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

[Mr Zoat]

The problem is that you left that sidestory in a cliffhanger, since ya know as pathetic Kalibak was in that cartoon we do know he probably might have anti GL measures due to the comics.

Click to shrink...

A can write another section, if people really want. Kalibak goes down, Superman reappears and is pleased that AGL stepped up. If there's a demand for it then it's no problem for me to do it.

I see what you did there Mr. Zoat. A very sneaky reference indeed!

Click to shrink...

It was? Because I think it was so sneaky that it passed me by.

 

[Queshire]

Honestly, seeing Kalibak going down doesn't matter in my opinion. What, another bad guy goes down? That doesn't advance the story by itself. Seeing Superman show up afterwards would provide closure to the story instead of leaving it hanging though.


Eh.... That's not an endorsement for one over the other though. I don't have any strong opinions.

 

[DrThoth]

It was? Because I think it was so sneaky that it passed me by.

Click to shrink...

My guess is they took it as referring to the Mandated timeline which I believe mentioned Morris dancing, but I could be wrong.

Regarding the AGL, why did you set him in the DCAU pilot version instead of the regular DCAU setting? Not that I can see any major deviations besides Cyborgirl just existing (apologies if this was asked before when Fool's Canon was still ongoing).
Will he still join the League as a conditional member now that Superman's back? I don't see any real reason why he wouldn't just because he's no longer a replacement.

 

[Mr Zoat]

Regarding the AGL, why did you set him in the DCAU pilot version instead of the regular DCAU setting?

Click to shrink...

Because another version of the SI exists in the actual DCAU.

Not that I can see any major deviations besides Cyborgirl just existing (apologies if this was asked before when Fool's Canon was still ongoing).

Click to shrink...

John Stewart's hair is slightly different, and the sidekicks actually feature in episodes.

Will he still join the League as a conditional member now that Superman's back? I don't see any real reason why he wouldn't just because he's no longer a replacement.

Click to shrink...

In the DCAU, other superheroes didn't join the League until the expansion in Unlimited. AGL joining officially would be difficult due to all of the murders he committed.

 

[timeForced]

A can write another section, if people really want. Kalibak goes down, Superman reappears and is pleased that AGL stepped up. If there's a demand for it then it's no problem for me to do it.

It was? Because I think it was so sneaky that it passed me by.

Click to shrink...

IIRC, the Paul in Chinaverse didn't visit England because he didnt feel a connection to the Morris dancing nation.

 

[Aeess]

AGL joining officially would be difficult due to all of the murders he committed.

Click to shrink...

Just have him wear a domino mask and pretend he is a new Superhero, literally nobody will think that they are the same person.

 

[Maxx Crowley]

would totally read that

Click to shrink...

It's not completely shelved, but I don't have the same kind of writing time I used to have. Plus....well I was really trying to come up with something Zoat would like enough to include into "canon" and...well I don't think it's up to par. Plus he's going somewhere different then I guessed.

It was? Because I think it was so sneaky that it passed me by.

Click to shrink...

That's how you know it's extra sneaky.

 

[Norgarth]

...now I wanna see Batman using a sports bat on someone.

Click to shrink...

Would that be the Bat-Bat?

 

[DrThoth]

Because another version of the SI exists in the actual DCAU.

Click to shrink...

The obvious follow-up question is what's the deal with the DCAU SI- who should technically exist in the same continuity as the Justice Lords, just in a parallel universe. You'd think he'd be relatively easier to get to with their reality-traveling device. Guess he wasn't ruthless enough for them since I believe that was one of their criteria.
I'm assuming the DCAU SI doesn't have an Anti-Green ring since that's too similar to AGL, and unlike Paragon/Renegade I can't see them really diverging enough to be interesting considering how similar their situations would be. The only Glow-tech we haven't seen directly used by any SI (discounting white and black) is violet, which could be fun.

 

[Aeess]

The obvious follow-up question is what's the deal with the DCAU SI- who should technically exist in the same continuity as the Justice Lords, just in a parallel universe. You'd think he'd be relatively easier to get to with their reality-traveling device. Guess he wasn't ruthless enough for them since I believe that was one of their criteria.
I'm assuming the DCAU SI doesn't have an Anti-Green ring since that's too similar to AGL, and unlike Paragon/Renegade I can't see them really diverging enough to be interesting considering how similar their situations would be. The only Glow-tech we haven't seen directly used by any SI (discounting white and black) is violet, which could be fun.

Click to shrink...

There is also the possibility that he just has a regular Green Lantern Ring, also Zoat mentioned that the Black Lantern SI ends up in Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He arrives with a ring at 0% percent and is immediately nommed by a couple of itinerant fledglings, who then feed him on their blood to turn him into one of them. As per Buffy canon, Vampires are Demon-possessed corpses. When the Blood Demon answers the summoning, the black ring noms it and goes up to 2% power. Just enough to wake him up. The two Vampires greet their new brother... And are somewhat confused by his responses.

With his animus banished by his death and no Demon inside providing a replacement, the new Black Lantern is fairly unemotional and indolent. He has no 'game face' and cannot learn Demon-related abilities. For magic purposes he counts as 'undead' but not 'Demon'. The Vampire blood in his system still grants increased strength, endurance, speed and regeneration and requires that he feed on the blood of others to remain coherant. The black ring can only be charged standard fashion: ripping out the hearts of those in the throws of intense emotion. Doing so gives him 0.1% and temporarily lets him feel that emotion. Falling to 0% causes him to become a normal corpse and getting to 100%... Would be bad. As an undead creature spawning new rings doesn't take him much effort, just more power. The ring can do normal ring things like blocking harmfull environmental effects (sunlight) and repairing physical harm (heart piercings).

I have in mind a scene where he gets directed to Sunnydale Hospital with obvious neck wounds. Someone -probably early series Willow- ends up trying to question him about the attack and only gradually come to the conclusion that he's a Vampire and is between her and the exit. I see him getting staked at least once.

Kinda tricky to make this different from Blood and Chaos, actually.

Click to shrink...

 

[Mr Zoat]

The obvious follow-up question is what's the deal with the DCAU SI- who should technically exist in the same continuity as the Justice Lords, just in a parallel universe.

Click to shrink...

Justice Lords is Earth 50, where the Renegade briefly visited. If there was a version of the SI there then the Renegade didn't see them. It's also possible that the Lords killed or lobotomised him.

Earth 12 SI hasn't ever met the Justice Lords. He's actually one of the few who live in England.

You'd think he'd be relatively easier to get to with their reality-travelling device. Guess he wasn't ruthless enough for them since I believe that was one of their criteria.
I'm assuming the DCAU SI doesn't have an Anti-Green ring since that's too similar to AGL, and unlike Paragon/Renegade I can't see them really diverging enough to be interesting considering how similar their situations would be. The only Glow-tech we haven't seen directly used by any SI (discounting white and black) is violet, which could be fun.

Click to shrink...

SI 12 has an orange power ring and no way to charge it.

 

[Aeess]

Justice Lords is Earth 50, where the Renegade briefly visited. If there was a version of the SI there then the Renegade didn't see them. It's also possible that the Lords killed or lobotomised him.

Earth 12 SI hasn't ever met the Justice Lords. He's actually one of the few who live in England.

SI 12 has an orange power ring and no way to charge it.

Click to shrink...

Isn't England full of Demons to charge his Ring with?

 

[Mr Zoat]

Isn't England full of Demons to charge his Ring with?

Click to shrink...

Neither England 12 nor England 50 are full of demons. Apart from the five minutes where Morgana le Fay turned it medieval.

 

[Ct613hulu]

So what is SI 12 doing with his life? Did he simply use his remaining charge to set himself up for life and then live as a normal human or has he found an alternative means of operating as a Superhuman?

 

[Uxas]

Anyone know where I can find the rest of the Difficulty sidestory?

 

[Maxx Crowley]

Anyone know where I can find the rest of the Difficulty sidestory?

Click to shrink...

In the place where it rests in its primordial form.

Within Zoat's head.

 

[Pinklestia]

So what is SI 12 doing with his life? Did he simply use his remaining charge to set himself up for life and then live as a normal human or has he found an alternative means of operating as a Superhuman?

Click to shrink...

Maybe? Even if he memoriced the cartoon and the comics there are not that many safe ways for him to get super powers. The Captain Nazi formula would make him look like a monster, there is no cosmic Rod, he has no talent for magic...

Maybe he could try that speed formula were you just say it and win powers but it might not work there.

 

[Ganurath]

Anyone know where I can find the rest of the Difficulty sidestory?

Click to shrink...

Fool's Canon, starting here.

 

[Prince Charon]

Whenever I see a tradition that I think seems kinda silly, I just remember that the country of tea-drinking, tophat-and-tailored-suit wearing gentlemen... have morris dancing.

Whatever a book's cover may be, you're definitely gonna find a weird chapter or two inside of it.

Click to shrink...

In some versions of the DCU, they have morris dancing assassins.

 

[Mquz]

In some versions of the DCU, they have morris dancing assassins.

Click to shrink...

Constantine mentioned them to OL in this fic I think. One of the Paul's has definitely heard of them.

 

[Mr Zoat]

28th January
07:33 GMT -5

Kon gives him a nervous smile as Match's eyes start to focus, and I notice that his sclera are now white rather than black. I'm a.. little nervous, given what happened last time we had Match in this position.

"Hey… Kon-El." Match blinks in surprise at the sound of his own voice. "I.. know who you are."

"Yeah. We thought it would be a good idea-."

"I attacked you." Match's eyes move away and he frowns. "I think… And-" His eyes focus on me. "-you, you were there."

"Ah… You remember that?"

"Yeah. I don't.. remember why. Oh."

"What?"

"Cadmus messed up with making… Me. So my brain chemistry didn't work right and I was angry all the time. And I.. know that, but I don't…" He looks around at the room rather than the people in it. "This is Superman's Fortress of Solitude. No one.. told me that. So how do I know it?"

Kal-El takes a step forward. "While we were fixing your genetic damage, we thought it would be a good idea to make sure you would know what was going on when you were well."

"Oh." His frown deepens. "Huh."

"You remember anything else?"

Match's jaw tightens. "I remember the tank."

Kon nods, grimacing. "Yeah, you and me both. Anything other than the tank?"

Match's face stills, then he shakes his head. "No. Am I.. supposed to?"

Kon shrugs. "The genomorphs programmed me with a bunch of things. I thought maybe they did the same with you."

Match frowns again, eyes narrowing as he concentrates. "I think… Pictures and… Voices? But it's all… Really unclear. Like a buzzing or.. something."

I nod. "Given your state of mind, it isn't surprising that the programming didn't take."

"What were they programming me to do?"

"Probably the same thing they programmed me for. To be a Superman they could control."

Match blinks again, then focuses his gaze on Superman. "Superman's taller than me."

"For now, but-." Kon cuts himself off. "Jor-El? Match is gunna keep growing, right?"

"Match will continue to grow normally, and will probably grow to be approximately the same height as Kal-El."

"So I was supposed to.. grow into it?"

Kon frowns slightly. "Does it bother you?"

"No, I'm… Just trying to make sense of… Stuff." He looks around our little group again. "Can I get up?"

Kon blinks in surprise. "Ah, yeah, sure." He holds out his right hand and Match cautiously takes it, allowing himself to be pulled into.. a…

Oh… dear. Alright, he's basically a few hours old. I wasn't expecting a great depth of emotional depth. But there's… Nothing. Not even the 'be like Superman' drive Kon had. The knowledge Jor-El programmed him with is… Probably there, but I can't see it because it isn't connected to anything. It's not even at the level of hearing a news broadcast about people you've never met; that sort of thing triggers a weak empathic reaction.

Okay, none of that is a total surprise. Krypton used this system for programming soldiers, not for creating complex, well-balanced individuals. And even for telepathic intervention, creating attachments usually requires there to be attachments first. But as a wise robot in Isaac Asimov's stories once said, people often disproportionately value ideas merely because they were the ones who came up with them. He will come to value things eventually, there isn't a-. No, there is a simple, orange light based fix, but I'm not going to do it unless it turns out that he can't learn to value things.

Kon half-turns towards us. "Do you know who everyone is?"

Match nods. "You're Kon-El, Superboy, but… Brother? We were both made by Cadmus, but you're… Half Lex Luthor?"

"That's right."

Match turns to Kal-El. "Superman. Superhero. Based in Metropolis."

Kal-El nods encouragingly. "That's the Cliff's Notes version, anyway."

"I'm a.. clone of you. Is that… Important?"

Kal-El shakes his head. "It's only as important as we choose to make it. I didn't.. react well to finding out about Kon-El, but I've had a lot of time to think things through since then."

"So it is important?"

"Ah…" Huh. It's actually not making him uncomfortable, he just isn't sure how to answer it well. "Having a child and raising them properly is a big responsibility. And it wasn't one I was prepared to have dropped on me like that, particularly… If I hadn't been there from the start."

"I'm not your son. If anything, I'd be your brother. We're genetically identical."

"… True, but if I had a younger brother your age I'd-." He pauses, probably rethinking what he'd been planning to say. "I'd want to be involved in his life as well."

Match… Sort of nods, as if he isn't sure what to make of the statement. Which he isn't, as what programming Jor-El gave him only explained familial ties in the abstract. His eyes move over to me.

"Paul, the Orange Lantern. Superhero."

"An Orange Lantern, these days. Nice to see you up and about."

He nods, not sure what to make of me. Or… Anything else.

"M'gann M'orzz. Miss Martian. Superhero."

M'gann smiles broadly. "Hi. How are you feeling?"

"Disconnected. Like… I know who you all are but not what that means. Or-. No, it means that I know you from my programming and not from interacting with you, but I don't know… What the difference would feel like."

"Do you want me to show you?"

"Ah… Yes?" He blinks. "Oh, not-. Not with telepathy, not right away. I think I should… Learn how to do that for myself."

M'gann nods and Match turns his attention to Kara.

"Kara Zor-El. Kryptonian. I don't think you're a superhero."

"That's because I'm not."

"Um." He looks around the group again. "I think… Most of the people I know about are. So… How come you're not?"

Kara looks away for a moment. "Because I've only been on Earth for a few months. The whole idea of someone… Being so much more powerful than everyone around them, and using their powers like that… Isn't really something I've gotten used to yet."

"Oh." He considers her answer for a moment, then files it away. "And you're my… Cousin? Aunt?"

"Something like that. Clones don't quite fit normal family relationship models."

"No." Match nods. "I see that. So… What happens now?"

Kon smiles warmly. "Since we actually had time to plan for this, we've got a few different options for you, about where you could live, and go to school… Things like that."

Match nods in a slightly disinterested way. "Okay. So what are they?"

 

[DrThoth]

Maybe? Even if he memoriced the cartoon and the comics there are not that many safe ways for him to get super powers. The Captain Nazi formula would make him look like a monster, there is no cosmic Rod, he has no talent for magic...

Maybe he could try that speed formula were you just say it and win powers but it might not work there.

Click to shrink...

Actually I believe what Stargirl uses is a cosmic rod; there's also a Starman in the JLU but I believe he was the alien Prince Gavyn version.

I didn't actually expect there to be an Earth-50 SI since I sort of assumed an Earth-12 SI would 'count' for both universes since they were in the same setting and also more akin to divergent timelines than properly parallel universes like the Crime Syndicate one.

 

[King of Frost]

Now if this were an official DC comic Match being "born" without the ability to feel emotions would probably lead him to becoming a villain after giving being a hero a try.

I'm going to guess that in Young Justice Match was Kon's rival?

 

[Handlewithcare]

Ho boy. So Match, right now, is basically a sociopath? No way that could go wrong.

It seems like a pretty big oversight that a system to create soldiers would not also create motivation in them.

 

[Stsword]

Now if this were an official DC comic Match being "born" without the ability to feel emotions would probably lead him to becoming a villain after giving being a hero a try.

I'm going to guess that in Young Justice Match was Kon's rival?

Click to shrink...

There was a comic Match. He was an arrogant putz who gradually fell to Bizarrodom. He was named Kent Conner.

In YJ Match was just a berserker who they stuffed back in a tube, and showed up in the tie in comics looking like this-

 

[Chojin Patriarch]

Kon gives him a nervous smile as Match's eyes start to focus, and I notice that his sclera are now white rather than black. I'm a.. little nervous, given what happened last time we had Match in this position.

Click to shrink...

Well, no laser-eye panic mode. That's a good sign... Right? It strikes me that he was likely depowered for the duration of the repairs, wasn't he?

Spoiler: Commentary spoilered for length

I nod. "Given your state of mind, it isn't surprising that the programming didn't take."

Click to shrink...

Like trying to run an X-Box game on a PS3. The code and even the hardware might be similar but there're fundamental differences.

"No, I'm… Just trying to make sense of… Stuff." He looks around our little group again. "Can I get up?"

Click to shrink...

Boy, he sounds medicated out of his gourd.

...allowing himself to be pull into.. a…

Click to shrink...

...allowing himself to be pulled into.. a…

Oh… dear. Alright, he's basically a few hours old. I wasn't expecting a great depth of emotional depth. But there's… Nothing. Not even the 'be like Superman' drive Kon had. The knowledge Jor-El programmed him with is… Probably there, but I can't see it because it isn't connected to anything. It's not even at the level of hearing a news broadcast about people you've never met; that sort of thing triggers a weak empathic reaction.

Click to shrink...

And now the driving force of the episode becomes clear...

He will come to value things eventually, there isn't a-. No, there is a simple, orange light based fix, but I'm not going to do it unless it turns out that he can't learn to value things.

Click to shrink...

And using only Orange Light on a functionally empty individual can't be healthy anyway.

Kal-El nods encouragingly. "That's the Cliff Notes version, anyway."

Click to shrink...

I hope Match was encoded with cultural terms and slang. Otherwise that would be confusing.

Kal-El shakes his head. "It's only as important as we choose to make it. I didn't.. react well to finding out about Kon-El, but I've had a lot of time to think things through since then."

Click to shrink...

'Didn't react well'... That's one way to put it...

"I'm not your son. If anything, I'd be your brother. We're genetically identical."

Click to shrink...

See, that's the angle people should have been pushing Supes for about Superboy!

"… True, but if I had a younger brother your age I'd-." He pauses, probably rethinking what he'd been planning to say. "I'd want to be involved in his life as well."

Click to shrink...

Especially if you're plunged into the role of guardian.

Kara looks away for a moment. "Because I've only been on Earth for a few months. The whole idea of someone… Being so much more powerful than everyone around them, and using their powers like that… Isn't really something I've gotten used to yet."

Click to shrink...

Give it time, kiddo. Give it time...

Match nods in a slightly disinterested way. "Okay. So what are they?"

Click to shrink...

Hoo boy. Like Handlewithcare said, he's shaping up as a sociopath. Entirely detached from human.. everything...

I think I can guess what the title means now... He's a clone, so his soul... Isn't, yet... We can but hope he starts to connect to the Spectrum soon enough.

 

[Mr Zoat]

...allowing himself to be pull into.. a…
...allowing himself to be pulled into.. a…

Click to shrink...

Thank you, corrected.

Ho boy. So Match, right now, is basically a sociopath?

Click to shrink...

Sort of. If he was actually 16 years old and was still acting like this, that would be a reasonable description. He's actually only had a few hours of actually living, and a good chunk of that involved him having a serious neurological condition. Would you call a baby a sociopath because it only cared about its own interests?

 

[Sonder]

I'm going to guess that in Young Justice Match was Kon's rival?

Click to shrink...

He showed up once, in the same episode Luthor confirmed Kon's full "parentage."

Beat the snot out of Kon, and used heat vision and a mirror to burn the S symbol into his chest. It came out backwards, because mirror. Match is Earth-16's Bizzaro.

 

[Ngamer11]

No, there is a simple, orange light based fix, but I'm not going to do it unless it turns out that he can't learn to value things.

Click to shrink...

Really hope this isn't a chekov's gun of a branded Match. That would be depressing. On the other hand, now I'm imagining the OLC with two Kryptonians.

 

[DAT_NOOB]

Now if this were an official DC comic Match being "born" without the ability to feel emotions would probably lead him to become a villain after giving being a hero a try.

I'm going to guess that in Young Justice Match was Kon's rival?

Click to shrink...

I think he becomes a priest under the name: Kirei 'Match' Kotomine.