Episode 60: Respite
Takes place August 16-17
Short version
Paul recruits the planet-spanning organism known as Mother of Mercy, after proving his character in a mental simulation that she created.
Longer version
Paul wakes up in bed next to Kon and M'gann, with Jade out for a run, on a space station that he helped build, several years after the previous episode. After visiting with several other inhabitants, including Abra Kadabra (managing the arcane networks of the station) and Ted Kord (now married with children to Io of Themyscira), Paul goes to see the Sivanas, who have opened a portal back to Earth Prime for him to speak with his mother.
Inconsistencies in their conversation eventually get through and let Paul recognize that he's in an illusion, which he breaks through by attempting to say his own name (which temporarily knocks out both him and anyone inside his head). However, the illusionist is not actually hostile, but is a potential Lantern recruit, the planet-spanning organism known as Mother of Mercy, who put him in the simulation to test how he responded in various situations. Satisfied with his reactions, she accepts a ring, along with his help in escaping her servitude to Mongul, who implanted a number of bombs in her planetary crust. Together, the two of them extract the bombs and use them to chase off her captors before flying her to the Maltus system.
The Renegade makes contact with the more civilised planets around Vega to follow up on his initial assaults and fully clean out the pirates and slavers.
The title likely refers to the peaceful fake future that Paul experienced.
- Antimatter: A reasonable choice, if there is such a thing, for bombs intended to entirely destroy a planet. They're less effective for penetrating shields, but when Paul is able to crack the shields and let a bomb inside, it's all over for that ship.
- Genius Loci: Technically Mother of Mercy is not a living planet; however, since she covers the entire surface of Ater Clementia and a good deal of the interior, for most purposes she can be treated like one.
- Gravity Master: Mother of Mercy can control gravity on large scales to some extent. Gaining a power ring gives that a substantial boost.
- Hoist by His Own Petard: Mongul placed antimatter bombs inside the planet Ater Clementia, so that he could destroy Mother of Mercy if she misbehaved. Once she gets a power ring, she is able to extract them and throw them at one of his fleets.The capital ship wheels, armour plates sliding open as its anti-planet missiles prepare to fire and I start to feel just a little-.
Then the antimatter charges detonate. And it's beautiful. - I Know Your True Name: Once Paul realities that he's in an illusion, he is able to break it by attempting to think his own name, which briefly knocks out anyone connected to his mind.
- Lotus-Eater Machine: Mother of Mercy places Paul in a simulation of a future that he wants, to see how he responds in different situations. He passes her test.
- Mad Scientist: A metahuman telepath has been seriously injured, and regular doctors don't know enough about non-standard biology to properly treat him? This looks like a job for Cranius!
- Polyamory: Paul's idealized future sees him waking up next to Kon and M'gann, while Jade is just about to get back from her morning run.
