"That looks sore. What happened?" Rip asked as he was walking through the hallways and found Kendra nursing a sore shoulder.
"Maybe you should ask the lunatic you put in charge of training me" Kendra said angrily.
"I... actually, I was hoping that the arrangement between you and Sara might be, uh... mutually beneficial" Rip stuttered.
"You mean you knew about this bloodlust thing?" Kendra snapped.
"It's the captain's job to know everything on his ship. Look, Sara went through hell when she was resurrected, and I was hoping that you'd be able to... coax out her human side from the darkness of the Lazarus Pit" Rip explained.
"Why me?" Kendra asked with a sigh.
"Well, after 4,000 years of reincarnation, surely you know a thing or two about rebirth" Rip said before walking off. Kendra sighed and walked around the Waverider until she found Sara in the same storage room she was in.
"Heads up! Let's go. "A warrior trains every day," remember?" Kendra asked tossing Sara the same steel pole from earlier.
"I'm not a warrior, and I tried to kill you the last time we did this, remember?" Sara asked bitterly as she put the pole down and continued to sharpen her throwing knives.
""Tried" being the operative word. Look, you want to know my theory?" Kendra asked walking over to Sara.
"No" Sara said simply.
"I think your problem is the opposite of mine. I need to learn to embrace my inner hawk goddess, but you... you need to learn to embrace your human side" Kendra explained.
"And what if that side of me is gone? What if she doesn't exist anymore?" Sara snapped.
"Well, only one way to find out" Kendra said grinning.
"What, are you baiting me?" Sara asked amused.
"No, I'm training you. Come on. Are you scared?" Kendra mocked playfully before Sara picked up her steel pole and attacked Kendra.
….
Vyra and Leonard sat on her bed in each other's arms on Vyra's bed reading some more of the file that Rip had given Vyra about her previous life. Leonard would answer any questions she had about her life and hold her close to his chest when she would have the painful flashbacks. They had just reached age 17; a few months before the house fire that killed both her parents.
"Vyra, Mr. Snart. Rip would like you both at the Bridge" Gideon said interrupting them. They both sighed knowing their small moment of peace was over and it was time to go join the others. Leonard leant forward and kissed Vyra softly on the lips before they teleported into the Bridge with Martin and Rip.
"Here we are, Luskavic Labs, the secret facility where Vostok works" Rip said looking over at Vyra and smiling at her knowingly making her blush slightly.
"So, what's the plan?" Martin asked walking over to the computer table.
"Simple. We use Vostok's credentials to enter the lab and find out what she's building on behalf of Savage" Rip said simply.
"Reconnaissance in a laboratory. Finally, my kind of mission" Martin said excitedly.
"No, no, no, hang on a minute Jefferson's still recovering from his injuries" Rip said quickly
"This is hardly a job for Firestorm let him rest" Martin said taking a translator pill and swallowing it before leaving the Waverider. We watched as Martin walked to the front of the lab only to have guns pointed at him by security guards.
"I'm Dr. Gregor Gavrilov of the State Council of Science, and I'm here to inspect the facility" Martin said holding up his fake badge.
"I'm in and heading to the basement" Martin said as Rip tracked him from the computer table as he walked through the hallways.
"Here's hoping the key that Mr. Snart stole off Valentina works" Martin said swiping the stolen key card and pushed the door open. He stepped into the room to find rows of dead bodies.
"Oh, my God. I know what Vostok is working on. She's trying to build... me" Martin said in disbelief as he looked through the files.
"What do you mean?" Rip asked sharing a concerned look with Vyra.
"I mean, Savage has spent the last decade trying to level the arms race against our team. Operation Svarog. Slavic God of fire, of course. He and Vostok are building a Soviet Firestorm" Martin said as Rip turned to Leonard and Vyra.
"Vyra, go to the lab with Mr. Snart, Mr. Rory and Mr. Palmer. Now" Rip ordered and Vyra nodded as Leonard and she quickly left the bridge to find the others. Meanwhile Martin continued to walk through the lap.
"They've already built a thermal core" Martin explained.
"Professor, need I remind you, this is a reconnaissance mission" Rip warned him.
"It's only a matter of time before Vostok figures out how to stabilize a Soviet Firestorm. I'm not leaving without it. It's the key to building others just like me" Martin said determined as he walked towards the large radiation chamber where the thermal core was.
"Yes, but perhaps you should wait for the rest of the team. They're on their way" Rip suggested heatedly.
"Are you familiar with ultra-high-energy cosmic rays, Captain? The radiation released inside this chamber will kill anyone other than me" Martin explained.
"Look, despite your impermeability to nuclear energy, you're still quite vulnerable to bullets" Rip snapped worried.
"I just need someone to take the core offline, so I can remove it safely and shield it" Martin explained just as Vyra, Raymond, Mick and Leonard arrived at the lab. Raymond and Leonard went up to the control unit and Vyra and Mick went to find Martin.
"I'm all over it, Professor" Raymond said before Leonard knocked out the guards in the control unit.
"We're all over it" Leonard corrected.
"Remember, Dr. Palmer, that shutting down the core incorrectly can lead to the creation of..." Martin started to lecture as Raymond slid into the chair and started to fiddle with the controls.
"Strangeness, black holes, and uncontrolled fusion reactions that consume the universe? See? I was listening during class, Professor" Raymond finished mockingly. This allowed Martin to open the chamber and step inside.
"How we doing, Boy Scout?" Leonard asked holding his gun ready.
"Uh, point of fact, I completed all 21 merit badges, including nuclear science, so I'm an Eagle Scout. Uh-oh. We got a problem. Valentina's headed toward the core containment unit. The radiation Stein's about to unleash... I... if she opens the door..." Raymond said worried as he stood up and watched Vostok walking across the room.
"We're here to stop Savage from building a nuclear-powered superhero. Saving some commie broad ain't on the agenda" Leonard snapped making Vyra smile to herself almost as if validating to herself that Leonard doesn't care about Vostok. Mick caught sight of this smile and chuckled as they walked through the lab.
"Even if the radiation doesn't kill her, Savage will, the second he finds out the lab's been sabotaged. Look, we gotta get her out of here" Raymond said quickly.
"Well, who's gonna shut down the core, Raymond? I skipped that merit badge" Leonard asked sarcastically.
"Raymond, why is the thermal core still running at full power?" Martin asked worried from inside the chamber.
"I'll handle the core. You handle Valentina" Raymond said to Leonard.
"You're willing to risk the mission for a woman you barely know?" Leonard asked annoyed.
"Be helpful to others. It's the Scout motto" Raymond said simply making Leonard growl annoyed and shove Raymond back into his seat.
"30 seconds. I'll get Vostok, you kill the power for Stein, and, Raymond, promise me" Leonard snapped before leaving the room. Raymond lowered the power in the chamber for Martin while Leonard ran out of the control room and across to where Vostok was about to open the door.
"Bad idea" Leonard said gaining her attention.
"What are you doing here?" Vostok asked shocked.
"Believe me, I've been asking myself the same question" Leonard muttered.
"That night at the Bolshoi. It was you who stole my keys" Vostok said in realization.
"And your wallet, but it was nothing personal" Leonard said simply as Vostok saw Martin in the chamber.
"What the hell is that man doing? He has no idea what the core is capable of" Vostok said worried and went to run past Leonard to go down there.
"Relax. He's the one who invented it" Leonard explained stopping Vostok. Martin grabbed hold of the thermal core and felt the power run through him.
"I'm the first person to have ever seen cosmic radiation with his own eyes" Martin said fascinated.
"You know, let's keep it that way. Snart, you better keep Valentina out of the core containment unit" Raymond said from the control unit.
"You used me. You work for American government" Vostok accused Leonard angrily.
"I'm wanted by the American government. Does that count? Look, I may be your white knight just this once, but that weapon Savage has you building? He's creating a nuclear-powered monster" Leonard warned as Vostok pulled out a gun and aimed it at Leonard's head.
"I know. It was sweet of you to think of me as a damsel in distress, but... I'm not the one who needs rescuing" Vostok said taking away Leonard's cold gun and tossing it to the ground.
"Don't flatter yourself, sweetheart. I'm not the sentimental type" Leonard said though in his head he thought about the fact he just told Vyra how he felt.
"No, but your partner, the physicist with the big brown eyes, is. Turn the core back online. You will turn it back on, or I will put a bullet in your friend's head" Vostok said grabbing Leonard and putting the gun at his neck before speaking into the comms unit in his ear.
"Don't you dare. She's gonna shoot me whether you do it or not" Leonard said firmly to Raymond.
"That may be true, and you can take that gamble if you like. It's only his life you wager" Vostok said pressing the gun against his throat harder.
"Almost there" Martin said from inside the chamber.
"I'm not joking, Raymond. Don't you dare push that button" Leonard said firmly but Raymond quickly put the power back up in the chamber.
"Raymond, what's going on? The core just went back online" Martin said confused.
"Sorry, Professor, I had to do it" Raymond apologised.
"You idiot" Leonard spat.
"I... I can still remove it. I just hope I can absorb the excess power" Martin said from inside the chamber.
"No. Do you have any idea the kind of energy that..." Raymond started to say before getting knocked out cold by a guard.
"Should have listened to your friend" The guard said smugly from inside the chamber.
"What the hell are you doing, Gray?" Jefferson said from beside Rip back at the Waverider.
"Jefferson?" Martin asked confused.
"You are not Firestorm, you're just a stubborn old man who's about to make a really stupid decision" Jefferson said annoyed.
"Wait, I... is this what it's like when I'm in your head? I... I apologize, dear boy, because it's rather distracting" Martin apologized.
"Your body cannot handle this alone" Jefferson said firmly.
"Appreciate your concern. You were right. I've risked your life enough times. Now, it's my turn" Martin said grabbing the thermal core.
"No!" Jefferson shouted as Martin yelled in pain as the power flowed through his body as he put the thermal core into the case.
"He's too weak. He'll never get out of there alone" Jefferson said worried as Martin stumbled out the chamber and right into guards.
"Professor Stein, your comrade here tells me you know quite a bit about this project of mine. Very good. You and I have much to discuss" Vostok said from upstairs as she was still pointing the gun at Leonard.
"What are you waiting for? You forget how to use that thing?" Leonard mocked.
"My employer, Mr. Savage, would very much like to meet you and the rest of your friends" Vostok said simply.
"Careful what you wish for" Leonard said smirking before Vyra and Mick teleported behind them.
"This where the party's at?" Mick roared as Vyra teleported in front of Vostok and punched her hard in the mouth. She looked over at Leonard and winked at him before Mick kicked him his cold ray. The room suddenly was filled with guards with large guns that were shooting at them. Mick suddenly took a shot in the shoulder and as Vyra ran towards him to help him out she was pulled into a room by Vostok.
"Vyra, can you hear me? Do not let Vostok leave with that thermal core" Rip said to Vyra just as Vostok pulled out a high voltage Taser gun and shot it into her neck, knocking her unconscious.
"Mr. Snart, you need to get the thermal core" Rip ordered trying to keep the fear out of his voice about Vyra. Meanwhile Mick was getting attacked and over powered by guards.
"Get the hell out of here! What are you waiting for? Go, go!" Mick shouted just as he was held down by guards. Leonard jumped down to the lower level using one of the chains and grabbed the thermal core and hid behind the chamber.
"Now might be a good time to send in reinforcements. Vyra, Mick and Stein just got pinched by the Russkies" Leonard shouted into the comms unit.
"You're gonna have to get out of there right now" Rip said softly.
"They hanging us out to dry, Rip I need backup" Leonard shouted angrily.
"I'm afraid our only option is retreat" Rip said.
"What about my partners? Your second in command?" Leonard asked shooting some of the guards away.
"Well, until we devise our next move, Mr. Rory and Vyra must fend for themselves. Remember the mission. If the Soviets get that thermal core back, your partners will not be the only one who dies" Rip said firmly to Leonard but inside he was aching over leaving Vyra. Leonard growled and escaped to the Waverider. Meanwhile Mick was being shoved towards a truck with his arms tied behind his back and arms held by large guards as he saw Raymond and Vyra laid out on stretchers unconscious. His eyes landed on Vyra and he turned towards the Russian walking towards him.
"You better kill me now. If I ever get my hands on you, I'm gonna get all "Rocky IV" on your ass" Mick threatened before his head got smashed into the side of the truck.
"I'm gonna remember that, comrade" Mick said simply before being tossed into the truck next to Raymond and Vyra.
"We must leave now, Colonel" Vostok said walking over to him.
"There's still one more intruder, and he has the thermal core" The Colonel said.
"We don't need it now. We have something far better" Vostok said as a very weak Martin was led into the truck as well.
….