trans_9 | Ten Forward

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Ten Forward

Not too long after his introduction to the rest of the crew, Lex slipped away to head back to the Lounge area. That particular part of the ship had been his main workspace for several months now. He knew he would have to share that space one day, and he was certainly prepared for it.

Lex was, at the end of the day, a businessman. As any good businessman would tell you, the biggest deals are never negotiated in the board room. They're done on the golf course, the tennis courts, but more often than not, in the smoke filled backroom of a high end bar. Alcohol was always good for soothing frayed nerves, loosening tongues, and getting people to agree on things they normally wouldn't.

And now Lex had his own bar to conduct business. Actually, he had his own bar and lounge as a business now. Yes, a business. That meant that the booze and smokes that he had were not free anymore.

This is Lex Luthor here, did you think he'd give away all his booze for nothing?

Luckily, he was aware that people are running low on cash, but money isn't the only thing of value around here. His asking price was simple. He'd make any drink you want, even non-alcoholic ones (and given that he had spent some time mixing and matching liquor and juices from different universes, he can mix dozens drinks you never even thought of), and all you have to do...

"So, tell me about yourself."

...is have a conversation with him.

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Brainy takes a sip of his shake and considers this, before finally admitting:

"It was illuminating. There are some individuals that exist in the universe whose influence makes one desire to be a better person and fulfill one's fullest potential. It's rather uncommon for one of those individuals to be a version of yourself."

He takes another sip of his shake, and adds, after swallowing.

"I had also accounted for the possibility of someday meeting a dimensional counterpart--such things happen in my line of work--but I hadn't anticipated that they too would be a Legionnaire, rather than a villain."

The way he says it is just so matter-of-fact.

Edited 2009-11-16 08:23 (UTC)

"You almost sound surprised that he wasn't a villain." While Lex, conversely, was surprised to find out that he was a 'supervillain' in an alternate world. His family had its problems, but they were never out to conquer the world.

"The original Brainiac was a supervillain, and an intergalactic criminal feared on Colu and throughout most of the galaxy. Brainiac II was not, but he was a rather ruthless, Machiavellian individual well known for his heroic endeavors causing massive collateral damage. Brainiac 3 and 4 both served Colu until they became mentally unbalanced and turned to supervillainy and genocide. I was the last attempt at producing a viable Brainiac to serve the public interest, and had Colugov realized that Brainiac 4 was highly unstable before my birth, the line would've likely stopped with her."

Lifting his chin slightly, he says, "I am the first Brainiac to ever act in any heroic--or even non-malicious--capacity."

He looks amused. "The initial reaction several individuals on the ship had to me was not unlike the reaction they had to discovering your presence. It was, in fact, significantly more violent. The names 'Brainiac' and 'Luthor' are not regarded highly in the time many of the individuals on this ship are from, largely for the same reason."

Edited 2009-11-16 09:57 (UTC)

"I don't come from a family of villains," he stated. This, despite knowing full well that his father, Lionel, murdered his parents so he could use their insurance money to build LuthorCorp. This, despite knowing that his mother, in a fit of insanity, smothered his infant brother in his crib so he wouldn't be corrupted by Lionel like Lex was.

His family was screwed up, but he wasn't evil.

"We've never been the nicest bunch of people, true, but that's how we maintain our edge. We've never committed genocide. Never tried to conquer the world. If anything, the weapons we've developed over the years have protected freedom and democracy.

"I'm not sure what I expected from an alternate version of myself. But a supervillain, particularly being the archnemesis of a man who doesn't even exist on my world to begin with? That was a surprise."

"They will likely never trust you. I have the benefit of merely being a descendant of the original Brainiac, not an alternate version of a villain, and even then, the reaction to the Brainiac name has been...overwhelmingly predictable." A pause. "As it always has been."

It took quite a bit to prove himself to the United Planets, and even then, look at where he is now--exiled from Colu, nearly assassinated, his name cursed by the survivors of Xanthu and anyone else that opposed machine life being granted sentience.

"Your alternate is worth their ire, however. That is something you must keep in mind. I've worked with him before."

That was something he wasn't expecting. He tilted his head to the side, curious.

"What was he like?"

"He is rather intelligent for a human, but exceedingly arrogant. It was far beyond being secure in his intelligence, which is perfectly acceptable; instead he severely overestimates it. He is cunning, however, in compensation, and that is truly what makes him dangerous. Creativity, cunning, manipulation--all can be used towards positive ends, but he wastes his natural talents."

Green eyes peer at Lex as if Brainy is doing some sort of mental math.

"You believe weapons development your family has done has aided others? While this belief is hardly objective, perhaps they have--as someone not from your universe or world, I certainly can't ascertain if this is true without seeing the influence you've had on said world. What's more, it implies that you do, minimally, care about your legacy, about your influence on others and wish for it to ultimately be a positive one--the Lex Luthor they know cares little for the rest of the world. Every action he takes is to further his own insane beliefs that he is his species' destined savior. His egomania goes beyond mere arrogance and into delusions of grandeur, his actions are to serve himself and merely take on the guise of being intended to help others."

During the business with the Sun-Eater, Brainy could pick up the fakeness from miles away, and Luthor'd been hardly putting on the show when all the heroes around knew exactly what he was.

"There is a fine line between pragmatism and ruthlessness, and it's likely he crossed it a very long time ago. You must keep in mind that I say this as a Brainiac, rather than a Legionnaire--even as a hero, many consider me ruthless, and even someone as pragmatic as myself can see how far he's fallen. He's obsessed with his enemies, selfish, and any gestures he makes that seem to indicate charity or benevolence are merely gestures, and ultimately their aim is to aid in his quest to serve himself. He cares for no one else, he callously disregards life when it no longer suits him to preserve it."

Brainy hasn't broken that stare, as if he's challenging Lex to keep caring about at least trying to do something good, to not follow the same path.

"I've only just met you. Therefore, I can't say if you're the same, but if you aren't, it would hardly be in your best interest to follow the same path--that is, unless you'd prefer to exist as an empty shell of greed and lust for power rather than a rational sentient being."

Edited 2009-11-24 09:39 (UTC)

There was a snort by Lex. As if Brainy's challenge meant anything. Though, truth be told, he sounded quite like the guy everyone feared he would one day become.

"Sounds like he lost his mind long ago."

"If he ever had a grasp on his faculties at all," says Brainy. "While you may be fully sincere in that you wish to serve in the best interests of the crew, such sincerity has often been feigned by their Luthor. They likely believe it's an act to garner trust, as he wouldn't be above such actions."

"My best interests are the crews best interests." There's an unsaid 'for right now' that seems to hang in the air for a moment. "One would think that much would be obvious."

"Interests can sometimes coincide only temporarily, which is their fear," says Brainy. "That being said, they show a startling lack of trust towards anyone--my own actions and background were initially questioned, even if I've since earned their trust."

Sipping his shake again, and swallowing, he goes on, "This is why I have a proposition to make."

That got a raise of an eyebrow.

"By all means."

"You intend to use my capabilities, in some fashion, most likely via manipulation. I'm not unused to individuals looking at me as if I'm a useful object or potential tool. When you see such looks enough, it's very easy to ascertain when others are thinking the same thing, and I've been the target of influences far more manipulative than yourself."

Seriously, Lex, do you really think he doesn't know what you're thinking?

The point isn't to sneak things by people, at least not all the time. The point is to get what he wants while giving up as little as he possibly can. But, either way, there is no denial coming.

"...and?"

"There's no need for such manipulation if I simply cooperate. In turn, I would want your occasional cooperation with certain scientific and engineering problems, as your creativity and ingenuity likely outstrips my own, even if I'm more intelligent in terms of processing power."

He adds, "It's in the best interest of the crew for us to pool together our intellectual resources. Furthermore, if you have any particularly pragmatic plans or opinions that are the correct course of action to take, but the crew would refuse to listen to them out of distrust, it would also provide you an additional benefit of a separate avenue of approach. I have become a trusted member of the crew and am known for my pragmatism--often appreciated for it. Were I to suggest any particularly ruthless courses of action to take in a given situation, I would not be vilified for it, and they would be more likely to consider it."

That got a rather amused look from him. Though, truthfully, he was looking for the downside of this deal. Most deals were never this good.

"That's a deal that would certainly favor me, but not so much you." But what favored Lex would likely favor the crew as a whole. "Most certainly an interesting offer to make. And one that I'm not going to pass up."

The other shoe would drop eventually, but he was confident he could handle it if it did.

"We have a deal."

"It would benefit the crew most of all," says Brainy. "That is my greatest priority."

In the long run, it'd also allow him better chance of control over what his intellect is used for.

Edited 2009-11-25 01:48 (UTC)

"And that which benefits me benefits the crew." For now. But a lot of things were simply 'for now'.

"Now that the pleasantries are out of the way, there is a specific project I would like your assistance with..."

Brainy takes out a datapad from his belt and slides it Lex's way.

And there's the other shoe.

"Didn't think you need my help already." But, hey, can't say this is the highest quality of people he's ever found.

Lex nodded, and took a look at the datapad.

And... "hmmm..." This would be interesting, to say the least.

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