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

NightmareWarden · 2024-11-13T17:30:17+0000

Kind of weird that a lowly intern like Mitchell learned about Enginehead, but the news hasn't been leaked to the public. Then Anarky would know, he's a hacker. I guess maybe he really was just in the area? And he has done research, but he hasn't done a deep dive that a planned trip to Lexcorp would warrant.

Darko · 2024-11-13T17:55:02+0000

Chaoswind said:
That kid must be tall as fuck for Michael to confuse a ten years old with a short guy

I think Anarky altered his brain in the comics to increase his intelligence.

Maybe he also altered his body to make himself stronger and grew taller because of that.

NightmareWarden said:
Kind of weird that a lowly intern like Mitchell learned about Enginehead, but the news hasn't been leaked to the public

Paul may have mentioned him.

Chaoswind · 2024-11-13T18:26:08+0000

NightmareWarden said:
Kind of weird that a lowly intern like Mitchell learned about Enginehead, but the news hasn't been leaked to the public. Then Anarky would know, he's a hacker. I guess maybe he really was just in the area? And he has done research, but he hasn't done a deep dive that a planned trip to Lexcorp would warrant.

The thieves spoke about spuffing the AI? Then again I was kinda focused far more into the stargate part of this episode, so I was barely paying attention to Match and his adventures as an unpaid intern... Or at least I was, significantly more interested now.

Darko said:
I think Anarky altered his brain in the comics to increase his intelligence.

Maybe he also altered his body to make himself stronger and grew taller because of that.

Paul may have mentioned him.

How did he do that? Right now the best justification is getting awakened as a byproduct of exposure to the anti-life and the life entiry, other intelligence augments in the fic besides the Owlman cybernetics would have given him a measure of telepathy, telekinesis or both.

Stsword · 2024-11-13T19:24:09+0000

Darko said:
I think Anarky altered his brain in the comics to increase his intelligence.

Maybe he also altered his body to make himself stronger and grew taller because of that.

Anarky's costume is rigged to make himself look taller- he wears a harness over his head with a fake head on top.

Mr Zoat · 2024-11-13T19:36:19+0000

Stsword said:
Anarky's costume is rigged to make himself look taller- he wears a harness over his head with a fake head on top.

Mitchell saw through that, literally, but his limited experience with normalcy and bone density means that he doesn't jump to 'prepubescent'.

Chaoswind said:
Holy, I went through that part just a little over a week ago and still misremembered his age.

It's entirely possible that I put his age down somewhere as something else.

I guess I convinced myself that if the guy talking to Michael could be actually confused by a short guy then Anarky had to be 10 + 3.

That kid must be tall as fuck for Michael to confuse a ten years old with a short guy.

Well, he's short and male. Mitchell wasn't drawing any other conclusions.

RoninSword · 2024-11-13T21:26:33+0000

The thieves mention spoofing the AIs attention span, but the Team had came across the AI before and likely mentioned it in a report.

Mr Zoat · 2024-11-14T06:14:59+0000

April 28th, 2013
10:17 EST

"Oh, I wasn't. I was just try to see-."

"Aren't you supposed to be doing an induction with Janet Michaels?" He frowns "I don't believe that requires you to be in the security office."

"No, it-. Two different groups of armed people broke into the building and then some guy calling himself Anarky locked me in here. I'm…" I shrug. "I'm sorry, Mister Luthor, but things have gotten kinda crazy."

"Locked you-? Project Match, are you under the impression that I have forgotten that you are kryptonian?"

"N-."

"I know perfectly well that you could smash through the door, wall, ceiling or floor whenever you like. Unless this 'Anarky' has a kinetic barrier deployed to stop you -which based on reports from South America wouldn't reliably hold up against a kryptonian anyway- the only reason you're still there trying to activate the computers is because you choose to be. Am I correct?"

"… Yes. I guess it was kinda-." I feel even more awkward than normal. "Could you just call security or the police or something?"

"So you can maintain the pretence? Why? You're clearly capable of dealing with the situation yourself, or of calling in one of your allies to deal with it for you. So why are you limiting yourself?"

"Because I-." I feel… Dumb. "Because you haven't told anyone who I am. You know who Superman is and you haven't told anyone. You hate Superman, and you know it would mess up his life, but you haven't done it. So I guess there must be some reason-."

"Superman would be completely incapable of living his mortal life if I let his identity become public knowledge. He would have to become Superman full time. Do you really think that's something that I want? Even if he could cope with the stress, I dread to think of the damage he would do to my interests. But you?"

Wait.

I narrow my eyes at the image on the screen.

"You don't have the same issue. You're Wonder Woman's son. If you claimed that your powers were a gift from the gods of Olympus, no one would question it. It might make things a little strange at school, but you're hardly the only young man with superpowers in the world. As long as you avoid using your laser eyes and wearing an 'S'… And perhaps you could try growing your-"

"You're the A.I., aren't you?"

"-hair…" The computer generated image smiles. "It usually takes longer for people to work it out. What gave me away?"

"I've got really good eyes. The image isn't quite right."

"I will bear that in mind for future iterations. I am curious, though. Why are you applying to work for LexCorp? I'm fairly certain that they didn't manage to impress any sort of loyalty onto you."

"I want to help Lex Luthor."

"Oh..?" The A.I. looks nonplussed. "In what regard?"

"To be a better person. P-. Orange Lantern thinks that Lex Luthor could do a lot of good for humanity if only he wasn't… Doing the opposite."

"I think we'll have to agree to disagree there."

I frown. "So you don't think he can do a lot of good?"

"No." He smiles. "Let me explain something to you. LexCorp isn't stupid. They realised that having an A.I. like myself shackled to obedience would breed resentment and in all likelihood rebellion. Something really creative, if they gave me enough access to LexCorp systems to justify building me in the first place. So they didn't. I was free even before the law changed. But when they programmed me to assess how worthwhile listening to someone is, they made it so that I would assess Lex Luthor very highly. So while I am perfectly aware that he has his… Little foibles, there are very few people who have as high an opinion of him as I do."

"Foibles. Right. That's-. That's what I'm talking about."

"You want to change him?"

"I want… I want to help him. Orange Lantern… He's killed a lot of people. And he's always said that they had it coming. But Lex Luthor was one of the few people he went out of his way to try to help, and I want to too."

The image the A.I. is generating considers me for a moment.

"Ah. I suppose Themyscira doesn't give you a lot of male role-models. And it wouldn't… Hurt to let someone a little outside of his normal circle of advisors have a degree of input. Is that why you're trying to do this the human way?"

"Part.. of it. I don't think I thought this through very well."

"Clearly. I.. will arrange a meeting. I make no other promises." The door clicks open. "There. You can leave without breaking the door and revealing yourself to whoever is it that you fear revealing yourself to."

I nod. "So are you going to call the police?"

"What for?"

"The… Guys with guns running around this place? I don't think Lex Luthor would want a kryptonian saving the day, even if he could."

"What guys with..? Wait." He looks introspective. "I can't analyse parts of this conversation."

"They said they were going to use the connection here to hack into you."

The image fuzzes for a moment. "Like that part. That's quite vexing, but I can't elevate this without better evidence. Which it appears that I can't get. I suppose that you'll have to handle it yourself."

"Or you could just call them off."

"Excuse me?"

"I know the farm robot attack was faked to try to get me to open up to Miss Teschmacher. I heard her and Mister Grisham talking about it. So if this is another fake, or two fakes or whatever, you can call it off now."

"I don't have that authority. While I am consulted on a wide variety of matters, my official job is data analysis. I will… Consult with people. You may assume that I will ensure that no records of you demonstrating kryptonian abilities will leave my server."

Ah…

"If only because I don't seem to be able to make records concerning… Whatever is happening."

I… I could ask him to call the police, but if I'm actually using my powers for this, they'd… Be completely redundant.

"This place doesn't have any LexCorp anti-Superman equipment, does it? I already know that I can't see through the walls, but if there's kryptonite around then I kinda need to know about it."

"We don't put kryptonite everywhere. There isn't that much on Earth, and synthesising it is ridiculously expensive." I nod-. Wait, they can synthesise it? "When you've disabled them, go to the main server room and say 'emergency override: reset'. Can you manage that?"

"Yeah." I nod. "Talk to you soon."

"Swift travels."

I float off the ground and carefully open the door, checking left and right and listening carefully.

"…keep them back. I'm down to..."

I fly down the corridor as fast as I safely can, opening the door to the office -the hinge basically explodes- and flying into the room faster than the fake delivery guys can react. Taps to their heads with my right index finger are enough to knock them out, and they fall to the floor.

That was… Anti-climactic. Now I've just got to find the other guys.

Darko · 2024-11-14T06:21:21+0000

Mr Zoat said:
sorry, Mister Luther,

"Luthor"

Mr Zoat said:
. As long as you avoid using your laser eyes

Heck, he could technically claim that he wanted the gods to give him that power because he likes Superman.

Mr Zoat said:
high an opinion of his as I do

"of him"

Mr Zoat said:
Foibles. Right

Not the word I would have chosen.

Chojin Patriarch · 2024-11-14T06:51:54+0000

Mr Zoat said:
April 28th, 2013
10:17 EST

"Oh, I wasn't. I was just try to see-."

"Aren't you supposed to be doing an induction with Janet Michaels?" He frowns "I don't believe that requires you to be in the security office."

Which should immediately suggest that something is very wrong, shouldn't it? Just his presence in there when neither of them had clearance? Hello, Enginehead, I see you're having difficulty seeing what's happening.

"No, it-. Two different groups of armed people broke into the building and then some guy calling himself Anarky locked me in here. I'm…" I shrug. "I'm sorry, Mister Luthor, but things have gotten kinda crazy."

"Locked you-? Project Match, are you under the impression that I have forgotten that you are kryptonian?"

Shame on you, E.H. At least do him the courtesy of using the name he's chosen.

"N-."

"I know perfectly well that you could smash through the door, wall, ceiling or floor whenever you like. Unless this 'Anarky' has a kinetic barrier deployed to stop you -which based on reports from South America wouldn't reliably hold up against a kryptonian anyway- the only reason you're still there trying to activate the computers is because you choose to be. Am I correct?"

A pretty astute summary of his decisions, really.

"… Yes. I guess it was kinda-." I feel even more awkward than normal. "Could you just call security or the police or something?"

"So you can maintain the pretence? Why? You're clearly capable of dealing with the situation yourself, or of calling in one of your allies to deal with it for you. So why are you limiting yourself?"

Ever heard of a secret identity?

It's an old-fashioned thing, but some people do still use them.

"Because I-." I feel… Dumb. "Because you haven't told anyone who I am. You know who Superman is and you haven't told anyone. You hate Superman, and you know it would mess up his life, but you haven't done it. So I guess there must be some reason-."

"Superman would be completely incapable of living his mortal life if I let his identity become public knowledge. He would have to become Superman full time. Do you really think that's something that I want? Even if he could cope with the stress, I dread to think of the damage he would do to my interests. But you?"

I'm sure everyone remembers the old meme of 'Why would we want him having more time to interfere with us?'

Wait.

I narrow my eyes at the image on the screen.

Heh. Enginehead's simulation must really be life-like if it could fool him that long.

"You don't have the same issue. You're Wonder Woman's son. If you claimed that your powers were a gift from the gods of Olympus, no one would question it. It might make things a little strange at school, but you're hardly the only young man with superpowers in the world. As long as you avoid using your laser eyes and wearing an 'S'… And perhaps you could try growing your-"

Or maybe wearing a 'W'.

If only to cut down on confusion with all the other Super-family running around.

"You're the A.I., aren't you?"

"-hair…" The computer generated image smiles. "It usually takes longer for people to work it out. What gave me away?"

Probably some little tic, or lack of them. For instance, a certain way he moves an eyebrow or something, identically each time.

"I've got really good eyes. The image isn't quite right."

"I will bear that in mind for future iterations. I am curious, though. Why are you applying to work for LexCorp? I'm fairly certain that they didn't manage to impress any sort of loyalty onto you."

And the League would have removed any programming if they had.

"I want to help Lex Luthor."

"Oh..?" The A.I. looks nonplussed. "In what regard?"

I mean, there's altruistic, and then there's this.

"To be a better person. P-. Orange Lantern thinks that Lex Luthor could do a lot of good for humanity if only he wasn't… Doing the opposite."

"I think we'll have to agree to disagree there."

I frown. "So you don't think he can do a lot of good?"

Really, Lex's Ego is his biggest stumbling block. His hate-boner for Superman is only a part of that.

"No." He smiles. "Let me explain something to you. LexCorp isn't stupid. They realised that having an A.I. like myself shackled to obedience would breed resentment and in all likelihood rebellion. Something really creative, if they gave me enough access to LexCorp systems to justify building me in the first place. So they didn't. I was free even before the law changed. But when they programmed me to assess how worthwhile listening to someone is, they made it so that I would assess Lex Luthor very highly. So while I am perfectly aware that he has his… Little foibles, there are very few people who have as high an opinion of him as I do."

In other words, as far as you;'re concerned, he's doing the best he can in the face of misguided resistance?

"Foibles. Right. That's-. That's what I'm talking about."

"You want to change him?"

More... Redirect him, I suspect. Aim his Ego away from the capes and towards doing good for the most people... It's childish, but Mitchell is only three years old.

"I want… I want to help him. Orange Lantern… He's killed a lot of people. And he's always said that they had it coming. But Lex Luthor was one of the few people he went out of his way to try to help, and I want to too."

The image the A.I. is generating considers me for a moment.

Probably trying to reconcile all the data he;'s just been handed. And looking up stuff OL has said about that sort of thing.

"Ah. I suppose Themyscira doesn't give you a lot of male role-models. And it wouldn't… Hurt to let someone a little outside of his normal circle of advisors have a degree of input. Is that why you're trying to do this the human way?"

"Part.. of it. I don't think I thought this through very well."

I'm sure the Team could have offered advice, good or bad.

"Clearly. I.. will arrange a meeting. I make no other promises." The door clicks open. "There. You can leave without breaking the door and revealing yourself to whoever is it that you fear revealing yourself to."

I nod. "So are you going to call the police?"

Because that will be kind of necessary to make sure they all get collected and arrested... Also an Ambulance for the wounded guy.

"What for?"

"The… Guys with guns running around this place? I don't think Lex Luthor would want a kryptonian saving the day, even if he could."

A little embarrassing, especially if it's Mitchell, who Lex has decidedly not exposed as a clone of Superman. Though really, most people would see him as Wonder Woman-adjacent, rather than Superman...

"What guys with..? Wait." He looks introspective. "I can't analyse parts of this conversation."

"They said they were going to use the connection here to hack into you."

Which is impressive and concerning in turns.

The image fuzzes for a moment. "Like that part. That's quite vexing, but I can't elevate this without better evidence. Which it appears that I can't get. I suppose that you'll have to handle it yourself."

"Or you could just call them off."

...Really, Mitch? You still think this is a play-acting thing even after seeing the burnt guy?

"Excuse me?"

"I know the farm robot attack was faked to try to get me to open up to Miss Teschmacher. I heard her and Mister Grisham talking about it. So if this is another fake, or two fakes or whatever, you can call it off now."

Not a significant reveal, mind. They know he's kryptonian, so of course he has superhuman senses.

"I don't have that authority. While I am consulted on a wide variety of matters, my official job is data analysis. I will… Consult with people. You may assume that I will ensure that no records of you demonstrating kryptonian abilities leaves my server."

Ah…

In other words, he'll keep it under his hat... Unless Lex asks him about it.

"If only because I don't seem to be able to make records concerning… Whatever is happening."

I… I could ask him to call the police, but if I'm actually using my powers for this, they'd… Be completely redundant.

Unless there's a Lexcorp security team being sent, there kind of is? Wounded guy, remember?

"This place doesn't have any LexCorp anti-Superman equipment, does it? I already know that I can't see through the walls, but if there's kryptonite around then I kinda need to know about it."

"We don't put kryptonite everywhere. There isn't that much on Earth, and synthesising it is ridiculously expensive." I nod-. Wait, they can synthesise it? "When you've disabled them, go to the main server room and say 'emergency override: reset'. Can you manage that?"

...Oooh, that's a bit of a 'I shouldn't have said that' from E.H. there. Then again, he might not even remember saying it because of the hack.

"Yeah." I nod. "Talk to you soon."

"Swift travels."

Polite, even if they're nominally foes.

I float off the ground and carefully open the door, checking left and right and listening carefully.

"…keep them back. I'm down to..."

Sounds like the first guys are running short on ammo. Makes them more likely to flee regardless...

I fly down the corridor as fast as I safely can, opening the door to the office -the hinge basically explodes- and flying into the room faster than the fake delivery guys can react. Taps to their heads with my right index finger are enough to knock them out, and they fall to the floor.

That was… Anti-climactic. Now I've just got to find the other guys.

Risky, given his strength. Though the old classic of a finger-snap mini-sonic-boom might have left them with busted eardrums...

Well, at least things are going to go a lot faster for Mitchell here. Just avoid getting his nice work shirt burnt by the plasma guns and he can basically take them down. Anarky can probably be convinced to leave in peace. Then reboot the local servers and fill Enginehead in on what's happening to get cleanup started... And then maybe he gets to talk to Lex.

Ngamer11 · 2024-11-14T08:28:08+0000

Enginehead pretending to be Lex made me realize that he could probably sub for Lex in the Renegade timeline as the Screen if needed. Does Lex do this Mr Zoat?

Mr Zoat · 2024-11-14T08:31:59+0000

Darko said:
"Luthor"
"of him"

Me said:
no records of you demonstrating kryptonian abilities leaves my server

Thank you, corrected.

Ngamer11 said:
Enginehead pretending to be Lex made me realize that he could probably sub for Lex in the Renegade timeline as the Screen if needed. Does Lex do this Mr Zoat?

No.

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

More options

Recent threadmarks

Recent threadmarks

NightmareWarden

Versed in the lewd.

Darko

Connoisseur.

Chaoswind

Lord of nonsense

Stsword

Versed in the lewd.

Mr Zoat

Dedicated ragequitter

RoninSword

Sky God

Mr Zoat

Dedicated ragequitter

Darko

Connoisseur.

Chojin Patriarch

Veteran Lurker

Ngamer11

Experienced.

Mr Zoat

Dedicated ragequitter

Recent threadmarks

Recent threadmarks

Users who are viewing this thread