Episode 22: Minutes
Takes place 24-25 November 2010.
Short version
Paul and Superboy investigate Cadmus and find the insane Kryptonian clone "Match", who attacks them but is overpowered and put back in his tank to await a cure. Paul also pressures Lex into taking action to free the Genomorphs from the slavery conditions they're kept in.
Longer version
Lex Luthor contacts Superboy and informs him that there is a second Kryptonian clone in Cadmus. Paul accompanies him to investigate, and they soon locate the clone, Match; however, he is mentally unstable and attacks when freed from his pod. They subdue him and reluctantly return him to Cadmus' custody until he can be treated.
While there, Paul is disgusted to find that the League did not end the treatment of the Genomorphs as slave labor. He and Lex discuss the matter, and Paul offers to help fund a legal campaign to have the Genomorphs recognised as people. Lex is concerned about how association with Cadmus will affect his reputation, but agrees to the campaign rather than have Cadmus shut down.
Lex also speaks to Kon, offering to build a relationship. Kon is conflicted, wanting a parent but knowing about Lex's faults. Paul is initially worried, but is then thrilled to learn that Wonder Woman already planned to offer to adopt Kon, which she does at Thanksgiving and he accepts.
The Renegade timeline sees Green Arrow and Zatanna accept Awakening, and Superboy transformed into a full Kryptonian. The Renegade takes him to meet Karsta Wor-Ul, who is initially hostile, but reluctantly agrees to further contact after learning that Superboy now has some of her DNA.
The Renegade likewise goes to Cadmus, but takes less interest in freeing the Genomorphs. However, he arranges for Miss Martian to examine Match's mind before waking him. She is able to repair some of the damage, and the Renegade uses his stolen Kryptonian data to fix more, resulting in Match being somewhat lost and confused, but not hostile. They take him back to the Mountain, but tell Lex that he escaped.
Two omakes show the Justice League debating on who to nominate to become new members.
Equivalent canon episode: "Agendas". Apart from the connection between the two words, the origin of "Minutes" is unclear.
- Age-Gap Algebra: When Paul checks out Paula Nguyen from behind, Artemis is revolted, but he internally reflects that Paula will soon be within minus-seven-doubled for his true age.
- Both Sides Have a Point: During their argument, Lori says that Atlanteans who didn't inherit the Pureblood aquatic adaptation shouldn't feel inferior to those who do. Paul rebuts that the Pureblood aquatic adaptation doesn't come with the same drawbacks that every other aquatic adaptation does. Professor Sephtian, a manta ray person, points out the validity of Paul's statement.
- Early-Bird Cameo: When Paul and Kon enter the Hall of Justice, two people that Paul notices are a young woman with a shaved head and a little girl holding a balloon. We get a hint that something is off about them when the girl's text shows up distorted.
- One reader wrote
that they must have been Eris and Shivering Jemmy, with Mr Zoat confirming that they were.
- One reader wrote
- Eating the Eye Candy: Paul notices that Paula Nguyen has an impressively toned physique. Artemis notices him noticing and is not amused — and being elbowed by a Danner enhancile is unpleasant even for a Lantern.
- In Love with Your Carnage: The Renegade admits he doesn't much care about the fate of Cadmus, but offers to destroy it if it's important to Jade.Jade: You have the weirdest ideas about what I find romantic.
Renegade: But you're thinking about it right now, aren't you? A giant pile of burning rubble, sirens in the distance as I shove my way free of debris, my clothing torn and scorched and my-.
[Jade blushes]
Artemis: When he said you two were dating, I thought he just said it to annoy me. Now? Yeah, I totally get it. - Omake: We see the League debating on who to nominate to become new members, as well as their reaction to learning about Match.
- Patricide: Teth Adom's father was so disappointed by Adom's desire for peaceful trade that he had Adom's wife and children assassinated - believing that she had softened him. Once Adom traced the killers back to him, he killed his father on the spot, and even the Wizard Shazam couldn't argue that he was wrong.
- Point of Divergence: As Wotan wasn't sent to Atlantis in the Renegade timeline, Klarion didn't need to find and enhance Dard Druid as in the Paragon timeline.
- "The Reason You Suck" Speech: Paul outright calls Guardian a slave driver due to his treatment of the Genomorphs.
- What Measure Is a Non-Human?: The American courts have deemed that certain sentient beings such as Red Tornado and Robert Crane do not count as people. This means that they don't enjoy the same rights as normal people.
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Word of God: The Renegade hasn't bothered investigating his suspicions about Wonder Woman's soul structure.- Aquaman is busy running Alantis as a result of Orm's treachery being revealed.
- Mr Zoat gives the current statuses of Puzzler, Question, Harley, and Judomaster.
- Judomaster investigated the Renegade's tentacle ogre sex cult.
- The Team doesn't know when Paul's birthday is.
- Aquaman is busy running Alantis
