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

... you have an interesting definition of 'good.' (Yes, there are certainly others who share it, or something similar, but it's not a version that I subscribe to.)

 

Now i'm thinking of that bit in Dragonlance where they say Elves are genocidal racists because they're "pure Good", and then act like that's some deep philosophical point and not utter gibberish.

 

Reminds me of something I read recently. At one point one of the protagonists gives some money to some people who helped him because it feels like the right thing to do, and as he does it he offhandedly thinks about how it’s a selfish act, since there were more utilitarian ways that he could’ve used the money. I thought it was a pretty neat microcosm of how being truly Good is often not what our instincts tell us is Good (for certain definitions of Good, anyway).

 

Interesting that now both Luthor have referred to a Superman clone as "my boy." Something from his (their?) upbringing I guess. Perhaps this Luthor's parents were more like Clark's parents.

Someone remind me, was Ultrawoman sent to this Earth as a young adult or older? I'm wondering if she was a clone which was grown in a pod, rather than a genetically engineered baby. I doubt evil Krypton did her any favors, but if she started life after being grown past her toddler years... Weird weird weird.

 

Neither, she was sent to -14 New Genesis as a child infiltrator, only to eventually be outed and exiled after Godfather Izaya destroyed -14 Krypton. She came to -14 Earth much later, as a middle aged woman.

 

Porque no los dos? She was apparently also engineered...

 

As she told Power Ring, she was engineered in the womb to be a child infiltrator of New Genesis. Earth works well since she physically fits in. But that was luck/chance that physically they matched up.

 

were came her -> we came here

too many 'adds'? perhaps on should be 'reduces' or 'eliminates'

 

I'm wondering if that 'the walls closed in and crushed us' bit was metaphorical. On account of how she didn't say anything that seemed intended as an attack.

 

I just remembered that the Spear of Destiny is a thing that taps into all humans on Earth. It could be used as a vector to purge or shield humanity from the Anti-Life. Like if Scott Free pushed his freedom mojo into it or Dr. Mist did that with his life enlightenment.

 

Ech, this guy. You'd think he'd figure things are a little off, given that the three super-powered kids came back with company. Or maybe he's just assuming that they've signed on. Either way...

Spoiler: Commentary spoilered for length

...He's just an idiot. Though Alexander may well have some manner of perception filter stealth system that works best on the dim-witted.

Or the guy really is that dumb. You'd think he'd recognise a guy who's constantly interfering with the Syndicate's plans.

...Because of course he's already scanned, understood and improved on the portal generator's design. Joy of a tenth-level intellect.

Well, at least they're not going back empty-handed.

And hello Anti-Life. No, you weren't missed at all.

Interesting. His neural filter adjusting itself, eh?

...Typing? How prosaic. I guess he prefers the innate distinction it allows him in terms of interface control, though.

A distinction needed because why risk having something that could respond to subconscious thoughts?

...He's probably not kidding, either. Think of all the superheroes, supervillains and alien threats with potential mind-affecting powers. Now imagine the former using them without any moral restrictions to get what they want.

...Huh, guy's not as dumb as he looks. Must be book-dumb, street smart.

As opposed to what? A hat and trenchcoat?

Especially in stealth mode.

...Huh, guess he is wearing some variant of a hat and trenchcoat now. Or at least a warm jacket and beanie.

...And you found out that much in what, thirty seconds? A little concerning. They may need to give him the 'secret identity' talk.

...And Positive Lex isn't distracted by anything but Superman and his erstwhile co-conspirators in the Light. Let that sink in, and let the worry increase.

Including stuff recommended by OL, I hope. Which Alexander might have some difficulties with, even if he knows how to fight magic-users of his world.

Though there probably is some undercurrent of distrust. Reversed morality or not, he is Luthor.

I wonder just how many countermeasures he has set up for such a scenario.

Geez, it's like he's trying to speed-run saving the world.

...That always seems more reassuring when it's Superman doing it. Must be the cape.

And do you want Positive Lex to be set loose on an entire planet of jackasses? He'll be running the place in no time.

Canis gonna Canis.

And Canis did Canis. He Canis'd very much.

Well, now we get to see how his side of matters turned out.

...He's alive. But is he un-dominated?

A large man in fancy armour riding a giant dog isn't exactly covert, Robin...

The only reason Robin's not face-palming right now is that he need both hands free to chocke Canis.

...I hope that's just metaphorical, based on proximity to a large node of Anti-Life...

Oh, boy. I get the feeling they're getting a face-full of the full-strength emissions around Mistress. Which can't be healthy for the unsuspecting heroes. Hopefully she can pull it back so that they aren't reduced to drooling lumps, and they can have a proper discussion. ...Once Robin gets done strangling Canis, anyway, for not warning them about this.

 

‘we came here in’
Extraneous ‘on the’

This makes me wonder what the native Luthor is actually doing right now.

’boom’

 

It would constitue a substantial improvement. Luthor's evil, but he's at least not STUPID.

 

I suspect Ultrawoman's too canny to swap out like that, but imagine if they had this Lex for even a year working in cooperation with Kal-El.

...an experience I imagine both heroes would find more than a little unsettling.

 

Yeah...The funny thing is, I feel like, if the prime Luthor really did make a full face-turn, use his intellect for good...Supes would be the first to welcome it with open arms. He's, ya know, The Best Guy.

 

.....

Now I'm picturing Ultraman and lex luthor becoming best friends.

 

Thank you, corrected.

 

I don't think that would work...dueling megalomaniacs and egos there.

 

here

Them, then? Not sure what words are supposed to go there.
Thought I posted this part already.

 

Depends on the version. The Justice League Unlimited episode with Lexor City, and Superman fighting Captain Marvel, showed Superman still being incredibly distrustful of a Lex that was apparently trying to do good. Of course it turned out that Lex was hoping Superman would wreck his humanitarian attempt, but it really was a self sufficient, low income housing project (so even if Superman didn't bite it would still be a PR boost for Lex). Given that Young Justice Superman was generally more of a dick than JLU Superman (see: interactions with Superboy), I don't see him remotely trusting an apparent face-turn.

 

Or he's smart enough to know that dealing with Luthor is way, way out of his pay grade and is hoping that ignoring him will somehow save his skin.

 

Thank you, corrected.

It's correct as written. Alexander is asking what powers Match's powersm if not kryptonite.

 

Doesn't Alex's mind reinforcement system being an intelligent system that has to learn your mind first mean it can't be used on Earth 16 right now? It can't learn to block the Anti-Life as foreign influence if it doesn't know how their mind was in the first place, no?

 

That should say 'killer'.

That should say 'the'.

Good news, if Karon ends up ruling the world, Paul has an 'in' with her. I hope Paul will take some time off the OLC to support Karon and Holly after this is all over.

 

Somehow, due to Paul, hitting the Earth with the rainbow of emotions Karen and Holly are going to end up with white rings.

 

I'd like to note the manthusans are proficient with regular non-light technology also.

The impression I got is the standard ring is a base substrate of solidified light (that allows forming hard light constructs according to that colors standard 'rules') that then has some additional advanced tech interlaced with it.

So you can have something like the situation with Alan's Ring. It used to be a regular Green Ring + Malthusian Supercomputer combo.

The Supercomputer part contained the database, analysis suite, communication rig, and gave some computer/tool aided assistance to at least some of the users construct use.

And could be disabled remotely separately from the base ring, because they were separate things.
And the stuff Alans ring could do (before the repair) is what the 'just the ring' could do.
No database at all (at least when used by a human)

 

You better hope not.

The only people who get White Rings are people the White Entity plans to use as a sacrifice for it's own nebulas goals.

 

Ooof. Like staring into the sun. Except the 'sun' is pitch-black weaponised depression and submissiveness. And yet, I can't believe this is the worst thing Robin has felt. The day of his parents' murder, for instance...

Spoiler: Commentary spoilered for length

Though it seems to be slamming him more with fears than anything else. And if he's been involved in fighting Scarecrow before... He's felt fear.

So many Gotham Freaks with a taste or talent for the chemical. Of course Batman made countermeasures.

Ooooh, the 'tripping balls' font. Been a while since we saw that. Kind of like Willpower in a pill, then?

Hey, it's not the craziest thing Batman has done in the name of preparedness.

Oh, eerie. Weird eyes is always a good signal that things are not right.

Ah, good to know she's taking care of her girl through all this. And to have it stated outright in-universe. No needing to dance around the issue now.

I like that while the counter-agent is fast-acting, the counter-counteragent isn't. Just in case you need that hyper-sanity for a bit longer.

Hopefully he just retreated to stay out of range, rather than in an Anti-Life-driven fit of madness...

And humans are surprisingly adaptable. If we have to endure something long enough, it quickly becomes normal.

Right, him. Best to save the punitive punishment for after you negotiate with the local warlord.

Canis, please. Save the fanboyism for later?

Kind of makes me wonder what Jason Todd will be like as a Robin if it happens here... Imagine the kid that could survive all that's happened in this universe...

...Wait, is that why you adapted so well, Karon?

So either the counter-agent is wearing off, or she's amping up the gloom a little to make a point.

She kind of has a point. Batman may have cleaned up organised crime, but the Freaks that rose in his wake... It's hard to deny that they're worse.

And honestly, I would be worried about her state of mind after being saturated with Anti-Life for over a month straight.

Why not?

Ah, I think I understand how she's handling the Anti-Life now. Her love let her adapt, to overrule, to dominate, in order to keep what she loves safe. Even buried under all of that Anti-Life, that love lets her keep focused.

As noted, the sort of people who would rise into that position would naturally be aligned that way. The Anti-Life would practically select for it...

At least he's not 'happy' about it. I don't think any of us want to picture that Canis.

And doesn't that just depress you more?

...Please don't.

With six billion voices...

A discordant note in his symphony of suffering, his song of subjugation...

Because of the laws of Narrative Combat. Something most non-New Gods can't even perceive.

...Wait. Wait. Canis makes art... As a weapon for his form of Narrative Combat?

Good grief. It's an insidious idea, isn't it?

And be seen crushing the discordance under his boot. Because using an underling to do it would not have the same impact, the same meaningfulness to it.

...Oh god, it's going to be Godspeech everywhere, isn't it? Mobile users, be ready!

Oh, boy. That's going to be trippy.

Well, that was an enlightening discussion. At least things have been resolved peacefully thus far. Let's just hope Karon can manage to learn enough about Narrative Combat to at least hold her own in the inevitable confrontation with Mannheim. But then, even a master has to fear a novice, simply because they may try something no master would ever consider viable...

---

And don't make any major life choices or financial decisions for the next couple of minutes.

Artemis stops cringing quite so bad, and… I didn't even spot Match leave.

These lines should have Quotation marks, right, and thus be normal text? Unless he's just narrating out loud...