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

[boo600]

Or he found other people. I wouldn't mind clarification there, but my greater concern is the whole 'cosmic balance' bit. The Renegade's run in implied that there's only one slot for each side, at least on Earth.

 

[Darko]

Or he found other people. I wouldn't mind clarification there, but my greater concern is the whole 'cosmic balance' bit. The Renegade's run in implied that there's only one slot for each side, at least on Earth.

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It's possible that because John is technically a Lord of both Order and Chaos, that they can circumvent the rule that says each side can only send one, or it may be that Hawk and Dove don't count as full-fledged Lords, so it's okay.

 

[Vaermina]

So the next episode will focus on Mageddon breaking free.

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I mean... Orange Lantern did basically just go there and metaphysically poke him with a stick...

 

[Darko]

I mean... Orange Lantern did basically just go there and metaphysically poke him with a stick...

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Except he didn't.

He just watched him for a little while.

Darkseid was the one that tried to poke him, and he barely survived that, but Mageddon didn't do anything then.

I doubt Paul looking at him is going to be his big reason for deciding to destroy everything.

 

[RoninSword]

Renegade said that there was a small group keeping an eye on Mageddon. That when Darkseid took a fleet of like, 2 million, only 16 came back. One of the defenders was lightly bruised.

Paragon and Hinon have also had a discussion about it before. The remnants of the last Source species (the previous New God like species) were keeping an eye on it.

So unless Mageddon can simply annihilate all of that at once (he might be able to, I had never heard of Mageddon until this story), their should be some sort of warning if it becomes active.

 

[Vaermina]

Except he didn't.

He just watched him for a little while.

Darkseid was the one that tried to poke him, and he barely survived that, but Mageddon didn't do anything then.

I doubt Paul looking at him is going to be his big reason for deciding to destroy everything.

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He broke past the obscuring veil using an emotional spectrum based teleportation system, then stared at him using emotional spectrum enhancement, while surrounded in a protective field generated by the emotional spectrum.

Mageddon is a stellar range emotional controller... Any single one of those things would have been the equivalent of poking him with a stick...

 

[Mr Zoat]

@Mr Zoat my understanding was that in the paragon tineline, Hawk and Dove got their powers bu Constantine finding 2 people to dump chaos and order on in the same was Jebediah gives power to the Marvel's. His whole plan was so that he wouldn't have two separate power sources screaming in his soul.
Did he find these two already powered up and simply give them more power?

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No, that whole thing had nothing to do with Hawk or Dove.

Or he found other people. I wouldn't mind clarification there, but my greater concern is the whole 'cosmic balance' bit. The Renegade's run in implied that there's only one slot for each side, at least on Earth.

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T'Charr and Terataya can't come to Earth or take full on hosts or anything like that, but they can sponsor people. Partly that's because it's nothing like as energy intensive and partly it's because they're cooperating with each other. Likewise, nothing's stopping Jebediah of Canaan and Oggar sponsoring the Marvels.

 

[Darko]

He broke past the obscuring veil using an emotional spectrum based teleportation system, then stared at him using emotional spectrum enhancement, while surrounded in a protective field generated by the emotional spectrum.

Mageddon is a stellar range emotional controller... Any single one of those things would have been the equivalent of poking him with a stick...

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Darkseid basically did the same thing when he tried to study it, and Mageddon didn't go on a rampage.

 

[boo600]

No, that whole thing had nothing to do with Hawk or Dove.

T'Charr and Terataya can't come to Earth or take full on hosts or anything like that, but they can sponsor people. Partly that's because it's nothing like as energy intensive and partly it's because they're cooperating with each other. Likewise, nothing's stopping Jebediah of Canaan and Oggar sponsoring the Marvels.

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"And you're just giving them power. You have no plans to come to Earth yourselves."

T'Charr nods. "And our having this compact with them will prevent other Lords entering your realm, just as if we were present in person."

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This is the bit I'm confused about. I was under the impression that Jedediah and Oggar's empowered don't count, or that the cap is already full, seeing as how John takes Nabu and Klarion's 'slots' after the end of year one, and T'Charr says this after the renegade kills them without replacing them. Are there a large number of mostly filled slots, then, or is T'Charr saying, here, that it's just filling up 1 set of slots?

I think I'm asking this poorly, but I hope it's clear what I'm confused about.

 

[Darko]

This is the bit I'm confused about. I was under the impression that Jedediah and Oggar's empowered don't count, or that the cap is already full, seeing as how John takes Nabu and Klarion's 'slots' after the end of year one, and T'Charr says this after the renegade kills them without replacing them. Are there a large number of mostly filled slots, then, or is T'Charr saying, here, that it's just filling up 1 set of slots?

I think I'm asking this poorly, but I hope it's clear what I'm confused about.

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Maybe the Paragon versions of Hawk and Dove aren't that strong, so it's allowed.

 

[Mr Zoat]

This is the bit I'm confused about. I was under the impression that Jedediah and Oggar's empowered don't count, or that the cap is already full, seeing as how John takes Nabu and Klarion's 'slots' after the end of year one, and T'Charr says this after the renegade kills them without replacing them. Are there a large number of mostly filled slots, then, or is T'Charr saying, here, that it's just filling up 1 set of slots?

I think I'm asking this poorly, but I hope it's clear what I'm confused about.

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Ah... Honestly, I forgot about that. Let's just say that John finagled things so that it's not a problem.

 

[Darko]

and I use a Lord of Order as a paperweight. Does-"

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"used"

By this point, Renegade already destroyed Construct Nabu with the Sword of the Fallen.

We last saw him helping Ahri'ahn after he reincarnated in a mortal vessel.

He was later let go because he helped bring him down and is now apparently rediscovering what it's like to have a body again.

And if that can't be used as innuendo, then I don't know what can.

 

[BR549]

Ah... Honestly, I forgot about that. Let's just say that John finagled things so that it's not a problem.

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When in doubt, 'Constantine Did It' is always a reasonable explanation.

...well, reasonable in the sense that 'yeah, he would'. Probably very unreasonable in actual execution...

 

[Lord Ernest]

As soon as this line of questioning started, I knew the final answer was that Zoat had just forgotten about the minutiae of this stuff. It just happens.

Maybe while trying to reconcile the two opposing magical mainlines Constantine contacted or encountered the T-duo cooperating and decided to help them and help himself. Maybe by way of assisting in the sponsoring or offloading some energy in the whole thing. That way they don't have to fight to occupy the 2 'slots' already taken by one guy and they help John with whatever scheme he cooked up to handle Order and Chaos at the same time.

Or in other words:

 

[Mr Zoat]

"used"

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Thank you, corrected.

 

[Mr Zoat]

20130923
17:02 PT
Aztek

Why did he ask that?

A short time ago I would have dismissed it as irrelevant, but now… I need to understand how my… Fellow warriors, think. How they fight. Why they do things. These two brothers are the most powerful in our class, and they would not have been chosen if they were fools.

I glance at Hawk, and note that his attention is solely focused on his brother, with none at all spared for my breasts for the first time since our class began. I do not think that he can really believe that Dove is in danger, so I can only conclude that it is instinctual. Something he did before they were empowered, and that he has not taught himself not to do since.

But assumptions are not enough. I must know.

"Why did he say that?"

"Huh?" Out of the corner of my eye I see him turn his head towards me with a jerk, before going back to watching Dove. "Because if they're not complete assholes then the best way to convince them to just give up without a fight is to look friendly. Crack a joke… Pay them a compliment, whatever."

It does not appear to have worked, as the group below spread out to surround Dove.

"How would you do it?"

"I'd let Don do it. But if he wasn't here… I'd keep watching 'til I was sure, then just drop on them. Hit 'em 'til they couldn't fight back, then hand 'em over to the police."

"You would not try to interrogate them?"

He shrugs. "What's the point? I mean, either there are other attacks happening right then or there aren't. If there are, I need to go deal with them, so I don't got time to ask a bunch of questions to a guy with a broken jaw. If there aren't, I'll just leave it to the professionals."

Our enemies raise their bats or draw their knives, and attack. Dove folds his arms and waits for them.

"What's he doing? Why is he-?"

Dove turns the dial on his belt slightly, and the incoming blows are effortlessly nullified by his inertia belt.

"Oh."

Dove looks around as the attacks continue. "Come on, guys. Give it a break."

Hawk glances at me again. "Did you know it did that?"

"Yes."

"Oh." He looks down at his own belt. "So this just makes us… Totally invulnerable?"

"No. It absorbs kinetic energy. Other forms of energy are unaffected."

"Like..?"

"Magic. Electricity. Heat. Radiation. Plasma weapons are only partially blocked."

"But a guy with a bat..?"

"Would 'a guy with a bat' hurt you anyway?"

"I mean… I'd feel it, a little."

One of the foes towards the back of the group draws a weapon-.

And immediately falls to the ground under Hawk's weight. I didn't see him move. My reflexes are mildly superhuman. His speed is strongly superhuman.

"Hawk, that wasn't necessary!"

"He had a gun, Dove!"

Dove allows the crowd surrounding him to swing their bats for a few seconds, then gestures to them. "And?"

Hawk gets off his target and picks up his gun. "Genasys Self-Defender, mark three. It's a sonic weapon. And seeing as how I can still hear you, I don't think your belt blocks it."

"Oh."

"Yeah. So can I beat them up now?"

"I mean, they seem kinda fixated. They might be hypnotised or something."

Hypnotised? How would-? They don't know. Uh, I should have made it clear at the start! Their senses may be acute by human standards but they don't have sensors like those in my helmet!

I hate making mistakes. Even if they're inevitable at the start.

I descend lower, though I'm careful to stay out of thrown weapon range.

"Aztek to Hawk and Dove. The things you are fighting are robots. Most likely, they-"

Hawk picks up the foe he landed on, and rips off its sweater. "Oh. Hey, that's weird."

"-are the same type-"

Hawk raises his fists as a couple of our foes attempt to attack him and find that they cannot harm him. "Hey, Dove, if they're just robots, can I smash 'em?"

"Just because they're robots, that doesn't mean that they're not people too."

"-that the Justice League used during their wargame."

"Oh." Dove tries to get a closer look at one of his attackers. "In that case, you can probably smash them, but…" He ducks, grabs one by the arm and uses that to grapple them. "Maybe it would be better to treat this like an actual arrest."

"You think we're getting graded?"

They were expecting us not to be constantly assessed?

"The Justice League are kind of a big deal."

"Okay." Hawk grabs another opponent and breaks its arms. "Minimum force."

That is a command I understand. I drop down, not next to them but next to a target who was lurking in a nearby alley and observing the fight. Perhaps it has a programming error, or perhaps it was meant to simulate a member of a gang hanging back to report to their superior. But assuming that they're simulating human physiology-

One precisely calculated blow to the head, and the target drops.

-then disabling them will be simple. Zip tie the wrists and ankles, hide a tracker in the clothes and then leave the alley with my next target in sight. Ignore the closest two as they cannot hurt any of us, shoot the one with the taser weapon with plasma from my gauntlets. Target down. Left, target down. Right, target down. Search for remaining targets…

None found.

I begin policing the battlefield. Zip ties, checking for a 'pulse' on each of their necks. I don't know how I would feign checking for other things on robotic test opponents, but hopefully whoever is watching will accept that as a basic health check. Dove is putting the training robots he downed into the recovery position, which seems unwise. It would give the impression that they are victims, not criminals in need of arrest. Hawk is just dragging his into a pile which… Would at least delay them escaping a little.

He looks around when he's finished… And he waves at the small crowd that has gathered. "So what'd'we do now?"

Dove shrugs. "I guess the League's gunna want these back? And we'll need to give statements."

I frown behind my mask. "We should inform our classmates. They may also be being tested, and sharing information is vital to successful cooperating."

"Good call." Hawk nods, then hesitates. "You get any of their numbers? 'cause I didn't."

 

[boo600]

Well done. They're definitely demonstrating their competence much more thoroughly than they could in the Renegade timeline - though they are a bit older, and went through the anti life. That might make a difference.

 

[Ngamer11]

I frown behind my mask. "We should inform out classmates. They may also be being tested, and sharing information is vital to successful cooperating."

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That should say 'our'.

 

[Chojin Patriarch]

20130923
17:02 PT
Aztek

Why did he ask that?

A short time ago I would have dismissed it as irrelevant, but now… I need to understand how my… Fellow warriors, think. How they fight. Why they do things. These two brothers are the most powerful in our class, and they would not have been chosen if they were fools.

Click to shrink...

Definitely finding the world a bit more complex than her training might have suggested it was, eh? And yes, understanding teammates, current or future, is definitely a good plan. Especially as people, not just fellow soldiers.

Spoiler: Commentary spoilered for length

I glance at Hawk, and note that his attention is solely focused on his brother, with none at all spared for my breasts for the first time since our class began. I do not think that he can really believe that Dove is in danger, so I can only conclude that it is instinctual. Something he did before they were empowered, and that he has not taught himself not to do since.

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Yeah, when it comes down to brass tacks, he'll watch his brother's back first. Not worrying the same way about Aztek also gives him an aura of 'I trust her to be able to take care of herself here.'

But assumptions are not enough. I must know.

"Why did he say that?"

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Yes, communication is king!

"Huh?" Out of the corner of my eye I see him turn his head towards me with a jerk, before going back to watching Dove. "Because if they're not complete assholes then the best way to convince them to just give up without a fight is to look friendly. Crack a joke… Pay them a compliment, whatever."

Click to shrink...

And if they are, then you distract them with an obvious target.

It does not appear to have worked, as the group below spread out to surround Dove.

"How would you do it?"

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That's a good question. The two of them do operate together normally, but sooner or later, Hank is going to have to work alone.

"I'd let Don do it. But if he wasn't here… I'd keep watching 'til I was sure, then just drop on them. Hit 'em 'til they couldn't fight back, then hand 'em over to the police."

"You would not try to interrogate them?"

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I'm guessing using any enhanced senses to try and monitor their chatter, if he can. That would help with actionable intelligence.

He shrugs. "What's the point? I mean, either there are other attacks happening right then or there aren't. If there are, I need to go deal with them, so I don't got time to ask a bunch of questions to a guy with a broken jaw. If there aren't, I'll just leave it to the professionals."

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Or if the next trouble spot is too far, call backup onto it. They're definitely going to have to curb that solo/duo style in a team environment.

Our enemies raise their bats or draw their knives, and attack. Dove folds his arms and waits for them.

"What's he doing? Why is he-?"

Dove turns the dial on his belt slightly, and the incoming blows are effortlessly nullified by his inertia belt.

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Because, as noted, Don read the manual and can be sure of the limits of the belt's field.

"Oh."

Dove looks around as the attacks continue. "Come on, guys. Give it a break."

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...Probably a little disconcerting to just let them hit him, though. Even if it must be making him feel like Superman right now...

Hawk glances at me again. "Did you know it did that?"

"Yes."

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In her case, helmet-provided intel on the belt's capabilities.

"Oh." He looks down at his own belt. "So this just makes us… Totally invulnerable?"

"No. It absorbs kinetic energy. Other forms of energy are unaffected."

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In this scenario, that means bats and bullets. Not even ricochets to worry about.

"Like..?"

"Magic. Electricity. Heat. Radiation. Plasma weapons are only partially blocked."

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Being basically heat and electricity applied to a gas, after all.

"But a guy with a bat..?"

"Would 'a guy with a bat' hurt you anyway?"

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Enhanced durability well above human norms, so probably not. Would still hurt, though.

"I mean… I'd feel it, a little."

One of the foes towards the back of the group draws a weapon-.

And immediately falls to the ground under Hawk's weight. I didn't see him move. My reflexes are mildly superhuman. His speed is strongly superhuman.

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...Okay, that would be a little off-putting, especially since Hank is not a small guy either. You don't expect large things to be fast things, after all.

"Hawk, that wasn't necessary!"

"He had a gun, Dove!"

Dove allows the crowd surrounding him to swing their bats for a few seconds, then gestures to them. "And?"

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Nice way to make his point.

Hawk gets off his target and picks up his gun. "Genasys Self-Defender, mark three. It's a sonic weapon. And seeing as how I can still hear you, I don't think your belt blocks it."

"Oh."

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Though sonic energy is still kind-of kinetic energy, I can see the concern. Either the belt wouldn't block it, or the focused effect could overload it.

"Yeah. So can I beat them up now?"

"I mean, they seem kinda fixated. They might be hypnotised or something."

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Ah, right, mookbots do look human enough to casual inspection...

Hypnotised? How would-? They don't know. Uh, I should have made it clear at the start! Their senses may be acute by human standards but they don't have sensors like those in my helmet!

I hate making mistakes. Even if they're inevitable at the start.

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Learn from them, but accept that you will always make mistakes sooner or later. The true art is mitigating and minimising the effect of those mistakes.

I descend lower, though I'm careful to stay out of thrown weapon range.

"Aztek to Hawk and Dove. The things you are fighting are robots. Most likely, they-"

Click to shrink...

And now they can cut loose. Will they? Let's see...

Hawk picks up the foe he landed on, and rips off its sweater. "Oh. Hey, that's weird."

"-are the same type-"

Hawk raises his fists as a couple of our foes attempt to attack him and find that they cannot harm him. "Hey, Dove, if they're just robots, can I smash 'em?"

Click to shrink...

And if the mookbots had the intelligence to feign worry, they would be doing so now.

"Just because they're robots, that doesn't mean that they're not people too."

"-that the Justice League used during their wargame."

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At least Don remembers the whole 'A.I. American' thing OL got passed.

"Oh." Dove tries to get a closer look at one of his attackers. "In that case, you can probably smash them, but…" He ducks, grabs one by the arm and uses that to grapple them. "Maybe it would be better to treat this like an actual arrest."

"You think we're getting graded?"

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I mean, model of robot previously seen used by League affiliate? Easy guess to make that it's a pop quiz.

They were expecting us not to be constantly assessed?

"The Justice League are kind of a big deal."

"Okay." Hawk grabs another opponent and breaks its arms. "Minimum force."

Click to shrink...

...Well, an average person might eventually heal from broken arms...

That is a command I understand. I drop down, not next to them but next to a target who was lurking in a nearby alley and observing the fight. Perhaps it has a programming error, or perhaps it was meant to simulate a member of a gang hanging back to report to their superior. But assuming that they're simulating human physiology-

Click to shrink...

Presumably providing real-time feedback and overwatch for Robin and OL's command station.

One precisely calculated blow to the head, and the target drops.

-then disabling them will be simple. Zip tie the wrists and ankles, hide a tracker in the clothes and then leave the alley with my next target in sight. Ignore the closest two as they cannot hurt any of us, shoot the one with the taser weapon with plasma from my gauntlets. Target down. Left, target down. Right, target down. Search for remaining targets…

Click to shrink...

Very efficient once she actually engages in combat. Precise, swift and disciplined.

None found.

I begin policing the battlefield. Zip ties, checking for a 'pulse' on each of their necks. I don't know how I would feign checking for other things on robotic test opponents, but hopefully whoever is watching will accept that as a basic health check. Dove is putting the training robots he downed into the recovery position, which seems unwise. It would give the impression that they are victims, not criminals in need of arrest. Hawk is just dragging his into a pile which… Would at least delay them escaping a little.

Click to shrink...

To be fair, I doubt they have zip-ties in their equipment belts yet. Do their costumes even have pockets or pouches?

He looks around when he's finished… And he waves at the small crowd that has gathered. "So what'd'we do now?"

Dove shrugs. "I guess the League's gunna want these back? And we'll need to give statements."

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Heh. Always the way. Any superhero fight inevitably attracts rubberneckers. At least this fight was quick enough no-one was at risk.

I frown behind my mask. "We should inform our classmates. They may also be being tested, and sharing information is vital to successful cooperating."

"Good call." Hawk nods, then hesitates. "You get any of their numbers? 'cause I didn't."

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...Call it in on the communicators you were talking with? Although that would require them to go through League dispatch first.

Hawk and Dove may seem casual and cocky about danger, but when push comes to shove, they do the work professionally. I suspect the hard part of their training will be getting them into a team-up mindset rather than their independent duo routine. Aztek, meanwhile, needs to learn to take action a bit faster. She's definitely a bit of an over-thinker, much like early OL...

 

[Mr Zoat]

That should say 'our'.

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Thank you, corrected.

 

[Jankl]

20130923
17:02 PT
Aztek

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Thank you for the name Mr Zoat.

 

[john doe 777]

Thank you for the name Mr Zoat.

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Agreed it makes it much easier