Lyla Michaels stood outside Joanne Hervey's house, staring around the valley they called Dead End. It looked peaceful and tranquil, the sort of place where nothing much happened. As it should, she thought. She'd had people working all day to remove any sign of the fighting that had gone on two days ago. She was not in a good mood. She didn't like this kind of cover-up but she hardly tell the truth to the local police, without the FBI muscling in, then the military coming for the jump ship that was her currently her most prized possession.
''I should thank you'' Rip Hunter said, for what must have been the third or fourth time.
''I just hope you won't make a habit of it, Mr Hunter.''
She walked on before he had a chance to say any more, heading towards where Sara was standing, plainly waiting for a moment alone. The younger woman took a pace or two towards her, taking something out of her jeans pocket.
''I've made my decision'' Sara extended her A.R.G.U.S, ID was lying in her palm.
Part of Lyla wanted to reason with the younger woman, even to argue. There was one good agent lying buried on this hillside. She had no wish to lose another. But she could see the determination in the younger woman and she, herself, wanted to get out of here.
''If you ever find that you've made a mistake - come and see me''.
She walked away to where Ava Sharpe was standing, looking as if she'd rather be somewhere - anywhere - else too. Sharpe disapproving gaze was focussed on a young Hispanic woman who seemed to have spent hours throwing her pair of knives at a tree, as if she thought it was Vandal Savage himself.
''After what I've seen here, I quite understand why you need my unit'' Sharpe said disdainfully.
''Let's just go'' Lyla said and got in the car.
X
It was Nikki who'd suggested they come here - it had turned out to be a good choice, although Lance plainly regarded it as the back-of-beyond. There was plenty of forest for cover, there was fresh water, edible plants, food animals to hunt, even caves to shelter in. More importantly it was deserted.
Cassandra would have time to heal, as would the other wounded. Nikki would work out what had gone wrong with Chronos. This being Earth 1, there would be easy access to modern technology - Nikki was already working on the designs for a flying vessel better than the two he'd lost. Lance and he had fifty fighting personnel, and they would find more.
Within a year all the Earths would lie open to him as places where he could recruit and strengthen his hand. And I, he thought, have all the time in the world.
That last thought made him feel positively good natured as he glanced at Nikki.
''What did you say this place was called?''
''Lien Yu'' Nikki replied absently.
X
It was evening and they'd had what they knew would be the last supper in Dead End, then walked up the field to the small enclosure with its two fresh mounds.
Sara remembered all the times she and Floyd had covered each other's backs, wishing he hadn't chosen to join the Survivalist part of the battle. Naomi fingered her knives and renewed her oath of revenge. Rip missed Eve, only now realising he'd been on the point of falling in love with her. The others also had their own thoughts - about the future, about the people they cared for. They put those thoughts aside as they formed a circle around the small enclosure, standing in silence.
When it seemed right, they reached to their neighbours, clasping hands. Whatever the future held, tonight they were together. They were the New Legends.
