Sacrifice
"The world will never know about Ted Kord's sacrifice."
Those words rang in Jaime's head as he laid on his bed, shirt off (as usual), the moon shining beautifully at midnight in El Paso. It'd been a few hours since he'd interrupted Nightwing and Canary's debrief with Captain Atom and told them everything. About his possible future. To get the Scarab off of him.
Tactical error, Jaime Reyes. You should have heeded the Impulse's advice and kept it a secret. Now the League will be paranoid of us and keep us from battle for fear of us turning!
Jaime knew what this meant. How Nightwing would be more cautious around him. The daily briefings to Captain Atom and reports to Black Canary about the Scarab's thoughts, and if it attempted to contact the Reach or take control of him again. Once the Team found out (and they would, because the whole schizophrenic theory is starting to die, what with Gar and Babs hearing Black Beetle saying how he was "of the Reach"), every thought in their head would be about if he was feeding the Reach intel, plotting how to kill them (the Scarab was, but he couldn't help that), or creating yet another explosive that would destroy their current home.
These children are impeding our progress. We should execute them all while they are in one spot. The tactical advantage would be to lead them to the Nightwing's base of operations, disrupt the Zeta tubes, and use the Plasma Cannons to incinerate them all.
He'd have to talk to Bart soon. Once the League figured out how to get the Scarab off of him, and the Reach were defeated, the speedster would have to tell his friends and family about what he'd done. He'd have to make it okay. Mom, Dad, Milagro, Paco, Tye. They'd all be sad, but he'd rather they know what he'd done to keep them all alive. That he didn't turn against humanity and help kill everyone against his will. The Team would know before them, probably. Nightwing would tell them, or Bart would, given how close to him he wanted to be. They were like a second family to him. Nightwing and Batgirl were like his parents; M'gann and Conner his older siblings. Bart, Gar, and Robin were his brothers. And Cassie was…well, it wouldn't matter.
If the League and the Nightwing do indeed find a way to separate us, the tactical advantage would be to reveal these hormone changes to the Wonder Girl. She may possibly reciprocate them. It will be cruel to pursue her shortly before death…but it is best to make what time you have remaining left.
He knew what he was asking for. The moment he became Blue Beetle officially, met Guy Guardian and Peacekeeper, became a member of the Team, he knew the risks that would come with being a Hero.
And yet, he was strangely okay with that.
Whatever happens, Jaime Reyes…it has been an honor. We only hope that your allies will live long enough to remember your sacrifice.
I think I've got my "Cornered" feels out for the week. Next time is Conner, for sure. You can expect them to be longer starting with his chapter. Afterwards, we'll go back in time!