Earth 266
All was fairly quiet in the prisoner's shed. But it was not peaceful.
Jax as worrying about Grey, chiefly because his counterpart had not returned by the time he said he would. If the older man had run into serious trouble, without Jax there to merge with him -.
Sara and Leonard were playing cards - he always had a pack on him - their competitiveness occasionally leading to mock-scowls at each other.
Naomi was sitting with her back to the wall. She was brooding, occasionally glaring at one of the card players. He felt it but ignored her. He was tired of explaining that he would do something if the locals decided to kill them or something like that. Otherwise he'd give Stein more time.
Time passed. Food was brought to them.
In mid-afternoon, Sara noticed a far away look come into Leonard's eyes. She recognised the signs and waited for him to finish 'reading' whoever it was.
''Was it Stein?'' she asked, causing Jax's head to jerk in their direction.
''No'' he shook his head. ''The man West left in charge. He was thinking about us. He's worried that they haven't come back from Greenworld. He's wondering if he should organise a search party, taking one of us along to make sure Stein behaves. I strengthened that idea a bit and then gave him a little nudge towards choosing Jax.''
The younger man sat up straighter. If there was real trouble, Grey and he might be able to merge. In any case it would be better than sitting around here, worrying.
X
Rip Hunter was also worried. He had been wandering through the village for the best part of an hour, selling meat for a kind of currency that was pretty useless on any world other than this. The locals wanted to ask him about the outside world and he didn't think he was doing a very good job - he was getting some odd looks and hints about moving on as soon as he'd sold all his stock.
The locals weren't very chatty about their own affairs, but he did manage to pick up on the fact that they had prisoners - four - for a reason they didn't want to talk about. In the end, he felt he had no option - he started to think about Snart.
The answering touch on his mind brought back the fear - and hate - he'd felt towards his aunt. At least he knew that he wasn't alone in his discomfort, he'd seen other team members giving their colleague a few sideways looks when they no doubt were having thoughts they'd rather keep private.
Hey! There was the psychic equivalent of a wince, followed by a couple of expletives.
Sorry, Rip thought, trying to suppress his ingrained instincts. He tried to wonder who the prisoners were.
That's better. It was weird to have thoughts appearing in his head, weird and unsettling. Shut up and listen. Sara, Jax and Naomi. Me of course. Stein's gone to Greenworld with a new friend. He's not back yet.
Snart's output - if that was the right word - was far more concise and controlled than his aunt's had been. Rip supposed he shouldn't have been surprised.
I need you, he thought, or rather Carter and Kendra do. They're in trouble.
Rip thought he detected a hint of irritation. I can't leave here now. They're getting worried that Stein and the local aren't back. I've been persuading them to - hold on, someone's coming.
X
The door of the shed opened and the man who'd been left in charge pointed to Jax.
''You - get out here.''
The man's tone was brusque but to do that was exactly what Jax wanted.
''They're not back. You're going to take us to look for them.'''
'Us' was evidently six men, all carrying rifles.
The leader moved behind Jax, evidently about to tie his captive's hands.
''If you do that I won't be able to open the breach'' Jax pointed out.
''I'll do it.''
''You can't'' Jax lied. ''It's keyed to our palm prints.'' He wanted to be easily able to reach for Stein's hand.
''As soon as we get to the other side'' the leader said heavily. He handed over the breach device.
Jax raised it and then lowered it again, in surprise at the timing.
A breach portal had opened a few yards away. Someone - or something - was coming through.