"You guys seeing this?"
Of course they were seeing it. It was on every channel. Every damn local station was broadcasting it live. It was supposed to be an electoral speech. The Mayor talking about how safe the city was, how the cops were doing a great job defending Central from all the new threats.
A celebration of the police force and their anti-meta campaign.
The Mayor had practically guaranteed the event would be interrupted. He might as well have sent out invitations to every criminal in the city.
The Rogues had no intention of crashing. Too high profile, the Flash was bound to be somewhere waiting in the wings.
Which begged the question. Why wasn't the kid stopping this?
James Jesse was standing on the stage. The campaign banners and signs moved in the wind behind him. The banners now said things like "A vote for the Trickster is a Vote for FUN!" and "Free ice cream on Sundays and affordable Health Care for Puppies." The Trickster's face was huge on the large screen behind him.
And then there were all the damn cops. None of them were interfering, none moving to stop the madman in front of them. The vast majority of the crowd had fled at the first sign of trouble. But the cops were just standing there. Standing perfectly still in rows in front of the stage. Their faces completely blank, no sign that any of them knew what was happening around them.
Except for the six cops that were up on the stage with the Mayor. They were all on their knees with their hands tied behind their backs. They looked angry, Roy could see them struggling against their bonds.
Roy recognized Detective West among the cops on the stage with Jesse.
James Jesses stepped forward, a large silver microphone in his hands, and addressed the cameras.
"Good Evening, Ladies and Germs! Today is a monumental day! A day that will be spoken about throughout the ages! Today, is the day that Central City gets to be a part of the greatest trick of all time. Such a day deserves a fitting name…how about Trickster or Treat Day?" Jesse began to laugh hysterically, then stopped abruptly. "Oh come on. That was a good one! I know it isn't exactly seasonally appropriate but you try to rhyme trick with Mayoral Speech, it isn't easy. You should all be laughing." When laughs were not immediately forthcoming, he fired a gun into the air.
"I said Laugh!"
There was a small smattering of forced laughter from the cops on the stage. The ones standing in rows didn't make a sound.
"I suppose that's why I get for playing to such an enthralled crowd."
"This guy's a whacko."
Roy was inclined to agree with Shawna. He had never personally met James Jesse, except for that brief moment during their breakout, and he had no desire to. There was something…wrong in the man's eyes.
There was movement behind the curtain on the stage. Grodd lumbered out and stood behind Jesse. The cops on the stage looked afraid.
Hell, Roy was scared and he was safely miles away.
That explained all the unmoving cops that made up the crowd. Grodd was keeping them all in line. Mind controlling them to remain in place. To not interfere.
"Oh now, don't be afraid. Old Grodd here is as gentle as a kitten. Well, as gentle as a 1600 pound kitten that could rip you apart limb by limb. Which let's face it, kittens would totally do if they possessed the strength. Such mischievous creatures."
Snart was staring at the screen intently. All of the Rogues were. They were gathered around the television, watching the events unfold.
Mick spoke up first.
"What's the point of this? Kill all the cops, and then what?"
Cold didn't take his eyes off of the tv.
"This has something to do with the Reverse Flash. He must have broken Jesse out of the pipeline and now he wants the entire city to watch..."
The curtain parted and Axel Walker wheeled out a large object covered in a red sheet. Jesse moved about the stage. The older man conducting himself with an almost frenetic energy.
"My dear friends, I feel I have been completely remiss in my hosting duties. I haven't even introduced our guest of honor! You know him, you love him, you have strange sexual fantasies about him when you are getting it on with your spouses…THE FLASH!"
The younger Trickster pulled off the sheet. The Flash was hanging by his arms from a large circular metal object. His arms and legs completely encased in metal tubes. It looked like he was unconscious.
The camera zoomed in on the superhero.
"Holy shit."
He had been beaten severely. Bruises and blood visible from even the farthest angle.
Hartley leaned in closer to the screen.
"Motion dampeners. Combined with some kind of anti-meta pulses. There's no way he can get out of those. He's…trapped."
The Rogues were completely silent. Each taking in the odd sight in front of them. The Flash, and a vast majority of the cops, were about to be seemingly taken out. So many of their enemies would be dead in a matter of minutes. If Jesse were to succeed, the Rogues would have free reign of Central City.
So why did Roy feel so…uncomfortable at the thought of it?
This was everything the Rogues could hope for. Without the Flash, there wouldn't be anyone who could ever catch them. The cops would be in such disarray from losing so many members of the force, that they would be useless for months. There was no telling the crimes they could commit, the things they could get away with while the "heroes" struggled to recover.
But then people like Jesse and the Reverse Flash would also have the same freedom to do whatever they pleased. And every other sociopath in the city.
Grodd…how many other people would he rip to pieces?
"Oh Flash, baby, don't be so quiet. Your adoring fans are waiting for a rousing speech. Here…" James grabbed the Flash's cheeks and started moving his jaw up and down. "It's ok kids! Eat your breakfast! Stay in school! America! Vote for James Jesse for Mayor, he's the best!" James had made his voice high pitched when he spoke for the Flash. It was more than defeating the Flash, it was embarrassing him. It was showing the world that he was nothing.
Jesse dropped the Flash's face and turned back towards the cameras.
"Oh, you didn't have to say that Flash baby, but I appreciate the support none the less. Amazing stuff! I can tell the people at home are completely reassured."
Cold turned towards Hartley.
"Get a live feed of the pipeline and see if you can tap into the Flash's coms. I want to know where the rest of his team is."
"There they are."
Lisa pointed towards the edge of the stage. Behind several of the cops on their knees, were Caitlin and Cisco.
Hartley hesitated a moment, no doubt as absorbed by what was happening on the screen as Roy was. Slowly he walked over to his laptop and started typing.
"Mick, do we still have all that gear we took from the STAR Labs kids during our prison break?"
"It's in the garage. Len, you're not seriously…"
"Shawna, teleport to the top of the Eastern Central Bank. It should give you the best view. Stay hidden, see if you can spot anyone else. The Tricksters and Grodd, have made themselves known. But I want to know if the Reverse Flash is hiding in the shadows. Or if this is all some sort of diversion."
Roy snorted.
"Hell of a diversion."
Shawna didn't look away from the screen.
"You sure you want us to get involved in this boss man? Seems like they are fine leaving us out of it."
Mardon turned towards Cold.
"Shawna's right. This isn't our fight. I'm not going to risk my life for a bunch of cops. We let them kill each other and the city is ours."
Mick and Lisa nodded in agreement. Hartley was silent, but the kid was probably just too engrossed in his computer to add in his agreement. Even Roy found himself agreeing with Mark. They didn't need to get involved in this.
So there would be a few less cops in the world, that just meant a few less people trying to shoot at Roy. The Rogues could handle anyone who would try to take over or destroy the city. Central was still their city. They could keep the sociopaths in line.
They should stay out of this.
Digger didn't say anything, he had been uncharacteristically silent for the past few minutes. Roy chalked it up to Digger seeing Grodd on the screen. It wasn't too long ago that the gorilla had almost killed the former mercenary.
Cold still didn't turn away from the screen.
"Shawna, go now and report back in three minutes."
Shawna gave Roy a worried look, but then disappeared.
Cold finally turned and looked at the remaining Rogues.
"Last year, the Reverse Flash set us up. Made sure we were all rotting away in the pipeline. We assume it was so that we wouldn't interfere with his plans. I'd wager a guess that Scarlet has been keeping him from realizing those plans over the past year. But now that he has his own little group, he has the upper hand."
"He tried to kidnap Roy to spread fear throughout the city. Now he is using the city's most recognizable terrorist and a gorilla to kill cops in front of the Flash. Then he's going to kill the kid. He wants the people of this city afraid. He wants them to watch all their heroes fall, to know that there won't be anyone out there to save them. Since we intercepted his artifacts, and kept him from getting Roy, he had to improvise."
"But he isn't there. He isn't on the platform. He isn't gloating about his victory. A man like that needs the spotlight. He needs everyone to see his victory. He has to be the one that the people are afraid of so that Parallax will give him the power he needs. Unless…"
"Unless the spotlight isn't where he needs to be to win." Lisa finished her brother's thought. "You think all of this is to make sure there is no one around to stop his real plan."
"Exactly. All of this…"Cold motioned towards the screen. "…is just a show, a distraction. I don't think his real end game has begun."
"Cold. I hacked into the pipeline security and…" Hartley put a live feed up on the TV. Every guard in the pipeline was dead. Although most of the prisoners were still locked up in their cages. Why didn't the Reverse Flash just let them all out?
"The video was looped. ARGUS didn't even know the pipeline had been compromised until Jesse started broadcasting."
Shawna reappeared.
"Looks like just the ones on the screen. RF wasn't anywhere I could see. Doesn't mean he isn't lurking somewhere nearby."
"Mick, grab those mind control blockers out of storage. Grodd is the only meta, but I don't want anyone to turn their backs on either of the Tricksters. For some reason, the Reverse Flash doesn't want anyone to see him, doesn't want people to know he is behind it. So we need to draw him out. Ruin his plans so we can figure out the end game. See how we can move it to our advantage."
"I still don't like this."
"Then stay here Mardon."
For a minute, Roy thought Mark might do just that. Sit down, open a beer, and wish them good luck. Mark smirked.
"So you idiots can get all the glory? It'll make robbing banks easier if they were to give us a key to the city. But just so we are clear, I won't save any cops."
"Noted."
Roy didn't like this plan any more than the rest of the Rogues. But Cold was in charge. If he said it would be better for them to strike now, to get rid of Jesse and his crew, then they would follow.
"Hartley, I want you to find a way to use the mind blocking tech we took from STAR Labs to break the hold Grodd has on those cops. It's got to be taking up a lot of his energy to keep that many people in line. But, make damn sure he can't turn his powers on any of us."
"Working on it."
"Digger, I want you to take out the younger Trickster. He's not a meta, so you shouldn't have any trouble. Avoid killing him if you can."
"Right."
Roy really wasn't liking this taciturn version of Digger. If the mercenary was this worried about this plan, Roy wasn't sure how he should feel.
"Mardon, you hit Grodd with all you've got. Blow him away in a hurricane if that's what you have to do. Shawna, you and Roy are going to get those cops off the stage and to safety. Roy keep them calm, we don't want them snapping out of the mind control and just start shooting everyone they see."
Roy nodded his agreement.
"Lisa, get to Cisco and Caitlin. Once they are free, find out everything you can about what is going on. They might know more about what the Reverse Flash is planning. Then stay hidden, but get close to the stage. Mick and I will distract Jesse. Get Cisco up there to get the Flash free."
Roy didn't feel the same sense of certainty he usually did after Cold finished one of his plans. There was something wrong, something Roy couldn't quite put his finger on. It felt like a memory, or a dream, that kept slipping through his fingers. Something about all this felt so…
Jesse's voice boomed out over the speakers.
"Now then, for my first trick, I will need a volunteer. Einnie, Meenie, Minie….Moe." The Trickster grabbed one of the cops on the stage and yanked him to his feet. "How kind of you to join us, isn't he a great sport ladies and gentlemen? Tell me, what is your name young man?"
"You're insane."
"Interesting. Is that Greek? You're parents must have been quite the jokester's themselves. But wait…" James grabbed the cop's wallet out of his pocket. "Why…it says here your name is David Singh. Captain David Singh, no less. It's hurtful that you would lie to me. I guess I'll just have to teach you a lesson about honesty."
Jesse shoved the cop to his knees. He pulled a strange, almost comical looking gun out of his jacket. Roy had no doubts that gun would do real damage. Captain Singh didn't have much time.
"Hartley."
"Almost got it."
The kid had the mind control inhibitor hooked up to his computer.
"I've only got a radius of 50 yards. I need to hook it up to a larger power source. If I can access the generators powering the speakers, I can boost it so that it will inhibit Grodd's powers for almost the entire block."
"Alright. Shawna, I want everyone on stage. Everyone has their targets. Don't move on it until I give the signal."
The Rogues moved in closer. Grodd couldn't control them as long as Hartley was within 50 yards of them with the inhibitor. Roy took a deep breath. He wouldn't be facing Grodd. Mardon would be able to take out the gorilla, no problem. They could do this.
Shawna teleported them all directly onto the stage.
James Jesse had apparently been counting down to killing the first cop. He stopped and turned towards the newly arrived Rogues.
Everyone was staring at them. The cops, Cisco and Caitlin, Walker, Grodd…
Roy was certain they were all thinking the same thing. That the Rogues were there to help.
To take out the Flash once and for all.
"Gentleman! And lovely ladies. This is a surprise. I'm certain I forgot to send your invitations to our little soiree."
Cold stepped forward. His gun held tightly in his hand.
"Jesse."
"Leonard. Come now, must you always be so dour? So serious? This is a celebration! Look at all the smiling faces! Now, I know I've said some things in the past, made some hurtful…if not completely accurate, comments on you and your little family here. But now isn't the time for old grievances. What do you say, we bury the hatchet? Put 'er there!"
Jesse stuck out his hand.
Roy couldn't see it, but he was willing to bet there was some kind of electric buzzer hidden in Jesse's outstretched hand.
Axel Walker had moved and was now standing behind Jesse. Roy was certain the numbers were in the Rogues favor, that they would have no trouble winning this fight. Giant telepathic gorilla or no.
"Sorry, I was never much for cheap circus tricks."
Jesse lowered his hand. His smile remained, but his eyes flashed dangerously.
"No reason to be rude Leonard."
"Chaos is bad for business. You and you're little group of psychos aren't welcome in my city."
James started laughing.
"Oh Leonard. This is delightful. The Rogues to the rescue! You have to understand why I might find this sudden change of heart so odd." Jesse redirected the gun in his hand and pointed it straight at the cop's head.
"You honestly expect me to believe that you care if I kill this pathetic little policeman. No offense. I'm sure you've worked very hard to become Captain. Kudos to you."
"Of course not. You could kill every cop in the state and I wouldn't care. What I do care about, is the Reverse Flash using you as his puppets."
"I don't know what you're talking about. Never heard of this…Reverse Flash you say?"
"He broke you out of the pipeline. He told you to do this. He's the one in charge. So he's the one I want to talk to."
"I'm almost offended Lenny. Here, I thought we could be friends. Now it appears that you have developed a…" Jesse made a comical vomiting sound. "…conscience. That simply won't do. Tell me since your group is the Rogues, does that make us the Reverse Rogues? Grodd, what do you say we add the Rogues to our audience."
Hartley had slipped away, Roy could see the young genius hooking the mind control inhibitor into the generator.
Grodd took a step forward.
Cold gave an almost imperceptible nod.
Mardon threw a bolt of lightening down in the middle of Jesse and his gang. The three scattered. Grodd roared and charged towards Mardon. Mark was pushing the gorilla back with as much wind as he could create without blowing all of them away.
Roy ran forward and grabbed the police Captain's arm, pulling the man to the side of the stage. Roy immediately turned his powers on the cops there, forcing the ones not under Grodd's power to remain calm. The Rogues didn't need the cops running in and interfering. They would just get in the way.
Shawna started teleporting groups of them away. Roy turned to see how Cold and Mick were handling Jesse when Captain Singh tackled Roy off of the stage.
They hit the grassy ground hard, Roy was certain he felt something in his ribs crack. He was tempted to punch the cop, when the space where they had been standing suddenly exploded. Roy scrambled to his feet. The younger Trickster was running off to the side, another small explosive in his hand.
Where the hell was Digger? He was supposed to be keeping that kid in line. Roy noticed that all the cops behind him were still standing completely in a row. Hartley should have taken care of this by now.
"Piper, what's taking so long with the mind control inhibitor? Piper? Hartley?"
There was no response to Roy's question on the coms. The stage was completely shrouded in an odd smoke. From explosions, Mick and Snart's guns, whatever weather tricks Mardon was using on Grodd.
Hartley should have hooked up the inhibitor and freed Cisco and Caitlin, Jesse shouldn't have been a match for Len and Mick, Digger should have taken out Walker in a matter of seconds, Mardon should have been able to hold Grodd at bay. It should have taken Shawna less than a minute to clear the stage of cops and get the Flash free.
Something was wrong.
They had taken out entire armies in less time.
"It's a trap."
Roy turned his head sharply towards Captain Singh.
"What?"
"This is a trap. Somehow they knew the Rogues would show up. All of this, it wasn't about killing the Flash or destroying the CCPD. This…this was about catching you."
Roy wanted to disagree with the Captain. Wanted to say there was no way the Reverse Flash could have predicted that the Rogues would interfere. They weren't the kind of people who got involved if there was no reward, no advantage. There was no reason for them to be there. No reason that they would show up at the last second for the save. How…how could the Reverse Flash have known they would be here?
"Shit."
Roy reached up to activate his com, he needed to warn…
A boomerang embedded itself in Roy's hand. Roy clutched the bleeding appendage.
Digger was standing only a few feet away. Captain Singh managed to pull his weapon, but he was hit with an electric boomerang and dropped heavily to the ground. Digger pulled another boomerang out of his jacket. This wasn't one of his trick boomerangs, wasn't one of the non-lethal ones he had started carrying when he joined the Rogues.
Roy grabbed the fallen police Captain's gun and pointed it at Digger.
Digger pulled the razor sharp boomerang out and gripped it in his hand.
Roy hesitated. He lowered the gun slightly.
Digger…he…he was being mind controlled. Hartley must be outside the 50 yard range from them. The kid didn't hook the inhibitor up in time. Digger wouldn't…
Digger pulled his arm back.
That asshole was going to kill him. Roy tried to aim the gun back towards Digger, but he knew it wouldn't be fast enough.
Roy activated his powers, trying to hit Digger with fear. But the mercenary wasn't looking directly at Roy. And Roy knew that Digger's aim was good enough that he didn't have to look at his target to hit it.
Roy dove to the side. The boomerang whizzed over Roy's head. Roy tried to move, tried to remember what Digger had told him about avoiding a boomerang on its return flight. A sharp pain in his left leg informed him that he hadn't been quick enough. Roy had dropped the gun during his dive, he couldn't find it anywhere on the ground around him.
Digger was walking slowly towards Roy. Calculated. The man had once been one of the best black ops agents ARGUS had. He could have killed Roy instantly with the first shot. The man was taking his time. Or he had orders not to kill Roy. If Grodd was controlling him, then Digger would want to take Roy alive.
Roy screamed as he pulled the boomerang out of his hand and tried to throw it back at Digger. Harkness snatched it out of the air with little difficulty. Roy didn't attempt to remove the one in his leg. There would be no point. He wasn't any match for Digger.
"Digger, listen to me. You have to…"
Roy didn't know what to say. You have to fight it? You can't let Grodd win? Digger probably couldn't even hear Roy right now. Digger just kept getting closer.
Roy didn't stand a chance. Digger rarely missed. And never at such a close range. Harkness pulled his arm back again. Roy tried to move…
Digger paused, his motions halted for a brief second. He seemed to be looking at Roy strangely. He turned his head towards the cops lined up behind them.
They were starting to move around. Hartley must have done it. He had managed to get the cops free of Grodd's mind control. One of the cops in the front noticed Digger standing over Roy.
"Stop!"
The cop started to pull his gun, the others around him following quickly. Digger threw the boomerang at the cops, causing them to duck and move out of the way. Roy used the distraction to pull himself up quickly and head around to the side of the stage. Roy could hear gunshots, no doubt the cops were targeting Digger. Roy should try to stay hidden. The cops might just start shooting at any Rogue they saw.
The smoke was still in the air but not as thick. Roy didn't see any sign of any of the others. He looked towards where he knew Hartley should be and…
"Shit. Kid."
Roy moved as quickly as he could with a leg wound. He pulled the boomerang out and dropped it to the ground. Hartley was laying on his stomach. There was a large pool of blood around him.
Roy reached Hartley's side and rolled the younger man onto his back.
That dark liquid completely coated Hartley's chest. There was a blood trail leading towards the generators. Hartley had been stabbed several feet away. The genius must have drug himself over here to integrate the inhibitor. Crawled on his hands and knees, to save the rest of the Rogues. All the while, bleeding out on the ground.
Roy put his hands over the wound on Hartley's chest and pushed down hard. The kid didn't respond. Didn't scream. Didn't moan. Didn't even flinch.
The blood was still warm. Still pumping out of Piper's body. The kid was still alive. He…
Roy noticed the blood soaked boomerang only a few feet from Hartley.
Digger had done this. He had stabbed Hartley…
The inhibitor would have protected anyone from Grodd's influence that was this close to the inhibitor. There…there was no way that Grodd could have mind controlled Digger to stab Hartley.
Digger…had betrayed them.
Roy heard footsteps behind him. He couldn't turn. Couldn't look to see if it was Digger come to finish them both off. If he removed his hands, Hartley would bleed to death. He heard a gun click behind him.
"Put your hands in the air! Now!"
Roy didn't recognize the voice. A cop no doubt. Roy didn't have time for this. He needed to get Hartley to a hospital. He needed to warn the others. Hell, he needed to find the others.
Roy turned his head slightly, ready to hit the cop with a dose of fear, when Detective West suddenly appeared.
"Stand down! I said stand down officer!"
The young patrolman lowered his weapon. Roy turned his focus back to Hartley.
The kid still hadn't moved.
And he seemed so much paler.
"Call for the paramedics. Now!"
Detective West kneeled down beside Roy, removing his black suit jacket.
"Let me take over."
Roy wanted to argue. Wanted to say that he needed to help Hartley. The Rogues looked out for each other. The kid was his responsibility. But his arms were aching. He was beginning to feel lightheaded. It also probably wasn't helping that Roy's hand was bleeding all over Hartley's wound.
Roy nodded. The Detective counted to three and they quickly switched places. West pressed down harder on the wound. Roy wanted to believe that the wound wasn't bleeding as badly because Roy had managed to slow it.
Not because the kid was running out of blood to lose.
Roy looked around. The smoke that had consumed the stage was finally clearing.
"The others?"
West kept his eyes firmly on Hartley.
"Haven't seen Rory. Shawna got hit by one of Walker's explosions, knocked her out, busted her up a bit. Caitlin was looking after her. Last I saw, Lisa Snart was with them. She had a few cuts but seemed relatively unharmed. Nimbus joined the fight a few minutes in, helped Grodd take down Mardon…I think they took Mardon with them when they left. I thought I saw Snart chasing after them, but I don't know."
If they took Mardon, they might have taken Mick as well to keep him in line. The way they had taken Digger when they took Roy. Had all of that been a lie? Had Digger been working with the Reverse Flash even then? Had his injuries only been there to make them believe he had tried to protect Roy in the sewer?
"Digger betrayed us. He was working with them."
"You're really surprised by that?"
Roy understood the Detective's disbelief. There was a time when Roy would have put good money on Digger being the first one to betray them.
Hell, Harkness had committed treason. He had turned on the people who trained him, turned on his country, turned on his fellow soldiers. And he was never shy about mentioning it. Never showed any signs that he regretted a single thing he had ever done.
But still…
Digger was a Rogue.
Rogues watch each other's backs. They don't turn on one another.
Damn it.
Roy was honestly surprised that Harkness had turned on them. Especially for people who had tried to kill him so recently. Digger hated the Reverse Flash and Grodd just as much as Roy did. There was no way Digger could have faked his disdain. The man didn't have the filter in his mind necessary to keep up a ruse for that long.
It didn't make any sense.
It…unless Digger had been playing them for longer than even that. Maybe this whole thing had just been a game to him. A way to pass the time until a better offer had come along.
And Roy had fallen for it completely.
They all had.
Paramedics rushed onto the stage. They hooked IVs up to Hartley, put an oxygen mask over his face, pressed bandages over his still bleeding wounds. The paramedics would take care of Hartley. They would fix him up. The kid would be ok.
The kid had to be ok.
Roy moved quietly away from the scene. Detective West was explaining Hartley's injuries to the medics. Roy needed to find the others. Needed to make sure they were safe.
Most of the cops who had been mind controlled were now congregated towards the left side of the stage. Roy didn't see any sign of Digger. The bastard must have escaped.
Roy left the stage and started towards where he saw Caitlin Snow and Lisa standing together.
Shawna wasn't with them.
Roy's leg started to give out, he felt himself start to stumble. He was certain he would have fallen down if a hand didn't suddenly grab his arm.
"Whoa, easy there man. Let's get you sitting down before you bust it."
Cisco had several bruises on his face. He slipped an arm under Roy's shoulder and took some of the weight off of Roy's leg. Roy was grateful but found he didn't have the energy to respond. Cisco was unusually subdued as well. His voice had been quieter, less energetic, than Roy had ever heard it before.
Today had certainly screwed with everyone.
Lisa noticed the pair moving towards her and quickly joined Cisco in helping Roy. They helped him sit down on a park bench.
Dr. Snow immediately started examining his leg.
"This stab wound on your leg looks pretty deep. You're lucky it didn't hit an artery, you would have bled out in seconds."
Lisa was looking worriedly at Roy. Roy returned her gaze.
"Shawna?"
"Explosive blast caused her lung to collapse. They took her to the hospital. Mick and Mardon were taken by Grodd. Lenny…tried to follow them. Haven't been able to reach anyone else on the coms."
Roy nodded tiredly.
"Hartley was stabbed in the chest, he's bleeding badly. They are taking him to the hospital now." Roy hesitated for a moment. He didn't know why. Eventually they all had to know what happened.
"Digger stabbed him."
"What?"
"Seriously? I thought Captain Boomerang was with you guys?"
"He is. Was he being…"
"No. Hartley had the inhibitor, it would have prevented anyone close to him from being mind controlled. Not to mention…Digger is the one who stabbed me as well." Roy held up his bleeding hand. "Twice."
Lisa was staring at Roy. She was speechless. Roy found a little comfort in the fact that he wasn't the only one completely blindsided by Digger's sudden turn.
Dr. Snow finished wrapping Roy's leg. She took his hand and started examining it.
"You need stiches, both in your leg and hand. You said Hartley was stabbed in the chest? Was he stable when they transported him?"
"I don't know…I don't think so…"
Dr. Snow's lips pursed into a thin line.
"I'm sure Hartley will pull through. He's…" Caitlin paused, as though not sure exactly how to finish that sentence. When she resumed speaking, her voice was hesitant. "You…you guys had to know that a mercenary like Harkness couldn't be…"
"Really not the time doc." Lisa's voice was light, but there was an anger simmering just below the surface.
Doctor Snow closed her mouth. She looked toward Cisco. The young engineer spoke up.
"We got the Flash somewhere safe thanks to you guys. So…it looks like we owe you."
Roy sighed. A lot of good that favor was going to do them. The Rogues had taken too many hard hits today. Lisa looked at Roy.
"It was a trap. The Reverse Flash lured us here. He wanted Roy alive, and the rest of us dead. So we wouldn't be able to come after him. So he could finally go through with whatever his plan is."
Cisco opened his mouth, then closed it again quickly. He shot a look at Caitlin. There was something there...
Lisa suddenly put a hand to her gun. Detective West and Captain Singh were walking towards them.
Huh.
Roy hadn't really thought about the fact that the cops were now going to arrest them all.
Surprisingly neither Roy nor Lisa were immediately handcuffed. Which was a good thing, Roy hadn't used his powers much today but he wasn't sure he would be very good in a fight right now.
Roy couldn't stop staring at the stains on Detective West's sleeves. At how far up the cloth they traveled. Roy was avoiding looking at his own shirt. Knowing exactly what he would see there.
"The paramedics are taking Rathaway to Central General. The same place Shawna was taken. Both of them needed emergency surgery. We are going to post 24 hour details outside of their rooms, once they are out of the woods we will move them to a more secure location. Both of you will be under constant police protection as well."
That was an odd way of saying they were being arrested.
Captain Singh motioned to Roy.
"How is he?"
Dr. Snow answered.
"A few inches to the left and his femoral artery would have been severed. You're lucky Boomerang missed."
Roy really didn't know Digger to miss that often. He must have had orders to incapacitate Roy. Make it so he couldn't run away. Couldn't escape once Roy was turned over to the Reverse Flash.
"Alright, I'm sure both of you want to check on your injured teammates. When we locate your brother we will send him to General as well."
Lisa looked at the police Captain skeptically.
"You aren't arresting us."
"If you and your crew hadn't interfered, myself and my entire squad would be dead. When this is all over, we will discuss your potential incarceration. But at the moment, it would appear that we are all on the same side. And I get the feeling that if we are going to beat this…Reverse Flash, we are going to need all the help we can get. Detective, I'm putting you in charge of their protection duty."
"Yes sir."
Captain Singh nodded at them and then walked away.
"Well, that was unexpected."
"The Captain's right. Whatever the Reverse Flash is planning, he wanted to eliminate the Rogues just as much as he wanted to take out the rest of us. We have a common enemy. And until that enemy is defeated, we are going to have to work together."
Roy shared a look with Lisa. Maybe it was the blood loss talking, but Roy thought that might actually make some sense.
Lisa smirked. Though it wasn't nearly as bright as her usual smile. She was trying to hide how rattled she was from today.
"Does this mean we get badges?"
Cisco cracked a smile.
"Good luck with that, I've been asking for one of those for ages."
Roy sighed. He just wanted to find a bed and lay down for a few years. But that wasn't possible. Not with Cold, Mick, and Mardon missing. Not with Shawna and Hartley so injured.
Not with Digger still alive out there.
Roy should have killed him when he had the chance. Should have just shot the bastard and been done with it.
But he had hesitated.
Roy had thought Digger was one of them, thought that he was being mind controlled. He had given the mercenary the benefit of the doubt.
Roy had no intention of making that mistake again.
Next time, there would be no hesitation.
Next time, there would be no mercy.
The Reverse Flash had set this all in motion. He was going to suffer for this as well. He was going to regret starting a war with the Rogues.
Roy would make damn sure of that.
There was blood on her boot.
She wasn't really sure whose blood it was. Probably Shawna's, though it could have been Roy's as well. She sighed slowly. Not really anything around she could use to clean it off with. It would just have to stay there.
Lisa hated hospitals.
An aversion she had developed at an early age. Too many nights laying alone on a cold bed. Being told by well meaning doctors and nurses that she needed to be more careful.
That she needed to stop getting into so many accidents. Stop "falling" so much. She grew to hate that quiet tone the doctors would use. The ones that were meant to be comforting but always sounded so false. Always sounded like they knew it was all a lie.
That they knew the truth. But weren't going to do anything to truly help her. That she would eventually be right back in that bed before too long.
That was never the worst part though.
The worst part was when she would wake up in the middle of the night and realize that she was safe. Realize that her father couldn't reach her while she was in the hospital. And then automatically remember that Lenny wasn't in the hospital with her. That he wasn't safe. He was alone in the house with their father. Who would only be angrier that he had been forced to take Lisa to the hospital. Forced to pay for their weaknesses.
Lisa took a breath and tried to readjust herself in the hard plastic chair of the waiting room.
Roy was asleep down the hall. Shawna was being moved to the ICU.
Hartley was still in surgery.
Seven hours later and he was still in surgery.
The doctors had initially said that Hartley was lucky. That the blade had missed his heart by centimeters. If it hadn't, Hartley would have died on the scene.
The blade from a razor sharp boomerang.
Lisa tried not to think about Digger. Tried to ignore any thoughts related to that piece of…
"Coffee?"
Cisco handed her a white plastic cup.
She took it, even though she had no intention of drinking it.
She tried to smile at the engineer's thoughtfulness.
"Don't you have better things to do than watch over a bunch of criminals?"
ARGUS had come through not too long ago. Lisa had seen Detective West talking to them, Cisco had been there as well. It had looked like quite the argument. She knew ARGUS wouldn't try to take the Rogues, they still had their deal with Waller. It seemed ARGUS originally wanted to be a part of the search for the Tricksters and Grodd.
And Mark and Mick.
But now it looked like ARGUS was going to have to stay out of it. They were going to have to check the security of the pipeline. Half their forces in the area had been slaughtered during the prison break. And there were still prisoners to watch over. They had to be certain the Reverse Flash wouldn't try and break more meta criminals out, spread more fear. Create more panic.
She could probably get some more information out of Cisco if she played it right.
"Naw…I mean…you guys saved our asses. So like I said, we owe you. Plus you know…"
Cisco's eyes kept darting towards the hallway where Hartley was being operated on. Lisa knew that Cisco and Hartley had worked together. Although it didn't seem like the two of them had gotten along very well. Hartley had apparently been even more uptight then. Which was hard to imagine.
Still.
It's hard to make yourself not care when someone you know is fighting for their life. Especially considering the kind of man Cisco was. Good men couldn't help caring about others.
"You're worried about Hartley."
"What? No…that's ridiculous. I mean I am worried in the sense that one human being worries about another injured human being in a stressful scenario. It's nothing more than that. The guy was always a huge dick. How do you guys put up with him? Seriously, I have been wondering that since he joined the Rogues. I've even made a few flow charts and PowerPoint presentations. Does Raider have to like constantly calm people down whenever Hartley is in the room? How do you keep from just punching him in the face…"
Cisco tended to ramble when he tried to lie. It was adorable.
"He's funny."
"Funny? Funny? Charlie Chaplin is funny. Back to the Future is funny. Hartley Rathaway is not funny."
"Maybe you just don't understand his humor. He…"
A doctor pushed his way through the doors. Lisa recognized him as one of the surgeons working on Hartley.
Lisa stood up and walked purposely forward. Cisco trailed right behind her.
The doctor's face was grim.
"Mr. Rathaway has lost a great deal of blood. We thought we might lose him once or twice on the table, but he managed to pull through. I don't want to give you false hope, but if he survives the night, I will feel a great deal more optimistic about his chances."
Lisa heard Cisco release a breath.
"Oh thank god."
Lisa turned and smirked at Cisco. He gave a sheepish grin in response.
"I mean…"
Lisa turned back to the doctor.
"Thank you doctor."
The surgeon nodded.
Lisa released her own cautious breath.
They had gotten lucky. It would appear that each of the injured Rogues would survive. There might be a chance that their odd little family would remain intact.
Except for Digger of course.
Lisa was going to rip his throat out with her fingernails.
Mick and Mardon were still missing. And Len had yet to make a reappearance.
She was safe in the hospital and Len was out there alone…
"Hey…" Cisco put a hand on Lisa's back. "I'm sure you're brother is fine too."
Lisa immediately tried to school her features. She hadn't realized she was starting to slip. That Cisco could read her that easily…
It had been a long day. That was all it was.
"I know."
Cisco's knowing smile suggested she hadn't imbued her statement with the right amount of bravado.
"Should we maybe try to call Hartley's parents?"
Even as he suggested it, Lisa could tell that Cisco knew that was a bad idea.
"They were bound to have seen what happened on the news. They know he's here, they just don't care."
"I'm sure they…"
Cisco didn't finish the sentence. Lisa always found it so odd how people tried to justify parental abandonment. Saying things like…
"Their generation handled things differently."
"They were probably raised in an abusive home, and don't know any differently."
"I'm sure they still love you, they just show it differently than others."
Some people were incapable of truly loving another person. That didn't change when they had kids. It just made things difficult for everyone involved.
So Lisa prepared herself for whatever well meaning, but completely insulting thing Cisco was going to say.
"…nah screw it. What a bunch of dicks. They should be here. They're heartless tools if they don't show."
Lisa gave into the impulse and gave Cisco a quick kiss on the cheek. She knew she had been right about this one.
"It's ok Cisco. The only family Hartley needs is already here…"
"Good to know sis."
Lisa turned quickly. Len was standing behind her. His parka and goggles conspicuously missing. He looked tired and…
"What the hell is this?"
Lisa grabbed Len's arm. There was a bandage wrapped around his left arm, overtop of his shirt. There were blood stains seeping through it.
"Lisa, it's nothing."
"Bullshit."
He always did that. Always downplayed any injury. Any sign that could be conceived as weakness.
Cisco took a step away from them.
"I'm going to go get a doctor."
"That's not necessary."
Lisa shot a glare at her brother and Cisco. Cisco put his hands up in a defensive gesture.
"Yea, no offense. But she scares me more than you do at the moment. So I'll just…"
Cisco turned and walked away quickly.
Lisa turned her full attention back to Len. The bandage seemed to be the worst of it. She tried to look at his stance, his posture, see if he was attempting to hide any other injuries.
"What happened?"
"I managed to follow the van that took Mick and Mardon for a ways. It was headed towards the outskirts of town. But before I could find out where exactly, the car I was in suddenly popped a tire. I ended up in a ditch and when I came to, I saw a boomerang in one of the tires."
She was going to dig her nails into Digger's eyes and rip them out while he screamed in agony.
"The cops were kind enough to bring me here instead of arresting me. One of them let me know that Hartley was injured."
"Not just Hartley. He's out of surgery, doctor thinks he will pull through but it's going to be rough. Digger stabbed him, almost killed him. Digger went after Roy too, got him twice. Shawna got hit by one of Walker's bombs, she's in ICU. Roy should be fine in a day or so, but the other two are going to be out of commission for a while. Sounds like the Flash was injured badly, so the cops are looking for any type of help in dealing with the Reverse Flash and his goons."
"And we happen to fit the bill."
"We do go up against the Flash on a regular basis. They assume that means we can take on the Reverse as well."
Which it did. The Rogues would destroy everyone who was associated with what happened today. Lisa just hoped she would get to be there when Digger was taken down.
Len sighed.
He was looking towards the ICU.
She knew that look.
When Len was twelve he had gone over to a friends house to spend the night. A birthday party or something. She knew how much he had wanted to go. How much he had just wanted to be normal for a night, just like any other kid without a care in the world. Lisa wondered if Len had had fun that night.
She never found out. When Len came back the next morning, Lisa had three new bruises and a split lip.
Len never went to another sleepover.
Even after her bruises had faded and her lip had healed, Len would still give her that look. That "I should have been here to protect you" look. The "I should have known better" look.
Len had that same look in his eyes now.
Nope.
Now was not the time for her big brother to doubt himself. To think about what would have happened if they had just sat this one out like most of them had wanted. Now was not the time for blame or regrets. Time for a little sisterly encouragement.
"Of course. I told them that the Rogues couldn't help them. Seeing as the great Captain Cold had been so spectacularly wrong about the last mission. And his poor little ego can't take even the thought of failure. So he's going to be wallowing in self pity for the next few days instead of finding our enemies and making them suffer. He will be basically useless."
Lenny turned towards her and smirked.
"Thanks for that."
"Always looking out for you big brother."
"I know."
Len took her hand. For a moment they just stood there, silently thinking about all the times they had been in a hospital. How this was the first time they had ever been together while waiting on news of an injured family member.
Cisco started to come up the hallway, so Lenny dropped her hand.
Her tough big brother. Couldn't let anyone see his weaknesses.
Except her of course. She knew them all.
They were her weaknesses too.
"Go to bed sis." His eyes darted towards Cisco. "Alone. We have a big day tomorrow. I'll watch over things here."
"You're no fun Lenny."
Tomorrow, they were going to hunt those bastards down. Tomorrow, their enemies were going to be the ones who learned a thing or two about fear.
No one hurts a member of the Snart family and gets away with it.
No one.