Author's Note: One of the main Legends is the bad guy in this and I make no apologies.
Hope you enjoy.
He staggered through the streets, the bottle clutched in his hands almost empty meaning he needed a new one. It was the only thing that helped, the only thing that kept the visions and voices in his head silent.
The world was wrong.
It was obvious to him but when sober he couldn't focus long enough to work out what was wrong with it because of the noise that filled his brain. The only thing that helped with that was alcohol but when he was drunk he couldn't concentrate long enough to work it out.
Downing the last of the burning liquid, he'd long since forgotten what he was drinking, he tossed the bottle away listening to the sound of the glass smashing.
Continuing on he reached a door, the sounds coming from the other side let him know he'd found a pub. Pushing the door open someone moved him up the stairs to a small bedroom, several bottles were left on the table and he was left. Grabbing one of the bottles he collapsed tiredly onto the bed.
Downing the full bottle, he wished for respite from the noise and visions just for a little while, before he slipped into unconsciousness.
Ray Palmer walked slowly through the streets of the city, he was almost sure it was once called Star City or possibly Central City, hoping that he was doing the right thing. It was only recently, after a slight accident in his lab, that he realised there was something wrong with the world.
It wasn't something he could put his finger on, but Ray knew that things were not the way they should be. As discreetly as possible he began to investigate finding a group on the internet that all seemed to see what he could.
They met once a week in an old church so here he was heading to join this group of people who possibly could all just be insane. But he needed to try something because it was driving him crazy the way no one else in his social circle seemed to see what he could.
Reaching his destination Ray stood far enough away so he could watch who entered the building, from what he could see they all seemed normal enough, but one caught his eye specifically. She walked into the church nervously playing with the necklace around her neck, it had a large red stone which Ray was sure he should be able to place but again there was a blank space.
Finally Ray plucked up the courage to walk into the building instantly met by a large man who gave him a piercing stare.
"I'm here to see Barry," Ray said, hoping the pass-phrase was right and he wasn't about to get kicked out on the street.
The mountain of a man nodded before stepping out the way and letting him inside.
x
Cisco sat in the corner of the room watching all the people who were coming in to his meeting, those who had found his thoughts on the wrongness of the world. His head hurt a lot these days, it felt like he should know but there was a block on him being able to work it out. It had taken him a three-day binge on caffeine and not sleeping for him to write a declaration on what he realised was wrong, which he couldn't recall since he'd finally slept. Cisco had reread his own work several times and, although he couldn't actually remember writing it, Cisco knew it was right.
A tall man with dark hair walked in and Cisco suddenly sat up a little straighter, this was someone he knew, or should know.
Looking around to see if anyone else who stuck out appeared Cisco frowned annoyed that there was no one, so refocussed on the man. A memory tried to flit across his mind but he couldn't catch it, the feeling from it was one of camaraderie and friendship.
Finally Adam nodded to him that there were no others coming in so Cisco moved to the front of the room. He looked at the people who were sitting there waiting wondering how many were actual believers and how many had just come for a chuckle.
"First thing first," Cisco stated, "If you are here to make fun of me or anyone who has come here because they believe that there is something wrong with this world then know that my friend on the door will remove you."
He waited and no one moved. Cisco didn't believe that everyone was actually a believer but if they wanted to get thrown out on their ear later then he had warned them.
"I won't give you my name and I don't expect to hear any of yours," Cisco continued, "If you need to call me anything then I go by Vibe. We're all here because we've noticed that this world is not right. Many of you will have noticed this but been unable to place what about it you find wrong."
Cisco watched the group nodding, his eyes focussed on the man with dark hair who was watching Cisco with wide eyes.
"I began noticing it about six months ago," Cisco continued, "This city should be bigger, this world should have more in it but for some reason it doesn't. I can't tell you what happened but I do know that I have memories of more cities, more countries but there are also people who don't belong here."
Cisco spotted a few of his audience jump slightly before he continued, "The world is not the only thing that's wrong. Time is wrong too. It's like it's been compressed."
"Horse and carts," the man he'd been watching said suddenly, embarrassment covering his face when he realised he'd spoken aloud.
Cisco nodded, "Precisely. How can we have horse and carts at the same time as cars and hovercrafts? They don't fit."
"What can we do?" a woman spoke up, she wore a necklace with a large red jewel, "The Queen has eyes and ears everywhere. I'm amazed we've been allowed to meet."
Several people nodded, worry in their eyes as they waited for the Queens guards to burst in at any moment.
"I can't guarantee anything," Cisco told them, "But honestly we're not exactly significant. Think what I put in the message, there's nothing to suggest we know anything other than the world is wrong."
There were more nods and Cisco decided that now was the best time to end the meeting.
x
Ray watched everyone leave the meeting, everyone except the woman he'd been watching earlier. She was holding her necklace, her fingers playing against the jewel as she sat deep in thought.
"You know," Vibe said, "I only have this place booked for the next five minutes. There's a yoga class about to come in."
"What you were saying," she said softly, "You're right."
Ray frowned, "What do you mean?"
He winced when the two of them turned to him, realising neither had known he was still there.
"I don't think I should be here," the woman whispered, "Nothing is right."
Vibe frowned for a moment, "Miss…"
"Zee," she gave as her pseudonym after a moment of hesitation.
They turned to Ray waiting for an introduction and, panicking slightly, he blurted out, "Atom."
Vibe gave him a bemused look before continuing, "I want to talk more but we can't stay here."
"There's a burger joint two blocks away," Ray told them, "Do you want to go there and talk?"
Zee and Vibe both paused for several moments before they nodded, almost in unison. Ray grinned and started them out the door, passing several women carrying yoga mats.
x
Zari wasn't sure why she'd agreed to join the two men for something to eat, she wasn't even sure why she'd come tonight but it had been annoying her weeks now. The world didn't fit what she felt it should. Scouring the internet she found Vibe's writings and, despite her misgivings, she'd come to the meeting.
She'd had no illusions that this would be anything but as she listened to the man who wrote the document that had brought her to the church Zari felt a chill slide down her spine.
Entering the restaurant, she ordered some fries and a water before they found a booth hidden in the corner. The three of them picked at their food in silence for several minutes before Zari took a deep breath.
"Okay," she said, "We came here for a reason. Atom, when did you first notice something was wrong?"
The tall man let out a long sigh, "I was working and made a little mistake which meant I was slammed into the wall. I had a concussion and suddenly I realised things didn't seem right. You?"
"I was in an accident," Zari told them, "I hit my head and when I woke up I saw it as well."
Vibe pursed his lips together in thought, "Interesting. A head injury is the common factor in all three of our discovering the truth."
"I don't think we can go around hitting people on the head," Atom noted, making Zari chuckle slightly.
Vibe laughed as well.
Zari finished her drink, "Is there anything we can do? I don't want to continue walking around knowing something is wrong with the world, but I also have no idea how to change it."
They sat in silence for several minutes before Vibe let out a sigh, "I didn't put everything I wrote online."
"Meaning?" she and Atom demanded.
Taking a long breath Vibe told them, "Meaning I have an idea where we begin to make things right."
Atom frowned, "Is it dangerous?"
"It might be," Vibe replied, "I know I said the Queen won't care about a gathering but if we start working against her then she will take notice." He paused before saying, "Why don't you take some time to think about it? We can meet here in three days here and you can give me your answer."
Zari turned to Atom who looked back at her with a slight grimace. Vibe finished his drink before he slid out the booth.
"Three days here in this restaurant at this time," he said, "Hopefully see you then."
The small room was a muted grey, there was no window and a small bed was shoved in the corner that the occupant hadn't been able to use for several days since she had been chained to the wall across from it.
"Tell me," the amused voice came as her captor walked through the door, "Have you decided to give me what I want now?"
Slowly raising her head, she glared at the blonde standing in the doorway with a superior smile covering her face, "I will not tell you anything, Miss Lance."
"I am your Queen, Gideon," Sara Lance corrected her eyes dark with anger, "You would do well to remember that."
Gideon winced when shifting tightened the chains attached to her wrists, "You are nothing but a murderer. You could have been so much more. I have seen another world, a world where you were a hero, where you fought the bloodlust and won."
Sara laughed at her, "A hero? You want me to be one of those idiots who spend their time trying to save a world that is doomed?"
Gideon said nothing.
"There's one thing you're forgetting, Gideon in your plea for me to be a hero," Sara said before breathing in her ear, "I like killing. I embraced the bloodlust and look at me now, a Queen."
Gideon glared at her before replying, "Begging for something from the only one you cannot kill."
Gideon's head snapped to the side when Sara slapped her, blood filling her mouth.
"You're not a disembodied voice anymore," Sara snarled, grabbing Gideon's hair yanking her head making her wince but she refused to make a noise, "You have a body, Gideon and until now I have been nice. You can feel pain and trust me when I tell you I know how to inflict it."
Gideon shook her head, "I will not give you the information. No matter what you do to me."
"Trust me, Gideon," Sara snarled, "You will give me what I want. It's been two years, no one is coming to save you."
When the woman walked out leaving Gideon alone, she allowed herself to acknowledge the pain. She had always wondered what it would be like to be human, she had never thought she would find it out this way.
She felt the loss of her ship, it was like one of her limbs had been removed, and she missed her Captain deeply. He had made a sacrifice she was so proud of him for, but it also meant he would not be able to come for her.
Gideon was alone.