Introduction: A New Start

*Three Months After "Before the Fall"

"There's so many boxes," I sighed, taking a seat on the floor considering all my furniture had already been moved into my new apartment. The apartment was almost bare now; I had taken down all the pictures and with bright lights reflecting off the empty walls, everything looked new as if I hadn't lived there for the past decade.

"You have so much stuff," Caitlin breathlessly giggled, taking a seat next to me. She pushed her hair back out of her face. "Is all this stuff going to fit in your new apartment?"

I nodded, "It's big. I promise." She hadn't seen it yet, no one had except me. It was brand new and all mine, and right smack dab in the middle of Star City.

"And you found yourself a counselor there, right?"

I nodded, keeping silent this time. Going to counseling wasn't something I enjoyed, but I knew I needed it. Ever since the singularity explosion, I had a growing fear that I'd lash out with my powers again. Last time, I severely injured Cisco and I in a car accident because I had missed Ronnie so much, and I wasn't looking forward to doing something like that ever again. Unfortunately, Cisco didn't agree with this idea. I understood where he was coming from; he was hoping that he could help me heal and feel okay again, he didn't want to be "second best" to people who didn't even know me. I couldn't get him to understand that I didn't want to hurt him, that I was dangerous: he kept telling me it was going to be okay, but I was scared because there was no way to know for sure.

So, he walked out. And I let him, knowing I'd never be able to get him to understand.

But after three months of sulking around in the same apartment and the same city, I decided I needed a change. I needed a new apartment in a new city.

"Are you sure you'll be alright?" She asked in a quiet voice.

"Sure, I will." She gave me a look then and I sighed. "Caitlin, I'll be fine. And I have Oliver and the others there in case I need it."

She sighed, "Yeah? And what about Techna?"

A silence hung in the air after I molded over the question she was asking. It wasn't "are you going to keep being Techna?" it was "what happened to her? Where did she go?"

I shook my head, "Central City will be alright without her. Besides, they still have Flash." She nodded although I could tell she didn't fully agree. So I asked a question I had been meaning to find the answer to since Team Flash broke up, "Have you heard from him? Barry?"

The smile on her face was obviously forced, "No. He hasn't spoken to any of us."

"He will," I assured her. "He just needs time. Everyone does."

"And you?"

I gave her my own forced smile, "My time is up. Time for me to move on. Hence why I'm going to go find something new in Star City." I jumped up from the floor and picked up the nearest box. "Well, come on. My new apartment isn't going to furnish itself!"

*Six Months after "Before the Fall"*

My new apartment is covered in large lamps and ceiling lights. The only time I've used my powers in the past six months is to turn them off and on without having to touch the light switch. Without the threat of metahumans every two seconds, I only use my powers for the little things. The old team would laugh at my usage of something so unique… Or they would scold me. I'm unsure.

I've only kept in touch with Caitlin and Stein recently. Due to some unexpected issues, Stein found someone new to fuse with; his name is Jax Jefferson and Stein says he's still warming up to him. I haven't met him yet… I'm not sure how I feel about it… Caitlin works with Team Flash again as they stop the metahumans of Central City. It's nice to know they are okay.

However, when I got a text from Barry, I found myself in my car, driving back to Central City to see the team.

Barry: hi, Leah. Hope you don't mind, Cait gave me your new number. My dad is getting out of prison this afternoon! Long story, but I finally got proof that he is innocent. I know its short notice, but want to come to his "Welcome Back" party? We'd all love to see you there.

To my surprise, I didn't hesitate to respond immediately.

Leah: Congratulations, Barry. Where's the party at?

I don't know what made me think it was a good idea. Just drop everything and head over to a friend's who I haven't seen or heard from in six months. Go back to the world I had left behind and all the memories that lie within it.

As I passed the familiar buildings, and the reconstruction of the city, the pit in my stomach grew larger and larger. I almost expected myself to hit the brakes as hard as my heart was slamming against my chest. But I kept driving until I was finally at the curb of Joe's house.

Barry has briefly explained that the party was going to be held at Joe West's house and the party was to start at two o'clock. As I sat in the car and looked up at my destination, it was already two-thirty. I'm allowed to be a little late, right? I mean, I'm coming from a whole other city!

I could feel my palms sweating and I was really glad I had worn extra deodorant. As I exited the car, I took a few deep breaths in an attempt to relax a little, but failed.

Maybe I shouldn't have come… I didn't even bring anything! Don't people usually bring food with them to a party like this? Was I supposed to bring something with me?!
I barely made it to the driveway, however, when a voice interrupted my thoughts.

"Leah Raymond?"

I turned at the sound of my name to come face to face with a man in a long, brown trench coat. His eyes were serious yet bright, and the contrast was honestly sort of frightening. As soon as it registered that this stranger had said my name, I took a step back.

"D-do I know you?" I asked, hating how timid my voice sounded.

He shook his head with a bit of a dry chuckle. "No, not yet. But you will." He held up a device in his hand, something rectangular and silver. "I need your help," he explained before pressing the device's button. There was a flash of white light and then everything went black.

I woke up with a slight dizziness in my head. The ground was cold and hard as I propped up on my elbows and blinked until the world stopped spinning.

"Raymond?" Someone coughed beside me.

"Who, me?" Another more innocent voice asked.

"No, not you. Her." I turned my head to the right to see a man dress in a large, blue coat with ice blue eyes to match. Everything about this man gave off a cold vibe. When our eyes met, he gave me a knowing smirk, "Leah Raymond."

Something about the way he was looking right through me sent a cold shock down my spine. "Do I know you?"

"No." He curtly replied before standing up. "But I know you- well, of you. And your crew. Barry and them?"

Feeling the ice settle in my back, I stood up on shaky legs, "I don't know what you're going on about…"

His eyes narrowed when his smile grew wider. "Don't worry, I've kept his little secret for a while now."

"What secret?" A broader man with large shoulders… Well, large EVERYTHING took his position next to the colder man.

"The name is Leonard Snart." The man with icicles for eyes announced, ignoring the other man's question. "This here is my partner in crime, Mick… Though, I believe your boy toy likes to call us Captain Cold and Heatwave." He shrugged his shoulders shortly, not noticing my heart drop at the mention of Cisco. "It's kind of grown on me if I'm to be honest."

"Yeah…" I managed to speak through the lump in my throat. "He does that sometimes."

"Techna, right?" He then asked, taking me by surprise before shrugging his shoulders again, "Your little Flash and I… We cooperated with each other once. In the meantime, I learned a thing or two about you guys."

"Well," I quickly straightened out my jacket as I noticed his buddy look me up and down. "If you must know, I don't go by that anymore."

"Leah?"

I sighed, tired of hearing my name so many times today, until I turned to see who it was. "Professor?!" I was quick to step forward and hug the man. Either I had gotten taller (which is unlikely) or he had shrunk slightly as my forehead now reached the top of his shoulder.

"What are we doing here?" He asked after giving me a hug in return.

"I'm glad you asked," the voice from before had spoken up. We all turned to see the man in the brown trench coat standing there with his hands in his pockets and a pleased look on his face. "You're all here to help me."

"Why would we do that?" The man named Mick asked, crossing his arms over his large chest. I couldn't help but wonder how quickly he could snap someone with them.

"Because if you don't, in the future, your world will look like this." He pulls out yet another rectangular shape, black in color this time, and presses the button. The scene around his changes were sirens are going off down every other block and buildings are lit on fire so intense that the firefighters can't keep up with it. And for the firefighters who can keep up with it, they're on the streets, risking their lives against some highly trained fighters and guns.

When the scene goes back to the normal view of skyscrapers that we can see on top of the roof we were standing on, he speaks up again. "I could've picked any time and place, seeing as I'm a Time Master. But I picked here and I picked you nine… I hope you won't let me- I hope you won't let the whole world down."

Another girl with long blonde hair crosses her arms over her chest as well. "What do you need us to do?"

"Defeat Vandal Savage."

"Vandal Savage? That's impossible." The darker skinned girl with curly hair states.

The man standing beside her nods. "If you're really from the future, he should be dead. We killed him with the help of some friends."

"Unless he is struck down by one of you two, he can be reborn from nothing but a single cell."

"And we're somehow supposed to kill him?" A darker haired guy asked. I think I've seen pictures of him in Oliver's headquarters.

"I picked you nine for a reason." The man assures us. "Where I'm from- in the future- the nine of you are legends."

The term "legends" sends goosebumps spiking up my arms and legs.

"Not to kill the mood, but legends being the term people use when someone is dead?" Professor Stein pointed out.

"Uh, yeah, no. That's a deal breaker for me." The younger man next to Stein sighs. He heads for the nearby exit. "I'm out."

"Please…" Trench Coat sighs and runs a hand over his face. "The world is in grave danger."

"Sounds like my life is in grave danger." The young guy snaps before heading out the door.

"We don't even know your name." The darker girl reminded him.

"Rip Hunter… And again, like I mentioned before, I need your guy's help."

Little did I know that I was not going back to my old team, but I was about to become a member of an entirely different one.