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

PJ739 · Saturday at 12:11 PM

Mr Zoat said:
"Orange Lantern. We should talk."

This is like a dejavu from the angels

Vaermina · Saturday at 8:37 PM

Mr Zoat said:
Then Izaya looks to me.

"Orange Lantern. We should talk."

"You risked the lives of millions of people and a significant chunk reality just because you couldn't be assed to make a five second ring call."

Simonbob · 2025-09-07T01:32:13+0100

Mr Zoat said:
"Orange Lantern. We should talk."

"Can I turn back into a human first?"

Mr Zoat · 2025-09-07T07:39:37+0100

15th August 2000
09:24 GMT -7

Aneta holds up the coffee pot as I walk into the Alliance headquarters break room. "You want one?"

I shake my head. "No, thank you. I don't drink coffee."

But… The fridge… Ah, good. None of the Americans have been brave enough to steal my unpasteurised milk. I talk the bottle out and head towards the glasses cupboard.

"Oh, hitting the hard stuff." She pours a mug before putting the pot back under the spigot. "They didn't want you in the meeting?"

"My presence was not required." Glass, pour… And take a calming sip.

"They didn't want the Green Knight in the meeting?"

I shrug. "It doesn't concern the Conduit, banshees -and they've got Senior Agent Blaze if it did- or Maltus. And since it's unlikely that they'll need me to hit anything inside the meeting room, the Director told me to take five."

"M-m." She takes a seat, twisting her tail into what I assume is a more comfortable position. "I don't think they appreciate you."

"I don't care how much they respect me. I care-" I put the jug back into the fridge and sit down opposite her. "-how much they let me do the job. And there's no problem there." I frown as she takes another sip. "Is that..? Safe for you?"

"It is in low doses. I mostly drink it for the warmth."

I raise my left eyebrow. "In Nevada in August? You can just go outside."

She looks at me quizzically. "In the sun?"

"There's a.. covered area for the smokers."

She doesn't look entirely sure about my answer, but appears to shrug it off. "Yes, but there's no covered route from the exit to the smoking area. And besides, I don't like the smell."

I nod as I take another sip. That's fair. And even if she could get there safely, I doubt she'd be all that comfortable only a couple of metres from a zone of certain death.

She suddenly smiles. "You forgot, didn't you?"

"Ah… Yeah, it slipped my mind. Sorry."

She chuckles, staring at me. "No one will believe this. Do you know that you are the one my family have been asking about? They seem to think that Director Logan is using you to threaten us into meek obedience."

"Would you like me to talk to them?"

She-. I think that's a smile. The mouths of members of her species can't really move in the right way to smile properly. "I would like you to visit them. I want to watch their expressions when they realise who you are."

I nod. "Well, if I'm in the area…"

"You really have no conception of how afraid of you the families are."

"I wouldn't say no conception. It's more that I don't care."

"Dorn controls all of the families because of your threat, and it isn't the slightest concern to you."

"Yes. Dorn controls the families. It's not a privilege-. Not just a privilege. He knows that if one of the families acts up, I might well have some pointed questions for him."

Her eyes remain locked onto mine, which isn't exactly the same gesture in vampire body language as it is in human, but it's close.

"Speaking of 'acting up', I have some questions."

"Aneta, we're the same rank. Speaking to your supervising agent would be a better idea."

"But it might be something simple that I lack the perspective to understand. I would rather not look foolish when you are so agreeable."

That seems extremely unlikely, but alright. "Okay, go ahead."

"Taking humans as thralls is illegal, of course. But employing humans is allowed. Encouraged, even."

"Yes..?"

"So where is the cut-off?"

"Ah…" I shake my head in incomprehension.

"It has been suggested that feeding on humans is banned. But then I heard about a club where humans pretend to be mythological vampires and exchange blood. If humans can do that, surely we should be able to? I know that some of my male colleagues have received… Offers."

"Were they wearing a disguise at the time?"

"No. Humans can be such strange creatures."

"Well… Boxing matches don't count as criminal assault. I suppose that if whoever you're feeding on volunteers and doesn't suffer lasting harm, that should be alright. Check with local laws before indulging."

"Of course, that would involve-" She opens her mouth, which is a little disturbing because while they generally only open the front part of their mouths when talking the whole orifice actually goes quite a lot further back. "-biting."

"Not necessarily, but again, if they consent-."

"But what about venom?" She raises her right forefinger to her right fang just as a single drop of venom drips out. "Is that illegal?"

"I.. don't believe that using vampire venom recreationally is illegal anywhere. But.. wouldn't that always turn someone into a thrall?"

"Only with repeated doses. And we don't have to enslave them. We can just leave them to recover."

I give her a mild frown. "Isn't vampire venom addictive?"

"Not chemically. A small dose isn't any more mild-altering than-" She lifts her mug slightly. "-coffee."

"Alright, but what does someone get when they get bitten?"

She finally looks away, her body undulating. "That depends on how restrained the biter is being."

"That… Is probably legal, in most places, for now. But I would strongly suggest that you encourage everyone not to do it, because dosing someone with something that makes them more agreeable and then feeding on them looks really dodgy, even if they don't turn into vampoids, which they inevitably would. As I discussed with Dorn, having people sign contracts which involve them becoming vampoids and paying them isn't different enough to what you were doing for people to accept it as part of the families' reform process."

"But is it really fair for you to pass judgement without…" Her tongue flicks out. "Investigating it yourself?"

"No, that's something that the people actually passing the legislation would have to do." I glance at the clock on the wall. "I wonder how long the meeting's going to take."

She shifts her coils into a new position. "Why? Hot date?"

I nod. "Date, yes. Unless an emergency gets called I'm off duty in an hour, but I don't want to just disappear-."

She pulls herself up slightly, looking puzzled. "Who with? The banshee isn't building a harem, is she?"

"Dating my immediate superior would be unprofessional. No, one of the other banshee asked me out."

"You don't mind dating other species?"

"Not.. really?"

"Then-" She half-flops off her settee and looms in front of me. "-I would also like you to take me to dinner."

"Um. I… Suppose I could do that? As long as you don't bite me."

She smiles in a somewhat sinister way. "Not on the first date."

NightmareWarden · 2025-09-07T07:48:39+0100

"Orange Lantern, we appreciate your assistance. As a reward, here is sixty pounds of Radion for your weaponry."
"Pounds? Your world, and New Gods, use pounds?"
"It was actually a recent suggestion from my son, after he returned from your world. The Mother Box assisting him gathered a large amount of data from your world's infrastructure to assist in managing his stress."

Darko · 2025-09-07T07:57:06+0100

Congrats, Kirk.

BR549 · 2025-09-07T08:01:05+0100

Darko said:
Congrats, Kirk.

Funny thing is, if I recall correctly it was Picard who actually got more action...

Rebu · 2025-09-07T08:28:35+0100

Mr Zoat said:
"But is it really fair for you to pass judgement without…" Her tongue flicks out. "Investigating it yourself?"

How long has it been since we've been seen (an) oblivious Paul?

Mr Zoat said:
"Then-" She half-flops off her settee and looms in front of me. "-I would also like you to take me to dinner."

Oh good. She just cut out the middle man and asked him directly.

Chojin Patriarch · 2025-09-07T08:35:14+0100

Mr Zoat said:
15th August 2000
09:24 GMT -7

Aneta holds up the coffee pot as I walk into the Alliance headquarters break room. "You want one?"

I shake my head. "No, thank you. I don't drink coffee."

Not knowing the series, I don't know the significance of this character, but reading ahead, she's a vampire? Who are an alien species in this setting. Still seems funny to see one drinking boiled bean water.

But… The fridge… Ah, good. None of the Americans have been brave enough to steal my unpasteurised milk. I talk the bottle out and head towards the glasses cupboard.

"Oh, hitting the hard stuff." She pours a mug before putting the pot back under the spigot. "They didn't want you in the meeting?"

An acquired taste. But if you like it, you like it. Presumably it's marked with the sigil of the Green Light or suchlike to make it clear who's it is.

"My presence was not required." Glass, pour… And take a calming sip.

"They didn't want the Green Knight in the meeting?"

It's not really a role suited to paperwork and meetings. More coming in like the big gun and smashing a recalcitrant battleship or the like.

I shrug. "It doesn't concern the Conduit, banshees -and they've got Senior Agent Blaze if it did- or Maltus. And since it's unlikely that they'll need me to hit anything inside the meeting room, the Director told me to take five."

"M-m." She takes a seat, twisting her tail into what I assume is a more comfortable position. "I don't think they appreciate you."

I still wonder what Maltus looks liek here that it can produce the same sort of willing outcasts as a Leprehaun, but not have a Green Lantern Corps preventing stuff like the central conflict of the show. ...Maybe the Guardians died out or didn't go into law enforcement, at least in this region of space.

"I don't care how much they respect me. I care-" I put the jug back into the fridge and sit down opposite her. "-how much they let me do the job. And there's no problem there." I from as she takes another sip. "Is that..? Safe for you?"

"It is in low doses. I mostly drink it for the warmth."

And probably less objectionable than some options.

I raise my left eyebrow. "In Nevada in August? You can just go outside."

She looks at me quizzically. "In the sun?"

So her species is as explosively allergic to sunlight as fictional vampires? Wonder what sort of evolutionary history would produce that?

"There's a.. covered area for the smokers."

She doesn't look entirely sure about my answer, but appears to shrug it off. "Yes, but there's no covered route from the exit to the smoking area. And besides, I don't like the smell."

True, smoking flesh can be a bit nasty... Oh, wait, you mean the cigarette smoke?

I nod as I take another sip. That's fair. And even if she could get there safely, I doubt she'd be all that comfortable only a couple of metres from a zone of certain death.

She suddenly smiles. "You forgot, didn't you?"

"Ah… Yeah, it slipped my mind. Sorry."

...So, do the Vamps look like humanoid bats, or are they more Castlevania-esque gorgeous vamps? I would assume closer to the latter?

She chuckles, staring at me. "No one will believe this. Do you know that you are the one my family have been asking about? They seem to think that Director Logan is using you to threaten us into meek obedience."

"Would you like me to talk to them?"

I mean, a Power Ring user is a pretty big stick to wave around.

She-. I think that's a smile. The mouths of members of her species can't really move in the right way to smile properly. "I would like you to visit them. I want to watch their expressions when they realise who you are."

I nod. "Well, if I'm in the area…"

...Okay, a bit more on the 'monstrous' end of the scale, then. At least without camouflage.

"You really have no conception of how afraid of you the families are."

"I wouldn't say no conception. It's more that I don't care."

Ah, the best revenge to inflict upon an enemy: Irrelevance.

"Dorn controls all of the families because of your threat, and it isn't the slightest concern to you."

"Yes. Dorn controls the families. It's not a privilege-. Not just a privilege. He knows that if one of the families acts up, I might well have some pointed questions for him."

And he's probably working a full-time job just keeping the knives out of his back, courtesy of them.

Her eyes remain locked onto mine, which isn't exactly the same gesture in vampire body language as it is in human, but it's close.

"Speaking of 'acting up', I have some questions."

Especially if they have hypnotic vision, as some types of mythic vampire do.

"Aneta, we're the same rank. Speaking to your supervising agent would be a better idea."

"But it might be something simple that I lack the perspective to understand. I would rather not look foolish when you are so agreeable."

In other words, it's something she's comfortable talking about with him. Given his poor knowledge of their world, there's less baggage to hold against her.

That seems extremely unlikely, but alright. "Okay, go ahead."

"Taking humans as thralls is illegal, of course. But employing humans is allowed. Encouraged, even."

'Thralls' in the 'hypnotised servant and walking bloodbank' sense, no doubt. I can see that being a contentious issue for some older vampyrii used to it.

"Yes..?"

"So where is the cut-off?"

"Ah…" I shake my head in incomprehension.

As in, can she pay people for their blood, given willingly? Seems a likely point of interest, from context.

"It has been suggested that feeding on humans is banned. But then I heard about a club where humans pretend to be mythological vampires and exchange blood. If humans can do that, surely we should be able to? I know that some of my male colleagues have received… Offers."

Because there's always some folks down to get freaky...

"Were they wearing a disguise at the time?"

"No. Humans can be such strange creatures."

...Super-freaky.

"Well… Boxing matches don't count as criminal assault. I suppose that if whoever you're feeding on volunteers and doesn't suffer lasting harm, that should be alright. Check with local laws before indulging."

"Of course, that would involve-" She opens her mouth, which is a little disturbing because while they generally only open the front part of their mouths when talking the whole orifice actually goes quite a lot further back. "-biting."

And some folks are into that. You are underestimating just how romanticised vampires are. Especially in these pre-Twilight years. (2005 for the first book.

Twenty years!)

"Not necessarily, but again, if they consent-."

"But what about venom?" She raises her right forefinger to her right fang just as a single drop of venom drips out. "Is that illegal?"

That would be a source of the 'hypnotic aura' thing, I take it. Presumably encourages subservient behaviour in the victim. Makes you really wonder at the evolutionary history...

"I.. don't believe that using vampire venom recreationally is illegal anywhere. But.. wouldn't that always turn someone into a thrall?"

"Only with repeated doses. And we don't have to enslave them. We can just leave them to recover."

So a wider spread of 'donors' with longer times between feedings would be a viable option, as long as they're well-paid.

I give her a mild frown. "Isn't vampire venom addictive?"

"Not chemically. A small dose isn't any more mild-altering than-" She lifts her mug slightly. "-coffee."

Caffeine doesn't encourage willing subservience, though, does it? (Still assuming that's a thing.)

"Alright, but what does someone get when they get bitten?"

She finally looks away, her body undulating. "That depends on how restrained the biter is being."

...I mean, if they were desperate enough to, say, rip out someone's throat, that would make the question moot.

"That… Is probably legal, in most places, for now. But I would strongly suggest that you encourage everyone not to do it, because dosing someone with something that makes them more agreeable and then feeding on them looks really dodgy, even if they don't turn into vampoids, which they inevitably would. As I discussed with Dorn, having people sign contracts which involve them becoming vampoids and paying them isn't different enough to what you were doing for people to accept it as part of the families' reform process."

...Yeah, I could see the consent angle being kind of iffy in that respect.

"But is it really fair for you to pass judgement without…" Her tongue flicks out. "Investigating it yourself?"

"No, that's something that the people actually passing the legislation would have to do." I glance at the clock on the wall. "I wonder how long the meeting's going to take."

...Ah, this isn't about the legalities. She's wondering what Green Light-energised blood tastes like, isn't she?

She shifts her coils into a new position. "Why? Hot date?"

I nod. "Date, yes. Unless an emergency gets called I'm off duty in an hour, but I don't want to just disappear-."

Given he hasn't got the hang of FTL transition, the flight to and from Ireland would be a bit of a commute.

She pulls herself up slightly, looking puzzled. "Who with? The banshee isn't building a harem, is she?"

"Dating my immediate superior would be unprofessional. No, one of the other banshee asked me out."

I assume Nick and Sh'lainn are of equal rank, then, and possibly in different branches of the chain of command. No impropriety there.

"You don't mind dating other species?"

"Not.. really?"

Once the internet gets a hold of all this, there's gonna be a lot of people down to date the alien ladies. Xenophilia is fun!

"Then-" She half-flops off her settee and looms in front of me. "-I would also like you to take me to dinner."

"Um. I… Suppose I could do that? As long as you don't bite me."

She smiles in a somewhat sinister way. "Not on the first date."

Just not today, of course. I suspect the Banshee lady he's taking out would object to a triangle. Hope he mentions this to her, though.

Is it just something about the Green Light aura he exudes that's catnip to the ladies, or is this an isolated case?

Could be amusing if he ends up with a reputation for being popular with the exotic ladies of the Agency. Just as long as he doesn't stat two-timing them. Though it's an interesting look at how some of the formerly-hostile peoples are settling into peace.

Ngamer11 · 2025-09-07T08:40:40+0100

Chojin Patriarch said:
Is it just something about the Green Light aura he exudes that's catnip to the ladies, or is this an isolated case? Could be amusing if he ends up with a reputation for being popular with the exotic ladies of the Agency. Just as long as he doesn't stat two-timing them. Though it's an interesting look at how some of the formerly-hostile peoples are settling into peace.

I think they're simply attracted to his personal power.

Mr Zoat · 2025-09-07T09:11:29+0100

Chojin Patriarch said:
...So, do the Vamps look like humanoid bats, or are they more Castlevania-esque gorgeous vamps? I would assume closer to the latter?

I'm struggling to find a good picture, but they're basically snake people. Scales, fangs, tails without legs and snakeman faces.

Lord Ernest · 2025-09-07T09:46:03+0100

Mr Zoat said:
I'm struggling to find a good picture, but they're basically snake people. Scales, fangs, tails without legs and snakeman faces.

These guys?

Mr Zoat · 2025-09-07T09:48:59+0100

Lord Ernest said:
These guys?

Yes.

mastermenthe · 2025-09-07T13:25:57+0100

Lord Ernest said:
These guys?

You gotta love/hate anatomical designs that physically require cool looking clothing.

Kurai · 2025-09-07T15:57:01+0100

Rebu said:
How long has it been since we've been seen (an) oblivious Paul?

Since Paul is always oblivious, at least a story arc. If you mean romantically oblivious . . . A while, actually. And it's kind of telling that it's always the non-humans, with somewhat alien mindsets, who are most attracted to him - but at least it's consistent.

FuzzyZergling · 2025-09-08T01:11:49+0100

Mr Zoat said:
I from as she takes another sip. "Is that..? Safe for you?"

I frown as

Mr Zoat · 2025-09-08T06:15:46+0100

FuzzyZergling said:
I frown as

Thank you, corrected.

Mr Zoat · 2025-09-08T06:16:41+0100

23rd July 2013
12:27 GMT

Lightray glares at me briefly before directing Jaffar, Trok, Slig and Gole onto a flying platform thing. They comply with a minimal amount of glaring. Donna and Arisia are taking in the sights of New Genesis's ground floor while Roy is shuffling awkwardly. I'll need to talk to him before we leave.

Izaya looks directly at me. "I believe that they are six in number?"

I nod, deploying the two Construct Lanterns.

I assimilated these two in combat. I-.

He raises his staff. "I grant you clemency."

And-. It glows for a moment, then the aura touches them… And I'm down two Construct Lanterns as they return to flesh.

I suppose that if Finality Man could do that, it only makes sense than he can. Shaligo flares his wings for a moment, then realises who it is pointing the crook at him and furls them again.

I understand. If it's not too much trouble, could you-?

He smiles faintly as he taps me on the head with his crook, and I have arms again!

"Thank you. I very much appreciate it."

He nods. "If only removing the influence of an Old God was so simple."

"The Primitives.. have some sort of disease-."

He nods. "Cultivated from S'ivaa's flesh. Now that he is once again cut off from the world, the symptoms should fade. I will visit them after you leave to aid in curing any residual affects."

"Thank you. Ah. There was a warrior bug by the name of 'Mantis'. According to him, their hive was infected as well."

"I will include them in my visit. Did he fall in battle?"

"I don't.. think so. I didn't see a body. I'm not sure where he's gone, and my scans aren't reliable on New Genesis."

He nods. "I will enquire as to his fate with our prisoners."

He turns and walks towards the cowed Deep Six. "What has become of the Orange Lantern's insectoid companion?"

They instinctively lean away from him, but none of them speak. Izaya raises his crook slightly. "Any mercy you might hope for me to grant is contingent upon your cooperation. It would be wise for you to speak." Bow to my Authority.

Jaffar twitches, then shrugs. "It hardly matters. We used our ship's boom tube to send him to Apokolips, out of your reach."

"Why would you do that? He was just one bug out of millions, and Apokolips has the gene-programs for creating more from their spawning pods."

"I hadn't completed my studies of S'ivaa's body tissues… But I didn't need to for our mission to be a success. I just had to return a sample to Darkseid. He was impressed by our work. He volunteered to be our vessel! To convey our discovery to Darkseid! Keep us in prison forever and it will not matter! HAHAHA!"

Izaya raises his crook, and the platform they're standing on rises up into the air, heading for Supertown. Lightray heads after it as an escort.

"That will be trouble. I will have to have our gene-smiths study how to bypass his resilience, should Darkseid use it to improve his parademons."

"Would it be possible to launch a strike against wherever they sent him? I can get the coordinates from the ship."

He considers for a moment, then nods slowly. "I should consider it at least. Get the information, and I will review it."

"Would you like us to help?"

"No. I thank you for the offer, but I think it would be best if Earth and the humans did nothing to further draw Darkseid's attention. This should be well within the abilities of warriors of New Genesis."

I nod. "Would you be willing to undo other assimilations? I know that one Guardian got assimilated by Larfleeze and I don't know if the others managed to fix him yet."

He regards me askance. "Do you frequently do this to people?"

"No. Since I have no way to undo it myself, I only use it when I believe that someone deserves to die but where killing them would be insufficient or otherwise dangerous. And I… Realise that it's unreasonable to expect you to drop everything when an Orange Lantern gets assimilation-happy, but there are one or two-."

He's already nodding. "One or two, I am willing to undo. More than that, and I will have to discover what led your people to treat that power so frivolously."

I nod. "That's perfectly reasonable. Thank you. Ah… I should say that according to K'Zandr, S'ivaa's prison was weakened by what we did to purge the Anti-Life from Earth, so if there are any similar prisons, it would be a good idea to check on them as well."

He smiles ruefully. "After this I will be checking everything very carefully."

"Let me know if there's anything I can do. Ah. The reason why we're here-."

"Troia informed me. You are concerned that forces not of Earth are collaborating with the Batman in using New God technology. I do not believe that any of my people are involved, other than my son and his wife, but I will make enquiries. If any are, I will make certain that their motives are pure."

"Pure good, right?"

He looks at me as if I'm a little slow. "Orange Lantern, this is New Genesis."

"Okay, then I'll take your word for it." I glance pointedly at Roy. "Well, ah, glad that we could help. We'll be heading back to Earth shortly."

He nods politely. "Farewell, Orange Lantern."

He raises his crook, and vanishes. And I turn to Donna and Arisia. "So what actually happened up there?"

Donna glances up towards the departing Lightray. "That guy. He'd taken over, and Highfather was in some sort of psychiatric cell."

"He didn't do the projection?"

She shakes her head. "Lightray. He thought fighting us would be a change of pace. It was Orion who told us what was actually happening."

Arisia nods. "Troia was able to heal Highfather's mind, but he couldn't help the others. Then… Something happened, and his power could reach them. I don't know what changed."

"Time?"

"Ah… Eight fifteen, Eastern Standard."

"That was… When S'ivaa did something to disrupt my ability to control the machine that was forcing him to stay outside of our reality."

Donna nods. "You got his full attention. So he couldn't keep driving them mad."

"I assume that Lightray apologised?"

"Yes." Donna nods. "To Highfather."

Heh. That tracks.

"Okay, Roy and I have a spaceship to bring up to specification, and I've got to pick up some alchemical reagents from the Primitives, but otherwise I think we're done here. You're free to go back to Earth-." Arisia squints at me. "What?"

"Flying back to Earth would take me months. And what spaceship?"

"Come right this way and I'll show you."

DarkBlackJack · 2025-09-08T06:25:59+0100

OL didn't tell Izaya about Vandal Savage?

Ngamer11 · 2025-09-08T06:26:33+0100

Mr Zoat said:
"I assume that Lightray apologised?"

"Yes." Donna nods. "To Highfather."

Heh. That tracks.

Now I really want to see Lightray truly humbled in this story.

BR549 · 2025-09-08T06:39:43+0100

Mr Zoat said:
I assimilates these two in combat. I-.

'assimilated'

Arisia nods. "Troia was able to heal Highfather's mind, but he could help the others Then… Something happened, and his power could reach them. I don't know what changed."

From context, I believe this should be 'couldn't'.

Chojin Patriarch · 2025-09-08T07:07:13+0100

Mr Zoat said:
23rd July 2013
12:27 GMT

Lightray glares at me briefly before directing Jaffar, Trok, Slig and Gole onto a flying platform thing. They comply with a minimal amount of glaring. Donna and Arisia are taking in the sights of New Genesis's ground floor while Roy is shuffling awkwardly. I'll need to talk to him before we leave.

Huh, wonder who shat in his cornflakes? I suppose if things were upset up in Supertown, he might have been caught up in it. heck, he may have gone toe-to-toe with Donna only to get spanked, possibly literally...

Izaya looks directly at me. "I believe that they are six in number?"

I nod, deploying the two Construct Lanterns.

Don't suppose he'd be amenable to letting you finish the set?

I assimilated these two in combat. I-.

He raises his staff. "I grant you clemency."

Ah. Guess not.

And-. It glows for a moment, then the aura touches them… And I'm down two Construct Lanterns as they return to flesh.

I suppose that if Finality Man could do that, it only makes sense than he can. Shaligo flares his wings for a moment, then realises who it is pointing the crook at him and furls them again.

Ah, that moment of 'I liiive! ...Oh. Crap.' Entertaining if nothing else. Interesting to now that direct applications of the Source can undo assimilation, at least.

I understand. If it's not too much trouble, could you-?

He smiles faintly as he taps me on the head with his crook, and I have arms again!

Oh, thank goodness, no more font-translation, at least for now.

"Thank you. I very much appreciate it."

He nods. "If only removing the influence of an Old God was so simple."

There's a natural resistance against a New God going against the Old, then. Logical, given their metaphysical relation.

"The Primitives.. have some sort of disease-."

He nods. "Cultivated from S'ivaa's flesh. Now that he is once again cut off from the world, the symptoms should fade. I will visit them after you leave to aid in curing any residual affects."

Ah, I see Donna and Arisia filled you in. Or is this some aspect of his Godname, to go with the seeming omnipotence?

"Thank you. Ah. There was a warrior bug by the name of 'Mantis'. According to him, their hive was infected as well."

"I will include them in my visit. Did he fall in battle?"

At least he didn't dismiss them out of hand. Hopefully they accept the offer of aid.

"I don't.. think so. I didn't see a body. I'm not sure where he's gone, and my scans aren't reliable on New Genesis."

He nods. "I will enquire as to his fate with our prisoners."

Which will be a lot more effective than OL asking, Desire encouragement or not.

He turns and walks towards the cowed Deep Six. "What has become of the Orange Lantern's insectoid companion?"

They instinctively lean away from him, but none of them speak. Izaya raises his crook slightly. "Any mercy you might hope for me to grant is contingent upon your cooperation. It would be wise for you to speak." Bow to my Authority.

A sharp reminder that a 'Good' God is not always a 'Nice' God...

Jaffar twitches, then shrugs. "It hardly matters. We used our ship's boom tube to send him to Apokolips, out of your reach."

"Why would you do that? He was just one bug out of millions, and Apokolips has the gene-programs for creating more from their spawning pods."

Unless they realised he was a carrier of the S'ivaa cells. Still, helps to put Mantis in his canonical position as an Apokoliptian soldier.

"I hadn't completed my studies of S'ivaa's body tissues… But I didn't need to for our mission to be a success. I just had to return a sample to Darkseid. He was impressed by our work. He volunteered to be our vessel! To convey our discovery to Darkseid! Keep us in prison forever and it will not matter! HAHAHA!"

Now that's interesting. Why would he go along so happily? Mind-control? Curiosity? Innate conditioning they forgot about?

Secretly a Darkseid fanboy?

Izaya raises his crook, and the platform they're standing on rises up into the air, heading for Supertown. Lightray heads after it as an escort.

"That will be trouble. I will have to have our gene-smiths study how to bypass his resilience, should Darkseid use it to improve his parademons."

The obvious benefit is resistance to Spectrum technology, but that could apply to other New God powers. Given how diverse they can be...

"Would it be possible to launch a strike against wherever they sent him? I can get the coordinates from the ship."

He considers for a moment, then nods slowly. "I should consider it at least. Get the information, and I will review it."

Good, a reasonable request and response. Hopefully they do it, Mantis seemed like a nice guy.

"Would you like us to help?"

"No. I thank you for the offer, but I think it would be best if Earth and the humans did nothing to further draw Darkseid's attention. This should be well within the abilities of warriors of New Genesis."

The metaphysical equivalent of sticking a big middle finger in His face by dispelling the Anti-0Life from Earth already has it in His sights...

I nod. "Would you be willing to undo other assimilations? I know that one Guardian got assimilated by Larfleeze and I don't know if the others managed to fix him yet."

He regards me askance. "Do you frequently do this to people?"

...Ah. This might be a bit awkward.

"No. Since I have no way to undo it myself, I only use it when I believe that someone deserves to die but where killing them would be insufficient or otherwise dangerous. And I… Realise that it's unreasonable to expect you to drop everything when an Orange Lantern gets assimilation-happy, but there are one or two-."

To be fair, they're mostly using it on Reach troops, aren't they? Nominally more deserving than some.

He's already nodding. "One or two, I am willing to undo. More than that, and I will have to discover what led your people to treat that power so frivolously."

I nod. "That's perfectly reasonable. Thank you. Ah… I should say that according to K'Zandr, S'ivaa's prison was weakened by what we did to purge the Anti-Life from Earth, so if there are any similar prisons, it would be a good idea to check on them as well."

Sounds like this might end up with a 'treaty' between NEMO and New Genesis a bit like the one between Apokolips and The Guardians...

He smiles ruefully. "After this I will be checking everything very carefully."

"Let me know if there's anything I can do. Ah. The reason why we're here-."

Again, a very good idea. I doubt there are many Old Gods who survived their not-Ragnarok, but those that did might be troublesome.

"Troia informed me. You are concerned that forces not of Earth are collaborating with the Batman in using New God technology. I do not believe that any of my people are involved, other than my son and his wife, but I will make enquiries. If any are, I will make certain that their motives are pure."

Admittedly, while Orion is not technically inclined, who's to say his wife isn't gifted with technological prowess? She apparently does have some amount of skill in the field, owing to her father being Himon.

"Pure good, right?"

He looks at me as if I'm a little slow. "Orange Lantern, this is New Genesis."

That isn't an answer, and as I noted, 'Good' does not always mean 'Nice'. The ~~New 52~~'s version of New Genesis didn't come out of nowhere.

"Okay, then I'll take your word for it." I glance pointedly at Roy. "Well, ah, glad that we could help. We'll be heading back to Earth shortly."

He nods politely. "Farewell, Orange Lantern."

Not said out loud: 'Please, don't hurry back.' Which is entirely reasonable.

He raises his crook, and vanishes. And I turn to Donna and Arisia. "So what actually happened up there?"

Donna glances up towards the departing Lightray. "That guy. He'd taken over, and Highfather was in some sort of psychiatric cell."

Huh. That's concerning. Part of the issues caused by S'ivaa?

"He didn't do the projection?"

She shakes her head. "Lightray. He thought fighting us would be a change of pace. It was Orion who told us what was actually happening."

Well, you know you're in the wrong when the New God of Rage is the reasonable one.

Arisia nods. "Troia was able to heal Highfather's mind, but he couldn't help the others Then… Something happened, and his power could reach them. I don't know what changed."

"Time?"

If this was S'ivaa's fault... He may have been distracted by something.

"Ah… Eight fifteen, Eastern Standard."

"That was… When S'ivaa did something to disrupt my ability to control the machine that was forcing him to stay outside of our reality."

Thus pulling his power away from other tasks, such as driving Supertown to madness or cursing the Primitives (and the Insectoids) with a Weakness Plague.

Donna nods. "You got his full attention. So he couldn't keep driving them mad."

"I assume that Lightray apologised?"

"Yes." Donna nods. "To Highfather."

Because the mere mortals didn't warrant his concern, no doubt.

Heh. That tracks.

"Okay, Roy and I have a spaceship to bring up to specification, and I've got to pick up some alchemical reagents from the Primitives, but otherwise I think we're done here. You're free to go back to Earth-." Arisia squints at me. "What?"

Ah, they didn't mention everything they've been doing down there, did they?

"Flying back to Earth would take me months. And what spaceship?"

"Come right this way and I'll show you."

May need to be careful when you shuffle back to Earth, mind. An unexpected Boom Tube in Earth orbit might set of a few alarms.

So, all's well that ends well, at least for the heroes. Mantis is still in a bit of a pickle, but it'll fall to Supertown to handle his recovery or avenging. ...Why do I get the feeling he won't be much of a priority, and Apokalips will soon have an Insectoid warrior captain with energy absorption powers? Oh well, that's future OL's problem.

Mr Zoat · 2025-09-08T08:25:58+0100

BR549 said:
'assimilated'
From context, I believe this should be 'couldn't'.

Thank you, corrected.

xSieg · 2025-09-08T08:41:19+0100

Mr Zoat said:
He looks at me as if I'm a little slow. "Orange Lantern, this is New Genesis."

Ha. At least OL isn't a New-52 reader.

MagnumForce · 2025-09-08T09:48:02+0100

Yay, Arsenal gets his spaceship!

boo600 · 2025-09-08T10:51:57+0100

Mr Zoat said:
And-. It glows for a moment, then the aura touches them… And I'm down two Construct Lanterns as they return to flesh.

UUUUUUUUUUUUGH. On the one hand, Fate Worse Than Death averted, which is good, but it's frustrating that OL seems to be allergic to comparatively minor power-ups based on his powers- the powers that are the premises of the story. Worse still, I'm genuinely Not Confident that Highfather will keep them secured, instead of sticking them in a cardboard prison - or trading them back to Darkseid for some minor concessions, like Hinon making a mother box for children's books from Grayven. Except Hinon's makes more sense; that's a major thing because Apokolips and Darkseid's retribution; given how much damage the Deep 6 nearly caused and the advances that could come of the samples they definitely sent to Darkseid, I don't think letting the D6 free again will be worth whatever Darkseid offers. (What does he care for his servants?)

Mr Zoat said:
"No. I thank you for the offer, but I think it would be best if Earth and the humans did nothing to further draw Darkseid's attention. This should be well within the abilities of warriors of New Genesis."

That's bait. That's 'we need protagonist help, now!' bait for five minutes later, except they'll only get to asking in months. Or not at all.

Mr Zoat said:
I nod. "Would you be willing to undo other assimilations? I know that one Guardian got assimilated by Larfleeze and I don't know if the others managed to fix him yet."

He regards me askance. "Do you frequently do this to people?"

"No. Since I have no way to undo it myself, I only use it when I believe that someone deserves to die but where killing them would be insufficient or otherwise dangerous. And I… Realise that it's unreasonable to expect you to drop everything when an Orange Lantern gets assimilation-happy, but there are one or two-."

That could actually be a major coup; we're down to, what was it, eight guardians? Even if he's been out of the loop for millions (billions?) of years, having another Fight The Good Fight Maltusian - if it doesn't go Comic Book wrong - could expand the Green Lantern corps, or more accurately, enhance their response times + coordination + awareness of their own corps' actions.

Mr Zoat said:
He's already nodding. "One or two, I am willing to undo. More than that, and I will have to discover what led your people to treat that power so frivolously."

...OL just named Larfleeze, who's been known as 'the beast' for a billion years. Who has assimilated hundreds, if not thousands, of people at least. Openly state that you only have so much time/energy, or that it's draining to do, or something. Don't just pretend to have the moral high ground when you know damn well that he's talking about undoing the horrors of a great evil! (He really is a fucking Yahweh stand-in, isn't he?) If you want to ask them not to use it frivolously, or if you get concerned over enabling the use of assimilation, say that; don't just accuse people of evil out of the fucking gate like a sanctimonious, in-need-of-a-John-Constantine'ing bastard!

Mr Zoat said:
Donna glances up towards the departing Lightray. "That guy. He'd taken over, and Highfather was in some sort of psychiatric cell."

Highfather. Darkseid's equal and opposite, who is so important and must never do anything actually helpful beyond agreeing to not interfere, who somehow gets taken out on the regular to let Darkseid rampage and effortlessly conquer the world, only to do nothing but ask him to maybe back off Earth once or twice when he gets back.

Well. I can't say it isn't painfully accurate to the comics.

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

Know what you're doing yet?

Well worn.

Really? You don't say.

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This is filth! FILTH!!

hey, little Anna, you're the one

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At the End...

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Mint Thistle

Making the rounds.

Know what you're doing yet?

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What is motivation and why is it keep decreasing

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Getting sticky.

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Welp

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