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

[Mr Zoat]

20th August 2013
14:43 GMT -7

I look up as the heavy transportation shuttles of the Knights of Passage breach the cloud layer. They made pretty good time, all things considered. Living in the time of the most rapid technological development which Earth has ever undergone has rather given me an unrepresentative view of how technological progress usually works; fact is, unless you're coluan or human, change is slow and incremental. Those shuttles probably aren't all that different to the ones they used when the war was ongoing.

I smile up at them, and wave in a friendly way. I've also replaced my armour with something a little less obviously Apokoliptian. As far as I remember, Other Grayven never had anything to do with the Knights, but they'll definitely remember Apokolips. It would be difficult to cover up what I am -if they thought to look- but I'm reasonably confident that I can talk my way out of it if they actually listen to me.

Hiding isn't really an option if we're going to settle this planet, and this is a war grave. I have the utmost respect for anyone prepared to fight the most powerful New God my species has ever produced.

Perhaps a commemorative park..? My education never covered that aspect of their culture. Sinestro?

Our Source Wall was vastly different to yours, and the Knights do not exist. I have no useful data.

There are a series of quiet hisses as the shuttle's marines deploy using short-ranged teleporters. They're not pointing their weapons at me, though ring-translation of their expressions makes it clear that they're distinctly unhappy.

Their… Ah… Field Unifier steps forwards. "Who are you, stranger?"

"My name is Grayven. I'm assessing this world on behalf of a species looking for somewhere to colonise."

"Then I would recommend looking for somewhere else." He makes a negative gesture with his head fronds. "This world is a place of ill-omen. Strange and inexplicable events transpire here."

I nod. "I noticed. Does someone own it?"

"Some pilgrims like to come here to contemplate their own moral failures."

"Does it help?"

"The survivors usually think so. I don't recognise your species."

"Ah, well, no. You wouldn't. We don't do pilgrimages. If we want to visit the Source Wall, our transportation technology lets us skip the intervening distance."

"What is the name of your species? Your homeworld?"

"We actually claim two homeworlds. New Genesis is the nicer-."

Their body language switches to alert immediately, and every gun from the squad is levelled at me. A few seconds later the point defences of the shuttle follow suit.

"Apokoliptian."

"Look." I raise my hands. "I'm a defector. I left Apokolips centuries ago, because it's a horrible place. I have the greatest respect for your organisation-."

"Did you know that the tomb was here?"

"No. Didn't even know what wrecked the ecosystem. I mean, once I saw it I recognised what it was, and I disarmed Yuga Khan's traps-"

The Field Unifier lowers his weapons. I don't think it's a deliberate gesture, it looks like he's just so relieved that he doesn't think I'm a threat any longer.

"-and it turned out that one of your people was still alive in there. I performed some first aid, but I didn't want to move him in case-."

"Medic!"

I smile politely as the squad's medic hurried over. Obviously, moving the man wouldn't actually be a problem, but it sounds good and makes it clear that I'm not holding him hostage. "Just a moment. Persuader, could you open a portal, please?"

A slash in the air appears next to us, and I point to it.

"Just through there. My assistants will direct you."

The Field Unifier gestures to a couple of marines, and they go through first. A moment passes and one comes back to beckon the medic.

I give it a few moments after they pass through before returning my full attention to the Field Unifier. "So… Is there a problem with us colonising this planet? I realise that Yuga Khan made a point-."

He raises his right hand and makes a warding gesture. "Do not mention the Hell King's name to us."

"Okay. Ah. I realise that he did something here, and dumped a load of your ships on the surface to get buried… I understand if you have an objection."

"No. We would have restored this world ourselves as we have all of the others he devastated. Did you encounter any strange… Things?"

"Yes, but don't worry. That was all… His fault, and it shouldn't happen any more. Ah. But if you're worried, I can ask Highfather Izaya to check my work? Honestly, given who is responsible I'd probably ask him to anyway…"

"I thank you. And I do not think that it will be a problem. A decision will be made well above my level, and I am sure that we will recover the remains of our dead, but… There are none amongst the living with a conflicting claim to it."

Ah. Not surprising, but… Sombering.

"Well, I've got more work to do with soil samples and surveying. My people won't build anything permanent until I hear back from your organisation."

"Why do you want this world?"

"Whatever You Know Who did, it left the planet thaumically active. The species I'm working with use magic. Thaumically active worlds are hard to come by. We couldn't turn our noses up at this, even if it's a bit of a fixer upper."

"I… See. Will there be other Apokoliptians living here?"

"Ah, well, my brother and his wife are also defectors. They might want to visit, but they're happy on the planet they're currently living on."

"You don't intend to make it a refuge."

"Oh, sorry. No. For humans, maybe, depending on how things go, but I'm sorry to say that most Apokoliptians have… Adapted, to Darkseid. Himon does his best, but the vast majority regard that lamentable state of affairs as normal."

"It's a little strange to be talking to someone who lived there. For most of us, it's just-."

The marines leave the cut, the Spectre's former host between them on a stretcher. The medic follows shortly behind them, carrying the infuser system. "He should be physically fine, sir. But I'd like to evacuate-."

The Unifier makes a gesture of agreement. "Go."

The three of them hurry onto the shuttle, which lifts off at once and heads back towards the flotilla in orbit.

"What of the others?"

I raise my eyebrows. "Others?"

"Our records say that he took hundreds of prisoners."

"Ah. Well, I haven't checked the whole place, but the handful in the focal room were reduced to skeletons. I don't know what he did to them before, but I doubt that it was pleasant."

"Is it-? I would like to pray there, if that is possible. Their faith has always been an inspiration to me."

"Ah, sure. Just don't touch anything other than the floor. I don't think it's dangerous, but it's better to be certain."

He makes a gesture of compliance, and walks towards the portal.

Right, good impression made with the neighbours, planet made safe. Just have to have a quick chat with Izaya, and then I can go and give Hinon a piece of my FUCKING mind.

 

[Mr Zoat]

10th December 2022
16:39 GMT

We all look down upon Hell.

"Hm." Taggart picks up a stone and tosses it, trying to keep his eyes on it as it plummets into the hellscape below. "'s pretty big. Is that a bad sign?"

Endymion regards him curiously. "If they can't send demons to Earth then I doubt that it matters how big their army is."

"No, I mean… If that's where the souls of bad people go, then… Does it get bigger the more bad people there are?"

Endymion turns back to the hellscape, thinking it over. "Oh."

"If it makes you feel better, I'm not convinced that they're actually demons."

Taggart frowns, looking mildly offended. "Then what the fuck were they?"

"Some sort of living creature that naturally used Hell magic."

"What's the difference?"

I half-turn, pointing to the giant cybercorpse with the skull-shaped hole through its chest. "See how it's left a physical body, and bled actual blood?"

"And… What, proper demons don't do that?"

"Bingo. If they possess someone, it turns back into normal blood once they get banished. If they manifest, it… Basically evaporates. You can keep it corporeal with the right equipment or magic, but otherwise it decays back into raw magic without something anchoring it in place."

"We're in Hell. Where are they gunna go?"

"Even in Hell, they should decay into raw energy if they get smashed up enough. And… That thing's got internal organs."

Taggart nods thoughtfully. "Something that huge has got huge guts. I'd hate t' be the guy who's gotta unclog its toilet."

I shake my head. "I've been monitoring the surface of Hell. Plenty more demons of the types we've seen… And there's some sort of miniature 'New One', and a grey flying ball like the red flying balls, but I haven't seen any kind of animal or living plant."

"So..?"

"So I'm not sure they eat. I mean, it was walking around naked. Did you see an anus or urethra?"

"Is this the kinda thing officers talk about?"

"Thinking of going mustang?"

"I was just thinking… Once you all go back to super-Earth, I'm gunna be the leading expert on demons. Forget a Court Martial; I could turn that into an all expenses paid trip to Quantico."

"Is there a military prison in Quantico?"

"No, it's the Marine Corps O.C.S.."

"Right, it's just… Who in the government was backing the space program and the teleporter research, and how much are they going to want to cover this up?"

"Oh. Huh." He thinks for a moment. "Can we take the big guy back with us?"

"Don't see any reason why not. Why?"

"'cause… Yeah, I get what you mean, they could just black bag me. But I think it'd be the temporary kinda black bag, where I get a secure debrief away from the press. And…" He looks around. "Everyone responsible's gotta be dead by now. And the people in charge have gotta be smart enough to realise that this problem ain't goin' away."

"You're putting a lot of faith in the rationality of senior spooks and government officials, there."

He smiles. "That's why you're gunna drop me and the big guy off in Time Square."

"I see. Yes, that could work. Still a risk, though."

"What's your plan?"

I manifest an orange power ring, and hold it up.

He shakes his head. "Aw, Hell no."

"No?"

"That might be a thing you can do on Super Earth, but 'round here, if I had something like that, I'd go to sleep one day and wake up dead, and the ring would spent the rest of time in a DARPA lab being studied by 'top men'. My plan works 'cause I don't have anything except experience, but if I got something they actually want, it wouldn't work."

"You may have a point."

The air next to us glows, and then Sandro appears.

Taggart nods. "Hey man. You alright?"

"It was… Restful. But I am eager to return to my studies."

"Do you want us to drop you off somewhere? Not.. Ashan, presumably, but, somewhere else? Endymion could probably use a new magic adviser."

"Thank you, but I think that I should like to remain here."

Taggart blinks. "Ah…"

"On this moon, floating over Hell. I wish to study how it connects with other realms. Nothing about those creatures suggested great magical ability, and yet they were able to maintain portals to another plane of existence. I had assumed that was easier away from Ashan, but that easy? I think there's something about this place that makes it easier."

I nod. "Alright then." I hold out my right hand while Taggart fishes around in his combat webbing. "Since we probably won't see each other again."

Sandro takes it, shaking it bonily. "Travelling with you has been a fascinating experience."

"Here." Taggart passes him a radio. "Just in case I ever come back here and need to get in touch."

"A sensible measure. It wouldn't do for your colleagues to mistake me for one of the possessed."

I look up at the sound of flapping, and Mazikeen and Angelica come in to land, my alter ego floating along with them.

"Learn anything?"

Angelica nods. "That I sorely underestimated Zor, and shall not do so again. The magic these creatures use is crude but powerful, and requires the strongest of their number to sustain it for ritualistic reasons."

Mazikeen shrugs. "We can take us home, but we're no closer to finding out why we went where we went. And frankly, I don't care enough to want to delay our return."

"And, ah…" I point to the skull which is now flying around Taggart. "Him?"

Mazikeen shakes her head. "We can't turn him back. I'm not sure how much of him was still there when you did… What you did. I suspect that it was more an instinct than an intelligent decision. Perhaps he will recover and perhaps he won't."

I nod sadly. "Alright. I suppose that's the best we can do. Everyone ready?"

Everyone nods, and I press the detonator, and a thousand blinding lights erupt across the surface of Hell.

 

[Mr Zoat]

20th August 2013
17:02 GMT -7

Hinon nods to herself. "Oh, that's where he went."

Ayeadjujguh-!

"'Oh, that's where he-'." I make an 'exploding head' gesticulation with both arms. "Hinon, it was the Spectre!"

She looks at me like I'm being a little dense. "Yes, you did explain that at some length. I said that I didn't have much information on the planet, and that was why I hesitated to recommend it."

"My grandfather built a monument to his victory out of destroyed ships and their surviving crews!"

"Grayven, do you have any concept of how many places Yuga Khan built things like that?"

That brings me up short. It's not like Father liked talking about Grandfather, and most of the senior New Gods of his generation weren't really involved with him prior to his enwallment. I… Actually don't know how common it was, either from my own memories or Other Grayven's.

"Nno? How many?"

This time she actually sighs. "Grayven, I was in a coma for millions of years. I didn't even know that your grandfather existed until recently."

I frown. "I know… Scale can be an issue, but wasn't Apokolips in general worth a briefing? Given our relationship and the Anti-Life?"

"Those two things are the only reason why I know at all. Grayven, do you understand how large a galaxy is? And how long a million years is?"

"Yuga Khan was the most powerful being in the material universe."

"Was. I didn't look into him in any detail because as we both know, once a menace to civilisation ends up upon the Source Wall, they're no longer an active element in galactic civilisation, no matter how powerful they were before."

"The recording said otherwise."

"Yes, and while that was an uncharacteristically modest statement on the part of Yuga Khan, I'm not prepared to accept it as literal truth." But at least she's thinking about it. "Do you know of any other beings like the Spectre?"

"Jesus Christ."

She gives me an odd look, then nods. "Ah, you're being literal."

"Not that I expect you to have good records on him-"

"Good, because I don't."

"-but there aren't many things with that sort of link to the Source that aren't New Gods, and if Grandfather could use a New God then there'd be hundreds of escape routes." I smile faintly. "And Father would have spent more time working out how to disarm them."

"Do you intend to tell him?"

"Go to Apokolips voluntarily? Heck no."

"It may be worth doing. If I recall the briefing correctly, his own father is the only thing that Darkseid fears. He may actually feel grateful."

"Yes. Getting another piece of the Anti-Life Equation injected into my soul is exactly what I need."

"Yes? You have friends, now. If I understood your explanation of Equestrian magic correctly, that's all you need."

"All I need if I want Father to start actively investigating something that apparently deletes the Anti-Life at will. Once he could accept. More than that and he's going to start trying to work out how to Anti-Life all of Wilson. Or just destroy it with a fleet."

"Hm. Alright. So if we can return to the purpose of this exercise, will you be using the planet?"

"Probably. The Knights of Passage are passing messages around their command, but initial signs are positive."

"What about the rest of the device?"

"Yeah, I'm calling Izaya in on that one. If he wants someone else to look at it, that's his-." No. Wait. "I'm calling Scott in on that one, given that escapology is his thing. And if he can't help, I'll-" I smile. "-get in touch with Orion and see what he thinks."

"I doubt that will improve your relationship with your brother, but I suppose that's your problem."

"Winding each other up is a very brotherly thing to do."

"Doesn't he want to kill you?"

"It's more of a ground state of being than a desire. Do you want to look at Yuga Khan's setup?"

"What part of me knowing nothing about Yuga Khan makes you think that I want to look at his defanged escape mechanism?"

"Because you've identified a hole in your knowledge and naturally want to correct the failure of your education?"

"Grayven, I'm overseeing the Orange Lantern Corps' war with the Reach. My powers are immense, but my throughput is limited. And if there's nothing else, I'd like to get back to my actual job."

"Yep, we're done. See you next time one of us needs something from the other. Mother Box."

BOOM!

"Must you?"

I smirk as I step through the boom tube, activating my aero-discs as I emerge in space near to the Knights of Passage base nearest… My new planet that needs a new name. Acquire census data and scan for discrepancies.

None found.

Hm.

BOOM!

The krendek homeworld. They'll pick me up in a minute or two, but that shouldn't matter. Acquire census data and scan for discrepancies.

Subject found.

Down we go, then.

The Spectre's new mortal krendek body glowers at me. "You."

"You have no grounds for complaint. I disarmed Yuga Khan's trap, saved your host and saved you, actually. And I'm not even going to kill you here, which is going to create extra work and risk for me and grant me absolutely no benefits. But hey, you got your own body and a way back into the Silver City."

"I will rejoin the Knights of Passage. I will fight evil and earn my place. Apokolips will burn."

"That's redundant. Apokolips has fire pits; it's always on fire. But- and I don't expect you to listen, but I thought that I'd try- do you think maybe it might be worth using this opportunity to learn the more peaceful virtues? You could. You don't have divinely appointed responsibilities any longer. And they didn't let you back in, no matter how many evildoers you horribly tortured to death."

He pulls his green rag cloak more tightly around him-. I fabricate some civilian clothes and deposit them next to him.

"Your words are the medium by which the poison in your soul escapes into the universe."

"Well, I tried. Mother Box, let's go home."

"Ping."