Chapter 11: The Magnificent Eight – Part 3
'You want to talk about it?' I asked Kendra as we got back to the Waverider.
'Not really' Kendra replied softly.
'You don't have to listen to her, you know?' I said
'Is this you not talking about it?' Kendra asked and I smirked
'No. This is me ignoring you saying you don't want to talk about it. Look, I get it. Things may have gone very wrong for Old West you and whoever she loved who wasn't Carter' I explained
'But?' Kendra asked
'But Old West you didn't know Ray Palmer. She didn't love Ray Palmer. You do. And you have to live your life. She already lived hers' I explained
'So when are you going to talk to Leonard?' Kendra asked and I glared at her.
'You gave me unwanted advice so now I'm going to return the favour. You and Leonard are both suffering because of this issue and you both won't be happy until you talk about it. So man up and go do it' Kendra explained before walking off.
I walked through the Waverider searching for Leonard but when I found him I also found the rest of the team minus, Jax.
'What's going on?' I asked worried
…
'You think Hunter can pull this off?' Mick asked Hex as we stood in town and waited for the gang that took Jax to show up.
'Reasonably. If not, I got dibs on that new-fangled revolver of his' Hex said as a group of horse's rode into town with Jax sitting on the middle one and ropes around him.
'You sure about this?' Jay asked Rip
'Well, if anything, it feels good to be out here again, in this era' Rip replied
'Well, don't get too attached' Ray stated
'That is what I keep telling myself' Rip whispered as Leonard was pointing his weapon at the gang.
'I'll be drawing for Sheriff Palmer' Rip called out
'How do me and my boys know you're going to keep your word?' The leader asked
'Sheriff Palmer's a straight shooter' Leonard said handing him his gun for the duel.
'Then he should be the one in the street' He replied
They both walking into the middle of the street and stood face to face for a few moments before both drawing their weapons. Rip got the first shoot and took his down easily.
'Jefferson, are you all right?' Stein asked
'Yeah, did you just shoot somebody for me?' Jax asked Rip as the gang grabbed their leader and rode off.
'Yeah. You're welcome' Rip said
'I don't think we're done here yet' I said walking forward as a group of armed men walked into town.
'Oh, no. They found us' Rip said looking at the Hunters.
'Ah, friends! Welcome' Mick said grinning as the hunters started shooting
'I think you'll find this slightly more effective than your current sidearm. Yes, I will be wanting that back, by the way' Rip said handing Hex a laser gun.
'And you'll be needing this' Rip said handing Ray his suit.
'What about revealing our future tech to the locals?' Ray asked
'It doesn't seem to bother them. Shall we?' Stein asked as Jax and he merged to form firestorm. Kendra took flight and I transformed into my hybrid form.
'What about our guns?' Leonard asked as I attacked one of the hunters and tackled him to the ground.
'Sorry. Grabbed what I could' Rip replied as he shot one of the hunter who was trying to rip me off the man I had trapped.
'That's what's up! Y'all better stay the hell away from us!' Jax said as he blew up of the hunters. I was throw into a wall by one of the hunters and Mick punched him in the face.
'Traitor!' He growled
'Not possible. I was never on your side. I was on my side' Mick replied as Kendra tossed a hunter towards me and I kicked him in the head, knocking his helmet off. I tossed him towards Mick before jumping on a hunter who was about to attack Leonard from behind. I grabbed his head and broke his neck easily. Leonard spun around shocked and looked at me. I nodded simply to him.
'You'll never win!' The unmasked helmet said to Mick
'Wake up, pal. We already did' Mick replied before stabbing him in the shoulder.
'Fool. The Time Masters have initiated Omega Protocol. The Pilgrim's coming for you, Chronos. Your deaths are just a matter of time' The hunter explained before dying.
'Yeah, yeah' Mick said simply as the team took down the rest of the hunters and gathered.
'Well, that was easy' Mick said to me as I shifted back into a human with slightly torn clothes.
'That was fun' I added smirking.
'Interesting fella' Leonard said walking over to Rip as Hex rode off.
'Indeed' Rip replied
'This town's seen a lot of interesting. Suppose you got one of those doohickies that erases people's memories or something?' Leonard asked
'No. But... scepticism and disbelief are a far more effective tool' Rip replied
'Ah. So, if anybody here talks, no one will believe them' Leonard stated
'Would you, Mr. Snart?' Rip asked
…
'So how are you feeling, given your concerns about becoming addicted to this era once again?' Stein asked Rip once we were back on the Waverider.
'The last time I left, Martin, I did it to be with those closest to me. I'm doing the same again' Rip explained
'So where to now?' Leonard asked
'Or, more specifically, when?' I added
'Is there another Fragmentation we can hide out in?' Kendra asked
'Unfortunately, matters are not quite so simple' Rip said
'How'd I know you were gonna say something like that?' I asked sarcastically
'Rip's buddies…' Mick started to say
'And yours' Ray added
'The Time Masters have issued Omega Protocols on all of us' Mick explained
'That sounds pretty terrible' Ray said
'The worst kind of order they can issue... they've sent the Pilgrim after us' Mick explained
'Who's the Pilgrim?' Jax asked
'The Pilgrim is the Time Masters' most deadly assassin, and she will stop at nothing until each and every one of you are dead' Rip explained
'Ooh, scary. Pretty sure we can handle ourselves' Leonard said confidently, looking over at me and I smiled.
'Indeed...which is why she won't be going after the present-day versions of you' Rip explained
'She's hunting our younger selves. And she won't stop until each and every one of us has been erased from the timeline' Mick explained as Leonard and I looked at each other.
…
I walked through the Waverider until I found Leonard in his room. I paced outside nervously before knocking on the door.
'Can I come in?' I asked as Leonard looked at me in shock. He nodded silently. I walked in and closed the door, leaning against it. I stared at him for several moments in silence and he waited nervously.
'You broke your promise' I stated firmly, licking my lips.
'I did' He said back
'You did the one thing you said you would never do. You abused your alpha power for your own selfish needs' I growled angrily
'I did' He said back nervously
'You hurt me' I stated in a whisper
'I did' He whispered back as he walked towards me and stopped in front of me.
'But you did it because you're in love me' I stated in a whisper
'I am' He whispered back before leaning forward and kissing my lips softly. I kissed him back before we broke apart and rested our foreheads together.
'If you do that again, I will leave for good' I promised and Leonard nodded before I pulled him in for a more passionate kiss.
….