Episode 71: Grind
Takes place 29 October-4 November 2011.
Short version
Paul starts working informally with the Team, helping to investigate a series of thefts, but Batman imposes a requirement to talk through the Nabu situation with each Justice League member individually before he can officially rejoin the roster.
Longer version
Paul visits Hephaestus and Vulcan, who have been busy making new metals. They're willing to work with KordTech, but their skills can only be taught to people experienced with metalwork, not to machines.
He then visits the Team, which is checking for traces of Star Conquerors without success, and investigating a string of unusual thefts, with the perpetrators showing signs of Mind Control and committing suicide when caught. They visit the Tower of Fate in hopes of finding information about the stolen objects, and find to their surprise that the Helmet of Fate has a new owner, though Nabu's consciousness is still gone.
The Team is willing to have him back, so Paul visits Batman, who doesn't object but tells him to discuss the Nabu situation with every League member individually first. He also asks Paul to check on the newly formed Alliance of the Just, which is training novice superheroes but was formed by a retired criminal; Paul checks, but the man's repentance appears to be genuine, prompted by the appearance of Zauriel.
Paul tracks one stolen item back to Hub City, and finds signs of a Cain-worshipping cult that apparently has access to part of the Anti-Life Equation, "Purpose=Failure." The controlled thieves are killed by black when caught; Paul and Alan are able to save one with a combined injection of blue and orange light.
The Renegade obtains a number of Equestrian artefacts that have made their way to Earth, so that Sunset can study how their magic relates to universe 16 magic.
The meaning of the title is unclear, although it may refer to the boring-but-necessary work that Paul and the Team are doing.
- Arranged Marriage: According to Hephaestus' reading of the situation, Hades and Persephone's marriage was arranged by Hades and Zeus. Except that Persephone — and her mother — didn't know about it. And Hades didn't know that they didn't know. And with Hades and Zeus being two of the three most powerful gods, when Hades turned up to claim his surprised bride, she was much too intimidated to protest. If she had spoken up, he probably would have backed off, because he does actually care about and respect her.
- Enlightenment Superpowers: Doctor Balewa reveals his White Enlightenment. Although there aren't yet any white rings for him to wield — and it's unclear whether white enlightenment would help him wield another colour — it does help him to use life-related magic and resist the effects of Anti-Life.
- Fish out of Temporal Water: Aliens abducted a Roman centurion, gave him superpowers and trained him to resist barbarians, then sent him back to defend human culture — but due to the Time Dilation of their Faster-Than-Light Travel, he arrived thousands of years after he left. He adapted pretty well.
- No-Sell: A woman channeling the Anti-Life Equation tells Paul, "Purpose=Failure". His reaction? "No, it doesn't."
- Swiss-Army Superpower: How can a Flying Brick with Eye Beams stop a river from flooding and threatening nearby homes? By melting the riverbed to lava and flying through it to dredge it deeper, of course!Paul: I suppose when all you've got is a hammer, you learn to get really good at fixing things with a hammer.
