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

[Vaermina]

"The apostate is still the same fear-filled weakling. What has changed in the last few minute?"

Click to shrink...

Paragon is actively crippling your ability to fight with his constructs so it's nowhere near a fair fight?

 

[DrThoth]

"The apostate is still the same fear-filled weakling. What has changed in the last few minutes?"

Click to shrink...

Interesting that the Guilder-Lantern calls Onik an apostate; I assume it's because she knows that's something he fears being rather than her being any kind of Lanternist.

I guess it's appropriate that Lantern Onik was the one who answered my 'prayer' for a giant snake/Ophidian construct. I wonder if fervent worship oriented specifically on her gets more of her attention than usual, or it 'just' psychologically boosts the Lantern who does it.

Everyone's suspicions about the abbot look like they're about to be resolved one way or the other soon. Paragon could also assimilate/convert the ring and still access its data files like with Stewart's ring, I believe.

I kind of want to see a Guilder Orange Lantern now, either from the Vega Spider Queen's nest (I don't especially care if it's Paragon's 'daughter' though) or somewhere else who, for altruistic or pragmatic reasons or both, really wants systemic change for the Guild in terms of not eating people when they now have the technology not to require it. Seems like a long-term campaign kind of thing but still worthwhile. A Guilder would have more investment in the continuation of their species in some form or another compared to Paragon. Destroying evil alien polities is all well and good, but positively reforming and rehabilitating them in a macrocosmic version of Paragon's rehabilitation of villains? Now that would be interesting.

 

[Mr Zoat]

'minutes'
'So, is'

Click to shrink...

Thank you, corrected.

 

[Massgamer]

Yeah, half the yellow ring's power is instilling fear in others so if you lose your ability to do that you are only at working at 50% at best.

 

[Chojin Patriarch]

27th August 2012
09:21 GMT

"This changes nothing."

The Guilder's environmental shield swells as they create a pair of construct robots.

Click to shrink...

Confident, but falsely so. I can tell she's concerned about what OL will do, whether she wins or loses. A pity dividing her focus here is going to bite her in the abdomen.

Spoiler: Commentary spoilered for length

"The apostate is still the same fear-filled weakling. What has changed in the last few minute?"

One of the robot constructs opens fire while the other deploys its missile launchers. Onik generates a orange sigil inscribed shield to block the shots.

"I remembered why you need to die."

Click to shrink...

And a properly motivated Orange Lantern is a far more formidable opponent than a monk unsure of his own convictions.

"Make me."

The missile launchers fire their shots, some missiles moving directly while others fire sideways before correcting their flight paths. Onik raises his right hand and orange rays radiate out, piercing the missiles and causing them to prematurely detonate.

Click to shrink...

A clever idea, to avoid the areas the shield was obviously protecting, but she forgot that Lanterns don't need to see something to target it.

The Guider tries to warp, twitching slightly when she finds that she can't. Transitioning would cost her her constructs so that doesn't even warrant consideration. Instead, she has her robots charge Onik down. Onik responds by-.

What-?

Click to shrink...

Something unexpected, OL? Remember how devout in his faith Onik is. Of course he's going to use the image...

Oh, no, that's not actually the Ophidian, but a large snake construct undulates from his shield, coiling around one robot and biting into the other.

"Fear will not stop me doing what I want!"

Click to shrink...

...Of his Corps' embodiment. If the Yellow Lantern knows anything about them, she should be worried. Certainly, it'd be clear if it were the real Best Snek, but even this might get her attention.

The constricted robot switches from guns to circular saws and tries cutting through the snake. But unfortunately for the Guilder, Onik's a devout Lantern. He wants the Ophidian aiding and guiding him in a way that.. would actually be a very bad idea. And he certainly doesn't want her to be stopped by a Yellow Lantern.

The pseudo-Ophidian injects orange light poison into the missile robot, the discolouration spreading through the target construct as the Guilder waves her ring-bearing limb to disconnect it. Her mouth free, the Ophidian doubles back to wind more coils around the saw-wielding robot. A moment later it's no longer visible, and another moment later there's a small puff of yellow as it fails under her crushing pressure.

Click to shrink...

Impressive that Onik is so good at corrupting her constructs. Fuelled by a desire to take away her weapons and lay her low, perhaps? I bet she's got big old tethers to her ring, too. Sloppy, rookie.

"How are you that much stronger?!"

"Didn't Sinestro tell you? The strength of your constructs is dependant on your mastery of your own fears and the amount of fear you inspire." I glance back at the planet. "They're too busy being afraid of me to be afraid of you. You have nothing that can scare me, and Lantern Onik's working things out."

Click to shrink...

Indeed. Her ring's trying to clutch at vapours to form constructs.Her own fears are not enough, it seems.

"No, Great Master. Lantern Onik has been reminded of what he wants. And how it may be achieved."

His Ophidian construct grows.

Click to shrink...

I expect OL would be more panicked if he felt the Ophidian actually manifesting... So this is all for show.

"From my mind, a decision.
From my decision, an action.
From my action, completion.
From completion, repose."

Click to shrink...

How appropriately priestly, chanting a mantra to focus his desires as his oath.

The Guilder was watching his snake carefully. Which may explain why she missed his gun construct as he fires, the orange beam punching through her carapace and out of the other side.

Her blood freeze-boils in the void as her environmental shield flickers.

Click to shrink...

"You were so busy looking at the finger pointing at the moon that you overlooked all that heavenly glory." Excellent use of misdirection, Onik.

"Kkkkkk."

Onik dismisses his Ophidian construct, but sensibly keeps his shield.

Click to shrink...

Yes, never underestimate the enemy. Especially when they're wounded and desperate.

"That didn't rhyme."

"It does in my language." He scans the Yellow Lantern. "Are we taking prisoners, Great Master?"

Click to shrink...

I would not be surprised to find many of the Corps' personal oaths are positively lyrical in their own tongues.

"We need information. I am indifferent to having a prisoner."

"Unworthy."

Click to shrink...

Ah, her ring's had enough? Better snag it quick, OL. Spoils of war.

The Guilder's ring shakes as she weakly tries to hold onto it.

"Another will be chosen."

Click to shrink...

Not anytime soon, hopefully.

The voice isn't Sinestro. Or anyone else's that I immediately recognise. Of course, that doesn't mean anything; setting a ring's AI voice is a simple function.

Click to shrink...

And as egotistical as he is, I don't doubt that his is the default voice option. Presumably this one was adjusted as part of whatever ploy Sinestro was working here.

"Lantern Onik, have you ever assimilated anyone?"

"No."

"Well, now's your chance. We need confirmation of how the Spider Guild got hold of a power ring. Grab her before that ring works its way free."

Click to shrink...

And it'll be quite helpful to strengthen his focus against Spider Guilders. Having a permanent reminder that they're weak flesh and bone like anyone else. No need to be scared of that.

"I'm still…"

Onik flies towards her, a construct coffin-

The same design of coffin as the monastery uses, I note.

Click to shrink...

No mercy here, spider. I doubt you would have offered any when you were in the position of power either, would you?

-forming around her as the yellow ring breaks free and tries to go to warp.

I.. let it, and it vanishes in the direction of Karax.

Click to shrink...

Presumably its default method is rather easy to track.

"Identity theft in progress."

"Take her to Karax while you're assimilating her. I'm heading back now so see where that ring's going. If the Guild's ships gain on you, contact me before they reach you."

Click to shrink...

Since he's sufficiently motivated to be quick, he shouldn't take long. Which do I mean, OL or Onik? Yes.

"Yes, Great Master."

Onik puts his hand on the coffin, where the barely-alive Guilder has been wired into a life support system as the assimilation begins converting flesh into construct. He orientates on Karax for a moment, then the two of them vanish. I

Click to shrink...

Heh, not letting her get away that easily by dying. Sensible.

step out and

appear a short distance from one of Karax's self defence fleets. Their larger fleets generally stay closer to the truce line… Have to get Onik to ask how the Yellow Lantern managed to get past them with a swarm of robots.

Click to shrink...

It probably has some manner of concealment systems. Or, you know, simply take a wide berth around the fleets. Space is big, after all, and their sensor nets must have some manner of hole...

Tracking the yellow ring… Yes, it's heading this way. So, in Sinestro in the area? Is Lantern Dul secretly playing both sides at the request of her political masters? Is Lantern Toren secretly a Sinestro loyalist?

Or is it the abbot?

Click to shrink...

Finally, he considers it.

I mean, his explanation for how he knew what an apple was makes a lot more sense than the idea that he and Sinestro got together and had a detailed conversation about Earth fruit. I'd be surprised if Sinestro had been on the planet long enough to pick something like that up. But the man held himself in a state of intense mental focus at all times. Guy doesn't do that. It's just about the only method that a non-specialist can use to block my empathic vision. And he spent a significant amount of time asking me about how the yellow light worked, despite making it clear that he thought there was no chance of his being selected for the Green Lantern Corps. None of that was information that a lay person could use to get the better of Sinestro.

Click to shrink...

Reasonably well thought out. Logical given his knowledge. The interesting thing will be seeing just how wrong he is.

The yellow ring returns to normal space and accelerates towards the planet and towards the monastery.

The only real question is whether he got the ring from Sinestro or from somewhere else. But I suspect that's a question I'm going to have answered shortly.

Click to shrink...

Let's hope they're in the mood for monologuing. Otherwise, OL might be in for a fight.

So, things are coming to a head. And it looks likely to me that Lanterns Dul and Toren may have been kept in the dark, or simply disabled, by whoever's responsible for this whole chain of events... Since neither of them have been seen since OL went after Onik. Hopefully we finally get that long-awaited meeting with Sinestro...

 

[Handlewithcare]

"From my mind, a decision.
From my decision, an action.
From my action, completion.
From completion, repose."

Click to shrink...

Lantern Onik's oath is both badass and deeply spiritual.
Fitting for a warrior monk.

 

[AidanMorgan]

Utilitarianism, Paul reaction to this kidnapping would set the tone for the expectations in regards to future attacks...

Aliens are used to killing Green Lanterns without much a reaction from the green lantern corps, Paul is setting the tone that those that attack Orange lanterns without reason better expect to get overwhelming retaliation.

Click to shrink...

Ender Wiggin lived to regret making this his policy. An entire sentient species did not.

 

[Ardy]

Ender Wiggin lived to regret making this his policy. An entire sentient species did not.

Click to shrink...

Meh, with the retcons and the lies and such I don't think we can say that's accurate anymore.

Also, people have been communicating with the spider guide for centuries now, they're assholes

 

[Ngamer11]

"Take her to Karax while you're assimilating her. I'm heading back now so see where that ring's going. If the Guild's ships gain on you, contact me before they reach you."

Click to shrink...

That should be 'to'.

 

[AidanMorgan]

Meh, with the retcons and the lies and such I don't think we can say that's accurate anymore.

Also, people have been communicating with the spider guide for centuries now, they're assholes

Click to shrink...

I maintain that there were three books and that's it.

Much like there is no A:TLA movie and no Eragon movie.

And it's not that I care about the spiders so much as I care about AO internalizing such thought patterns as "it's ok to burn the worlds of people who piss me off even when there are better ways to get what I want."

 

[Ngamer11]

And it's not that I care about the spiders so much as I care about AO internalizing such thought patterns as "it's ok to burn the worlds of people who piss me off even when there are better ways to get what I want."

Click to shrink...

I think it was explained that they were, as they were, irredeemable, making them valid targets in Paul's mind. Plus the benefit of removing a possible source of construct strength for the Guilder Lantern, which is partially why Onik was able to defeat her.

 

[AidanMorgan]

I think it was explained that they were, as they were, irredeemable, making them valid targets in Paul's mind. Plus the benefit of removing a possible source of construct strength for the Guilder Lantern, which is partially why Onik was able to defeat her.

Click to shrink...

They, in the specific, don't matter as much as the fact that this is a thing that has been done a total of three times now.

That's... not good. It's really really not good. It's "Orangest Night" levels of not good because that's what this course of action as applied to Earth would look like.

 

[Vaermina]

I think it was explained that they were, as they were, irredeemable, making them valid targets in Paul's mind. Plus the benefit of removing a possible source of construct strength for the Guilder Lantern, which is partially why Onik was able to defeat her.

Click to shrink...

Except... You know... He's spent multiple prior chapters pointing out the Spider Guild is not in fact irredeemable via the faction in Vega...

 

[Ngamer11]

Except... You know... He's spent multiple prior chapters pointing out the Spider Guild is not in fact irredeemable via the faction in Vega...

Click to shrink...

I was referring to that specific chapter of the Spider Guild, not the Spider Guild as a whole.

 

[Vaermina]

They, in the specific, don't matter as much as the fact that this is a thing that has been done a total of three times now.

That's... not good. It's really really not good. It's "Orangest Night" levels of not good because that's what this course of action as applied to Earth would look like.

Click to shrink...

Honestly it's kind of a surprise the Guardians haven't decided to science cell Paragon given how planet killing happy he is...

I was referring to that specific chapter of the Spider Guild, not the Spider Guild as a whole.

Click to shrink...

The Spider Guild's not a hive mind, so yea... He killed billions of potential innocents there...

 

[Ngamer11]

Honestly it's kind of a surprise the Guardians haven't decided to science cell Paragon given how planet killing happy he is...

Click to shrink...

Considering all the power he personally has, plus the protection that comes with being connected to the Controllers, it really isn't a surprise. If they see a valid reason for doing so and a good opportunity, they may go for it. Otherwise, they'd rather keep things civil with the Illustres of the OLC.

 

[Vaermina]

Considering all the power he personally has, plus the protection that comes with being connected to the Controllers, it really isn't a surprise. If they see a valid reason for doing so and a good opportunity, they may go for it. Otherwise, they'd rather keep things civil with the Illustres of the OLC.

Click to shrink...

The Controllers wouldn't care if Paragon got Science Celled, they already got what they wanted from him.

Actually... Most of the Controllers would probably be on board with the Guardian's Science Celling Paragon because then they would have even more Control of the Orange Light...

 

[AidanMorgan]

See, you've got me agreeing with Vaermina, that's something I never thought would actually happen. Now someone has to go thaw out Hell.

 

[Mr Zoat]

That should be 'to'.

Click to shrink...

Thank you, corrected.

 

[Pinklestia]

Yeah, half the yellow ring's power is instilling fear in others so if you lose your ability to do that you are only at working at 50% at best.

Click to shrink...

Well there is also yellow rings that work from your own fear or by defeating GLs.... but the later is more common since it was the default for like two decades I think?

 

[Mr Zoat]

Well there is also yellow rings that work from your own fear or by defeating GLs.... but the later is more common since it was the default for like two decades I think?

Click to shrink...

I think defeating GLs was just Guy Gardner, briefly. I know Sinestro was shown recharging with a yellow personal lantern at least once before that.

 

[Dakkan Sall]

Interesting that the Guilder-Lantern calls Onik an apostate; I assume it's because she knows that's something he fears being rather than her being any kind of Lanternist.

Click to shrink...

Mm... she doesn't seem quite in the right frame of mind to try and boost her available fear that way, and she was speaking to Paul (or just to the universe in general) rather than directly accusing Onik to make him doubt himself. She also doesn't strike me as quite that... advanced in method, going more for the "I'm a scary spider-alien who eats people. Raah!"

Technically, he could be considered an apostate since Karax worship Green Lanterns, but there's been no real indication that they consider Orange Lanterns to be 'evil'/'opposing' like Yellow. Though admittedly we've only seen the monastery and Toren interacting/reacting with the Oranges to any degree, rather than the common populace (other than Paul's SpaceTwitter account making the servers crash due to the traffic).

 

[Doccer]

. "They're too busy being afraid of me to be afraid of you.

Click to shrink...

And if you were any good you'd use their fear of him to strengthen yourself.

 

[Pinklestia]

I think defeating GLs was just Guy Gardner, briefly. I know Sinestro was shown recharging with a yellow personal lantern at least once before that.

Click to shrink...

Actually, Siniestro did recharge his ring by defeating GLs in the Superman Animated series. So think of it as a function of Siniestro first ring as he specifically requested it to defeat GLs.

 

[Mr Zoat]

Actually, Siniestro did recharge his ring by defeating GLs in the Superman Animated series. So think of it as a function of Siniestro first ring as he specifically requested it to defeat GLs.

Click to shrink...

No, he did that in Static Shock so that he could make green constructs specifically. I'm fairly confident that he wasn't shown recharging in Superman Animated.

 

[Assblaster5000]

The Controllers wouldn't care if Paragon got Science Celled, they already got what they wanted from him.

Actually... Most of the Controllers would probably be on board with the Guardian's Science Celling Paragon because then they would have even more Control of the Orange Light...

Click to shrink...

Why would they want to take one of their most valuable war assets off the field for any reason, especially since he's seemingly the only person that can teach others to become just as valuable?

And what would giving him over to The Guardians accomplish that they couldn't manage themselves even if most of them, as you say, want him put in a Science Cell?

Edit:Actually, most of The Controllers aren't even connected to Best Snek and Her magic OJ, so it wouldn't increase their control of the light all that much, and might actually make it worse since She would be angry that they took Her Agent away.

And it's not like The Controllers aren't used to extreme measures, you're the one that pointed out that they separated from The Guardians because they wanted to keep using The Manhunters and Sun Eaters.

 

[Ardy]

Why would they want to take one of their most valuable war assets off the field for any reason, especially since he's seemingly the only person that can teach others to become just as valuable?

And what would giving him over to The Guardians accomplish that they couldn't manage themselves even if most of them, as you say, want him put in a Science Cell?

Click to shrink...

they would kill the protagonist, thus making Vaermina happy that he is no longer forced to read this fic every single day for almost a decade across three sites

 

[Darko]

Why would they want to take one of their most valuable war assets off the field for any reason, especially since he's seemingly the only person that can teach others to become just as valuable?

Click to shrink...

Paul is also connected to the Ophidian on a level that is only rivaled by Rick's spirit sex connection to that dragon, so if Paul is taken out of the picture then the Ophidian may become royally pissed off and refuse to cooperate, thus costing the Controllers their most powerful weapon.

And even if they somehow do still have access to the light it may not be as powerful or easy to control due to the Ophidian fighting against them.

And what would giving him over to The Guardians accomplish that they couldn't manage themselves even if most of them, as you say, want him put in a Science Cell?

Click to shrink...

Also the Guardians may be able to discover things about the Orange Light that they were unaware of previously and I don't think the Controllers would be all that happy with that.

 

[Zig]

"That didn't rhyme."

"It does in my language."

Click to shrink...

Is that normal? Cuz all the oaths we see in the comics have translations into English keep the rhyme scheme.

 

[mastermenthe]

Impressive that Onik is so good at corrupting her constructs. Fuelled by a desire to take away her weapons and lay her low, perhaps?

Click to shrink...

It is fairly obvious that Onik is accidentally abusing the "worship as a desired transaction" psychological variant of worship directly equivalent to how ancuent humans would worship harvest spirits, believing that the ritual of worship was itself a tendered receipt that paid the harvest spirit to bless the crops.

Onik may not be great at "I want to assimilate" but Onik is prodigy tier at "I want Ophidian to assimilate" and this translate to his desire to see his delusion made reality, while any instance of his construct-idol of his goddess being stymied would result in a "No, that is not canon, that is not in character, Saitama Ophidian always wins, I want Saitama Ophidian to win, I want Ophidian to be as she should! [Power Rightly Assumed!]"


...also how the hell do I get the color hex values, I cannot find the bloody fucking BBcode-deformatting button to see it directly, and have no clue how to use the hex color box!