Absolute Justice - Recap

After buying coffee, Chloe walks down the streets of Metropolis while trying to get hold of Clark. She wants to assemble the various heroes but isn't having much luck. The power in the area flickers and Chloe sees a bright light glowing ahead. Investigating, she finds a middle-aged man wielding a staff emitting a glowing light and trying to draw her attention.. He knows her and introduces himself as Sylvester Pemberton. Pemberton tells her that they both are trying to get a team together, and that he knows about Watchtower. As they talk, the temperature suddenly drops precipitously. Pemberton throws Chloe into a garbage dumpster for protection. As she tries to get her bearings, Chloe hears the sounds of combat outside. Ice spears shoot through the sides of the dumpster as the temperature drops further. Peering outside, Chloe can see Pemberton fighting someone using his staff.



After a few more seconds, the sounds of battle fade away and the attacker leaves. Chloe climbs out of the dumpster and finds Pemberton, dying from multiple chest wounds. He tries to gasp out a warning that his killer will go after the others, and then dies.

Chloe goes to the hospital for treatment of her frostbite. Clark meets her there and explains he's been busy trying to help the Kandorians merge into human society. Chloe doubts that they can become acclimated, or even if they want to. Focusing on the matter at hand, Chloe sees a police officer with Pemberton's personal effects. She approaches the man and distracts him while cloning the data from Pemberton's cell phone. A young girl comes in, looking for Pemberton, and is shocked to discover that he was murdered. Clark tries to reassure her, but she sees his press pass and tells him that the newspapers have done enough. She walks away and Chloe tells Clark that he needs to check on Wesley Dodds, the last man that Pemberton called before his death.

Despite drinking several thermoses of coffee, Dodds has dozed off in his apartment. He has a dream of Pemberton fighting for his life against an opponent wielding cold. When one of his many alarm clocks goes off, Dodds gets up and contemplates an archaic costume with a gas mask. He puts on the costume and takes out a gas gun, and then turns as the killer from his dreams enters the apartment. The killer addresses him as Sandman and Dodds begins to freeze.



Oliver comes to see Chloe at Watchtower and she explains that she's been trying to convince the various heroes to assemble. However, she's currently busy trying to trace Pemberton. Chloe has discovered that he has a criminal record of embezzlement and fraud. Using facial mapping software and the video feed from the hospital, Chloe determines that the girl was Courtney Whitmore, a sophomore at Blue Valley High. The teenager hasn't been in school in weeks. Chloe asks Oliver to help her recover Pemberton's energy staff.

Clark gets to Dodds' apartment and finds that the man is dead. Written on the wall is the word JSA.

Later, Emil examines Dodds' corpse at the hospital. The man was also killed with ice shafts, and the ice shows traces of human DNA. They figure that whoever the killer is, he has a score to settle with the JSA and went after both men. Chloe goes to meet Clark at the Daily Planet and help him check the old files.

The killer, an albino, is sitting in a room with a chess piece insignia on the wall. He examines photos of several individuals, including Dodds and Pemberton. The killer crosses off their photos and then picks up a photo of Courtney.



At the Planet, Clark and Chloe discover that Pemberton worked with twelve other criminals. Dodds was one of the others. They locate newsreel footage and play it. As Clark reads the files, they watch as one by one, each of the criminals was captured and taken away. Pemberton was arrested for embezzlement, and Dodds was arrested during a protest where his girlfriend was killed. Another of the twelve, physics professor Al Pratt, was also arrested at the time. Other criminals included heavyweight champion boxer Ted Grant, research scientist Jay Garrick, broadcast magnate Alan Scott, and elderly Abigail Hunkel. Each of them took all the blame for the group's actions and attempted to exonerate the others. Ultimately, all of the convictions were dismissed, and Clark admits that he admires their loyalty. Chloe checks Pemberton's call list and tells Clark to contact Carter Hall, the next man on the list, while she continues the research.



Clark goes to the brownstone museum where Hall works as the curator. The museum appears to be long abandoned and Clark discovers that the door is unlocked. However, he finds Hall inside. The curator demands to know why Clark is there, and Clark explains what happened to Dodds and Pemberton. He notices a man in the next room, dressed in homeless clothing and clutching a bowling bag. He's muttering to himself, reciting names like Mr. Terrific, the Atom, and Hourman, while referring to himself in the third person as Dr. Kent Nelson. Hall says that his friend is sick and claims he hasn't talked to either of the murder victims in years. Clark scans the bowling bag with his x-ray vision and sees a strange helmet inside. It turns and looks at him, and a flash of light forces Clark to look away. Hall tells Clark to leave. Once he's gone, Nelson insists that "the voices" want to help. However, Hall insists that they can only help themselves.



Oliver goes to the hospital to recover Pemberton's energy rod, but discover that it's been stolen. He spots Courtney walking down the street with it and confronts her. She points it at him in a threatening manner but Oliver insists that he needs answers to stop the murders. Nelson suddenly appears, grabs the rod, and activates a switch. An energy blast blinds Oliver momentarily, giving Nelson and Courtney time to depart before he can stop them.

Chloe checks the police records for parking tickets and finds a car that has accumulated dozens, and is near where Pemberton died. She goes there with Oliver and investigates. The car is decorated in red, white, and blue, and a name on the glove compartment identifies it as the Star Rocket Racer. Inside the glove compartment, Oliver finds a journal with faces and facts on all of the current heroes, including Clark. They realize that Courtney and the others must know who they are.



At the brownstone, Nelson arrives with Courtney and insists to Hall that she's needed. Courtney says that they have to do something, but Hall points out that Nelson is all but useless. She insists that Hall has to lead them again, and if he won't then she'll seek out Chloe's team. Hall dismisses them as inept and starts to walk away, and Courtney asks him what Shiera would have done.

Chloe tracks down a metahuman villain from the 40s, Icicle aka Joar Mahkent, who is confined at Metropolis General due to a head injury. He's been there for decades.

Hall, Nelson, and Courtney go into a meeting room and he tells Nelson that they need "him." Nelson hesitantly opens the bowling bad and says that he can't remember his life before Dr. Fate, or his wife and child. However, he has no idea where they are since they fled from him in fear. Nelson hesitantly removes the helmet, which glows with energy, and begs it not to show him the future. The helmet wraps itself around Nelson's head and a heroic costume materializes around the man. Transformed into Dr. Fate, Nelson now confidently greets the others. Next, Hall opens a closet to reveal a hawk costume and a battle mace. He picks up the mace and says it's time for them to go hunting.



Clark and Chloe go to the prison ward of the hospital and discover from the medical records that Mahkent has been in a coma due to brain injury. They enter the room and find Dr. Fate standing over the now-elderly prisoner. Clark tells him to back off but Dr. Fate says that Clark is of value, and that Chloe walks the same path that he does. When Clark demands answers, Dr. Fate extends his hand, touches Clark, and teleports them both away.

Chloe returns to Watchtower and checks in with Green Arrow, who is following a now-costumed Courtney through the streets. She stops in an alleyway beneath a streetlight and Green Arrow realizes that she's trying to draw out the killer. He jumps down from the roof and tells her that she's in danger, but Courtney says that she's ruining his plan. The albino arrives and Courtney produces the energy rod and says he can call her Stargirl. The two battle and an energy backlash knocks them down. The albino throws more ice spears, and Green Arrow deflects them before they can strike. The killer runs away and Stargirl complains that Green Arrow ruined everything. Suddenly a winged figure soars down from the sky, grabs Green Arrow, and flies off.



Chloe is at Watchtower trying to reach Green Arrow when he suddenly smashes through the window. His abductor, Hawkman, hovers outside and tells to stay out of his business before he flies away. Chloe tends to Oliver’s injuries and they wonder what has happened to Clark. Chloe is concerned that Dr. Fate and Hawkman were so easily able to subdue them, but Oliver figures that their team will pull together eventually. He also reveals that he snatched a shuriken off of Hawkman during their struggle. Chloe realizes that it came from a museum and Oliver suggests they call in one of their own reinforcements: John Jones.



Clark wakes up at the meeting room in the brownstone. Looking around he finds cases filled with relics of the “criminals”: boxing gloves, a metal winged helmet, an hourglass, a belt labeled “Fair Play.” One case holds a female hawk mask a crack running across the brow. Clark also examines the table, which has the words Justice Society of America written on it. Finally he finds a painting of 15 masked crimefighters, including the men from the newsreel. Hawkman flies in behind him and wonders why he’s so important. Dr. Fate and Stargirl arrive, and Dr. Fate explains that Clark is different from the other heroes. Stargirl tells Clark that her mentor, Pemberton, wanted to bring together the old and new heroes and create a new team.

Before the discussion can go further, Green Arrow arrives, firing an arrow into the portrait. He confronts Hawkman, who grabs him and slams him down onto the table. John Jones comes in and suggests they work together. Green Arrow notes that the original JSA were criminals. Stargirl insists they were heroes, and John explains that he has stayed on Earth because of how the one thing that humans have in abundance is hope. Hawkman tells the newcomers to leave, but Clark warns that they’re not going anywhere while the albino is still at large.



Lois arrives at the office, ready to tell Clark about her interview with Nobel-winning scientist Michael Holt. She eventually realizes that Clark isn’t there and notices a package on her desk. It has a chess design on the front and a message inside saying “The truth will set you free.” Also inside are files on the JSA. When Tess comes in, Lois tries to hide the contents. Tess claims that it’s for her, but Lois shows her the address label and refuses to back down.

The albino goes to see Mahkent. He calls him “Dad” and promises that he will exact revenge on the JSA for what they’ve done.

At the brownstone, Hawkman explains that the JSA fought crime until a special government taskforce learned of their existence. They demands that the heroes reveal their true identities and work for the government. When the JSA refuse, the taskforce learned their secret identities and then tried to put them on trial as criminals, while ripping them from their families. Hawkman admits that he made too many mistakes, putting his group at risk. Stargirl insists that they team up to stop the killer, and Hawkman reluctantly agrees. Chloe comes in and offers her assistance, saying that the killer, the new Icicle, will either visit his father at the hospital or go to a nitrogen storage plant to recharge his cold powers. She uses the JSA’s computers to determine where the nitrogen storage plants in Metropolis are located.

When Tess returns to her office at the Planet, she discovers that someone has left her a white chess piece: a queen.

At Watchtower, Chloe runs her investigation. Courtney accompanies her and admits that the place is impressive, but wonders why there's nothing there to make it a home as well as a headquarters. She explains that the JSA brought their families to the brownstone and spent much of their time there. When Chloe wonders how Courtney became involved in the JSA, the girl explains that her stepfather was the Pemberton's sidekick, Stripesy. She found her stepfather's equipment and "borrowed" it at first to annoy him, but came to like being a true hero and helping others. Courtney suggests that Chloe's team might be more effective if they spend time together outside of emergencies. They're interrupted when Green Arrow checks in from atop Metropolis General with Hawkman. Chloe tells him that she's faked an emergency alert on Mahkent to lure his son to the hospital.



The two heroes watch at the hospital and Hawkman notes that he specifically asked to team up with Green Arrow to keep an eye on him. He warns Green Arrow that he should consider himself on parole. Green Arrow isn't impressed, and suggests that the new Icicle has some agenda beyond simply avenging his father, since he's waited years to strike. Hawkman believes he's just been biding his time to enjoy his revenge, but Green Arrow isn't convinced.

At the brownstone, Dr. Fate tells Clark that he can see everyone's fate except for his own. His glimpse of Clark's future has given him hope, the hope that John spoke of. He tells Clark that he will lead the new generation of heroes, just as Hawkman lead the JSA. He speaks of Clark's future and Clark demands specifics. Dr. Fate agrees and tell him that he will one day defeat Lex Luthor for good, and will help humanity embrace a new age of hope and heroism.

Lois visits the brownstone and Clark realizes that someone has lured her there. Dr. Fate insists that she's the key and invites her inside, and Clark slips away before she can see him. Lois confronts the peculiar hero and says she's there to see Carter. Dr. Fate says that she is tied to the savior and he will need her as much as she needs him. When Lois nervously backs out, Dr. Fate closes the door behind her with a gesture.



A government agent, Amanda Waller, visits the new Icicle in his chamber. She tells him not to take the JSA's actions too personally, but he insists that it is personal. Waller points out that it was his powers that killed his mother at birth, and the JSA had nothing to do with it. He freezes her in place and tells her that she has as much to gain from his actions as he does. Waller notes that it was cold in Chicago where she grew up and refuses to back down. Icicle releases her and says that he's done what she's asked, and now he's cleaning up her mess. Waller concedes that the JSA situation is a black mark against her organization, Checkmate. An impatient Icicle says that it's time to finish it.



At the Planet, Clark goes to his office to check with Lois and find out who sent her to the brownstone. He finds Tess rifling through Lois' desk. He tells her to give him Lois' files, but Tess responds by wondering how he copes with a nosy girlfriend. She says that Tess is in over her head and leaves. Lois arrives and shows him the classified information about the JSA that her mysterious informant has been sending her. When Clark tries to help, Lois turns him down and insists on getting the byline herself. She's confirmed that the two murder victims were vigilantes and members of the JSA, and that Carter Hall was the one who put the original Icicle in a coma. Further, someone pulled strings to get his son out of juvenile detention. Worse of all, the same someone has been engineering the release of other villains that the JSA sent to prison. Clark realizes that whoever is responsible is assembling an army of villains.

Dr. Fate accompanies the powerless John Jones to the nitrogen storage facility where Chloe believes that the Icicle will strike. Dr. Fate talks about the future, and how he eventually saw too much. He wonders what John has seen in Clark that he was willing to give up his powers, and what happened to his family on Mars. John admits that he has lost his wife and daughter and misses them. Dr. Fate senses danger and they move cautiously ahead. They find two dead security guards, frozen, and Fate says that it isn't John's fate to die. He touches John, knocking him back into the shadows as John briefly transforms into his original Martian form. Icicle strikes Dr. Fate from behind, stabbing him through the chest with an ice spear. Dr. Fate collapses and the helmet falls off. Nelson transforms back into his human self while Icicle takes the Helm of Nabu.



When the police find the murdered guards and John, they take John to the hospital. Hawkman flies off to hunt down Icicle and Green Arrow follows him. Clark and Courtney go to the hospital, where John is in critical condition. Emil explains that whatever Fate did to John put him into some kind of incubation coma. Courtney hopes that Hawkman will find Icicle first and deal with him like he did with the elder Icicle. She wonders if it's wrong and Clark says that they have to stand for something better. She admits that Pemberton said the same thing, but worries since Hawkman has crossed the line before. Clark insists that she has to make things right as part of the next generation of heroes, and to keep her mentor's legacy alive in the process.

Lois is checking out old files in the Planet archives and discovers more information on the JSA. Waller arrives and explains that she left them for Lois to find. When Lois wonders why Waller chose her, the government agent tells her that she's good at finding secrets and embracing the truth. She gives Lois a Checkmate cell phone and tells her that they'll be in touch.



Icicle goes to the hospital and tells his comatose father that with Fate's helmet, he'll be invincible. He tells Joar that he loves him and takes his hand, and then shuts off the life support system. His father passes away and Icicle dons the helmet... and screams in pain as it glows red.

Hawkman goes to the brownstone with Green Arrow on his trail. As he arms himself, he ignores Green Arrow's suggestion that they get the others. Green Arrow sees the female hawk mask and asks who she was, and Hawkman explains that it was his wife, Shiera. The two of them were born a thousand years ago, and cursed to always die, be reborn, fall in love, and die over and over again. He wants to die so that the cycle can start anew. Oliver admits that he's never known love like that, and Carter says that he hides his feelings for others by acting like a jerk. Oliver admits that he understands having a deathwish, but that Carter found a reason to go on living: to protect Nelson. Now he needs to stay alive for the sake of the JSA. Hawkman agrees and they fly to Watchtower. Clark and Stargirl arrive there as well and Carter says that from now on, they have to stay together and function as a team.

There's a flash of light as Icicle teleports into Watchtower. He casts Chloe aside with a ice blast and the other four heroes attack. Fate's helmet protects Icicle from the brunt of the attack, and allows him to send out a mystical blast that knocks them down. He prepares to kill Stargirl but John suddenly arrives. His powers restored, he deflects the next attack and sends it back at Icicle. Before the villain can launch a counterattack, Hawkman smashes the helmet off with his mace. He catches it as it drops back down and Clark admits that he's sorry about Nelson's death. Hawkman contemplates the helmet and admits that he's sorry, too.



Later, Hawkman and Clark return to the brownstone. Hawkman admits that Clark is different from the others, and that he fights for something other than vengeance or glory. Clark worries that his team will never rival the JSA, but Carter tells him that he has to trust his friends, and remember that they can make mistakes like anyone else. The best that they can do is keep trying. Carter explains that he once ruled over a kingdom, but when the time came to fight for it and he learned how to fly, he fought for his people, not his throne. He assures Clark that one day, he'll soar higher than any of them. Until then, Carter and Courtney will seek out the sons and daughters of the JSA members and train them to be part of the new generation of heroes.

John arrives at Watchtower and explains to Chloe that Dr. Fate sacrificed his life to restore the Martian's power. The helmet will seek out a new host to become the next Dr. Fate. John plans to continue in his role as a police detective so he can help people, and Chloe says that she plans to do the same. John warns her that there's a limit to what she can do, and that too much knowledge drove Nelson insane. Chloe insists that she can handle it but John says that he will care for her and the others as they are the only family he has. Oliver arrives and invites them to take some time away from work to enjoy a dinner. John agrees and Chloe reluctantly gives in.



At the Planet, Lois reads her article about the JSA. As she boasts about her front page headline, Clark hopes that they'll see the heroes again. She mentions what Dr. Fate said about her destiny, and Clark wonders if she believes in fate. Lois tells him that the only fate she believes in is the fact that people make happen for themselves.

The captured Icicle has been confined in a heated cell. Waller arrives and he claims that the helmet messed with his mind, and that he wants to finish what he started. Waller congratulates him on bringing the JSA back into the spotlight, but she never intended him to succeed in killing them. She explains that she wants the JSA to return, and unite with the current heroes, so that they'll be able to combat the coming "apocalypse." She welcomes Icicle to the Suicide Squad and then guns him down. Outside, she finds someone waiting for her: Checkmate agent Tess Mercer. She tells Tess that they have a lot to catch up on and the two women walk away.



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