Chojin Patriarch
Veteran Lurker
- Joined
- Jan 27, 2019
- Messages
- 2,662
- Likes received
- 39,618
An interesting way to practice launching and capturing wild projectiles. I'm guessing they're playing catch over a distance of miles. Although I would have been using a solid object to avoid accidental construct failure. Probably works for Jordan in maintaining construct integrity, though.3rd October 2010
09:06 GMT -5
I squint at the incoming handegg construct and generate a wicket-keeper's mitten to catch it.
"While this is a… Surprisingly chummy way of spending our lesson, Lantern Jordan…" I focus on his location and throw the construct his way. "I was sort of expecting something else."
Jordan still sticking with simpler constructs, I see. A cricket wicket-keeper's glove is pretty complex a shape by comparison.His construct image floating over the ring… I think he's raising his eyebrows, though the mask makes it hard to tell. "What happened to 'sir'?"
"I realised that you don't actually outrank me, and time in rank doesn't matter in separate organisations. Unless this is an American-" Construct hands form to catch the ball, then hurl it back towards me. "-etiquette lesson and I'm supposed to call you 'sir' because you're older than me."
I doubt they'd tolerate it even in a joint operation, just because, well, Controllers."Oh? When did you join the Justice League?"
"The Justice League has no formal authority-" I catch the ball again and because I'm feeling fancy I actually spin around before throwing it back. "-over superhumans generally. And I imagine that the Controllers would rather than I didn't take orders from the Guardians."
And there aren't that many other Maltusian groups out there, none of which make Power Rings."How would you know? You said-" He catches and returns. "-you never met them."
"Your very loud silence on the subject. There are two possible sources of power rings: Maltus and Qward. If it came from Qward you'd have taken it off me due to them being evil. It's not the Guardians because they've stuck with green for… What, a billion years? It's not Zamaron, because they like violet and because you'd have taken it off me due to them being crazy." Catch and return. "Who does that leave?"
Yeah, if any other group could make them and avoid the Guardian's ire, the tech would be everywhere. After all, a multi-function device the size of a Ring, powered by emotion? That is literally the apex tool of any civilisation."Why assume that no one except Qward can learn to make them?"
"Occam's razor. Power rings are amazing and Green Lanterns have been around for a long time. If it was the sort of thing-" Catches and return. "-that anyone could do, other people would have started it. Qward is hardly the only place that mad super-scientists come from. So if there's someone available who could have made it, they're the best place to look."
See, that's a big assumption to make. Especially since the Controllers are not so monolithically aligned as the guardians are, if only because there's more of them. And we've seen in Paragon timeline that individual Controllers can have their own little projects on the go.Catch and return.
"Alright, that makes sense. But why do you care what they think? If they did give you your ring, there's a good chance they're the ones who kidnapped you."
I can see that. Although we know that CS!OL isn't the lone version out there, he doesn't know or imagine that he could have been 'duplicated' across hundreds of possible worlds.Catch and return.
"Then I'll have it out with them. But they also might be able to send me back, so I'm not going to start by being rude to billion-year-old superbeings."
Well, given you haven't gone remotely Larfleeze, it's a good sign.Catch and return.
"I mean, maybe they think I'm sort of ideal Orange Lantern candidate and they just wanted to make sure I could handle it? That's a big show of trust."
That would be one hell of a commute for dating, though.The construct image nods. "Would you go back?"
"It depends on what the terms of my return are. I'd love to go back, ring and personal lantern intact, and be my Earth's only superhero. Maybe have a look around our galaxy to see if there's anyone else there. But… Unless travel is two-way, Paula obviously wouldn't want to move, and…"
Why do I get a funny feeling that one day, there'll be a meta moment with one of the many Pauls making it home and finding an older Mr Zoat waiting for him, like a Grant Morrison meta-plot? I mean, we may get Kid Flash visiting, assuming plans haven't change, but no word on any SI making it.Catch and return.
"And I don't know what I'd do about that. If it was stay or go with no coming back and no ring, I'd… Probably stay. Hopefully send a message, but it's just… I've got more opportunities to do something with my life here."
Careful there, CS!OL."And Paula."
Catch and return.
I find myself smiling, and do my best to clamp down on the feeling as my construct starts to waver.
Eh, they really aren't the best for each other. She's got too many issues with pilots, and he's got too much baggage of his own."That close, huh?"
"This close. I don't really have anything to compare it to, but I have every intention of making it closer. Ah. Are you and Ms. Ferris..?"
Not having one, you mean. And, I mean, Carol probably knows who you are anyway. To quote the movie: "You think because I can't see your cheekbones, I wouldn't recognise you?" Man doesn't even change his hairstyle!Catch and return.
"We're not together. Guess the nice thing about having a secret identity is that you have time for things like that."
Hey, steal from the greats. And it's an important message for guys like Kirk or Picard, who didn't made the time."If something's important, you make the time."
Catch and return.
"Did you just quote Star Trek at me?"
Which would be incredibly difficult if you didn't need to sleep thanks to the Ring, and even then, there'd be days when you'd have to zonk out..."Yes, but it's true." Catch and return. "Yes, I could spend forty hours a week plus travel time being an administrative assistant as well as the time I spend being a superhero and trying to have a life in whatever's left, and… Lying to everyone about it. But why?"
Catch and return.
Always have to wonder how that works when they do?"Not really the same for me."
"Does the Green Lantern Corps not pay you a living wage? Serious question, I've got no idea if you get paid or not."

Most of your villains aren't that crazy. ...In fact, I can't even remember most of Hal's villains on Earth. Hector Hammond, at most, without looking them up and that's only because he was in the movie...Catch and return.
"Yeah. I do. Might cause trouble for my family, though."
And he's not the sort of man to attack someone's family to hurt his foe. Not usually.
To be fair, most of those families are on worlds familiar with space stuff. Earth... Earth is not."And don't the families of most Green Lanterns plant that.. flag, with the green sigil on it, outside of their houses as a badge of pride?" Catch and return.
"... Yeah."
Honestly, easier to defuse a potential angle of attack than leave it a risk."Funny story about M.I.6. They didn't used to employ homosexuals due to the concern that they could be blackmailed about being homosexual. Then someone realised that was stupid and now it's fine as long as they're open about it." Hm. "Are attacks on the families of police officers common in America?"
'Coming down like a ton of bricks' barely covers it.Catch and return.
"No, not… Really. Because they know if they tried, every single person involved would die. Police do not take that kinda thing."
An interesting way to out oneself."Well, if you want to invite me to a family barbeque I won't say 'no'. I don't think anyone will miss the implication if you're seen with me."
Catch and return.
Huh. That's an interesting connection. And maybe a more recent one."Heh. Thanks, I guess." The ball flies towards him, and his dismisses it. "Guess I was kinda… Thinking about it. I'd have to talk to Jack and Jim first." He aims himself in my direction and accelerates, covering the distance in a few seconds.
"And wasn't your Uncle the first Airwave?"
Hmm... @Darko: I can see the wording of the original post being ambiguous, but it reads like he stole the amulet, then disintegrated Theo. Which means it could definitely be used to empower someone. Perhaps a 'blank' clone?He looks mildly pleased. "You're the first person outside our family who knew that. And yeah, I don't remember Aunt Helen having any trouble over it. I'll.. give it some thought." He looks around. "So if you don't wanna toss a ball around, what do you wanna do?"
I reach into a pouch, and pull out Teth Adom's amulet.
"My investigation skills could do with some work. Perhaps we could look into what this is?"
Looks like this OL will get to discover Teth Adom's tomb, a bit later than the Paragon did. It'll be interesting to see what he does with the amulet, other than handing it to Captain Marvel to take to the Wizard. Though I could see him making a case for arranging a revival or rebirth of some kind. Also some very interesting discussion of secret identities and the lack of them. I can see the case for either side, though...