World Tour: New Universe

Summary

  DP7 congratulates themselves on hijacking a bus without hurting anyone; Mastodon drives, while Twilight uses her power to put the passengers to sleep. They race to get away from the clinic, but suddenly find themselves flying: Star Brand has picked up the bus and flies with it. He lands 500 miles away, where the Exiles ask DP7 to help stop Proteus; specifically, they need Twilight, to make Proteus susceptible to Nightmask's power. DP7 are dubious.

  Heather puts video feeds online to Mojo and warns him not to try to take over. Mojo's not impressed with her threats but turns over his payment: Longshot.

  Barbara and her kids cower while Proteus in Justice's waits in a La-Z-Boy for Star Brand to show up. He senses someone approaching and blasts the door, but Clarice has already blinked behind him with Twilight, who removes her mask and puts him to sleep. He resists, so she disrobes, her whole body shining with power, and he falls flat.

  Barbara asks for an explanation; Star Brand enters and says they're with him. He hugs her and says it's a long explanation; right now, they need two beds: Justice in one, and Nightmask in the other. Nightmask has been filled in on Proteus's back-story and enters his dreams.

  Creed calls Heather to check on their backup; Longshot is there, but his memory has been wiped, not for the first time. He doesn't remember them (see iss. 18-19).

  Proteus dreams of strapping his mother to a lab table and killing her with a chainsaw. Nightmask interrupts, taking control of the dream. He says Moira's lab wasn't really like this: she locked him in a cell because she had to, because it was lethal to be near him. He tries to convince Proteus to stay in the dream-cell and sleep, but he attacks him, asking if he dies in the dream will he die for real?

  In reality, Proteus wakes, saying they almost had him. He uses his power to warp and stretch the house, and the Exiles with it. He offers to trade them for Star Brand's body; Star Brand rushes him faster than sound, but Proteus breaks him to droplets and then encases Twilight in dirt to stop her power.

  Heather has already released their secret weapon; Longshot projects a force field of good luck, which may protect him from Proteus. He bounds toward him and throws knives: Proteus's one weakness is metal. He screams in pain, and the Exiles' bodies reform. Proteus swirls away, escaping to another dimension.

  Heather prepares to port the team back. She has an idea which may keep Proteus out of their heads for good.