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

[Steelplaza]

Toni frowns. "What about 'Orange Lantern'?"

"The problem with that is that I'm part of an Orange Lantern Corps with over a thousand members, and three of them are currently working on this planet."

Click to shrink...

There's also millions of people named "Paul". For that matter, both Karas are named "Kara" and OL isn't demanding one of them change that. This whole discussion seems predicated upon a very Earth Prime bit of thinking, that every superhero name must be unique and not used by any other superhero. But who made up that rule? It doesn't seem like a social convention anyone but Paul and literal space alien girls that Paul is explaining to how things work on earth abides by. Which means this whole conversation is basically to troll Kara.

So that's fine then, yeah I approve!

"I'm going to throw things at your barriers until they break."

"Oh. Ah. Great."

Click to shrink...

Argent really has been working completely on her own, huh? She hasn't even had someone to help her do this extremely basic test.

Of course if her barriers are anything close to a lantern's barriers then "how strong are they" may not have a consistent answer and may be strongly influenced by her own mental state.

 

[ironbabyjones]

Her hands go to her hips again. "And what's wrong with being a clone?!"

"Kara, I'm friends with Superboy and Match. I don't have a problem with clones."

"It sure sounded like you did!"

Click to shrink...

"I can't be clone-racist, I know, like, two clones!"

 

[Mr Zoat]

@boo600 , because I can't quote a post that's entirely a quote.

Yes? I'm afraid I'm going to need you to actually tell me the point you're trying to make.

"I can't be clone-racist, I know, like, two clones!"

Click to shrink...

Technically, he also knew plenty of Citadelians.

 

[Darko]

@boo600 , because I can't quote a post that's entirely a quote.

Yes? I'm afraid I'm going to need you to actually tell me the point you're trying to make

Click to shrink...

I think they're showings you that the Silver Age Kara already chose a name, so a lot of the chapter focusing on what her hero alias should be is pointless because she already has one.

 

[mastermenthe]

She needs a hug. Can you write me an in praise of Eros insert character, so I can give her a hug?

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Who needs a hug? I don't know who you refer to.

 

[CrazyNoVa]

Okay, real talk? This argument about Kara's hero name is getting kind of ridiculous. There's already like 4 different Green Lanterns in the league, so why can't we just have Supergirl-A and Supergirl-B, just like how we have Green Lantern 2814-A, Green Lantern 2814-B, Green Lantern 2814-C, and Green Lantern 2814-D?

Also, I hate to say it, but Paul is in no position to throw shade at Kara for not picking a different name when he shares his own code name with like, thousands of different recruits in the OL corps.

Just add "-B" at the end of her name and then call it a day, I say.

 

[Steelplaza]

I think they're showings you that the Silver Age Kara already chose a name, so a lot of the chapter focusing on what her hero alias should be is pointless because she already has one.

Click to shrink...

She probably just changed her mind and decided she didn't like it after all. Kara is not a bastion of consistency, especially if she can turn it into another comedy routine.

Okay, real talk? This argument about Kara's hero name is getting kind of ridiculous. There's already like 4 different Green Lanterns in the league, so why can't we just have Supergirl-A and Supergirl-B, just like how we have Green Lanterns 2814-A through D?

Click to shrink...

CrazyNoVa, the point is that the two of them are fucking with each other on purpose. This isn't an innocent argument. This is a verbal duel. Why can't we have- You're absolutely right, we can.

But then that wouldn't let OL and Kara pretend to innocently argue while actually having a deliberately pointless argument they both quite obviously think is hilarious.

 

[hkim]

Also, would you go for being "CrazyNova-B" just because you arrived second?

 

[Frozen20XX]

There's already like 4 different Green Lanterns in the league, so why can't we just have Supergirl-A and Supergirl-B, just like how we have Green Lantern 2814-A, Green Lantern 2814-B, Green Lantern 2814-C, and Green Lantern 2814-D?

Click to shrink...

Heck, in YJ S4, the League had two active Aquaman (Aquamen?) and nobody really bothered to differ them iirc.

Does anyone aside from OL actually use the "Green Lantern A or B" outloud?

 

[Vaermina]

"In those parallel universes where Power Girl exists, she's generally considered to be the most aesthetically appealing."

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Yes, because she has the most common superpower taken up to eleven and a boob window.

 

[ziggrrauglurr]

Hey, you could make it a global poll - have the whole world chime in on their picks.

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Nah, you would end...

No. Thats the way you end up with "Supery McSuperface" or something like that.

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Yeah, that, though an in forum poll though... Framed as a randomizer, consulting to Fifth dimensional creatures, or some other crack response to bring this bit to a apocalyptic size ending could be fun...

 

[Deadring]

If I was in supergirl's position, and a *lantern* of all people told me I couldn't call myself supergirl, I'd beat your ass. Just throwing that out there.

 

[Jankl]

So has anyone figured out where this new Kara is actually from yet? I keep hearing things about the Silver Age. Is there a Stargirl on Earth 16? Kara could take that name.

 

[boo600]

@boo600 , because I can't quote a post that's entirely a quote.

Yes? I'm afraid I'm going to need you to actually tell me the point you're trying to make.

Technically, he also knew plenty of Citadelians.

Click to shrink...

I think they're showings you that the Silver Age Kara already chose a name, so a lot of the chapter focusing on what her hero alias should be is pointless because she already has one.

Click to shrink...

Not only that - Kara 16 wanted Superwoman, not Supergirl. In Schooled 13, we have Kara 16 with Supergirl and 'first dibs,' and Silver Age Kara wanting Supergirl after Paul already sold her on S-woman. If she still wants Supergirl, then unless Kara16 changed her mind, it should be a simple switch, unless something changed off screen, and isn't being referenced in this conversation. Which means it looks like a continuity error.

Well. Unless Paul's just fucking with her. That's also a possibility, if one that I wouldn't think fit here.

 

[Mr Zoat]

If I was in supergirl's position, and a *lantern* of all people told me I couldn't call myself supergirl, I'd beat your ass. Just throwing that out there.

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There really isn't anything stopping her calling herself that.

 

[Steelplaza]

So has anyone figured out where this new Kara is actually from yet?

Click to shrink...

No one knows because she is a filthy liar.

I mean hah-hah, some other parallel DC universe! Don't worry which one though, because when Paul said he finally had time to help Kara get back home she said she didn't care and he didn't need to poke any further into her origins in any way! Definitely don't worry about it, says Kara.

 

[Mr Zoat]

22nd September 2013
16:17 GMT +2

Behind us, Face tries breathing fire on concrete, and quickly learns that the melting point of concrete is a long way above what an orange fire can reach. A little way in front of me, Argent plants her feet like we're about to start sparring.

"Okay, stick up a barrier?"

She raises her hands and generated a circular disc in front of her. Directly between her and me.

"Argent, Argent, I'm… Not even thinking about shooting directly at you at this stage."

"Oh."

"I just want to find out what sort of damage it can take and if they have any particular vulnerabilities."

"Yeah, that-. That makes more sense."

She moves her barrier off to the side, plasma from both hands still connecting her to it.

I walk up to it and punch it.

Ow.

Solid. Irregular surface, and I can feel it moving. Not hot-.

"Can you make it hot?"

"I can make it sort of eat through stuff, but I don't think it really gets hot."

"Did you feel any feedback when I hit it?"

"A tiny bit?"

"How precisely can you tell what hit you and where?"

"Top, bottom, left, right…" She shrugs. "Not very strong, pretty strong and really strong. I haven't gotten hit by anything strong enough to break it yet."

"Rightoh." I punch it twice more, really driving from the shoulder and no doubt doing my right hand a mischief. Which I promptly heal. "Did you feel that?"

"Just about."

"Right." I draw my sidearm, aim and fire eight shots directly at the barrier. "How about that?"

"Do I need ear protectors?"

"Do you want ear protectors? Or more to the point, do you think the people shooting at you will wait for you to put them on?"

"No?"

"They never have with me. Actually, I should ask: do you know how to use a gun?"

"No. Ah, how come you do?"

"Because I was living in America."

"We don't all have guns, you know."

I nod. "And wasn't that a disappointment." She frowns and me, and I smile back. "I learned so that if I was in a situation where my ring was out of power or where my opponent was immune to it I would still be able to fight. I shot Klarion the Witch Boy with this gun."

Behind us, Kara drops down to give Face some encouragement. "Come on! You can do it! Burn that concrete!"

He stops exhaling. "Do you know what temperature melts concrete?"

"About two thousand five hundred Fahrenheit!"

"You shot Klarion with a gun?"

I reload it and reholster it. "Yes indeed. While we're on the subject, did your change make you any tougher? Other than the added resistance to lasers."

"Lasers?"

"Lasers are beams of light. You're more reflective. That means that a greater proportion of the laser's energy will be bounced off your skin." I take an AK-47 out of subspace and aim it at the barrier. "Have you tried it with automatic rifles?"

"Yeah. Some of the Justifiers used rifles. So are you going to test lasers on me?"

"Sure." I fabricate a laser pointer and play it over her right cheek. "Feel any hotter?"

"Huh?" She looks at it, and then raises her hand to spot the dot. "No? But I wouldn't have been able to feel it before either."

I raise the rifle and shoot the barrier on full automatic until the magazine clicks empty. Then I dial up the power on the laser, disintegrate the AK-47 and fabricate a Browning machine gun.

"How about-" I pull the trigger. "-n-?"

"AH! Yeah, ear protectors!"

I transmute her a pair of ear protectors as the Browning chews through its ammunition belt.

"Can you feel it!?"

"In my bones!"

"On your skin?!"

"No!"

There's a clunk as the belt reaches its end, and I disintegrate the Browning. "Did you feel that?"

"The bullets? No?"

Alright. I increase the power of the laser again, up to anti-missile laser. "Now?"

She shakes her head, holding her hand in the way again so that she can see it-.

A short distance away a patch of grass catches fire from her deflection.

I turn off the laser. "I think we can conclude that you are laser resistant. Well done."

"Thanks. What the next test?"

I form a railgun. "Something a little bigger."

The construct hums, then sends a solid slug smashing into the shield.

"U-h-!"

The round is deflected, knocked aside by its own kinetic energy and the immovability of the barrier.

"You felt that?"

"Yeah."

"Did it hurt, or did you just feel the impact?"

"It felt weird, like I was being pushed back? It didn't.. hurt, though."

"Okay, I'm going to fire a lot more of those. Let's see if we can find the limit-."

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!

We look around and see a melted pile of what was once concrete, and Face coughing violently.

"Water!"

 

[CrazyNoVa]

Also, would you go for being "CrazyNova-B" just because you arrived second?

Click to shrink...

In my case, I'd just pick a different name, but the point I'm trying to make here is that this Kara wouldn't, because she's obviously more attached to her moniker than I am to mine.

 

[Ngamer11]

"How about-" I full the trigger. "-n-?"

Click to shrink...

That should say 'pull'.

 

[Someguy Somewhere]

Got to agree with the kid about range safety hearing protection, and honestly, range safety in general...I figured a Lab would be a better place to test out what the Argent Plasma constructs are Made out of, and maybe have some safety options for the surrounding area...any laser strong enough to be used offensively is strong enough to blind people for kilometers, even if deflected or distorted for example, and is not something you should play around with quite so carelessly. I could go on about the lasers effect on ambient air temps and incinerating her clothing or popping her eyeballs but I'll leave that to laser safety experts.

Should have Eyes and Ears covered, protective gear for the squishy people, a proper range and backstop, and maybe up to date medical information and emergency supplies at hand...and a range lecture to point out where such things are, and set some standards, expectations and methodology to the tests so as not to startle folks.....OL's Coil Gun armed instructor would be shaking his head at this level of half assedness. And the Silvana's would be horrified by the lack of scientific rigor involved.

Considering the grrlpower comments from previous commenters, I am somewhat reminded of the abridged level of testing they did for Sydney's bubble shield there. Mind you they had only a few minutes to get the basics done with before the press came along, and took the time to stuff the newbie in the best body armor on hand and bunkered down before popping off shots.

 

[Chojin Patriarch]

22nd September 2013
16:17 GMT +2

Behind us, Face tries breathing fire on concrete, and quickly learns that the melting point of concrete is a long way above what an orange fire can reach. A little way in front of me, Argent plants her feet like we're about to start sparring.

"Okay, stick up a barrier?"

She raises her hands and generated a circular disc in front of her. Directly between her and me.

Click to shrink...

Oooh, first lesson to teach about positioning of defensive barriers, especially in non-combat situations. Namely, you do not want to be the backstop if it fails. Especially if you are not sure of just how durable you are compared to the barrier.

Spoiler: Commentary spoilered for length

"Argent, Argent, I'm… Not even thinking about shooting directly at you at this stage."

"Oh."

Click to shrink...

Yup. OL at least is not that foolish.

"I just want to find out what sort of damage it can take and if they have any particular vulnerabilities."

"Yeah, that-. That makes more sense."

Click to shrink...

For instance, what will a cold gun do to the 'plasma'? Logically, it would cool it below the point it can remain plasma, But given people can touch it safely, I suspect it's not the 'superheated gas' kind of plasma anyway.

She moves her barrier off to the side, plasma from both hands still connecting her to it.

I walk up to it and punch it.

Click to shrink...

That'll be another thing to check: Can she extended it from just one hand, or some other part of her body? And does she need exposed skin to do so or can it form past clothing?

Ow.

Solid. Irregular surface, and I can feel it moving. Not hot-.

Click to shrink...

Good to see that confirmed. So it's something like plasma but not superheated and possibly not gaseous in nature...

"Can you make it hot?"

"I can make it sort of eat through stuff, but I don't think it really gets hot."

Click to shrink...

Interesting. How does it 'eat' things, though? Dissolving it? Scraping at it like millions of sand grains? Or something like tiny gnawing teeth?

"Did you feel any feedback when I hit it?"

"A tiny bit?"

Click to shrink...

Which raises concerns if something powerful hits it. Could she suffer neural feedback that could knock her out, or is there an internal safety that would collapse the barrier before that happens?

"How precisely can you tell what hit you and where?"

"Top, bottom, left, right…" She shrugs. "Not very strong, pretty strong and really strong. I haven't gotten hit by anything strong enough to break it yet."

Click to shrink...

Let's not push too far in that direction yet, then?

"Rightoh." I punch it twice more, really driving from the shoulder and no doubt doing my right hand a mischief. Which I promptly heal. "Did you feel that?"

"Just about."

Click to shrink...

So the feedback is heavily muted. Likely a natural safety feature to prevent the kind of neural damage I mentioned.

"Right." I draw my sidearm, aim and fire eight shots directly at the barrier. "How about that?"

"Do I need ear protectors?"

Click to shrink...

Well, do you want tinnitus until OL heals you?

"Do you want ear protectors? Or more to the point, do you think the people shooting at you will wait for you to put them on?"

"No?"

"They never have with me. Actually, I should ask: do you know how to use a gun?"

Click to shrink...

OL does have the advantage of his shielding being very strong and having natural feedback cutoffs.

"No. Ah, how come you do?"

"Because I was living in America."

Click to shrink...

Going native in more than one way, eh?

"We don't all have guns, you know."

I nod. "And wasn't that a disappointment." She frowns and me, and I smile back. "I learned so that if I was in a situation where my ring was out of power or where my opponent was immune to it I would still be able to fight. I shot Klarion the Witch Boy with this gun."

Click to shrink...

A rare case of OL thinking ahead. Back before he was Enlightened, so less... OL-ish.

Behind us, Kara drops down to give Face some encouragement. "Come on! You can do it! Burn that concrete!"

He stops exhaling. "Do you know what temperature melts concrete?"

"About two thousand five hundred Fahrenheit!"

Click to shrink...

That's a spicy spitwad. I am curious as to how he's doing the fire breath thing anyway? Igniting the air he expels as it emerges, or creating the flame internally and then exhaling? There's a big difference, after all.

"You shot Klarion with a gun?"

I reload it and reholster it. "Yes indeed. While we're on the subject, did your change make you any tougher? Other than the added resistance to lasers."

Click to shrink...

Annoyingly, it wasn't as effective as hoped, thanks to Klarion's defensive measures, but he couldn't hit OL either, at first...

"Lasers?"

"Lasers are beams of light. You're more reflective. That means that a greater proportion of the laser's energy will be bounced off your skin." I take an AK-47 out of subspace and aim it at the barrier. "Have you tried it with automatic rifles?"

Click to shrink...

Big assumption there, really. Is her skin actually metallic or just shiny?

"Yeah. Some of the Justifiers used rifles. So are you going to test lasers on me?"

"Sure." I fabricate a laser pointer and play it over her right cheek. "Feel any hotter?"

Click to shrink...

The issue is that any laser strong enough to deal damage is one you don't want to point at a friendly. Maybe fabricate some cloned skin might work?

"Huh?" She looks at it, and then raises her hand to spot the dot. "No? But I wouldn't have been able to feel it before either."

I raise the rifle and shoot the barrier on full automatic until the magazine clicks empty. Then I dial up the power on the laser, disintegrate the AK-47 and fabricate a Browning machine gun.

Click to shrink...

One thing at a time, OL. Or are you testing her ability to maintain the barrier while distracted too?

"How about-" I pull the trigger. "-n-?"

"AH! Yeah, ear protectors!"

I transmute her a pair of ear protectors as the Browning chews through its ammunition belt.

Click to shrink...

And behind them, Kara gives him a grumpy look as she tunes her super-hearing down...

"Can you feel it!?"

"In my bones!"

"On your skin?!"

Click to shrink...

Yes, .50 BMG does have quite a bit of force behind it. Sufficient to rattle people not manning the gun.

"No!"

There's a clunk as the belt reaches its end, and I disintegrate the Browning. "Did you feel that?"

Click to shrink...

No sign of barrier failure, so she can tank that much firepower. Still would not like to be standing directly behind it...

"The bullets? No?"

Alright. I increase the power of the laser again, up to anti-missile laser. "Now?"

Click to shrink...

That's what, a couple of hundred degrees? Bit much for a hands-on test, no?

She shakes her head, holding her hand in the way again so that she can see it-.

A short distance away a patch of grass catches fire from her deflection.

Click to shrink...

Good thing she didn't turn it the other way, towards Face and Kara.

I turn off the laser. "I think we can conclude that you are laser resistant. Well done."

"Thanks. What the next test?"

Click to shrink...

Well, at least as far as he tested. I imagine a much larger pulsed beam might be dangerous, but they can cross that bridge when they come to it.

I form a railgun. "Something a little bigger."

The construct hums, then sends a solid slug smashing into the shield.

Click to shrink...

I hope that was low power, OL. Man, he's a little cavalier about this isn't he?

"U-h-!"

The round partially deflected, knocks aside by its own kinetic energy and the immovability of the barrier.

Click to shrink...

And that is why you make sure the angle of deflection is turned outward. There's a famous video of a large rifle round ricocheting off the target right back at the shooter and knocking his ear-muffs off. Very lucky shot and lucky it didn't hit skin or worse. (Yeah, I've been watching 'Darwin Award gun fails' videos lately...)

"You felt that?"

"Yeah."

Click to shrink...

I should say so. That was likely significantly more energy than the .50 BMG rounds.

"Did it hurt, or did you just feel the impact?"

"It felt weird, like I was being pushed back? It didn't.. hurt, though."

Click to shrink...

Pretty clear the barrier's not tied specifically to her in terms of kinetic energy transfer, then. And possibly independent of all momentum if shaped that way.

"Okay, I'm going to fire a lot more of those. Let's see if we can find the limit-."

Click to shrink...

Again, remember range safety, OL. Best to angle your shots slightly in case you get more deflections.

HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!

We look around and see a melted pile of what was once concrete, and Face coughing violently.

"Water!"

Click to shrink...

Dangit, OL. Focus on both students. Looks like Face went all-out on the concrete...

At least we can confirm Face can reach those temperatures, though not without potentially injuring himself to do so. I'm guessing he singed something in his throat at the very least. Studying how he does the fire-breathing thing might let him find a way to manage that without the chili-pepper cough-drop experience.

 

[BR549]

Well, at least as far as he tested. I imagine a much larger pulsed beam might be dangerous, but they can cross that bridge when they come to it.

Click to shrink...

Well, there's also a distinct lack of Clanners to nick pulse laser technology from...

 

[Vaermina]

22nd September 2013
16:17 GMT +2

Click to shrink...

So is there a reason Orange Lantern's being stupid and shooting her plasma field with things instead of just creating a impact testing construct and using that on it?

 

[inglorius]

impact testing construct

Click to shrink...

Observing less obvious things like possible bullet deflection, letting her empirically experience how much of a threat a specific gun is (even if it isn't), making her more used to gunfire sounds...
Also higher-powered tests are probably next in line.

 

[Vaermina]

Observing less obvious things like possible bullet deflection, letting her empirically experience how much of a threat a specific gun is (even if it isn't), making her more used to gunfire sounds...
Also higher-powered tests are probably next in line.

Click to shrink...

Are all things you can do after you determin the maximum safe impact energy and whether there are any cumulative stress effects.

 

[inglorius]

Multitasking.

 

[Mr Zoat]

That should say 'pull'.

Click to shrink...

Thank you, corrected.

Got to agree with the kid about range safety hearing protection, and honestly, range safety in general...I figured a Lab would be a better place to test out what the Argent Plasma constructs are Made out of, and maybe have some safety options for the surrounding area...any laser strong enough to be used offensively is strong enough to blind people for kilometers, even if deflected or distorted for example, and is not something you should play around with quite so carelessly. I could go on about the lasers effect on ambient air temps and incinerating her clothing or popping her eyeballs but I'll leave that to laser safety experts.

Should have Eyes and Ears covered, protective gear for the squishy people, a proper range and backstop, and maybe up to date medical information and emergency supplies at hand...and a range lecture to point out where such things are, and set some standards, expectations and methodology to the tests so as not to startle folks.....OL's Coil Gun armed instructor would be shaking his head at this level of half assedness. And the Silvana's would be horrified by the lack of scientific rigor involved.

Considering the grrlpower comments from previous commenters, I am somewhat reminded of the abridged level of testing they did for Sydney's bubble shield there. Mind you they had only a few minutes to get the basics done with before the press came along, and took the time to stuff the newbie in the best body armor on hand and bunkered down before popping off shots.

Click to shrink...

Thing is, in real life you can't really fix the gradual damage loud noises do to your ears. Earth 16 has purple healing rays, and while they're not common most Justice League-aligned facilities have a couple. And the other thing is, they're in Bir Tawil, famous for being uninhabited. They're not in a densely inhabited city which needs solid walls around its ranges, or in a county field where the neighbouring farm doesn't want their cows shot. There isn't anything other than trees.

 

[Graeme]

The round partially deflected, knocks aside by its own kinetic energy and the immovability of the barrier.

"Water!"

Click to shrink...

the senses are inconsistent in this sentence, and I am not clear why it's only "partially deflected" rather than simply "deflected" - where did the part that wasn't deflected go? Perhaps something like. " The round is deflected, knocked aside by its own kinetic energy and the immobility of the barrier" or from the other perspective: "The barrier deflects the round, its own immovability combined with the round''s kinetic energy knocking it aside", or something better from Zoat of course.

 

[Mr Zoat]

the senses are inconsistent in this sentence, and I am not clear why it's only "partially deflected" rather than simply "deflected" - where did the part that wasn't deflected go? Perhaps something like. " The round is deflected, knocked aside by its own kinetic energy and the immobility of the barrier" or from the other perspective: "The barrier deflects the round, its own immovability combined with the round''s kinetic energy knocking it aside", or something better from Zoat of course.

Click to shrink...

Thank you, corrected.

 

[Darko]

Thanks. What the next test?"

Click to shrink...

"What's"

So is there a reason Orange Lantern's being stupid and shooting her plasma field with things instead of just creating a impact testing construct and using that on it?

Click to shrink...

Are the people that she's going to be fighting going to be using impact testing constructs, or regular weapons?

That's why he's using regular weapons; to get her used to things she will have to deal with.