Our Powers | Video | Open

[lowercase_el]

[Kon is up on a roof. He props his phone up on a chimney and steps back after hitting record. He's in costume, as Guardian, his domino mask obscuring his features. No S anymore. The detachment from the S means a detachment from his face, something the Alliance has video of that can be used in facial recognition]

[Robin's paranoid about this. The least he can do is maintain that distance from his identity as Superboy, even if people from home will recognize him.]

I've spent the last few months debating talking about this, and thinking about how I'd talk about it if I did, and whether I'd only just mention it in passing sometimes, or actually call attention to it. I don't know for sure if it'll help or hurt. Or if it'll matter at all, but hey, at least if everyone just ignores it, that's better than it being a disaster, right?

[Time to stop waffling.]

I'm Guardian and I'm a clone. For a lot of people back home, and a lot of other Starfallen, that won't even matter. For a lot of people from this world, it might not either. But to some people back home, it did. Sometimes I had to fight for my right to be my own person and fight to not be controlled.

Hell, I'm pretty sure the US government still classifies me as unrecoverable [air quotes] "defective property." Their words.

Anyway, I did some digging and this world's track record with clones? Not great. Even heroes like Atomight have made mistakes - killed clones like they don't matter. I've been told he's one of the last people around the Alliance from that era - and that he realized his mistake and has tried to do right by clones since. And I won't say I don't believe it. I do think people can change.

But I've also dug around and found out there are plenty of people that see no problem with what he and the other heroes of that time did and would have no problem with anyone doing it again now. They see clones as soulless or dangerous or incapable of actually thinking and feeling. As if non-clones have a trademark on being controlled, brainwashed, or manipulated.

[He puts his hands on his hips.]

Whatever the case, I'm stuck dealing with this world as it is. That includes whether or not I want to hide what I am - which I don't - and whether or not I want to go guild - also a big fat no. There are people besides the Starfallen in the Alliance and I can't trust them to not throw me under the bus the first time it's convenient on a mission because they think I'm not alive enough to feel the treads.

[Someone shallow like Fantastic seems the type.]

But instead of just going Unaligned and being quiet about it, I wanted to make it clear I'm actually conscientiously objecting and why. This may not be my world but I'm stuck living in it and the fact some parts of it don't feel safe for me to live in needs to be called out. Because I can't be the only clone that feels that way.

As for any Starfallen who have no issues with clones, I'd really appreciate if you look out for the clones here. I'm gonna try - always have - but I can't be everywhere at once. [He looks skyward, thinking.] I think that's all I wanted to say? Um, I guess if anyone has questions about clone stuff, AMA? Anon's enabled.

Comments

Off network text from a brand new burner

[mostdangerousbird]

Defective property. You didn’t even vet this with anyone.

This is why PR departments exist - there are ways to do things to mitigate the damage

Without putting more bad ideas in their heads

Re: Off network text from a brand new burner

[lowercase_el]

[It's really not hard to guess who this is.]

All I have to do is say I'm a clone and there are people out there that'll see me as an object whether I like it or not. No matter how I word it.

People like that? They'll get bad ideas in their heads no matter what.

That's the point I'm trying to make here. Sometimes there is no way to finesse it to magically make everyone see you as a person. Sometimes all you can do is make sure you're backed up by the people who do.

ANON

[nerdylilspidey]

God, the things powerful people think they can get away with. I've known clones from back home, enemies and friends alike, and they're still people at the end of the day. Anybody who says or thinks otherwise is a grade A doofus.

So just saying I'll do my part, too. I know that's probably not much, but I hope it helps.

ANON

[mostdangerousbird]

What does 'do [your] part' mean, in this context?

video

[lowercase_el]

[Kon is answering the text posts with video because he started in video and he's trying to project the whole S-vibe, even if he's not wearing it right now.]

Thanks. It's a lot harder to help other clones when you're sometimes the only one doing it. I've had a few times where I was the only one there at ground zero of some kind of big clone thing.

It's been a relief over the years to build up some backup.

[Justice League and Checkmate had been willing to help him out with trying to help Match and stop Amanda Waller. Even though they failed, it'd at least been nice to have the big guns willing to back him up.]

un: Bombshell

[bombshelled]

[ Lana isn't smart enough to think to do this anonymously like Peter, but she at least knows not to do it from her civilian account. ]

one of my best friends back home was a clone. she was the best. she pretty much led the team we were on together, & she helped me through some really hard times.

I think it's really cool what you're doing, putting all this out there.

video

[lowercase_el]

I'm glad you had someone when you needed them.

[The sentiment is genuine and sincerity has always been a thing he's projected well.]

And thanks. I just want people from this world to think about this more, and people not from this world to...

Uh, think about this more. I guess. I think even really good people sometimes get stuck on the idea of clones being copies and fake, I guess.

And not seeing when they're being used or when they might need help.

UN: Sparkplug

[thelittlestbub]

So, the thing about clones is that they have their own damage, their own stories. Haven't known many, and that's probably my fault, but people have stories, and the best thing we can do is listen to them.

Frankly, I PREFER "defective government property". So anytime you wanna hang? Hit me up.

video

[lowercase_el]

You get it.

[Finger guns.]

And I definitely will. This place isn't exactly un-hostile to metas in general. We'll all be better off if we get to know each other and look out for each other.

UN: Speed

[slowmotionbuscrash]

Governments don't handle a lot of metahumans well. Clones, mutants, magically created babies. If they can't control you, then they contain you. Not saying that to downplay this at all - the way those clones were treated - are treated - is crap.

I'm saying that as a member of the Alliance. Joined because governments don't handle metahumans well. That and I like being a hero.

[ He is not going back to juvie. Or prison, now, as he's over 18. ]

Hi, PR interns tasked with social media! Don't @ me 'cause I'm glad my new friend G had the balls to say it.

Re: UN: Speed

[lowercase_el]

Hard agree. Even if the clone thing is a pretty big deal to me, I'm half-alien and a meta. And governments don't like aliens and they don't like metas, either.

The clone thing is the one that's most personal, but I disagree with some of the ways metas are treated in this world in general, too, especially with all these expectations that they owe something to the world. All anyone owes to the world is not screwing with anyone else.

And the way they're forced to help with these big apocalyptic events...

You have to choose this life. I was born - well, cloned - into it, but I've had plenty of chances to walk away.

I've known heroes that permanently retired, even if they were willing to occasionally help out a friend. It's a right every meta should have.

un: tompainesbones | text

[nogodsnoheroes]

[Well, isn't this horribly familiar? And doesn't this just confirm everything she's been saying all along?]

Sounds like the US government, yeah.

Sorry if this is a shitty way to ask, but were they the ones who made you?

video

[lowercase_el]

[ Kon nods. ]

Project Cadmus did lots of cloning and shady genetics experiments for good ol' Uncle Sam.

I'm a clone of one of the greatest superheroes in my world.

[He'll just leave out the part about how the human DNA patching him together is from one of its worst supervillains.]

They wanted a version of him they could control but I got busted out by some other clones and ran away about halfway through the accelerated aging process. Luckily I had enough mental programming to match my age and become my own person.

Anonymous

[unkindled_madness]

I hope you made some allies prior to this announcement.

Anon

[mostdangerousbird]

Is that meant to be a threat?

audio | un: nox

[a_gaggle_of_ghosties]

How exactly do you intend for anyone to "look out" for any clones? From a practical standpoint. Unless you get a few dozen in one place it's not exactly something people can tell at a glance.

And given everything you've described, I doubt asking them to advertise that particular status would be in their best interest.

video

[lowercase_el]

You'd be surprised how often people who abuse clones will do it openly, especially using them as minions to attack people.

If someone evil throws a bunch of identical people at everyone as minions, I'm just hoping they'll think twice about killing them because they're "copies" [quotey fingers] versus incapacitating them like a lot of people would do for non-clones.

I'm not saying that people should let themselves get pasted if they're fighting them, but if they can be brought down a non-fatal way, there's a chance to try talking them into getting help.

Anon

[greatairplane]

So not to be rude - like, honestly - is it normal for clones in your world and this one to have, like, minds of their own? The only clones I've ever seen in my world were empty shells that couldn't move until a soul was placed into them. I mean, not that I've seen many clones. It was really only the one and I don't know that any more have ever been made.

[He certainly didn't write any. He only had the unused outline for the one.]

Re: Anon

[lowercase_el]

Yes.

I mean, sometimes clones can be programmed as something but even my clone, Match, who was originally brainwashed into serving the people who cloned him, started to have his own feelings.

He was sad and confused.

[He was devastated to find out he wasn't Superboy, that the memories Waller had given him were fake. He was his own person. He had feelings.]

A friend of mine can see souls. She showed me mine.

She said no one gave it to me. Not some scientist or gene donor. It was mine and I'd made it myself.

ANON

[determinationtofist]

Whoa... so you're a clone...

I think one of my friends is a clone too!

Though I'm not really sure, it's kind of complicated...

Plus I don't think I'd get it even if they explained it to me...

[lowercase_el]

Clone stuff can get kind of weird, especially since there's more than just science that can make them.

It sounds like you don't care what she is, though, and that's great.

TEXT - ANON

[mirror_soldier]

So I was right to be suspicious of the Guilds. Good to know.

[The idea that they wouldn't see clones like him as people hadn't been his biggest concern but it had definitely been on his long list of reasons to not trust them.]

Are there any people or resources clones can trust here?

[lowercase_el]

They might not be bad but I still don't feel comfortable putting my trust in them.

And you'll want to talk to Frances Starling. She runs some support groups for metas. She's a clone herself and public about it. She was cloned from the dead sidekick of Atomight.

She knows about resources for metas and clones.

video; @l.lane

[smallvillegazette]

[It took Lois a little while to decide how to respond to this, knowing that some care must be taken, but not wanting to let it just pass her by, so her video comes some time after the initial post.

She's smiling when she records, subdued enough that it could just seem polite, but there's pride there if someone is looking for it.]

Thank you for bringing everyone's attention to this issue, Guardian, I'm sure it wasn't an easy decision. I'm a journalist, in my own world, and if you're ever interested in sharing more of your story, or what you've learned of the treatment of clones here, I would love to work with you. Hopefully I'll be free of any biases that the local news sources may have.

[A not-so-subtle dig, because she can.]

[lowercase_el]

[Kon grins.]

That's nice to hear Ms. Lane. Clones sometimes face a lot of control and abuse so fair and balanced reporting would be good for getting at the truth of whatever's going on with them.

video | un: Superman

[exponentially]

You already know how I feel about this, but if there are any doubts about where I stand in anyone else's minds..

Clones are people, and have the same inalienable rights as other people, and those rights should be protected by the government. Clones are not property, no matter how much money an individual or organization or company put into creating them. I say again, clones are people, with their own thoughts and feelings and beliefs, completely separate from the individual or individuals they were cloned from.

un: UnbeatableSG

[eatsnutsandkicksbutts]

I'm with you, dude. Nobody should be treated like that.

[ And then, locked down to Private: ]

from one Unaligned person to another, lmk if you ever need any help! It's pretty rough out there these days

anon

[effiomsfavorite]

[It's a good thing that whoever taught Huvrye to use social media also taught him how to be anonymous. He's very recognizable here - if talking about this is dangerous, then it's probably better his words aren't associated with his face right now.]

[Also, how many people are dealing with this? How many worlds have artificial constructs? Because defective property and incapable of actually thinking and feeling hit him like a ton of bricks. He'd thought this world was better about this sort of thing; turns out they might just be treating him like a person because they don't know enough to be able to clock him as a homunculus on sight.]

[Great.]

how can you tell if someone's a clone? doesn't everyone just look like people?

[He has to consciously replace "humans" with "people," because that would be a really good way to give himself away otherwise.]

Re: anon

[lowercase_el]

Unfortunately, sometimes they just get used as cannon fodder and then you know when you see them all at once.

Or they say they're clones, and just don't realize they're being used by someone. There were three clones I knew that were my enemies but realized they were being mistreated and were on the same side by the end of what we were dealing with. They just outright said what they were.

[He crosses his arms.]

A project with the government also cloned one of my mentors after he died. Like, the second time, because the first time they did it to someone who's my mentor now, that created me.

My mentor was a clone, so they didn't see any problems disrespecting his wishes and cloning him again, even though he'd always said he didn't want it if he died. The new clone was a baby when I found him and he aged super fast into an adult. They implanted memories he started to remember as he got older. They were trying to use him to create a whole army of clones, and I had to keep him away from them.

Some people didn't understand. They were told I stole some kind of government asset and...it was just a mess.

But he was a baby. And then a little kid.

That's how evil it gets. Sometimes people will be so evil about it, it'll just be super obvious they don't even think it's wrong enough to hide.