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

[Darko]

the Doctor Tetch hasn't

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Remove "the"

turns and head back down

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"heads"

 

[Chojin Patriarch]

19th July 2013
A little past ten, local time.

"I mean, technically, the city can hear us, and any street shaman, Neo-Vodunist or thaumaturgist could listen in due to how modern communications technology is all-encompassing."

I look off to where my section of the city starts. Which means that we're roughly…

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Interesting that his rebuilt part is delineated here. Or is at least able to be told apart from the older sections. Presumably this place echoes the real city like a dark mirror, a half-finished fantasy of what is and what could be...

Spoiler: Commentary spoilered for length

I look around and look at the rough shape of the office building formerly owned by the celebratorily late Jeremiah Hatch.

"Interesting choice of meeting place."

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That would be the Question's first Post-Crisis nemesis. And also a player in the Anti-Life Broadcast, if memory serves me correctly?

"How many advertising hoarding do you think that Hub City still has?" He walks closer, standing next to me and looking at the building. "And how long until the last of his works are dragged down?"

"Assuming that Anarky doesn't pay us another visit, about three months. Is there some reason to tear it down faster or avoid it?"

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I'm guessing advertisements aren't a priority in OL's new buildings, and not many companies putting effort into raising billboards.

"I'm inclined to leave a few pieces of Old Hub City where they are, as a mark of continuity and a reminder of how bad things can get."

"Even Hatch didn't shit where he slept. If we just patched it up they'd say 'doesn't look that bad to me'."

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And depending on the pervasive nature of the city's corruption, leaving them in place would be like a cancer...

"And my lighthouse?"

"I assumed that it was a listed building." I shrug. "It's in good repair, even if it isn't needed for its original purpose any longer. I've got no reason to demolish it."

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Heck, he could place 'off-limits, private property' signs up. Maybe excavate an underground area for Vic to use as a safehouse...

I take a moment to look him over. As far as I can tell without being able to see his face, he appears to be healthy. His clothing is neat and clean… Though I think that's something pseudoderm does on its own? And I suppose that in a place like this it's perfectly possible that he's using magic to generate a 'face in a crowd' type avatar…

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Honestly, I wouldn't trust anything in this place at face value. It is the mind of the city, and minds can change or play tricks...

"But I doubt that you did this to talk about the reconstruction."

"You know what Batman is doing."

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And now we get to the real question at hand.

I nod. "The more I see, the less I like it. I've informed Wonder Woman of the nature of my concerns, and she's going to have a chat with him about what he's doing."

"'Who watches the watchmen?'"

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'Quis custodiet ipsos custodes?' indeed. When the people in power are also the ones seeing to their own oversight... Or writing the rules they nominally follow... Well, humans are humans.

"'We mostly watch each other', was the answer given by Samuel Vimes in the Discworld novel series. And when his city's ruler pressed and asked who watched him, he claimed that he watched himself too." I sigh. "League members watch each other, auxiliaries like me watch them… World leaders don't at the moment because they're too desperate… The people of the world watch them, but media organisations that might have informed them have taken a battering. I suppose that the Justice League could publish meeting minutes? But the thing is… Someone's got to make decisions, democracy isn't a panacea and there isn't anyone who could meaningfully oversee the Justice League who wouldn't be recruited as a member. I'll hear any idea you have, but I really don't think there's a simple solution to this one and 'I don't like this' isn't actionable."

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Ah, Vimesy. The true Watchman. I think the Question would like him, if they ever met.

"Are you aware of Batman's new space station?"

"Yes, he even brought me there to have a look around. I assume that's where the oversight A.I. is located, but I didn't see it myself."

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I expect it was put up using his Power Ring. Much cheaper than assembling and launching it the usual way.

"The A.I. partners of the 'Peace Operatives'?"

"It's an A.I.. It can almost certainly parallel process. I'd be astonished if there was more than one. It would be inefficient."

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It'll be interesting to hear from the Eye eventually. Purpose, likely without moral restraint, that could easily go awry...

"The one strong emotional relationship that they all have, and it's with the same mind."

"A logical deduction on my part, not proven fact." I shrug. "It's the most likely thing… Second most likely would be that they're built into their belts. But… I don't think Batman's in the mood to build a distributed system."

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On the other hand, it would make the system more resistant to infiltration, especially if the proposed 'belt AIs' could perform 'spy checks'.

"Not in the Hall of Justice?"

"The other League members would have noticed and commented on it. My… Experience, is that League members can ignore things that aren't an active problem as long as their faces aren't constantly being rubbed in it. But I'm hoping they've learned from last time."

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Sadly, that's human nature. Even amongst the ones who aren't actually human.

"Last time?"

"Sorry, Question. If you want that level of information, you'll need to join the League."

"And so become another watchman."

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But doesn't the idea of something you don't know just burn? Hopefully he doesn't go raiding League files at some point out of curiosity...

"Justice League members don't get paid for being on the League, and they don't get much in the way of power. Superman wouldn't suddenly get weaker without political backing, he'd just become less efficient because he'd be less well informed." I rub my forehead. "Look, I've done my job by checking that you're alright. Unless you've got some new information about what he's doing, I'm happy to leave it at that."

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At least give him something to let him contact you in an emergency?

The Question considers me for a moment.

"What else do you think that the belts are doing?"

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Ah, he's worried they're emitting something akin to a weaker version of the Anti-Life Broadcaster's message? 'Let us handle it, we know what we're doing.' or the like, perhaps.

"Uh… Well, it's a narrowcast system, so… They might have a affect on the area around the Operatives, but they're not really designed for that. I mean, you-." I wince slightly. "You know how big the broadcast systems were, and Apokolips wouldn't deliberately use a low quality system. A smaller version isn't going to be more effective than one powered by a fragment of Darkseid."

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At least not on the same scale, anyway... But one that could affect people near the agent, encourage them to follow orders?

"But they would be more insidious."

"The disaster won't last forever, and the Peace Operatives aren't hanging around… World leaders, or something. Eventually, things will normalise."

"Or Batman's control will normalise."

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Eh, Batman wouldn't particularly force things on people. At least, he wouldn't have used to. The world might be a bit more lawful good, but he's no self-indulgent lunatic.

"That would be a sad testament to our species inability to govern ourselves. But… I'm increasingly coming to believe that if it gets to that point, he may as well keep it, because no one else stepped forwards when they could have." I spread out my arms. "Anything else? Or can I go back to the material world now?"

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Better a benevolent tyrant than utter chaos of anarchy or a poor leader focused only on their own desires?

"I do have more information, but this meeting is taking place here because I do not trust the Justice League where Batman is concerned. Not at the moment. Your countermeasures are impressive, but if you wish to learn what I know then you will have to join us."

And now there's an 'us'.

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Because of course there is. I'm betting it's him, Anarky and other conspiracy fans.

"You're working with Hatter, aren't you?"

His face is blank. Doh ho ho.

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Eh, pretty easy guess.

"You know that he's the one with the actual global control device, yes? You're doing a watchmen watching themselves, too."

"Perhaps."

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But can they trust themselves to stay honest? What if someone comes in and begins to subvert them?

"Then, no. After that.. previous event I alluded to, I… I want to trust the League. To give my friends and mentors a chance to handle things better. So… That's what I'm going to do. And partly because what happened last time is going to stick in their minds, I honestly think they will. Either Batman will get a slap upside the head and knock it off… Or they'll deal with it. I don't know what you're planning, Doctor Tetch hasn't really demonstrated the sort of mental stability or moral probity that I look for."

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Nto in the past. The question, then is what's he like now, especially with Vic, Anarky and D.C. watching him?

"Very well." He turns and heads back down the alley. "I will simply have to hope that you are correct."

Ah.

Well, that's a shame…

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Oh, he's pulling a Batman Exit, isn't he?

"Wait, how do I get out-?"

And he and his alley are both gone.

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Well, time to see if you can greediport out, or persuade the city-mind to spit you out...

Well, not an entirely unproductive talk. OL made sure he's alive and healthy, that he's concerned about the G.P.A. and that he's forming his own group to act as an unofficial oversight committee. And it has at least three or four members: Vic, Tetch and Detective Chimp and possibly Lonnie. Hopefully they can keep their activities to minor annoyances, or they'll force a crackdown...

 

[Vaermina]

"Then, no. After that.. previous event I alluded to, I… I want to trust the League. To give my friends and mentors a chance to handle things better. So… That's what I'm going to do. And partly because what happened last time is going to stick in their minds, I honestly think they will. Either Batman will get a slap upside the head and knock it off… Or they'll deal with it. I don't know what you're planning, the Doctor Tetch hasn't really demonstrated the sort of mental stability or moral probity that I look for."

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See now, given his sanity upgrade I'd actually argue that he's currently more mentally stable then Orange Lantern.

 

[Duke Long]

"Uh… Well, it's a narrowcast system, so… They might have a affect on the area around the Operatives, but they're not really designed for that. I mean, you-." I wince slightly. "You know how big the broadcast systems were, and Apokolips wouldn't deliberately use a low quality system. A smaller version isn't going to be more effective than one powered by a fragment of Darkseid."

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'an effect'

"That would be a sad testament to our species inability to govern ourselves. But… I'm increasingly coming to believe that if it gets to that point, he may as well keep it, because no one else stepped forwards when they could have." I spread out my arms. "Anything else? Or can I go back to the material world now?"

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'species''?
That is a sad way of looking at it, but I suppose he has something of a point.

"You're working with Hatter, aren't you?"

His face is blank. Doh ho ho.

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Hell yeah! I predicted the Conspiracy League! Looking forward to seeing more of them.

"Then, no. After that.. previous event I alluded to, I… I want to trust the League. To give my friends and mentors a chance to handle things better. So… That's what I'm going to do. And partly because what happened last time is going to stick in their minds, I honestly think they will. Either Batman will get a slap upside the head and knock it off… Or they'll deal with it. I don't know what you're planning, the Doctor Tetch hasn't really demonstrated the sort of mental stability or moral probity that I look for."

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'but Doctor'?

 

[NightmareWarden]

Is it possible that non-Guardian, non-Controller has stuck their oar in after the White awakening around the planet? Separate from comics' Trenchcoat Brigade, there was a group of magical investigators who operated on earth. I think Ganthet was one of then, but I'd pick an original Maltusian to replace him.

 

[BR549]

Eh, Batman wouldn't particularly force things on people. At least, he wouldn't have used to. The world might be a bit more lawful good, but he's no self-indulgent lunatic.

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Even Justice Lords Batman was the one who came around and turned on them.
...but it's worth remembering that that required reaching the point to come around from.

And also that Owlman is an alternate Batman.

 

[Mr Zoat]

Remove "the"
"heads"

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'an effect'
'species''?
'but Doctor'?

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Thank you, corrected.

 

[Ngamer11]

I really hope the Question's assumed team consisting of Mad Hatter, Detective Chimp, and Anarky will have a pretentious name.

 

[Lord Ernest]

I mean, everything that Batman is doing is suspicious as hell... but none of the crazy, conspiracy-theorists that are, apparently, vehemently against it are paragons of mental stability or individuals that inspire trust in their actions.

The Mad Hatter, for example, can claim to be not-crazy as much as he wants, he still kidnapped an ex-justifier, possibly more, to experiment on and is now planning to hack the OMAC network with an Apokoliptian mind control device; that and his behavior when encountered sounds and looks crazy to me. I don't trust Anarky's hypocritical entitlement, the Question's paranoia or a Chimp that, while really clever, doesn't know much about what's going on.

Leaving them to their own plans and schemes sounds as ill-advised as not checking what exactly Batman is doing.

 

[Rebu]

I really hope the Question's assumed team consisting of Mad Hatter, Detective Chimp, and Anarky will have a pretentious name.

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QAMD? MAQD? MACQ? HACQ? QACH?

 

[Mr Zoat]

QAMD? MAQD? MACQ? HACQ? QACH?

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DAMQ

 

[BartlettMagic]

man i love the Question

 

[Ngamer11]

DAMQ

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If this isn't a joke, what does it stand for?

Edit: Just realized it was the initials of the members. I kinda hope Paul will join in the future to act as a stabilizing figure.

 

[Steelplaza]

@Mr Zoat I wanted to ask something. Is Orange Lantern a member of the Justice League?

I don't remember a moment when he formally joined or anything, and I recall him declining to apply for membership in the past. But on the other hand these last few arcs he's been talking a lot like he's a Justice League member, but then sometimes he turns around and talks about "the League" as a separate thing from himself. He's a member of "the Team", but at this point is there really any distinction since the Justice League no longer needs to bother with deniable action?

I know superheroes aren't big on formalities, but it's kind of confusing to me even as a reader. OL comes off as very ambiguous about it when he talks; if I were a person in-world I would probably assume he was a Justice Lrague member.

 

[mastermenthe]

Well, thank you for sharing your incredibly specific kryptonian clussy fetish

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I thought we were talking in metaphor?

Kara's golden-age superhoics is the clown act.

 

[Agumentic]

I wanted to ask something. Is Orange Lantern a member of the Justice League?

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He mentions his status in today's update.

League members watch each other, auxiliaries like me watch them

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So no, but close enough.

 

[CrazyNoVa]

I thought we were talking in metaphor?

Kara's golden-age superhoics is the clown act.

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What do you mean, "metaphor"? You literally just talked about her getting into your bedroom after talking about her in a circus. What the hell would that even be a metaphor FOR, exactly? Either you're just screwing with us, or you really need to be more specific about what you say around here.

@Mr Zoat I wanted to ask something. Is Orange Lantern a member of the Justice League?

I don't remember a moment when he formally joined or anything, and I recall him declining to apply for membership in the past. But on the other hand these last few arcs he's been talking a lot like he's a Justice League member, but then sometimes he turns around and talks about "the League" as a separate thing from himself. He's a member of "the Team", but at this point is there really any distinction since the Justice League no longer needs to bother with deniable action?

I know superheroes aren't big on formalities, but it's kind of confusing to me even as a reader. OL comes off as very ambiguous about it when he talks; if I were a person in-world I would probably assume he was a Justice Lrague member.

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Not quite. They were going to offer him membership, but then that went out the window with the Nabu incident. That being said, he's a member of The Team, and he's a close associate of the League, so it's easy to confuse him for an actual member.

 

[Mr Zoat]

@Mr Zoat I wanted to ask something. Is Orange Lantern a member of the Justice League?

I don't remember a moment when he formally joined or anything, and I recall him declining to apply for membership in the past. But on the other hand these last few arcs he's been talking a lot like he's a Justice League member, but then sometimes he turns around and talks about "the League" as a separate thing from himself. He's a member of "the Team", but at this point is there really any distinction since the Justice League no longer needs to bother with deniable action?

I know superheroes aren't big on formalities, but it's kind of confusing to me even as a reader. OL comes off as very ambiguous about it when he talks; if I were a person in-world I would probably assume he was a Justice League member.

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He's not a member of the Justice League, but the League isn't a very organised organisation. In a time of crisis they just grab whoever's available and tell them what to do. The SI is free to pursue his own projects in the same way that, say, Firestorm or Ice are, so long as no League member gives him instructions to the contrary. He will still defer to Justice League members when they work together on something.

At the moment, team members are working exclusively with their mentors, partially because regular crime is well down below pre-Anti-Life levels, partially because they've all been through the wringer so much that they're as effective as most League members and partially because Batman doesn't need a black operations team any longer.

Regular people were probably a bit unclear on exactly who was on the League anyway, and generally have more important things to worry about at the moment.

 

[CrazyNoVa]

He's not a member of the Justice League, but the League isn't a very organised organisation. In a time of crisis they just grab whoever's available and tell them what to do. The SI is free to pursue his own projects in the same way that, say, Firestorm or Ice are, so long as no League member gives him instructions to the contrary. He will still defer to Justice League members when they work together on something.

At the moment, team members are working exclusively with their mentors, partially because regular crime is well down below pre-Anti-Life levels, partially because they've all been through the wringer so much that they're as effective as most League members and partially because Batman doesn't need a black operations team any longer.

Regular people were probably a bit unclear on exactly who was on the League anyway, and generally have more important things to worry about at the moment.

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So, are you saying that Batman's new agents have made The Team obsolete?

Is there even still a Team at all?

 

[Darko]

So, are you saying that Batman's new agents have made The Team obsolete?

Is there even still a Team at all?

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They most likely still work with each other fairly frequently, but I doubt they need to do the whole covert thing.

Batman now controls the planet, so he can just send them anytime he wants.

The Team was originally formed to complete missions in areas that the League wasn't allowed in, so they made a group that wasn't the League.

The League now controls all the areas, or at least doesn't answer to anyone that may object, so the Team has probably changed a bit.