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

Darko · 2026-09-30T21:13:50+0100

Vaermina said:
Do you remember he very specifically was instructed not to tell Delenn what he was planning to do?

But we don't know if he didn't tell her.

Vaermina said:
Even in real life "divine acts" get investigated before they're officially considered to be such.

The basics of any such investigation is going involve checking local camera recordings, orbiting ship recordings, orbiting station recordings, satellite recordings, and analyzing the building itself with various sensor systems for detectable energy effects.

Also, there are ways of doing that sort of thing in Babylon 5, the two ways realistically recognizable to the show/movie Minbari would be energy based transmutation and nano-tech. The former, from the technomages, and the latter, from the Shadows and their servants

And if they figure out that he did it, then what?

I'm not sure if he really cares about it beyond just paying off a debt to the architect.

Vaermina said:
Consequences are a thing,

Fortunately for Matthew, the ring makes him resistant to a lot of those.

Vaermina said:
remember that whole conversation where you decided that he would stealthily do things so he wouldn't have the Minbari coming after him?

And I was proven wrong. I'm not going to make up things to prove how I wasn't wrong.

Vaermina · 2026-09-30T21:27:44+0100

Darko said:
But we don't know if he didn't tell her.

That Delenn approved his travel to Minbar heavily suggests he didn't.

Unlike Mayan, Delenn would understand all the political problems that her giving permission for a Human to alter a landmark on Minbari would cause.

Darko said:
And if they figure out that he did it, then what?

I'm not sure if he really cares about it beyond just paying off a debt to the architect.

Worst case scenario? It could cause the Earth-Minbari war to start back up.

PDV · 2026-09-30T21:33:05+0100

Mr Zoat said:
Do you call yourself an Earthian?

In one hundred percent of my interactions with non-Earthlings, yes, yes I do.

Mr Zoat · 2026-10-01T06:21:32+0100

9th October 2013
10:01 GMT -5

Cadbury has lawyers, obviously. But they specialise on commercial law. There's a law firm we use when we need to do something larger, but they don't really do American medical law either, and it would be… Alright, as a sole proprietor, there's literally nothing I can't do with company assets because they're legally my assets, but it would still feel off using them for something not related to the business.

But fortunately, the Justice League has a lawyer. Ah-. I mean, the Justice League has multiple law firms who handle things for them pro bono, on the grounds that doing stuff for the Justice League is just about the best advertising money can't buy, but it has one lawyer who's a member. And if Augustus Freeman can get Xalitan a slap on the wrist after a town got levelled and several American soldiers got medical discharges, he can probably help me out with my problem.

His secretary looks up from her desk. "Mister Freeman will see you now."

I smile at her. "Thank you."

I get up and head for his office. Since he has a secret identity, Arnus has to actually live that identity at least some of the time. Right after the Life Broadcast he didn't bother because there wasn't a lot of call for lawyers, but once Dakota City's government started sort of working again they did actually need lawyers to help reorganise things. We can still call on him for essential purposes, but he's effectively back on normal working hours.

I push open his office door, and he comes over to greet me.

"Orange Lantern."

"Mister Freeman. Thank you for agreeing to meet with me at such short notice."

We shake hands, and he directs me to the seat in front of his desk before retaking his own seat. "You said that your problem relates to your Alzheimer's treatment."

"Yes. Well, sort of. I've encountered a lot of highly advanced technologies during my time on this Earth that should have spread but haven't. For example, did you know that the first cybernetic hand on Earth was created by a man named Ramon Solomano in nineteen thirty nine?"

He raises his eyebrows slightly. "I did not."

He might be telling the truth; I'll have to ask later. Yes, he was obviously in America during that time but it's not like he'd have had any reason to meet a minor Arizonan supervillain.

I nod. "No microchips or vacuum tubes. It relied on piezoelectric reactions to electrical current in the nerves in the stump, which was magnified by an acid battery to move the pistons. Amazing work, for the time. And then you've got zeta tubes, purple healing rays…"

"I recall your speech."

"And then there's my… Device."

"Are you concerned that it will be delayed due to it requiring F.D.A. approval?"

"It… Okay, this is… Weird superhero stuff-" That he knows about, but I'm playing along. "-but there's a certain amount of evidence that the reason why those devices aren't more widely used is the active opposition of a entity called Boss Smiley. We're not exactly sure what he is, but he appears to have the ability to have a small effect on the minds of large populations all at once, and he claims to have been using it to ensure that human civilisation remains with certain controllable bounds. I don't really mind it if the F.D.A. has some paperwork to work through… If they take too long I can just sell it as a personal organiser that helps forgetful people, and if people choose to buy it for people suffering from Alzheimer's… It's like 'massage wands'."

I actually do the air quotes.

"They don't provide a warranty for anything else and places that sell them don't get regulated as sex shops, but everyone knows what people actually do with them."

"I would advise against that."

"But am I legally right? I genuinely don't know."

"Every cybernetic device I know of that is commercially available in the United States has F.D.A. approval. I would not want to argue that your device is an exception."

"But could you?"

"Perhaps. But I feel that if I won it would be due more to the poor state of the F.D.A. rather than my being correct in law."

"Okay, let's… Not do that."

"So what is it that you want?"

I look him in the eye, but the git doesn't even crack a little smile.

"I want to check that it is just a bureaucratic problem, not something exotic. Which means that I actually need a lawyer able to advocate for my work with the relevant committee, or however it works in practice. And preferably one who can deal with unconventional skulduggery."

"I'm afraid that medical law isn't my specialty. Nor is lobbying."

"Alright. Can you recommend someone?"

"Frederick Tuckman is an experienced lobbyist. I am uncertain how familiar he is with the arcane, but his firm also serves as Lex Luthor's defence attorneys."

I nod. "So there's a degree of familiarity there."

"I couldn't possibly comment."

"Are there any alternatives?"

"Almost certainly. But he is the only one I am familiar with."

"Alright, I'll get in touch with him. Thank you-."

"Have you considered a non-legal solution?"

I blink. "Are you allowed to suggest that?"

"You raised the prospect of bypassing the F.D.A.. I am merely suggesting that if you are concerned about a third party interfering with the approval process, you could provide them with a defense against external influences yourself. I believe that you have a device which protects the wearer from magic?"

"Yes, and that… Could work. It couldn't hurt, at least. And… I should talk to the people involved anyway."

And I don't… Think anyone bothered building a planar barrier in Washington. Might not work, but it won't make things worse and it might help.

"Anything else I've overlooked?"

"Have you considered seeking approval for the device in countries other than America?"

"No. At this point, most of my contacts are here. And my understanding is that America's requirements are less strenuous than European ones."

"There is no need to limit yourself to seeking approval in just one country at a time. If you could find partners who could oversee the approval process, you may be able to bring it to the market more rapidly."

"That's a good point." The former High Conciliator should be able to organise things in Britain if nothing else. It would probably be a good idea to talk to her anyway. Maybe there's a market off-world? "I'll make a start once I've booked a meeting with Mister Tuckman. Thank you very much for your help."

BR549 · 2026-10-01T07:04:52+0100

...so I was poking through some old chapters. And found an interesting little bit, in relation to the current plotline:

Mr Zoat said:
"If you're.. forgetting things a lot, there have been a lot of medical advances in the outside world. And I could attach a quantum wafer in your brain and then you'd never have to worry about forgetting things again."

Hmmm....

Darko · 2026-10-01T07:22:17+0100

Mr Zoat said:
obviously in American during that

"America"

Mr Zoat said:
may be able tot bring it to the market more rapidly."

"able to"

Signaller · 2026-10-01T07:28:15+0100

Could Hephaestean command Apollo to pull his head out of his arse and cooperate?

Mr Zoat · 2026-10-01T08:28:30+0100

BR549 said:
...so I was poking through some old chapters.

Why would you do a thing like that..?

Basically, making and implanting quantum wafers is beyond current human technology, and it wouldn't fix the underlying problem either.

Darko said:
"America"
"able to"

Thank you, corrected.

Chojin Patriarch · 2026-10-01T09:10:32+0100

Mr Zoat said:
9th October 2013
10:01 GMT -5

Cadbury has lawyers, obviously. But they specialise on commercial law. There's a law firm we use when we need to do something larger, but they don't really do American medical law either, and it would be… Alright, as a sole proprietor, there's literally nothing I can't do with company assets because they're legally my assets, but it would still feel off using them for something not related to the business.

Yeah, 'law' isn't a monolithic entity, it's dozens of small disciplines loosely grouped by topic. An expert tin one isn't going to be well- skilled in another.

But fortunately, the Justice League has a lawyer. Ah-. I mean, the Justice League has multiple law firms who handle things for them pro bono, on the grounds that doing stuff for the Justice League is just about the best advertising money can't buy, but it has one lawyer who's a member. And if Augustus Freeman can get Xalitan a slap on the wrist after a town got levelled and several American soldiers got medical discharges, he can probably help me out with my problem.

And while it's unlikely he's going to handle the case himself, he can point you to someone who can.

His secretary looks up from her desk. "Mister Freeman will see you now."

I smile at her. "Thank you."

How prosaic. Been a long time since we saw this simple an interaction.

I get up and head for his office. Since he has a secret identity, Arnus has to actually live that identity at least some of the time. Right after the Life Broadcast he didn't bother because there wasn't a lot of call for lawyers, but once Dakota City's government started sort of working again they did actually need lawyers to help reorganise things. We can still call on him for essential purposes, but he's effectively back on normal working hours.

A little bit of comforting normality for at least one League member, at least.

I push open his office door, and he comes over to greet me.

"Orange Lantern."

"Mister Freeman. Thank you for agreeing to meet with me at such short notice."

The tricky part of talking to someone who you know by multiple names: using th right one.

We shake hands, and he directs me to the seat in front of his desk before retaking his own seat. "You said that your problem relates to your Alzheimer's treatment."

"Yes. Well, sort of. I've encountered a lot of highly advanced technologies during my time on this Earth that should have spread but haven't. For example, did you know that the first cybernetic hand on Earth was created by a man named Ramon Solomano in nineteen thirty nine?"

No accounting for supervillain logic...

He raises his eyebrows slightly. "I did not."

He might be telling the truth; I'll have to ask later. Yes, he was obviously in American during that time but it's not like he'd have had any reason to meet a minor Arizonan supervillain.

It's easy to forget how spread out some supervillains can be.

I nod. "No microchips or vacuum tubes. It relied on piezoelectric reactions to electrical current in the nerves in the stump, which was magnified by an acid battery to move the pistons. Amazing work, for the time. And then you've got zeta tubes, purple healing rays…"

"I recall your speech."

So few people seem to care about the content, though.

"And then there's my… Device."

"Are you concerned that it will be delayed due to it requiring F.D.A. approval?"

Just a little, yes...

"It… Okay, this is… Weird superhero stuff-" That he knows about, but I'm playing along. "-but there's a certain amount of evidence that the reason why those devices aren't more widely used is the active opposition of a entity called Boss Smiley. We're not exactly sure what he is, but he appears to have the ability to have a small effect on the minds of large populations all at once, and he claims to have been using it to ensure that human civilisation remains with certain controllable bounds. I don't really mind it if the F.D.A. has some paperwork to work through… If they take too long I can just sell it as a personal organiser that helps forgetful people, and if people choose to buy it for people suffering from Alzheimer's… It's like 'massage wands'."

Yeah, that's it. Stick it to the smiling bastard.

I actually do the air quotes.

"They don't provide a warranty for anything else and places that sell them don't get regulated as sex shops, but everyone knows what people actually do with them."

Indeed, often on video.

"I would advise against that."

"But am I legally right? I genuinely don't know."

Hence his coming to Arnus.

"Every cybernetic device I know of that is commercially available in the United States has F.D.A. approval. I would not want to argue that your device is an exception."

"But could you?"

Putting him in a real difficult spot, OL.

"Perhaps. But I feel that if I won it would be due more to the poor state of the F.D.A. rather than my being correct in law."

"Okay, let's… Not do that."

It would leave OL open to all sorts of legal issues later.

"So what is it that you want?"

I look him in the eye, but the git doesn't even crack a little smile.

Paraphrasing OL's catchphrase at him. Cheeky, Arnus.

"I want to check that it is just a bureaucratic problem, not something exotic. Which means that I actually need a lawyer able to advocate for my work with the relevant committee, or however it works in practice. And preferably one who can deal with unconventional skulduggery."

Not a lot of people who can manage that.

"I'm afraid that medical law isn't my specialty. Nor is lobbying."

"Alright. Can you recommend someone?"

"Frederick Tuckman is an experienced lobbyist. I am uncertain how familiar he is with the arcane, but his firm also serves as Lex Luthor's defence attorneys."

Which means Luthor might get wind of it somehow if he hasn't already.

I nod. "So there's a degree of familiarity there."

"I couldn't possibly comment."

Certainly, Luthor's never been prosecuted successfully for anything criminal.

"Are there any alternatives?"

"Almost certainly. But he is the only one I am familiar with."

In other weds, anyone else would require going in blind.

"Alright, I'll get in touch with him. Thank you-."

"Have you considered a non-legal solution?"

I blink. "Are you allowed to suggest that?"

As a purely hypothetical, maybe.

"You raised the prospect of bypassing the F.D.A.. I am merely suggesting that if you are concerned about a third party interfering with the approval process, you could provide them with a defense against external influences yourself. I believe that you have a device which protects the wearer from magic?"

That overcomplicates thing, but it could work.

"Yes, and that… Could work. It couldn't hurt, at least. And… I should talk to the people involved anyway."

And I don't… Think anyone bothered building a planar barrier in Washington. Might not work, but it won't make things worse and it might help.

Just don't be too obvious about it if you do.

"Anything else I've overlooked?"

"Have you considered seeking approval for the device in countries other than America?"

Ah, there's the rub? Which country?

"No. At this point, most of my contacts are here. And my understanding is that America's requirements are less strenuous than European ones."

"There is no need to limit yourself to seeking approval in just one country at a time. If you could find partners who could oversee the approval process, you may be able tot bring it to the market more rapidly."

And again, it's a matter of trusting them to do what he wants.

"That's a good point." The former High Conciliator should be able to organise things in Britain if nothing else. It would probably be a good idea to talk to her anyway. Maybe there's a market off-world? "I'll make a start once I've booked a meeting with Mister Tuckman. Thank you very much for your help."

At least he has a starting point now

Vexing over the teething troubles, but he'll surely find a way somehow. It's only a matter of time... The smiling bastard can't interfere forever...

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

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Darko

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Vaermina

Well worn.

PDV

Revelation That Uncertainty Is Itself An Answer

Mr Zoat

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BR549

This is filth! FILTH!!

Darko

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Signaller

Not too sore, are you?

Mr Zoat

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Chojin Patriarch

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