22nd July
15:02 GMT -4
"I know you can lift more, but that isn't the aim here. You're supposed to lift a smaller weight repeatedly. Building strength rather than showing off what you already have."
It's a mark of how much our relationship has improved this week that Kon actually appears to listen to what I say, rather then snapping at me or storming off. He's lying on a bench press bench I fabricated after the normal steel one we tried this with collapsed under the weight. Near his head is an orange construct weight rest with a construct set of barbells. The barbells show fifty tonnes. It won't actually weight anything until he picks it up, and it will stop weighing anything if he gets into difficulty. Not too many people around who can spot for a Kryptonian.
This morning wasn't the first time that he mentioned his dissatisfaction with his sub-Superman abilities. Rather than let him either mope or try to persuade me to take a chance on modifying his body I suggested improving his strength in the traditional way. I doubt that any improvement will be significant. Really, I just want something to focus his attention on, but he seems to be pretty into it. We started on regular weights, but even loading the bar up to it's maximum it still didn't strain him. So I had the ring exert thirty tonnes and the bench broke.
He reaches under the rest and puts his hands on to the bar, pushing up slightly. The ringcreates the downwards forceand he begins pushing. Up down up down up down up no no no.
"Kon, it's about power under control. Slower. Here."
Icreate a metronome construct with a three second swing.
"One swing up, one swing down. It's harder to hold the bar with your arms bent than it is to hold it fully up."
He nods, then resumes. It's weird, really. He can lift fifty tonnes like it's no big deal, but is still perfectly capable of fine object manipulation without risking breaking whatever he's holding. No idea how it works. Maybe the level of strength he employs is somehow controlled by his intent? Wasn't he a touch telekinetic in the comics to begin with?
Watching his muscles move is impressive. My ring modified body probably has a little more definition -definitely not earned, I haven't spent any time in the gym for my own exercise- but even ignoring his super strength his muscles are clearly the larger. I haven't watched someone like him lift weights before and it's strangely enthralling. Kon changed into a vest for this and I can watch his muscles move as the tension shifts to different muscle groups.
There's a blast of displaced air and then Wallace-
"Guys! We're getting a mission!"
Kon holds the bar with his elbows bent at ninety degrees. Maybe I am setting the weight a bit low?
"Finally."
He moves it to the rest, and sits up as I delete the constructs. Should I be nervous? I'm not sure. I'm now fairly confident in my ability to protect both myself and my team mates. Shielding others was the main thing our recent team practises have allowed me to get good at. I can armour up Kon and M'gann in a second or so, and create versions of my environmental shielding for the others. Robin said that he preferred if I didn't use it on him as the orange glow draws the eye when he'd rather use evasion and misdirection. Kon, on the other hand, has been using it to the maximum. Barrier type construct shields are even easier, and I can use simple constructs on separate tasks without really concentrating.
"Do you have any other information for us?"
And the wind leaves his sails.
"No. But Batman's coming down later to give the briefing."
Kon's a bit more interested.
"When?"
"Batman's getting here about five."
If Wallace knows, then:
"Can I assume you heard about this from Robin?"
"Yeah."
"He didn't tell youanythingelse?"
He gives me an irritated look.
"Y'know, you could be more excited about this."
I lean back and cross my arms across my chest.
"I don't have anything to be excited about yet."
It's a little frustrating. If we're doing this mission today I'd like a chance to do some preparatory reading. Maybe practise construct types appropriate to the local threats. And if Batman is coming here, he must already know more or less what we'll be going in to. No reason he couldn't send an information packet over.
Wow, listen to me. Actually sound like I know what I'm doing.
Kon doesn't understand my lack of interest.
"This finally shows that they're taking us seriously."
"Kon, have you any idea how much it cost them to rebuild this place? This was always going to happen."
Timing's a bit awkward. If we're being deployed this evening then we're going to have to move dinner. Maybe we can rush the mission and find somewhere decent to eat out? Wallace doesn't get to pick this time. Not after the Mexican gut horror.
I couldreallyuse more information.
"I suppose using the ring to spy on Batman to find out more would be impolite."
They both look at me, shocked. Wallace speaks first.
"You can do that?"
"I'm not going to."
"But you could?"
"Sure. Simply do a long range scan for Batman's DNA and then set the ring to report whatever he says."
Kon thinks about it.
"Like you did when you scanned Superman?"
"Exactly. Far easier to get the sound around a person than to perform a high grade medical scan."
"Dude. Seriously?"
"A power ring's scanning capacity is a function of the emotional power of the user and it's energy reserves. I'd like more information, Batman's almost certainly in North America and I'm fully charged."
"The Bat Cave's got loads of anti surveillance tech."
"Most of which is early twenty first century Human technology. I doubt any of it could stop a power ring."
"How...long... have you been able to do this?"
"From the moment I got the ring. Any Lantern could. AnycompetentLantern. Really, the League's fortunate that Sinestro doesn't understand Human society at all, because he could pretty much wreck-"
Wallace's face is a picture of astonished surprise.
"Are you seriously saying you think the other Lanterns are incompetent?"
"My mentor was hamstrung by his ring's lack of AI support, and by the fact he couldn't get training. I haven't seen any footage of Lantern Gardner. But the other two? From what I've seen in recordings, I haven't been impressed. They seem to have trained exclusively for power with no appreciation for the more subtle uses of the ring. Which is a shame, because I'm sure their teachers -Lanterns Sinestro and Tui- would have at leasttriedto expand their range a little."
"They're Justice League members! The League's first Green Lantern saved hundreds of people when Star Sapphire attacked the Las Vegas airshow! He beat the Golden Condor by freezing an entire waterfall solid!"
"Brute. Force. Star Sapphire was after him anyway, and the Golden Condor's transmutation ability only works on physical contact. Why was it even able to touch him?"
Kon frowns.
"You really don't admire any other Lanterns?"
"There are four Green Lanterns whom I admire.Lantern Medphyl, for his comportment. If there was any justice he'd be running the Greenies training program rather than that muscle brain Kilowog.Lantern Jack Chance, for his initiative. He actually carries back up weapons in case something goes wrong with his ring. Most Lanterns don't even wear actual armour, and I'm happy to learn from their mistake.Lantern Rot Lop Fan, for his adaptability. His species doesn't even have a concept of light, so he, hah, thinks that he's a member of something called the F-Sharp Bell Corps, and uses sonic constructs. And Lantern Kreon, for being the most highly skilled construct user in existence. A construct only needs to exist for a second to do it's work but most Lanterns -myself included- can't quite get their heads around the idea. Most manage better thatboxing gloves, though."
Kon bases his whole heroic identity on Superman. It's clear that he can't really relate to my position.
"And no Orange Lanterns?"
Pff.
"I surpass Larfleeze by leaving my bedroom each morning. There's nothing admirable there."
"And the others?"
How to put this?
"The reason why I meditate each day is to prevent myself from turning out like the others; slaves to their base drives. I feel nothing for them but contempt."