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

There's the red lantern version in the Teen Titans universe who went on murder dates with... Whoever it was he was dating. Blackfire, maybe? It's been a while.
Yes. Though they ended up married, and he calls her Komand'r.
And the Warhammer Fantasy one who was dating someone high up in one of the darker factions.
The dark elf sorceress was thoroughly resocced, and Queen Khalida's faction aren't really all that bad.
 
How is the invincible Paul powering his ring again?

Did he make a "compatible power source" scan and the ring directed him to the enhancements that were used to create Eve and her siblings? Does he have the same matter manipulation as Eve, but he is using his ring AI to more easily control them?
 
I don't think any of the others are dating genocidal psychopaths.
Well there is the one in a relationship with the goddess Hel. And the one having kids with a goa'uld queen. And the one that goes on murder dates.

The one from Nazi Earth is the closest that comes to mind.
Oddly I think he is one of the very few that didn't acclimatise to their new culture. Even after they stopped torturing him he seems to have a position of 'outsider looking in' rather than integrating.
 
Slightly more blood coming out now, because the needles haven't come out and they're still pretty sharp. Not sure why the sword didn't just go through him. Perhaps their toughness is more to do with some sort of energy field? Or..? Super-elasticity of some sort?
Given what I've seen and what I know about their smart atoms, I'd say compatibly to Sayians and Kryptonians they're strong by being dense motherfuckers. Hard to damage, resilient to on going damage, and unlike Sayians that get stronger with battle damage Virtrumites low key adapt to whatever tries to kill them. So long as they survive they seem to gain a small amount of resistance as their smart atoms adapt to not being damaged.
Still put them 3rd strongest though.
Now how did you get x-ionisation in this section of the multiverse?
 
Well there is the one in a relationship with the goddess Hel. And the one having kids with a goa'uld queen.
And her host.
And the one that goes on murder dates.
No, after they joined the Justice League they stopped killing people so that it would be a challenge again.

Of course, it's amazing what you can live through.
Now how did you get x-ionisation in this section of the multiverse?
Traded samples of superhuman tissue to Jevek Jos Jar.
 
Did Mr. Freeze make it through the anti-life? What about his wife?
 
Goo-Goo G'joob (part 7) New
1st July 2013
11:46 GMT -5

"So..?"

"E-h…" Beryl makes a sound a little like someone's choking her while she yawns. "This isn't really my thing."

"Um. When you say that, do you mean that you've got something better to do, or-."

"No! No. I mean, yes, but no."

"You're.. too young for Vicar of Dibley, aren't you?"

She snorts. "No no.. no.. no no…"

"Yes." / "Yes."

We both chuckle quietly. Ah, I've missed being able to make pop culture references and have the people around me understand what I'm talking about. I mean, I only bat one in three with British people, but that's more than I get here. Here, I got the whole team staring at me when I said that I had no idea who Uncle Oswald is.

"My Mum liked it, and she got me watching it when they did repeats."

"And now I feel even older. Thanks, Squire. Thanks a lot."

"Maybe my Mum's just really young. You've never-. Ah."

"Team mates and their families, Squire."

"Right. Thank you. I know you'd do a better job than the N.H.S., I just hadn't put it together."

"Long day?"

"Long five months. I've been.. organising things. Finding bottlenecks in supply chains, working out the most efficient ways to get things up and running."

"Are you working with Batman and Mister Atom?"

"No. Ugh, it's-. I just don't know enough to work at their level. And-. Do you know Asimov?"

"About half my bed time stories growing up were Asimov."

"Hari Seldon thought he could predict everything over the long term, and-."

"And one powerful telepath threw the whole thing off, because psychohistory can't predict the actions of individuals because he incorrectly assumed that those didn't matter over the long term."

"Because they don't, except when the individual is so powerful that they can throw history off track on their own like the Mule. Or you. Or Superman. Or a bunch of other people. Bloody Second Foundation don't know how easy they had it."

"So..?"

"So I can tell you all about Hub City, and the building work, and the way people will probably respond to what you're doing, but because there's no established cultural mechanism for Dolmen Gates I can't predict what's going to happen. Not exactly."

"And the 'more important' bit?"

She sighs. "I could learn more if I visited Hub City, but they're using me like Mycroft Holmes here. I can't really justify taking the time away."

I nod to myself. "Not overworking you, I hope?"

"Dodge the Working Time Directive for something as trivial as an apocalypse? Don't be daft."

"Okay, well, thanks for hearing me out. I'll-."

"I did get time to watch your interview."

I take a deep breath in, and then slowly let it out.

"How bad?"

"Depends what you mean by 'bad', really. I wouldn't worry about Batman."

"I would."

"Look, he's the one who's been trying to get governments to sign something so they can't throw a fit about what the League is doing when this is all over. As far as I can tell, your interview improved perception of the Bills by a little. Fewer people freaking out about it, and fewer people listening to them because it was you, the 'I can't talk about the Justice League taking over the world' guy."

"At least they're not talking about the cake."

"No, they were."

"The giant naked statue?"

"I don't think anyone really knows about that."

"Small mercies." I frown. "Ah, 'Bills'?"

"The Justice League works all over the world, doesn't it? Must be a right pain, having to deal with two hundred different legal systems. So just about every government that-. Well, that's functioning and is enforcing laws, is getting the same sort of Bill to approve. I think Mister Atom did the work rewriting it to all their different legal codes. It uses his phrasing in places."

"Huh. I.. guess he's been in communication with them and trying to hash out a standard code of conduct for a while, then."

"Probably. The U.N. Charter wasn't really supposed to be used for a situation like this. Mostly because no one ever thought something like this would ever happen. And even some of the countries that didn't want the Justice League arresting criminals in their territory want help getting their economies working again."

"Do you know when it's getting finalised?"

"They wouldn't be leaking it if it wasn't basically done. Given how much work we're doing, I'm pretty sure Batman actually would leave anyone who didn't pass the legislation at this point high and dry until they bucked their ideas up."

"Knowing what I know about the tar-like progress of Bills through the American legislature, is that really enough time?"

"You know how you said that the Justice League was taking over the world?"

"I am not allowed to talk about the Justice League taking over the world."

"Right, see, that. And while I think you think that that should wind politicians up, they all know what would happen if Superman stood against them in a recall election and none of them want to try it."

"I can't see him doing that."

"Batman threatened them with something that got them moving, and that's my best guess. You talk to him more than I do."

"I.. don't think I'll ask. Not unless you really want to know."

"No, I'm fine not knowing."

"Alright, that's… That, then."

"Okay, talk-."

"Um. How's.. school going?"

"Did you just make a social enquiry?"

"Yes. I… I realise that I sometimes fall out of touch with people and I'm trying to do better. How are things, Beryl?"

"Um… Okay, then."
 
Last edited:
1st July 2013
11:46 GMT -5


"So..?"

"E-h…" Beryl makes a sound a little like someone's choking her while she yawns. "This isn't really my thing."
Squire! Oh, it's been a while since we've seen this lovely British lass on-screen. I would presume her natural talent for information analysis is getting a workout during all this, so she hasn't seen much in the way of action.

"Um. When you say that, do you mean that you've got something better to do, or-."

"No! No. I mean, yes, but no."

"You're.. too young for Vicar of Dibley, aren't you?"
Heh. I have to wonder how much of OL's cultural reference pool applies here in a DC universe, given the variations seen so far. Different iconic shows, different memes and jokes... I shudder at the idea of a world without 'Monty Python', though. Better to assume it's identical unless otherwise noted.

She snorts. "No no.. no.. no no…"

"Yes." / "Yes."
They probably even made the same facial expression, straight from the show.

We both chuckle quietly. Ah, I've missed being able to make pop culture references and have the people around me understand what I'm talking about. I mean, I only bat one in three with British people, but that's more than I get here. Here, I got the whole team staring at me when I said that I had no idea who Uncle Oswald is.
I have to assume that's something uniquely American. It'd be like me making an Agro reference or something.

"My Mum liked it, and she got me watching it when they did repeats."

"And now I feel even older. Thanks, Squire. Thanks a lot."
Remember, teenager/near-adult in 2013. I doubt she was born any earlier than 1994 at the earliest. And we are now a quarter-of-a-century into the 21st Century. Anyone else feeling old now? 😨

"Maybe my Mum's just really young. You've never-. Ah."

"Team mates and their families, Squire."
Ah, pointing out he's given everyone's families a medical once-over? Nice of him, but given that they're his in-group, emotionally satisfying.

"Right. Thank you. I know you'd do a better job than the N.H.S., I just hadn't put it together."

"Long day?"
Long month, more like.

"Long five months. I've been.. organising things. Finding bottlenecks in supply chains, working out the most efficient ways to get things up and running."

"Are you working with Batman and Mister Atom?"
Useful talent. Even if it's just looking over the numbers and seeing patterns of delays or corruption.

"No. Ugh, it's-. I just don't know enough to work at their level. And-. Do you know Asimov?"

"About half my bed time stories growing up were Asimov."
That would make for some peculiar dreams, I wouldn't wonder.

"Hari Seldon thought he could predict everything over the long term, and-."

"And one powerful telepath threw the whole thing off, because psychohistory can't predict the actions of individuals because he incorrectly assumed that those didn't matter over the long term."
Naturally, when single individuals can bring considerable power to bear on the universe... I'm guessing they never envisaged the possibility of it, so didn't run the numbers.

"Because they don't, except when the individual is so powerful that they can throw history off track on their own like the Mule. Or you. Or Superman. Or a bunch of other people. Bloody Second Foundation don't know how easy they had it."

"So..?"
Never really got into stuff like Foundation. I'm much more of a 'space opera' guy than a 'hard sci-fi' guy. Give me woosh-bang-kapow laser fights over dry philosophical musings any day... 🤔

"So I can tell you all about Hub City, and the building work, and the way people will probably respond to what you're doing, but because there's no established cultural mechanism for Dolmen Gates I can't predict what's going to happen. Not exactly."

"And the 'more important' bit?"
That makes sense. Can't predict the impact of something with no data.

She sighs. "I could learn more if I visited Hub City, but they're using me like Mycroft Holmes here. I can't really justify taking the time away."

I nod to myself. "Not overworking you, I hope?"
Mycroft Holmes, Sherlock's sedentary older brother. An agent of the British Crown posing as an auditor, and the instigator of several adventures... A fair comparison to Squire, in some respects, such as analytical prowess...

"Dodge the Working Time Directive for something as trivial as an apocalypse? Don't be daft."

"Okay, well, thanks for hearing me out. I'll-."
As if superheroes have the luxury of sticking to sensible business hours...

"I did get time to watch your interview."

I take a deep breath in, and then slowly let it out.
Heh. I bet he's been getting that a few times whenever he consults his coworkers...

"How bad?"

"Depends what you mean by 'bad', really. I wouldn't worry about Batman."

"I would."
And well he should. The man does seem to hold him to a higher standard of behaviour, for a start.

"Look, he's the one who's been trying to get governments to sign something so they can't throw a fit about what the League doing when this is all over. As far as I can tell, your interview improved perception of the Bills by a little. Fewer people freaking out about it, and fewer people listening to them because it was you, the 'I can't talk about the Justice League taking over the world' guy."
Well, that's better than expected. Amusing that his casual musings can have that level of impact on the world.

"At least they're not talking about the cake."

"No, they were."
He's never going to live that down, is he? If things go amusingly well, his equivalent of the Legion of Superheroes will probably call him 'The Cake Man?' someday.

"The giant naked statue?"

"I don't think anyone really knows about that."

"Small mercies." I frown. "Ah, 'Bills'?"
Plural? And at least the world won't have to worry about such a detailed recreation of his improved body. Surprised he hasn't removed it yet.

"The Justice League works all over the world, doesn't it? Must be a right pain, having to deal with two hundred different legal systems. So just about every government that-. Well, that's functioning and is enforcing laws, is getting the same sort of Bill to approve. I think Mister Atom did the work rewriting it to all their different legal codes. It uses his phrasing in places."
Oh, joy. That must have taken him quite a while. A couple of minutes at least. 😄

"Huh. I.. guess he's been in communication with them and trying to hash out a standard code of conduct for a while, then."

"Probably. The U.N. Charter wasn't really supposed to be used for a situation like this. Mostly because no one ever thought something like this would ever happen. And even some the countries that didn't want the Justice League arresting criminals in their territory want help getting their economies working again."
Of course they do. Though good luck keeping them out, especially when Batman had the bright idea of using their sidekicks as a spec-ops team.

"Do you know when it's getting finalised?"

"They wouldn't be leaking it if it wasn't basically done. Given how much work we're doing, I'm pretty sure Batman actually would leave anyone who didn't pass the legislation at this point high and try until they bucked their ideas up."
That sort of social pressure would be very effective, when it means missing out on international aid in reconstruction and a chance to get their hands on the sort of new technologies OL is encouraging.

"Knowing what I know about the tar-like progress of Bills through the American legislature, is that really enough time?"

"You know how you said that the Justice League was taking over the world?"

"I am not allowed to talk about the Justice League taking over the world."
He's been very insistent about his inability to talk about it. Including the likelihood of it being an actual thing or just a misunderstanding or hyperbole.

"Right, see, that. And while I think you think that that should wind politicians up, they all know what would happen if Superman stood against them in a recall election and none of them want to try it."

"I can't see him doing that."
And in most cases, he wouldn't be legally eligible anyway. Even in America, it'd come down to 'was he born in an American territory?' and I don't know if that's true here or not.

"Batman threatened them with something that got them moving, and that's my best guess. You talk to him more than I do."

"I.. don't think I'll ask. Not unless you really want to know."
Probably for the best. I bet it involved Empathic Vision letting him know what they feared most, though.

"No, I'm fine not knowing."

"Alright, that's… That, then."
And what do you do if you learn he did something that you might have to prosecute him for to do it? I mean, I doubt he did, but still...

"Okay, talk-."

"Um. How's.. school going?"

"Did you just make a social enquiry?"
What, is it a crime to ask a friend how they're doing?

"Yes. I… I realise that I sometimes fall out of touch with people and I'm trying to do better. How are things, Beryl?"

"Um… Okay, then."
Yes, it probably is as odd as she seems to think it is.

A pleasant catch-up session, given it's basically a five-minute chat with Beryl as she does other stuff. Still, it's starting to become clearer that the bills they're presenting would seem to be something that ultimately works against OL's long-term goals of making humanity stronger as whole and as individuals... I suppose we'll see how it ends up triggering that reaction he showed at the end of last episode.
 
And even some the countries that didn't want the Justice League arresting criminals in their territory want help getting their economies working again."
Insert "of" between "some" and "the".

Also, probably worth checking if the statue is still there. I can imagine it being used as the framework for the next version of Finality Man.
 
There was an early-ish arc where OL got a ring call from Alan and it showed up as a multi-story orange head coming out of his ring iirc.
 
Is Invincible Paul copying data from Original Invincible Universe GDA.
Don't think Invincible Paul knows that High frequency hurts Viltrumites.
 
random babbly thoughts:
Did he ever end up figuring out if manhunter psychic training sim stuff supported magic use properly?
Did Kalmin ever end up making himself a power ring?
Not sure how magical the civilization of jarhanpur is and how much they're doing the whole atlantean modernization project.
I don't think he ever followed up that that much on altantean tattoo magic stuff - or come to think of it, if balewa's magic is about the white light, probably a good chunk of what he uses in his tattoos is probably compatible with green light magicy stuff - imagine that it'd probably be possible for guy to get good use out of that even if say, stewart wouldn't.
Also kind of curious how guy's development compares to paul's - should I think probably have information about their development somewhere they can be compared.
Beryl's nice to see.
Am curious to see if in say, the next round of performance reviews for the league they end up asking tough questions about whether they're willing to get magical patrons - have to imagine that the hellenic gods and some of the shinto affiliated ones are up for doing something there.
- Now I'm picturing paul setting up a date for Lady Liberty and Alan. I'd have to imagine that he probably passes most of the patronage requirements, given what happened in the whole heartland episode.
Not sure if the dream city is working on the whole patronage network thing or no - think it was just suggested but we didn't see enough of the whole conversation to know what's up there.
 
"Honoured Lanterns." Jade and I look up as the abbot enters the ritual chamber, guardian Lamassu at his side. Abadun is a heavily built black man with his greying hair and beard bound in dreadlocks.
Yigitkoroglu removed that art from deviantart, art station, and their personal website. Wayback doesn't work for devart, it does work for the dead link for the personal website. It'll be temporary, but there is also this non-wayback lamassu saved url from artstation which could work for any number of years. Much better than the Pinterest equivalent.

I'm curious how intelligent they are, compared to other non-humanoid magic-based creatures. Assuming it isn't artificial.
 
Squire! Oh, it's been a while since we've seen this lovely British lass on-screen. I would presume her natural talent for information analysis is getting a workout during all this, so she hasn't seen much in the way of action.

Heh. I have to wonder how much of OL's cultural reference pool applies here in a DC universe, given the variations seen so far. Different iconic shows, different memes and jokes... I shudder at the idea of a world without 'Monty Python', though. Better to assume it's identical unless otherwise noted.


They probably even made the same facial expression, straight from the show.


I have to assume that's something uniquely American. It'd be like me making an Agro reference or something.


Remember, teenager/near-adult in 2013. I doubt she was born any earlier than 1994 at the earliest. And we are now a quarter-of-a-century into the 21st Century. Anyone else feeling old now? 😨


Ah, pointing out he's given everyone's families a medical once-over? Nice of him, but given that they're his in-group, emotionally satisfying.


Long month, more like.


Useful talent. Even if it's just looking over the numbers and seeing patterns of delays or corruption.


That would make for some peculiar dreams, I wouldn't wonder.


Naturally, when single individuals can bring considerable power to bear on the universe... I'm guessing they never envisaged the possibility of it, so didn't run the numbers.


Never really got into stuff like Foundation. I'm much more of a 'space opera' guy than a 'hard sci-fi' guy. Give me woosh-bang-kapow laser fights over dry philosophical musings any day... 🤔


That makes sense. Can't predict the impact of something with no data.


Mycroft Holmes, Sherlock's sedentary older brother. An agent of the British Crown posing as an auditor, and the instigator of several adventures... A fair comparison to Squire, in some respects, such as analytical prowess...


As if superheroes have the luxury of sticking to sensible business hours...


Heh. I bet he's been getting that a few times whenever he consults his coworkers...


And well he should. The man does seem to hold him to a higher standard of behaviour, for a start.


Well, that's better than expected. Amusing that his casual musings can have that level of impact on the world.


He's never going to live that down, is he? If things go amusingly well, his equivalent of the Legion of Superheroes will probably call him 'The Cake Man?' someday.


Plural? And at least the world won't have to worry about such a detailed recreation of his improved body. Surprised he hasn't removed it yet.


Oh, joy. That must have taken him quite a while. A couple of minutes at least. 😄


Of course they do. Though good luck keeping them out, especially when Batman had the bright idea of using their sidekicks as a spec-ops team.


That sort of social pressure would be very effective, when it means missing out on international aid in reconstruction and a chance to get their hands on the sort of new technologies OL is encouraging.


He's been very insistent about his inability to talk about it. Including the likelihood of it being an actual thing or just a misunderstanding or hyperbole.


And in most cases, he wouldn't be legally eligible anyway. Even in America, it'd come down to 'was he born in an American territory?' and I don't know if that's true here or not.


Probably for the best. I bet it involved Empathic Vision letting him know what they feared most, though.


And what do you do if you learn he did something that you might have to prosecute him for to do it? I mean, I doubt he did, but still...


What, is it a crime to ask a friend how they're doing?


Yes, it probably is as odd as she seems to think it is.

A pleasant catch-up session, given it's basically a five-minute chat with Beryl as she does other stuff. Still, it's starting to become clearer that the bills they're presenting would seem to be something that ultimately works against OL's long-term goals of making humanity stronger as whole and as individuals... I suppose we'll see how it ends up triggering that reaction he showed at the end of last episode.

If OL were to reference a Blue haired old lady who constant talks about her Pussy? More Americans than he thinks would get his reference, same goes for an older woman who introduces herself as Bouquet (spelled BUCKET), a madman that wanders the universe in a Bluebox or a smeg headed hologram who is one of the main companions of the universes last Human along with a humanoid cat and an American Android with a head shaped like a novelty Ice cube.
 
Invulnerable War (part 4) New
6th March 2025
09:34 GMT -5


"…dodge, don't-!"

The local Atom Eve goes flying backwards as an Invincible in Omni-Man's uniform hammers his right fist into her too-fragile construct shield.

"Don't just tank hits from someone as strong-"

I viff to the side as he switches to focusing on me.

"-as a viltrumite! Evade!"

Over to my right, Invincible and Local Invincible punch Dark Invincible back and forth between them too quickly for him to get his bearings, much less recover. Diaphragm, face, other side of face, spine, and then an over-the-head smash into the ground. Inefficient, but effective. Observing them, I'd say that Invincible has the edge in technique, probably a benefit from more time being taught how to fight by Omni-Man. The local one might have the edge in raw power, however.

Omvincible stops still, watching and waiting. The local Atom Eve hits him in the side with an energy bolt, but he just ignores it as it slams into his side. Then he turns his head towards her. "Weak."

She generates-.

"Stop! Don't close the distance. Think, Eve. Think. What are his points of vulnerability?"

Omvincible smiles contemptuously. "I do have weaker points, but they're still too tough for you."

She hesitates for a moment. Then she glances at Local Invincible before fabricating a.. bullhorn? Well, that's a decent guess. He can clearly hear, so light and sound should-.

I wince and filter as she presses the plunger, an unpleasant high pitched sound blasting out.

"D-ah!"

Omvincible cringes, hands covering his ears… Ineffectually, from the looks of it. In the distance Dark Invincible writhes in his impact crate while Local Invincible staggers away with his hands over his ears.

"Huh." Invincible looks at me, tapping his earpieces gingerly. "Guess that's another one I owe you."

What?

Atom Eve looks at me. "You didn't know that viltrumites could be disabled by sound?"

I frown. "I didn't think that viltrumite hearing was that good." I transition to Local Invincible and stick filters in his ears.

"Oh thank God." He taps his right ear. "Wait, that's it? Ear buds?"

"They're super-science noise cancelling ear buds with a built-in radio. Their original designer is probably still alive on this Earth."

"Right." He checks that Dark Invincible is still-.

Invincible lands on Dark Invincible's spine feet-first with a loud crack. Dark Invincible tries to cry out, but can't get any air into his lungs so it just comes out as a sort of a gasping gurgle. A brilliant pink glow illuminates the city a moment later as Local Atom Eve blasts Omvincible with an over charged blast of some sort, incinerating the costume off the left side of his body and badly burning the skin beneath. He doesn't quite plummet to the ground, but it's a near thing and her bullhorn is still going off.

Invincible nods as he grabs Dark Invincible's head by the hair. "Good work team." He takes a grip. "Let's-."

Local Invincible starts towards him. "No! We don't need to kill him."

"Oh, don't worry. I practiced-" Snap. "-this."

"Hey!" Local Invincible gets up close to him. "I said 'don't kill him'. What part of that didn't you understand?!"

"Oh, I understood." Invincible nods. "And I didn't. Breaking someone's neck without killing them is pretty hard, but I got the hang of it eventually." He looks over to where Atom Eve is picking Omvincible up with a construct body cast. "You want me to do yours?!"

"U-ghuuuuuh."​

The both look down at Dark Invincible for a moment, then Invincible gestures with both hands.

"See?"

"Okay." That leaves local Invincible a little out of sorts. "Ah. I'm gunna call Cecil and arrange pickup. See how everyone's doing against the other duplicates."

"Great!" Invincible smiles. "And hey, if he wants to come talk to me, I'm fine with that."

"I was just gunna leave you out, but, okay?" He looks at me. "How do I make this thing work?"

"Just tap twice, then say who you want to speak to." I float over to the wheezing Omvincible, take out an x-ionised knife and stab him in the spine. The knife pierces, and then the blade snaps off inside him. Atom Eve looks at me askance, so I shrug. "Viltrumites can regenerate from a lot of damage, and quickly. And they know that, so they're usually not shy about accepting hits they know won't cause long term problems. If you're not going to kill them it's necessary to inflict multiple serious crippling injuries to stop them just getting up and flying away."

"How are you cutting them?"

"The blades undergo a process called 'x-ionisation'. They're razor sharp and… I thought they were pretty much indestructible. Something about viltrumite physiology makes them less effective than usual, but they're still my preferred way of harming them."

Invincible flies over while Local Invincible tries to get through to Cecil. "Unless he's really mad. He used anti-matter on Vidor."

She blinks, then looks thoughtful.

I nod. "There's no reason why you couldn't make anti-matter yourself. Just make sure that it's contained by magnetic fields in a vacuum, because significant quantities of anti-matter aren't planet-friendly."

She nods. "I-. Look, I wanted to ask. I-. I had a brother. He-." She takes a moment to gather her thoughts. "He couldn't control his powers properly. I…"

I shake my head. "I don't think I'm his alter-ego, if that's what you're working towards asking. My earliest… Confirmable memory, is waking up in orbit. Before that I remember a normal life on a world without superpowers. It's not impossible that someone implanted fabricated memories into my mind, but it's not likely."

Invincible smiles. "Hey, while we're taking a break, mind if I ask you a couple of questions?" Eve shakes her head. "You and.. your Invincible. You're together, right? She nods cautiously. "How do you make it work?"

Her gaze turns incredulous. "He didn't conquer Earth with his dad."

"Okay, but-." He looks aside, trying to work out how to put it. Omvincible chooses that moment to gurgle, and gets kicked in the head for his impertinence. At least that knocks him out. "I did, but I don't want to fight you-. Her. I thought if I made sure the planet got fixed-. A lot of places are nicer places to live than they were before the conquest. Objectively… Okay, it's not an overall improvement yet, but it's getting there! I mean, do you actually like Cecil?"

"No, I can't say I do."

"Because the rest of the government is just as bad. Governments. I had Lantern go through their databases for our public information broadcasts. And killing soldiers who ignore their government surrendering is even in line with the Geneva Conventions!"

"Okay, look: I don't know her? But-" She frowns at him. "-I don't think you can conquer her planet and kill her friends and expect her to like you."

"But-."

"Even if the Viltrum Empire actually helps people. And if that's what they do, why conquer it in the first place? You think if alien spaceships showed up over a slum somewhere and started building nicer houses anyone would complain about it?"

"It's not-. I-."

Local Invincible looks up. "Okay, Cecil says he's gunna send some people-."

There's a wuuymm noise from.. just above us. I look up-.

As twenty zombots fall on our heads.
 
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