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

This feels uncomfortably close to mind control. Of the sort Paul just spent an episode arguing with Anarchy about. And that they deliberately hid away the spear of destiny to avoid.
This isn't an artificial construct purposefully made to affect minds. It's literally something that came about naturally due to magic, so it'll exist whether or not they do anything to it. So now that they know about it, it's better to keep an eye on it to prevent evil from messing with it than pretending it doesn't exist.
 
I can see the foreign trainees ask Paul or Uncle Sam ask if their own nations/homelands have their own Heartlands as well, Toyman or the telepathic gorilla, with the answer being yes or it will develop overtime organically or given their line of business someone will try to create it artificially.
 
We don't know that. We aren't ever presented with an in-universe power scale. All we can do is compare the observed and almost certainly incomplete feats shown on screen.
In the early seasons, Twilight, the elemental magician and Celestia's personal apprentice, experienced difficulty teleporting. This suggests that teleportation is highly advanced magic.
I don't remember them trying to change Rarity's mane, and even if they couldn't, that might just mean that they haven't learned that particular spell.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JbUcl8jkuxQ They used many different spells, but their combined magical skills weren't enough. Trixie had enough magical skills for that.
I... Don't remember her teleporting without magic, which... Would require a machine?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7JAQWvE4tcU ㅤㅤ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyPg0AOq_eE nope.
When does an earth pony who isn't Pinkie Pie do things like that?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSDyk9qyXys (+ just like Pinkie teleported in the same episode) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bz_NehWgxd8&pp=ygUZbWxwIGNoZWVzZSBzYW5kd2ljaCBzZW5zZQ== ㅤㅤㅤ https://youtu.be/tpdjSd_u7I4?si=n0fsp1cq0XrqW4Cv&t=322
Apple Bloom was afflicted by a magical disease. I don't think we can take that as representative of how it works.
When Starlight swapped the marks on Celestia and Luna, they, along with the marks, gained the necessary magic to do each other's work.



P.s. Oh my god, I read on and this is the best treatment of Celestia out of all the tons of fanfics I've read. It's hard to describe how impressed I am.
 
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This feels uncomfortably close to mind control. Of the sort Paul just spent an episode arguing with Anarchy about. And that they deliberately hid away the spear of destiny to avoid.
The difference being, this arose from the place rather than being imposed upon it externally. It was explicitly stated as being the goal and essential to the state they were trying to build by the founders of that state. And it's not being administered by a normal human person but by that state made flesh.

Complaining about it is a bit like a Christian confessing their sin, feeling better about it and then complaining about feeling better.
 
Those things make up a lot more then 1% of the setting...

And they rarely show up compared to everything else.

He can talk to them, but that is all that has been shown in this story

Except not, since he can also apparently channel them and let them talk with others.

Like the Narn resistance leader.

You seem to have forgotten that before he got enlightenment Paul was heavily limited in how he could change himself due to most changes conflicting with this own subconcious wants.

Yeah, but then he didn't need to change his appearance in order to hide.

No, it means he's no more powerful then early story Paul.

In fact, he's actually weaker then early story Paul, because he can't carry a lantern around with him to recharge and only regains a small trickle of power over time

Gonna need an actual quote where this is stated.

Who then trapped him in a bubble that he was only able to escape from because the Vorlon had a shocked Pikachu face moment.

The real funny thing there is that that was probably the worst thing that could happen, cause now he might think he can do the same with Z'ha'dum. Except that would end up with the Eye frying his brain the moment he got close.

Keep telling yourself that.

Points at High Noon thread in Rants, personal attacks go there.

That wasn't an attack as much as it was an observation of your actions and the consequences of those actions.

There's a reason a lot of people have you on Ignore, and it's not because you speak the truth or whatever.

None of which is creating constructs of living things.

Again, it is possible for an orange ring to create complex organic matter.

have, which is why I know the scene your talking about doesn't go how you're describing

I'll give you this much, you were right.

I guess I just misremembered G'Kar holding the gun as Lyta shooting the Shadow instead of lobotomizing it.

Though I'm still certain a power ring can hurt them.
 
So, this just occured to me, but if there is a literal Uncle Sam in the DC Universe, are there also living embodiments of other aspects of American culture and society, like Aunt Columbia/Lady Liberty?

And what about embodiments of the countries where you and I came from, Mr. Zoat? Are there personifications of Canada (Johnny Canuck?) or The UK (John Bull?) running around too? Will we ever meet them in the story?
 
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So, this just occured to me, but if there is a literal Uncle Sam in the DC Universe, are there also living embodiments of other aspects of American culture and society, like Aunt Columbia/Lady Liberty?

There was that Johnny Reb character.

He was basically the embodiment of the Confederacy and was Sam's evil twin.

And what about embodiments of the countries where you and I came from, Mr. Zoat? Are there personifications of Canada (Johnny Canuck?) or The UK (John Bull?) running around too? Will we ever meet them in the story?

There was Captain Nazi, and I think some people thought that Russian director was the embodiment of his own country.
 
Ah, but Uncle Sam just said it was OK. It's probably something along the line of probability control, or Synchronicity Wave Traveling - removing the worms in Washington leads to evidence being uncovered that actually takes out the evil corrupt cabals and bribe takers, or something happens that scares the craven cowards and causes them to flee with the vast sums of money they've already managed to suck from the marrow of the people.
I'd speculate it's better for actual superheroes like OL and Zatanna to expose them. Heroes have been around long enough to influence some of America's metaphysical processes (or to have their own metaphysical weight). A non-American, America-hating villain entering the heartlands and exposing a worm would probably cause additional problems in the medium and long term.
 
And they rarely show up compared to everything else.
No? They show up a lot, in fact, most of the "unknown" events in the show trace themselves back to the First One's.

Except not, since he can also apparently channel them and let them talk with others.

Like the Narn resistance leader.
But he doesn't gain their memories when doing that.

And really, most aren't going to be as willing to believe he's actually doing that as Ambassador G'Kar was.

Yeah, but then he didn't need to change his appearance in order to hide.
But he did need to change his appearance so everyone wouldn't treat him like a teenager.

Gonna need an actual quote where this is stated.
Word of Zoat
No, he recharges slowly and gradually from the interaction between the souls living inside him and a soul hunter orb he picked up.
Dude's not in any position to become the "stride amongst the giants" face puncher that Orange Lantern is.

Keep telling yourself that.
The Eye swatted down someone backed by the power of the Great Machine, it wouldn't have any trouble taking out some human with a Power Ring.

Again, it is possible for an orange ring to create complex organic matter.
But we haven't seen it create constructs of it.

I'll give you this much, you were right.

I guess I just misremembered G'Kar holding the gun as Lyta shooting the Shadow instead of lobotomizing it.

Though I'm still certain a power ring can hurt them.
The Shadows aren't the Vorlon's, so probably.

But keep in mind, they tore apart Kosh, and an encounter suited Vorlon is a lot more durable then some guy with a Power Ring.
 
Psychoprompt (part 11) New
3rd April 2258
17:29 GMT


The Chief of Security has a quick whispered conversation with one of his subordinates, and then strolls back towards me. A momentary frown is smoothly replaced with a customer service smile, and he gives me a polite nod.

"Well, they're not dead. Apparently they won't even suffer any long-term consequences… Maybe lose a few brain cells from the head trauma, but nothing serious."

I nod. "Good show."

"So, ah..?" He shrugs. "What brings you to Green Sector?"

"I was hoping to meet with Ambassador Delenn. I intend to travel to Minbar soon, and I want to sort out a visa, and… Ask about what I need to do to avoid the sort of mistakes tourists usually make…"

He nods. "You make an appointment?"

"Ah, no."

He frowns in puzzlement. "No?"

"Ah… Short version. The place on Minbar I want to visit has some sort of… Feud with the sect her aide is a member of… I don't-. I don't really understand it… But I don't understand how that part of minbari cultures works…"

"Eh." He shrugs as he considers his tablet. "Me neither, pal. I assume you're not carrying?"

"Carrying what?"

He gives me some side eye. "A weapon. You're not armed."

"I don't have a gun or a knife or anything like that. Ah, I've got a multi-tool. I took it through customs, so I didn't think there was a problem."

He shakes his head. "Nah, that's fine. Did you hit 'em with it?"

I shake my head. "No. I... It wouldn't really… I mean, I-. I don't really have any training with close combat, but I don't think it would really-. I don't think hitting someone with it would have been practical."

"You… Work out?"

"I've been trying? Uh." I shake my head. "Why do you ask?"

He shrugs. "Well, they got the concussion from where you slammed 'em against the wall, but there's a couple of other injuries, and I'm just-" He shrugs again, gurning as he does so. "-trying t' work out how they got 'em."

"Ah… I might have hit them a few more times?" I shake my head. "Sorry, I'm not used to getting into fights."

He considers me for a moment, and then nods. "Yeah, the adrenaline makes everything kinda blurry. But like I said, they're not dead, and Miss Mayan supports your version of events-." He frowns. "Do you know where all the blood came from?"

I shake my head. "I didn't really see..? I was assuming they just gave her a shallow cut, and the… There was an enthusiastic vein there or something?"

"Eh, maybe. Do you know why she was laughing when we got here?"

Because minbari humour is based on the failure to gain spiritual enlightenment, and me saying that after being elevated by a First One I wanted to go back to doing what I did before hit her funny bone.

"I made a small joke, and she started laughing like it was the funniest thing she'd ever heard. I guess the.. minbari stress response is pretty similar to the human one."

"Hm. Okay, well, you're free to go." I-. "Are you going to be on the station for the next couple of days? Just in case I need to follow up."

"'Couple of days', yes. Then, hopefully, off to Minbar. And if I don't get the visa… I don't know, somewhere else. I'll leave my flight plan with Babylon Control."

"Okay." He nods. "Hopefully there won't be anything else. Oh, ah, and… Good work." I frown-. "Taking down two armed men for someone you'd never met?"

"I…" I shrug, smiling. "I guess I just like helping people."

His face sort of freezes for a moment, the one deviation from his 'friendly cop' persona that I've seen. "Right... Have a good stay."

Okay, the attackers are being carried away to the cells, a couple of maintenance workers are cleaning up the blood, and Miss Mayan is… Looking at me.

I walk towards her. "I can fix your robe, if you like."

"I think that I will keep it as a memento."

"Did you think you might forget, otherwise?"

Her mouth twitches into a smile. "Mh-muh." … "No, I do not believe that will be a problem."

"Glad to hear it. I don't know what concussion does to minbari, and I expect that most of the doctors on this station specialise in treating humans."

"I overheard you say that you wished to speak to Ambassador Delenn regarding a travel permit."

"Yes. I don't suppose you know her, do you-? No, sorry, that's ridiculous-."

"Yes. We grew up together."

"Oh. Um."

"I will introduce you. I was heading to my quarters to rest, but I do not think that I will be sleeping for some time."

"I'd offer to help with that, but I don't know enough about minbari neurology to do it safely."

She leads me out of the garden area and we start down the corridor. "Do you wish to visit anywhere in particular on Minbar, or do you wish to see the entire planet?"

"Valnern."

"Ah." She thinks for a moment. "The Unfinished Basilica?"

"Yes."

"It is supposed to be quite beautiful."

Not yet it's not.

"That's… Not why I want to go. You see, while this magic ring was a gift from the people of Maltus, I can only keep the thing charged with the help of a few hundred souls I liberated from a Soul Hunter reliquary." She stops, staring at me. "I let all the ones who wanted to pass on pass on. The ones who opted to stay with me are all people with unfinished business in the material universe."

"And what unfinished business do they have with the Unfinished Basilica?"

"Zeen Mataan wants to finish her final project."

"The architect?"

"Yes."

She looks uncertain. "Who left the basilica unfinished as a mark of respect to those who died during the plague which occurred during its construction, and had the design records destroyed?"

Orange light surges around me as control of my body is usurped.

"I called a halt to work while the plague was infecting the workers because they could not work in those conditions! I wished to resume work afterwards, but the town council were no longer prepared to pay for the crystal sheets it required, nor for the service of the artisans skilled enough to realise my design! I burned my records in protest at their cretinous lack of vision."

"EK!" I clench my left fist and exert myself, Zeen Mataan's voice fading into the background. "This is my body. I'm willing to share but do not take it over like that!"

Mayan is staring at me.

"Her skill at her profession was enough that the Soul Hunters collected her, but in two hundred years they hardly ever spoke to her and I think we all know why."



Mayan takes a moment to compose herself.

"I think it may be best if you do not tell Delenn the precise reason for your visit."
 
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Maybe loose a few brain cells from the head trauma, but nothing serious."
'lose'

I want sort out a visa, and…
'want to sort'

The place in Minbar I want to visit
'on'

Because minbar humour is based
'minbari'

and be saying that after being elevated
'me'

"Do you wish to visit anywhere in particular on minbar,
'Minbar'

"I think it may be best if you do not tell Delenn the precise the reason for your visit."
Extra 'the'.

"Her skill at her profession was enough that the Soul Hunters collected her, but in two hundred years they hardly ever spoke to her and I think we all know why."
And here we see that Zeen Mataan would be a perfect fit for an orange ring!
I mean, she'd instantly go full Larfleeze, but that's a technicality.
 
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3rd April 2258
17:29 GMT


The Chief of Security has a quick whispered conversation with one of his subordinates, and then strolls back towards me. A momentary frown is smoothly replaced with a customer service smile, and he gives me a polite nod.
Depending on the story they told him, that may just be annoyance at a simple bust-up or a suspicion something else is going on. I suspect he'll be keeping his eye on both 'Matthew Underwood' and Shaal Mayan while they're aboard.

"Well, they're not dead. Apparently they won't even suffer any long-term consequences… Maybe loose a few brain cells from the head trauma, but nothing serious."

I nod. "Good show."
Which helps give them a cover if they start telling stories about orange hammers. The concussion talking, you know...

"So, ah..?" He shrugs. "What brings you to Green Sector?"

"I was hoping to meet with Ambassador Delenn. I intend to travel to Minbar soon, and I want to sort out a visa, and… Ask about what I need to do to avoid the sort of mistakes tourists usually make…"
...I'd be surprised if there were any tourists on Minbar, but people will try to get anywhere.

He nods. "You make an appointment?"

"Ah, no."

He frowns in puzzlement. "No?"
Act like you didn't realise you'd need one. That's believable.

"Ah… Short version. The place in Minbar I want to visit has some sort of… Feud with the sect her aide is a member of… I don't-. I don't really understand it… But I don't understand how that part of minbari cultures works…"

"Eh." He shrugs as he considers his tablet. "Me neither, pal. I assume you're not carrying?"
At least that part makes some sense. Garibaldi's probably met Lennier enough to get he's a little... Zealous?

"Carrying what?"

He gives me some side eye. "A weapon. You're not armed."
...Not anything humans would recognise as a weapon.

"I don't have a gun or a knife or anything like that. Ah, I've got a multi-tool. I took it through customs, so I didn't think there was a problem."

He shakes his head. "Nah, that's fine. Did you hit 'em with it?"
You could say that. But not directly. 😏

I shake my head. "No. I... It wouldn't really… I mean, I-. I don't really have any training with close combat, but I don't think it would really-. I don't think hitting someone with it would have been practical."

"You… Work out?"
Not the ring proper, no. He'd probably do more damage to his hand then their jaw.

"I've been trying? Uh." I shake my head. "Why do you ask?"

He shrugs. "Well, they got the concussion from where you slammed 'em against the wall, but there's a couple of other injuries, and I'm just-" He shrugs again, gurning as he does so. "-trying t' work out how they got 'em."
Such as ringing ears from the sonic weapon? That's a little harder to explain.

"Ah… I might have hit them a few more times?" I shake my head. "Sorry, I'm not used to getting into fights."

He considers me for a moment, and then nods. "Yeah, the adrenaline makes everything kinda blurry. But like I said, they're not dead, and Miss Mayan supports your version of events-." He frowns. "Do you know where all the blood came from?"
I do like when adrenaline turns out to be our natural analog of other species' combat drugs. Part of our deathworlder charm.

I shake my head. "I didn't really see..? I was assuming they just gave her a shallow cut, and the… There was an enthusiastic vein there or something?"

"Eh, maybe. Do you know why she was laughing when we got here?"
Like the way head wounds can bleed surprisingly aggressively despite a tiny size? Plausible...

Because minbar humour is based on the failure to gain spiritual enlightenment, and by saying that after being elevated by a First One I wanted to go back to doing what I did before hit her funny bone.

"I made a small joke, and she started laughing like it was the funniest thing she'd ever heard. I guess the.. minbari stress response is pretty similar to the human one."
Not doing too bad a job of covering his ass, at least.

"Hm. Okay, well, you're free to go." I-. "Are you going to be on the station for the next couple of days? Just in case I need to follow up."

"'Couple of days', yes. Then, hopefully, off to Minbar. And if I don't get the visa… I don't know, somewhere else. I'll leave my flight plan with Babylon Control."
Probably take that long to get the paperwork filled out, especially if Delenn is distracted by the trouble involving her friend.

"Okay." He nods. "Hopefully there won't be anything else. Oh, ah, and… Good work." I frown-. "Taking down two armed men for someone you'd never met?"

"I…" I shrug, smiling. "I guess I just like helping people."
I wonder if Garibaldi will feel a little deja vu the next time he hears those words?

His face sort of freezes for a moment, the one deviation from his 'friendly cop' persona that I've seen. "Right... Have a good stay."

Okay, the attackers are being carried away to the cells, a couple of maintenance workers are cleaning up the blood, and Miss Mayan is… Looking at me.
Time to face the music with the Minbari.

I walk towards her. "I can fix your robe, if you like."

"I think that I will keep it as a memento."
As much of the brush with danger as the brush with the Speaker.

"Did you think you might forget, otherwise?"

Her mouth twitches into a smile. "Mh-muh." … "No, I do not believe that will be a problem."
Indeed. Not every day you meet someone touched by power like that.

"Glad to hear it. I don't know what concussion does to minbari, and I expect that most of the doctors on this station specialise in treating humans."

"I overheard you say that you wished to speak to Ambassador Delenn regarding a travel permit."
And the perfect way to reward him.

"Yes. I don't suppose you know her, do you-? No, sorry, that's ridiculous-."

"Yes. We grew up together."
Remarkably lucky, in fact, that he should meet the one person who could grease the wheels and get him that meeting promptly.

"Oh. Um."

"I will introduce you. I was heading to my quarters to rest, but I do not think that I will be sleeping for some time."
Not after that excitement... Or that fear.

"I'd offer to help with that, but I don't know enough about minbari neurology to do it safely."

She leads me out of the garden area and we start down the corridor. "Do you wish to visit anywhere in particular on minbar, or do you wish to see the entire planet?"
Ah, yes. That passenger's 'unfinished business.' Hopefully it won't be too disruptive.

"Valnern."

"Ah." She thinks for a moment. "The Unfinished Basilica?"
...And I think I see exactly what it is. An unfinished holy building... A soul with unfinished business...

"Yes."

"It is supposed to be quite beautiful."

Not yet it's not.
And there they are.

"That's… Not why I want to go. You see, while my magic ring was a gift from the people of Maltus, I can only keep the thing charged with the help of a few hundred souls I liberated from a Soul Hunter reliquary." She stops, staring at me. "I let all the ones who wanted to pass on pass on. The ones who opted to stay with me are all people with unfinished business in the material universe."
And hopefully that will stop the blooming arguing... 😏 Nah, who am I kidding?

"And what unfinished business do they have with the Unfinished Basilica?"

"Zeen Mataan wants to finish her final project."

"The architect?"
I would imagine 'Zeen' is a title rather than a family name. Minbari don't generally use family names that way, do they?

"Yes."

She looks uncertain. "Who left the basilica unfinished as a mark of respect to those who died during the plague which occurred during its construction, and had the design records destroyed?"

Orange light surges around me as control of my body is usurped.
It seems the architect wants to speak for herself...

"I called a halt to work while the plague was infecting the workers because they could not work in those conditions! I wished to resume work afterwards, but the town council were no longer prepared to pay for the crystal sheets it required, nor for the service of the artisans skilled enough to realise my vision! I burned my records in protest at their cretinous lack of vision."
Huh, such a prosaic reason for what people interpreted as a grand gesture of compassion.

"EK!" I clench my left fist and exert myself, Zeen Mataan's voice fading into the background. "This is my body. I'm willing to share but do not take it over like that!"

Mayan is staring at me.
Ah, the shattering of illusions.

"Her skill at her profession was enough that the Soul Hunters collected her, but in two hundred years they hardly ever spoke to her and I think we all know why."

Oh, that's going to be fun when it comes time to let her out again.

Mayan takes a moment to compose herself.

"I think it may be best if you do not tell Delenn the precise the reason for your visit."
Not unless you want her to suffer an apoplectic stroke.

I can only assume that Mataan will prepare new plans and demand the council finish the work, while hopefully leaving it to them. I suspect a human flying around glowing orange to assemble the final stages of the building will be just a bit too public for Matthew. I suppose we might see which occurs, when the time comes...
 
"I was hoping to meet with Ambassador Delenn. I intend to travel to Minbar soon, and I want sort out a visa, and… Ask about what I need to do to avoid the sort of mistakes tourists usually make…"
Going to Minbar would be extroidinarly stupid given you have a Drakh in your head.

"I let all the ones who wanted to pass on pass on. The ones who opted to stay with me are all people with unfinished business in the material universe."
And she should believe you, why?

Mayan takes a moment to compose herself.

"I think it may be best if you do not tell Delenn the precise the reason for your visit."
Not that it will matter given the Minbari aren't going to listen to a human so your only choice will be to try and finish it yourself.
 
I can only assume that Mataan will prepare new plans and demand the council finish the work, while hopefully leaving it to them. I suspect a human flying around glowing orange to assemble the final stages of the building will be just a bit too public for Matthew. I suppose we might see which occurs, when the time comes...
As shown previously, he involuntarily assumes the form of the soul he lets control his body. SO it wouldn't be a glowing orange human. It would be the famous architect come back from the dead / escaped from soul hunters (depending on how known her capture was) with the powers of First Ones to finish her project.
 
From my understanding of minbari culture, the end result of him fulfilling this request is gaining enough visibility that minbari insist on sending a detachment of rangers with him, and use their political weight with other races to make it easier, but more awkward, to continue his mission. Especially if vorlons comment on him being a servant of the First Ones (i.e. beings that First Ones refer to as First Ones).
 
Back to Babylon 5, and I worked out when is the series we are. He missed some early excitement, lucked out in missing the Soul Hunters and missed out seeing Psi Corps in their...natural glory. But if he succeeds in his endeavors...he should be around when arguably the most infamous Dilgar ever is going to visit the station. Should be interesting...

The Chief of Security has a quick whispered conversation with one of his subordinates, and then strolls back towards me. A momentary frown is smoothly replaced with a customer service smile, and he gives me a polite nod.

"Well, they're not dead. Apparently they won't even suffer any long-term consequences… Maybe loose a few brain cells from the head trauma, but nothing serious."

I nod. "Good show."

Honestly, Garibaldi, I don't think they had any to begin with. The only thing I can credit these guys in picking the easiest target they could choose for. Now, if they'd picked a member of a Warrior Caste, then I'd actually credit them for having not just a spine, but also the balls. As it is, they have neither.

"So, ah..?" He shrugs. "What brings you to Green Sector?"

"I was hoping to meet with Ambassador Delenn. I intend to travel to Minbar soon, and I want sort out a visa, and… Ask about what I need to do to avoid the sort of mistakes tourists usually make…"

...I misunderstood, apparently. He needs access to Minbar itself, not just a meeting with a Minbari of high rank. That should be...interesting...

"Ah… Short version. The place in Minbar I want to visit has some sort of… Feud with the sect her aide is a member of… I don't-. I don't really understand it… But I don't understand how that part of minbari cultures works…"

"Eh." He shrugs as he considers his tablet. "Me neither, pal. I assume you're not carrying?"

"Carrying what?"

...feud, huh...

And no, it is not strictly a weapon. I definitely would consider it a superior option to that Ikaaran weapon.

"I don't have a gun or a knife or anything like that. Ah, I've got a multi-tool. I took it through customs, so I didn't think there was a problem."

He shakes his head. "Nah, that's fine. Did you hit 'em with it?"

Yes, he has the most powerful multi-tool in the universe. No, he didn't hit them with it. Not directly.

"Eh, maybe. Do you know why she was laughing when we got here?"

Because minbar humour is based on the failure to gain spiritual enlightenment, and be saying that after being elevated by a First One I wanted to go back to doing what I did before hit her funny bone.

"I made a small joke, and she started laughing like it was the funniest thing she'd ever heard. I guess the.. minbari stress response is pretty similar to the human one."

...yeah, I get it, but I also don't get it. *shrugs* At least she's way better off than in canon. She lived, but getting branded...

I walk towards her. "I can fix your robe, if you like."

"I think that I will keep it as a memento."

"Did you think you might forget, otherwise?"

Her mouth twitches into a smile. "Mh-muh." … "No, I do not believe that will be a problem."

*blinks* Surprisingly morbid. Again, still better off than originally, but still...

"I overheard you say that you wished to speak to Ambassador Delenn regarding a travel permit."

"Yes. I don't suppose you know her, do you-? No, sorry, that's ridiculous-."

"Yes. We grew up together."

"Oh. Um."

Very fortunate for you, Babylon!Paul. Should expedite your needs quite a lot.

"Valnern."

"Ah." She thinks for a moment. "The Unfinished Basilica?"

"Yes."

"It is supposed to be quite beautiful."

Not yet it's not.

...okay, I may have misunderstood. This particular soul may be Worker Caste, instead. That's interesting...

"That's… Not why I want to go. You see, while my magic ring was a gift from the people of Maltus, I can only keep the thing charged with the help of a few hundred souls I liberated from a Soul Hunter reliquary." She stops, staring at me. "I let all the ones who wanted to pass on pass on. The ones who opted to stay with me are all people with unfinished business in the material universe."

"And what unfinished business do they have with the Unfinished Basilica?"

"Zeen Mataan wants to finish her final project."

"The architect?"

"Yes."

Wow, that was a lot of souls...and he even released most of them. If the Soul Hunters weren't miffed with him before, learning this would probably actually piss them off. The Soul Hunter who became a renegade definitely would have.

She looks uncertain. "Who left the basilica unfinished as a mark of respect to those who died during the plague which occurred during its construction, and had the design records destroyed?"

Orange light surges around me as control of my body is usurped.

"I called a halt to work while the plague was infecting the workers because they could not work in those conditions! I wished to resume work afterwards, but the town council were no longer prepared to pay for the crystal sheets it required, nor for the service of the artisans skilled enough to realise my vision! I burned my records in protest at their cretinous lack of vision."

Wow, that's a reaction. Yeah, there's going to be...repercussions with this.

"Her skill at her profession was enough that the Soul Hunters collected her, but in two hundred years they hardly ever spoke to her and I think we all know why."



Mayan takes a moment to compose herself.

"I think it may be best if you do not tell Delenn the precise the reason for your visit."

And that's just one Minbari soul. What about the other two? How volatile are their issues.
 
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'lose'
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Thank you, corrected.
Me said:
my magic ring was a gift from
this
service of the artisans skilled enough to realise my vision
design
Now, if they'd picked a member of a Warrior Caste, then I'd actually credit them for having not just a spine, but also the balls.
Last time the Warrior Caste were on Babylon 5 in any numbers, the Religious Caste merked them.
 
But if he succeeds in his endeavors...he should be around when arguably the most infamous Dilgar ever is going to visit the station. Should be interesting...
More than interesting. "Ring, scan and manufacture a ton of the immortality serum" is absolutely something he would do. "Oh, what's that, the serum requires something to be extracted from living sophonts? I have a magic ring.". The only question is whether he'll force dose everyone on the station, and if the serum requires continuous injections (I don't think so, but I'll need to rewatch the episode).

EDIT: is this before or after the extinction plague episode? Because solving that with the immortality serum would be a fun solution.
 
From my understanding of minbari culture, the end result of him fulfilling this request is gaining enough visibility that minbari insist on sending a detachment of rangers with him, and use their political weight with other races to make it easier, but more awkward, to continue his mission. Especially if vorlons comment on him being a servant of the First Ones (i.e. beings that First Ones refer to as First Ones).
No, it would not.

Putting aside all the other issues, the Minbari dont control the Rangers, and the Rangers purpose is too keep watch for and fight the Shadows, not protect some random guy with a First One toy.


More than interesting. "Ring, scan and manufacture a ton of the immortality serum" is absolutely something he would do. "Oh, what's that, the serum requires something to be extracted from living sophonts? I have a magic ring.". The only question is whether he'll force dose everyone on the station, and if the serum requires continuous injections (I don't think so, but I'll need to rewatch the episode).

EDIT: is this before or after the extinction plague episode? Because solving that with the immortality serum would be a fun solution.
The Vorlons would kill him if he tries to hand out immortality.

Its one of their hard lines.
 
Going to Minbar would be extroidinarly stupid given you have a Drakh in your head.

And how exactly would they know about that particular soul?

And she should believe you, why?

Well the fact that he just saved her life can go a long way towards establish trust.

Not that it will matter given the Minbari aren't going to listen to a human so your only choice will be to try and finish it yourself

Unless Delenn and Mayan pull some strings.

Or heck, he could just manufacture some documents for the building that say that the architect wanted it to be finished and have them be found by the Minbari.

Honestly, Garibaldi, I don't think they had any to begin with. The only thing I can credit these guys in picking the easiest target they could choose for. Now, if they'd picked a member of a Warrior Caste, then I'd actually credit them for having not just a spine, but also the balls. As it is, they have neither

That would require them to have bravery and a sense of justice.

Bravery because a warrior may actually be able to hurt or kill some of them, and a sense of justice because the warrior may have honestly participated in the war.

Seeing as they're bigots, they usually lack either trait.
 
...I'd be surprised if there were any tourists on Minbar, but people will try to get anywhere

There are ambassadors at least.

Garibaldi's probably met Lennier enough to get he's a little... Zealous?

Lennier isn't that zealous.

I wonder if Garibaldi will feel a little deja vu the next time he hears those words

He may think that Matthew is just a convict that got his memory wiped.

Huh, such a prosaic reason for what people interpreted as a grand gesture of compassion.

History's greatest people often times can turn out to be petty bastards.
 

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