"Drop him in a Lazarus Pit!!"

[monstersociety]

"What would Kobra do to a pretender to the throne of his worldwide terrorist organisation?" Dr. Light curls his right hand in a fist, and brings it down to celebrate getting the right question/answer. "Jeopardy

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[martian_hunter]

There is a bright flash of light in the lobby of the JSA's distinctive brownstone headquarters. Around him are relics of the teams past, exhibited for those with an interest in the prior exploits of the world's first, and likely greatest, team of heroes.

He awaits the arrival of his host, eyeing the various objects and exhibits.

[lanterns_light]

Speaking of relics...

"J'onn." Alan walks forward briskly, with more energy than a man his age should boast, hand held out. "I'm sorry about the circumstances but it's good to see you again, old friend."

[martian_hunter]

J'onn takes Alan's hand and gives it a firm handshake, "It is good to see you as well, Alan. How are your wife and children?"

[lanterns_light]

The universe is unfair. Alan's wife and children are fine; J'onn has lost everyone he loved. "Molly's as irascible as ever; Jennie-Lynn is dating someone new, and my son just got married. I hope you've been doing well?" As he answers the question, Sentinel leads Martian Manhunter toward the holding cells and the prisoner in question.

[martian_hunter]

"Thank you for asking, I am well." Those close to J'onn know the pain that never goes away when he thinks of his family. His one true love and his only child, lost and gone forever. None the less, they know that J'onn finds solace in his role as guardian of his adopted home. For him, the Earth is now his family.

[monstersociety]

Dr. Light is conscious again and sitting on his cot, burbling to a no doubt increasingly irritable Wildcat about something or other. As he sees the Martian approach the cell, his face contorts to something resembling recognition, and disgust, and then goes very blank.

"So you're the doctor? I've already told the man in the cat costume that I don't need a doctor. I am a doctor, and there's nothing wrong with me."

[martian_hunter]

Immediately J'onn can sense the chaos that is Arthur's mind. Random associations fly through his conscious mind at an alarming rate. It reminds J'onn of the illness from which some humans suffer known as Schizophrenia.

With a gentle voice that conveys profound empathy, "I'm sorry to tell you, Doctor, but there is something very wrong with you. To make it worse, it is the deceptive nature of your condition that leads you to believe you are well...even when presented with evidence to the contrary."

[lanterns_light]

Neither Ted nor J'onn needs help protecting himself from this lunatic, but Sentinel, true to his post-Green Lantern moniker, takes a post nearby, watchful and ready to act if needed.

[jla_extras]

"If you ask me, he's always been a little off; head-fins went out with Ted Knight."

Wildcat has his arms folded across his chest, leaning back against the wall of the cell.

[monstersociety]

Light's mind is a mangle of voices alternately chatting, shouting and crying at one another, amid a constant rising and falling wave of cackling and the sounds of women screaming.

One voice is slightly more stable than the rest though, and with an accusatory tone of voice responds to the Martian Manhunter. "I have had my mind tampered with again! And now another voice joins the fray. Which part do you wish to remove now? My childhood? My first... heh heh... kiss?"

[martian_hunter]

J'onn turns to Alan and Ted, "I was not speaking to him telepathically as you both know. This does not bode well. His connection to reality is faint enough to know we're here, but he cannot even distinguish between that which is within his mind and that which is without." He turns to look at Dr. Light, "It's unlikely that he will be able to grant any real consent in this state."

He crouches down to get closer to Arthur Light. Looking at him directly in the eye he speaks softly but firmly, "You are in a great deal of danger. Your mind is shattered and your connection to reality tenuous at best. If there is anything remaining of the person Arthur Light was, he will understand that I am the only being on this planet capable of helping him...and I will do so only if you agree to allow me."

[monstersociety]

Arthur cocks his head, and stares narrowly at the alien. He keeps that position for ten seconds before closing his eyes.

"Do what you must. Make me the genius I once was, but know that by doing so you make yourself a permanent enemy. Seeing the contents of my mind is something I will eventually kill you for." Dr. Light smiles, and leans back so that J'onn can begin.

[martian_hunter]

"There is more I would tell you, Arthur Light, and would advise you to pay attention. To repair the damages done to you, by your own actions as well as the actions of others, we must travel to the deepest recesses of your mind. Laying in wait there, are your darkest traumas and deadliest nightmares."

He makes sure the good doctor is listening to him before continuing, "I will do what I can to aid you but you will be no passive participant in this endeavor. The exent of my power is to act as your guide...you will be doing all the work and there is a chance that what sanity you have left may be destroyed in the proces. Do you still wish me to continue?"

He speaks to whatever fragment of sanity remains in the deeply disturbed villain before him. He's hoping that, on some level, that part of Light will hear him and understand...it's the only chance he's got at obtaining consent and he's certainly not going to tamper with so fragile a mind without some fragment of assurance he does so at the permission of his subject.

[monstersociety]

Light may be insane, and very evil (as far as these things can be measured), but he's not a fool. He knows that he's losing what's left of his mind, and the intrusion of the Martian will have to be accepted in order to recover some form of stability.

"I grant you this permission. Help me heal my mind." There's still a certain amount of overconfidence there. After all, Arthur Light is fearless. Or at least that's what he tells himself.

[jla_extras]

Wildcat's completely out of his element, now - not entirely comfortable with the concept of telepathy, regardless of the trust he has for J'onn.

Still, he's keeping quiet to allow the Manhunter to concentrate.

[lanterns_light]

Sentinel stands almost shoulder to shoulder with Wildcat, posture similar and likewise keeping quiet to let J'onn do his work. His expression remains impassive despite the anger that Light can inspire in him and, indeed, in any civilized man.