Back Channels (part 3)
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Mr Zoat
Dedicated ragequitter
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29th July 2013
10:46 GMT
The one guy you're trying to avoid at a party…
Metron leans slightly forwards in his chair. "You're not supposed to exist." "Tell me your secrets."
"And you're not supposed to be blue, but you don't see me hassling you about it. Don't feel bad though: multiple time travellers have had no idea who I am either. I've actually sponsored an archiving project on my homeworld-" One run by Dubbilex. "-to try to ensure that as much information as possible survives our next disaster because clearly future historians have no idea what they're talking about. Can I interest you in some Sheeda body parts?"
He glances aside, perhaps contemplating the offer. The he returns his full attention to me. "No, I have some from their last Harvest. Though I suppose that I should thank you for increasing their rarity value." "Show me your nature."
"Anti-Life transmission pillars? We have quite a few."
"P-lease. Who do you think designed them?"
… Ah… "I was hoping it was Virman Vundabar, but I can't say that I'm surprised."
He actually looks mildly offended. "That small-minded sycophant? His mind is as monocular as that ridiculous eyepiece he wears."
"And… Why did you devise a way to spread the Anti-Life faster?"
"So that Darkseid would allow me to study it. He's usually exceedingly jealous of it, but the opportunity to spread its effect without needing to be personally present was too great a lure."
"More likely he hoped you'd fall under its thrall."
"Then he hopes in vain. But returning to your own anomalous nature, I would appreciate an answer." "ANSWER ME!"
"You haven't exactly sold me on your moral probity. But…" Ring, strip me.
Compliance.
From the other side of the 'party', Alan turns away from Ganthet to give me a puzzled look as my armour and outerwear vanish, but I wave him off.
Metron seems somewhat taken aback by the sight, whether that's because he's unusually prudish or because even he can't change mental directions that quickly.
"See these marks?"
"I'm familiar with most forms of magic."
"See how they're designed to throw off detection and gradually build up power?"
"Yes. But that shouldn't erase you from the minds of time travellers."
"Yeah, but I've been exposed to a lot of weird energies over the last couple of years, and it's designed to absorb all of them. And the orange light does that even more strongly." I have the ring restore my clothing. "Temporal energy, the Anti-Life itself, the Dream… I don't think anyone's done anything quite like this, so… Who knows what it could do?"
"An interesting puzzle. Would you object to-?"
"Yes. You designed the Anti-Life broadcasters, and hence cannot be trusted. Excuse me."
I turn away, feeling a little warm at his disgruntled expression. Hardly just recompense for what he did to Earth, but I'll take it for now. Highfather is talking to Appa Ali Apsa, and they seem to be getting on. Malvolio is talking rather stiffly to Chaselon while Priest is giving pointers to the recruits. Ogandu Onna Oslan is staring off the side of Supertown while Guy keeps an eye on him. I can feel the immense capacity for mental focus within him, but it's… Blurry. I think that's an indication that he doesn't have anything to focus on, exactly. Flying head vanished once the transformation was over, and gold armour is… Watching me, though now that I've moved away from Metron he appears to be a little more relaxed.
"Guardian. Alan."
"That guy hassling you?"
"Turns out that he designed the Anti-Life broadcasters."
"You-." He turns to glare at Metron, who appears to be silently contemplating matters. "What?"
"He's completely amoral. I'm surprised in the specific, not in the general." I clap my hands together. "Guardian Ganthet! I think the three of us are overdue for a talk."
"I agree. Follow me."
He rises into the air at speed, Alan and I following swiftly at his heels. We reach just to the edge of the atmosphere before Ganthet stops, creating a shield around us.
"There. We may now speak privately."
Alan looks mildly puzzled. "Okay? Paul told me you might be working on blue rings yourself."
"I am. I had thought that pairing Blue Lanterns with Green Lanterns might grant them an alternate viewpoint to guard against institutional groupthink. Green Lanterns have a proud history of service but I have noticed over the long millennia that they can sometimes be excessively bullish. Furthermore, the green light does not in itself guarantee that they will be morally good people. I cannot help but think that if we had been less blinkered we would have noticed the direction Thaal Sinestro was heading in early enough to intervene."
Alan shakes his head. "I don't think any of Earth's Lanterns are in any danger, except maybe Carol."
"She was like that when we got her. Also, thank you for not saying me."
"Don't mention it."
Though maybe you could have mentioned Batman. But… Conversation for another day.
"How did you persuade a Weaponer to make it for you?"
"Weaponers feel hope. Just not over things anyone else would actually want to happen."
Ganthet nods dejectedly. "I did not think that would work. It has been some time since I have felt hope for myself."
Alan frowns in concern. "Why's that?"
"Becoming a Guardian reduced my emotional range. We are all profoundly rational beings."
Alan considers the idea for a moment. "I don't know that I'd want to live like that."
"I can change, but that would involve leaving my current responsibilities and brotherhood, and even with our lost brother returned to us, I do not think that would be wise. Still, if you are willing to share your personal lantern's data, it would assist me in my own project."
Alan looks to me for advice.
"I don't see any harm in it. Guardian Ganthet's a good person."
"It is kind of you to say so."
"Alright." Alan calls his lantern out of subspace. "Sure. Fill your boots."
"Oh, ah, Ganthet?" He turns to me as he raises his right hand towards Alan's lantern. "Have any Green Lanterns been near Daxam recently?"
His eyes flicker green. "Do you mean 'inside the system?" I nod. "Not for several years. They have made their desire for isolation very clear."
"Huh." I nod. A dead end, then. Disappointing, but… It happens. Still, I know who I can talk to to get more information. "Okay. Thank you."
10:46 GMT
The one guy you're trying to avoid at a party…
Metron leans slightly forwards in his chair. "You're not supposed to exist." "Tell me your secrets."
"And you're not supposed to be blue, but you don't see me hassling you about it. Don't feel bad though: multiple time travellers have had no idea who I am either. I've actually sponsored an archiving project on my homeworld-" One run by Dubbilex. "-to try to ensure that as much information as possible survives our next disaster because clearly future historians have no idea what they're talking about. Can I interest you in some Sheeda body parts?"
He glances aside, perhaps contemplating the offer. The he returns his full attention to me. "No, I have some from their last Harvest. Though I suppose that I should thank you for increasing their rarity value." "Show me your nature."
"Anti-Life transmission pillars? We have quite a few."
"P-lease. Who do you think designed them?"
… Ah… "I was hoping it was Virman Vundabar, but I can't say that I'm surprised."
He actually looks mildly offended. "That small-minded sycophant? His mind is as monocular as that ridiculous eyepiece he wears."
"And… Why did you devise a way to spread the Anti-Life faster?"
"So that Darkseid would allow me to study it. He's usually exceedingly jealous of it, but the opportunity to spread its effect without needing to be personally present was too great a lure."
"More likely he hoped you'd fall under its thrall."
"Then he hopes in vain. But returning to your own anomalous nature, I would appreciate an answer." "ANSWER ME!"
"You haven't exactly sold me on your moral probity. But…" Ring, strip me.
Compliance.
From the other side of the 'party', Alan turns away from Ganthet to give me a puzzled look as my armour and outerwear vanish, but I wave him off.
Metron seems somewhat taken aback by the sight, whether that's because he's unusually prudish or because even he can't change mental directions that quickly.
"See these marks?"
"I'm familiar with most forms of magic."
"See how they're designed to throw off detection and gradually build up power?"
"Yes. But that shouldn't erase you from the minds of time travellers."
"Yeah, but I've been exposed to a lot of weird energies over the last couple of years, and it's designed to absorb all of them. And the orange light does that even more strongly." I have the ring restore my clothing. "Temporal energy, the Anti-Life itself, the Dream… I don't think anyone's done anything quite like this, so… Who knows what it could do?"
"An interesting puzzle. Would you object to-?"
"Yes. You designed the Anti-Life broadcasters, and hence cannot be trusted. Excuse me."
I turn away, feeling a little warm at his disgruntled expression. Hardly just recompense for what he did to Earth, but I'll take it for now. Highfather is talking to Appa Ali Apsa, and they seem to be getting on. Malvolio is talking rather stiffly to Chaselon while Priest is giving pointers to the recruits. Ogandu Onna Oslan is staring off the side of Supertown while Guy keeps an eye on him. I can feel the immense capacity for mental focus within him, but it's… Blurry. I think that's an indication that he doesn't have anything to focus on, exactly. Flying head vanished once the transformation was over, and gold armour is… Watching me, though now that I've moved away from Metron he appears to be a little more relaxed.
"Guardian. Alan."
"That guy hassling you?"
"Turns out that he designed the Anti-Life broadcasters."
"You-." He turns to glare at Metron, who appears to be silently contemplating matters. "What?"
"He's completely amoral. I'm surprised in the specific, not in the general." I clap my hands together. "Guardian Ganthet! I think the three of us are overdue for a talk."
"I agree. Follow me."
He rises into the air at speed, Alan and I following swiftly at his heels. We reach just to the edge of the atmosphere before Ganthet stops, creating a shield around us.
"There. We may now speak privately."
Alan looks mildly puzzled. "Okay? Paul told me you might be working on blue rings yourself."
"I am. I had thought that pairing Blue Lanterns with Green Lanterns might grant them an alternate viewpoint to guard against institutional groupthink. Green Lanterns have a proud history of service but I have noticed over the long millennia that they can sometimes be excessively bullish. Furthermore, the green light does not in itself guarantee that they will be morally good people. I cannot help but think that if we had been less blinkered we would have noticed the direction Thaal Sinestro was heading in early enough to intervene."
Alan shakes his head. "I don't think any of Earth's Lanterns are in any danger, except maybe Carol."
"She was like that when we got her. Also, thank you for not saying me."
"Don't mention it."
Though maybe you could have mentioned Batman. But… Conversation for another day.
"How did you persuade a Weaponer to make it for you?"
"Weaponers feel hope. Just not over things anyone else would actually want to happen."
Ganthet nods dejectedly. "I did not think that would work. It has been some time since I have felt hope for myself."
Alan frowns in concern. "Why's that?"
"Becoming a Guardian reduced my emotional range. We are all profoundly rational beings."
Alan considers the idea for a moment. "I don't know that I'd want to live like that."
"I can change, but that would involve leaving my current responsibilities and brotherhood, and even with our lost brother returned to us, I do not think that would be wise. Still, if you are willing to share your personal lantern's data, it would assist me in my own project."
Alan looks to me for advice.
"I don't see any harm in it. Guardian Ganthet's a good person."
"It is kind of you to say so."
"Alright." Alan calls his lantern out of subspace. "Sure. Fill your boots."
"Oh, ah, Ganthet?" He turns to me as he raises his right hand towards Alan's lantern. "Have any Green Lanterns been near Daxam recently?"
His eyes flicker green. "Do you mean 'inside the system?" I nod. "Not for several years. They have made their desire for isolation very clear."
"Huh." I nod. A dead end, then. Disappointing, but… It happens. Still, I know who I can talk to to get more information. "Okay. Thank you."
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