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

BR549 · 2026-10-30T06:31:37+0000

timeForced · 2026-10-30T07:06:14+0000

Maybe Apokolips has been crystalising the fear of those about to die for millenia.

Chojin Patriarch · 2026-10-30T07:26:25+0000

Mr Zoat said:
16th October 2013
17:17 G.M.T.

"Jordan, still alive?"

"Yeah. I disabled a squadron of destroyers, and one of the battleships blew them up!"

Huh. Either they were throwing bigger ships at him, or he's overestimating their classes. Good to see him handling their shit, though. It can't be nearly as easy for him as it is for OL, after all, without Ring AI assistance.

"Same here." Destroyers? Maybe. Two more squadrons are approaching their maximum effective range. "Surprised?"

"Whenever pirate captains I've fought did things like that, their own crew got rid of them."

Which means that they're uncommonly loyal to Mongul, or are so afraid of his ire they follow without complaint.

"Assuming Mongul Junior takes after his father, he's probably too strong and tough for that. You worked out how to jam them?"

"No, I'm just warping in and out of the system before they can hem me in. What happened to you?"

I suppose they can't block his warp, since they need it for their own weapon to work.

"Not sure what they hit me with, but it actually hit through my jamming. Jade?"

"They don't just warp space to fire spatial charges. They can also fire capital ship maser cannons down warped channels."

...Ah. So they dropped a shot beyond his jammer radius and let physics take its course.

"…oh." Yes, that would work. Must be a bit fiddly. The engineering required to keep something like that going would be significant, and if he's executing anyone who gets his coffee order wrong…

"I though you were-. Hang on." … "Stablizing space?"

The science must be being handled by AI systems so smart they're all but sentient, or they have a very good rapid education system for their engineers.

"Yes, but the effect scales with the size of the jammer. I was just trying to stop them dropping a spatial charge on my head, not stop them sending them anywhere in the system. Sending a maser beam ninety nine percent of the way isn't much different to-."

"Right, got it. Ideas?"

Hal isn't one for technobabble, eh?

"I could go to the other side of the planet, use it as concealment and shoot them through it."

"No."

As nasty as the planet is, there's bound to be some innocents living on it. So unless you're skipping shots through space-time an missing the planet entirely, it's gonna take damage.

"Alright." Jammers… Bigger, this time. Gun mantle, thick enough to take another maser shot. And a singularity projector. "I'll do it from-."

The mantle abrades as one of the battleships does indeed take the shot.

Since it seemed to work so well the first time.

"From here. Any idea what's in those charges?"

"Nothing on file matches. There aren't that many ways to stop constructs, and most of them need to be, you know, in one piece."

So it looks like they might have found something new. Or maybe something so old no-one remembers it.

Target the dreadnaught and fire.

Reality jumps as spacetime is squeezed in a direct like between my gun and the-. The space near the dreadnaught, because they can use their spatial warping technology to partially counter my gun. It still hits, still gives their armour a good rattle, but that's all.

Mother-fuckers. Man, that gun never seems to do well against prepared enemies...

I dismiss the construct. "And they have defensive warp fields. Long range bombardment of the capital ships is impractical."

"You think they dug it up?"

If this world is as old as it appears to be as an Apokoliptian weapons testing ground... There's bound to be truly horrific things around.

"Depends on long they've been here. Maybe. Canis hasn't mentioned anything like this, and you know he'd boast about it."

"Can't you just do that step thing onto their bridge?"

"Considered it, realised that if they can block constructs I'd probably die."

Which just means capture or a fast-track to his next respawn. Not fun.

"How about somewhere else?"

"Sure. Where?"

Somewhere he can call for backup maybe?

"The surface. If you can find out what's going on, we might be able to start making sense of this."

Right. Fabricate drones shaped like my armour with orange light emitting diodes so that it looks a bit like I'm still here, release. I don't know how good Mongul's sensors are, but hopefully not that good.

Clever. Not the classic Gundam decoy balloon, but pretty close.

"Sure you can manage without me?"

"I've-."

...Got this? Can you be totally sure of that, mister 'I don't know the meaning of the word fear'?

"I'll keep an eye on him."

"Thank you, darling. Back shortly."

I can picture her rolling her eyes at the men trying to out-bravery each other...

I step out, looking through the manifestations of desire for some sort of clue or target. Mongul II's desires are similar enough to his sister's… No, I recognise that shape. Identical in nature but more unrestrained. He'd be a powerful Orange Lantern, at the cost of virtually all of his ability to interact with people. Might be a decent way to beat him, actually.

So not even the focused man his father was. I bet he wasn't a great Yellow Lantern either in the comics...

The classical evil overlord thing to do would be to have his captured Green Lantern displayed in his throne room, but that seems like an unnecessary risk. Even if they removed their ring, the moment that the construct suppression system failed, they'd have a fully powered Green Lantern who was now aware of how they were beaten the first time to deal with.

Maybe keep the Ring in a suppressed containment field, but having it anywhere near a skilled user would be foolish.

I focus my attention on the planet instead. Can't feel a Green Lantern there either, but I shouldn't assume that Green Lanterns have to feel alike. But the people working there… They mostly want to be somewhere else. And for some of them that's in a grave. Some… Further away… Yes, that'll do. I

And any Greenie might be in a shielded location anyway.

step in, engaging my armour's stealth systems.

Now, let's see who we're looking at here. Stocky humanoid, mouth… Looks like a predator who tears chunks off their food and doesn't chew. Basic protective clothing, and plenty of visible scars. They're sitting under a tree, looking up at the sky and generally-.

Either dying, or accepting that he's about to be killed soon one way or another.

No one else around? Good.

I deactivate my stealth system, take a small bowl of stew out of subspace and hold it out. The former miner starts to rise and then stops, presumably trying to work out who and what I am.

Ah, good, he hasn't given up on life just yet.

"Escaped slave? Not a problem. I'm willing to trade food for information now, and offer you a chance at freedom later."

"I am free. They do not put walls around the dig site. This world kills all who leave." He snorts. "But I have at least that much courage. Who are you?"

Suggests there's deposits of self-regenerating weapons and war-creatures around, and he's in the territory of one...

"I am the Illustres of the Orange Lantern Corps."

"Ah? Like the Green Lanterns?"

"Sort of."

Let's hope the locals aren't up on the differences. Especially if they taunt him about not being allowed to kill, only for someone to get vaporised in the same breath...

"They already captured one of your kind. You will not defeat Mongul on your own."

"Are you offering to help?"

Well, at least he seems to know about the captured Greenie. Might even know where he is.

He makes an… Odd noise. His people's laughter. "I prefer to die peacefully."

"I don't, but alright. You know this place is an Apokoliptian proving ground?"

Which means the things here might not kill you instantly. So very much not a peaceful death...

"Yes. We are in a zone with deadly insects. Their sting melts your nerves, so that you cannot feel it as their larvae grow within you and then eat you."

"Surprisingly merciful. The version on my homeworld just paralyses you. Do you know where the Green Lantern is being held?"

I can picture the guy going 'Wait, what?' at that comment. To be fair, some Earth insects are nasty. Especially native Australian shit. We're Earth's testing ground, it seems.

"The tunnels, by the dig site, surrounded by the cursed crystal we mine. He will not help you either; he is powerless."

"'Cursed crystal'?"

"To us, it just causes nightmares. That is why I ran. For you? Your ring dies."

Oh, I'm definitely seconding @BR259 on this. Zoat's used GL-Animated stuff before...

"Okay." I pass him the bowl and he takes it with relish. "If I survive, and you haven't been impregnated, I'll be back for you."

"You should." He raises the bowl to his maw. "This is a nice bowl. It would be a shame if the insects got it."

I like this guy. He's got a very sensible view on life...

Hmm... If those crystals are like embodied Fear, would them being ground into a scatterable powder be responsible for the construct dead-zone weapons? Just saturating the area with Fear that any other Emotional constructs dissolve from it? That would probably also empower any Yellow Lantern fighting in the space. So not something our heroes can afford to let loose.

BR549 · 2026-10-30T07:39:59+0000

Chojin Patriarch said:
Huh. Either they were throwing bigger ships at him, or he's overestimating their classes.

Hal's a former United States Air Force pilot. For whatever reason, 'corvette' is a ship classification our Navy has always seemed deathly allergic to; they either classify them as (small) frigates., or the one time we recently built vessels of the classic corvette style they were the Little Crappy Ships.

I would have expected Hal to refer to them as 'frigates' if they're the same ships OL was (likely more correctly, as the Brits have always been rather fond of the type) describing as 'corvettes', but as once every ship with a gun was a battleship in the eyes of the layman, nowadays that seems to have shifted to 'every combat ship is a destroyer', and even some navies have bent the definition beyond all believable bounds...

boo600 · 2026-10-30T09:01:09+0000

Mr Zoat said:
"Can't you just do that step thing onto their bridge?"

"Considered it, realised that if they can block constructs I'd probably die."

I… assume he means that he would die because, constructless and only equipped with his basic armor, surrounded by enemies who have defensive/offensive space-warping technology that can shut down singularity projectors and construct armor, he would lose nigh-instantly. Not because he would die if he Stepped In somewhere where constructs can't form.

After all, the whole point of the technique is that - side effects on the local mana fields aside - it can't be blocked if he knows where to go, since he Doesn't Exist until he steps in. Like Black Faith from Exalted.

Mr Zoat · 2026-10-30T10:38:42+0000

boo600 said:
I… assume he means that he would die because, constructless and only equipped with his basic armor, surrounded by enemies who have defensive/offensive space-warping technology that can shut down singularity projectors and construct armor, he would lose nigh-instantly. Not because he would die if he Stepped In somewhere where constructs can't form.

Yes, though it's really more the internal defences plus Mongul Junior's physical power. The space warping is a weapon built into the hull and can't really be aimed inwards.

boo600 · 2026-10-30T10:39:37+0000

I meant to use the space-warping tech as an example of what they can bring to bear, but what I wrote didn't come out that way. But yeah, that makes sense. Good to know I wasn't wildly off-base, there.

Ardy · 2026-10-30T11:26:31+0000

Mr Zoat said:
Yes, though it's really more the internal defences plus Mongul Junior's physical power. The space warping is a weapon built into the hull and can't really be aimed inwards.

He can take his armor with him through the honden, so take a bunch of anti-matter in a transmuted physical container through the honden, step in to the command bridge, drop it, and step out again

Steelplaza · 2026-10-30T12:17:15+0000

It's nice to get a good space battle. Also fun to see OL messing around with FTL movement and space scale weapons.

Also to see him keep his eyes on the prize. The reason the SI and Jordan didn't just retreat is that they're trying to find out what happened to the missing Green Lanterns. They aren't here to fight the Mongul fleet.

Though I hope we manage to wrap back around to the Yellow Lantern Corps eventually. If BR549 is correct about "the yellow element" maybe the material from this mine is connected to how Sinestro is planning to mass produce yellow power rings. He can't depend on elaborate fear rituals for every ring, and I doubt he wants to subordinate himself to a Malthusian or Weaponeer sponsor, so he's going to need a different plan.

Mr Zoat · 2026-10-30T12:21:43+0000

Ardy said:
He can take his armor with him through the honden, so take a bunch of anti-matter in a transmuted physical container through the honden, step in to the command bridge, drop it, and step out again

...

Ah...

There's a good reason why he's not doing that. I just need a moment to work out what it is.

Edit: Okay, it's probably something along the lines of 'he doesn't actually know that he could return to the Honden from his destination, and he doesn't know that the crystals won't disrupt his transmigration to a new body'.

Steelplaza · 2026-10-30T13:18:20+0000

Mr Zoat said:
There's a good reason why he's not doing that. I just need a moment to work out what it is.

Also, it's just bad practice to warp into a location and toss out a bunch of antimatter without really knowing who or what you're tossing it at. OL will absolutely up the lethality and destruction if pressed hard enough, but he hasn't been pressed hard enough. What if the captured Lanterns were on the ship? Or just a bunch of random prisoners? Antimatter isn't a weapon guaranteed to take out the bridge and nowhere else. The goal here isn't to destroy Mongul's fleet, it's first to rescue the captured Lanterns and second to find out more about what's going on.

Part of being a proper superhero is that even when going lethal, you try hard to make sure it's controlled lethality, which "antimatter bomb" is definitely not.

xSieg · 2026-10-30T15:48:22+0000

BR549 said:
Crystals that shut down rings, you say.

Jesus. Some of you guys make me feel like I'm a comic larper.

SolarIncursion · 2026-10-30T16:40:21+0000

xSieg said:
Jesus. Some of you guys make me feel like I'm a comic larper.

If it makes you feel better, I've never read any of the DC comics!

NightmareWarden · 2026-10-30T18:01:06+0000

Steelplaza said:
Also, it's just bad practice to warp into a location and toss out a bunch of antimatter without really knowing who or what you're tossing it at. OL will absolutely up the lethality and destruction if pressed hard enough, but he hasn't been pressed hard enough. What if the captured Lanterns were on the ship? Or just a bunch of random prisoners? Antimatter isn't a weapon guaranteed to take out the bridge and nowhere else. The goal here isn't to destroy Mongul's fleet, it's first to rescue the captured Lanterns and second to find out more about what's going on.

Part of being a proper superhero is that even when going lethal, you try hard to make sure it's controlled lethality, which "antimatter bomb" is definitely not.

Exactly. You can't "oopsie" in a space battle and blow up your allies. I mean, friendly fire like that SHOULD happen a good deal in comics with characters aside from Deadpool. But it doesn't. Probably because the consequences and narrative payoff aren't worth it.

Thus, it's worthwhile to put in the time now, when there isn't an urgent emergency to half-excuse a mistake like friendly fire. A kidnapped lantern is quite probable here.

Silveraith · 2026-10-31T06:25:38+0000

I've been rereading the story in my spare time an dit's really quiet refreshing when you realize you haven't seen these seen in over a decade or left wanting from the daily cliffhangers.

In a way it reads like a different story when compared to the present day stuff. It's also hilariously good to noticed plot points that aren't realized for multiple years.

Noticed this:

Mr Zoat said:
The image blurs as he throws himself from the chair towards the exit. "Then anyone with a telescope'll know we've busted their toy. Bats, we need to vamoose! You need help over there?"

"Unless you've got someone strong as Superman, fast as the Flash and able to fly, don't worry. I'm pretty sure I can avoid landing on..." Oh, hang on. "Guy, what's the largest object a Lantern can do an FTL transfer with?"

"I don't actually think there's a lim-. You gonna try n'move the Fortress?"

"I really want to keep this."

The second line has too much orange.

Mr Zoat · 2026-10-31T07:39:11+0000

Silveraith said:
Noticed this: The second line has too much orange.

Huh. It's fine in my version. Thank you, corrected.

Mr Zoat · 2026-10-31T07:41:15+0000

22nd April 2258
12:03 G.M.T. -5

"…wanted murderer Jason Ironheart." I walk into the bar area of the hotel Mayan and I are staying in, wincing slightly at the empty tables around her in all directions. The I.G.N. presenter on the… Restaurant's screen is doing an earnest to-camera piece about my escaped telepath. "Psi Corps officials describe him as extremely dangerous." Interesting that Psi Corps is being so open about this. I suppose they don't have to mention exactly what he was doing when he killed the experiment director, and they do have a body if anyone's curious. "If anyone has any information concerning his whereabouts, please contact the hotline on the number below."

Mayan considers me for a moment, and then makes a gesture-

A request for a private discussion, though it would usually only be used between members of the same clan.

-as I sit down across from her. Looks like she ordered dough balls.

I use the ring to generate a privacy screen.

"Did someone try to kill me again?"

"No, nothing to do with you this time-. Ah… Not directly to do with you. As far as I know no one tried to kill you."

"Good. I have finished my first article for Universe Today, and I would appreciate it if you could review it prior to submission."

She frowns as she says it.

"Are you worried?"

"No. It has simply been a very long time since I had anyone review my work. It is… Discomforting."

"I've got something even more discomforting."

"Of that I have no doubt."

Target language only.

"So I popped back to Babylon Five, and… Delenn was actually aware of the attempt on your life."

"I did not tell her. I agree that since it was so politically sensitive, as long as the human authorities perform their duties properly, it would be better if it did not come to wider attention."

"Yes, but someone took a photograph of the two of us together and it turns out that Delenn already knew the word for 'newspaper'."

"Are you concerned that someone will notice how mobile you are?"

"The article that came with the image implied that the two of us might be romantically involved. Delenn wanted to be sure that I understood that wouldn't be happening."

Mayan nods slowly. "Yes. And what did you say?"

"Ah… That I know two women and one of them has a penis? I don't-. I don't think she understood the.. cultural baggage, there."

"I am not certain that I understand the 'cultural baggage'. If you are considering… Mating outside of your own species, you must understand that different species have different… Components."

"Yes, and I… I'm aware which species… Have arrangements that I'd find disconcerting."

She stares at me. "And it is not all of them?"

"No. I mean, if I was… With a female centauri… We're physically similar enough that we wouldn't set off each other's arachnid response, but we'd have to come to… Some sort of arrangement, because the… Parts don't-."

"Is there a reason why you're talking to me about this?"

"Point is, with minbari, the parts… Match. If you hadn't been direct with me about how your entire species finds the idea revolting, I probably would try to court you. As it is, I appreciate your directness."

"That is not the same as saying that you do not wish to court me."

"No. Sorry, it's not. I think it's the 'know two women' thing."

"Then I suggest you meet more women of your own species." She shifts awkwardly in her seat. "Or not, if you prefer, and agree not to bring it to my attention."

"Thing is, my current lifestyle doesn't really lend itself to doing that. And given that you told me that you're single, I'm assuming that yours doesn't either."

"You yourself told me that there are no other minbari on Earth."

"So… So what, you don't..? Hate the idea?"

"The idea of marriage? No?"

"How do minbari..? Do… Courtship."

"Would you not be better off asking another human for advice?"

"Yes. But… I lived on Earth before we had any contact with aliens, and… I've seen the life I lived. Maybe learning how the minbari do things will help."

She nods slowly. "It depends upon the era. Once, potential matches would be arranged by the elders of a clan. In modern times, it is more common to leave the initial introductions to the individuals themselves. The approval of clan elders is still sought, but it is more ceremonial than essential."

I slump back, weakly throwing up my hands. "And I don't have clan elders, and the second one is just what humans do but with more involvement from the extended family."

"I am sorry, but I do not have a great deal of experience with romantic love. Have you considered asking another human for help?"

"How many humans do you think I know well enough to ask for personal advice? Even with courtship off the table, you are my closest friend in this era."

"What of your passengers?"

"None are human. The gaim asked why I don't just hand a sample of my genetic code to my queen. The minbari have delicate stomachs. The narn is rolling his eyes."

He's right.

"And I'm not going to repeat what the drahk suggested."

Wise.

"And really, the sort of people who got the attention of the soul hunters were probably people who spent all of their time doing the thing that got them the soul hunter's attention, rather than having a healthy work-life balance."

It was time well spent. / Not… Wholly inaccurate. / I successfully mated many times.

Ah?

Does your species have a reasonably conventional view of romantic-?

Romantic? That would be inefficient. I rented egg vessels for the purpose of fertilisation.

Thank you, helpful suggestions only, please.

"Have you considered focusing on your higher purpose, and letting things develop as they may?"

"'Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans'. I could focus on that, but then I'd never have the opportunity to meet humans -because none of my guests are humans- and I'd get into the habit of doing nothing else. So I'd never do anything else."

"I can share my limited experience, if you think that it would help."

"Please. Because the chance of me just… Bumping into someone on my own recognisance and hitting it off it pretty minimal."

24th April 2258
21:27 G.M.T. -5

The woman smiles at me as she passes me a wine flute. "Hi. I'm Kelsey. You come here often?"

Darko · 2026-10-31T07:50:09+0000

Mr Zoat said:
curious. "If anyone has any information concerning his whereabouts, please contact the hotline on the number below.

Add a" at the end.

Mr Zoat said:
something that even more discomforting."

"something even"

Mr Zoat said:
with me about his your entire species

"about how"

Mr Zoat said:
/ I successfully mated many times.

But how was your romantic life?

Mr Zoat said:
Ah?

Does your species have a reasonably conventional view of romantic-?

Romantic? That would be inefficient. I rented egg vessels for the purpose of fertilisation

Figures.

Mr Zoat said:
but then I'd never the opportunity to meet humans -becaus

"never have the"

Jankl · 2026-10-31T08:17:14+0000

Wait Kelsey? Another Telepath huh. If she is here Paul might be meeting Bester seen.

Mr Zoat · 2026-10-31T08:19:32+0000

Darko said:
Add a" at the end.
"something even"
"about how"
"never have the"

Thank you, corrected.

Chojin Patriarch · 2026-10-31T08:24:49+0000

Mr Zoat said:
22nd April 2258
12:03 G.M.T. -5

"…wanted murderer Jason Ironheart." I walk into the bar area of the hotel Mayan and I are staying in, wincing slightly at the empty tables around her in all directions. The I.G.N. presenter on the… Restaurant's screen is doing an earnest to-camera piece about my escaped telepath. "Psi Corps officials describe him as extremely dangerous." Interesting that Psi Corps is being so open about this. I suppose they don't have to mention exactly what he was doing when he killed the experiment director, and they do have a body if anyone's curious. "If anyone has any information concerning his whereabouts, please contact the hotline on the number below.

If anything, this probably makes PSI Corps seem more relatable, by having one of their 'lesser' agents go postal, kill a science guy and disappear. You know, Instead of being 100% loyal to the last man.

Mayan considers me for a moment, and then makes a gesture-

A request for a private discussion, though it would usually only be used between members of the same clan.

Ah, discreet gestural languages. Always something overlooked on television because it's very hard to make look interesting.

-as I sit down across from her. Looks like she ordered dough balls.

I use the ring to generate a privacy screen.

Always wonder what this looks like? A giant orange bubble would just draw attention, and even a subtle distortion might be noticed...

"Did someone try to kill me again?"

"No, nothing to do with you this time-. Ah… Not directly to do with you. As far as I know no one tried to kill you."

Don't worry, it's bound to be back to business as normal soon.

"Good. I have finished my first article for Universe Today, and I would appreciate it if you could review it prior to submission."

She frowns as she says it.

Good plan to have a human she trusts check it's not inappropriate in some way she might miss.

"Are you worried?"

"No. It has simply been a very long time since I had anyone review my work. It is… Discomforting."

Ironically, this probably means it might be better. People are rarely impartial editors of their own work.

"I've got something that even more discomforting."

"Of that I have no doubt."

Especially since it's gonna involve Delenn.

Target language only.

"So I popped back to Babylon Five, and… Delenn was actually aware of the attempt on your life."

Presumably because of the captain informing her. As Ambassador on station, she's pretty much the highest authority for Minbari on Babylon 5, isn't she?

"I did not tell her. I agree that since it was so politically sensitive, as long as the human authorities perform their duties properly, it would be better if it did not come to wider attention."

"Yes, but someone took a photograph of the two of us together and it turns out that Delenn already knew the word for 'newspaper'."

...Well, bugger.

"Are you concerned that someone will notice how mobile you are?"

"The article that came with the image implied that the two of us might be romantically involved. Delenn wanted to be sure that I understood that wouldn't be happening."

...She found out via a tabloid, didn't she?

Mayan nods slowly. "Yes. And what did you say?"

"Ah… That I know two women and one of them has a penis? I don't-. I don't think she understood the.. cultural baggage, there."

The brakiri maid? I'm guessing it works something akin to a spotted hyena. Or some third-sex trait. Sci-Fi writers love overcomplications like that.

"I am not certain that I understand the 'cultural baggage'. If you are considering… Mating outside of your own species, you must understand that different species have different… Components."

"Yes, and I… I'm aware which species… Have arrangements that I'd find disconcerting."

I guess Minbari don't have too much stigma against same-sex relationships. I doubt 'modern' Earth here has either, but who knows, given the show was written in the 90's.

She stares at me. "And it is not all of them?"

"No. I mean, if I was… With a female centauri… We're physically similar enough that we wouldn't set off each other's arachnid response, but we'd have to come to… Some sort of arrangement, because the… Parts don't-."

As a reminder: Male centauri have six thoracic tentacles to deposit semen, females have six sockets to receive them. I shudder to imagine the birthing process, though.

"Is there a reason why you're talking to me about this?"

"Point is, with minbari, the parts… Match. If you hadn't been direct with me about his your entire species finds the idea revolting, I probably would try to court you. As it is, I appreciate your directness."

Although there might be issues of exact shape involved with 'Tab A and Slot B.'

"That is not the same as saying that you do not wish to court me."

"No. Sorry, it's not. I think it's the 'know two women' thing."

Yeah, they got kind of sidetracked on comparative xenophysiology.

"Then I suggest you meet more women of your own species." She shifts awkwardly in her seat. "Or not, if you prefer, and agree not to bring it to my attention."

"Thing is, my current lifestyle doesn't really lend itself to doing that. And given that you told me that you're single, I'm assuming that yours doesn't either."

And I don't doubt there are people out there shipping them for whatever reasons.

"You yourself told me that there are no other minbari on Earth."

"So… So what, you don't..? Hate the idea?"

I mean, a holiday fling? Seems a bit irresponsible for a Minbari's temperament.

"The idea of marriage? No?"

"How do minbari..? Do… Courtship."

Are there any examples of that on the show?

"Would you not be better off asking another human for advice?"

"Yes. But… I lived on Earth before we had any contact with aliens, and… I've seen the life I lived. Maybe learning how the minbari do things will help."

Given the psychological differences, I doubt it's exactly like human stuff.

She nods slowly. "It depends upon the era. Once, potential matches would be arranged by the elders of a clan. In modern times, it is more common to leave the initial introductions to the individuals themselves. The approval of clan elders is still sought, but it is more ceremonial than essential."

Akin to asking the prospective fiancee's father for permission. Which is much less of a thing these days.

I slump back, weakly throwing up my hands. "And I don't have clan elders, and the second one is just what humans do but with more involvement from the extended family."

"I am sorry, but I do not have a great deal of experience with romantic love. Have you considered asking another human for help?"

Ironic, given her choice of current subject. Curiosity is good for the muse, I suppose.

"How many humans do you think I know well enough to ask for personal advice? Even with courtship off the table, you are my closest friend in this era."

"What of your passengers?"

Would there even be humans amongst them? I though it was less than a century since they'd joined the galactic community

"None are human. The gaim asked why I don't just hand a sample of my genetic code to my queen. The minbari have delicate stomachs. The narn is rolling his eyes."

He's right.

On all counts. And I bet Matthew does not want to experience the sensation of an engram vomiting again anytime soon.

"And I'm not going to repeat what the drahk suggested."

Wise.

Presumably for reasons of violence and legality.

"And really, the sort of people who got the attention of the soul hunters were probably people who spent all of their time doing the thing that got them the soul hunter's attention, rather than having a healthy work-life balance."

It was time well spent. / Not… Wholly inaccurate. / I successfully mated many times.

...Was it his job to do that, done entirely for pleasure or was he just meeting a social obligation?

Ah?

Does your species have a reasonably conventional view of romantic-?

Romantic? That would be inefficient. I rented egg vessels for the purpose of fertilisation.

...Social obligation it was.

Thank you, helpful suggestions only, please.

"Have you considered focusing on your higher purpose, and letting things develop as they may?"

Given that he's probably needing to regulate his spiritual desires against his bodily wants, He'll be considering some physical relief, at the least.

"'Life is what happens while you're busy making other plans'. I could focus on that, but then I'd never the opportunity to meet humans -because none of my guests are humans- and I'd get into the habit of doing nothing else. So I'd never do anything else."

"I can share my limited experience, if you think that it would help."

Somehow, i don't think it will.

"Please. Because the chance of me just… Bumping into someone on my own recognisance and hitting it off it pretty minimal."

24th April 2258
21:27 G.M.T. -5

The woman smiles at me as she passes me a wine flute. "Hi. I'm Kelsey. You come here often?"

Given Psi Corps's attention on him, this is almost certainly a honey trap.

Apparently she's likely to be a certain human telepath. Hopefully his passengers can keep him on guard for potential intrusions or entanglements. Because if she's here, then Mister Bester can't be far behind. And I don't think he'll take 'not interested' for an answer when he starts asking his questions.

Darko · 2026-10-31T09:11:15+0000

Chojin Patriarch said:
Are there any examples of that on the show?

The only real info on their romantic life in the show was that the woman in the marriage would spend three nights watching how her husband sleeps so that she'll know his true character.

Members of a victorious clan would also offer a female member to a defeated clan as a symbol of giving them new life.

The RPG goes a bit deeper into it.

Marriages between castes can be tricky, and it can result in banishment from clan and caste if they don't have permission.

Though if the member from the different caste is impressive enough, like a war hero or brilliant scientist, then they have a good chance of getting married.

Running away to get married is extremely shameful.

A ceremony in which they make an oath and eat berries can be used for both marriage and other oaths, like between warriors about to go into war.

They don't practice divorce, but they can separate from a partner.

If one partner dies then the surviving partner can take another lover, but they can't marry them.

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