Episode 18: Transparency
Takes place 23-30 October 2010.
Short version
Paul mends bridges in the aftermath of his Orange Week.
Longer version
Paul lives a few days without his ring to prove that he is trustworthy to the Justice League. He goes to have breakfast with Zatara, Zatanna, and Father Mattias and explains how he was able to separate himself from the Ophidian. He also has Zatara check if he has a soul, which Zatara confirms. Visiting the Watchtower for the first time, Paul is able to remove the brand from Martian Manhunter, and inform Hawkman that without the Ophidian, he isn't able to make any more Nth metal. Back in the Mountain, he and the other Team members try out the kinetic belts that the Ophidian copied from the superhero Rocket, allowing them to fly and ignore kinetic impacts.
More disruptively, he informs Wonder Woman that contrary to her expectations, Zeus has continued his adulterous ways in recent years, producing a half-mortal daughter just eight years old. He also attends dinner with Lex Luthor, learning that Lex has hired Nyssa al-Ghul to research the Danner formula along with the enhancile Arnold Munro.
Since his tattoo-based soul has stabilised, Paul visits John Constantine again, and has a further set of tattoos carved on his soul, making him immune to magical scrying (and standard power ring scans). Unbeknownst to him at the time, they even make him invisible to gods, causing his oath to Gaia to lose effect.
In the alternate timeline, the Renegade tries to mend fences with Robin, partly sincerely and partly as revenge for destroying technology he wanted to collect. He later has a lovely date with Jade, revealing that he has decided on calling himself Grayven, and has used his captured Father Box to resculpt his body; although still large and strong, he's more naturally proportioned and has regained full skin sensation. He gives her an improved Velocity 9, an Apokoliptian scanner that pierces magic disguises, and reunites her with her maternal grandmother. Their visit takes an awkward turn when Grandma Nguyen asks when they're getting married.
Equivalent canon episode: "Secrets". Although some of the canon events are assumed to have taken place, the focus is on Paul being open in the aftermath of his week with the Ophidian.
- Actually Pretty Funny: Mercy reveals that Lex found the datastick Paul gave him, which contained How to Succeed in Evil, so funny that he laughed out loud.Mercy: Mister Luthor was.. laughing, when he listened to it. He doesn't laugh very often.
- Brick Joke: Back in Exfiltrator, Paul thought about having the words "All Others Pay Cash" being put on the special platinum coins he would have minted so that he can actually pay things again. He doubted the US Treasury Department would go for it. We find out in this episode that they did, to Zatanna's amusement.
- Didn't Think This Through: Artemis wears a very short skirt when Paul makes her a Sailor Moon costume. She was apparently unaware of just how short the skirt would be until she actually wore it.
- Double Take: Batman is unable to restrain his surprise to learning that Luthor owns a painting by Adolf Hitler.
- Dropping the Bombshell: Paul does this twice.
- He reveals to Jade that, thanks to his and the Ophidian's actions, the League of Shadows is more or less defunct.
- He also reveals to Wonder Woman that Zeus hasn't turned a new leaf and become faithful to Hera by informing her of Cassandra Sandsmark's existence.
- Flight: The whole team gets kinetic belts based on Terminan technology, allowing them - with some practice - to fly. As well as granting immunity to kinetic attacks like bullets, knives, and punches, and letting them generate force field bubbles.
- Modesty Shorts: After Artemis asks for her pants back due to her Sailor Moon costume having a short skirt, Paul make a pair of cycle shorts that are just longer than the skirt.
- Offscreen Moment of Awesome:
Word of God mentions a few.- While Paul has dinner with Lex, there is a free-for-all battle taking place
. The parties involved are Ra's, Deathstroke, Deadshot, Constantine Drakon, Lady Shiva, a whole Spetsnaz platoon, and a mystery man who will become the Light's new enforcer. - A lesser example, Artemis and Zatanna deal with Harm off-screen. Harm ended up with a badly shattered leg.
- While Paul has dinner with Lex, there is a free-for-all battle taking place
- Power Tattoos: Paul has new tattoos carved on his soul, to make him completely proof against magic scrying.
- Shout-Out: The scanner the Renegade gives Jade is reminiscent of Scouters from Dragon Ball Z.
- Villain Over for Dinner: Inverted. Lex invites Paul over for dinner and to have a talk over recent events.
- Wham Line: Diana tells Paul that a certain someone has invited him to dinner.Diana: Before we go, I received a letter for you at the embassy.
Paul: Do you want me to start going through my fan mail again?
Diana: This wasn't fan mail. It was an invitation to dinner.
Paul: Well, some of them-
Diana: From Lex Luthor.
