[After Brainiac reveals himself from within Lex Luthor]
[Lex Luthor screaming]
I'd hoped to remain hidden--
LLuthoriac
Until I could install myself into the android.
I don't understand what's happening!
You are under my control. I have lain dormant within you for years, Lex Luthor, subtly influencing your actions until we arrived at this point. Do you not recall my kidnapping you in this very building?
[A flashback to the Superman: TAS episode "Ghost in the Machine" is shown]
Yes... You forced me to build you a new body.
Kal-El destroyed that body, foiling my plans. In any event, I always have a backup plan. Consider: how could you have survived that point-blank blast from me, unless--
Unless... it wasn't intended to kill me?
The beam carried a nanotech payload that inserted a microscopic, holistic copy of my program inside your body. Since then, I have steadily grown in strength, protecting this body until I could arrange my transfer into a more suitable one.
You cured my cancer; gave me super-strength!
Your animal-protein shell was insufficient for my needs. Improvements were required.
Hate to interrupt this special live performance of The Thing With Two Heads, but it's time to go to jail now.
What he said. [shoots Brainiac/Luthor several times] We'll take it back to Cadmus and see if the tech boys can't pull Luthor out of what's left of that hunk of-- [Brainiac/Luthor suddenly stands, instantly repairing] I'll be dipped!
You are defeated. Any unique information that dwells within you will be digitized. Your physical forms will be deleted. Such is the ultimate fate of this world, but for you, the end comes now.
[Brainiac launches tentacles at the Leaguers' bodies; they scream as they are hit one by one]
I am so willing to wait my turn-- [a tentacle hits him last]
No! [phases himself free and rips the tentacles out of Brainiac]
No! I was not yet prepared for this battle. [uses the LexCorp tower to form a massive Skullship] Now I am prepared.
Easy? Then I guess I must have gone to the wrong fight.
No, he's right. Brainiac isn't here. He suckered us.
[Daily Planet office; night - Lois is working]
CKClark Kent
Working late?
LLLois Lane
Hey, Smallville. Finishing up my Justice League story. How many "L"s in "ambivalent"?
CKClark Kent
One - is that your take on all this, Lois?
LLLois Lane
I've been as tough on the Justice League as anyone - especially on Superman. But that's just because he's always set such a high standard. I'm gonna cut him a break - he's only human... you know what I mean.
CKClark Kent
[smiles] Yeah - I do.
[The League has just been informed that Ace of the Royal Flush Gang has to be stopped, and is presented with a weapon to do it.]
I'll do it, Shayera. I'm the only one of us Ace knows. She might let me get close enough to use it.
Do you understand what you're agreeing to? The only way to stop Ace for certain... is to kill her.
TMTerry McGinnis
Yeah, guess I am. [gets up]
Where the devil have you been? [sits down]
TMTerry McGinnis
I had some stuff to take care of.
Enigma's overrated - especially at 3 A.M. You could've called. I made you some soup, but it's cold.
TMTerry McGinnis
Sorry - didn't mean to worry you.
[trying to open his medication bottle] I was worried about Gotham. If Batman's not around--
TMTerry McGinnis
[opens bottle for Bruce and holds out the pills] I've got it covered. Always.
[looks at Terry for a moment and takes the pills] Kent called. Nothing apocalyptic, he just wants your opinion on a case he's working. Said you could meet him at the Metro Tower.
TMTerry McGinnis
Right. Better suit up. [heads for Batcave entrance]
You should eat something first. Keep up your strength.
TMTerry McGinnis
When I get back.
You're a stubborn piece of work, you know that?
TMTerry McGinnis
[smiling] Just like my old man.
What? I know. I'm going as fast as I can.
Luthor! Don't make any sudden moves. It's over. Hold fire! Hold Fire!
Here we are, Mr. Luthor. Your benefactor is looking forward to meeting you.
Does the mystery man have a name?
No need to be insulting, Lex - I'm far superior to any man.
Grodd! I appreciate the help, but gratitude only goes so far. I'm not interested in working with you or anyone else.
I think you'll change your mind once you've seen what I have to offer.
Why would you even try to move a prisoner that dangerous without calling us?
Maybe because we thought we could do our jobs without help from the mighty Justice League.
Okay, Shayera, what's done is done. Let's see if we can pick up his trail. Aztek?
AAztek
The wall's submolecular integrity has been compromised.
Leptons showing residual weak-force interactions?
AAztek
Yeah. How did you know?
It's a common energy signature of matter-phasing technology. I assume it doesn't leave a trail?
No such luck. Maybe Aztek could...
You guys want some coffee? Apparently I got nothing better to do here.
Sorry, we got caught up in the work.
Special Agent King Faraday. I'm the liaison between the Attorney General's office and the Justice League.
AAztek
Uh, good to meet you. I'm...
Aztek. I've been well briefed on all of you. Security on Luthor's transfer was lax because it didn't seem necessary. We haven't had a peep outta him since he was arrested for that Brainiac business last summer.
He's a broken man. Just sits in his cell talking to himself.
When he's not stealing police vans you mean?
That came out of nowhere. We had no reason to think he was an active threat.
Do what you can. Put out an APB, stake out airports, train and bus stations.
Already done, for what it's worth.
If he's sighted, don't approach him. Call in the League.
MMairzey
Your old footlocker's beeping. At first I thought it was the smoke detector.
That ain't no smoke alarm. It's a sound I never thought I'd hear again. There's trouble on Blackhawk Island.
Aztek didn't find anything else?
Sorry, Superman. It was a bad lead.
Nobody's fault. When you guys do pick up Luthor's trail, call me. I want in.
You know what? This new monitor-duty rotation isn't so bad. No more overnights unless you want them. Only one shift a week and you're done. Wally?
I'm telling you, you should let it grow out.
[Flash is staring at Fire from across the room]
Why don't you just go talk to her?
What, me? Talk to her No way!
Yeah, you'd probably be wasting your time anyway. I hear she's...
you know... [Flash looks curiously at her]
If you're afraid to talk to her, I'll tell her for you. [Starts walking over to Fire]
Got something for you. Tell Hawkgirl your story, Mr. Sirianni.
We met a while back, ma'am. Longer for me than for you. When you traveled in time to World War II, you fought alongside my squadron.
You're one of the Blackhawks.
Only one still kicking, I'm sorry to say.
During the war and for decades after, we captured a lot of weapons. Real sci-fi stuff. We hid the worst of it on Blackhawk Island. We decommissioned the place over 30 years ago. But this morning, the old security alarm went off. Might be nothing.
Or it might be someone raiding your armory. We'll take a look. Shayera out. Pick a third for the team.
Oh, Yob Shiggurath! Hey, Fire!
We've got a mission. Let's go.
I'm not going to argue with you about this.
MMairzey
I didn't come to argue. It gets cold up there.
Allow me. Something of a specialty of mine.
You haven't said a word the whole trip.
I was hoping this mission would give us a chance to get to know each other a little better.
I understand — you're very deep in thought, mentally preparing for the battle. No time for women — I understand. Oh!
Oops! Sorry. Two bogeys closing fast. I'm losing it. We're going down. Get ready to bail. Ejector pod's off-line. We're gonna have to do this the hard way. I got it.
