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Post by DocQuantum on Jun 7, 2022 17:26:15 GMT
Good to see some hints at Harry Hokum’s back story. I had a pet theory that he was somehow involved in Al Magone’s gang at some point but I like this too. Given that he is a fan of Adolf Hitler he probably would've been abducted in the early to mid 1930s, when Hitler was internationally popular. Of course he could’ve heard about Hitler later on, since he set up the Tweeker (sp?) Network that rebroadcasts Earth programs, so Hokum could’ve easily been abducted in the Roaring Twenties, too.
I'd imagine there are a lot of ways to extend youth in outer space that is unknown on Earth, explaining his longevity.
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Post by starskyhutch76 on Jun 7, 2022 19:10:56 GMT
No woman wants to be told she reminds them of her mother. Primus, you’re in the doghouse tonight. 🤣Plus, she's a wood witch. He's better watch out!
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Post by starskyhutch76 on Jun 7, 2022 19:13:38 GMT
Good to see some hints at Harry Hokum’s back story. I had a pet theory that he was somehow involved in Al Magone’s gang at some point but I like this too. Given that he is a fan of Adolf Hitler he probably would've been abducted in the early to mid 1930s, when Hitler was internationally popular. Of course he could’ve heard about Hitler later on, since he set up the Tweeker (sp?) Network that rebroadcasts Earth programs, so Hokum could’ve easily been abducted in the Roaring Twenties, too. I'd imagine there are a lot of ways to extend youth in outer space that is unknown on Earth, explaining his longevity. DC left him as a mostly blank slate, so I wanted to build him up a bit. He didn't start the Tweener network, but I'm sure he's n avid viewer since they would have ll the serials he liked from back home.
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Post by starskyhutch76 on Jun 7, 2022 19:14:24 GMT
Harry Hokum reminds me of Dr. Smith from Lost in Space. THere's probably a lot of tht in him since Hokum always has an angle.
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Post by starskyhutch76 on Jun 9, 2022 17:52:39 GMT
Over the many days and months Artin had worked on the damaged Mother Box, he had come to develop a certain affection for her. There was an artistry to her make-up that he could not help but admire
Much like when he had walked the halls of Brainiac’s skull ship, he found her circuitry to be more like an inorganic copy of living matter than simple tech. He had to adjust his thinking as he operated upon her.
He had one hand placed almost tenderly upon her side s the other worked upon her with a tweezer-like tool. As he moved one techno-organic circuit to connect with another, a gasp escaped him as her hull suddenly became warm to the touch. A thankful ‘ping’ issued from her and the hole in her damaged surface suddenly began to grow closed on its own.
Artin began to hear a faint noise that he tried to place. It suddenly hit him that it reminded him of the locomotives of Earth that he used to see on recordings belonging to the ‘Tweener network.
His eyes grew wide s he remembered what else made that noise even as it began to grow louder. He quickly grabbed ahold of the Mother Box from his work table, knowing he might need it when the boom tube opened behind him and sucked him inside.
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Post by starskyhutch76 on Jun 10, 2022 0:29:11 GMT
The first thing Artin experienced was a feeling of panic as he found himself standing on a solitary planetoid staring at the vastness of space. This was no doubt a leftover effect from once having shared a body with Primus. He had to remind himself there was no chance of freezing, his lungs exploding, or any number of things humans thought could happen if exposed to the vacuum of space. He was but an artificial lifeform no matter how much he tried to look and behave otherwise. He stared out at the expanse before him. The colorful nebulae, swirling galaxies, streaking comets… they were all things humans would never be able to see with the naked eye. “Breathtaking, isn’t it?” a voice said from behind him. Artin turned to see a blue clad figure in what like nothing less than a floating cybernetic throne. He recognized him from the Psions’ files as Metron of the New Gods. “No matter how many centuries pass… How many thousands of years go by… I never stop marveling at its eternal splendor,” Metron continued. “That is why I have devoted my entire to the the study of all its many mysteries. “Yes, it is truly quite beautiful,” Artin said, gazing out at the cosmos laid before him. “The New Gods refer to me as ‘the cold one’ because I have become distant from them,” Metron said. “They fail to realize I am not running from them. I am running to this.” He gave a thoughtful pause. “I did have one who used to join me on my quest for knowledge. He was a child named Esak. He was my protégé. The quest proved to be too much for him, though, and he went mad… He became a monster. Orion was forced to slay him.” Metron’s impassive façade seemed to crack for a moment before he regained his composure. “Since that time, I have sought another worthy of my teachings. That is why I allowed you to continue to possess the wounded Mother Box… to see if you might be able to unravel the mysteries of my creation. You performed admirably. I believe you are a worthy successor to Esak and take his spot beside me on the Mobius chair “I … I am truly honored,” Artin said. “But I could never desert the Omega Men in their time of need.” “Admirable,” Metron said. “He held out his hand. “The Mother Box that brought you here…” A crestfallen look crossed Artin’s face. “I had hoped…” “Don’t worry, my friend,” Metron said, taking it. “My plan is not to reclaim her. You saved her. She is yours now.” Metron revealed a piece of black metal that he placed upon the surface of the Mother Box. The metal then began to sink into the surface of the device. “This is element-X,” Metron said. “Another one of my creations. The Mother Box needs it to function. Without it, she would starve to death.” He handed the Mother Box back to Artin. “Here. She is yours now. May she serve you well. “One of the advantages of being the sort of being you are is that since you do not age, you have all the time in the world to change your mind. When you re ready to see all that the multiverse has to offer, the Mother Box will bring you to me. Until then, farewell.” A boom tube opened behind Metron. He and his Mobius chair were then quickly teleported away. For a split second, Artin thought he had been abandoned. Then, he remembered what he now possessed. “Mother Box, please take me home,” he said to the device in his hand. A boom tube opened in front of Artin. At the other end, he could see his lab. He stepped inside and was instantly transported back.
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Post by jonclark on Jun 10, 2022 6:00:51 GMT
That was a very interesting scene with Metron. Wonder if he is going to wait for Artin to change his mind or if he might find another successor/protoge in the interim?
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Post by starskyhutch76 on Jun 10, 2022 11:22:14 GMT
If Metron is anything, it's patient.
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Post by DocQuantum on Jun 10, 2022 14:36:23 GMT
That was trippy! Nice addition to the Fourth World lore.
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Post by starskyhutch76 on Jun 11, 2022 17:20:46 GMT
That was trippy! Nice addition to the Fourth World lore. Thanks, Doc! THe Omega Men always seemed like it was its own seperate thing (aside from the Tean Tians book). I thought bringing in elements of the New Gods was a good way of bringing them into the greater DC cosmos.
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Post by lawrenceliberty on Jun 11, 2022 19:09:03 GMT
Your Metron is much warmer than the one I've seen in other places. Good job as always with the 4th world characters.
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Post by starskyhutch76 on Jun 12, 2022 13:10:05 GMT
Thanks. It's amazing how much Kirby gave to the cosmic lore of both DC and Marvel. He's both a legend and underappreciated at the same time.
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Post by starskyhutch76 on Aug 6, 2022 20:58:31 GMT
Having finally discovered the secret to repairing the Mother Box, Artin moved on to the testing phase. Primus wanted him to be completely familiar with the new technology before sending the armada through any boom tubes generated by the Mother Box.
He felt it best that he start small. Magnus, the child of Primus and Kallista, had left his toy ball in Artin’s lab. “If this isn’t happenstance, I don’t know what is,” Artin mused to himself. The ball would be the perfect test subject for experiments.
He generated a small boom tube and threw the ball inside. Another opening appeared on the other side of the room and the ball fell out of it. He repeated this action three more times with the exit appearing at different spots in the lab.
Suddenly, he heard a gasp. He turned to see a wide-eyed Magnus staring at him.
A wave of apprehension washed over him. How would the child react to him using his toy in such a way? Would there be tears?
Artin was relieved when he saw Magnus break out in a huge grin and exclaim, “Do that again!”
Magnus watched with delight as he continued to open portals around the room, toss in the ball, and then cause the exit to appear somewhere else for the ball to fly out. The small boy was even more delighted when Artin let him toss the ball into the boom tube.
Magnus laughed giddily as they tossed in writing utensils, scientific tools, holo-pads and other various objects from around the lab to cause them to reappear somewhere else. It was a hilarious game to him. Eventually, he seemed to tire of the game and wandered off.
Artin was standing in front of a portal analyzing his findings on his data-pad when he heard small footsteps hurrying across the lab. He turned to see Magnus running towards him carrying his shaggy magenta three-eyed cat, Kiki. Before he could exclaim “Artin, no!” the boy flung the cat into the boom tube. The cat leapt from the portal opening on the other end of the room with a growl and a hiss and dashed out the doorway.
“Kiki!” Magnus called out. “Come back! I’m sorry!” He ran out of the lab after the offended animal.
Artin stood in stunned silence. It appeared the child had completed the next phase for him, much to his pet’s dismay. He could safely transport biological lifeforms. Could he transport an entire armada? That was the next question he would need to answer.
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Post by DocQuantum on Aug 7, 2022 18:11:48 GMT
Good chapter. Of course a kid would see a Boom Tube as the best toy ever.
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Post by starskyhutch76 on Aug 7, 2022 23:35:58 GMT
Magnus thinks so. The cat probably disagrees.
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