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

[Handlewithcare]

Someone did write an omake of him trying to heal him, but ti wasn't Zoat.

Click to shrink...

Raises hand.

But now the real question: why doesn't Paul have a cute drone companion yet?

(Also: squee! 40k! The setting most in need of a good fixing!)

 

[Vaermina]

(Also: squee! 40k! The setting most in need of a good fixing!)

Click to shrink...

The problem of course being, he can't really fix things there without massive Dues Ex Machina since his actual power level is to low.

 

[Handlewithcare]

The problem of course being, he can't really fix things there without massive Dues Ex Machina since his actual power level is to low.

Click to shrink...

That's what makes it interesting!

In almost every other setting a DC Powerring is hopelessly OP. In 40k? Hm, yeah, maybe you'll survive for a bit. Maybe.

 

[transhumansage]

I'm pretty sure that he didn't. For a start, just getting to the Emperor would mean bypassing the strongest defences in the Imperium, to say nothing of his own psychic abilities.

Click to shrink...

i remember some thing about him trying to heal the physical body on the throne...was that an omake not by you?

 

[Darko]

i remember some thing about him trying to heal the physical body on the throne...was that an omake not by you?

Click to shrink...

Yep.

Omake time!


Roughly 999.M41


I bob and weave almost lazily around the incoming shots.

I had considered this a truly imaginative dream at first, but I find myself doubting that hypothesis.

A projectile many times larger than my house blows past me, the ring keeping me easily away from it.

I'm a small target and it turns out that Imperial targetting systems...well, suck.

Ring, charge?

RING CHARGE AT...ERROR

Well, that is honestly not very surprising. The Warp is made from desire, the way I understand it. The side-effects are kinda annoying, though.

WHO ARE YOU? She Who Thirsts screeches at me in outrage.

It is not exactly like hearing a voice, more like a...thought that comes out of nowhere. But it still feels…

The ring lets me evade an energy beam of some sort.

Ring, malthusian cloaking tech would be nice about now.

I've been trying to generate constructs. And I haven't got...the first instinct was to try to force my imagination into existence, but my Ring is orange of course, not green. All I need to do is want something and it happens, but that sounds a lot easier than it is. Focusing desire like this is not something you just do, without training.

LOCAL PHYSICAL LAWS ARE SUFFICIENTLY DIVERGENT THAT GIVEN TECHBASE IS UNUSABLE. Wonderful. Wait, how does the ring itself work, then? WORKING ON ESTABLISHING NEW PHYSICS BASELINE. That's better.

YOU ARE VERMIN!

No, I don't think so. I answer that internal Not-Voice.

HOW? I CAN FEEL YOU! YOU ARE A SLAVE TO YOUR DESIRES!

Yes, I kind of am, aren't I? The ring makes it so. I am far more...aware of what I want. Distractedly so, but...fortunately it turns out my two main desires right now are staying alive, so evading incoming fire is easy and keeping a cool, rational head to work out what is going on.

I OWN YOU!

This is getting more annoying. Mostly because I can tell that S/He's sort of right. I can...feel the Warp, I think, flowing through me and and around me but while it is filling me it...sort of isn't me?

I struggle with vocalising what I mean. Until about five hours ago I never had extra sensory perceptions after all, so this is all kinda new.

YOUR FLESH SHOULD BUCKLE AND EVOLVE!

You and I have different ideas of evolve.

But again, S/He is kinda right. In fact...Ring?

CONTINUOUS PHYSICAL REPAIR PROTOCOL IS STILL IN EFFECT

Good show.

The Not-Voice is an issue though and another mystery. It's blatantly obvious that this is Slaneesh, God/dess of excessive desire, my orange ring and S/He are practically made for each other.

And yet, despite that...or maybe because of it...S/He sort of...can't...reach..me?

I hear Her/Him, the Warp infuses me, I just don't...react to it.

Maybe...hm.

I think I've figured it out. I think cheerfully at the Not-Voice.

EXPLAIN!

Where I come from, there is no Warp. Therefore, I don't think I have a 'Soul' you can effect.

IMPOSSIBLE! I FEEL YOU! YOUR DESIRES! YOU ARE UNSHIELDED, YOU WILL…

Aaaand now this has gone on long enough that I can feel the difference between the Not-Voice and my own thoughts and I think I can...twist…

...AND CARRY OUT MY WILL…

Better.

The Ring gives off a melodious sound.

ADAPTATION TO LOCAL ENVIRON SUFFICIENTLY COMPLETE FOR STEALTH FUNCTIONALITY.

Great. Do it.

A complex orange construct appears around me, surrounding me in a rough, fractured sphere with sharp edges and fractal machinery reaching out everywhere and the incoming fire stops.

The broadcasted demands "in the name of the Emperor" which I had pushed to ignore hours ago stop as well. Instead, frantic communication happens between the ships as well as various ground stations, trying to reacquire me.

Problem solved, for now.

I turn with a thought, facing the planet that has been the backdrop to this pointless battle.

I barely recognise it. It is a horrid, dirty sphere of greenish-black with clouds that are swirls of grey and matte black instead of white.

Unlike canon, the oceans still exist (since 'boiling' doesn't actually remove water from a planet), but they are considerably smaller then they should be, much of their content being pumped through millions of miles of piping and storage tanks instead.

What is left is a dead, toxic sludge of black, surrounded by pumping stations.

Despite that, my ring tells that me that the planet is bursting with people. All of them heavily mutated to cope with the ridiculous pollution.

Transition to the imperial palace.

The air is filled with scanner energy, so much so that it alone could have seriously harmed my unprotected body. Yet none of the almost comically oversized gun placements swivels to acquire a lock on me. I am still invisible.

Ring, can we transition into the interior?

AFFIRMATIVE, LOCAL DEFENSIVE SHIELDING DOES NOT IMPEDE TRANSITIONING

Huh. How does that work? Transitions work in this universe, so there must be some local equivalent. But the imperial palace being open to it would mean that the center of the Imperium is vulnerable to any attack using this technique. And in 10 millenia of constant warfare, someone should have thought of using it, right?

Are there any hidden traps, perhaps?

Wearily I transition into one of the larger rooms in the outer areas of the palace.

I appear, without problems, in a room roughly the size of a London borough. Clouds lazily move under the ceiling. The distant, badly illuminated walls look vaguely golden.

The ground, far below me, is littered with...machines? Heaps of debris? Organic growth?

I could ring scan them, but honestly I don't care enough about them.

Instead, I transition directly to the throne room.

It's like materialising in a sun.

The psychic power both emanating from and contained in this room should have turned me to cinder.

I can feel its impossible power pouring through me without touching me. I offer so little resistance to it, or the Warp, that neither are interacting with me at all. It's like standing inside a nuclear explosion that isn't harming me.

How can the Custodes standing guard here handle this…? Oh. They aren't. Ring scans show me almost zero brain activity. The people here are functionally brain dead, souls burned away under the psychic golden fire.

Feeling depressed I take off from the ground. There is no way I'm walking all these stairs.

The 'throne' is so much more than that single word could describe.

A massive, stepped pyramid, step sizes fit for Astartes, mind you, not normal humans reaches from the floor to meet an inverted pyramid reaching from the ceiling.

Both are massive, dozens of meters at least and where they meet...a Skeleton on a throne, a mass of cables and tubes sneaking out of the golden seat it is reclining in, less an actual chair and more like a pod surrounding it, ending in the desiccated remains of flesh still clinging to the bony remains. The result reminds me a bit of the Navigator from the Alien franchise.

The psychic might focused here would straight up kill anyone unprotected.

Ring. My own mental voice sounds involuntarily subdued. The atmosphere really is like a tomb here. I am uncertain if the Emperor is aware of my being here.

Ring, can you restore the entity on the throne?

WORKING...SUBJECT POSSESSES AN EXTENSIVE META-PHYSIQUE THAT IS CURRENTLY BEYOND THIS RING'S CAPABILITY TO ANALYSE.

Okay, that wasn't so surprising. What about the throne, the machinery?

WORKING...ATTEMPTING TO ANALYSE. ATTEMPTING TO ACCESS LOCAL DATA STORAGES...PARTIAL SUCCESS. MACHINERY IS DESIGNED AS LIFE SUPPORT AND PSYCHIC META-PHYSIQUE ANCHORING SYSTEM. PRIMARY, SECONDARY, TERTIARY, QUATERNARY AND QUINTARY SYSTEMS ARE HEAVILY DEGRADED.

Is a repair possible?

POSSIBILITY IS HIGH. WARNING. REQUIRED RING CHARGE WOULD BE...ERROR...PERCENT OF CURRENT STORAGE

I smile.

Begin.

WORKING

Click to shrink...

 

[Mr Zoat]

Yep.

Click to shrink...

Or rather, nope.

 

[Darko]

Or rather, nope.

Click to shrink...

I wrote yep because he asked if it was not written by you, and it wasn't.

 

[Mr Zoat]

25th June 2012
09:17 GMT -5

People… In Gotham have adapted to me living here. Even criminals who were prepared to operate in a city with an honest police force and a Batman had the sense not to make noise around a man who could spin the moon around. But just regular social contacts? People stopped having the 'rabbit in headlights' response after a few encounters.

Now, things have changed. I can see the fear as I walk towards Jade's apartment, the miasma of socially transmitted unease all too apparent. People look out of a window and see me and it crystallises. I don't make them braver or make them feel safer. I just make them think that I'm the only thing protecting them.

That's the last thing I want.

I push open the door and the phone's already ringing. There are… A few messages on the answering machine, and a thin film of dust on the surfaces. The air smells fine, because the filtration system I set up in case of gas attacks maintains the air content, but…

I miss Jade.

I stride in, orange strobes cleaning everything that went uncleaned in my absence, and pick up the phone just before it rings off.

"Hello?"

"…keep try-. Paul!"

"Good morning, Holly."

"See, I told you it was him."

"What was me?"

"The fight with the Sheeda in England."

"I was one of the people there, yes. Just got back from one mission and suddenly there're a few hundred invisible Sheeda in front of us."

"But you handled it?"

"Ah… Sorry, but since the fighting's ongoing, I can't discuss specifics."

"Uh? Oh. Oh! Right, yeah. But… You handled it, right?"

"If that particular confrontation was still ongoing, I wouldn't be here." I pull Beulah's modified rune stone out of my armour's pouch and wave it around the living area. No reaction, and my scans aren't finding anything out of place either. Give Sephtian's a wave just in case the Sheeda are using local magic rather than their own… "But if you're looking for general reassurance, the Sheeda left it too long. They could kill a lot of people, but as a species we've passed the point where they can carry out their usual invasion. This ends when most of them are dead and the last few surrender."

"You sure?"

"Yes. Completely."

"Okay." I hear her exhale. "It's.. just… I get that superheroes, and… The government and whatever were doing a bunch of stuff to.. stop them, but it's… It's a relief to hear you say it, you know?"

Kitchen's clear. Bedroom, then armoury.

"Glad I could help. Have they tried attacking Gotham?"

The fact that I shoved Batman's case summary form into my brain under an hour ago means that I know they haven't, but I imagine that letting Holly talk about her fears will be helpful.

"I dunno. I mean, it's… Gotham. People disappear sometimes, y'know? People are.. jumpy. Some kid I know kicked a can against a wall in the wrong street and the next thing he knows he's got fifteen different guns pointed at his face."

"Did any of them shoot?"

"No..?"

"Sounds like Gotham's come a long way. It wasn't too long ago a gang wouldn't have needed the Sheeda around to shoot someone."

"Hah! Whaw, that's… Ah. Well, yeah, some guys were like that."

Bedroom's clear.

"A unified, organised, technologically sophisticated people are the Sheeda's worst enemy. Unified. The Sheeda can't win, but if we lose our heads they can make us suffer more. Do you understand?"

"Yeah. Yeah, I got it."

Armoury clear. Almost disappointing. I'd love a lead right now. Not like the fact that I live here is a secret.

"Okay, I've got to get back to work now. But I'm back in Gotham, and I can probably pop around this evening if you want more reassurance."

"Y-yeah, if you're not busy, y'know, killing Sheeda or anything?"

"I'll see you this evening, then."

I turn off the phone and send out filaments, shifting stored ammunition into subspace. Fully armed once more. Hope I won't need it, fully expect that I will. Armour… Yes, leave it in anti-Sheeda mode.

I put it on, then

step out

and reappear in a carefully painted circle in one of the workshops controlled by the Sivanas.

25th June 2012
14:17 GMT

"Doctor."

An alarm sounds, gun turrets deploy and I add glowing orange panels to my body armour.

"Put those back."

A patch of air to my right shimmers, and Doctor Thaddeus Bodog Sivana appears, control box in one hand, and… Sheeda-style armour covering his body under his lab coat.

"Mm, the target identification systems aren't completely reliable yet. A sufficiently capable Sheeda doppelgänger could make it this far."

"Yes, about the Sheeda. I-."

"Everything's going splendidly. Though the Queen's being a lot more creative than she was when I was in her era." He frowns. "Do you think she was palming me off on a subordinate? That would be insulting."

"Splendidly? Doctor, the Sheeda-"

I raise my right arm, point it at the closest turret, cause the palm to glow and then step out of the circle.

"-are in the process of Harrowing the Earth. They're not doing all that well so far, but my understanding was that you were planning on slaughtering them. Not to put too fine a point on it, that was why I've been cooperating with you."

"That sounds like something you should have gotten in writing, young man. I only said that I wanted someone new and challenging to fight."

"And… Why are you not doing that?"

"Oh, I am. Would you like a list of Mind Destroyers intercepted? Well-placed spine riders eliminated? Arcane lifeforms captured for analysis? But as for actually eliminating the Sheeda, that's simply not in my interests. Not until I've seen every trick they can pull off, and countered them."

…

Irritating as that is, I doubt that he's lying. And he certainly didn't directly promise me anything.

"Alright, but is there anything I could do that might convince you to take a more active role? I'm sure that you could produce designs for an army of automatons which could fight Sheeda infantry relatively easily without taking your attention away from more interesting subjects."

"That-." He frowns, looking away from me. "I'm-. Hm. This is interesting. I'm actually of two minds about it." He returns his full attention to me. "There is… One thing."

 

[Ngamer11]

"That-." He frowns, looking away from me. "I'm-. Hm. This in interesting. I'm actually of two minds about it." He returns his full attention to me. "There is… One thing."

Click to shrink...

Help him get back together with his wife? I thought he understood that sometimes relationships don't work out and accepted that fact?

 

[Darko]

"Did any of the shoot?"

Click to shrink...

'them shoot'

come along way.

Click to shrink...

'a long way'

that you planning on slaughtering

Click to shrink...

'were planning'

"That sounds like something you should have gotten in writing, young man. I only said that I wanted someone new and challenging to fight."

"And… Why are you not doing that?"

"Oh, I am. Would you like a list of Mind Destroyers intercepted? Well-placed spine riders eliminated? Arcane lifeforms captured for analysis? But as for actually eliminating the Sheeda, that's simply not in my interests. Not until I've seen every trick they can pull off, and countered them."

Click to shrink...

This is why you alter the desires of mad scientists and other lunatics.

"That-." He frowns, looking away from me. "I'm-. Hm. This in interesting. I'm actually of two minds about it." He returns his full attention to me. "There is… One thing."

Click to shrink...

Ahh, romantic advice from an empath.

 

[Darko]

Help him get back together with his wife? I thought he understood that sometimes relationships don't work out and accepted that fact?

Click to shrink...

Hey, sometimes people will try to do something even if they know they may not succeed.

 

[Slayer Anderson]

Help him get back together with his wife? I thought he understood that sometimes relationships don't work out and accepted that fact?

Click to shrink...

It might be one of his kids that he wants to set up with someone or do something nice for. Remember, it can be familial love just as well as romantic.

 

[RichardWhereat]

"Did any of the shoot?"

Click to shrink...

Should be 'them'

 

[Fellow]

That's a bit disappointing. Here I thought this whole thing would've been a chance for him to redeem himself in the eyes of the public. I guess I was a bit naive.

 

[Fellow]

that you planning on

Click to shrink...

Add a 'were' after 'you'

 

[Darko]

That's a bit disappointing. Here I thought this whole thing would've been a chance for him to redeem himself in the eyes of the public. I guess I was a bit naive.

Click to shrink...

Sivana kinda stopped caring what the public thought of him a long time ago.

The only people he may care about and what they think about him are his wife and children, and even then he has limits.

Still maybe she can convince him to do more, but even that's unlikely.

 

[Handlewithcare]

Orange Corps incoming when?

Actually, is Mother of Mercy still in system?

 

[Darko]

Orange Corps incoming when?

Click to shrink...

Good question.

Actually, is Mother of Mercy still in system?

Click to shrink...

No, she left after finishing with Mars.

OL talked to her during that Devlos Ungol episode, Ways and Means I think it was called.

 

[moralrelativity]

and a Batman

Click to shrink...

a -> the (?)

 

[Fellow]

Yep.

Click to shrink...

Where is the rest!? I must read it! I must!!!

 

[Darko]

Where is the rest!? I must read it! I must!!!

Click to shrink...

Ahh, that's it.

Sorry.

 

[SemiAnarchist]

"Alright, but is there anything I could do that might convince you to take a more active roll?

Click to shrink...

Should be role.

 

[Fellow]

Ahh, that's it.

Sorry.

Click to shrink...

D: my sorrow knows no bounds.

 

[Chojin Patriarch]

25th June 2012
09:17 GMT -5

People… In Gotham have adapted to me living here. Even criminals who were prepared to operate in a city with an honest police force and a Batman had the sense not to make noise around a man who could spin the moon around. But just regular social contacts? People stopped having the 'rabbit in headlights' response after a few encounters.

Click to shrink...

Yeah, once they see you aren't the usual Gotham Freak type. they're a little more accepting. Having the League's back helps with that reputation. Almost reassuring to know Gotham hasn't been raided. Presumably the Sheeda took one look, went 'Too crazy even for us." and turned elsewhere.

Spoiler: Commentary spoilered for length

Now, things have changed. I can see the fear as I walk towards Jade's apartment, the miasma of socially transmitted unease all too apparent. People look out of a window and see me and it crystallises. I don't make them braver or make them feel safer. I just make them think that I'm the only thing protecting them.

That's the last thing I want.

Click to shrink...

Indeed. But until your projects get into general circulation, that's how people are going to think of you. Honestly, you've been spending a lot of time (onscreen, at least) doing Super-hero stuff, not enough doing uplift things. It doesn't help that most of those projects are probably seen as Ted Kord's corporation's work, or Atlantean, or so forth... Not quite the cachet of something like Peter Wynne's.

I push open the door and the phone's already ringing. There are… A few messages on the answering machine, and a thin film of dust on the surfaces. The air smells fine, because the filtration system I set up in case of gas attacks maintains the air content, but…

I miss Jade.

Click to shrink...

At this point she's probably safer on the far side of Maltusian warzones than she would be on Earth.

I stride in, orange strobes cleaning everything that went uncleaned in my absence, and pick up the phone just before it rings off.

"Hello?"

"…keep try-. Paul!"

Click to shrink...

Presumably they saw the battle of Ipswich on the news and realised he's back. Because you just know there were cameras, even in that situation.

"Good morning, Holly."

"See, I told you it was him."

Click to shrink...

Ah, OL's closest non-cape friends. I wonder if they've been worrying about him.

"What was me?"

"The fight with the Sheeda in England."

"I was one of the people there, yes. Just got back from one mission and suddenly there're a few hundred invisible Sheeda in front of us."

Click to shrink...

Didn't take long for there to be a lot less, though. Really satisfying to watch.

"But you handled it?"

"Ah… Sorry, but since the fighting's ongoing, I can't discus specifics."

Click to shrink...

I'm sure they had the upper hand when you left. Not that you're allowed to say that. Who knows if there's something listening...

"Uh? Oh. Oh! Right, yeah. But… You handled it, right?"

"If that particular confrontation was still ongoing, I wouldn't be here." I pull Beulah's modified rune stone out of my armour's pouch and wave it around the living area. No reaction, and my scans aren't finding anything out of place either. Give Sephtian's a wave just in case the Sheeda are using local magic rather than their own… "But if you're looking for general reassurance, the Sheeda left it too long. They could kill a lot of people, but as a species we've passed the point where they can carry out their usual invasion. This ends when most of them are dead and the last few surrender."

Click to shrink...

Yes, bit of a miscalculation on the Queen's part. Unfortunately, real-world equivalents are still just inside the 20-year range for rule 8, so... Except maybe the Vietnam War. I have the feeling this will be remembered by the Sheeda in the same light...

"You sure?"

"Yes. Completely."

"Okay." I hear her exhale. "It's.. just… I get that superheroes, and… The government and whatever were doing a bunch of stuff to.. stop them, but it's… It's a relief to hear you say it, you know?"

Click to shrink...

Benefit and drawback of knowing a superhero, only to have him away when this shit goes down. I bet Lois Lane, Iris West and other friends and family of the League have had that turn.

Kitchen's clear. Bedroom, then armoury.

"Glad I could help. Have they tried attacking Gotham?"

Click to shrink...

Pfft, I doubt it. Between being known as the home base of several Superheroes, and the general fuckiness of the city, I bet the Sheeda have been steering well clear. Hell, I would not doubt you if you said that the location of Gotham is still strange and dangerous even in the Sheeda's time. It's just that bad.

The fact that I shoved Batman's case summary form into my brain under an hour ago means that I know they haven't, but I imagine that letting Holly talk about her fears will be helpful.

"I dunno. I mean, it's… Gotham. People disappear sometimes, y'know? People are.. jumpy. Some kid I know kicked a can against a wall in the wrong street and the next thing he knows he's got fifteen different guns pointed at his face."

Click to shrink...

Nice to know people are prepared to defend themselves, at least. Moreso than the average DC American.

"Did any of the shoot?"

"No..?"

Click to shrink...

A fine show of restraint! Gotham really is improving.

"Sounds like Gotham's come along way. It wasn't too long ago a gang wouldn't have needed the Sheeda around to shoot someone."

"Hah! Whaw, that's… Ah. Well, yeah, some guys were like that."

Click to shrink...

And not just the Freaks, either. Remember stuff like Year One?

Bedroom's clear.

"A unified, organised, technologically sophisticated people are the Sheeda's worst enemy. Unified. The Sheeda can't win, but if we lose our heads they can make us suffer more. Do you understand?"

Click to shrink...

Which just encourages them, unfortunately. And as useful as an overconfident enemy is, it can be taken too far...

"Yeah. Yeah, I got it."

Armoury clear. Almost disappointing. I'd love a lead right now. Not like the fact that I live here is a secret.

Click to shrink...

Given that the Sheeda can apparently detect and defend against Spectrum energies, it's probably tagged as a high-risk location for them. A 'Don't poke the sleeping bear' warning, if you will.

"Okay, I've got to get back to work now. But I'm back in Gotham, and I can probably pop around this evening if you want more reassurance."

"Y-yeah, if you're not busy, y'know, killing Sheeda or anything?"

Click to shrink...

Suggesting she'd much prefer you to be out doing just that... I bet a lot of people are wondering why the Heroes aren't out there fighting harder.

"I'll see you this evening, then."

I turn off the phone and send out filaments, shifting stored ammunition into subspace. Fully armed once more. Hope I won't need it, fully expect that I will. Armour… Yes, leave it in anti-Sheeda mode.

Click to shrink...

Very much a good idea, wherever you plan to go.

I put it on, then

step out

and reappear in a carefully painted circle in one of the workshops controlled by the Sivanas.

Click to shrink...

A pre-determined safe spot for inbound arrivals, eh? And no doubt in the firing line of more guns than you could shake a stick at.

25th June 2012
14:17 GMT

"Doctor."

Click to shrink...

That has the sound of 'are you planning to do something stupid?'

An alarm sounds, gun turrets deploy and I add glowing orange panels to my body armour.

"Put those back."

Click to shrink...

Yes, definitely planning something stupid. Or being properly paranoid. More likely the latter.

A patch of air to my right shimmers, and Doctor Thaddeus Bodog Sivana appears, control box in one hand, and… Sheeda-style armour covering his body under his lab coat.

"Mm, the target identification systems aren't completely reliable yet. A sufficiently capable Sheeda doppelgänger could make it this far."

Click to shrink...

Could a Sheeda Greediport? I rather doubt they could manage that level of Avarice, much less the skill needed.

"Yes, about the Sheeda. I-."

"Everything's going splendidly. Though the Queen's being a lot more creative than she was when I was in her era." He frowns. "Do you think she was palming me off on a subordinate? That would be insulting."

Click to shrink...

Well, put some noble on a dogshit detail as punishment, maybe. I get the feeling she considers everyone and everything to be beneath her anyway.

"Splendidly? Doctor, the Sheeda-"

I raise my right arm, point it at the closest turret, cause the palm to glow and then step out of the circle.

Click to shrink...

Wait, has Thaddeus Senior been sitting here in his lab working all this time? Has he at least been distributing tech?

"-are in the process of Harrowing the Earth. They're not doing all that well so far, but my understanding was that you planning on slaughtering them. Not to put a too finer point on it, that was why I've been cooperating with you."

"That sounds like something you should have gotten in writing, young man. I only said that I wanted someone new and challenging to fight."

Click to shrink...

<facepalm> Dammit, OL. This is why you need to keep Malign Hypercognitives like him on a leash...

"And… Why are you not doing that?"

"Oh, I am. Would you like a list of Mind Destroyers intercepted? Well-placed spine riders eliminated? Arcane lifeforms captured for analysis? But as for actually eliminating the Sheeda, that's simply not in my interests. Not until I've seen every trick they can pull off, and countered them."

Click to shrink...

And I wonder how many of those events have made him look worse to the public than better. This is bigger than your ego, Doctor, or your scientific curiosity...

…

Irritating as that is, I doubt that he's lying. And he certainly didn't directly promise me anything.

Click to shrink...

The joy of exact wording. Argh. At least he hasn't gone for the personal attack on Castle Revolving. Yet.

"Alright, but is there anything I could do that might convince you to take a more active roll? I'm sure that you could produce designs for an army of automatons which could fight Sheeda infantry relatively easily without taking your attention away from more interesting subjects."

"That-." He frowns, looking away from me. "I'm-. Hm. This in interesting. I'm actually of two minds about it." He returns his full attention to me. "There is… One thing."

Click to shrink...

He wants his wife and kids to be safe, doesn't he? That is entirely in character for him. We've already seen the Sheeda can reach him on Venus, to some degree.

At first, I though Sivana Senior was gearing up to do what he did in the Renegade timeline, when OL stepped in... But without the rage caused by his families' deaths, he just isn't that motivated, is he? And he doesn't care about humanity enough to put that kind of effort in on their behalf. Ugh, what a payoff for that questline. Hopefully, OL can convince him to take a more active stance...

 

[Mr Zoat]

'them shoot'
'a long way'
'were planning'

Click to shrink...

Thank you, corrected.

Actually, is Mother of Mercy still in system?

Click to shrink...

No.

a -> the (?)

Click to shrink...

The Batman is a Batman.

Should be role.

Click to shrink...

Thank you, corrected.

 

[Fellow]

Raises hand.

But now the real question: why doesn't Paul have a cute drone companion yet?

(Also: squee! 40k! The setting most in need of a good fixing!)

Click to shrink...

You wrote a beautiful omake. Really captured Mr. Zoat's writing style.

 

[Darko]

Presumably the Sheeda took one look, went 'Too crazy even for us." and turned elsewhere.

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Or they're keeping it for last.

At this point she's probably safer on the far side of Maltusian warzones than she would be on Earth.

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Ehh, the Reach and Sheeda are kinda different in terms of danger.

Yeah the Sheeda are dangerous, but the Reach is on another level.

Suggesting she'd much prefer you to be out doing just that... I bet a lot of people are wondering why the Heroes aren't out there fighting harder.

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Hopefully they don't become like Marvel citizens after this, basically the Daniel Day Lewis of winning a Darwin Award.

Has he at least been distributing tech?

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I think OL talked to him about it, along with his children, and he said that they were fighting them on their own.

<facepalm> Dammit, OL. This is why you need to keep Malign Hypercognitives like him on a leash...

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Like the one he's keeping Melmoth on.

And I wonder how many of those events have made him look worse to the public than better. This is bigger than your ego, Doctor, or your scientific curiosity...

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I don't think any of this has affected his reputation.

If he hasn't revealed his involvement in this then they may not know anything about him.

He wants his wife and kids to be safe, doesn't he? That is entirely in character for him. We've already seen the Sheeda can reach him on Venus, to some degree.

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He could just build a ship and send them away to a different planet, and equip said planet with defences against the Sheeda.

At first, I though Sivana Senior was gearing up to do what he did in the Renegade timeline, when OL stepped in... But without the rage caused by his families' deaths, he just isn't that motivated, is he? And he doesn't care about humanity enough to put that kind of effort in on their behalf. Ugh, what a payoff for that questline. Hopefully, OL can convince him to take a more active stance...

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At least Paul may get some data on their tech and abilities that he doesn't have.

Yeah he has Melmoth, but it is possible that in his absence some things have changed in their tech and abilities.

 

[Fellow]

This in interesting

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'is'

 

[Mr Zoat]

'is'

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Thank you, corrected.

 

[RichardWhereat]

The Batman is a Batman.

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No, Alfred is a Batman, Batman is an Officer.