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

SotF · Dec 9, 2024

Vaermina said:
General reminder that the Nox should be able to sense every single lie he just told.

Of which there were many.

That might depend upon the specific mechanics of how they sense it there...

Radiant Knight · Dec 9, 2024

The Nox never demonstrated any of those abilities in the show so as far as I'm concerned they don't exist.

Chojin Patriarch · Dec 9, 2024

Mr Zoat said:
18th January 2000
00:27 GMT -5

"That's… One way to put it."

Why are they doing this?

Rampant bureaucracy, perhaps? Before a sentence can be carried out - in this case, the Goa'ulds removal from its host - there has to be an established legal ruling. Or some such nonsense...

"Technically, having not declared otherwise, My Queen and her allies and Underlords are neutral in the war between System Lord Apophis and System Lord Heru'ur. Prior to his death, Supreme System Lord Ra did not formally declared either his brother or his son to be his heir designate, we don't feel any real obligation to pick a side." I glance at Zipacna and Klorel in the defence box, giving them a pseudo-apologetic smile and shrug. "Which means that by goa'uld standards, letting them fight it out is perfectly reasonable."

No hard feelings, gentlemen? It's just good business.

They scowl back.

I stand in the witness box in front of the three… Participants? Judges? And try and work out why they're bothering to ask me these patently ridiculous questions. What do they hope to learn that they don't already know?

Perhaps they're curious about you, Mammon? A goa'uld that encourages cooperation and equality? What a strange concept, after all.

And why the hell they made a nox the judge? Nothing says failure of volksgeist quite like having a trial of this sort on your planet with no members of your civilisation involved. They couldn't even muster the will to pass the buck properly!

Though this necklace they've given me is interesting. Apparently it shows whether the host or the symbiote is talking. I've scanned it entirely and will give a slightly more decorative version to Bastet for when her pregnancy advances. If I and a few courtiers can tell the moment she loses control, we'll be able to cover for her far better.

Ah, the Nox. Sadly underused. Probably for story balance reasons. Having a powerful race liek that able to poke their noses into the heroes' business is decidedly undramatic.

Zipacna flares his eyes as prepares to address me. "You use a host yourself."

I nod. "It would be rather difficult to converse if I did not."

"You do not see anything wrong with the practice."

Construct Lanterns not being known for their talkativeness in general. Even the few in the comics that spoke did so because they were told to act like real people. If I remember correctly...

"Ah… Sort of." He frowns. "My own host is a mindless clone. My Queen, System Lord Bastet, takes volunteer hosts for a year each, after which they join her priesthood. Being her host is a well respected role, but not one they're expected to take for their entire life. And while it is true that I do not have an instinctive revulsion to seeing humans -or other species- taken as hosts… Obviously, basic evolutionary biology has cultivated us as a species whose main way of interacting with the world is via our host bodies, obviously we don't feel weird about it… I am aware that there are… Certain social drawbacks to the default practice of taking one host and keeping them until they finally wear out."

Good thing there are millions of humans under her rule, and always more coming along. And having a bit under a hundred-odd priestesses handy must be useful.

Zipacna looks a little unhappy, and I suspect that he's actually very unhappy. And his hesitation gives Dr. Jackson the chance to jump in.

"Lord Mammon, why don't more goa'uld use clones hosts or trade hosts regularly?"

Because they're lazy? Crawling down a selected human's throat is easy. Making a clone, even a fast-formed one, is tricky.

I shrug. "I can hardly speak for every goa'uld. I can tell you why I didn't, in the past, and I can make educated guesses if you like?"

He nods. "Please."

Actual Mammon was probably a bit of an arsehole.

"Most humans in the universe live lives of hard physical labour. Individually, they're very replaceable to their overlords, while at the same time… Giving up their autonomy while still being able to experience a life of relative leisure isn't actually a terrible deal, even before you include the religious aspect. That, and the fact that their life is extended… After a century they're unlikely to have any living family to go back to and they will experience things they never would without becoming a host. As a result, it's usually possible to more or less come to terms with your host. It's not usually a one hundred percent adversarial relationship."

Not that the Goa'uld leave that much wiggle room, generally.

Colonel O'Neill glances aside. "'Usually.'"

"Er." I look around. "Do I answer his remarks..?"

Dr. Jackson nods. "How was it with yours hosts?"

Ah, time to spin some bullshit, Mammon.

"Ah… Going back a bit. My first host was an unas. Bit of a brute. My recollection is that as long as I kept his stomach filled and beat someone up every so often he didn't have any real complaints, but that might be the rose-tinted spectacles talking." Dr. Jackson frowns for an instant, then relaxes his face. "Then it was on to humans. I had three long-term hosts prior to this one. One treated is as a religious experience, one as a sort of theatre and the third went catatonic."

Yeah, can't really relate to an Unas. I don't think they've even met them in the show, have they?

"'Catatonic'?"

"Yes. Just muttered incoherent gibberish for a few weeks after I took him and then sort of shut down." I shrug. "At the time I thought it was fairly convenient."

Something I'd learned from a combination of Mammon's own records and the records of other goa'uld.

The first probably got annoying because of the praying, the second probably filled his head with amused commentary...

"My main point is that while we're perfectly capable of cloning hosts, the effort isn't usually worth it. After a period of adjustment the host is usually alright about it, there's no loss to the goa'uld's realm and it's convenient. Cloning a host takes dedicated equipment, constant oversight by a goa'uld due to most humans being uneducated peasants, and requires the goa'uld to learn to control its brain without being able to co-opt the schematic systems of the existing occupant. If you'd suggested it to old-me, I'd-. Well, I'd have slain you for your insolence, but if I'd actually thought about it I imagine that I'd have shrugged and said, 'I could, but why bother?'."

Like i said, most Goa'uld are lazy.

"Could you clone a body for Klorel?"

I nod. "Easily. As long as he doesn't want anything special, I can have it done inside an hour."

Five minutes to fabricate one and make sure it's functional, the other fifty-five to sit back and chuckle at their circumstances?

Inside a few seconds, actually, but I have to consider how quickly it could be done with actual goa'uld technology. The sort of thing no actual goa'uld have ever built, but probably could if they wanted to.

"That…" Dr. Jackson turns to the nox running things. "Is a compromise we're happy to make."

And if Klorel needs a bit of time to get used to things, all the better.

"I mean, someone will have to pay me for it. Or I imagine the Tollan-"

Klorel's eyes glow. "No."

You don't get a say, buddy.

"-could do it for you. Probably for free."

"This body is mine."

In this case, possession is not nine-tenths of the law.

I smile at the nox. "Did anyone get around to telling you that repeated sarcophagus use causes brain lesions and paranoia? Perhaps Lord Klorel should not conduct his own defence?"

She looks stricken. "It does?"

About the reaction I'd expect, given what the wiki has to say about them. Compassionate to a fault.

I nod. "Eventually. Perfectly fixable if you know what you're looking for, but everyone sort of assumes that Lord Telchak's work is flawless because it's too useful not to."

Zipacna frowns. "I have seen no evidence of this."

Have you ever bothered to look? Of course you're not going to find any.

I shrug. "Tollan medical scanners can probably pick it up in both of you. I repaired my own already if you need a 'clean' image." I turn my head towards Colonel O'Neill. "Might be a good idea for Skaara too."

The nox nods. "We will recess while a medical investigation is performs on Klorel and Skaara." Klorel looks mulish, but glances at Zipacna. Zipacna nods, so Klorel bites down his complaint. "And Mammon."

At least Zipacna is smart enough to recognise it might be true. And suspicious enough to be willing to investigate.

I nod, and move to stand.

"And Zipacna."

That gets a reaction. He certainly thinks about complaining, but looks at me first. I smile harmlessly, and he weighs thinks up before deciding that it's better to go along with it.

He's also rational enough to get that no, he is not the big dick in the room.

Hm. "Thinking about it, since the Tollan have a way to remove a goa'uld safely… Well, the best way for you to find out what it's like is to try it. That way you could weigh things up based on personal experience."

The nox woman doesn't exactly look enthusiastic. "Do you want to join with me?"

Ooh, this could be awkward. And tricky.

I shrug. "I'm not exactly a representative sample, but if you like. We have two other potential partners here, or I could ask one of my fellow Underlords to volunteer. I'm not sure if a goa'uld has ever had a nox host; it could be an interesting experience for both parties."

Zipacna looks curious for a moment, then his eyes dip and that interest fades. Klorel on the other hand looks disgusted.

As long as they don't get access to the assorted 'supernatural' powers they supposedly have. Which I assume are actually simply advanced technology playing pretend.

"I have no interest in becoming whatever you are."

She nods absent-mindedly. "Than I will join with Mammon. We will reconvene when the scans are complete."

Boy, the brat is sure an obnoxious one.

Amusing, but largely cursory. I suspect everyone on the prosecuting side was already planning to make this happen, they just needed the legal pretense to make it above-board by the Tollan laws. Let's hope Mammon's little pet symbiont can perform the necessary processes to complete the joining, though, or he's going to have to read the Nox in on his little secret.

Vaermina · Dec 9, 2024

Ardy said:
A. Not really?

B. Aside from it being from an RPG, they'd have to be scanning his surface thoughts, which wouldn't work on a Go'ald so I'm not sure why you assume they'd bother.

I wasn't talking about the RPG?

Breadnaught · Dec 9, 2024

Radiant Knight said:
The Nox never demonstrated any of those abilities in the show so as far as I'm concerned they don't exist.

Zipacna: "I'm totally not just here as a pretence to scout weapon emplacements, for the slaughter and subjugation of the Tollen."

Lya: "I haven't even suggested I'm suspicious of your plot myself, and it's the humans from Earth who had to convince me to help, just in case."

Yeah, if she actually had the ability to psychically/empathically detect lies and deception from goa'uld, that episode would have gone very differently.

Darko · Dec 9, 2024

Chojin Patriarch said:
Rampant bureaucracy, perhaps? Before a sentence can be carried out - in this case, the Goa'ulds removal from its host - there has to be an established legal ruling. Or some such nonsense...

It's possible that they want to have all their legal bases covered, plus show themselves as being a people guided by laws, not just to outsiders, but to themselves.

Remember, their civilization nearly died not too long ago.

If that happened then they may be worried that their people could descend into anarchy if they don't do things like enforcing laws.

Yeah, ripping out Klorel may be the right thing to do, but it can send the impression that they can just do whatever they feel like without allowing things like trials and procedures to take place.

Chojin Patriarch said:
Because they're lazy? Crawling down a selected human's throat is easy. Making a clone, even a fast-formed one, is tricky.

There is a crossover fic between Stargate and She-Ra that has an interesting take on the Goa'uld.

They're not that intelligent without a host.

Apparently their merger with a host is what makes them intelligent, but without that they could potentially be reduced to animal levels of intellect.

Maybe they keep hosts for millenia because they're worried that if they switch then they'll be less intelligent, or have some aspect of their personality be changed.

Or it could be like a status symbol.

Having a host shows that they've conquered people and either forced themselves on them or brainwashed them into accepting them.

Making a clone could be viewed as cheating since they didn't conquer them and just programmed them to accept them.

Kinda like how some people consider things like clothing made from artificial products to be inferior to actual animal parts.

And keeping the same host for a long period shows that they have access to advanced tech like a sarcophagus that shows off their wealth and power.

Chojin Patriarch said:
Actual Mammon was probably a bit of an arsehole.

Faker Mammon can also be an ass.

Chojin Patriarch said:
Yeah, can't really relate to an Unas. I don't think they've even met them in the show, have they?

They met the one trapped in Thor's cavern.

Chojin Patriarch said:
You don't get a say, buddy.

He might be so resistant because at this point Skaara is literary the only thing he has that he can say is his.

He probably knows that Mammon and Bastet will just use him as a puppet ruler, so he won't really have any actual power.

Chojin Patriarch said:
As long as they don't get access to the assorted 'supernatural' powers they supposedly have. Which I assume are actually simply advanced technology playing pretend.

They may just be very far up on the evolutionary ladder.

People nearing ascension have shown powers in the show.

RoninSword · Dec 9, 2024

I'll admit, my favourite take on the gouald was that with a host from the same planet (the fic I read used Unas as the species, don't know if that's canon), the snake and host actually blend into a singular individual. Humans were the oddity in that not only were they compatible with gouald, but they would then just be controlled rather then blend.

Speaking of the chapter, weren't they just on their way to assassinate an Overlord? Seems like an odd time to have this meeting/trial/whatever this is.

Mr Zoat · Dec 9, 2024

Darko said:
Yeah, being trapped inside yourself and being made to watch a psychotic parasite commit atrocities for centuries if not millenia is something most people will not experience.

I wouldn't assume that humans are all that anti-atrocity. They're a savage bunch.

"Then"

Darko said:
The spoiler box for the link says 17th January.

Thank you, corrected.

Mr Zoat · Dec 9, 2024

Me said:
designate, so we don't feel any real obligation
treated is as a religious experience

Thank me, corrected.

RoninSword said:
Speaking of the chapter, weren't they just on their way to assassinate an Overlord? Seems like an odd time to have this meeting/trial/whatever this is.

Yes, but he arrived on Tollana, Apophis hadn't arrived yet, he tried to talk to someone in government and got shanghaied into the triad.

Breadnaught · Dec 9, 2024

Mr Zoat said:
I wouldn't assume that humans are all that anti-atrocity. They're a savage bunch.

Don't know what you're talking about. We're a kind and fluffy species.

No, don't loot at the "List of genocides" wikipedia page. It's not a very long list, I promise.

BR549 · Dec 9, 2024

Chojin Patriarch said:
Boy, the brat is sure an obnoxious one.

Darko said:
He might be so resistant because at this point Skaara is literary the only thing he has that he can say is his.

It's been a while, but I seem to recall Klorel being particuarly obnoxious even by Goa'uld standards. Possibly the snake equivilant of teenage rebellion mixed with expecting everyone to accept him as Daddy Dearest's heir...

Neruz · Dec 9, 2024

BR549 said:
It's been a while, but I seem to recall Klorel being particuarly obnoxious even by Goa'uld standards. Possibly the snake equivilant of teenage rebellion mixed with expecting everyone to accept him as Daddy Dearest's heir...

Klorel was very definitely and intentionally written as the Goa'uld equivalent of an angry teenager yeah.

Darko · Dec 9, 2024

BR549 said:
It's been a while, but I seem to recall Klorel being particuarly obnoxious even by Goa'uld standards. Possibly the snake equivilant of teenage rebellion mixed with expecting everyone to accept him as Daddy Dearest's heir...

Neruz said:
Klorel was very definitely and intentionally written as the Goa'uld equivalent of an angry teenager yeah.

He probably was fairly young by Goa'uld standards that he may have been a teenager, or at least a young adult.

Steelplaza · Dec 9, 2024

I don't see it as a plot hole that the SI can get away with lying or anything, but it doesn't seem all in good fun on a narrative level.

He's working hard to steel man the gouald but if any of this is remotely how they can really live why can't it be said by an actual goauld? I feel like this would work so much better if one of the goaulds the SI has been working on and trying to get to adopt a new way of thinking could be saying this stuff. Prove it's not a delusion on his part and that they actually could be what he presents them as.

Darko · Dec 9, 2024

Steelplaza said:
I don't see it as a plot hole that the SI can get away with lying or anything, but it doesn't seem all in good fun on a narrative level.

He's working hard to steel man the gouald but if any of this is remotely how they can really live why can't it be said by an actual goauld? I feel like this would work so much better if one of the goaulds the SI has been working on and trying to get to adopt a new way of thinking could be saying this stuff. Prove it's not a delusion on his part and that they actually could be what he presents them as.

That's easier said than done.

Even if he's had some success with turning them into less evil versions of themselves, Goa'uld civilization has been like that for thousands of years while he's been around for only around a decade, so it's not going to be a quick or easy process.

Even if he brought the most reformed Goa'uld to testify, they still might be considered to be an evil egomaniac.

The only difference being is that they're less of an evil egomaniac compared to other Goa'uld.

Mr Zoat · Dec 9, 2024

Steelplaza said:
I don't see it as a plot hole that the SI can get away with lying or anything, but it doesn't seem all in good fun on a narrative level.

He's working hard to steel man the gouald but if any of this is remotely how they can really live why can't it be said by an actual goauld? I feel like this would work so much better if one of the goaulds the SI has been working on and trying to get to adopt a new way of thinking could be saying this stuff. Prove it's not a delusion on his part and that they actually could be what he presents them as.

Turn up to a human legal ceremony? The gall of it!

Serious reform of the gua'uld way of thinking is many years off yet.

WereDragon · Dec 9, 2024

Mr Zoat said:
"I mean, someone will have to pay me for it.

Still trying to hammer on that Proud Merchant Race Guy hat.

I do wonder how much scanning he has done since arriving. The Tollan have decent tech but I don't know if they are up to detecting Ring scans if they have never encountered such before, let alone blocking them.

hkim · Dec 9, 2024

We don't get much about the Nox in canon, it'll be interesting to see Zoat's take on it.

icgmaesltrom · Dec 10, 2024

I love your Starbate chapters, I actually want you to consider a full thread for the stargate crossover since its a very broad universe to work with.

Mr Zoat · Dec 10, 2024

1st May 2013
14:58 GMT -5

"Ready?"

Dr. Rigoro has stood well back while Mr. Levi, Mr. Bierce and Dr. Cochin put together… Something. It-.

"That would have been faster if you'd just lent me the ring."

Dr. Cochin looks mildly put out, though at least he only raised it once.

"Orange rings cause mental degradation, and I haven't done a background check on you."

"Surely not for the few seconds it would take. And it's not as if I can just run away with it, not with you having more experience and the other ring."

"Dr. Cochin, if you want to apply to the Orange Lantern Corps then you are free to do so. But I don't need any further assistance with this Sector, so you'd be obliged to work in the Reach Periphery. That is to say, a war zone covering a measurable percentage of the volume of this galaxy. Now, if we may return to the matter at hand?"

Mr. Bierce gives the assemblage one last check, then nods to himself. "I wasn't quite sure how to make this thing work. Then I remembered that you freed Metis when you had that fight with Zeus-."

Dr. Cochin blinks heavily, staring at me. "You..? What?"

"I wound Zeus up until he broke guest rights, then got saved by Hephaestaean who proceeded to beat the stuffing out of him. Which included cracking his skull and releasing Metis. Which means that he's only got his own wisdom to draw upon, but should make the human species a little more intelligent."

He takes a moment to absorb that. "That superhero in Massachusetts-. That's Zeus-Zeus."

"It's his sole avatar, with a lot of his power bound until he gets a degree in meteorology. I haven't looked into exactly how it works."

"I will have to make time to speak with him. The things I could learn…"

I raise my left eyebrow. "You didn't do a keg stand in university?"

"Freed Metis, which means that a charm and a prayer to her allows us to grant that dust wisp a degree of intelligence."

I frown. "How much intelligence? Because this whole-."

Mr. Levi shakes his head. "It's more like a natural language interface. It's got a taste for Anarky's form, so it's naturally drawn to him."

"Through his wards?"

"This works indirectly. You might be able to dodge it, and…" He considers for a moment. "Some highly capable magicians could, at a cost. But he's a shape in the world even if we can't directly observe him, and this resonates with that."

"Okay, fire it up. I'll go there and-."

"I.. think that I should accompany you."

I imagine that Mr. Luthor has given some sort of instruction about how making contact with Lonnie should be handled. But I'm not inclined to acquiesce. And the nice thing is: I don't need to. I'm doing this under Justice League authority, and he's just a private citizen.

"I don't think-."

"Now, I understand that you're not keen, but I can handle myself if things turn violent."

"That's not why."

"Ah." He bows his head slightly. "I merely wish to be on hand immediately in case Enginehead or his components need work done to maintain them. You lack the expertise."

"Are you a wizard as well as a computer scientist? Because-."

"I dabble. And there isn't much crossover between the disciplines."

"Mister Levi?"

"I don't know A.I., and I don't know Enginehead's systems. Sorry. Ah, and I'm not that good at fighting."

I discount Dr. Rigoro immediately. He might know the systems better than anyone, but he's about as muscular as an I.T. professional who has risen far enough that they have people to lift printers for them.

"Alright. One moment. Please run the program while I call in backup." He nods, Mr. Bierce raises his hands, and a moment later a familiar dust cloud rises around the hologram projector. I raise my right hand to my ear as the program executes. "Orange Lantern to Blitzen, not that one and not that one."

"Hallo? Orange Lantern?"

"If you're not busy, I've got a lead on Anarky's location."

"No, no. We finished being told that they want lawyers, unt I was getting to know the Blue Lantern. But the safety of a child has priority. Where do you want me?"

Dust congeals around the hologram in a single point, then the computer detects that and narrows it down further. And again, and again. Looks like…

"Looks like… Detroit?"

"Ah, the major manufacturing centre. Perhaps he wanted to use the dense population to hide in."

"Um. Is that what Detroit is on your Earth?"

"It isn't here?"

"It… Was. Ah. Then… Various things happened and it's been in a nose dive ever since. Low fatalities during the Anti-Life due to pre-existing misery. Plenty of abandoned manufacturing sites to hide things in. Want me to pick you up?"

"No, I will just run. Oh, unt what did you mean, 'not that one'?"

"Hm? Oh, on this Earth, Valerie Kameya uses the name. And then there's the reindeer. And there's a guy called Black Lightning, but that's in English."

"Hm. On the route now. Do you have a precise address?"

I glance at the hologram, and see that it's narrowed it down to-.

"Oh dear."

"Is it a hospital?"

"No. Ah."

I connect a filament to Dr. Cochin and transition us to a mostly-intact bus stop in Detroit before transitioning to Johanna and accelerating after her.

"The Justice League has various locations where they store things, or backup sites that could be used as bases of operation."

"Anarky found one?"

"It was mothballed, but… Yes."

"Does it have defences?"

"I don't think so. It shouldn't, anyway."

"It is good that it will keep us on our toes."

Darko · Dec 10, 2024

Mr Zoat said:
saved by Hephestian

"Hephaestaean"

Though the one you wrote seems easier to remember.

Mr Zoat said:
He takes a moment to absorb that. "That superhero in Massachusetts-. That's Zeus-Zeus

At least he's putting himself to use.

Mr Zoat said:
"I will have to make time to speak with him. The things I could learn

Ahh, shit.

Mr Zoat said:
shakes his head. "It more like

"It's more"

Mr Zoat said:
and not that one."

I'm reminded of a fic where a metahuman with electricity manipulation came from a Reach controlled future and because the Reach destroyed civilization his parents named him Adolf, not knowing what it's connected to.

When he learned what it signified he changed his name to Rudolph.

Wally obviously called him Rudolph the Electric Reindeer.

Mr Zoat said:
Looks like… Detroit?"

"Ah, the major manufacturing centre. Perhaps he wanted to use the dense population to hide in."

"Um. Is that what Detroit is on your Earth?"

"It isn't here?"

I'm guessing that with all of the genocides the Axis were committing, the American auto industry couldn't have things manufactured in foreign countries because everyone there was dead.

Plus with racism being encouraged, having their products made by people they consider to be lesser could be frowned upon if not outright illegal.

RichardWhereat · Dec 10, 2024

Mr Zoat said:
1st May 2013
14:58 GMT -5

Dr. Rigoro has stood well back while Mr. Levi, Mr. Bierce and Dr. Cochin put together… Something. It-.

"That would have been faster if you'd just leant me the ring."

The good doctor is enlightened?

Mr Zoat said:
1st May 2013
14:58 GMT -5

Dr. Rigoro has stood well back while Mr. Levi, Mr. Bierce and Dr. Cochin put together… Something. It-.

"That would have been faster if you'd just leant me the ring."

The good doctor is enlightened?

Ngamer11 · Dec 10, 2024

Mr Zoat said:
He takes a moment to absorb that. "That superhero in Massachusetts-. That's Zeus-Zeus."

"It's his sole avatar, with a lot of his power bound until he gets a degree in meteorology. I haven't looked into exactly how it works."

"I will have to make time to speak with him. The things I could learn…"

The fact that Zeus can't access his powers shouldn't affect Paragon, so he'll probably need to be dealt with once he reveals his villainous intentions.

Mr Zoat said:
"I.. think that I should accompany you."

I imagine that Mr. Luthor has given some sort of instruction about how making contact with Lonnie should be handled. But I'm not inclined to acquiesce. And the nice thing is: I don't need to. I'm doing this under Justice League authority, and he's just a private citizen.

"I don't think-."

"Now, I understand that you're not keen, but I can handle myself if things turn violent."

"That's not why."

"Ah." He bows his head slightly. "I merely wish to be on hand immediately in case Enginehead or his components need work done to maintain them. You lack the expertise."

"Are you a wizard as well as a computer scientist? Because-."

"I dabble. And there isn't much crossover between the disciplines."

I really hope Paragon is dealt with before he becomes a problem. Hopefully Anarky can do it, knowing what Paragon really is.

Darko · Dec 10, 2024

RichardWhereat said:
The good doctor is enlightened?

Cichin can copy the powers and skills of those around him and he copied Paul's enlightenment.

Ngamer11 said:
The fact that Zeus can't access his powers shouldn't affect Paragon, so he'll probably need to be dealt with once he reveals his villainous intentions

Assuming he still has them after he got enlightened.

Ngamer11 said:
I really hope Paragon is dealt with before he becomes a problem. Hopefully Anarky can do it, knowing what Paragon really is

How would he know about his powers?

Bloodalchemy · Dec 10, 2024

RichardWhereat said:
The good doctor is enlightened?

That's Paragon, a DC villain that can copy the powers and abilities of people near him. So he is an AI specialist as long as he is need other AI specialists, he is Kryptonian while near Superman, and Orange Enlightened while near Paul.

The comment about what he could learn from Zeus is actually if he can copy godhood.

Signaller · Dec 10, 2024

I'm surprised Cochin hasn't tried remote calling the ring yet.

Z000 · Dec 10, 2024

Signaller said:
I'm surprised Cochin hasn't tried remote calling the ring yet.

he need to know how to do that but while he Greed Enlightened, he doesn't know how Power Ring work nor the right head space require even if he could reach said headspace easily

it like knowing how to drive but no clue which wire to hotwire or where the key is and he can only look at Paul to steal his key

The Unaligned Player · Dec 10, 2024

Z000 said:
he need to know how to do that but while he Greed Enlightened, he doesn't know how Power Ring work nor the right head space require even if he could reach said headspace easily

it like knowing how to drive but no clue which wire to hotwire or where the key is and he can only look at Paul to steal his key

Also he'd be trying to steal a super's super item. Even if he doesn't fail and get beaten with construct hammers, The League and The Orange Lantern Corp would inevitably draw straws on who gets to beat him with many kinds of hammers.

Chojin Patriarch · Dec 10, 2024

Mr Zoat said:
1st May 2013
14:58 GMT -5

"Ready?"

Dr. Rigoro has stood well back while Mr. Levi, Mr. Bierce and Dr. Cochin put together… Something. It-.

The drawback of not being an expert of magical technology. That's what delegation is for, after all. Not so effective when your usual consultants aren't available, though. Nice touch that the 'normals' are standing well back, though, not knowing what will happen when they fire it up...

"That would have been faster if you'd just leant me the ring."

Dr. Cochin looks mildly put out, though at least he only raised it once.

Yeah, OL isn't stupid. Even without a psych profile, he can probably pick up the want oozing off Cochin. He is possibly the worst person you want with any kind of Power Ring.

"Orange rings cause mental degradation, and I haven't done a background check on you."

"Surely not for the few seconds it would take. And it's not as if I can just run away with it, not with you having more experience and the other ring."

...Man, doubling up on the orange Quote marks must be annoying as. It's certainly making it tricky to keep track of who's talking. Fortunately, their vocabulary is distinct enough to keep it straight.

"Dr. Cochin, if you want to apply to the Orange Lantern Corps then you are free to do so. But I don't need any further assistance with this Sector, so you'd be obliged to work in the Reach Periphery. That is to say, a war zone covering a measurably percentage of the volume of this galaxy. Now, if we may return to the matter at hand?"

Yes, in a place where he's nothing special. That would probably burn something fierce.

Mr. Bierce gives the assemblage one last check, then nods to himself. "I wasn't quite sure how to make this thing work. Then I remembered that you freed Metis when you had that fight with Zeus-."

Dr. Cochin blinks heavily, staring at me. "You..? What?"

Right, most people probably don't know about the changes within the Olympian pantheon. Outside of the Amazons, anyway. Not like Mount Olympus has a public relations department to do press releases.

"I wound Zeus up until he broke guest rights, then got saved by Hephestaean who proceeded to beat the stuffing out of him. Which included cracking his skull and releasing Metis. Which means that he's only got his own wisdom to draw upon, but should make the human species a little more intelligent."

And those willing to find a new religion might find her a worthwhile patron in the scientific field.

He takes a moment to absorb that. "That superhero in Massachusetts-. That's Zeus-Zeus."

"It's his sole avatar, with a lot of his power bound until he gets a degree in meteorology. I haven't looked into exactly how it works."

I'm guessing he's primarily a tough lightning-wielder. With a bit of an attitude.

"I will have to make time to speak with him. The things I could learn…"

I raise my left eyebrow. "You didn't do a keg stand in university?"

Yeah, I shudder to imagine what he'd pick up from Zeus. Though it might lean more towards 'how to pick up women' and a minor in 'ruling a family of gods' than 'all the world's wisdom.'

"Freed Metis, which means that a charm and a prayer to her allows us to grant that dust wisp a degree of intelligence."

I frown. "How much intelligence? Because this whole-."

You're worried it might get ideas about disrupting the search? Seems unlikely.

Mr. Levi shakes his head. "It's more like a natural language interface. It's got a taste for Anarky's form, so it's naturally drawn to him."

"Through his wards?"

Law of Sympathy: Like calls to Like. Presumably some things bypass even the strongest wards. Like how Mannheim's lot used that OL Clone.

"This works indirectly. You might be able to dodge it, and…" He considers for a moment. "Some highly capable magicians could, at a cost. But he's a shape in the world even if we can't directly observe him, and this resonates with that."

"Okay, fire it up. I'll go there and-."

I'm guessing they'll use it to backtrace his actual location, GPS-style.

"I.. think that I should accompany you."

I imagine that Mr. Luthor has given some sort of instruction about how making contact with Lonnie should be handled. But I'm not inclined to acquiesce. And the nice thing is: I don't need to. I'm doing this under Justice League authority, and he's just a private citizen.

And besides, while he might not get much from Lonnie, the last thing you need is him making a recruitment play.

"I don't think-."

"Now, I understand that you're not keen, but I can handle myself if things turn violent."

Yes, I'm sure you can. Anarky is a nine-year-old boy, after all.

"That's not why."

"Ah." He bows his head slightly. "I merely wish to be on hand immediately in case Enginehead or his components need work done to maintain them. You lack the expertise."

And OL can just transition the parts right back here if needed. Still not seeing any use in Cochin's presence...

"Are you a wizard as well as a computer scientist? Because-."

"I dabble. And there isn't much crossover between the disciplines."

'Dabble', yes. As long as you're around Ambrose and Levi here.

"Mister Levi?"

"I don't know A.I., and I don't know Enginehead's systems. Sorry. Ah, and I'm not that good at fighting."

Fortunately, he's not the kind of smart guy to make a suit of powered armour a priority if he turned to super-villainy. Not that he would anyway, as this is probably more profitable.

I discount Dr. Rigoro immediately. He might know the systems better than anyone, but he's about as muscular as an I.T. professional who has risen far enough that they have people to lift printers for them.

"Alright. One moment. Please run the program while I call in backup." He nods, Mr. Bierce raises his hands, and a moment later a familiar dust cloud rises around the hologram projector. I raise my right hand to my ear as the program executes. "Orange Lantern to Blitzen, not that one and not that one."

Surprised he didn't give her a 'Blitzen-X' designation in his contacts or something.

"Hallo? Orange Lantern?"

"If you're not busy, I've got a lead on Anarky's location."

I don't foresee her having much trouble with getting away right now. Alan was in charge of things on their end, after all.

"No, no. We finished being told that they want lawyers, unt I was getting to know the Blue Lantern. But the safety of a child has priority. Were to you want me?"

Dust congeals around the hologram in a single point, then the computer detects that and narrows it down further. And again, and again. Looks like…

Wonder how Alan is feeling about the whole 'this is awkward' angle of it.

"Looks like… Detroit?"

"Ah, the major manufacturing centre. Perhaps he wanted to use the dense population to hide in."

...Evidently Detroit is a lot better off on Earth Ten.

"Um. Is that what Detroit is on your Earth?"

"It isn't here?"

...No... Even Earth Sixteen would probably be struggling.

"It… Was. Ah. Then… Various things happened and it's been in a nose dive ever since. Low fatalities during the Anti-Life due to pre-existing misery. Plenty of abandoned manufacturing sites to hide things in. Want me to pick you up?"

"No, I will just run. Oh, unt what did you mean, 'not that one'?"

Good way to dodge the historically-awkward explanation.

"Hm? Oh, on this Earth, Valerie Kameya uses the name. And then there's the reindeer. And there's a guy called Black Lightning, but that's in English."

"Hm. On the route now. Do you have a precise address?"

I'm sure Blitzen will like to meet her at some point. If only out of curiosity. That would be amusing to see Donner's reaction.

I glance at the hologram, and see that it's narrowed it down to-.

"Oh dear."

Let me guess: Abandoned warehouse? Or Abandoned factory?

"Is it a hospital?"

"No. Ah."

I connect a filament to Dr. Cochin and transition us to a mostly-intact bus stop in Detroit before transitioning to Johanna and accelerating after her.

I notice you left him behind on that second jump. Wary of him getting near other powers, eh?

"The Justice League has various locations where they store things, or backup sites that could be used as bases of operation."

"Anarky found one?"

Oh, that's just so much worse. Could explain how he's been getting around, though. Hacking the Zeta network is probably literal child's play for him.

"It was mothballed, but… Yes."

"Does it have defences?"

Other than obscurity? Doubtful. The League doesn't seem that forwards-thinking, even Batman.

"I don't think so. It shouldn't, anyway."

"It is good that it will keep us on our toes."

No telling what Anarky's installed, after all.

Well, the game is afoot, and it's time to beard Anarky in his lair. Between a Lantern and a Speedster, I don't think this is going to be too challenging. Unless Anarky's acquired some exotic equipment such as left-behind Justifier weapons, he's just a nine-year-old boy under that costume. Of course, things are never that easy for OL...

Were to you want me?"

Where do you want me?"

Vaermina · Dec 10, 2024

Darko said:
Assuming he still has them after he got enlightened.

Why wouldn't he? Paul's didn't go away.

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

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