Earth 1, Star City/Central City. Greenworld.
He shouldn't have done it. He knew that now.
Facing with the searing agony in his legs and the throbbing pain from his no-longer existing hand, he had sent out a silent call for help.
It was being answered but it came with an extra that he didn't want. He was in his head, shutting off the pain-linked areas but also giving him memories that he didn't want to have to deal with. His hand tightened round his concealed hold-out weapon. He had fired, purely on reflex.
Lying here, thinking about what he had learnt from that encounter, he could see how wrong he had been. He saw - he almost relived - the sequences in which they'd worked out their differences, repaired their friendship. He'd seen how the timeline he came from had turned out.
He would have liked to apologise, but he doubted his gaolers would let him near him before they decided what to do with their prisoner. They had as little to do with him as they could. Morris checked his physical condition and supplied food and drink. They checked with Morris and only glanced at him when they happened to be passing the Med Lab.
X
Martin was in Central City. It was a side-trip linked to his main journey. He called at STAR Labs, happy to see old friends such as Barry, Iris, Joe, Caitlin and Cisco. He also got the chance to meet HR, Wally, Jessie and Julian again.
His main purpose however was linked to the other Joe West, now living on Greenworld. He wanted to see how the younger Barry Allen was getting on - to offer the teenager to chance to visit his foster family, if he wanted to.
What he hadn't anticipated was the interest that Iris, Wally, Catlin and Cisco would have in the existence of younger doppelgangers of themselves living on Greenworld.
''I know it's dangerous to interact with your actual self'' Caitlin mused. ''But these others aren't really us, are they?''
Martin, remembering how the Legends Mick felt about the other Mick, hesitated. But the two cases weren't remotely the same.
''No, they aren't'' he concluded. Which was why he would have five additional members of the team on the main journey - the Earth 1 Joe had decided to visit his counterpart as well.
When the younger Barry came home from school, he was at first undecided. He really liked this newly discovered world of science and technology. He'd settled down somewhat, Martin realised, and was less self-centred than the boy he'd been. Part of the reason why he was hesitant about going back was because he was worried about letting the Greenworld Joe see how happy he was in his new life.
''He'll feel worse if he doesn't get a chance to see you again'' Earth 1 Joe pointed out. ''If he's anything like me, he'll want all his family to be happy.''
So young Barry was going too. The older one decided he couldn't be left out. Soon the entire Flash team was coming along.
X
The Greenworld Joe and young Barry had a long conversation that didn't go nearly as badly as the latter still half-feared it would do.
The Caitlins and Ciscos were fascinated by their other selves. The Greenworld Wally appeared to be slightly jealous of the fact that he didn't have the powers that his doppelganger did.
Young Barry and young Iris never really got their heads around the fact that their doppelgangers had married each other.
''I don't even like him'' young Iris protested.
''What a surprise'' young Barry remarked.
Those who didn't have doppelgangers - HR, Jessie and Julian took long walks around the island, drinking in the experiences offered by a world that hadn't known industrial pollution.
Martin and the Greenworld Joe fitted their own, more serious, talk into the midst of the socialising. They talked about Joe's plan to start colonising the nearest continent. Martin introduced the matter he'd come here to discuss.
Joe was dubious about the idea and finally decided it was really a question for Terry. That needed explanation.
''There's another colony'' he explained. ''It's sort of - well, it actually is former Scavengers. They said they wanted a new start - so far that seems to be true.''
So they'd breached to the other island and met the young ex-Scavenger leader. He listened and then he bargained. He would have made a good poker player, Martin thought, as he wrung another concession out of them.
''As least he's moved on from just taking what he wants'' Joe allowed, when they returned to Joe's home.
So it was settled.
X
Released from the brig - to which he'd been moved, but still handcuffed, he was going on a journey, as a prisoner. He could have told them that the handcuffs weren't necessary - but that didn't seem important. What was , was that Leonard and he had been talking, telepathically. They'd made their peace.
He knew where he was going and that it was going to be a pretty basic sort of life, by Leonard's account.
I''ll be free, he thought back. Not controlled by Time Masters, or Savage, or Nikki, or whoever.
He was happy.