Video; Set before I've Got Your Name Written Here.

[prairietroubador]

[The man on the comms looks pretty resigned to being stuck here for now. When he speaks, it's with a western drawl.]

Howdy folks. Name's Greg Saunders. I'm a country singer by trade and, since it'll probably hurt more'n it helps to keep it under wraps, I'm also a member of the Justice League. Which means I'm a superhero, for those of you who don't who we are.

Folks call me Vigilante. No powers, but I'm good with a gun, same with a lasso, and I throw a decent punch.

Nice to meet y'all. I wish it could be under better circumstances, but if I'm honest that ain't exactly new for me.

[Encrypted]

What exactly is the lay of the land here, anyways? Besides Jorgmund havin' no regard for our lives or limbs?

Comments

[prairietroubador]

So it's Star Trek or bacon, huh? If it's all the same to you, I'll keep the bacon.

And hell, don't tell me there's more'n one of that sidewinder. That robotic psycho's enough trouble on his own.

[Locked Text]

And if that little slideshow of theirs was any indication, they still think we should be happy for the opportunity. I swear, when I get this thing out of me I'm going to punch every last one of them right in the face

Probably won't do much, but at least it'll make me feel better.

[googledox]

Intriguing that your version of Brainiac is robotic. But then again I've met a time traveling version of my great grand-daughter who was from a variation of the future where my species had evolved to become completely inorganic.

She...attempted to force that change much sooner that it had happened historically in her timeline.

[Unconsciously, his hand goes to his cheek where there's the faintest hint of circuitry melded in, or scarring that looks like circuitry.]

I was left with several inorganic components, mostly in a section of my spine. That my infamous ancestor is already robotic in your world is fascinating. You must be from a parallel of my timeline.

[People have talked to him about barging in and focusing on the science without introducing himself and how it can come off vaguely threatening, though, so he decides to properly introduce himself. Someone from at least some version of the past is definitely going to find another Brainiac alarming.]

I am Brainiac 5, of the Legion of Superheroes, a descendant of the original Brainiac. I've fortunately chosen a very different path from...well, most of my mostly villainous ancestors.

[He adds, because it takes some of the edge of the name:]

My friends call me Brainy. You may do so as well.

[prairietroubador]

I'll be honest, I ain't gonna lie and tell you that's not a little bit worryin'. I suspect you wouldn't believe me even if I did.

[Greg had never faced Brainiac himself. but the fact that Brainiac was a foe even Superman had trouble with was concerning all on it's own.]

But, the way I figure it? You got a buddy down there to vouch for ya. That alone is enough to tell me you ain't your ancestor. I can work with you.

Ain't like I got much choice in that anyways, but it's the principle of the thing.

[googledox]

If it's any consolation, it wasn't exactly my choice to go by the Brainiac name. But I wasn't allowed by Colugov to distance myself from the appellation; it was meant to be a warning as much as anything else.

[A slight tilt of his head.]

I've tried my best to make it represent something different in my time.

[He nods.]

We should have no issues cooperating. Myself and several other Legionnaires spent some time trapped in the past and worked with the Justice League for a brief time during a crisis. It was heartening to find out their historical reputation was well earned.

The first three Legionnaires actually founded the Legion with the belief that the galaxy could once again use heroes like Superman, Wonder Woman, and the other legendary heroes of Earth's past.

[prairietroubador]

If it helps any, I'm hopin' you did manage that. If for no other reason than to spite whoever put you in that position in the first place.

Ain't right, pushin' that kind of burden on someone against their will.

[Greg would have much, much angrier words if he had even a hint of how young Brainy was when this had started.]

[googledox]

[Brainy does a 50/50 gesture with his hand.]

Subverting the Brainiac name to be interpreted as something heroic has been...hit or miss. For a time, I was widely regarded as heroic. Then after an...incident, where it appeared that many of my teammates had been killed by a device I created to solve a problem during a fight, it was almost universally assumed that it had been intentional on my part. Of course a Brainiac would infiltrate the team of the galaxy's protectors to destroy them.

...Then it turned out they were alive in a pocket dimension and the minion of a threat to the entire multiverse admitted culpability.

Through it all, my species continued to despise me with a reliability that was almost comforting.

[He shrugs.]

I've stopped caring about my reputation and accepted that I will always be one mistake away from being seen as a monster, whether I actually deserve it or not. So what matters then is doing the right thing for the sake of it and keeping my friends from dying any time they do something completely outrageous to forestall the most recent cause of galaxy's impending doom.

Worrying about whether or not I'm adored by the public seems a waste of time. After all, I'm not a Luthor.

[He met the man. He was...not impressed.]

[prairietroubador]

Can't blame you for that.

And, yeah. Man never did quite have his head on straight. Even before he merged with my Earth's version of Brainiac.

[googledox]

[He grimaces.]

Alongside meeting Luthor in the past, I've also met my ancestor.

So that sounds like a waking nightmare.

[prairietroubador]

Sounds about right. I wasn't there myself, but the after-action reports did not paint a pretty picture. Thankfully it's not somethin' that lasted long.

Ain't sure on the how, but the Flash managed to rip out all the nanotech that was letting them do it at hyperspeed.

[Locked to Brainy]

[walkingballpit]

You know you don’t owe him info, yeah? If you aren’t comfortable, just ignore him.

[ He wants to ask if Querl’s okay, but isn’t sure if he should harp on this. ]

locked

[googledox]

I have found that being forthright is the best tactic when dealing with the heroes of Earth's past. That way they don't eventually find out who I'm descended from by accident and infer that I hid my status as a Brainiac due to harboring malicious intentions.

Being open about who I was descended from meant the Justice League was comfortable working with me before, especially since Superman vouched for the Legion as a whole.

locked

[walkingballpit]

I meant more about you than your ancestry. Your ancestors are public record. What happened - you only have to share what you want.

Re: locked

[googledox]

I don't consider what happened to myself during that incident particularly traumatizing.

[He raises both eyebrows.]

Which certainly says something about my threshold, doesn't it.

I have more issue discussing the specifics of what happened to Merl. Or...the hostage situation with the Legion of Supervillains. Those specifics I will keep to myself unless I feel more comfortable discussing them.

I actually find the dimensional variation in regards to Colu's transition between organic and inorganic life fascinating.

Locked

[walkingballpit]

[ He tries to ignore it at first. ]

Don’t worry - I don’t talk about Merl unless it’s locked down and even then only to you. I’m not about to put something like that out there.

[ Because he knows that it would be the best thing to use against Brainy, if Jorgmund needed to keep him in line. Robbie doesn’t want to see that again.

... ]

It kind of is messed up. I was traumatized by it, and I only had to see it. I can’t be the only one - I’ve never seen a team move that fast.

[googledox]

What I did need to process I talked over with Dr. Ry'kerr. I'm fine, especially after this much time to process.

But I understand why my friends found it traumatizing to watch. Especially you, when we've always been so close.

I would have had difficulty with seeing you come to harm. And would even more so now.

[walkingballpit]

[ Robbie’s nodding along as Querl goes. ]

Yeah, me too. The talking about it to Doc. It really helped to have someone just listen to my crazy ideas about throwing my hat in the leadership ring just so I could make sure you and Rich got stuck in bubble wrap for life.

I mean... the same for the rest of it, me too. I’m supposed to go on that walk with Rogue, but we’ll talk when I get back, okay? I think I need to.

[googledox]

I understand if you need to talk about it. Especially now that we've - that things have changed.

[Especially now that they're admitting deeper feelings.]

I'll be here. Do be careful.

[walkingballpit]

I think the trade’s worth it... I’d be sure if they could just figure out intergalactic peace. Most of the vegan food’s okay. The ice cream’s better than the pizza.

[ Robbie has seen that Brainy’s responded as well. He’s not surprised that Querl sees all, but he’s holding his breath to make sure they get along. ]

I see you’ve met Brainy. I’ll admit I’m biased as a fellow Legionnaire, but he’s far from a psychopath. I’ve met psychopaths. And you could make a case for cyborg, but I can confirm he’s definitely not a robot.

[ Locked text. ]

Wait til they make you eat sheet cake. Their idea of fun around here has two settings deprived and depraved.

Just leave some for the rest of us, thanks.

[prairietroubador]

Hey, like I told him, you're vouchin' for him. That's more'n the original ever had.

[Greg pauses for a second.]

...technically I guess Lex Luthor would've, but if Luthor told me grass was green I'd go out and check.

[walkingballpit]

I don’t know a Lex Luther but I’m picturing somebody I couldn’t trust as far as I could throw, and I don’t have super strength.

Thanks for trusting me without having to get into any embarrassing stories to prove he’s cool. He’s my roommate - the awkward silence would be long.

[prairietroubador]

Yeah, he and Superman have a history longer'n the Elongated Man's arm. None of it good, and all of it his fault.

Course, the fact that Superman's remembered a thousand years in the future and he ain't? Is pretty dang funny, so thanks for that.

[walkingballpit]

I am Lex Luther! I am evil, and will waste the time of the greatest superhero of this age, and all of those around him, only to have a future hero give me the same brain cells he gives the Teapot Dome Scandal.

[ A wide grin. ]

At least I remember its name.

[prairietroubador]

He. You're alright, kid.

Lemme know if you want a song at some point. I can't promise it'll be anythin' special, since I haven't gotten my hands on a guitar yet, but I'll try my best.

[walkingballpit]

You’re not bad yourself.

[ After all, he’s got over the whole Brainiac thing quickly, or at least he’s reserving judgment to see for himself. That’s a rare thing in Robbie’s opinion. ]

Know any Alice in Chains?

[ Country isn’t exactly his thing... ]

[prairietroubador]

Sorry, but they ain't exactly part of my repertoire.

[Greg thinks it over a second. He doesn't have a lot options for someone who isn't a fan of country, but he does have some.]

How do you feel about Eric Idle?