- Brandon and Chloe clash with their dad after the Blackstar incident. In 1929, Sheldon confronts a reporter over an exposé on the family business.
- The heroes bury their dead, and Sheldon reaches out to Chloe in the aftermath of the battle against Blackstar. Brandon deals with the guilt of what he did--and didn't-- do in the battle against Blackstar. In 1929, Sheldon learns the truth about Chester and gets a message from him.—Gislef
- Blackstar puts on his glasses and asks who collapsed his duplicate's skull. Paragon says that he did, and Blackstar chuckles and tells the assembled heroes that someone is screwing with them. Blackstar tells them that the clone is a cheap knockoff, and Paragon challenges him to fight. Utopian tells his son to stand down, and Blackstar says that Paragon should be locked up as murderer. Paragon orders Blackstar taken back to Supermax, and Blackstar yells that Utopian is a hypocrite, and that his fan club will spread the news.
Flare II points out that the clone never said anything, and Brainwave says that they're going to need to cut open the clone to get answers on its origin.
Later, protesters gather at the HQ. Paragon, Lady Liberty, and Brainwave and the Flares give a press conference. A reporter asks where Paragon is, and Lady Liberty says that he's in an after-action debrief. Lady Liberty tells the press that Paragon wishes to express his regret that someone's life was lost despite the circumstances. The reporter asks if their old-fashioned Code is endangering public safety, and Utopian says that force without due process isn't justice.
At the farm, Sheldon finds Brandon hitting cans with a rock using his super-strength. Sheldon says that he knows it hasn't been easy for Brandon being his son, but everything Brandon does is a reflection on the family. Brandon points out that Chloe didn't show up at the battle, is drunk or stoned half the time, but Sheldon is complaining about Brandon.
Sheldon tells his son to be better, and Brandon reminds him that he had to make choice between Blackstar and Sheldon. Brandon says that he chose his father, and would choose him every time. He asks Sheldon if he would do the same, and Sheldon tells his son that one day he will be Utopian and the only thing Brandon will have to guide him is the Code. Sheldon insists that the Code has to stand, and that killing is never the answer. He says that there's always another way to get the job done, and tells Brandon to stay on the farm until things quiet down. Brandon tells him that it's bullshit, but finally says that he understands.
1929
Sheldon arrives at the plant office with Chester's suit for the funeral, even though it's closed casket. Walter says that Chester hated the tie, and only wore it all the time because Sheldon gave it to him. He then tells his brother that he spoke with the board and they want to shut all the steel plants down. Sheldon says that they have to talk to them, and refuses to put their workers out of jobs.
Willie and his son Fitz come in, and Fitz shows Sheldon a newspaper with a photo of Chester's corpse and the headline "The Death of Capitalism". There's an article with it that says Chester ripped off his workers.
Sheldon goes to the newspaper and demands to talk to the reporter who wrote the story, "G Kennedy" Grace comes out and introduces herself, and says that the story is double-referenced and all true. When Sheldon says that Chester was his father, Grace expresses her condolences and Sheldon yells at the staff that capitalism made their business and their homes. He asks Grace what she contributes, and asks her how she's helping America. Grace points out that Sheldon's nose is bleeding, and he tells them that they should be ashamed of themselves and storms out.
Now
Fitz finds his daughter Petra in the Union conference room. She asks if he ever lost anybody on the Union when he was a superhero. He says that he didn't, and Petra admits that she was afraid during the battle with Blackstar. Fitz asks if she fought through the fear, and Petra says that she isn't Fitz and she can't keep fighting when the supervillains are going crazy and wonders if her teammates dying is just the start of it. Petra doesn't know if she can keep being a superhero when things are insane, and Fitz tells her not to. He tells his daughter that he never asked her to follow him as a superhero, and he was worried that Petra would get herself hurt bad like he did. The wheelchair-bound man tells Petra that he couldn't be prouder of her, for being better than him in so many ways.
The next day, Sheldon goes to Chloe's apartment to see her. He's brought bagels and daughter lets him in, they talk about Chloe's upcoming shoot, and she wonders why Sheldon is there. Sheldon asks his daughter if she's coming to the funeral, and assures her that he wants her there. He figures that Brandon will listen to Chloe, before he listens to Shelton or Grace, and admits that he can't get through to his son.
Chloe advises Sheldon to give Brandon some time to deal with Barry's death, and Sheldon realizes that she's talking about Tectonic. Chloe says that he could never stop being Utopian to be a father to her and Brandon, and the suit and cape are the "real" Sheldon. She tells Sheldon that he's been attacking her for so long that she doesn't know how to do anything with him but fight back.
Sheldon says that they're bigger than squabbling, and Chloe tells him that the only way to stop is for one of them to stop being themselves. Her father insists that he's not trying to attack her, then starts to leave. Sheldon asks Chloe if she's going to make it to the funeral, and it would mean a lot to him, and Chloe says that she doesn't know.
1929
A frustrated Walter is in his office running numbers. He looks at the newspaper article on Chester's death, and Sheldon comes in and starts calling their lawyer to sue Grace and the newspaper. Walter tells his brother that they're not going to sue, and what Grace reported about Chester is true. He explains that Chester used the workers' pension fund to back the company expansion, and the fund is gone.
Sheldon insists that Chester would never have done it, and Walter says that Sheldon has no idea. He says that they gave as good as they got against their competitors, he and Chester, and now it's just him. Walter angrily tells Sheldon that he's the one who's been keeping the business from going under, and the only way they can keep what they have is to shut down production for five months. Sheldon insists that they don't put their workers out of work, and Walter yells at him that they are doing it. Later, Sheldon breaks the news to the workers. The workers try to mob Sheldon, and Willie tells them that they're needed at home rather than in jail. Willie and Fitz stay when the other workers leave.
Later, Sheldon sits in his bedroom with his fiancée, Jane, and remembers the last thing that Chester said to him about ending up in a box. He says that he couldn't stop Chester from jumping, and Jane tells Sheldon that he couldn't save Chester.
Now
On the farm, Grace check son Brandon as he dresses for the funeral. She helps him with his tie, and Brandon says that he doesn't know what to say. Grace tells him to speak from his heart, and that fear and getting through it is a part of everything.
At the funeral, Sheldon looks around at the families of the three dead heroes. He remembers his father's funeral and looks up at the sky, and Grace notices and tells him that Chloe isn't coming.
1929
Sheldon speaks the eulogy for Chester, and says that they don't know people for real until after they die. He collapses, convulsing, and Walter, Jane, and George run to him.
Now
The minister finishes his eulogy, and Brandon steps up and says that they're burying his friends Briggs, Vera, and Barry. He says that they were people, and he's sorry they're gone and that he failed them. Brandon says that they're all reaching and falling short, but not the three deceased heroes because they achieved it and died heroes.
Afterward as people leave flowers on the coffin, Petra and Fitz approach Brandon and Petra tells him that he did good. Fitz tells Brandon that he did the right thing with the Blackstar clone, while Sheldon and Grave look on and overhear.
Barry's wife and children get into their black SUV, and Brandon goes over to Barry's wife, Karen, and asks how her children are holding up. Karen says that they saw Barry's death on the news, and Officer Parsons comes over and gives Karen a donation from his fellow officers at the precinct. Once Parsons leaves, Brandon tells her to ask him if she needs anything and she drives off without a word.
Parsons comes up to Brandon and says that they've had too many funerals, and Brandon tells him that they know the police are doing their best. The officer says that they should kill the supervillains just like Brandon killed the Blackstar clone.
Later at home, Sheldon tells Grace that he overheard and that most people were congratulating Brandon on killing Blackstar. Grace doesn't say anything at first, and then tells Sheldon that he was handling it fine on her own. She tells him that the world isn't the way Sheldon wants it to be, and she doesn't know what to tell him. Grace says that Sheldon can't control everything, and he can't clamp down. Sheldon insists that heroes never kill, and Grace tells him that if there weren't exceptions, they'd be dead as well. He is shocked at her outburst, and Grace tells him that the supervillains are changing the rules.
1929
Jane stares at the unconscious Sheldon in his hospital bed, with Walter and George also there. Walter and Jane worry that a doctor hasn't come by, and George says that there's nothing the doctors can do and they just have to wait.
Walter tells George to stop playing solitaire on Sheldon's bed, and George refuses. Sheldon wakes up and convulses, hearing a voice in his head telling him to find the boat and gather his crew, and he should sail to the island and save America. A vision of the island appears in Sheldon's mind, and as he fully wakes up Jane tells him what happened. Sheldon tells them about his vision, and that it was a message. Walter asks who it was a message from, and Sheldon says it was a message from Chester.
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