The Importance of Being Earnest

October 23, 2016:

Power Girl wants to talk to Nathaniel Richards because she saw technology beyond Earth in an upgrade he's done on Justice League headquarters, this lead to a conversation that shows a stark difference in worldview philosophy between the displaced man and the displaced Kryptonian.

Hall of Justice

Built in the same architectural Art Deco style of buildings such as the
Empire State Building and Union Terminal in Cincinnati, it harkens back to a
simpler time. With its wide open rotunda as the lobby and carpeting gracing
the marble and granite floors, the Hall of Justice seems to embrace the
concepts of Liberty, Freedom and the Rights of all Humanity.

It is a practical building; a front desk is manned 24/7 with a
less-tha-obvious security force, ready and able to help any who may seek aid
from those within. Beyond, down massive lines of corridors, lies the inner
workings of the JL:A. High tech labs that mix both alien and earth
technologies can be found there, conference rooms, and even some living
areas.

Characters

NPCs: None.

Mentions:

Plot:

Mood Music: The Prophet Song by Queen


Fade In…

Power Girl has asked for Nathaniel to come to a meeting in the Hall of Justice on a strictly get to know kind of basis, mostly because she had seen the technology on recent upgrades he's done for the Justice League are far beyond anything currently available on Earth. It's a simple introduction and declaration of intent kind of thing.

Since the government intervention, Nathaniel has been working with the volunteers Sadie Sinclair organized to help coordinate the Justice League. Although he is not a member of the League himself, he has helped design and optimize the local network, even adding some hand-crafted electronic components. So it is not hard to catch him here, and of course he would love to talk with Power Girl.

Power Girl, dressed in her predominantly white costume, is waiting there for Nathaniel. When he arrives she extends a blue gloved hand towards him, "nice to meet you Nathaniel, you did quite the interesting work in the upgrades here. Where did you learn that, if you don't mind me asking?"

Eyes up to the woman's head, damnit. She is very tall, so it is easy to look where he shouldn't. "Power Girl, it is an honor," he manages, shaking her hand. His English has a faint but odd accent. "The upgrades? Do you mean the electronics? Well, the volunteers were short of money so I built some basic components in my electronic workshop. Which happens to be in a Vegan starship."

Power Girl's costume almost inisidiously seems to be inviting focus on some of her assets, at least when it comes to the male variety, perhaps by design? Anything can be an edge. The way her blue eyes settle on Nathaniel, she does seem to appreciate the effort made to look her in the eyes. "A starship…spacefaring are you?" Power Girl asks curiously, "what planet are you from?"

"Actually, technically I am from New York," her replies with a faint smile. "It is not my Starship, it is Starfire's. I am living there for the time being. Ah, but what you want to know is if I am using alien tech. Again, technically not. But I am using future technology."

"New York…so where does the space faring comes into play?" Power Girl asks inquisitively, the way her brow arches suggests she's more than a little suspicious about the likelihood of Nathaniel being just from New York. "Future? So that's the reason…I have to say, that's the most advanced architecture I've seen from a human. I was curious about that, what year are you from?"

Nathaniel hmm. He expects super-genius like Reed Richards or Lex Luthor would have better, he was limiting himself to pieces that could be replaced if the fail. But he also knows much technology that was developed in the first quarter of the Twenty First Century was later lost and not used again for centuries.

It won't happen this time; the Avengers will prevent the second Dark Age.

He sighs, "I was born in the Thirty Century. Although I came here from 3500 years ago. That was where Starfire and her friends found me. Long story."

"You're at luck, I might be one of the few who would bite at such a story without blinking an eye," Power Girl states without elaborating, before asking, "so, what's the deal? Are you trying to go back? Trying to change this world? And to what end?" She moves to sit down at the meeting table, gesturing for Nathaniel to sit as well if he likes, "I am also not from here, but I made it my home, with the mean to make it as good as I can."

Nathaniel chuckles, "we are in the Hall of Justice. Half the original League was formed by aliens, demigods and sorcerers. Was not Booster Gold claiming to be from the future, too?" That is someone Nathaniel would love to talk to, too.

"I am indeed going to make of this age my home, and I am going to make the world a better place," agrees Nathaniel. "I have to remain in the present, and although I could keep a low profile, I would rather work to shape a better future."

"I'm sorry to disappoint, I'm not a Justice League historian, I am actually the most recent addition," Power Girl says, not surprised by Nathaniel's knowledge, even if his future / past thing is a bit of a strange mashup. "I would suggest not flaunting vastly superior tech that make untold jumps of progress, that's what I tend to do, I focus mostly on betterment of the planet and its inhabitants."

"And I believe technology is the solution to most of humankind current problems," notes Nathaniel, frowning. "No. I do not flaunt superior tech, but I will not hide it either. There are a large number of extremely smart people out there making huge advances on science and technology and yet not sharing their discoveries with the bulk of the population out of a patronizing attitude that I find alarming. There are also several powerful organizations trying to suppress or control whole branches of technology that I intend to combat with all my power."

"That is a very condescending view, Nathaniel," Power Girl seems to be in stark disagreement with Nathaniel. "You are the beneficiary of knowledge beyond this time, and you will interfere with evolution and play god?" Power Girl already sees to have formed a low opinion of Nathaniel in this short bit of conversation. "That is the quality of a villain, not a hero." Crossing her arms at his explanation, she frowns, "and so Nathaniel is the one to decide?"

"You are talking as if humankind was alone in the universe and discovering the wheel by themselves would somehow make them humans better," explains the young man. "Fact is if the Dominators decide to expand their galactic empire this direction of the spiral arm Earth would be conquered and humans would become slaves at best, or lunch at the worst. Or if the Rigelians decided to colonize the Solar System." He shakes his head, "currently Earth has so many super-humans it is not impossible humankind could repel a major alien attack. But the sooner Earth technology is brought up to galactic standard, the better for all the inhabitants of the world. Oh, and I am not even going to go into the need of better medicine and food-processing technology. Millions die every year because it is currently insufficient for the needs of the population."

"And you are talking as if you are a god to be worshiped as the saviour of humankind," Power Girl interjects into Nathaniel's words, arms crossed under her chest, she's quite displeased. "Justice League and the Avengers I would think pose quite a detterent." She shakes her head, "you can't guilt trip me to eliminate the role of evolution. There is an order to things, and once we make gods of ourselves that determine all, then we are the very villains we attempt to fight."

"I am not going to sell miracles, Power Girl," replies Nathaniel with a shrug. "I do not seek praise or worship, but I will spread advanced technology and combat those who seek to restrict it. I do not think anyone in the League will try to stop me from giving SHIELD anti-gravity technology, or publishing in the Internet the blueprints for more advanced capacitors, or the solutions to mathematical problems that have been preventing the advancement of physics."

"If that's the case, maybe I don't belong with the League after all…if you honestly think you're being a modest helping hand in doing what you're doing, then either you're truly a villain playing the hero, or you're blind," Power Girl snorts, keeping herself at bay, a skill she learned when facing misogynistic executives as Karen Starr. "I think you've made your stance quite clear, as have I, I'm sorry we don't seem to align in what we consider the good of the planet and mankind in particular."

Nathaniel shakes his head, "I do not think my modesty or lack thereof has anything to do with this conversation. But… I think humankind's science needs to advance quickly. And I also believe those having great power must step forward and protect the world from criminals, supporting the law-enforcement agencies as much as they can, which is why I support the Justice League. And why I am Iron Guard."

"I think you're either being coy, or stupid," Power Girl notes with an entire lack of patience for Nathaniel. "Your professed lack of self interest rings hollow to my ears." She smiles a rather feigned smile at the conclusion of Nathaniel's words, nodding her head, and getting up to start pacing out of the meeting room. "You're not supporting, my friend, you're altering an entire timeline. Iron God."

Nathaniel shakes his head, "teaching a hungry man how to be a fisherman so he can survive does not make me a god. If I give him food every day in exchange of worship, that would make me… not a god, but certainly not a good person. I know, I really know, this is not a belief. I know because I have studied history. That humankind is heading to a Dark Age. I will not allow this world to be destroyed, and most of the population killed. Knowing and not acting would make me a demon."

"Your view of yourself is so skewed, Nathaniel, I dare say you believe your own lies." Power Girl says, looking quite genuinely shocked that he compares himself to one who teaches fishing to a man so he will not starve. "It's irrefutable knowledge too? Wow, the day I'll be like you is the day I must retire." As she reaches the door of the room, she doesn't even bother looking back, as she snorts, "and acting as you are makes you a god. I'll stay with the little people, I prefer not to be part of Olympus."

"What? I am the little people, I do not have super-powers," replies Nathaniel, baffled and beginning to anger. "What is irrefutable knowledge? That people die of hunger every day? That Apokolips raided Metropolis last year? That Earth is primitive compared with very close civilizations Thanagar in Polaris, or Rigel or the worlds of Vega?"

Power Girl isn't about to further argue with Nathaniel, he already proved he is everything she was concerned he might be. The fact he wouldn't even admit to it, or even fathom to see it, just makes it all the more real for her. This could prove a serious breaking point for her with the Justice League if they decide to support him. As he invites argument, she turns to face him one last time with the door held in hand, shaking her head, "you just said you know, that is claiming to be irrefutable, and dangerous. I would say good luck, but I believe you're one of the bigger threats on this planet as of now."

Nathaniel shakes his head, still pretty baffled. He is not even a member of the Justice League, just a volunteer that donated some electronics they couldn't afford. Somehow, a conversation about it has led to Power Girl accusing him of setting himself as a god. This was an odd day.

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