22nd October
07:41 GMT +8
"…applying myself to wider scale problems is simply a more efficient use of my abilities. Stealing a million fen results in the same amount of money being acquired as stealing ten thousand yuan, and is far harder for conventional authorities to detect."
Darna doesn't precisely seem
happy about my answer, but she doesn't press the issue. Traditionally, Marte natives prefer the direct and violent approach to heroing. It's clear that she doesn't believe that the month and a half I spent investigating tax fraud was an appropriate use of my abilities. Nabu on the other hand actually nods approvingly. Distort well ordered systems for your personal gain at your peril when a Lord of Order is around.
"I also have concerns about your stated desire to acquire examples of Khyber's technology, particularly when I consider that you were present when his..
research centres were breached."
"Lady Darna, learning how our enemies' weapons work-."
"I understand the
advantage. But you believe that such knowledge is valuable enough that you were willing to take significant risks in penetrating his facilities rather than destroying them at a distance?"
"While I could not know for certain in advance, I felt that that was a possibility."
"And you were not at all motivated by your desire to acquire Khyber's secrets for yourself?"
Of course I wanted them. Not that they did me a lot of good. I don't study alchemy and while I
could use the cybernetic stuff…
I'd rather not. On the other hand, plenty of other people across the world can pick over what we acquired and won't have to undertake the dangerous work of dissecting existing specimens or interrogating the few surviving members of Khyber's inner circle. Khyber's own life extension techniques and cyber chirurgeries will probably make their way into the mainstream, given time.
"In part, yes. Finding better uses for the technologies of the malevolent is an aspect of my work which I find particularly satisfying. But I still believe that it was the correct strategic decision, a belief that was supported by my superiors at the time."
"Did the sight of their inner workings not horrify you?"
"I would say 'disgusted' more than 'horrified'. Based on initial studies of the remains of those cybernetic organisms which we had already encountered, I already had a fairly good idea how they were made. Seeing it.. was… Deeply unpleasant. Particularly the.. rendering machines. But it was an evil I could understand."
She regards me for a moment, then leans back in her seat. "I have no further questions."
Nabu nods, then raises his hands. Golden ankhs shimmer-.
The universe seems to
skip for a moment. The room is more or less the same, but the faint air currents in the room have left the tapestries at slightly different points in their wafting. The splash of water doesn't
quite line up, and the Heavenly Guardians are sitting in
slightly different positions. Except Nabu. He's in exactly the same position. Some sort of.. time bending effect? I'm not really sure why they didn't just send me out of the r-.
"Orange Lantern." Nabu stands, waving his right hand in a glowing arc and summoning a small wooden chest into existence. "We have reached a decision regarding your future."
"My Lords, I am ready to serve."
I'm not sure I was supposed to respond-. No, it's Nabu. If I wasn't, he'd have said something. There's a faint golden glow as the lid of the chest opens-.
I genuflect, my head bowing as my right knee hits the ground. I was
not expecting that, though it
does explain why Souma is here. The scroll currently floating out of the chest is a Mandate of Heaven.
Sort of. The Mandate of Heaven is China's more capricious version of the Divine Right of Kings. 'Capricious' because rather than simply saying that the king rules because God says that he should, it's more of a franchise arrangement. Dynasties which are cast down are considered to have had the Mandate withdrawn, and as such the incoming dynasty is perfectly righteous in taking care of the merely
temporal matter of booting them out of the palace. If 'Heaven' permits it, then clearly it was meant to happen.
Ever since Jong Li put his adopted son on the throne of China, however, there's been a… Tradition of the reigning Emperor or Empress licensing certain individuals to act in his or her name, outside the bounds of normal government structures.
Extending the Mandate to people outside of the imperial dynasty. Jong Li didn't want future Emperors to rule at the convenience of people with super powers, and after the defeat of Yalun Gar he had a healthy appreciation of the damage super powered people could do. But at the same time, he wanted good people to have the power to cause change without needing to refer to Emperors who might be corrupt or incompetent.
Back in the old days, it was the Green Lantern and perhaps a couple of other individuals. Then a Persian archaeological expedition found Nabu's temple and.. things expanded. 'Heavenly Guardians' is the modern name given to the group of people who have all made the grade and become a full part of the Earth's leading superhero team.
And… Apparently… I've made that grade.
"This quorum of the Heavenly Guardians finds that your deeds and righteousness make you a worthy addition to our number. Kneel no more, and accept this honour."
And he isn't joking. In China at least this gives me authority equal to that of the Emperor; I don't even have to give
him more than a respectful nod. And
he has to nod back. How it works in other places…
Varies. Though I doubt that my friend Caliph Kassam al-Rashid would expect me to bow to
him.
I lift my head, hands outstretched to take the scroll representing my new authority into my hands. Nabu for his part puts it into my hands with his own, rather than levitating it there. The vellum feels softer than paper, and the pagoda seal is printed in the wax holding it shut. I
create a small blade construct and slice through it, standing as I unroll the scroll.
Oh. The text inside is written in Chinese -obviously- but they've also included an English translation. Not that they
need to, I wear a universal translator whenever I'm on active duty. And I doubt that anyone will actually ask to
see this; my membership will be
widely publicised. Still, it's a surprising-
A faint golden light flows from the open scroll and into me as the identification spell triggers.
-concession. I roll up the scroll and send it into subspace. "Thank you, honoured colleagues. I will strive to be worthy of this responsibility."
"Good." Nabu's eyes flare faintly. "That is the necessary attitude to possess."
"Is there.. an area of the world which presently needs my particular attention?"
"No. Your formal audience with the Emperor will be tomorrow. Until then, I suggest that you spend your time updating yourself with ISA intelligence reports."
I nod. "Sound advice." And it
is just advice. While Nabu has
seniority he can't actually give me
orders any longer. "I will also read up on the customs relating to the audience. I.. wasn't expecting this."
Nabu nods, then walks past me towards the exit. Darna follows him a moment later, leaving me with my fellow Lanterns.
"Lantern Fang. I.. am a little surprised that you consider me to be ready for this."
He nods. "I would have preferred to wait a year or two. But your conduct has been good, and having your rank on Earth be so at odds with your rank in the Orange Lantern Corps would be foolish. I would not have given my approval if you were unworthy."
I close my eyes as I nod back. "Thank you. I will prove you right."
He looks me over, then glances back at our two colleagues who are clearly waiting for-. He gets the message, and heads for the door at a march.
I watch him go as Jade and Souma come down off the dais to stand next to me. But I wait until the door is firmly shut before turning to them.
Jade is grinning, while Souma's smile is far more restrained but just as genuine. My eyes are wide as I shake my head in visible disbelief. Then I lunge forward and wrap my arms around the old man's chest.
"Hah!" He hugs back for a moment before pushing me away. "Off, you excessively emotional barbarian!"
I comply, grinning. "Thank you, oh ancient and venerable master."
He shakes his head. "You have earned this, and I am
proud that you are my acolyte."
"Thank you." I turn to Jade. This.. might make things a little easier. "Jade."
"What, I don't get a hug?" She puts her right hand on her right hip. "After all the time I put into training you?"
"Thank you, oh sagacious and cunning tutor who totally knew that construct coilguns were a thing before I shot her with one."
"I totally
did." I lean down slightly as I wrap my arms around her shoulders. She hugs back without any of Souma's reservation. "So are you
really-" She pulls back slightly, hands on my arms. "-going to spend the day reading intelligence reports? Right after getting mandated?"
"Not.. all day. I.. was hoping that you'd join Jade and I for dinner this evening."
"Oh?" She tilts her head back slightly, glancing momentarily at Souma. "Do I get to bring a date too?"
"I.. spoke to Jade this morning, and… Ah."
Do it. "We're the dates." She raises her eyebrows. "Assuming that you're interested."
"Oh
h." She looks me over a little more closely, a saucy smile on her lips. "I..
might be. If you've got time for a prac-." She blinks. "
Both of you?"
"I said I was only interested in a love triangle if the triangle was equilateral."
"I'll try most things
once." She
floats up to bring her head level with mine. "But maybe we could practise with a
line first?"
Souma blinks slightly as Jade and I lean towards one another.. "Ah. How…
Modern."
You're assuming that Christians have some sort of advantage against demons. Thety might have an advantage against ones from the Christian Hell, but with the Abrahamic faiths much less widespread, the assaociated hell will be much less too (not as many souls going there). Meanwhile the various Eastern hells ("The Chinese have a lot of hells, Jack."
