(male narrator) Previously on "Justice League.."
This is USS Defiant.
(female #1) 'We are under attack and have'
'sustained heavy damage.'
'We are going down.'
Let it sink.
glug glug glug
pew pew pew
All this could've been avoided.
Come and air your grievances at the World Assembly.
'Negotiate for peace.'
Mera, what kind of future am I making for our son?
(male #1) 'First you sink a nuclear submarine'
'and then you threaten us to make peace.'
Who gave you the right?
I knew we couldn't trust that fishman.
(Green Lantern) 'The sub's been stripped'
'and the plutonium is gone.'
boom
You tried to kill Aquaman. Why?
Spanish doubloons.
Where would they get coins like this?
Atlantis.
Now is the time for mighty Atlantis
to rise up and strike terror into the hearts of its enemies.
Orm! What treason is this?
I'm only doing what you never had the courage to do.
swish
(Orm) 'I'm in charge now.'
[theme music]
[music continues]
[intense music]
For years, I've stood in your shadow and watched
while you led Atlantis to the brink of ruin.
I'll stand no more!
And neither will your generals.
This is a battle we should have fought years ago.
But you betrayed us by siding with our enemies.
[grunting]
bwok
zap
[groans]
Take him away.
[groans]
General Brak, ready your troops at once.
Yes, My Lord.
[instrumental music]
Orm, they said my husband has returned. Is it true?
I wish it were.
But it's only an unfounded rumor.
I've tried to be strong.
but without him, I..
Don't worry, Mera.
I'll take care of you.
- And your son. - My son?
I've already taken the precaution
of placing him under my protection.
[music continues]
[gasp]
'These are dangerous times, Mera.'
We can't be too careful.
Where is he?
The prince will come to no harm
as long as you cooperate.
How can you do this?
I assure you, I am only doing
what is best for Atlantis.
[intense music]
whoosh
We're almost there.
Atlantis is just beyond that reef.
Don't expect them to welcome us with open arms.
Set the ship down here.
Maybe we can slip under their defenses.
boom
Too late. They've already seen us.
[intense music]
If it's a fight they want, they've got it.
Wait! Remember why we're here.
glug glug glug
(Superman) Hold your fire.
We come with an urgent message for your king.
How should we respond, general?
Destroy them.
swoosh swoosh swoosh
There's your answer.
boom boom boom
swoosh
boom
[grunting]
What?
[grunts]
pew pew
[instrumental music]
pew pew
[grunts]
Behind you!
pew
crash
Thanks.
boom
pew pew pew
[grunting]
[dramatic music]
screech
[screams]
creak
thud
This way!
There it is!
swoosh swoosh swoosh
Not even close.
boom
[both grunting]
Depth charges.
boom boom boom
[screams]
[groans]
[intense music]
beep beep beep
Worthless surface scum.
beep beep beep
[groans]
Where's Aquaman?
I thought your kind already took care of him.
No. He came back here.
(Superman) We came to warn him about a plot against his life.
'An Atlantian plot.'
Lies and deceptions!
[grunts]
I consider this latest incursion
nothing less than an act of war.
(Orm) You'll be executed as enemies of the crown.
Then I will wipe out the surface world forever.
clink
[grunting]
crackle crackle crackle
whoosh whoosh whoosh
splash
Oh. J'onn, can you phase free?
No. Can't focus.
Me neither. Some kind of synaptic discharge.
Then we'll drown.
[grunting]
[whirring]
vroom
Your troops are almost ready to depart, My Lord.
Proceed, general.
I will join you after I attend
to some unfinished business.
vroom
[dramatic music]
[grunting]
Which one will go first?
- My money's on the girl. - You think?
[grunts]
[intense music]
[grunts]
glug glug glug
[all gasping]
[all coughing]
[coughing]
Thank you. But why?
You believe someone in Atlantis has betrayed my husband.
I also fear for his life.
- But I need your help. - 'You've got it.'
glug glug glug
[grunting]
(Orm) 'Enjoying the view?'
vroom
[dramatic music]
Getting rid of me won't make the people
of Atlantis serve you.
I know. That whole lineage thing could get messy.
Fortunately, I have a solution.
What do you mean?
[baby crying]
No.
Your kingdom is truly magnificent.
(Wonder Woman) 'I see why Aquaman protects it so passionately.'
Unfortunately, there are those whose ambitions
would destroy it.
pew pew pew
[dramatic music]
Get down!
pew pew pew
[grunts]
pew pew pew
Stand back!
zap
ka-boom
[screaming]
Thank you.
This fight is far from over.
[crying]
glug glug glug
A pity, the young prince will be yet another
innocent victim of the surface dwellers' aggression.
[grunting]
Sadly, that will also make me
the rightful heir to the throne.
[crying continues]
swish
[crying]
[intense music]
Well, I'm off to avenge your deaths.
crackle crackle
zap
[rumbling]
Orm!
rumble rumble rumble
[grunting]
[dramatic music]
[rumbling]
[crying]
[grunting]
[crying]
[shouts]
swish
We've searched the entire palace.
But there's still no sign of him.
[sobbing]
[instrumental music]
[gasps]
My love. You're safe.
And so is our son.
[gasp]
[dramatic music]
Your hand..
Where is Orm?
crackle crackle
[groaning]
His own hand. I can't believe it.
I told you he was a madman.
Is it madness to sacrifice all for someone you love?
Can't you work any faster?
This is a delicate operation, My Lord.
It can't be rushed.
[groaning]
(Batman on radio) 'Superman, a situation has developed'
'up at the north pole.'
Thermal readings show temperatures increasing rapidly.
If that continues, the ecological effects
could be catastrophic.
Then let's check it out.
But what about the crisis here?
There may be a connection.
What do you mean?
It's the doomsday thermal reactor.
We designed it to create a polar meltdown.
What?
I had it built as a weapon of last resort.
To protect Atlantis, should the surface world ever attack.
- But I never armed it. - 'Then Orm must have.'
Using the plutonium from the submarine.
If the polar cap melts the world will sink beneath the waves.
Everything will be destroyed.
Orm must be stopped.
And he will be.
[instrumental music]
I'll see to it personally.
[waves splashing]
[barking]
whoosh
(Superman) 'Aquaman, wait!'
Why do you follow?
- We want to help. - This is my battle.
No one asked you to fight it.
Like it or not, we have a stake in the outcome.
- We're not leaving. - Just stay out of my way.
swoosh
boom
[rumbling]
[dramatic music]
pew pew pew
boom
Soldiers of Atlantis, attack!
vroom vroom vroom
whoosh
pew pew pew
Here we go again.
whoosh
Superman, the glaciers are already starting to melt.
I know, but we've got our hands full here.
pew pew pew
[music continues]
[screaming]
swish
pew pew pew
[grunts]
[gasps]
[screams]
[screaming]
pew pew pew
Huh?
vroom
pew
boom
thud
bash
[dramatic music]
pew
[grunts]
whoosh
crash
pew pew pew
vroom
For Atlantis!
pew pew pew
vroom
splash
[dramatic music]
pew pew pew
[screaming]
I saw it but I still don't believe it.
Stay with him. We'll handle things here.
pew pew pew
splash
[grunts]
[rumbling]
crash
[rumbling]
[intense music]
crackle crackle
Apparently, I underestimated you, brother.
A mistake I won't make again.
[Orm grunts]
crackle crackle crackle
whoosh whoosh
There's not much time.
(Batman) 'If we can't shut that down'
'the entire world is doomed.'
(Green Lantern) 'I suppose this is a bad time'
'to say I told you so.'
[both grunting]
bash
- It's over. - You're right.
And you've lost.
zap
crackle crackle crackle
[grunts]
The tide is against you.
The reactor can't be shut down.
crackle crackle crackle
[dramatic music]
[rumbling]
We're too late.
Not yet.
clang
clang clang clang
zap
thud
[grunts]
swish
No good. I'll have to go inside and manually shut it down.
- Inside? - Your ring.
- Can it protect me? - We'll find out.
pew
swish
pew pew
No! Get away from that!
pew
Orm, stop!
Still you defend them.
pew
pew pew
clang
bash
[grunts]
thud
[both grunting]
bash
[grunts]
[rumbling]
You're not fit to wear the crown
you weak and gutless..
[screams]
[dramatic music]
Please, brother!
Help me!
I believe this is mine.
[screaming]
Hurry, Batman.
[whirring]
crackle crackle crackle
It's shutting down. You did it.
No.
We did.
Then the threat is over.
(Brak) And surely, you must know, My Lord.
Our loyalty belongs to you and you alone.
We never believed in Orm's plan.
But your brother forced us.
The truth is we were only following orders.
Get them out of my sight.
[sigh] I can only blame myself.
My fear of the surface dwellers blinded me
to those I should've feared most
and it cost me dearly.
Don't be too hard on yourself.
Maybe we've all misjudged.
Perhaps.
All I want..
All I've ever wanted..
...is peace and security for Atlantis.
[instrumental music]
After what's happened, it won't be easy.
I know. But some sacrifices are worth it.
[theme music]