Science
If you're reading this, omae wa mo shindeiru.
- Location
- Killeen, TX
The OTP endures.
Heh, giggity
No one in that planet will forget the way Paul and the Ophidian came.
Finally exited to ride your Waifu?
With This Ring (Young Justice SI) (Thread Twelve)
- Thread starter Mr Zoat
- Start date
- Status
Control (part 9)
- Location
- Hampden Park
17th July
03:14 GMT
The Ophidian slows, turning aside to fly into the space around the Controllers' building. As my saddle passes the point closest to the main entrance I unclamp myself and leap free, descending in a controlled manner towards the bottom of the steps leading up to it. The Controller's face is inscrutable, motionless but for the oscillation of the light coming from the dot on his forehead. I land lightly, keeping my eyes on the Controller as I begin walking up the steps.
What other traffic is in the area has come to a halt or is frantically pulling back in order to get out of the Ophidian's way. Having already completed a circuit of the building her head pulls upwards slightly for another circuit. Still no reaction from the Controller and no sign of any others. This isn't a sensible way to behave. If they think I'm a threat there should be more of them than this. If they've accepted my version of events they should have been a good deal friendlier.
On the other hand, these are the Guardians' cousins.
I reach the broad plaza before the entrance, the Controller about twelve metres away from me. Three steps later I stop, holding his gaze. Then I look upwards and slowly turn around, taking in our environment. The people of various species pressed to the overlooking windows or staring down from their air cars. Mostly -ugh- Clickers, but dozens of other species as well. Including a small group of three bald mauve-skinned humanoids with scalp tattoos. Unaligned Maltusians. Interesting.
I complete my circuit and return my gaze to the Controller. Then I bow my head and genuflect.
"Orange Lantern Two Eight One Four reporting for duty, sir."
The sense of yellow I'd been getting from our audience noticeably dips. Ring-based facial analysis -of the humanoids anyway- suggests curiosity and wonder. Perhaps they think the Controllers were expecting me? At least I don't appear to be seeking a fight.
…
How long is he going to-?
"Come."
There's a faint rustle from his robes as he turns, floating just above the ground. That's it? 'Come'? Well. Alright then. I come to my feet and raise my lantern high with my left hand.
"Ophidian. Return."
"Yes, my Agent."
She twists in the air, shrinking as she comes closer. The Controller slows in his passage, turning his head slightly to catch a glimpse of the Embodiment of Avarice flying back into my personal lantern.
No, he's not looking at the lantern. The lack of pupils makes it hard to tell-.
He looks away again.
My lantern flickers as the Ophidian completes her entry, some of the air cars around us resuming their journeys. Most seem content to watch me follow my nominal superior inside the Controllers' building. Through the entrance and… From this side there isn't a door. Very nice.
"I was hoping for a little more than a 'come'. You did get the ship I-."
"It was the property of the Guardians of the Universe. I assume that the wooden boxes were part of your species' funerary traditions."
"Yes. I didn't know anything-" He continues moving, floating up a slight of stairs towards a doorway on the first floor. "-about yours. It didn't seem inappropriate."
"We are above casual offence. Only a deliberate insult would be received as such."
"You got the Burning Martian?"
He stops. "A fascinating specimen."
"Would you like to add anything to that?"
"We had already parted ways with our Guardian brothers when those events occurred. Your missive implied that you were interested in undoing the damage to their planet. This may be possible."
"Good, because I was-" He starts moving away again. "-hoping to-" I try flying directly after him. And I can't, I just stop when I get a certain distance from the floor. Inwardly rolling my eyes I fly towards the stairs and try catching up. "-establish a working relationship. I'd like your advice on recovering the Orange Central Power Battery from-" He moves through a doorway and turns a corner. "-Larfleeze and will you please stop and listen?"
"You are not reporting to me."
"No, but I'm trying to? Did you not-" I turn the corner and he's a little way ahead. "-read the rest of my message? I want to establish a Lantern Corps to fight the Reach."
"That is not how we conduct our affairs. You are not my direct concern. You are the concern of one of my sisters. Approaching you without her would have been inappropriate."
"Okay, so, why didn't she come and talk to me?"
"Physical incapacity."
I'm right behind him as he turns through another doorway, leading us to… Some sort of high technology laboratory. I don't have any record of what most of this stuff does but the ring's picking up about seven different sorts of exotic energy-.
That I do know. That's a bleed portal generator. Those are pretty darn uncommon. Usually the aim is to get through the Bleed, not get into it directly.
Further in I see a bier… No, a medical station of some kind. Another Controller lies upon it, motionless. She's also wearing blue and red, not robes but simple trousers and pullover. Thin white hair is bound in a tight bun. There are screens around the bier, and I walk past the first Controller to get a better look.
"Can you read it?"
I nod. "Hinon Hee Hannanan. Controller. Researcher. Forger of.. rings..." Oh. My eyes widening, I hold up my left hand slightly. "She made this ring."
"Yes. Doing so without the Orange Central Power Battery undid her connection to the orange light. She has remained in this state ever since."
"How long-?"
"Long enough. If we are to work together, we will do so through her. She forged the ring you now wear as a sign of her hope in the future. She believed that a bearer would appear, and so you have. Restore her."
"And if I can't?"
"Then you are not worth our time."
Okay… I walk over to stand right next to her. If she's lost her connection to the orange light, clearly what she needs is a replacement. I look down at the ring she made for.. someone. Maybe, but I'm really rather attached to it.
"Original ring? Stewart ring? Separate file and charge reserve."
"Compliance." / "Task complete."
"Stewart ring, blank database. Original ring, copy all files you had before I woke up in space onto the Stewart ring."
"Task complete." / "Compliance."
I put my lantern down on the floor and pull the Stewart ring from my right ring finger. Fingers crossed. Gently as I can I take hold of her left hand and lift it from the bier, then slide the Stewart ring onto her middle finger before laying it back down.
A wave of orange light passes through her, her eyes slowly opening to take in my face.
She blinks, then tries focusing again.
Then she sees me.
Her face remains neutral as she considers me for a moment.
"You shall have to do."
03:14 GMT
The Ophidian slows, turning aside to fly into the space around the Controllers' building. As my saddle passes the point closest to the main entrance I unclamp myself and leap free, descending in a controlled manner towards the bottom of the steps leading up to it. The Controller's face is inscrutable, motionless but for the oscillation of the light coming from the dot on his forehead. I land lightly, keeping my eyes on the Controller as I begin walking up the steps.
What other traffic is in the area has come to a halt or is frantically pulling back in order to get out of the Ophidian's way. Having already completed a circuit of the building her head pulls upwards slightly for another circuit. Still no reaction from the Controller and no sign of any others. This isn't a sensible way to behave. If they think I'm a threat there should be more of them than this. If they've accepted my version of events they should have been a good deal friendlier.
On the other hand, these are the Guardians' cousins.
I reach the broad plaza before the entrance, the Controller about twelve metres away from me. Three steps later I stop, holding his gaze. Then I look upwards and slowly turn around, taking in our environment. The people of various species pressed to the overlooking windows or staring down from their air cars. Mostly -ugh- Clickers, but dozens of other species as well. Including a small group of three bald mauve-skinned humanoids with scalp tattoos. Unaligned Maltusians. Interesting.
I complete my circuit and return my gaze to the Controller. Then I bow my head and genuflect.
"Orange Lantern Two Eight One Four reporting for duty, sir."
The sense of yellow I'd been getting from our audience noticeably dips. Ring-based facial analysis -of the humanoids anyway- suggests curiosity and wonder. Perhaps they think the Controllers were expecting me? At least I don't appear to be seeking a fight.
…
How long is he going to-?
"Come."
There's a faint rustle from his robes as he turns, floating just above the ground. That's it? 'Come'? Well. Alright then. I come to my feet and raise my lantern high with my left hand.
"Ophidian. Return."
"Yes, my Agent."
She twists in the air, shrinking as she comes closer. The Controller slows in his passage, turning his head slightly to catch a glimpse of the Embodiment of Avarice flying back into my personal lantern.
No, he's not looking at the lantern. The lack of pupils makes it hard to tell-.
He looks away again.
My lantern flickers as the Ophidian completes her entry, some of the air cars around us resuming their journeys. Most seem content to watch me follow my nominal superior inside the Controllers' building. Through the entrance and… From this side there isn't a door. Very nice.
"I was hoping for a little more than a 'come'. You did get the ship I-."
"It was the property of the Guardians of the Universe. I assume that the wooden boxes were part of your species' funerary traditions."
"Yes. I didn't know anything-" He continues moving, floating up a slight of stairs towards a doorway on the first floor. "-about yours. It didn't seem inappropriate."
"We are above casual offence. Only a deliberate insult would be received as such."
"You got the Burning Martian?"
He stops. "A fascinating specimen."
"Would you like to add anything to that?"
"We had already parted ways with our Guardian brothers when those events occurred. Your missive implied that you were interested in undoing the damage to their planet. This may be possible."
"Good, because I was-" He starts moving away again. "-hoping to-" I try flying directly after him. And I can't, I just stop when I get a certain distance from the floor. Inwardly rolling my eyes I fly towards the stairs and try catching up. "-establish a working relationship. I'd like your advice on recovering the Orange Central Power Battery from-" He moves through a doorway and turns a corner. "-Larfleeze and will you please stop and listen?"
"You are not reporting to me."
"No, but I'm trying to? Did you not-" I turn the corner and he's a little way ahead. "-read the rest of my message? I want to establish a Lantern Corps to fight the Reach."
"That is not how we conduct our affairs. You are not my direct concern. You are the concern of one of my sisters. Approaching you without her would have been inappropriate."
"Okay, so, why didn't she come and talk to me?"
"Physical incapacity."
I'm right behind him as he turns through another doorway, leading us to… Some sort of high technology laboratory. I don't have any record of what most of this stuff does but the ring's picking up about seven different sorts of exotic energy-.
That I do know. That's a bleed portal generator. Those are pretty darn uncommon. Usually the aim is to get through the Bleed, not get into it directly.
Further in I see a bier… No, a medical station of some kind. Another Controller lies upon it, motionless. She's also wearing blue and red, not robes but simple trousers and pullover. Thin white hair is bound in a tight bun. There are screens around the bier, and I walk past the first Controller to get a better look.
"Can you read it?"
I nod. "Hinon Hee Hannanan. Controller. Researcher. Forger of.. rings..." Oh. My eyes widening, I hold up my left hand slightly. "She made this ring."
"Yes. Doing so without the Orange Central Power Battery undid her connection to the orange light. She has remained in this state ever since."
"How long-?"
"Long enough. If we are to work together, we will do so through her. She forged the ring you now wear as a sign of her hope in the future. She believed that a bearer would appear, and so you have. Restore her."
"And if I can't?"
"Then you are not worth our time."
Okay… I walk over to stand right next to her. If she's lost her connection to the orange light, clearly what she needs is a replacement. I look down at the ring she made for.. someone. Maybe, but I'm really rather attached to it.
"Original ring? Stewart ring? Separate file and charge reserve."
"Compliance." / "Task complete."
"Stewart ring, blank database. Original ring, copy all files you had before I woke up in space onto the Stewart ring."
"Task complete." / "Compliance."
I put my lantern down on the floor and pull the Stewart ring from my right ring finger. Fingers crossed. Gently as I can I take hold of her left hand and lift it from the bier, then slide the Stewart ring onto her middle finger before laying it back down.
A wave of orange light passes through her, her eyes slowly opening to take in my face.
She blinks, then tries focusing again.
Then she sees me.
Her face remains neutral as she considers me for a moment.
"You shall have to do."
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shepsquared
Erratic Aussie
- Location
- Melbourne, Australia
Wow. That explains a bit
spencer1519
(Verified Heretic)
- Location
- Oregon, USA
Beautiful.
And the two really are similar. Paul didn't have the strongest Avarice. And Kyle didn't have the strongest Will. Both had to be creative to make up for it. And both became damn good Lanterns as a result.
And the two really are similar. Paul didn't have the strongest Avarice. And Kyle didn't have the strongest Will. Both had to be creative to make up for it. And both became damn good Lanterns as a result.
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Massgamer
Advance toward the Future
- Location
- The Future
Certainly the cousins of the Guardians.
Also finally get the answer of where the heck Paul's ring came from.
Emerald Oracle
Chaos, yet harmony. Death, yet the Force
- Location
- The Else
Y'know, I'm hoping the Ganthet reference is more than just a comparison, and I think it might just be, because this shows a degree of Faith that is beyond most Controllers.
Gazing Eye
Compound, Lidless, Always Watching.
Well they are called the controllers so I suppose the only reaction he should of expected was "you want to work for the controllers? bitch you already do!" 
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Huh. With a warm, smiling face like hers, I expected a more cheerful greeting!
Empiricist2
Let's play doctor!
- Location
- Baton Rouge
I wonder if they will have questions about how he knows some of the stuff he does. For starters, Larfleeze's name. I doubt they know it, and he can't just point to that database he won't share because he just shared it.
Eh, once Larfleeze is dealt with he'll have more rings than he can use. He's really only giving up dual wielding for a few days.
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Massgamer
Advance toward the Future
- Location
- The Future
Did the Controller at any point even say "interesting."
Why blank the ring?
- Location
- Philippines
Maybe it's like giving away an old laptop of yours. Would you give it to someone still filled with your own files and prefernces or make it as close to factory settings before gifting it?
tgojeff
(Verified Pinwheel)
- Location
- Los Angeles
The Controllers don't really have a right to Guardian databanks. Paul set the Stewart ring to what the first ring had at the star of the story.
- Location
- Alabama
Dual wielding effectively doubled his amount of charge, but that was pretty much it. I actually can only remember one time where it was actually relevant, of the top of my head, for him to need more than 100% charge, and that was to subspace the sword of the fallen.
- Location
- Hampden Park
Yes, in an earlier draft. Thank you, corrected.
To reduce the number of variables.
Frustratedbuffal
"I shaved my balls for this?!?"
Let's see how much 'you' is left after countless eons of life.
rkyeun
Cabbitus Maximus
- Location
- ◕ ‿‿ ◕
Because we're trying to undo a very particular operation where someone cut their own source of Orange to make a ring from, and when we give it back we'd like to try to give back exactly that which was taken so it fits in the hole it came from as neatly as possible.
- Location
- Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Earth
- Pronouns
- She/They
Ganthet and Sayd of the Guardians are both capable of actually being ssocial in addition to being decent people, and I distantly recall the Guardian who went on the wierd cross America road trip thing with Hal Jordan and Oliver Queen being pretty cool, in a detached, Gandalf sort of way.
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- Location
- Earth, 3rd rock from the Sun
Friends don't give friends Bobble-Head Malware.
- Location
- England
The Guardians are "guarded", emotionally speaking.
The Controllers are for the most part likely controlling of their emotions, channeling and directing their impulses in an almost infinitesimal constructive manner.
Probably why Paul can't get a read on them.
- Status