Episode 25: Unusual Suspicions
Takes place 23-31 December 2010.
This is a primarily Paragon episode, but with substantial Renegade interludes.
Short version
The Team fights off an ambush by Nylor Truggs and retrieves the case of Starro-tech. The League recruits new members, including Nabu, to Paul's horror and disgust.
In the Renegade timeline, the Team instead fights an Apokoliptian force, and by winning, the Renegade claims suzerainty of Earth (as far as Apokolips is concerned). The Light then invites him to join them.
Longer version
With a copy of Truggs' phasing device that was left in the ring's subspace storage, Paul retrieves his giant cake from its chamber in Switzerland in time for Christmas. He also takes Artemis to meet her father's family on Christmas Eve.
After Christmas, Rocket joins the Team. She's initially upset to learn that they all have flight belts, but accepts that it's more important to keep them safe than to let her be unique (and she's still more experienced in using the belt).
Near New Year's, Paul and Zatanna are horrified to learn that the Justice League has voted to make Nabu a member, but Paul and the Ophidian reassure her that their plans will still go ahead, and they conceal their turmoil.
The Team then follows a lead on the briefcase that was slipped past them due to Bane's interference. They track it to a suspicious plane crash, where Nylor Truggs attacks them with a mercenary army and a beast from the Shadowlands. With the assistance of the Shade, the Team is able to turn the tables and capture Truggs and the case, which contains devices created partially from mind-controlling Star Conquerors. Batman decides to take the case to the Watchtower.
In the alternate timeline, the Renegade has not made an effort to bring potential recruits to Batman's attention, so the new members are in line with canon, except for Nabu. The plane crash still occurs, with the case inside, but instead of an ambush by Nylor Truggs, the Team is challenged by Devilance, the Apokoliptian God of the Hunt, who has been tasked by Darkseid with testing "Grayven"'s skill. By winning, the Renegade is acknowledged by Apokolips as suzerain of Earth, ensuring that no other Apokoliptians will interfere without his permission; however, he has also drawn Darkseid's personal attention.
In the aftermath of the fight, the Renegade is contacted by the Light, who invite him to join them in guiding the human race to advance socially and technologically. He is tempted by the offer, as he finds the Light easier to work with than the League; however, he is aware of their faults. They challenge him to earn his place by killing Klarion the Witch Boy, who is a member of the Light but has become an inconvenience due to his chaotic nature, and regardless of his allegiance, the Renegade is willing to take up the task.
Equivalent canon episode: "Usual Suspects". "Unusual" is possibly a reference to how Truggs is not a typical villain; he wants to make super-tech mass producible.
- Badass Creed: The Renegade finally says his:This is my power, this is my might!
I stand alone in darkest night!
With this ring, my foes I smite!
I conquer all with orange light! - Big "OMG!": Artemis has this reaction when she learns Paul got her to Wisconsin to meet her paternal grandparents.
- Call-Back: Paul's Christmas present for Wonder Woman is a copy of On Liberty that has Harriet Taylor's name of the cover.
- Damsel out of Distress: When the tide turns against him, Truggs tries to take a hostage to aid his escape. Except that he chooses Artemis, who has been enhanced with the Danner Formula. He's lucky he only lost an eye when she hit him, really.
- Everyone Hates Fruit Cakes: Subverted. Paul's cake is actually delicious.
- Eye Scream: Artemis accidentally destroys one of Truggs' eyes. Fortunately, he can regrow them given time.
- Jerkass Has a Point: The Renegade's unflattering comments about the Justice League are not without merit, something the rest of the Team finds uncomfortable.
- Klingon Promotion: It's not the Light's usual practice, but in this case they'll make an exception if the Renegade is able to kill Klarion.
- Summon Bigger Fish: Paul is unable to meaningfully injure the "Enemy of All" from the Shadowlands, so he calls in the Shade.
