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

[Coda]

gue'vessa

Click to shrink...

gue'vesa

...I wonder if P'Aul could Greediport in this universe if he learned how. That would be useful for messing with Imperials, for one thing.

Click to shrink...

That sounds... dangerous.

 

[Vaermina]

-reply to Vaermina-
Many authors enjoy the opportunity to expound upon their worldbuilding. And many fans enjoy the opportunity to expound upon their headcannon/fannon.
Good authors manage to fit such exposition into their story diegetically. In this case it is info the Tau would reasonably be expected to want and P'aul would be entirely willing to give, even if from a plot perspective it could all have happened off-screen.

Click to shrink...

The problem is this isn't headcanon/fannon territory.

Most of the stuff this Paul is wrong about? It's basic stuff he should have known via a twenty second wikia walk back in the day. So if we go that route this is either Zoat deciding to just not do the research and just make anything he wants up. Or this is Zoat deciding to do that thing where everyone has seen the sky as blue all their lives, but then the SI comes in and claims the sky is and always has been plaid, and everyone goes to look and discovers the SI is right.

 

[Mr Zoat]

gue'vesa

Click to shrink...

Thank you, corrected.

 

[Chojin Patriarch]

Expand plz?

Click to shrink...

That sounds... dangerous.

Click to shrink...

If he could do it safely, he could go anywhere he wanted. Any planet, any person, any time. Imagine how paranoid that would make certain Inquisitors. Or he could just teleport into the Emperor's Throne Room and, I don't know, install a text-to-speech device in the throne or something. He may not like the Imperium much, but helping some better leaders get in charge would certainly improve it...

 

[Ardy]

If he could do it safely, he could go anywhere he wanted. Any planet, any person, any time. Imagine how paranoid that would make certain Inquisitors. Or he could just teleport into the Emperor's Throne Room and, I don't know, install a text-to-speech device in the throne or something. He may not like the Imperium much, but helping some better leaders get in charge would certainly improve it...

Click to shrink...

But he can't bring people/Tau with him when he does so. Kitten will be forever alone.

 

[Vaermina]

If he could do it safely, he could go anywhere he wanted. Any planet, any person, any time. Imagine how paranoid that would make certain Inquisitors. Or he could just teleport into the Emperor's Throne Room and, I don't know, install a text-to-speech device in the throne or something. He may not like the Imperium much, but helping some better leaders get in charge would certainly improve it...

Click to shrink...

A lot of places would be warded against that kind of intrusion.

And even trying with the Eldar would likely have him appear inside a disintegration matrix.

 

[Mr Zoat]

But he can't bring people/Tau with him when he does so. Kitten will be forever alone.

Click to shrink...

O'Shaserra is still in suspended animation at the moment.

 

[Ngamer11]

The problem is this isn't headcanon/fannon territory.

Most of the stuff this Paul is wrong about? It's basic stuff he should have known via a twenty second wikia walk back in the day. So if we go that route this is either Zoat deciding to just not do the research and just make anything he wants up. Or this is Zoat deciding to do that thing where everyone has seen the sky as blue all their lives, but then the SI comes in and claims the sky is and always has been plaid, and everyone goes to look and discovers the SI is right.

Click to shrink...

Even if this version of the SI knew this before he arrived, he would've forgotten all about it thanks to the trip removing all his metaknowledge about the universe he arrived in, meaning he can only know what he's been told and researched or observed himself.

 

[Duke Long]

Even if this version of the SI knew this before he arrived, he would've forgotten all about it thanks to the trip removing all his metaknowledge about the universe he arrived in, meaning he can only know what he's been told and researched or observed himself.

Click to shrink...

Since Warhammer has different editions, I think Zoat has said that the way it works is that the SI remembers previous editions, but forgets about the edition he's actually in, so he still has considerable metaknowledge, just not as much as he otherwise would. Similar to how he forgot about the specific DC universe he ended up in but remembered others, with much of the knowledge of those others being applicable.

 

[Rafin]

"I suggest reading about what Dolan Chirosius managed to spur people into doing against Cardinal Bucharis."

Click to shrink...

Is ibb.co down for everyone or just me?

 

[Assblaster5000]

Is ibb.co down for everyone or just me?

Click to shrink...

Dead for me as well.

 

[Lord Ernest]

Is ibb.co down for everyone or just me?

Click to shrink...

Dead for me too. Been like this for a couple of days already, I think.

 

[Prince Charon]

Is ibb.co down for everyone or just me?

Click to shrink...

I tried it just a little bit ago and got nowhere, so I think it's not just you.

 

[Mr Zoat]

20th January 2013
12:14 GMT

"The orbital fire doesn't look very accurate. Or was that-?"

"Deliberate."

"Herding people-. No. Introducing a random element. The people knew they could die at any moment, but Kalmin didn't want them to adapt to it."

I see the flakes of intent behind each crater and glass-bowl.

"Yes. And the strikes would wake people up, or would occur at times of day when different demographic groups were in different places."

I point north.

"There's a series of strikes a few miles that way, where he destroyed every major transport link to this city, knowing that there was no way they'd be able to get food here in large enough quantities to prevent starvation. And that the people here would know that."

"So they'd tear themselves apart without him needing to intervene directly."

"He didn't care exactly how they responded. So long as they were motivated by fear."

And there was a lot of fear here.

"You hired him in case the Controllers tried backstabbing you."

"Not 'backstabbing' exactly, just… Being people I couldn't work with."

"But now that you know that you can, why is he still alive?"

"I knew what he was when I offered him a place. Those ships L.E.G.I.O.N. is using? Those are about seventy percent his design work. Even the ones designed to be built by less technologically advanced planets. You can see the data on their performance versus other designs of ship on the N.E.M.O. database. They're… A lot better. He's very good at what he does. And he's not murdering planets any more. Yeah, he… Objectively… Probably deserves to be put down like a rabid dog, but… There's no practical reason to do it."

Also, I rather doubt that killing him would be easy.

"How long did it take?"

"I'm not sure. There's…"

I try scanning for intact pieces of computer equipment. Once the civilisation broke down to the point that people in one place didn't know what was happening elsewhere, the Qwardians-. Kalmin deployed some sort of pack-hunting robots, but they were only programmed to target people.

Ah.

"They used a virus of some sort on the computer systems. I'm not going to be able to get an exact timeline. Um. On a tangentially-related matter, I have a question about your father's training methods."

She turns her head away from a collection of burned skeletons which appear to have been flensed while seeking shelter in an alleyway.

"What?"

"'It is better to be feared than to be loved, if one cannot be both.'"

"Nice to know that Dad failed completely."

"Right… But I remember reading that… They did an experiment with dogs. If you're nice to a dog, then the dog remembers you and shows a bit more attention to you, but mostly does its own thing. If you're hostile to a dog, it avoids you. But the best way to make a dog attached to you is to mix the two. At random. It makes the dog insecure and so it-."

"I guess Dad never read a psychology textbook. There wasn't any variety. And there weren't any rewards."

"No, he didn't seem like the sort."

"Why are you bringing this up?"

"He's working with the Justice League at the moment. And… There's a good chance that when the current crisis is over, he'll-"

"Damn it."

"-get his sentence commuted. I doubt they'll just… Let him go, but he probably won't be in line for an execution anymore."

"How do I make them reconsider?"

"Defeat the Anti-Life-enhanced Bruno Mannheim yourself. Or… Otherwise minimise Sportsmaster's role in things. Or…"

She waits for me to spit it out.

"Or if he switches sides. Then he wouldn't be pardoned. But the world's governments accepted pardoning Doctor Sivana Senior, so…"

"Do you think I should try and get a leave of absence? I wouldn't mind a complete pardon myself."

"Not unless you've got a way to resist the Anti-Life Equation I don't know about. I don't care if Mister Crock gets brain damaged as a result of Anti-Life exposure, but I do care about you."

"I worked that out when you said that you wanted to wander the universe with me forever."

"I'd hoped that it didn't take quite that long."

"No, but I hadn't really thought through what you wanted. Out of us."

"Stable home environment, children, the opportunity to raise and nurture them, new professional challenges and opportunities and to do all that with you. Nothing particularly unique, except that it's us doing it."

"That sounds… Nice."

"You?"

"I never really thought I'd get the opportunity to step back like that. I don't think I'd do well being a home-maker."

"I'm pretty good at multi-tasking. I'm happy to take the majority of childcare responsibilities if you want to pursue a… Um, a legitimate career."

She folds her arms across her chest. "You didn't need to emphasise it like that."

"I think in this sort of conversation it's best to be as unambiguous as possible."

"Does the Justice League need a light recon-?"

A quiet noise, the scratch of metal on brick, draws our attention. Ring scans aren't producing clear results, which isn't too surprising given Qwardian technology.

The first… Predatory kangaroo-looking robot, stalks slowly into view. It looks like it's trying to give us a clear look while remaining too far away for us to immediately attack with weapons that this world would have had when Kalmin ended it.

Another clambers over the rubble a short distance from the first, joining it in watching us.

And then another.

That would be intimidating, if we were unarmed civilians.

"There might be something useful on their databases." Jade draws her sword. "Let's clean up Kalmin's work."

 

[BlackCoat13]

Wow, that was a lot of pink. Kind of eye searing, really.

 

[Darko]

build by less technologically

Click to shrink...

"built"

Yeah, he… Objectively… Probably deserves to be put down like a rabid dog, but… There's no practical reason to do it."

Click to shrink...

Well except for the fact that he still worships the Anti-Monitor and if that big guy comes all then you have a very devout follower in your ranks that can cause damage.

"Or if he switches sides. Then he wouldn't be pardoned. But the world's governments accepted pardoning Doctor Sivana Senior, so

Click to shrink...

True, but he didn't switch sides and the Anti-Life is a hundred times worse than the Sheeda, so they may be less forgiving.

The first… Predatory kangaroo-looking robot, stalks slowing into view. It looks like it's trying to give us a clear look while remaining too far away for us to immediately attack with weapons that this world would have had when Kalmin ended it.

Click to shrink...

An intimidation tactic maybe.

 

[dw7thdoctor]

I don't quite get what they are doing here. Are they trying to make another yellow ring or somehow fix what the weaponer did? also shouldn't it be relatively easy for him to find universal counterparts he has their ring data I'm sure a controller would be analysis some background data that the rings picked up and find the vibrational resonance of that universe or some other technobabble.

 

[Mr Zoat]

"built"

Click to shrink...

Thank you, corrected.

 

[Handlewithcare]

Yikes. Should we be worried Zoat can so easily imagine how to terrorise an entire planet?

Incidentally, this is also why living on planets is a bad idea,giving a certain tech level. They are soft targets.

 

[Chojin Patriarch]

20th January 2013
12:14 GMT

"The orbital fire doesn't look very accurate. Or was that-?"

"Deliberate."

Click to shrink...

Nothing so scary as something raining from the sky and obliterating things near you. Except for the times you're expecting it to come... And it doesn't. I bet he employed very precise targetting algorithms to maximise the fear...

Spoiler: Commentary spoilered for length

"Herding people-. No. Introducing a random element. The people knew they could die at any moment, but Kalmin didn't want them to adapt to it."

I see the flakes of intent behind each crater and glass-bowl.

Click to shrink...

Because, as seen in things like the London Blitz, people can adapt very quickly to constant bombardments...

"Yes. And the strikes would wake people up, or would occur at times of day when different demographic groups were in different places."

I point north.

Click to shrink...

Allowing no relief, no respite, eh? And preventing them from going 'Oh, they're bombing those people. Surely they wouldn't hit us next.'

"There's a series of strikes a few miles that way, where he destroyed every major transport link to this city, knowing that there was no way they'd be able to get food here in large enough quantities to prevent starvation. And that the people here would know that."

"So they'd tear themselves apart without him needing to intervene directly."

Click to shrink...

Because, as the saying goes, civilisation is only three meals from chaos.

"He didn't care exactly how they responded. So long as they were motivated by fear."

And there was a lot of fear here.

Click to shrink...

I bet at least some of that was driven by questions like 'Why us? Why attack us? Why are you doing this?'

"You hired him in case the Controllers tried backstabbing you."

"Not 'backstabbing' exactly, just… Being people I couldn't work with."

Click to shrink...

Fortunately, they're playing along with the plan for now. Let's hope they can curb any imperialistic tendencies.

"But now that you know that you can, why is he still alive?"

"I knew what he was when I offered him a place. Those ships L.E.G.I.O.N. is using? Those are about seventy percent his design work. Even the ones designed to be build by less technologically advanced planets. You can see the data on their performance versus other designs of ship on the N.E.M.O. database. They're… A lot better. He's very good at what he does. And he's not murdering planets any more. Yeah, he… Objectively… Probably deserves to be put down like a rabid dog, but… There's no practical reason to do it."

Click to shrink...

Let's hope he hasn't designed in any flaws he can one day exploit, then. Because a smart man would anticipate betrayal.

Also, I rather doubt that killing him would be easy.

"How long did it take?"

Click to shrink...

There's also that, yes. No doubt he is very well protected against... Damn near everything. Wouldn't be surprised if he even has defences in place for esoteric things like having his desires fiddled with.

"I'm not sure. There's…"

I try scanning for intact pieces of computer equipment. Once the civilisation broke down to the point that people in one place didn't know what was happening elsewhere, the Qwardians-. Kalmin deployed some sort of pack-hunting robots, but they were only programmed to target people.

Click to shrink...

After all, why destroy the environment? That wouldn't scare people as much as something that only hunted them.

Ah.

"They used a virus of some sort on the computer systems. I'm not going to be able to get an exact timeline. Um. On a tangentially-related matter, I have a question about your father's training methods."

Click to shrink...

Oh? This is gonna be good...

She turns her head away from a collection of burned skeletons which appear to have been flensed while seeking shelter in an alleyway.

"What?"

Click to shrink...

No doubt the remains were left where they lay as an added stimulus...

"'It is better to be feared than to be loved, if one cannot be both.'"

"Nice to know that Dad failed completely."

Click to shrink...

Heh. True enough. She has nothing of either feeling towards him, does she?

"Right… But I remember reading that… They did an experiment with dogs. If you're nice to a dog, then the dog remembers you and shows a bit more attention to you, but mostly does its own thing. If you're hostile to a dog, it avoids you. But the best way to make a dog attached to you is to mix the two. At random. It makes the dog insecure and so it-."

"I guess Dad never read a psychology textbook. There wasn't any variety. And there weren't any rewards."

Click to shrink...

Only a lack of punishment? That can be a reward in itself...

"No, he didn't seem like the sort."

"Why are you bringing this up?"

Click to shrink...

Is it relevant to this planet, or..?

"He's working with the Justice League at the moment. And… There's a good chance that when the current crisis is over, he'll-"

"Damn it."

Click to shrink...

...Oh, right. Though if he gets any ideas about hunting down either of them afterwards, I doubt OL will be so kind as he was when he recruited Sportsmaster.

"-get his sentence commuted. I doubt they'll just… Let him go, but he probably won't be in line for an execution anymore."

"How do I make them reconsider?"

Click to shrink...

...In a way that doesn't incriminate yourself in certain things, as a bonus?

"Defeat the Anti-Life-enhanced Bruno Mannheim yourself. Or… Otherwise minimise Sportsmaster's role in things. Or…"

She waits for me to spit it out.

Click to shrink...

I can imagine her trying the former, at least, if they could find out where. It wouldn't work, because he's basically mainlining Anti-Life...

"Or if he switches sides. Then he wouldn't be pardoned. But the world's governments accepted pardoning Doctor Sivana Senior, so…"

"Do you think I should try and get a leave of absence? I wouldn't mind a complete pardon myself."

Click to shrink...

That depends. How are you at dealing with feelings of absolute worthlessness, listnessness and total depression?

"Not unless you've got a way to resist the Anti-Life Equation I don't know about. I don't care if Mister Crock gets brain damaged as a result of Anti-Life exposure, but I do care about you."

"I worked that out when you said that you wanted to wander the universe with me forever."

Click to shrink...

He's certainly not shy about being open with his feelings.

"I'd hoped that it didn't take quite that long."

"No, but I hadn't really thought through what you wanted. Out of us."

Click to shrink...

She's young enough that that sort of thing could be put off till 'Later'.

"Stable home environment, children, the opportunity to raise and nurture them, new professional challenges and opportunities and to do all that with you. Nothing particularly unique, except that it's us doing it."

"That sounds… Nice."

Click to shrink...

If nothing else, their kids would be special.

"You?"

"I never really thought I'd get the opportunity to step back like that. I don't think I'd do well being a home-maker."

Click to shrink...

Well, at least you've got a good example of what not to do about raising children...

"I'm pretty good at multi-tasking. I'm happy to take the majority of childcare responsibilities if you want to pursue a… Um, a legitimate career."

She folds her arms across her chest. "You didn't need to emphasise it like that."

Click to shrink...

Given some of the things you're very good at... Some of them aren't exactly nice.

"I think in this sort of conversation it's best to be as unambiguous as possible."

"Does the Justice League need a light recon-?"

Click to shrink...

That isn't the Team? Usually Batman handles that sort of thing, I expect.

A quiet noise, the scratch of metal on brick, draws our attention. Ring scans aren't producing clear results, which isn't too surprising given Qwardian technology.

The first… Predatory kangaroo-looking robot, stalks slowing into view. It looks like it's trying to give us a clear look while remaining too far away for us to immediately attack with weapons that this world would have had when Kalmin ended it.

Click to shrink...

Oh my god... Boomers. And they're programmed to work like slasher movie villains?

Another clambers over the rubble a short distance from the first, joining it in watching us.

And then another.

Click to shrink...

And no, just because they're kangaroo-shaped, doesn't mean they can't hurt you. Kangaroos can fuck you up.

That would be intimidating, if we were unarmed civilians.

"There might be something useful on their databases." Jade draws her sword. "Let's clean up Kalmin's work."

Click to shrink...

What's the bet he'll get an alert about the boomers going off-line? And probably shrug and go back to what he was doing...

Well, this is going to be entertaining. After all, they're modelled on Australian animals, which everyone knows are murder machines. But seriously, I have no doubt Kalmin made them very tough, just in cases like this when some off-worlder poked their head in. And it'll make a nice change of pace from all the talking these last few days...

 

[Darko]

I bet at least some of that was driven by questions like 'Why us? Why attack us? Why are you doing this

Click to shrink...

Kalmin: You were on the closest planet.

Fortunately, they're playing along with the plan for now. Let's hope they can curb any imperialistic tendencies.

Click to shrink...

The Controllers from the comics were not nice.

Let's hope he hasn't designed in any flaws he can one day exploit, then. Because a smart man would anticipate betrayal.

Click to shrink...

And he also made Alan's Lantern, so he may potentially hold him hostage.

After all, why destroy the environment? That wouldn't scare people as much as something that only hunted them.

Click to shrink...

I mean, without an environment they're screwed and it would take much longer for them to die.

...Oh, right. Though if he gets any plans about hunting down either of them afterwards, I doubt OL will be so kind as he was when he recruited Sportsmaster

Click to shrink...

He did threaten him.

I can imagine her trying the former, at least, if they could find out where. It wouldn't work, because he's basically mainlining Anti-Life

Click to shrink...

One aspect of Tyranny is being destroyed by things that seem small, so you never know.

If nothing else, their kids would be special

Click to shrink...

Not sure if you meant this as a compliment or as an insult.

Well, this is going to be entertaining. After all, they're modelled on Australian animals, which everyone knows are murder machines

Click to shrink...

I now can't get the image of Kalmin going to Australia and being inspired by it.

Kalmin: By the Anti-Monitor, this place is a death trap! It's beautiful!

 

[Massgamer]

He really doesn't want to tell the Tau that if Daemon's actually took even a minor interest in them they would be completely and utterly fucked.

Click to shrink...

Their souls are just not tasty enough and thus ignored for most part, and Tau are 'boring' emotionally.

 

[Senevri]

Well, this is going to be entertaining. After all, they're modelled on Australian animals, which everyone knows are murder machines.

Click to shrink...

Eh. They're not Emus, so Paul and Jade have a decent chance.

 

[Duke Long]

The first… Predatory kangaroo-looking robot, stalks slowing into view.

Click to shrink...

'slowly'?

I love Kalmin. What a guy. I kind of assumed that he used some tech that directly made everyone on the planet terrified, like a drug or a mind control beam or something, but this is much more interesting.

 

[Mr Zoat]

'slowly'?

Click to shrink...

Thank you, corrected.

 

[BR549]

Oh my god... Boomers.

Click to shrink...

See you say that and I think of something robotic but completely different.

I love Kalinin. What a guy. I kind of assumed that he used some tech that directly made everyone on the planet terrified, like a drug or a mind control beam or something, but this is much more interesting.

Click to shrink...

No Weaponer of Qward worth their qua-matter would use such...gauche methods!

 

[WereDragon]

"No, but I hadn't really thought through what you wanted. Out of us."

"Stable home environment, children, the opportunity to raise and nurture them, new professional challenges and opportunities and to do all that with you.

Click to shrink...

Based upon the evidence to date, this is blatant self-delusion.
Paul actively resists stability and has no need of a fixed home, already has an entire Lantern Corps worth of children he actively avoids raising or nurturing, spends most of his time repeatedly trying to get other people to take on challenges and embrace opportunities rather than doing things himself and spends no time with Jade outside of their 'dates'.

 

[Vaermina]

Their souls are just not tasty enough and thus ignored for most part, and Tau are 'boring' emotionally.

Click to shrink...

True, but Daemons care for more then just souls.

Especially the Traitor Legions.

If even one of those realizes the Tau are basically a free army just waiting to be claimed by anyone with a scrap code generator it would be over for them.

 

[Windona]

Huh, I wonder if this is the lead up to rage. Fix the planet enough so people switch from fear to anger that their civilization was destroyed.

Oh boy, Jade. It will be interesting to see how her dad is handled, and what she goes for as legit work. I could easily see her working for a non-evil Checkmate, for instance.

 

[Vaermina]

Huh, I wonder if this is the lead up to rage. Fix the planet enough so people switch from fear to anger that their civilization was destroyed.

Oh boy, Jade. It will be interesting to see how her dad is handled, and what she goes for as legit work. I could easily see her working for a non-evil Checkmate, for instance.

Click to shrink...

There were no survivors.