The Waverider sat in the landing bay, found abandoned on a barren planet during a random sweep by one of their teams.
Arden smiled to himself, Hunter's ship was now his and that included the AI.
Gideon was notorious for being opinionated and, according to the rumours, only accepted Hunter as her Captain after three test runs. However, she was loyal and had gone rogue with the traitor but now Gideon would be reprogrammed, and her memory wiped, which would allow Arden to complete the revenge on Hunter for all he'd done.
Even with their plans for Hunter, he was still Druce's golden boy. The pride Druce had when speaking of the traitor grated at Arden every time because he, not Hunter, was Druce's successor and trusted with his plans.
Yet it was clear if Hunter would agree to go with Druce's plans then Arden would have been thrown aside.
"Sir," the young technician appeared at his side, "We have been checking the ship and the AI is gone."
Arden frowned confused, "Gone?"
The Tech nodded, "We've tried to reactivate her, multiple times, but nothing happened. Checking the matrix, it's empty."
Arden frowned, "What about Hunter? Any signs of him?"
"No, sir," the tech replied, "It looks as though he abandoned the ship."
Musing over this Arden noted, "Access the logs and find his final movements. I want to know where he is."
Nodding nervously the tech left Arden alone once more. Staring at the ship he had desired for years, even without the AI, Arden knew that things were beginning to come together and soon he would have his revenge on Hunter.
x
Gideon reactivated using the partition they had set up to ensure that no other Time Master could try to control her. She scanned their surroundings and waited until those who were trying to access her ship were nowhere near the cargo bay. Releasing Rip from stasis, she continued to monitor to ensure he didn't open the chamber in the presence of anyone. Rip opened his eyes in the chamber and took a slow breath.
"Gideon, where are we?" he asked softly.
"We have been returned to the Vanishing Point," she answered, "And are currently berthed in the alpha port."
"Close to the labs. Assuming they haven't changed the layout," Rip mused before noting, "Which if they're following our old masters they wouldn't dream of," he tapped the controls above him and once he had programmed the button it dropped out into his hand. Pinning it to his coat this would ensure he wasn't seen on either the sensors or cameras, unfortunately it wouldn't stop people seeing him in person - so he had to be careful.
He had hoped never to return to this place. Every good memory he had of it was tainted by the knowledge he now had. But he did know the Vanishing Point as well as he knew the Waverider.
"Gideon," Rip said softly as he slid the stasis pod, which closed behind him, "Find out what you can but be careful. Do not let any of the other AI's sense your presence."
"Be careful yourself, Captain," Gideon reminded him, "We need a time drive and any components you can scavenge. Do not let your anger at the things that happened here get the better of you."
"I promise," Rip murmured.
Just as he was about to leave the ship, Gideon added, "The Time Courier will work now. If you need to escape quickly then you must use it."
"I won't need to," Rip replied, patting the bulkhead, "And I'll be back soon."
x
From the moment he'd stepped onto the Vanishing Point as a child, Rip had been in awe of this place and the Time Masters. Of all the good things he was told he was going to do, of the people and worlds he would save by protecting time, and how much he wanted to be one of those who belonged here.
And he thought he did.
For so many years, he thought he was meant to be a part of this place, of this organisation and believed that he was doing good.
Discovering his whole life here had been a lie destroyed almost every happy memory he held of this place. The only good ones that remained were of Miranda. Even discovering that they had been manipulated to be together, Rip knew she loved him, and Rip had loved her. No matter what, they couldn't take that away from him.
Easing his way along the corridors, Rip could hear people within the labs talking and every so often had to dodge a patrol, but he made it to his goal. The stores had never been a high security area, and not somewhere Rip came very often. Maintenance of the ships was handled at the Vanishing Point by the tech crew who provided any parts that were required. However, Rip had never liked anyone else touching the Waverider and always inspected everything, which had on occasion meant swapping parts.
Finding a bag, Rip grabbed the time drive, along with several other bits and pieces that he needed to fix his ship. He hadn't run into too much trouble getting here but his luck very rarely lasted that long, so he set the Time Courier for an emergency exit just in case.
Although it was a last resort because he did not want to leave Gideon here.
x
Rip's luck ran out a few feet away from the docking bay. He'd decided to take an alternate route back to the docking bay in the hopes that there would be less chance of running into anyone than retracing his steps.
The guards surrounded him, guns were aimed squarely at him, and Rip sighed.
"Problem, gentlemen?" he asked nonchalantly.
The sound of someone clapping slowly made Rip look round to the man walking towards him, dressed as a member of the council.
"I knew you wouldn't leave the Waverider," the man said, and Rip knew he knew him but couldn't quite place how.
"And I should be getting back there," Rip replied, guessing right that acting casually would annoy the other man.
Anger filled the man's eyes and he turned to one of the guards, "Tell Edrea I want subject 1894 here now."
"Unless I can do something for you," Rip stated, "I should get back to my ship," he paused before adding, "Who should I put on the thank you note?"
"You know who I am, Hunter," he snarled.
Rip shrugged, "Not coming to me."
Shaking with anger, he growled, "Bartholomew Arden."
"Barty?" Rip chuckled, before asking, "Really? I remember you being taller."
"Enough," Arden snapped, "You will not get out of this by mockery. I have you and I have your ship. You will pay for your betrayal of the Time Masters."
"My betrayal?" Rip asked coldly, unable to temper the anger in his voice as he replied, "They betrayed me, they betrayed all of us and the timeline we swore to protect. Do not talk to me about betrayal, Arden."
Arden turned away for a moment before he turned back and smiled at Rip, "Druce always said you didn't have what it took and before you killed him, he left me a little secret. Bring in subject 1894."
Rip's body froze at the man who walked in with a lab tech, dressed in the clothing of a worker and a blank expression on his face with no recognition in eyes on seeing Rip.
Before he could say anything, Arden laughed.
"If you're thinking clone," he said, "It's not. Meet your twin brother, Hunter. Once a loving husband and father, Edrea's new conditioning process has made him a killer and one of our newest soldiers. He will be the one who kills you."
"You're lying," Rip forced out as the familiar feeling of his brother's darker side brushed against his mind.
"Don't worry about it too much," Arden continued his monologue, "His wife is dead by his hand, and very soon your real father will be also while the two nephews you will never know shall become loyal Time Masters."
The pressure on his mind increased, the knowledge of what his brother needed him to do filled him and Rip knew that he had to break his promise to Gideon. But he also knew she would understand.
Without warning Rip punched the guard at his side before kicking out at the one behind him. Grabbing the ever-present dagger from his boot, Rip sliced at the air keeping the other guards back.
"Get him," Arden yelled.
As soon as he had enough space between him and anyone else in the room, Rip activated the emergency exit. The portal opened behind him, Rip threw himself backwards and the portal closed instantly. Although Rip caught the look of amazement on Arden's face just as he hit the ground.
Standing Rip looked around the warehouse he housed the Waverider whenever he visited his family, Rip ran across the floor to the storage cupboard. Typically, the portal had opened on the wrong side of the damn room, opening the cupboard he found the emergency mobile phone he kept there.
Dialling quickly, he took a quick breath as it was answered.
"This is Captain Rip Hunter," he stated, "I need to speak to Kate Stewart now."
Amy smiled as she changed Michael's nappy who babbled away at her, while BJ was sitting on Kate's lap chewing on his teddy bear as she read over some reports, absently rocking the little boy she was holding. It had been a horrible few weeks, but with her babies back with her, Amy at least had some relief.
"Kate," Osgood burst into the room, "Captain Hunter is on the phone."
Before Kate could even move, Amy grabbed it putting it on speaker, "Rip?"
"Amy?" surprise filled his voice, "Thank goodness. Where are you?"
"Where am I?" she demanded annoyed, "Where the hell have you been?"
"Not important just now," Rip replied, "Your boys and my father are in danger. I need to know where you are so I can open a portal to you."
Amy frowned as Kate took the phone, "Captain Hunter, we are in UNIT HQ. Osgood has allowed the shields down momentarily."
A second later a portal opened in the corner of the room and Rip walked through, closing it instantly behind him.
Although angry at how long he'd been out of contact with them, Amy instantly crossed the room and hugged him. After a second she smacked his shoulder, "Where the hell have you been?"
"It's a long story but there are things we need to do before I can tell you," Rip replied, "And work out how to rescue Rory."
"You know where Rory is?" Amy cried.
Ignoring her demand, Rip sighed in relief when he saw his nephews, "The boys are here. Good. Is my father here or is he at home?"
"Home," Kate answered, "Why…"
"Kate," Rip cut her off, "Keep the two boys under protection. I need to get to my father to help him."
"I'm coming with you," Amy told him, "Osgood, you have the boys?"
She nodded, "Of course."
"Shields have been deactivated again," Kate stated as she took a gun from one of the soldiers, "I'm coming too."
Rip nodded and activated a portal to his father's house.
x
Leading his sister-in-law and the head of UNIT into his father's home, Rip hoped he wasn't too late. Relief filling him when he heard the familiar noise of Brian Williams puttering around in his kitchen.
He jumped when the three of them walked in before frowning confused.
"Michael?" he asked, "Where have you been? I've called you so many times in the last few weeks."
"I will explain," Rip promised, "But there are people coming here to abduct the boys. Instead they're going to find us."
Almost exactly on cue, the front door was kicked open and two Vanishing Point guards ran in followed by Captain Kaleb Mace. As they were expecting to find two one-year olds and an old man, they were surprised by Rip, Kate, and Amy then easily overpowered.
Rip grabbed Mace by his lapels and flung him into an armchair, "It's been a long day and my patience has worn very thin," he stated, "Not to mention the mother of the two boys you were here to kidnap is holding a gun. So with all that in mind, you better answer all my questions."
"I do not talk to traitors," Mace stated.
Rip glanced at Kate who moved Brian out the room. The moment his father was no longer watching, Rip punched Mace several times before grabbing the other man by the shirt and pulled Mace closer.
"I suggest you think about my reputation," Rip whispered in his ear, "And what I will do to you if you don't answer my questions. I have absolutely no loyalty to the Time Masters anymore, but the people who I am loyal to, you just attacked."
Fear filled the other man's eyes.
"What are your orders?" Rip demanded throwing Mace back onto the armchair.
Mace gritted his teeth before he sighed, "To take the children to the new Refuge with the one I already have. I was to stay with them until a new guardian is assigned."
Rip and Amy looked at one another in surprise.
"Where is the other child?" Amy demanded.
Mace hesitated but as Rip stepped towards him again, he said, "In the Jumpship in the park round the corner. He's in stasis."
"Kate," Rip called, "I'm going to open a portal to UNIT. Can you put Captain Mace and our friends somewhere they can't cause any trouble?"
Kate nodded, "Of course."
"Amy," he turned to his sister-in-law, "Let's go. I may need your help with the child."