Jacobs breath formed small grey clouds in front of him as stood in the cold open nights air. The trees moaned and the leaves shuddered as the wind gently waltzed through the clearing. He held Harry's device in his hand outstretched in front of him, staring at it. With one last firm shake of his head, he pressed the button on he side, causing a small green light to begin brightening. He waited for a few minutes, with nothing happening. Suddenly a strange haze started to form in the sky, accompanied by a bright flash of orange light. A futuristicaly built ship suddenly materialized in the sky, heat trails coming off of the bright orange engines before descending towards him. With a set of metallic clangs, The Waverider landed a few yards in front of him. He smiled and deposited the device into his pocket before rushing to where he remembered the cargo bay door to be.
The Waverider. Temporal Zone.
Sarah Lance lay in her quarters, tossing in her sleep. The sheets were tangled around her as she thrashed back and forth. A low beeping tone slowly started sounding, becoming louder the longer it went. She awoke with a groan, sitting up and brushing the long blonde hair from her face.
"What is it Gideon?" She asked out loud, rubbing her eyes.
"Apologies Captain Lance," Came a womans computerized voice. "I've picked up a temporal distress beacon coming from Central City in the year 2017. I've plotted a course and am awaiting your orders."
"Alright," Sara groaned, tossing aside the covers and pulling open a dresser drawer for a set of clothes. "Wake the others and have them meet me on the bridge, double time."
"Right away Captain."
She pulled on a black long sleeved shirt and a pair of pants quickly over her limited sleeping attire and touched the door panel. With a hum, the door slid open and she padded to the bridge barefoot. She passed Professor Stein's quarters on her way up, hearing him humming something to himself as she doors slid open.
"Ahh Miss Lance," he started once seeing her, giving her a quick smile. "Gideon mentioned something about a temporal beacon?"
"From Central City," she affirmed. "2017."
"Do you think…" he trailed off.
"I'm sure Lilly and Clarissa are fine Martin," she assured him, hustling forward.
She padded onto the bridge, finding Ray Palmer standing at the center console. He looked up with a smile and a chipper air about him as soon as he saw Sara.
"Morning Captain!" he waved cheerily. "At least i think its morning, kinda hard to tell in the temporal zone."
"Ray, i just woke up." She grumbled at him. "Take it down a notch."
"Right," he replied, taking a breath.
Nate and Amaya walked in, hand in hand and smiling to each other. Jax crept in from the other side of the bridge, wiping the sleep out of his eyes.
"What's going on?" Nate asked strolling up to the center.
"I was about to ask that exact question," Ray perked in.
"Gideon?" Sara asked, laying her head against the console.
"I've detected a temporal distress beacon coming from Central City in the year 2017." Came the ships feminine voice.
"From who?" Nate asked, looking around confused.
"Gideon are Lilly and Clarissa…"
"Both are at home and perfectly fine, Professor." she assured, causing him to sigh in relief. "I cannot distinguish exactly who sent the message but i have determined the exact coordinates for the source of the signal and have a course prepared."
"Alright people," Sara groaned, standing up and brushing her hair back into place. "Strap in."
Hums of acknowledgement sounded as they all took their seats. Sara paused a second, looking around and frowning.
"Wheres Mick?" She asked.
"Probably still in bed," Jax muttured, chuckling.
Sara sighed, rolling her eyes before taking her seat at the Captain's chair.
"Shouldn't someone go and wake him?" Amaya asked, undoing her safety harness.
"Nope," Sara answered, taping the controls in front of her before grabbing the throttle lever on her right. "This'll teach him."
With a grin on her face, she forced the lever forwards. The whole ship shook for a second before lurching into motion.
Mick stirred in his bunk, opened his eyes for a second before grunting and going back to sleep.
Central City, 2017
Jacob touched the cold metal paneling of the ship with the palm of his hand, searching for the activation panel. Rain started to fall, causing his hand to slightly glide. After a few minutes of searching, his hand humped a catch and a small illuminated panel light up; numbers ranging from 0 to 9 displayed. He grinned to himself, a line of water dripping down his face. With a quick tap of the keys, he entered a string of numbers. 05142155. The keys flashed green and the cargo bay door released swinging open. He wiped the rain way from his face before dashing inside.
The cargo bay was littered with dozens of metallic crates and scattered containers. Jacob looked around, seeing one was open, and stopped for a second to check it out. Inside were all sorts of random objects, none that seemed important. He headed for the stairs to the next level but froze as soon as he saw a shadow descending, accompanied by voices. With a quick slide, he ducked behind a larger stack of crates, making sure to not be seen.
"Dude, you've gotta try it just once," Came a mans voice with a laugh.
"I really dont think that would be a good idea," came a second in reponse.
"Really Ray?" The first shot back. "Have i ever lead you wrong?"
"Do i have to remind you about Feudal Japan?" The second, Ray, argued.
"Man, that was one time!"
A hearty laugh broke out from the two before they stepped down into the cargo bay and froze upon seeing the open door. The first man touched his ear, a small chirp sounding.
"Uh, Sara?" The first man started. "Think we have a problem."
Before Jacob could hear a response, Ray was already talking.
"The cargo bay door is open." he announced, confused.
Another second of silence happened before the first started laughing.
"Dont worry bro," he chuckled, punching Ray in the arm. "I can always Steel up and save your butt, again."
Jacob could practically hear Ray roll his eyes as the two walked down the cargo bay ramp and out into the rain, still arguing about something. He peaked up over the top of the crate he hid behind, seeing no one else. With a quick jump, he bolted for the stairs up to the next level, slowing only long enough to peer around a corner. After a few paces, he came to a split corridor; one path led left, one right. After a second of deliberation, he proceeded down the corridor on the right. He made it a few more paces, passing a door on his right before he heard footsteps again coming towards him. Thinking quickly, he doubled back to the door he passed and tapped in the same security override code into the doors controller. The room was completely dark and he couldn't see a thing inside, choosing to duck inside anyway and shut the door. He heard the footsteps come closer, hesitating outside the door for a few seconds before continuing past and down the corridor. He waited a few seconds, listening intently at the door. Hearing nothing more, he tapped the pad to open the door only to find something in his way. He peered into the dark, trying to see what the leathery feel was when an orange light shattered the darkness, causing his eyes to spasm. He shook his head and closed his eyes, opening them right in time to see a gloved fist smash into the side of his head. Jacob groaned, hitting the metal floor with an audible thud before losing consciousness.
The fists owner tapped the light pad, causing the lights to flicker on and illuminate the room. The man looked down at the crumpled heap before tapping his ear with a finger.
"Boss," the man grunted in a gravelly voice.
"Well good morning Sunshine!" Sara answered sarcastically. "Nice of you to wake up and join us."
"Seems we have an intruder," he grunted again, poking at Jacobs body with his foot.
"What?" she asked, panicking slightly. "Where?!"
"My quarters."
Sara started to jog, hair bouncing around her shoulders as she hustled her way down the corridor.
"Im on my way," she grunted firmly. "And Mick, put on some clothes."
Mick looked down at his naked torso, grunted a reply and shuffled around for his pants.
Sara rushed down the corridor, hair flying behind her as she did. With padded to a stop right outside Micks door before reaching towards the control. She hesitated, pulling her hand back and touching her ear to activate her coms a
"Mick, i swear you better at least have pants on." She called shutting her eyes.
The door slid open in response. Sara slowly opened one eye to see the intruders body laying in a crumpled heap on the floor of Micks quarters. Thankfully Mick sat on a chair a few feet away, fully dressed.
"Who the hell?" she muttered to herself as she knelt down and lightly touched the man's neck, looking for a pulse. "He's still alive."
"I need a beer." Mick grumbled, standing up and leaving the room.
Sara rolled her eyes in response, tapping her ear to activate her coms.
"Ray, Nate," she called, standing up. "I need you in Micks quarters now."
"Whats up Captain?" Nates voice crackled.
"Just get up here," she asserted, staring over Jacobs body.
"On our way," Rays cheery voice piped up.
"Jax?" She called, patting down the body in search of identification.
"Go ahead Sara," Jeffersons voice came.
"Lock down the Waverider once Ray and Nate are back on board."
"You got it."
Nate and Ray walked up, both laughing about something before stopping right behind Sara and whistling.
"Who's this?" Nate asked, tilting his head to look around Sara.
"I see Micks awake finally," Ray joked, kneeling down.
Sara rolled the body over on its side, motioning for Ray to hold him. She dug through his pockets, tossing Nate a small electronic device and pulling a wallet out of another. She flipped it open and started digging through it at Ray gently let the body settle on its back. She pulled two weathered photographs out of the billfold and handed the rest of the wallet to Ray. She froze upon recognizing two of the faces staring back up at her. Nate knelt down to look at her, seeing her face completely pale and screwed up in disbelief.
"You alright?" He asked, touching her shoulder gently.
"No." She whispered, standing up and recoiling from his touch. "Get him to the medbay. I want answers."
"What? Why?" Ray asked looking up in confusion.
"Medbay. Now." She barked, walking off in the direction of the bridge before they could say anything in response.
She stormed onto the bridge, rushing through it furiously and tossing the two photographs on the table inside the Captain's Den.
"Gideon!" She shouted at the screen in the wall. "I need you to scan these and tell me if they've been faked."
"Right away Captain." Echoed Gideons electronic voice.
The thin white light arched down from the ceiling and danced over the two photographs on the table, with a digital representation appearing on the screen in front of Sara. A few seconds passed as Sara paced back and forth in frustration.
"Analysis Complete Captain Lance." Gideon announced. "I've identified the people in them as Laurel Lance, Oliver Queen and Thea Queen."
"I can see that much Gideon," Sara grumbled, continuing her pacing.
"The photograph is not a fake. The first was taken outside of the Queen mansion in Star City. The second is not as clear. I can match the surroundings to an abandoned hangar here in Central City, once owned by Harrison Wells and now belonging to Barry Allen."
"What?" She asked in confusion. "How is that possible?"
"Unclear. I scanned the carbon decay in both the ink and the paper, my analysis determines the first to be around ten to twelve years old. The second is a few days old at most."
"Whos the child and whos the man next to Thea?" She asked, frowning and gazing at the digital representations. "They look related, almost as if…"
"You are correct Captain," Gideon chimed in. "They are the same person." A comparison showed up on screen, enlarging the child's face and the mans with Gideon digitally aging the childs to match the mans.
"But who is he?" she asked again.
"Unknown. I've scanned both the child's likeness and the adults against every known picture in history. There is no match."
"That doesn't make any sense Gideon. Especially in today's age." She muttered, folding her arms over her chest and pacing again. "Have Ray and Nate made it to the medbay with him yet?"
"Affirmative Captain. Doctor Palmer just finished hooking up a sedative."
"Good," she mumbled. "I need you to check any and all surveillance footage for our visitors likeness.
"As you wish Captain."
"I'm heading to the medbay. I want to be there the minute this guy wakes up."
She turned abruptly, heading out of the captain's den. She stopped a few paces away before turning around and snatching up the two photographs, taking them with her.
The medbay.
"Who do you think he is?" Nate asked, nodding to the man secured to the analysis chair.
"Jacob Lance," Ray read, flipping over a security badge from the mans wallet.
"Lance?" Nate asked astonished, turning towards Ray and snatching up the card. "As in related to Sara?"
"Must be," Ray guessed, taking out a few more cards from the wallet. "That card says Star Labs, but the symbol is all wrong, not to mention the security number."
"That's odd." Nate muttered, flipping the card over a few times. "Gideon, does Sara have any relatives or family members other than Laurel and their dad?"
"Negative Doctor Haywood." Gideon announced.
"Weird," Nate muttered again. "Aberration maybe?"
"I doubt it," Ray replied. "Sara knows better than anyone the cost of changing the timeline. My money's on alternate earth."
"Really?"
"Is that so strange? You've met Supergirl."
"Well yea, but he doesn't exactly look like an alien."
The two squabbled back and forth for a few minutes before Sara trudged in, shutting them up with a look. She walked over a few feet from the chair Jacob sat strapped to and stared at him. Nate and Ray exchanged a look, set the wallet down and left the medbay without another word. Sara, looked over at the wallet before angrily walking over and snatching it up. She pulled out the same cards that Ray and Nate were looking at, freezing as soon as she read the name. With a quiet thud, she dropped the wallet on the cold floor, staring at the last name on the mans security card. She flipped over the picture of Thea and read the last name on the back of it.
Lance...What the hell? She thought to herself.
She slammed down the items on a table, padding over to the door and tapping the control to lock it.
"Gideon!" She shouted.
"Yes Captain?" Came Gideons digital voice in response.
"I need you to wake him up, now."
"I can," She paused, a reading of the man's vital signs showing on a panel beside him flashed. "Although with his current injuries, i don't suggest it.
Sara hesitated before looking over to where the photographs lay on the table.
"Do it anyway." She commanded, stepping closer.
"As you wish," she quipped, almost sounding snarky.
A few moments passed before anything happened. Sara looked from the mans face to the screen beside him, noticing his heartbeat increasing before she finally heard a small groan. He opened his eyes slowly, blinking a few times before groaning again.
He tried to sit up, only to find his wrists and ankles restrained. He blinked a few more times, looking around the room and then down to his feet.
"Im getting real tired of waking up in an infirmary," He muttered to himself before looking up at Sara.
"I need you to answer my questions," She commanded, glaring at him threateningly.
"Only if you answer mine first," he laughed, causing her to blink and glare harder. "Who hit me?"
"Mick, you were in his quarters. Be glad the lights were off, he tends to sleep naked."
"Of course," he groaned and shuddered.
"Now, answer me, who are you, where are you from and why do you have a picture of my sister and a good friend of mine?
He sighed, took a deep breath and launched into an explanation.
A few hours later
"Ok, let me get this straight." Sara sighed, pacing back and forth in front of him. "You're my nephew?"
"By adoption, yes." he sighed tiredly.
"I believe the correct term would be, Step-Aunt," Gideon chimed in. Jacob nodded in agreement.
"Ok ok," Sara groaned, shaking her head. "And your from…"
"Another earth, yes," He groaned, shaking his head. "This is the third time ive had to explain this, i should really get a recording or something…"
"Would you like me to make an audio recording for you, Mr Lance?" Gideon asked.
"No, Gideon, dont do that," Sara sighed as Jacob cracked a grin.
"Please Gideon, just Jacob." He laughed.
"As you wish."
"Third time?" Sara asked, raising her eyebrow.
"Yea, kinda had to do some explaining when you end up bloody and scaring the crap out of Felicity. Oliver did not fully buy it."
"No surprise there," Sara muttered in agreement. "And you came here because?"
"Well for two reasons. One, i wanted to see you, see if you were like the Sara i knew, and two, because i want you to train me."
"Let me guess, Oliver said no," she asked rolling her eyes. "Just like with Laurel."
"I believe his exact words were 'well talk about it later',"
"Which is Oliver for, no" They both finished at the same time.
Jacob laughed and smiled happily, causing Sara to crack a grin.
"Why do you want to fight so badly?" She asked genuinely.
"Because," he sighed and took a breath. "For years, i watched as you, Laurel, Oliver, everyone in my family fight for what was right, for those who couldn't. Now i'm here, in a world where those i love are alive and i have the chance to do the same. If she were still alive, i know she would be out there as well. I refuse to sit by any longer. I want to honor their sacrifice, i want to honor your Laurels memory here."
Sara paused, looking him over. She could see the truth of his words in his eyes and she believed him. She smiled stepping forward and touching his hand.
"You know," she muttered, looking him directly in the eyes. "I see a lot of both Laurel and Ollie in you. I know she would be proud of you."
He opened his mouth to say something, instead giving her hand an affectionate squeeze and turning away. She could see a tear slowly roll down his cheek in the reflection before he wiped it away and coughed.
"Well start tomorrow," she said through a grin, heading for the door control. "Gideon, make sure he's taken care of."
"Yes Captain."
"Sara," Jacob called before she could open the door. "Thank you."
"Dont thank me yet kid," She replied without turning around before tapping the door control and leaving the medbay.
She was barely a step through the door when she all but ran into both Ray and Nate, each standing up and trying to act non chalant.
"Really guys?" she asked shaking her head.
"We were just.." Ray started before coughing and just smiling.
"Ray, she's not buying it." Nate finished.
She laughed and started walking away. Nate and Ray both tried to walk through the medbay door at the same time before it slid shut in their faces.
"Let him be," Came Saras voice from down the corridor.
Nate gave Ray a slight shove, before the two started bickering again.
"See, i was right, Alternate earth. Time to pay up." Ray laughed playfully shoving Nate back.
"Dude no way, we didnt actually bet." Nate shot back.
The two continued arguing back and forth as they walked away from the medbay.
Jacob laid back with a sigh. Soon. he thought to himself before he felt another dose of sedative coursing through the tube attached to his arm. His vision started to waver, getting blurry as he closed his eyes and fell into unconsciousness.