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

I'd say it's hard to say. Kosh Naranek nearly died to a contact poison, while Ulkesh Kosh shrugged off an entire security division's worth of pulse plasma blasts.
Given that was Ulkesh, a large chunk of that shrugging off might have been through the power of sheer spite.

Remember kids: Kosh is chill, Ulkesh is an absolute asshole, and the majority of Vorlons seem to skew more towards the latter.
 
You didn't read the part where I mentioned that Kiro didn't believe his aunt's prophecy about the Shadows killing him?
Actually he did believe his Aunt's prophecy, he just discounted the threat of it because he thought she was talking about shadows and not The Shadows.

Like seriously, 1/10 of the entire Centuari population has death dreams, "seer" and "prophetess" are official court positions. Nobody impactful enough to get on the Soul Hunters radar isn't going to know these things.



I'd say it's hard to say. Kosh Naranek nearly died to a contact poison, while Ulkesh Kosh shrugged off an entire security division's worth of pulse plasma blasts.
His encounter suit shrugged off a significant portion of the reactor output of Babylon 5.


View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XM3peUICWqo

At which point he got pissed, popped open the top, and was about to tear the entire station apart with his bare tentacles until the piece of Kosh in Sherridan stepped up to fight him.
 
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Given that was Ulkesh, a large chunk of that shrugging off might have been through the power of sheer spite.

Remember kids: Kosh is chill, Ulkesh is an absolute asshole, and the majority of Vorlons seem to skew more towards the latter.
Also, it may be that Ulkesh was more heavily spec'd into combat and survival, while Naranek was mainly a diplomat or a teacher.
 
Psychoprompt (part 7) New
12th January 2257
08:12 GMT

"Ah, sir?"

I stop just before reaching the ship's toilet, then turn to look at the awkward-looking stewardess. "Yes."

"I'm afraid that bathroom is in use."

I tilt my head to the side slightly, then raise my eyebrows. "By the woman I came on board with?"

"Yes, that-." She blinks, blushing heavily. "Um. Ah."

"This can't be the first time-."

"Ah-h-. Just-." She leans in a little. "Try to keep the noise down, please?"

"Of course." I nod, turn back around-. And high-five the guy in the cheap seat who overheard and stuck his hand out. Open the bathroom door, and step in while an irate Lyta stands over the bowl.

"How-?"

I hold up my right hand to beg silence, and she bites her tongue. I press in, closing the door behind me before pulling back.

"How are we going to get out of here?"

I close my eyes and reach out

"We reach the jump gate in about thirty seconds. Then the shuttle will continue through hyperspace until it reaches the Sol gate. It won't be able to signal anyone who can do anything until that point."

"And?"

"Our best avenue for escape is if we're off before that happens and the shuttle continues on to its destination. It adds confusion as to whether we were on board or not."

"What, we're going to escape in a cargo pod?"

"No, they'd spot a cargo pod." I hold out my right hand. "Take my hand, please." She reach out-. "And try not to scream. The stewardess requested we keep it down."

She looks like she wants to protest, but take my hand anyway. Distance… Good, the light from the gate should make it harder to see us. I punch a construct through the hull, transition us outside and seal the hold before setting-

"GAH!"

-course for the next system over as the jump gate opens to our left.

At least she hasn't let go. Actually she's.. holding on quite hard.

Warp.

Stars blur around us as we leave the Epsilon System behind.

"There. Now, we should have a few minutes-."

"What the Hell just happened?!"

"Ah, okay. Did you actually read my mind-?"

"Yeah, and I felt dozens of people looking through your eyes! How did the telepath underground-." She looks around. "Are we going faster than light?"

"Yes. Ah. And I fear that you may be acting under a misapprehension."

"This is not a good time to tell me that!"

"Alright."

We continue speeding through interstellar space. Should we change direction..? I don't think so. Basically all the younger races are hyperspace-only as far as faster than light is concerned, and the vorlon ships which dropped off Ambassador Kosh and came to pick up Commander Sinclair both used the Epsilon gate. Which means that unless an actual Maltusian turns up, I don't think anyone would have the slightest idea-

"Well?!"

"You said it wasn't the time."

-that this is even possible. Though I've gotten the impression that the younger species think of the 'First Ones' basically as gods, so given that this is possible I can't assume that none of them can do it. But why would they care about one human telepath? It's really more likely that they'd be interested in me, and since we're parting company the moment we arrive, that should be-.

"Okay! Okay, it's.. time. Now, please."

"Short version: I got abducted by First Ones and they gave me a magic ring that lets me do whatever I want. Currently, I want to warp spacetime in such a way that I can travel thousands of times faster than light without leaving regular space, so that's what we're doing."

"And you're not part of the telepath underground."

"That what?" I frown at her. "What's the telepath underground?"

"…God. How did you know my code name?"

"Code name?"

"'Jean Grey'."

"She's a founding member of the X-Men. Female human red-haired telepath. I didn't know it was being used as a code name, and clearly the guy who came up with it should… Use something original in future."

"… X-Men?"

"It's a comic book. But I mostly know her from the nineties animated version where she uses telekinesis more than telepathy. And her hair was longer than yours."

"So you just guessed-. Because it-. God."

"Don't worry: my name's fake too."

"If you're not a telepath, and you're not in contact with any telepaths, why can I hear voices in your head?"

"Ah, you remember that panic a few days ago, because there was a Soul Hunter ship in the hangar?"

"That was you?"

"Yes. I'm not a Soul Hunter. I just robbed them. But it turns out that they either actually steal souls or they make engrams of peoples' minds that are sufficiently accurate to be people in their own rights. I'm storing a load of them at the moment. They can talk to me."

She nods slowly. "I'd think you were crazy if we weren't here right now."

"So why are you running from the Psi Corps? And why do they have any right to give you a deep probe just because you scanned an alien in the performance of your job? Wouldn't using commercial telepaths for intelligence gathering be a complete violation of professional ethics?"

She sighs. "Most telepaths are just.. regular people who can read minds. But Psi Corp does what it wants, and makes anyone who sees anything they don't want them to forget about it. They probably just want to see if vorlons are telepathic."

"And they can do that? There's no check-?" I nod. "The only people who can keep tabs on telepaths are other telepaths, and they're all on the inside."

"And that's just what I know about. I… Think I got out before I saw anything worse."

"Huh. And you're sure you want to go to the vorlons?"

"Yes. They've… Got a plan, that doesn't involve the Corp."

"Because I can take you literally anywhere. I've got some brakiri friends who can give you a job. The Psi Corps can't touch you if you don't go back to human space."

"That's-. No. I'm sure. If you don't want to take the risk, you can drop me off near the border and I'll-."

"The border's, like, three light years back. How would you like to be the first human to see a vorlon planet from orbit?"

"I-."

"Too late!"
 
We continue speeding through interstellar space. Should we change direction..? I don't think so. Basically all the younger races are hyperspace-only as far as faster than light is concerned, and the vorlon ships which dropped off Ambassador Kosh and came to pick up Commander Sinclair both used the Epsilon gate. Which means that unless an actual Maltusian turns up, I don't think anyone would have the slightest idea-
This proves he didn't try to scan Kosh's ship.

Also as a point, all the first ones have alternate means of FTL that they just dont use around the younger races because Hyperspace is hard to discover but easy to use and so makes species easy to catch before they get advanced enough to be a problem.


"The border's, like, three light years back. How would you like to be the first human to see a vorlon planet from orbit?"

"I-."

"Too late!"
The result of this would be Paul instantly dying as every defense system in orbit and on the planet opens fire at him.

Now, I'm sure if he actually goes through with it you won't have that happen for some reason, but that will be your author ex machina to keep your character alive after they make a monumentally stupid decision.
 
12th January 2257
08:12 GMT


"Ah, sir?"

I stop just before reaching the ship's toilet, then turn to look at the awkward-looking stewardess. "Yes."

"I'm afraid that bathroom is in use."
Heh, I see the idea. Quietly disembark mid-flight while out of sight and head off to wherever Lyta wants to go. I'm sure there'll be quite the fuss when the transport arrives short two passengers, though.

I tilt my head to the side slightly, then raise my eyebrows. "By the woman I came on board with?"

"Yes, that-." She blinks, blushing heavily. "Um. Ah."
Hmm, would this qualify as a 'Light-Year-high club'? 😘

"This can't be the first time-."

"Ah-h-. Just-." She leans in a little. "Try to keep the noise down, please?"
...Because of course someone's done it before.

"Of course." I nod, turn back around-. And high-five the guy in the cheap seat who overheard and stuck his hand out. Open the bathroom door, and step in while an irate Lyta stands over the bowl.

"How-?"
Heh. Some things never change, no matter how advanced the era.

I hold up my right hand to beg silence, and she bites her tongue. I press in, closing the door behind me before pulling back.

"How are we going to get out of here?"
Carefully, I would imagine, if only to avoid setting off an air-leak alert.

I close my eyes and reach out

"We reach the jump gate in about thirty seconds. Then the shuttle will continue through hyperspace until it reaches the Sol gate. It won't be able to signal anyone who can do anything until that point."
So they'll be leaving the ship before then. I doubt even he can manage a hyperspace transit without a ship.

"And?"

"Our best avenue for escape is if we're off before that happens and the shuttle continues on to its destination. It adds confusion as to whether we were on board or not."
I can imagine the questions when the PSI agents are there waiting for them to exit... And they don't.

"What, we're going to escape in a cargo pod?"

"No, they'd spot a cargo pod." I hold out my right hand. "Take my hand, please." She reach out-. "And try not to scream. The stewardess requested we keep it down."
Besides, they'd be seen going to the cargo bay. Which is likely not as comfortable as the passenger blocks.

She looks like she wants to protest, but take my hand anyway. Distance… Good, the light from the gate should make it harder to see us. I punch a construct through the hull, transition us outside and seal the hole before setting-

"GAH!"
Good, don't want to wreck the ship because of a single pinprick. Although the view must be amazing without anything in the way.

-course for the next system over as the jump gate opens to our left.

At least she hasn't let go. Actually she's.. holding on quite hard.
Given she's outside in space with apparently nothing between her and hard vacuum, you bet she's holding tight.

Warp.

Stars blur around us as we leave the Epsilon System behind.
That'll be an interesting sensor reading if anything picked them up. For one thing, there's no FTL drive that small in existence anywhere in their universe, is there?

"There. Now, we should have a few minutes-."

"What the Hell just happened?!"
Congratulation, Ms Alexander, you are now the second human to ever travel faster than light without a starship.

"Ah, okay. Did you actually read my mind-?"

"Yeah, and I felt dozens of people looking through your eyes! How did the telepath underground-." She looks around. "Are we going faster than light?"
I doubt it's anywhere near as fancy-looking as most sci-fi makes it look. A faint shimmer from blue in front to red behind, maybe.

"Yes. Ah. And I fear that you may be acting under a misapprehension."

"This is not a good time to tell me that!"

"Alright."
At least she has the sense to not try and attack him while they're out in the open. Or is simply too terrified to consider it.

We continue speeding through interstellar space. Should we change direction..? I don't think so. Basically all the younger races are hyperspace-only as far as faster than light is concerned, and the vorlon ships which dropped off Ambassador Kosh and came to pick up Commander Sinclair both used the Epsilon gate. Which means that unless an actual Maltusian turns up, I don't think anyone would have the slightest idea-
Another assumption based on too little information, but he can be excused for that.

"Well?!"

"You said it wasn't the time."
Amazing how quickly something amazing can become mundane. Especially once the adrenaline wears off.

-that this is even possible. Though I've gotten the impression that the younger species think of the 'First Ones' basically as gods, so given that this is possible I can't assume that none of them can do it. But why would they care about one human telepath? It's really more likely that they'd be interested in me, and since we're parting company the moment we arrive, that should be-.
Well, you hope you can leave promptly.

"Okay! Okay, it's.. time. Now, please."

"Short version: I got abducted by First Ones and they gave me a magic ring that lets me do whatever I want. Currently, I want to warp spacetime in such a way that I can travel thousands of times faster than light without leaving regular space, so that's what we're doing."
Well, close enough to the truth for government work, anyway.

"And you're not part of the telepath underground."

"That what?" I frown at her. "What's the telepath underground?"
Which is probably all the more terrifying to her. A complete unknown, carrying her god-knows-where wrapped in nothing but a glowing outline...

"…God. How did you know my code name?"

"Code name?"

"'Jean Grey'."
Okay, that did make me wonder when she didn't react to him using that name.

"She's a founding member of the X-Men. Female human red-haired telepath. I didn't know it was being used as a code name, and clearly the guy who came up with it should… Use something original in future."

"… X-Men?"
Either she's not up on vintage pop culture from two and a half centuries back, or someone in charge of her was.

"It's a comic book. But I mostly know her from the nineties animated version where she uses telekinesis more than telepathy. And her hair was longer than yours."

"So you just guessed-. Because it-. God."
Although they were very different shades of red. Mostly because of comic-book colouring styles.

"Don't worry: my name's fake too."

"If you're not a telepath, and you're not in contact with any telepaths, why can I hear voices in your head?"
Ah, now that might take some explaining.

"Ah, you remember that panic a few days ago, because there was a Soul Hunter ship in the hangar?"

"That was you?"
Technically, yes.

"Yes. I'm not a Soul Hunter. I just robbed them. But it turns out that they either actually steal souls or they make engrams of peoples' minds that are sufficiently accurate to be people in their own rights. I'm storing a load of them at the moment. They can talk to me."

She nods slowly. "I'd think you were crazy if we weren't here right now."
Hard to argue with something impossible by human understanding of everything.

"So why are you running from the Psi Corps? And why do they have any right to give you a deep probe just because you scanned an alien in the performance of your job? Wouldn't using commercial telepaths for intelligence gathering be a complete violation of professional ethics?"
Oh, where to start.

She sighs. "Most telepaths are just.. regular people who can read minds. But Psi Corp does what it wants, and makes anyone who sees anything they don't want them to forget about it. They probably just want to see if vorlons are telepathic."

"And they can do that? There's no check-?" I nod. "The only people who can keep tabs on telepaths are other telepaths, and they're all on the inside."
Since humans haven't devised any technological way of detecting telepathic energies, at least in general circulation.

"And that's just what I know about. I… Think I got out before I saw anything worse."

"Huh. And you're sure you want to go to the vorlons?"
Well, we know there's a bit of Kosh encouraging her to do so...

"Yes. They've… Got a plan, that doesn't involve the Corp."

"Because I can take you literally anywhere. I've got some brakiri friends who can give you a job. The Psi Corps can't touch you if you don't go back to human space."
Don't be too sure, Speaker. I'm sure they'd send covert operatives somehow.

"That's-. No. I'm sure. If you don't want to take the risk, you can drop me off near the border and I'll-."

"The border's, like, three light years back. How would you like to be the first human to see a vorlon planet from orbit?"
...Oh, that's going to raise so many alarms.

...So, so many alarms. 😨

Looks like at least one race is going to find out something about Speaker Paul's capabilities. Especially if he slides through their orbital defences like a gnat to deposit Lyta on the surface. Fortunately, I don't see the Vorlons sharing what they learn with anyone. Wonder if he'll hang around long enough to have a chat?
 
That'll be an interesting sensor reading if anything picked them up. For one thing, there's no FTL drive that small in existence anywhere in their universe, is there?
Yes, the Shadows have one and the Mindwalkers are their own FTL system.

I think the Vorlons also have one, but I'm not entirely sure and would have to check when I have access to my books.

Looks like at least one race is going to find out something about Speaker Paul's capabilities. Especially if he slides through their orbital defences like a gnat to deposit Lyta on the surface. Fortunately, I don't see the Vorlons sharing what they learn with anyone. Wonder if he'll hang around long enough to have a chat?
He shouldn't be able to slide through their orbital defenses period.

There are at least two First One species that use real space FTL, and the Vorlons designed their planetary defenses to try and defend against all the different First Ones.
 
Well, I hope the reactions aren't going to be skipped. My personal expectation is that vorlons are aware of what lanterns are, or at least of what a variant of a lantern is, and are just going to give Paul diplomatic recognition. Possibly public diplomatic recognition to make his life harder.
 

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