quite the same as Rama Kahn was given the authority to do it by the spirit of his state while this man is doing it manually, but in terms of shock value-.

'Khan'
'Khan'

Mr Zoat said:
"Foolish because Wolf Krieger wasn't on your level?"

"How many just objects do you think thet there are?"

'many such'?

Mr Zoat said:
Richie breathes in slowly. "So-."

The other two glare at him.

"So there's all wizards, right."

The other two try to peel pack the panic obscuring their memories.

Jamie… Yes. He saw them all working on a glowing… Thing? It wasn't one of the… Three? Runes that he actually knew, but they were all pretty intent…

'they're all wizards,'?

Mr Zoat said:
His pride -the same pride that got him repeatedly turned into a sharkman and sent to a young offender's institution for eight months- makes him… Hesitates to flee. Retreat. The shark in him smells something not unlike food, and he knows that the Sha'ark got… Something out of eating that telepath. But that's a hoard of magical zombies, plus whoever's controlling them.

'Hesitate'?
'horde'

Mr Zoat said:
They opt to crawl away a little further, even thought there's no sign that the zombies noticed them. Then they hug the sea floor in an attempt to make themselves harder to spot.

Not a terrible idea in most situations. But as it turned out? Completely useless here.

'though'

Mr Zoat · Mar 14, 2025

Duke Long said:
Decided to use a spoiler because I remembered that some people might dislike a big list of quotes and corrections taking up space.
Why does he say it's from a play? Didn't he see Brain do this about fifteen yonks ago? I think he made a teleportation circle to escape with Mallah? Did he just not want to give away that it was definitely possible? But then why mention it at all?

No, he was referring to a television series in which he first saw it, but he isn't sure if Ahri'ahn knows what television is.

'that one country's'
This works, but I think 'corporeal' is more conventional.
'Particularly'
'Thought'
Extraneous 'to'?
Something wrong with the penultimate sentence, I think.
'thrusts'
'it if'
'Khan'
'Khan'
'many such'?
'Hesitate'?
'horde'
'though'

Thank you, corrected.

'they're all wizards,'?

No, he's saying 'there is all wizards', which is a colloquial turn of phrase.

PJ739 · Mar 14, 2025

So, is Destiny now a recurring character in Paul live? Appearing at random for more updates?

Mr Zoat · Mar 14, 2025

PJ739 said:
So, is Destiny now a recurring character in Paul live? Appearing at random for more updates?

Technically, Destiny is a recurring character in everyone's life.

PJ739 · Mar 14, 2025

Mr Zoat said:
Technically, Destiny is a recurring character in everyone's life.

Yeah but tecnicaly not many get to talk to him or are invisible to it sight. And OG talking with Hinnon and then sundenly Destiny appearing with a couple cups of coffe behind him would be hilarious, kinda like the TV show where Death convince Dream to make a friend (the immortal guy), even if he didn´t know it yet.
I would like a chapter from time to time of them just talking because from the vibe i got from your Destiny (very practical and without the ego that Dream has) is that OG could bounce ideas about improving the universe or about his dilemas with him while updating him in his live.

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