Chapter Summaries

Su Ming analyzed the forces behind Multiverse 1’s creation and the Origin Court’s plan to erase it, then revealed why he had approached Arthur: he wanted access to the Life Force as part of a backup plan to find the Hands of Creation. He intended to gather all seven forms of the Force of Connection and use them to reach the Hands before the Court could reboot the multiverse.

• Su Ming concluded that Multiverse 1’s dark nature came from Perpetua’s use of Crisis Energy and that the Origin Court planned to destroy and reshape it.
• Su Ming assessed that he already controlled or could influence five of the seven forms of Crisis Energy and five of the seven forms of the Force of Connection.
• Su Ming explained that he had approached Arthur to maintain influence over Aquaman and secure access to the Life Force.
• Su Ming planned to obtain Batwoman’s Transcendence Door Handle, gather all seven forms of the Force of Connection, and use them to find the Hands of Creation.
• Su Ming decided that Multiverse 1 had to be preserved and that the Origin Court could not be allowed to reboot it.

Su Ming and Arthur searched the deep Atlantic for a special pet for Mera, but found no suitable choice among the sea creatures they encountered. They continued swimming toward deeper waters, considering whether a cosmic creature might make a better gift.

• Arthur changed into his scale armor at the pier, and he and Su Ming plunged into the stormy sea.
• Arthur and Su Ming swam east through polluted coastal waters toward the deep ocean while discussing what pet might suit Mera.
• Arthur suggested a cluster of glowing jellyfish, but Su Ming rejected them as too common and too small for a queen.
• Arthur ruled out sea turtles and dolphins as ordinary pets, and Su Ming suggested finding a Space Dolphin to trade with Lobo for an exotic creature.
• Arthur said he had once rescued a Space Dolphin that preferred floating in a vacuum to swimming underwater.

Su Ming and Arthur swam through the deep sea, collecting fish and gossiping about Hawkgirl, J'onn, and the possibility that Hawkman would soon wake up. Arthur described Hawkman's impulsive nature, while Su Ming joked about profiting from a filmed confrontation, then suggested Arthur buy Mera surface-made luxuries.

• Su Ming had Adjutant teleport several fish away so he could add them to a home aquarium.
• Arthur told Su Ming that Hawkgirl's memories of past lives could worsen her mental health and that Batwoman had warned J'onn not to provoke her.
• Arthur said Mister Terrific had noticed changes in Hawkman's brainwaves and thought he might wake soon, potentially causing trouble with J'onn over Hawkgirl.
• Su Ming proposed filming and selling footage if Hawkman challenged J'onn, but Arthur objected that airing family scandals would be immoral.
• Su Ming suggested that Arthur buy Mera jewelry, handbags, and fashionable clothes from the surface, leaving Arthur looking helpless.

Su Ming and Arthur encountered an ancient, enormous magical sea beast that attacked them in the deep ocean. Arthur tried to reason with it, but it launched a surprise assault, and Su Ming shielded him as the fight began.

• Su Ming and Arthur traveled deeper into the ocean and encountered an ancient magical beast with a seahorse-like upper body and giant squid-like tentacles.
• Arthur activated Life Force and tried to talk to the beast, hoping to avoid harming a creature that might share seahorse traits.
• The beast refused to negotiate and attacked with its tentacles, stirring up silt before firing a high-pressure water jet at Arthur.
• Su Ming shielded Arthur from the water attack and pretended to be knocked back.

Su Ming and Arthur fought a bloodthirsty Seahorse Squid in the deep sea after failing to communicate with it. Arthur attacked its tentacles while Su Ming used Strangle to drive his staff into one of its eyes, leaving the monster wounded but still alive.

• Arthur caught Su Ming after the Seahorse Squid's water jet struck him, and they realized the creature could not be reasoned with.
• Arthur decided to kill the pursuing monster, and Su Ming agreed to follow Arthur's underwater lead.
• Arthur proposed cutting the tentacles while Su Ming attacked the eyes, and Su Ming warned that the creature might rely on senses other than sight or spray ink.
• Arthur charged among the tentacles with his trident as Su Ming approached the Seahorse Squid's head with his Promethium staff.
• Su Ming coordinated with Strangle to use controlled electricity, then plunged the staff into the monster's eye, releasing foul fluid into the water.

Su Ming and Arthur grilled seahorse meat on the open sea and talked about Arthur’s worries over his marriage and the divide between humans and Atlanteans. Su Ming suggested free trade as a way to bring the undersea kingdoms closer to humanity.

• Su Ming and Arthur killed the Seahorse Squid, then brought some of its meat to the surface to grill.
• While sharing food and drink beneath the moon, Arthur told Su Ming he was troubled that he and Mera still had no child.
• Su Ming reassured Arthur and asked whether he had considered earning extra money to buy Mera gifts, but Arthur said she disliked human things.
• Arthur described the divisions among Atlantis’s vassal kingdoms and his difficulty uniting them with humanity.
• Su Ming proposed free trade as a possible way to help Atlanteans understand their common ties with humans.

Su Ming and Aquaman agreed to establish large-scale trade between Atlantis and the surface, with Tula handling the arrangements. The conversation ended with Aquaman demonstrating improved control of his Life Force while listening in on Superhero gossip.

• Su Ming explained that free trade could benefit both Atlanteans and surface-dwellers and strengthen their relationship.
• Aquaman agreed that Atlantis could trade using gold and welcomed Su Ming's offer to help establish trade routes.
• Su Ming said the Adjutant would coordinate with Tula, and Aquaman agreed to notify her.
• Su Ming explained Tula's role in governing Atlantis and her loyalty to Arthur.
• Aquaman and Su Ming turned to Superhero gossip, and Aquaman used his Life Force to eavesdrop more effectively.

Su Ming and Arthur found a Water Elemental for Mera and parted ways at the lighthouse. Su Ming then secretly watched Barry face an awkward reunion with Patty, Mina, Jessica, and Iris.

• Su Ming and Arthur picked a juvenile Water Elemental near an undersea volcano as a gift for Mera.
• Arthur returned to the lighthouse with the creature while Su Ming flew to Central City for an appointment.
• Su Ming hid outside Barry's new home and watched Patty, Mina, Jessica, and Iris discuss their tangled relationships with Barry.
• Mina claimed the Speed Force had put her in bed with Barry and Patty, while Barry struggled to explain why they had all awakened naked.

Patty confronted Barry’s former and current romantic partners, but Mina invoked Barry’s Saudi Arabian citizenship and the legal right to marry four wives. Barry remained torn and silent as Jessica, Iris, and Mina accepted sharing him, leaving Patty as the lone holdout.

• Patty declared that she would not give Barry up, while Jessica proposed letting him choose among them.
• Mina revealed that Barry held Saudi Arabian citizenship and could legally marry four wives, challenging Patty’s claim to him.
• Barry sat in silence, wrestling with his feelings and conflicting views about polygamy as Su Ming watched from outside.
• Jessica and Iris both said they would accept sharing Barry, and Mina urged Patty to leave if she refused.
• Mina celebrated her alliance with Jessica and Iris while Su Ming waited to hear Barry’s decision.

Barry struggled to choose among four women until he concluded that the Speed Force was forcing him to choose all of them. Deathstroke’s idea of an “Undetermined State” helped Barry justify the choice to himself, though he remained caught between guilt and desire.

• Barry fainted before he could answer, so Su Ming secretly used an electrical signal to wake him.
• Barry decided Patty was the proper choice, but an unseen shock stopped him as he began to say her name.
• Barry tested whether the shocks would stop him from choosing Mina and was struck again, alarming the women.
• Barry realized the Speed Force wanted him to choose all four, but he felt guilty about accepting that outcome.
• Barry recalled Deathstroke’s reasoning about unseen events and used it to justify caring less about what others thought.

Barry agreed to marry Patty, Jessica, Iris, and Mina, and the women hurried to make the marriage official. Meanwhile, Deathstroke met Machoke Woman and offered to help drive corrupt companies and ARGUS from her island in exchange for her cooperation.

• Barry told Patty, Iris, Jessica, and Mina that he would marry all four of them, and Patty agreed to share him if the others recognized what they owed her.
• Mina split the group up to gather documents and supplies before meeting at the Burj Khalifa for photographs.
• Deathstroke met Machoke Woman in a park and shared seahorse meat and squid tentacle with her for breakfast.
• Machoke Woman told Deathstroke that United States companies had polluted her island and ruined its fishing industry.
• Deathstroke offered to invest in Machoke Woman and help drive the companies and ARGUS from her island if she cooperated with him.

Deathstroke recruited Machoke Woman to help seize Kodomatis and arranged for Mercy or a Russian girl to lead the takeover, but Luthor could not be reached. Psionic Man joined Deathstroke’s picnic, where he learned that The Flash was getting married.

• Deathstroke persuaded Machoke Woman to support his plan to take Kodomatis in exchange for a beachside home.
• Deathstroke asked Adjutant to borrow Mercy from Luthor and send a Synthezoid Legion to take control of the island.
• Adjutant reported that Luthor’s communication channels were blocked, so Deathstroke ordered a Russian girl to lead the team instead.
• Deathstroke told Adjutant to monitor Multiverse 1 and watch for Little Rich finding the Record Keeper.
• Psionic Man arrived at the picnic and admitted that he had been reading people’s memories.
• Deathstroke said they would wait for The Flash to finish his marriage registration, shocking Psionic Man.

Su Ming asked Machoke Woman and Psionic Man about The Flash’s secret identity and invited them to meet Barry Allen, then entertained them with the story of Barry’s planned marriage to four women. The two were left wondering what Batwoman intended by helping Barry arrange the marriage.

• Machoke Woman and Psionic Man told Su Ming that Barry Allen and Wally West were known as The Flash, and Psionic Man described the unspoken rules between masked figures.
• Su Ming offered the pair alternative work in Gotham and suggested Psionic Man could find a job at Arkham Asylum, where lunatics’ memories and dreams were fascinating.
• Machoke Woman asked Su Ming how Barry had come to marry, and Su Ming said Barry was taking wedding photos at the Burj Khalifa and planned to marry four wives.
• Su Ming recounted Barry’s complicated love story, leaving Machoke Woman and Psionic Man astonished by its details.
• Machoke Woman and Psionic Man became especially suspicious when Su Ming revealed that Batwoman had helped Barry obtain Saudi Arabian citizenship.

Deathstroke visited Barry at his new home, where Barry revealed he had married four women and worried about what the marriage meant for his life as a superhero. Deathstroke reassured and congratulated him, while Bashir and Alexa joined the housewarming and Machoke Woman promised to focus on rebuilding her homeland.

• Barry returned to Central City after two hours, and Deathstroke told Bashir and Alexa to keep their conversation about the situation confidential.
• Barry’s new household members rearranged the rooms and argued over space for their equipment while Barry raced around helping them.
• Deathstroke arrived with a housewarming plant, and Barry awkwardly told him he had married all four women.
• Deathstroke enthusiastically congratulated Barry and assured him that his marriage would not disqualify him from being a superhero.
• Bashir and Alexa entered, and Machoke Woman hugged Barry and said she would stop robbing supermarkets to help rebuild her homeland.
• Barry welcomed Machoke Woman’s plan and offered the Justice League’s help if villains oppressed her people.

Su Ming gathered Barry, Alexa, and Psionic Man on the rooftop to try combining the four Origin Forces and find a path beyond the Material Dimension. Alexa and Psionic Man shared their forces with him, while Barry began working to activate both the Speed Force and Still Force.

• Su Ming explained the Origin Court and asked Alexa, Psionic Man, and Barry to lend him their forces so they could search for a path.
• Alexa agreed to help, and Su Ming proposed that everyone channel their energy into him so he could sense the forces.
• Alexa transferred a small amount of the Strength Force to Su Ming after he told her to focus on the feeling rather than press on his shoulder.
• Psionic Man channeled the Sage Force into Su Ming, while Barry began trying to wield the Speed Force and Still Force at the same time.

Su Ming took the Speed Force and Still Force from Barry and balanced them with the Strength Force and Sage Force in his own body. In the Dreaming, Diana and Zatanna scolded Constantine for knocking Zatanna unconscious, while Cheetah recognized that Zatanna was only teasing him.

• Barry struggled to control the Speed Force and Still Force as their unstable energies distorted the surrounding space.
• Su Ming took Barry's hands, drew both forces into himself, and used his connection to the Speed Force to keep the energies under control.
• Su Ming transferred Still Force-bearing cells from Barry and relied on Strangle to manage the body's rejection as four forces began to mix within him.
• In a villa in the Dreaming, Diana and Zatanna called Constantine a scumbag for knocking Zatanna unconscious.
• Constantine said he had learned the move from Deathstroke and dismissed Diana's complaints as playful bedroom games.
• Cheetah agreed with Constantine, noting that Zatanna seemed unhurt and was only enjoying the chance to tease him.

Diana found Zatanna and Constantine in the Dreaming and knocked Constantine unconscious before inviting Zatanna and Cheetah on a girls’ outing. Zatanna revealed her soul injury had been an act, and the three women prepared to leave Constantine behind.

• Diana recognized that Zatanna was teasing Constantine rather than truly fighting with him, then knocked him unconscious so he would stay put.
• Zatanna checked that Constantine was only unconscious, covered him with his trench coat, and asked Diana why she had come.
• Diana explained that Slade was still handling important business and invited Zatanna and Cheetah to have fun with her.
• Zatanna agreed to go out with them, while Cheetah explained that she only used Luthor for things she wanted.
• Zatanna demonstrated a cherry-stem trick she called her physical technique and admitted she had faked her soul injury to make John treat her more gently.

Diana, Zatanna, and Cheetah explored the Dreaming and headed toward a mushroom ring where Leprechauns lived. Their outing stopped when Cheetah heard Lex Luthor faintly calling for help, though she could not find him.

• Diana declined Zatanna's suggestion to visit Dream's castle so they would not disturb him.
• Zatanna teased Diana about refusing to use Slade's connections, and Diana tickled her until she gave up the idea.
• Cheetah pointed out a hill covered in giant mushrooms, and Zatanna identified it as a Leprechaun home beneath a rainbow.
• Diana warned Cheetah not to catch or kill the Leprechauns, and Cheetah said she was trying to be good and wanted to join Justice League Dark.
• Cheetah heard Lex Luthor's faint call for help and searched for him, but could not see or smell him.

Diana, Cheetah, and Zatanna investigated a mysterious cry for help in the Dreaming that sounded like Lex Luthor, but they found no source. They discussed Luthor’s allies and resources, yet the voice remained unexplained.

• Diana and Cheetah heard Luthor’s voice, and Diana prepared for a possible attack before finding no sign of him.
• Zatanna checked whether Diana or Cheetah carried a hidden speaker, but neither had one, and Zatanna had not heard the voice.
• Diana recalled Luthor’s former powers, while Cheetah explained that he had returned to human form but still commanded Amazo’s army.
• Cheetah told Diana that Luthor had made deals with her boyfriend and might own part of the Omega Universe.
• Cheetah listed Brainiac, Doctor Ivo, Amazo Prototype II, and possibly Sinestro among Luthor’s associates, prompting Zatanna to joke that the Legion of Doom was full of bald men.

Wonder Woman decided to seek Dream’s help to learn why Lex Luthor had called for assistance. Meanwhile, Barry, Psionic Man, and Machoke Woman waited as Deathstroke tried to combine four forces, trusting he would find a way.

• Wonder Woman asked Cheetah and Zatanna for ideas about Luthor’s distress call, then headed for Dream’s castle to ask Dream what he knew.
• Cheetah said Luthor was too proud and secretive to reveal any hidden resources to her, and Zatanna suggested his call meant he faced something terrifying.
• Wonder Woman became distracted by Cheetah’s mention of Joker tying up Luthor and asked why it had happened.
• On Barry’s rooftop, Psionic Man and Machoke Woman watched Deathstroke sit cross-legged as multicolored lights flashed over him and he made muffled sounds.
• Psionic Man reasoned that the Speed Force might know how to combine the four forces, while Barry insisted Deathstroke would succeed and urged them to wait.