Episode 53: Falling Action
Takes place 7-10 July 2011.
Short version
Paul and his allies confront Nabu, who rejects attempts to negotiate Mister Zatara's release; a fight ensues, and ends with Nabu being drained of the magic that maintains his consciousness. Paul reports it to the League, and berates them for not taking action themselves.
Longer version
With his oath to Gaia complete, Paul and his co-conspirators are prepared to confront Nabu. They ambush him in the center of London and demand that he release Mr Zatara. Nabu refuses to accept a golem body, and is open to a rotation of hosts but unwilling to release Mr Zatara in the meantime, so Paul arrests him and a fight ensues. Nabu kills one of the team (Michael Siskin) and knocks Paul out, but is ultimately overcome by draining the magic that constitutes his brain. John Constantine connects himself to Nabu's power so that it won't be claimed by a stranger.
Paul awakens in hospital, where John visits him and asks for some time alone to adapt to his new power. Paul checks that Zatanna and her father are ok, then visits the League to inform them of what happened and thoroughly castigate them all for not taking action themselves. Reactions are very mixed, but they decide not to take action against him.
He then checks on everyone in preparation to leave Earth. While visiting Adom, he sees Adom propose to Adrianna Tomaz, but she turns him down for a mixture of reasons including a proposal based on different cultural assumptions. Jade, in turn, propositions Paul, and he's interested, but explains that he doesn't want a one-night stand and can't afford to stay on Earth lest he end up in open conflict with the Justice League (and there's important work to do in space); they leave it open until he gets back. Alan is disappointed by how things turned out with Nabu, but sympathetic.
The Renegade is found by Scott Free, who cannibalizes his soul to build a cage around the anti-life fragment in him. He is initially only able to feel avarice and fear, having drawn power from his rings, but he makes a desperate ploy to retrieve the Star Sapphire and take it to the Zamarons in exchange for them restoring his ability to love his daughter. Queen Aga'po agrees, but assigns Ghia'ta to monitor him.
Back in his Mountain, the Renegade destroys Father Box for reporting all his activities to Darkseid, and discusses with his allies what they'll do about Darkseid going forward.
The title refers to the portion of a story between the climax and the end. In this case, it's after Paul has finished his year of service and resigned from the Team, but before he leaves Earth.
- Abduction Is Love: Downplayed. Adom seizes Adrianna Tomaz and flies her out to his former wife's tomb to retrieve and offer her the Amulet of Isis. Ms Tomaz is quite unimpressed by his proposal and turns him down, but he does eventually win her over.
- Breaking Speech: Paul has been angry about the Justice League's handling of Nabu for eight months, and now he has the chance to tell them so. Under truth compulsion, so no one can doubt his sincerity. Guy later says he almost broke the League apart.
- Death of Personality: Nabu's consciousness is made of pure magic. When enough of that magic is drained, Nabu is basically rendered brain-dead.
- Difficult, but Awesome: John Constantine isn't sure what to do about being a Lord of Chaos and Lord of Order simultaneously. Paul encourages him to harmonise the two, but he's not sure he can.
- Double Meaning: To those not in the know, Paul refers to his anti-Nabu efforts as a fight against a dangerous lich. Technically Nabu fits the definition...
- The Gloves Come Off: When Nabu burns out Michael Siskin's golem body, Paul authorises lethal force. They still don't want to hurt Mister Zatara, but ultimately they do indeed kill Nabu.
- Golem: Two are destroyed in this episode.
- Nabu refused to transfer himself into a golem body, even destroying the complete specimen that Paul offered. His reasons are unclear beyond personal distrust of Paul.
- Michael Siskin's golem body was burnt out by Nabu's magic, resulting in Siskin's death.
- Holding the Floor: John Constantine gradually reveals to Nabu the truth of what has happened and is happening - and all the while, a cluster of mana batteries are silently sucking the magical life out of Nabu in the background.
- The Power of Love: Grayven goes to the Zamarons for help in rebuilding his soul after Anti-Life exposure. They're not thrilled to see him, but their connection to the violet light is effective in clearing his thoughts and helping to restore his equilibrium.
- Put on a Bus: John asks Paul not to contact him for a while, as he's trying to work out how to cope with his new power.
- Rapid Aging: Nabu attacks Teth Adom by forcing his body to show his true age. Fortunately for Adom, the process is interrupted.
- Weapon of X-Slaying: Jade is able to participate in the fight against Nabu, by using a gun infused with chaos magic to shatter his order-based spells.
