1. It was a motley assortmentCopy !req
2. who came to rescue Grayson,
Pierce, and Motherbox.Copy !req
3. Clearly, Earth's various teams
of heroes are cooperatingCopy !req
4. more than they have revealed
to the public.Copy !req
5. So it has always been.Copy !req
6. And I had them all at my mercy.Copy !req
7. But they escaped.Copy !req
8. Thanks to a Boomtube-Boy
and that Halo-Girl.Copy !req
9. You need not concern yourself with Halo.Copy !req
10. I already have plans
for her capture and beyond.Copy !req
11. Ultra-Humanite is not the only oneCopy !req
12. to express interest in the girl.Copy !req
13. Securing her is my operation.Copy !req
14. And per the Light's traditions,Copy !req
15. that gives me first rights to her.Copy !req
16. I see.Copy !req
17. And what of the Markovs?Copy !req
18. Slade?Copy !req
19. Easy, Princess.Copy !req
20. What are you doing?Copy !req
21. I could ask you the same thing.Copy !req
22. See, I know you haven't
reported all you knowCopy !req
23. about either Halo or Victor Stone.Copy !req
24. Explain yourself, girl. Now!Copy !req
25. Nothing to say?Copy !req
26. You've gone soft on those people.Copy !req
27. You're soft, Princess!Copy !req
28. That's why those meta-traffickersCopy !req
29. were able to grab you so easily.Copy !req
30. But I promise I can toughen you up.Copy !req
31. I am not soft.Copy !req
32. I didn't report on Violet or VictorCopy !req
33. because they're both
developing situations.Copy !req
34. I'm still gathering Intel.Copy !req
35. I can't tell if you're trying
to fool me or yourself.Copy !req
36. And I can't decide which is worse.Copy !req
37. You think those heroes are harmless.Copy !req
38. Goody-two-shoes types
who care about you.Copy !req
39. You've clearly forgotten
how much Brion caredCopy !req
40. when he invited you to London,Copy !req
41. then went clubbing while
you were being abducted.Copy !req
42. How much your parents caredCopy !req
43. when they did next to nothing
to track you down afterwards.Copy !req
44. How much Jace cared when she
dunked you into Bedlam's Tar.Copy !req
45. You think your new friends
are any better?Copy !req
46. The moment they decide
you're out of line,Copy !req
47. the moment they fear
they can't control you,Copy !req
48. they'll slap an inhibitor collarCopy !req
49. or a control chip on your neck.Copy !req
50. Look, kid,Copy !req
51. have I ever been anything
but straight with you?Copy !req
52. Tough, sure. For your own good.Copy !req
53. But straight.Copy !req
54. So take this.Copy !req
55. Just in case.Copy !req
56. His temperature's spiking.Copy !req
57. Help me strap him down
so he doesn't hurt himself.Copy !req
58. I don't understand.Copy !req
59. I mean, yeah, Granny's X-Pit
was pure torture,Copy !req
60. but I recovered.
Why is Dick in such a bad way?Copy !req
61. I wish I knew.Copy !req
62. His brain is swelling.Copy !req
63. Doctor Jace says we need ice
to bring down his temperature.Copy !req
64. We're on it.Copy !req
65. Ice is on the way.Copy !req
66. And then what?Copy !req
67. It's a fair question, Courtney.Copy !req
68. But the three of us hope
we're making a differenceCopy !req
69. by inspiring young metas everywhere.Copy !req
70. Showing them that
the possibilities are...Copy !req
71. Well, infinite.Copy !req
72. Mother of Goat!Copy !req
73. This Infinity IncorporatedCopy !req
74. is poaching on the Outsiders' turf.Copy !req
75. Mmm. Oh, take it as a compliment.Copy !req
76. We inspired them.Copy !req
77. They wanna inspire others. Mmm.Copy !req
78. And that's a good thing, right?Copy !req
79. Always looking on the bright side.Copy !req
80. I need that.Copy !req
81. Frankly, I'd be lost without it.Copy !req
82. Without you.Copy !req
83. Not in a pancake mood?Copy !req
84. It is difficult to enjoy pancakesCopy !req
85. when my powers can do nothing to
pull Dick back from death's door.Copy !req
86. Didn't you just say she always
looked on the bright side?Copy !req
87. I think we all feel a bit guiltyCopy !req
88. we're here enjoying a meal
while Dick is so ill.Copy !req
89. What else can we do?Copy !req
90. Doctor Jace asked us to give some spaceCopy !req
91. to his oldest friends and family.Copy !req
92. That reminds me.Copy !req
93. Who is his family?Copy !req
94. Is Grayson's father Bruce Wayne...Copy !req
95. Look, can we talk about Gretchen?Copy !req
96. She's the reason Dick's...
Well, you know.Copy !req
97. She almost killed Jeff
and Motherbox too,Copy !req
98. using some serious Apokoliptan tech.Copy !req
99. You know she's got
something else cooking.Copy !req
100. And I'm not talking about pancakes.Copy !req
101. We need to take her down!Copy !req
102. His temperature's down.
He's stable for the moment.Copy !req
103. Take a break, Doctor.Copy !req
104. We'll call you if anything changes.Copy !req
105. Coffee?Copy !req
106. You're a lifesaver.Copy !req
107. I think that's your job.Copy !req
108. I'm in way over my head, Jeff.Copy !req
109. I'm here for you.Copy !req
110. Anything you need.Copy !req
111. - Is everything...
- There's no change.Copy !req
112. Alfred's with him.Copy !req
113. Kaldur, M'gann. A word.Copy !req
114. It's a shame
it takes something like thisCopy !req
115. to bring everyone together.Copy !req
116. Yeah.Copy !req
117. A shame.Copy !req
118. I'm sorry, but I herebyCopy !req
119. tender my resignation
to the Justice League.Copy !req
120. Since when are we
working for the League?Copy !req
121. We're not.Copy !req
122. I want nothing to do
with Batman Incorporated.Copy !req
123. The truth is, I don't trust you.Copy !req
124. Son of a...Copy !req
125. You were all working together!Copy !req
126. Mr. "I Don't Join Teams" Grayson
takes me on a rogue missionCopy !req
127. to Granny's house,Copy !req
128. where we're rescued by the co-chairCopy !req
129. of the Justice League
and a Bat-Family drone!Copy !req
130. - That's on me.
- I can explain.Copy !req
131. Oh, I'm sure it is.Copy !req
132. And I'm sure you can.Copy !req
133. But it doesn't stop there.Copy !req
134. Or start there, for that matter.Copy !req
135. That joint op busting
meta-traffickers around the world?Copy !req
136. Dick explained it all so logically.Copy !req
137. It was Intel M'gann provided to us,Copy !req
138. to the Team, and to the League.Copy !req
139. But, of course, it was really
the six of you coordinating.Copy !req
140. Just how long
have you been coordinating?Copy !req
141. When I quit the Justice League
and wouldn't join Batman Inc.?Copy !req
142. Did Dick recruit me for Markovia
just to keep me in the fold?Copy !req
143. Holy... When the League split,Copy !req
144. Batman didn't blindside Aquaman!Copy !req
145. You both planned it in advance!Copy !req
146. Created that dog and pony showCopy !req
147. to lie to every one
of your fellow Leaguers!Copy !req
148. And why?Copy !req
149. So you could break the law with impunityCopy !req
150. while dragging me into it?Copy !req
151. It is not as bad as...
As you make it sound.Copy !req
152. Oh, no, I'm guessing it's worse.Copy !req
153. Everything's a lie!Copy !req
154. Badass Kaldur getting his bad
ass kicked in Brooklin, Maine?Copy !req
155. That was just to make the
Outsiders look good, wasn't it?Copy !req
156. - No!
- That's not what happened!Copy !req
157. Not bad enough you manipulate me...Copy !req
158. you had to manipulate
these idealistic kids!Copy !req
159. Be silent, my child, and follow me.Copy !req
160. I don't understand.Copy !req
161. Should we really be leaving
now, with Dick in such...Copy !req
162. I'll explain in the car.Copy !req
163. Brion? Tara?Copy !req
164. What's going on?Copy !req
165. I have good news, Violet.Copy !req
166. My mentor has found
a cure for your condition.Copy !req
167. My condition? But they don't...Copy !req
168. It's all right.Copy !req
169. I know you were having troubleCopy !req
170. deciding how to break the news,Copy !req
171. so I told them.Copy !req
172. And they're here to support you.Copy !req
173. Right, kids?Copy !req
174. Yes, Doctor Jace.Copy !req
175. I'm so glad you finally know.Copy !req
176. Now there are no more
secrets between us.Copy !req
177. No secrets.Copy !req
178. That's my boy. Seat belts, everyone.Copy !req
179. No wonder you were kidnapped.Copy !req
180. Even with your powers,Copy !req
181. you can't seem to take care of yourself.Copy !req
182. Look, kid, I got you away
from your abductors,Copy !req
183. which is something your family
and country couldn't do.Copy !req
184. But we both need to make sureCopy !req
185. no one can ever
hurt you like that again.Copy !req
186. So try harder!Copy !req
187. We were using Bo staffs!Copy !req
188. But in this world
it doesn't pay to fight fair.Copy !req
189. I'm glad you've learned that.Copy !req
190. I'm so proud of you, Tara.Copy !req
191. Didn't we feel enough of this modeCopy !req
192. when Artemis faked her death?Copy !req
193. Is this how Batman teaches you to
treat your friends and teammates?Copy !req
194. 'Cause I bet Superman or Wonder WomanCopy !req
195. sure wouldn't approve.Copy !req
196. Uh... Diana's part of this.Copy !req
197. And Cassie doesn't know?Copy !req
198. You never told her?Copy !req
199. Dude, this is gonna
end you two for good.Copy !req
200. You know that, right?Copy !req
201. So your little secret society
of superheroesCopy !req
202. orchestrated events in Brooklin, Maine?Copy !req
203. No, the Brooklin WarbugsCopy !req
204. and the Reach ship were real threats.Copy !req
205. We just kinda teed it up for you guys.Copy !req
206. We didn't need that!Copy !req
207. Look what we accomplished in Dublin!Copy !req
208. What? You're saying
Dublin was teed up, too?Copy !req
209. But the girl and her dad?Copy !req
210. The girl was M'gann.Copy !req
211. Her dad was Bruce.Copy !req
212. M'gann! You did that to me?Copy !req
213. I cannot believe this!Copy !req
214. The whole point of the OutsidersCopy !req
215. is to be in the open!Copy !req
216. Give kids something that's theirs.Copy !req
217. You guys corrupted that!Copy !req
218. Look, you may not like our methods,Copy !req
219. and maybe we did go too far.Copy !req
220. But you've secretly and knowingly
coordinated the OutsidersCopy !req
221. with the Team and the League.Copy !req
222. - That's different.
- Not very.Copy !req
223. You wanted to go head-to-head
with Lex and Granny in public.Copy !req
224. We were going head-to-headCopy !req
225. with the Light behind the scenes.Copy !req
226. And we did it in a wayCopy !req
227. that allowed you
to preserve your integrity.Copy !req
228. So now you're mad at us for it?Copy !req
229. Condiment King?Copy !req
230. All yours.Copy !req
231. You're not even sorry!Copy !req
232. We are sorry we have
made you feel this way.Copy !req
233. That's not an apology!Copy !req
234. I am not going to apologize
for putting the mission first.Copy !req
235. What good is the missionCopy !req
236. if we lose ourselves
trying to fulfill it?Copy !req
237. Jeff.Copy !req
238. I think the person
you're really angry with...Copy !req
239. is me.Copy !req
240. My mentor should be here any minute.Copy !req
241. In the meantime, lie down,Copy !req
242. and I will prep you for the procedure.Copy !req
243. Wait. I remember...Copy !req
244. Overlord,Copy !req
245. cerebral-leash, please.Copy !req
246. No!Copy !req
247. Don't want...Copy !req
248. I didn't know
you were bringing a friend.Copy !req
249. Friend?Copy !req
250. Let's call ourselves associates.Copy !req
251. I told youCopy !req
252. trying to sedate her wouldn't work.Copy !req
253. It was worth a try.Copy !req
254. After all, a control chipCopy !req
255. might or might not
have worked on this one,Copy !req
256. and we couldn't risk
tipping her off beforehand.Copy !req
257. I've fulfilled my part of the bargain.Copy !req
258. I'm ready to depart with Brion
and Tara, as promised.Copy !req
259. Ultra-Humanite:
You'll get what you're owedCopy !req
260. when we are good and ready.Copy !req
261. Oh, stop pouting.Copy !req
262. So you're not getting the Halo-Girl.Copy !req
263. When the time comes, you can have
the Boomtube-Boy to play with.Copy !req
264. I don't understand.Copy !req
265. We had an arrangement.Copy !req
266. There's been a change in plans, my dear.Copy !req
267. But don't let it worry you.Copy !req
268. I feel a great sympathy
between us, Helga.Copy !req
269. You're a mother who knows how
to keep her children in line.Copy !req
270. I admire that.Copy !req
271. Would you care to seeCopy !req
272. what we have planned
for this Motherbox-Girl?Copy !req
273. I admit, I'm curious.Copy !req
274. Excellent. Motherbox, rise.Copy !req
275. Overlord.Copy !req
276. What... What is this?Copy !req
277. This is an X-Pit.Copy !req
278. We're safe within the Cube,Copy !req
279. which protects usCopy !req
280. from the effects
of the Pit's Ghost Dimension.Copy !req
281. Said effects are somewhat deleteriousCopy !req
282. to mind, spirit, and body.Copy !req
283. In my proper role as matron
of my master's Orphanage,Copy !req
284. I hone his young warriors,
and often use X-PitsCopy !req
285. for discipline, correction,Copy !req
286. and to prepare a subject's
brain for reprogramming.Copy !req
287. It's quite effective...Copy !req
288. in the short term.Copy !req
289. But only because my childrenCopy !req
290. fear the consequences
of returning to the Pit.Copy !req
291. My, uh, dirty little secretCopy !req
292. is that the process is flawed
and impermanent.Copy !req
293. Free will has not been truly eliminated.Copy !req
294. But after seeing a MotherboxCopy !req
295. trapped inside this organic form,Copy !req
296. I formulated a theory...Copy !req
297. There. Do you see?Copy !req
298. It's a reflex. She can't help herself.Copy !req
299. She's activated her healing aura,Copy !req
300. but it doesn't seem to help.Copy !req
301. Overlord, do your readings
confirm my suspicions?Copy !req
302. Yes.Copy !req
303. The Ghost Dimension
has repolarized the powerCopy !req
304. emanating from
the Motherbox's human flesh.Copy !req
305. Meaning what?Copy !req
306. Meaning she's the keyCopy !req
307. to solving the Anti-Life Equation.Copy !req
308. I wish Jeff understood.Copy !req
309. We were trying to protect him.Copy !req
310. We were trying to protect them all.Copy !req
311. I know. But...
But what if we were wrong?Copy !req
312. Would you want to be protected that way?Copy !req
313. I wouldn't need to be.Copy !req
314. - Well, maybe they don't either.
- Maybe.Copy !req
315. But even the debateCopy !req
316. brings the mission to a grinding halt.Copy !req
317. So you just decide for everyone?Copy !req
318. Wow, that's not patronizing at all.Copy !req
319. Barbara, you know
I didn't decide this alone.Copy !req
320. The seven of us agreed.Copy !req
321. We had to fight fire with fire.Copy !req
322. It's true. And I'm not absolving myself.Copy !req
323. But have you noticed
your little Illuminati societyCopy !req
324. is made up entirely of former proteges?Copy !req
325. Proteges accustomed to following
your orders without question.Copy !req
326. - Diana...
- Is out in spaceCopy !req
327. where she only learns of our activitiesCopy !req
328. as a fait accompli.Copy !req
329. - The mission...
- Whose mission, Bruce?Copy !req
330. The mission or your mission?Copy !req
331. What is this "Anti-Life Equation"?Copy !req
332. I'd have thought that obvious.Copy !req
333. Life minus free will equals Anti-Life,Copy !req
334. but the formula must be tested.Copy !req
335. Ultra-Humanite in English:
What just happened?Copy !req
336. Another proof.Copy !req
337. Clearly, Motherbox is still connectedCopy !req
338. to the Source of all Life,Copy !req
339. but without the unfortunate
technological safeguards MetronCopy !req
340. built into all non-organic
Mother and Fatherboxes.Copy !req
341. So Halo's organics make her the keyCopy !req
342. to this "Anti-Life Equation"?Copy !req
343. With her connection to the
Source of Life repolarized?Copy !req
344. I believe it does.Copy !req
345. The Ghost Dimension plus Halo
equals Anti-Life.Copy !req
346. But one final test remains.Copy !req
347. Do you have truthsCopy !req
348. you wish to share
with your children, Doctor?Copy !req
349. No. I...Copy !req
350. Don't be modest, dear.
Spill your secrets.Copy !req
351. I... I only wanted to
protect meine Kinder.Copy !req
352. For Tara and Brion are mine.Copy !req
353. My creations.Copy !req
354. After Bedlam abducted the princessCopy !req
355. and brought her to my lab,Copy !req
356. - No!
- ... I destroyed the old Tara, drowned her.Copy !req
357. What emerged was not
the Markovs' human daughter.Copy !req
358. No. Tara was reborn as a meta-human.Copy !req
359. A meta-human
I had brought into this world.Copy !req
360. She was now my daughter.Copy !req
361. - Tara!
- No!Copy !req
362. But when Baron BedlamCopy !req
363. stole my girl away from me,Copy !req
364. I swore revenge upon him,Copy !req
365. but need to forge
a new weapon to get it.Copy !req
366. Brion is such a sweet boy at heart,Copy !req
367. that manipulating him was child's play.Copy !req
368. I planted seeds,Copy !req
369. subtly leading him to beg
to become a meta.Copy !req
370. When he had second thoughts...Copy !req
371. No!Copy !req
372. I took the difficult
decision out of his hands...Copy !req
373. and brought my son into this world.Copy !req
374. But the Markovs were
hardly my only subjects.Copy !req
375. There was also Gabrielle.Copy !req
376. After the King
and Queen's assassination,Copy !req
377. DeLamb wanted any potential
witness removed.Copy !req
378. Gabrielle was sent to me,Copy !req
379. but she tested negative
for the meta-gene.Copy !req
380. She was useless.Copy !req
381. Bedlam's thug wanted to shoot
her, right there in my lab.Copy !req
382. But that would've made a mess.Copy !req
383. So I put her to sleep
with an overdose of morphine.Copy !req
384. It was a lovely surpriseCopy !req
385. to learn you had survived
to become a meta-human.Copy !req
386. I reasoned your genetic test
had produced a false negativeCopy !req
387. and that the morphine
activated your meta-gene.Copy !req
388. I believed with all my heart
that Gabrielle had been rebornCopy !req
389. as my daughter, Violet.Copy !req
390. Just as Brion had been reborn as my son.Copy !req
391. But how was I to stay near you both,Copy !req
392. let alone find Tara?Copy !req
393. So I seduced Jeff,Copy !req
394. used him to reunite with my children.Copy !req
395. But, after learning the truthCopy !req
396. about Gabrielle and the spirit
of the Motherbox within her,Copy !req
397. I began to suspect
Violet might not be my child,Copy !req
398. my creation at all.Copy !req
399. To be certain, I tested
Violet's hair folliclesCopy !req
400. and discovered my initial
diagnosis was correct.Copy !req
401. Gabrielle never had the meta-gene.Copy !req
402. The girl was some kind of sick joke,Copy !req
403. a corpse revivified by an alien machine.Copy !req
404. And worse, this thing was dating my son.Copy !req
405. I had to separate them.Copy !req
406. So I lied, telling her she was dying.Copy !req
407. Even convincing her not to burden
her friends with her illness.Copy !req
408. Anything to keep her dependent on meCopy !req
409. and drive a wedge between
this pretender and my boy.Copy !req
410. But I knew this subterfuge
couldn't last.Copy !req
411. And now that I was
reunited with my children,Copy !req
412. I was impatient to create more.Copy !req
413. I contacted Ultra-Humanite,Copy !req
414. and in exchange for delivering
this Motherbox-Girl up to him,Copy !req
415. he agreed to arrange our exitCopy !req
416. and set us up somewhere
I could continue my work,Copy !req
417. increasing the size of our family.Copy !req
418. I'm sorry about the control chips.Copy !req
419. But I couldn't take the chance
of losing you again.Copy !req
420. In time, I'm sure they'll
no longer be necessary.Copy !req
421. Of that, I am now certain.Copy !req
422. Overlord, take us back.Copy !req
423. Ah, secrets can be such a burden, Helga.Copy !req
424. You had to know your wordsCopy !req
425. would make your children
despise you forever,Copy !req
426. but you kept right on talking.Copy !req
427. I suppose you hate me for that.Copy !req
428. Answer truthfully, now.Copy !req
429. Yes.Copy !req
430. But would you do
absolutely anything for me?Copy !req
431. Yes.Copy !req
432. Such is the power of the Equation.Copy !req
433. The Light may keep its
Starro-tech and control chips.Copy !req
434. My Master will have Halo,
and through her, Anti-Life.Copy !req
435. Ultra-Humanite:
You have overplayed your hand.Copy !req
436. Mmm. I think not.Copy !req
437. I think perhaps you have.Copy !req
438. We will no longer be controlled.Copy !req
439. Take this. Just in case.Copy !req
440. Motherbox, protect.Copy !req
441. Violet! No!Copy !req
442. Tara! Brion! No!Copy !req
443. Jeff...Copy !req
444. - Please...
- Stop.Copy !req
445. You're not sorry either. I'm so gone.Copy !req
446. Where's Helga?Copy !req
447. Uh, she left a while ago
with Violet and the Markovs.Copy !req
448. Yeah, I don't blame her.Copy !req
449. Probably didn't want
them to see all this.Copy !req
450. Where's Violet? Where's Helga?Copy !req
451. We went to a lotCopy !req
452. of trouble to place
Tara Markov with the heroes.Copy !req
453. There was no wayCopy !req
454. we would honor Jace's terms,Copy !req
455. even in trade for Halo.Copy !req
456. But Jace didn't,
and still doesn't, know that.Copy !req
457. I gave Tara an antidote chip
before Jace could take her,Copy !req
458. so that the Markovs'Copy !req
459. could believably break free
on their own,Copy !req
460. keeping both exactly where we want them.Copy !req
461. Ultra-Humanite:
That may soon be immaterial.Copy !req
462. It's no wonder Darkseid
insisted you give him Halo.Copy !req
463. The galactic balance of power
will shift irrevocablyCopy !req
464. once Granny hands overCopy !req
465. this living key
to the Anti-Life Equation.Copy !req
466. We have to rescue Violet!Copy !req
467. But we don't know where she is.Copy !req
468. This can't be true.Copy !req
469. I am sorry, but it is.Copy !req
470. If my control chip hadn't malfunctioned,Copy !req
471. Brion and I would never have escaped.Copy !req
472. - Helga...
- Jace betrayed you.Copy !req
473. Betrayed us all.Copy !req
474. I gotta get outta here.Copy !req
475. - Jefferson...
- Don't follow me!Copy !req
476. Here she is, as promised.Copy !req
477. The missing variable
in the Anti-Life Equation.Copy !req
478. You'll find her
a very well-behaved child.Copy !req
479. Just as I prefer.Copy !req
480. You were right about the heroes.Copy !req
481. They betray each other at every turn.Copy !req
482. They cannot be trusted.Copy !req
483. So, what do you need me to do?Copy !req