Episode 49: Escalation
Takes place 15-31 May 2011.
This is a primarily Renegade episode.
Short version
The Renegade fights off an assault by the British government on himself and his family, and rescues the US president from kidnapping by SHADE.
Longer version
In the aftermath of the wedding, Paul spends some time with Doctor Quinzel, and has a frank discussion about what she wants in a relationship; he upsets her with his bluntness, and they agree that they're Better as Friends, but part on reasonable terms.
The Renegade meets with the US president and some of his staff to discuss metahuman oversight, and arrange a pardon for Jade when the League of Shadows is eliminated, and consults Ra's al Ghul about his planned purge of the British government.
Lynne then begins classes at a school for paranormal abilities. However, between Renegade's interference with SHADE and his employment of Manchester Black, the British government is alarmed enough that it attacks her there and hijacks the Renegade's portals to abduct him to a magic castle, where Major Derek Kelly is waiting. The Renegade disables him and fights his way through the castle, before making contact with its owner, Cursitor Doom, and pleading his case.
Under Doom's supervision, the Renegade thwarts a SHADE plot to replace the US president with a robot duplicate, as happened on Earth 50. After being freed, the President publicly announces that SHADE is abolished and calls on any of its agents who were unaware of its crimes to turn themselves in.
The Renegade then meets with the Light and learns that the other members made plans — before he joined — to summon the King of Tears and kill the Justice League.
The title likely refers to the escalating tension between the Renegade and the government of Britain, which he knows to be thoroughly corrupt.
- Bottomless Pits: When Major Kelly refuses to discuss accusations against the British government and attacks, Cursitor Doom drops the floor out from under him. Since he referred to Kelly surviving the fall, it probably wasn't actually bottomless, but the Alien Geometry of the castle means it's not out of the question.
- The Empath: Paul's empathic vision is always useful, but it gets a particular mention here when he gives Doctor Quinzel some counselling about her desire for a relationship. (He still manages to put his foot in his mouth, but seeing emotions does help.)
- Eye Scream: Major Kelly crushes the Renegade's eyeballs. Just as well they grow back.
- Forced Transformation: Colonel Fang of the Great Ten had an encounter with alien technology that changed him into living metal. The Renegade gives him a device that will make his form a bit more human, as a wedding present.
- Good Cop/Bad Cop: After fighting off the assault, Chester Black pushes for immediate retaliation against the British government, while the Renegade insists on continuing to wait and work until they have enough information and preparations to completely clean out and replace the government. Turns out that Chester's anger was staged to convince Cursitor Doom that the Renegade is rational and reasonable.
- In Love with Love: Harleen Quinzel tries to seduce Paul, but when he turns her down (and after she regains her composure), she admits that she was mostly hoping for a relationship that wasn't a total disaster and where he'd still be there in the morning.
- Power Copying: Agent Paragon of SHADE simultaneously copies the abilities of everyone in a five-mile radius, giving him greatly enhanced strength, toughness, and even intelligence, plus any superpowers his enemies might bring to bear. Fortunately, the Renegade has weapons specifically designed to harm his own kind.
- Roaring Rampage of Revenge: The Renegade internally promises one if his adopted daughter is hurt while he's unavailable.
- Violence is the Only Option: When the Renegade is magically kidnapped and his equipment nullified, he is wearing a holographic disguise and does try to bluff his way out, but the enemy wizard spots that something is wrong and breaks the disguise, so it becomes a Super-Strength brawl.
- Your Soul Is Mine!: When the Renegade channels his soul into Castle Doom to make contact with the outside world, Cursitor Doom seizes most of it and proceeds to hold it hostage to his good behavior. Once the Renegade has sufficiently persuaded Doom of his trustworthiness, he returns it (with some losses in transmission).
