03x02 - Royal We

[bunniefuu]

On the Engager, if Klamulons capture our crewmates, we move heaven and Earth to find them.

But this year alone, over 16,000 child and teen abductions have been reported worldwide, due to the illegal trafficking of meta-humans.

Please, watch over your children.

And if you see something, scream something.

[squawks]

[Reporter] Welcome back.

We return you live to the United Nations Meta-Human Summit.

Inside, Justice League liaison, Catherine Cobert is completing her address to the General Assembly.

And so, as a result of increasing restrictions placed upon its United Nations Charter, the Justice League regrets to announce the resignation, in protest, of the following members...

Batman... [people gasp]

Batwoman... [people murmuring]

Black Lightning, Green Arrow, Hardware, Katana, and Plastic Man.

[indistinct chattering]

[Lex sighs]

Thank you, Ms. Cobert.

It goes without saying that the independent nations of the world are deeply disappointed that some Leaguers don't seem to believe in the values their League claims to represent.

Blaming the Justice League or its members is laughable.

The ridiculous quantity of conditions, exclusions, limitations and stipulations that this body has added to the League's Charter, over Atlantean protest, have made it impossible for the League to do its job.

Even humanitarian missions cannot begin without the unanimous approval of the Security Council.

These policies are costing lives!

Of course, the Atlantean ambassador supports the League.

It's led by an Atlantean and a Themysciran.

But why has no Bialyan hero been invited to join?

When Bialya produces a hero who isn't a wanted criminal, perhaps the League will consider her or his candidacy.

[laughter] Wait, that statement is an outrageous exaggeration!

Meaning it is largely accurate.

Ladies and gentlemen, the true heroes of this world will do what they must to save lives, help people, and capture criminals, regulations or no.

Then they are not heroes, but vigilantes!

[clamoring]

Ambassadors, please, please.

Order.

The chair recognizes Ambassador Baazovi of Markovia.

Allow me to make this perfectly clear.

Without prior written permission from the government, Markovia categorically forbids entry to any vigilantes, or so-called heroes!

[theme music playing]

[Nightwing on comms] Listen up, Bedlam is one of the most notorious meta-human trafficking syndicates on the planet.

We now have intel that Bedlam's main base of operations is in Markovia.

Artemis and I will fly commercially from Vlatava to Markovia under false passports.

I suspect that whomever's behind Bedlam was most likely behind the assassination of the King and Queen, who had made it their mission to end meta-trafficking in Markovia.

Bedlam may even be connected to the Royal Family, which would explain how the assassins managed to get past heavy security, and into the palace.

So while Conner and Jeff fly the Super-Cycle under the radar and over the border with all our gear, Artemis and I will scope out the major players using hacked invitations to Prince Gregor's pre-coronation reception.

[soft, indistinct chattering]

Not exactly a wild crowd.

Hard to feel the aster when both your parents have just been m*rder*d.

Trust me.

[Tigress] Do you really think the two princes could have had something to do with their own parents' deaths?

I hope not.

But we shouldn't make assumptions.

Honestly, though, there are more promising suspects here.

That's Dr. Simon Ecks, a world-renowned geneticist, who, for some reason, has taken a low-paying job at the Markovian Children's Hospital.

Maybe he just likes kids.

[Nightwing] Yeah, you're probably right.

Really? I was kinda joking.

I mean... [sighs]

Maybe he just likes to abduct kids and turn them into meta-humans.

The fatality rate at that hospital is way above the norm.

[Tigress] What about the woman with him?

[Nightwing] Dr. Helga Jace, personal physician to the Royal Family.

There's no indication she has the training for meta-work, but you never know.

That's Baron Frederick DeLamb, the late queen's brother.

Tomorrow, when Gregor's crowned king, Uncle Freddy becomes Regent until Gregor turns 18.

[scoffs] There's motive. For either of them.

Or both.

Good evening.

Less than 24 hours ago, our own King Viktor and my beloved sister, Queen Ilona, were ruthlessly assassinated.

But tomorrow, we crown their first-born, my nephew Gregor, as our new king.

[speaking Markovian]

[applause] [orchestral music playing]

[scoffs] Prince Brion's clearly not with the program.

Noted. But Ecks is still our lead suspect.

[comms beep]

[Superboy on comms] Nightwing. We've made the drop as planned.

Your gear's in the northwest corner of the Markovian National Cemetery.

[Black Lightning] We'll head over to the Children's Hospital to check out its anomalous power usage.

[Nightwing] Roger that, Lightning. Good luck.

[soft, indistinct chattering]

Prince Brion.

Doctor. You recall our last conversation?

I do.

But this path, this quest to activate your own meta-gene, is it really wise, Brion?

Perhaps your safest course is to simply step aside and place your faith in Gregor and your uncle.

The safe course has brought us to this crossroads.

Sister missing. Parents dead.

Something daring must be done if I am to save Markovia.

[sighs] If you're truly certain...

The man to speak to is Dr. Simon Ecks.

I've talked to him. He's expecting your signal.

Thank you, Doctor. That's exactly what I needed.

[speaking Markovian]

[Brion sighs]

[speaking Markovian]

[Nightwing] Targets are scrambling.

I'll follow Ecks and the Prince. You get our gear.

Right. [sighs] I'll catch up A.S.A.P.

[Sphere revs, beeps]

[Superboy] Wait here, girl. [Sphere trills]

[electricity hums] [Black Lightning] It's wired to the alarm.

[trilling]

[Superboy] Bypassed.

[Superboy] Anything?

[electricity humming] [Black Lightning] Oh, yeah.

They're using a lot of juice. This way.

This is the Morgue?

[Superboy] You okay?

[Black Lightning] Okay walking into the morgue of a children's hospital?

No. I don't want to see any more dead kids.

[sighs] Come on.

[Superboy] No bodies. Which is good.

So this is the place using too much power?

[Black Lightning] Nah. Whatever's behind this secret door is.

[Superboy] Can you open it?

[Black Lightning] Not sure.

Sensing power's one thing.

Generating it? That hasn't worked for me since Rann.

[electricity hums] Hmm.

Huh.

[trilling]

[Superboy] Bedlam Central?

[Black Lightning] Odds are good.

[Superboy] Camera-bugs in place.

[comms beep] Nightwing, are you getting a signal?

[Black Lightning] Nightwing, come in.

Tigress, do you read? [radio static]

[line disconnects] [scoffs] Place is shielded.

[Superboy growls in disdain]

[Black Lightning] Uh, did you just growl?

[Superboy] This place reminds me of Project Cadmus.

And not in a fun way.

Aw, no.

This is... Was a Motherbox, a sentient living computer from New Genesis.

Whoever took this one apart, m*rder*d it.

[Black Lightning] Uh... I'm sorry.

[gasps]

[heartbeats pounding]

[Superboy] I hear four heartbeats.

So at least they're alive.

[Black Lightning] I think we got all the confirmation we need.

Let's get these kids outta here.

[Vertigo] Let's not!

[both groaning]

[Superboy] Vertigo...

That's Count Vertigo to you, peasant.

Plasmus, come.

[Plasmus growls]

[Superboy] Stun Vertigo... or that creature. [Black Lightning groans]

[Black Lightning gasps] [Plasmus growls]

[Black Lightning] No, no, it can not be dead.

[Black Lightning gasps] [Superboy] Now!

[Black Lightning] I... can't!

[Plasmus roars]

[both grunt]

[Superboy screaming]

[Plasmus growls]

[Superboy grunts] [Plasmus roars]

[Superboy panting]

[both groaning]

[Superboy grunts]

[Black Lightning grunts]

[both grunting]

A meta-human. Did not see that coming.

Otto? Fetch.

Or, you know, just k*ll them.

[snarls]

Cover them up.

[chiming]

[Tigress] What was that?

[gasps]

[Henchy] Holy... [girl moaning]

Shovel faster!

[gasping]

[Tigress] What are you doing?

[grunts]

[grunting]

[man groans]

[Tigress] Whoa.

Come on. Let's get you out of there!

[girl whimpers]

[grunts]

[Tigress] Whoa.

Huh?

[Tigress] Okay. Not bad for a dead girl.

[Henchy groaning] Get your weapons out of the truck!

We can't let them get away!

[Tigress] Time to go! And that is not a bicycle built for two.

What happened back there?

What's your name?

Why were they burying you alive?

Good. Good talk.

[Henchy] Keep after them!

[Tigress] Sphere, I need extraction! Track my signal!

[Sphere trilling]

[tires screeching]

Why are you driving like a madman?

Simply making sure we're not being followed, Your Highness.

Don't call me that.

In Markovia, only the King and the Crown Prince are addressed as "Your Highness."

Apologies, Prince Brion.

In any case, it appears, as they say, that the coast is clear.

[scoffs] Amateurs.

Tigress, looks like Ecks and Brion are headed for the Children's Hospital.

E.T.A.?

[Tigress] Running a little late.

And I'm, uh, bringing a friend.

[Nightwing] What? [Tigress] Long story.

[Sphere trills] [girl] Hmm...

[Tigress] At least you two are getting along.

Lightning, S.B., you've got company incoming.

Repeat. Nightwing to Lightning...

Nightwing to S.B... [radio static]

...read? [Superboy sighs] Nightwing, come in.

Signal is weak. Do you read?

[Black Lightning] Okay, so at least we know Vertigo's running Bedlam, right?

[Superboy] Yeah. Great.

[sighs] Now all we have to do is live to tell someone.

Go. I'll be right behind you.

[grunts]

[Superboy] Jeff!

[Plasmus roaring] [Superboy screaming]

[sizzling] [continues screaming]

[groans]

S.B., Lightning, do you copy?

[visor trilling]

Tigress, reroute to Lightning's coordinates.

[Tigress] Roger that.

[buzzing]

[Tigress] Can you speak?

What's your name?

Name?

[Tigress] Name. Yes. Do you understand? Do you speak English?

English. Yes. I remember English.

I understand.

[Tigress] Do you remember anything, anything at all from before I found you?

No. Nothing... Uh, I am sorry.

[Tigress] Oh. It's okay. It'll be okay.

Okay.

[Tigress] Jeff...

[Sphere revving, trilling]

Jeff? Jefferson?

Nightwing, we found Lightning.

He's breathing but out of it.

No sign of S.B. [Black Lightning groans]

[gasping] Lightning, what happened?

Where's S.B.?

It got him... [sighs]

[Plasmus growling]

[Superboy groaning softly]

Thank you, Otto.

Hmm, and he's still alive.

That is impressive.

I cannot recall anyone else ever surviving the touch of Plasmus.

I wonder...

Ah, well, of course. The Superboy.

I believe the United Nations would find your presence here quite interesting.

But for now, let's put him in the Subject Room.

I must say, it's grand that a prince of the blood is interested in exploring his meta-gene potential.

Why have you brought me to a morgue, Doctor?

In a children's hospital?

Patience, young prince.

As with the meta-gene, it's not what you see on the surface...

It's what lies beneath.

What? What are those?

Those are the metamorphosis pods.

I like to think of them as cocoons, where caterpillars go to--

Die? [chuckles]

I was going to say, to become butterflies.

But the process can be a bit

[clears throat] hit or miss.

You're traffickers!

Stealing sick children from a children's hospital!

They're not all sick.

How many children have you taken?

How many have you m*rder*d?

You're upset. I understand. But allow me to explain--

No! I want no part of this!

I was a fool to come here.

Gregor and I will shut you-- [warbling]

[groaning]

Do you really know how your brother would react?

More people are fine with this sort of thing than you'd imagine.

Sedate him. Stop...

I order you to-- [device injects]

[groans]

What have you done?

I thought-- [Vertigo] You thought you'd expose our operation to the Royal Family?

[growls] Drag him in here.

I'm a doctor, not a pack mule.

[Vertigo] You're an idiot, who put our entire syndicate in jeopardy.

So first you'll pod the prince, and then you may attempt to talk me out of k*lling you.

[Simon grunting]

[Black Lightning] The meta-human.

I mean, well, Vertigo called it him... Plasmus.

[Tigress] Just take it slow. Breathe.

What did this Plasmus do?

Where is S.B.?

[sighs] I think Plasmus must have grabbed S.B. just as I jumped from the spillway.

[Tigress] Under orders from Vertigo?

Yeah.

[Tigress] So Count Vertigo runs Bedlam.

[Nightwing on comms] And Ecks works for Vertigo.

Fine, we'll take them both down.

But our first priority is S.B.

I'm going in through the hospital.

Tigress, Lightning, head back to Bedlam via the sewers.

[Tigress] Roger that.

[Simon] I was following orders.

I'll confirm that, believe me.

Meanwhile, do nothing until I return.

Understand?

Nothing. Nothing.

Understood.

[sighs] [door opens]

Dr. Jace!

Uh, how long were you in there? Did you hear?

I think there may have been some confusion about our orders...

[stammers] No. Wait, no, what are you doing?

[machine whirring]

No, don't. Stop! Vertigo just said--

Calm down, Simon. I know what I'm doing.

[beeps]

[Henchy] Count Vertigo, sir!

[Vertigo] Henchy?

Problems with the failed subjects?

Uh, one of the girls, she, uh... she kinda came back to life as we were burying her.

Full meta. And you let her get away?

She had help! A woman in combat gear!

And the dead girl... [pants] she made some kinda shield out of light!

Another unwelcome development. [sighs]

First, the Superboy and his escaped companion.

Then, Ecks and his new subject.

And now these two women.

Go. Lock down the complex.

[sighs]

[cell phone beeps]

Excuse the interruption, Your Highness, but we've had an incident, or three.

I fear our operation may have been compromised.

[gasps]

[Brion] What's going on?

[gasping]

Stop this!

Let me out!

Dr. Jace! Help me! Please!

Don't worry, my child.

It is all for the best.

[theme music playing]