04x18 - Beyond the Grip of the Gods!

[bunniefuu]

So that's the plan, my love. Okay?

Okay, Mommy.

Okay. [sighs]

Stop! That's not how that goes.

Sorry. Sorry, I forgot.

Amistad, come on. We've got to go.

Wait.

I want a black-and-white cookie.

You just had breakfast.
It's time to go see Daddy.

Wool hat.

It's August. You don't need a hat.

You'll be too warm in that hat.

I can't go to Daddy without
my wool hat. [straining]

Fine. We'll look for the hat.

No hat. No hat.

No hat. No hat.

Sorry, baby, I couldn't find it,

- but Daddy can get you a new hat.
- No!

No! No, no, no!

- [grunting angrily]
- How about that black-and-white cookie?

- Okay.
- Okay.

[gasps]

- Wool hat!
- No, Amistad. That's final.

[grunts]

[hyperventilating]

[screaming]

Mmm. [sniffing]

Mmm.

She smells bad.

Excuse me, young man?

I am so sorry.

He's very sensitive to perfumes.

He didn't mean it the way it sounded.

I did mean it. She does smell bad.

You can't just say that
kind of thing. It's not polite.

It's not polite for her to smell bad.

Your boy needs to learn some manners.

Do not tell me what my son needs.

[scoffs]

Sixteenth Avenue is next.

We have to get off at Seventeenth today.

We always get off at Sixteenth
Avenue to go to Daddy's.

The train won't stop there today.
The station's closed for construction.

- We always get off at Sixteenth Avenue...
- [P.A. system chiming]

- to go to Daddy's.
- [P.A.] Next stop, Seventeenth Avenue.

[screaming]

[sighs] Uh, we need to talk.

Hey, little man. Now, go
inside. I left your cars out.

- Wheels up?
- You know it.

- Hard morning?
- It was fine.

You have the Justice League codes

to reach me if there's a problem?

Uh, about that.

We've got Amistad's
school conference next week

to go over his IEP.

Can we just stop with the acronyms?

And no, I won't be back in time,

but I don't see the need for that,

and it's pointless anyway.

They just don't get him at that school.

They don't understand
how intelligent he is.

No one's denying
he's intelligent, Raquel,

but that doesn't change
the fact that the specialists

have diagnosed him with autism.

He has outbursts in class
that his teachers can't handle.

Not while trying to wrangle
other kids.

We have to face this, deal with it,

and get him the help he needs.

Not today. I'm already late.

Bye, my baby. I love you.

[kisses] I'll be home soon.

[sighs]

[theme music playing]

[Flash] Lost in space?

Hmm? No, we're right on course.

[chuckles]

I can see that.

And frankly, after being cooped
up on the Javelin for two days,

I'm ready to stretch my legs.

Is Flash ready to stretch Flash's legs

for Flash's first mission
as a Justice Leaguer?

Yes. Nice being
the new kid for a change.

Oh, Forager can see Forager's
old Forest Hive from here.

Well, you'll have to give me a
tour when we get down there.

[Rocket] This isn't a pleasure cruise.

We're here to represent Earth
at the Summit,

get a treaty signed if we can.

Well yeah. Justice League meets the
New Gods meets the Green Lantern Corps.

Big old Hero Summit. A sure-fire hoot.

- Hoot?
- You heard me.

Any last minute advice
on navigating New Genesis?

Forager is unsure what to tell Rocket.

Forager has not been to
Forager's home world in over a year.

And Forager has never been
to Supertown before.

Forager is unsure
how useful Forager will be.

[alert buzz]

Nos Kemnos, Kagenna Danjar...

[grunts]

[Motherbox pings]

[in English] The New Gods welcome
the Justice League to New Genesis.

[Rocket] Thank you.

Technically, Forager is an Outsider.

Ready to receive landing coordinates.

Coordinates will not be necessary.

Simply follow the Lightray.

Welcome, honored guests.

I am Solis, called Lightray.

Allow me to introduce
Highfather Iyaza the Inheritor,

Highmother Avia, the Wisdom... Bringer,

and their son Orion, Dog of w*r.

Dog of w*r?

What brings you today, Antinoos?

Another delivery of drained
crystals, Captain Celestia.

Enter.

Forager is honored to meet Highfather.

Welcome to Supertown.

The first Bug to be so welcomed,

and... [clears throat] high time, too.

[curious chittering]

[Orion] The representatives from the
Green Lantern Corps will arrive tomorrow.

In the meantime, I will
escort you to your quarters.

[Motherbox pings]

This is unknown technology.

It should be confiscated for study.

Kid, you're going to want to
rethink that policy.

My son, Rocket is our honored guest.

[grunts] Fine, request withdrawn.

- [both grunting]
- [Celestia] Excuse me, I...

A Bug?

[Celestia grunts]

[Motherbox pings]

How unusual.

A thief has broken into
our secured warehouse.

[Graggin] Hunger Dogs, hear me.

We outnumber the New Gods on Apokolips

a thousand to one.

If we all rose up together,

we could even overthrow Darksei...

Don't you say it, Graggin.

You'll get us all k*lled,
or worse, reeducated.

Now shut up, get down
and get out of my bar!

[indistinct chatter]

You really believe all that?

It's simple math. Of course, I do.

No one ever taught me math before now.

Come with me. There are others
you should meet.

- [Rocket] I can help.
- That's not protocol.

Come on.

It'll give you a chance to see
my unknown technology in action.

My priorities do not include...

[Highmother clears throat]

[grunts] Help would be appreciated.

[Motherbox pings]

No!

Impressive.

To time one's descent with
Supertown's trajectory and speed

in order to drop into the lake
below required calculation

worthy of Motherbox.

[Motherbox pings]

[grunts] The environment has
been charged with Radion particles.

Motherbox cannot track the thief.

Then we'll take the direct approach.

[gasps, groans]

- Let me out.
- Underwater?

Let me out... now!

[Motherbox pings repeatedly]

- [Orion panting]
- You all right?

Fine. I am fine.

Great, 'cause the thief got away.

[Superboy grunts]

Who are you?

I am the Superboy. [grunts]

Who are you?

A genomorph. [grunts]

Who are you?

A clone made from
the DNA of the Superman.

- Why?
- [Superboy grunts]

To replace Superman should he perish.

To destroy him
should he turn from the light.

[Superboy grunts]

That's right, my boy. Very good.

Thank you, Father.

A capable female.

How do you know she's female?

Is not the Bug's gender obvious?

[Lightray] Why is a Bug
privy to this meeting?

[Forager groans]

[Orion] This is not the Bug
that committed the crime.

And this Bug may be able
to help us catch that Bug.

Do we know what exactly was stolen?

A Radion-powered Ruction Cell.

It must be ancient.

Five or six thousand years old at least.

No wonder it was warehoused.

It's both obsolete and dangerous.

[Flash] Does the other Bug know that?

[Highmother] I think not.

We must retrieve this Cell
before someone gets hurt.

We must search the hive near the lake.

No. Notice the Bug's markings.

This Bug is of the mountain hive.

Mmm, I thought you might be useful.

We can all be useful.

[Jovita] What is this place?

The last stop for the Resistance.

[Parademon roars]

Parademons.

[gasps, grunts, screams in pain]

[Ma'alefa'ak] Another rebel
against Lord Darkseid.

Rebel? I never thought of
rebelling until I heard you speak.

Mmm. But you were susceptible.

Take this traitor
to the reeducation center.

No. No!

Very good, Ma'alefa'ak.

That's the sixteenth traitor
you've arrested.

My father is pleased and
summons you for an audience.

[Fatherbox pongs]

At last...

[Mountain Forager] If Hive
can harness this device,

Hive can bring power to entire Mountain.

Forager has brought a
great gift to the Mountain Hive.

[All] Kadan, Forager! Forager, Kadan!

Warning! New Gods approach the Hive.

[Forager] Stay here.

But Forager...

Forager trusts Larvae will
keep this great prize safe.

Yes, Larvae will!

[pings]

[Orion] Motherbox is Radion-blocked.

The Ruction Cell
must be in the vicinity.

[Rocket] Don't suppose Motherbox
is blocked in any particular direction?

I could check all those
tunnels pretty quick.

Not Barry-Allen-quick, but still...

"Barry Allen" does not translate,

yet I get the gist and I am with you.

No. Highfather has a rule against
entering Bug Hives without permission.

A wise rule indeed. [clicking]

Bugs of the Mountain Hive, Orion
has come to retrieve the Ruction Cell

stolen from the New Gods.

Bugs know not of any Ruction Cell.

- [Forager- ] Ruction Cell?
- [Forager- ] What's a Ruction Cell?

[Forager- ] Can Bugs eat Ruction Cell?

[Orion] There is no point
in feigning ignorance.

We know one of this Hive's
Foragers stole our property.

[All-Widow] But do not all Foragers
look alike to New Gods?

How can New Gods know that
a Forager of the Mountain Hive

stole the New God's important Cell.

Hello. Forager is Forager.

Hello, Forager.

Forager is also Forager.

Please listen. Your safety is at risk.

[Rocket] The Ruction Cell...

New Gods always
believe New God technology

is too advanced for Bugs.

And yet Forager's friend Rocket
speaks the truth about the Ruction Cell.

If Forager did forage Cell,
then Cell is Forager's.

Or has Forager spent so much time

with New Gods, Forager has
forgotten what it means to forage.

Forager rolls with Forager's Hive.

Forager assumes Forager does the same.

But if Cell explodes, Forager
will have no Hive.

No Elders. No Foragers.
No Larvae to roll with.

Highfather has a rule against
entering Bug Hives without permission.

But an exception can be made
to protect life.

[All-Widow] If New Gods even break faith
with New God rules, Bugs will defend Hive!

Forager will bring New Gods to the Cell.

He will?

Forager will not.

But Forager will.

No, this isn't going to get
confusing at all.

[Mountain Forager] Come.

Forager will be pleased with Larvae

for protecting Hive's new prize!

Larvae are much like Forager! [clicking]

[electricity crackling]

Up in the sky, it's Superman!

[crowd cheering]

Excellent work.

Always good to see our new
Superman doing the occasional rescue.

Like this Tower, it provides
the appropriate symbolism.

Keeps the mob cheering
now that the old Superman

and his crimes are all but forgotten.

Is this a job for Superman?

[Lex] No.

Toyman's just doing us a small favor.

We need to save our boy
for more important tasks.

As when he dispatched
that untrustworthy vigilante.

Or when he dismantled that
orbiting thr*at to all mankind.

These are the things he excels at.

And you are excelling, my son.

But you've yet to reach
your full potential.

You know what you must do?

No, Father.

She's slowing you down, son.

But...

To survive, you must
shed useless attachments.

Clean your slate. Time to let her go.

[Mountain Forager]
Many exits emerge from the Hive.

Larvae could have taken any one,

making Larvae's current
trajectory hard to predict.

I'll run a search pattern.

Good idea. I'll fly one.

Around Forest Hive, Larvae
favor common Larvae trails.

Where would Mountain Larvae go?

[clicking] Follow Forager.

[Ma'alefa'ak] Lord Darkseid.

I have done all I was tasked with.

Having proven my worth,
I ask you to fulfill your promise.

Darkseid is neither amused nor
impressed with Ma'alefa'ak's impudence.

But complete one
final task for your Dread Lord,

and you shall be granted your boon.

I await Darkseid's command.

Mantis, approach,
with the Kaizer-Thrall.

I assume you observe.

Show yourself.

Uhm, what is it you want me to do?

Darkseid instructs both Mantis
and Ma'alefa'ak

to follow this one's orders
as if they were Darkseid's own.

[Ma'alefa'ak] I know Mantis.

Who are you?

I am Lor. Lor-Zod.

[crackling, beeping rapidly]

- Ooh!
- What did Larva do?

Larva did nothing! Larva swears.

[both laugh, cheer]

[beeping rapidly]

[both gasp]

[Larvae laughing]

Stop what you're doing and
return the Ruction Cell to me.

New Gods have found Larvae
and will take Forager's gift!

- [electricity crackling]
- [screams]

[Orion grunts]

[screams]

Larvae, stop! That device is
dangerous to Larvae and the Hive.

[both screaming]

Drop it and run! I'll put a
Force-Bubble around it!

[angry roar]

This is New God honor?
v*olence against Larvae?

Ugh, I don't know how long we have.

My tech won't bottle
that type of energy long.

[screams, grunts]

[screaming]

Flash, get those kids to safety!

Roger that!

- Rocket, release him!
- Are you serious?

Look at him!

Please, he's claustrophobic.

You must release him before
you do irreparable damage.

[all grunt]

[screaming]

- [Lightray grunts]
- [Motherbox pings]

[panting]

[sighs]

Apologies.

[Flash] It seems the Ruction Cell
is dormant now but still dangerous.

Metron, over there, is supposed to take
it to his "Inter... Dimensional Vault"

- for safekeeping.
- [Mobius Chair gongs]

[Orion] I lost control again.

Another inheritance
from my biological father.

You are not him and never will be.

[Rocket sighs]

[Flash] By the way, kid, good job.

Without your insight, we never
would have found the Cell in time.

You both did great.

I wish I had done as well.
I totally froze up in the clutch.

Don't be so hard on yourself.

Everyone's safe after all.

That doesn't cut it.

I've got to lead
negotiations tomorrow...

And I'll be negotiating with a monster.

It's time to shed this last burden.

I just don't know.

[Unknown voice] What don't you know?

Talking to yourself or someone else?

I'm guessing the latter.

Which means you're suffering
from Zone-Sickness.

Hallucinating. We all go through it.

How do I know
you're not a hallucination?

Because we've never
seen each other before.

At any rate, I don't recall
ever seeing you.

Do I look familiar?

No.

Well, that's because I'm real. Or
as real as anything gets around here.

I'm real. You're real. And
that girl you're carrying is real.

Anyone else is just
the sickness talking.

I can teach you how to survive, um...

I am the Superboy.

If you say so.

My name's Dru, by the way,
Dru-Zod. General Dru-Zod.

[Superman] Every candidate
up here would make a fine recruit

into our new Justice League reserves.

Oh, and I couldn't find
any clear pictures of them,

but the recruitment committee
should also consider Peacemaker,

Etrigan the Demon
and the Phantom Stranger.

Plus, in a real planetary crisis,
Russia has more Rocket Reds,

and China has, well, whatever it
is they're not telling us they have.

Orin and Diana have both indicated

that Atlantis and the Themyscira
are potential untapped resources, too.

We've barely scratched
the surface in either kingdom.

Same for Geranium City, perhaps.

We also want to create cooperative plans
of action with Mars and maybe Thanagar.

And if Rocket's negotiations go as
hoped with New Genesis and Oa as well.

The real question is Markovia.

There are heroes there, but
can we be certain Geo-Force

and his Infinitors will abide
by Justice League standards?

Last thing we want or need
is for a reserve mission

to cost us the trust
we've worked so hard to build.