Author's Notes: I didn't plan on finishing this story at all because I kind of lost steam for it and haven't watched The Arrowverse in a long while so I may never continue this but for the few people who asked for a update, this was the last chapter I had semi-written before I kind of lost interest in it. For you few though, I will try my best to finish it one day if I can! It isn't spell-checked so sorry for how poorly written this is. It may be almost a year old now.
Sorry for anybody who genuinely did get invested in this story and has been waiting for me to finish it or the other one I had started.
The villain is a made-up character by me by the way!
But as I said, I may continue it one day.
They spent the next two hours explaining to Caitlyn everything that happened while she gave John every single test they could think of. They could tell he was a little frustrated with being used like a test dummy but hey, he came to them for answers & help right?
"Okay so let me get this straight" Caitlyn said as she was waiting for the results on Diggle's head scan, probably the only true thing from his vitals that will give them answers on if something is wrong. "So basically the universe propose to you by giving you this shiny ring" She said to Diggle who was sitting up on the med bed.
"Hit me like a meteor but sure." He nodded his shoulders. "Lightning is worse" Barry muttered.
"How so" John called out defensively, furrowing his brows.
"Coma.." Thea held her hands out to Barry in a presentation manner. Now moving them over to Diggle to do the same. "Cool ring."
"More like migraines" Diggle said about himself. "Super speed" He nodded to Barry with that one. Barry smiled a little while nodding his head to the side, admitting maybe he had a point. "Coma is worse still" Thea said in a matter of fact tone. Barry couldn't help but to agree with that statement.
"Weren't you in a coma for a while a few years ago?" Caitlyn asked her, handing Diggle his shirt back after she took the two EEGs off his head to scan his brain. "Yeah after a lunatic blew up my lunatic dad" She deadpanned.
"I would like to keep Adrian Chase in the past, dead & buried where he belongs please." Diggle said with a distasteful face, thinking of what that madman put them through was the last thing he wanted on his mind. "No arguments here" Thea said with a slight shudder, it may have been a while ago but that was one of the many things that would keep her up all these nights.
"Well back to making sure I got all this down packed." Caitlyn called out. "Which you then kept it secret for a year to avoid it, decided to come here but got attacked by a speedster who claims he is from the future but didn't give a name or time at all. BUT, did give a due date on when he wants to fight you" She pointed to Barry & Barry raised his hand slightly to say yes. "Thats the summary pretty much right?" Caitlyn asked, making sure she didn't miss anything.
"Pretty good when you have all of the insane details already" Thea complimented. Earning a smile from Caitlyn. "So now we are just waiting on your results" She said, giving John a little nudge.
"Its pointless. Whatever this is, not goin pop up on a few medical charts" He reasoned. "Then again, I'm in a room with him" He nodded towards Barry. "And get a wierd ass ring sent to me by a meteor, nothing can truly be pointless anymore."
"Oh no, not like any of the other things we had too fight over our years together should give you that reaction" Thea said playfully, earning a little chortle of a laugh out of him. "I don't know, I think trying to keep up with you going to places you shouldn't have been was worse" Diggle said, making fun of how much of a party animal she used to be. Thea didn't say anything but made a face of agreement.
"Too bad theirs no way to keep up with the new speedster apparently" Thea said, trying to change the subject to the more important one at hand. Also because she really wasn't too fond of her drug & party days for obvious reasons.
Her saying that gave Barry a idea though. "Wait Dig, you said he kept talking about 'will power' & you think it may have something to do with that ring you have?"
"Yeah, why?" John asked, ears perking up in intrigue as Thea who still stood beside him turned to face Barry fully.
"What if we ask Gideon about any fight you had with a speedster in the future? Its not much to go on but still." Diggle was shaking his head, pondering if that was a good idea or not. Thea was thinking as well, eyes squinted before something dawn on her. "Wait I thought last time you messed with time, it didn't go to well?" Thea asked him.
"Yeah. As I recall it didn't" Diggle said with some venom & a deep glare at Barry.
Barry knows that Diggle is referring to the Flashpoint he created. "No that was when I went back in time & changed it. Here were just going to ask Gideon about anything involving you fighting a all black suited speedster in the future. No time travel at all, I promise." Barry said in reassurance. Diggle glare lost some bite to it & it look like he was okay with it but barely. Uncertainty was always going to be there for him with time travel situations & Barry honestly couldn't blame him after what happened last time.
"Alright, but you can go on your own. I don't want to know anything more then I need to." Diggle said firmly & Barry nodded. "Uhh you couldn't go anywhere anyway" Caitlyn called out from behind him.
"I thought you were just waiting for results?" Diggle asked her, confusion written all over his face. "We are!' Caitlyn said enthusiastically softly, friendly voice like always. "But I haven't gotten to your other body vitals."
"Do all of them really matter in this situation?" Diggle asked, sounding a little annoyed with having to do more test. She already hooked him up to like three different machines for his head.
"I guess we'll find out after we do it!" Caitlyn said proudly with a smile on her face & Diggle let out a sigh.
Thea couldn't help but smile at the little interaction. Diggle is a intense no nonsense type of guy & Caitlyn is sweet, even still to this day despite everything she heard happened to her over the years. "Well I'll go see if Gideon can help us somehow" Barry said causing Thea to snap out of her quick thoughts.
She walked right beside him as he turned around & she saw him turn to face her with a somewhat surprised look on his face. "What? A chance to watch a time telling computer tell us about a enemy sent to kill you? Sounds like a movie that i'm definetly not going to miss out on." She said & Barry couldn't help but laugh. Especially since he remembered a few years ago against Vandal Savage, when she brought Indiana Jones for one of her references. Well Cisco did but she caught on to it.
"Reminds me of the time against Vandal Savage & you were completely confused but 'only understood the Indiana Jones' reference" He pretended to mock her voice & confusion a little bit.
She looked down with her laugh that she tried to hold in. "I still can't remember that movie with a bunch of superheroes in a farm house though"
Barry shrugged a little. "Eh if you can't remember it, it probably wasn't to good anyway." He said as he put his hand on the activation key to open the time vault. Thea took in the room. It was small, but looked futuristic, not by a lot but you can tell it wasn't built with the things she would see lying around S.T.A.R labs. Trust her, their was a lot of stuff around S.T.A.R labs that looked futuristic by the way.
"So does she just appear or.."
"Only most recently Ms. Queen, at your polite request." Thea snapped her head around to see Barry standing at this short podium thing, in front of a now large, holographic looking head that mostly resembled a woman. Her voice was soft & kind as well.
"Oh" Was all Thea mustered out, the shock & amazement still written all on her face. She may have seen & been through a lot at this point. But still, talking to a futuristic AI was bound to leave anyone in some awe.
"How did she..well who made her? I mean." Thea asked turning to Barry as she walked beside him now. He turned to answer but Gideon did it for him. "Barry Allen created my existence." Gideon answered, Thea looked at Barry with a 'seriously' face & he nodded at her to let her know it was true.
She looked back to Gideon, still observing. "Impressive" She said & Barry couldn't help but to smile inside. "Wait do you like, know me or anything?" She asked the well-mannered AI.
"Why yes Ms. Queen. Former Co-Owner of Scientific and Technological Advanced Research Laboratories also known as S.T.A.R. Labs. Current League Of Heroes leader formally known as the League of Assassins & Soon to be married." Gideon finished speaking. Now while Gideon spoke in that calming, soft voice of hers. Thea & Barry had other reactions to that.
"What" Thea exclaimed out sharply in a tone of utter confusion. "Co-Owner?" Barry asked as well. Why would Thea be a co-owner of S.T.A.R. labs? That was coursing through his mind. Was it because of his 'disappearance' in 2024. Wait he hasn't even see that newspaper again yet.
"My apologies for speakin too freely. You two have not reached that point in time yet." Gideon spoke sympathetically. Thea still dawned a face of confusion on her part because what the fuck? What would she be doing owning part of S.T.A.R. Labs? Why was she the leader of the League again & married?! Does Roy come back or something?
"I see why John didn't come" She muttered under her breath. Distraught taking place slightly.
Barry wanted to ask many questions but he learned a long time ago, finding out your future, makes your present harder to live in. Especially with details. Even if he wanted to see what that newspaper now said, he knew he better hurry up & ask what they came their for before him or Thea started getting antsy with all this. Well more antsy then they already were at this point.
"Uh Gideon we need your help." Barry said as Thea was still regaining her wits.
"I am at your service always Mr. Allen" Gideon spoke in her usual calming, soft voice. Barry nodded his head, preparing for whatever crazy thing comes next. He peeked over to see Thea was still laboring in deep thought about the few thigns she heard. She was currently just staring at the floor, even though clearly nothing was there.
"Okay well can you tell us anything about John Diggle fighting a uh, all black dressed speedster." Barry decided he better add on to that. "Well if he was fighting the all black speedster with a uh..I guess magical, green ring." Barry hoped that was at least enough to get a start on.
"Their are many times in the present future where The Green Lantern has fought the speedster Stygian." This sentenced caused Thea too look up from her confusion, into even more confusion. But it caught her attention. "Who the hell is The Green Lantern or Stygian?"
"I must warn that I don't believe it would be wise for me to inform you of the future of which you two haven't lived yet." Gideon stated cautiously. She was right, but they needed some headway on this, Barry wasn't just going to wait for a pending date with no clues or information on the guy.
"Yeah Gideon I know, but whoever this is, has taken time into his own hands by the sound of it." Barry decided not to ask for anymore information that would be to detailed but for Gideon to at least show the year or who this guy was. "Can you provide a image."
Thea took a step forward to get a closure look of the image Gideon was getting ready to pullup. "This is 'Stygian' running off after a encounter with The Flash in 2025." Barry saw what Diggle meant now about the suit. It was all black, that was outlined by gold & white lines.
They could have called Diggle to make sure but they know Caitlyn was finishing up with him & the man fit Diggle's exact description anyways. "Can we ask for his name" Thea asked Barry, still examining the image before them. "Probably a good idea" Barry agreed.
"Gideon" Barry knew she heard what Thea said so he didn't see a need to ask it again.
"I cannot inform much, but he appeared to be under a false alias, identification, & profile his time in being classified as a person. The rest is erased, most likely by his own doing I believe." Gideon informed them.
Barry was still pondering in thought but knew that was probably enough. "Thank you, Gideon."
"Pleasure to be a service." She said & Barry was about to shut her off but Thea chimed in. "What did you mean by soon to be married?" She almost blurted out. Barry hoped Gideon wouldn't say anything, knowing about the future of one person already makes you think enough. Let alone your own future. She took a few more steps up & he gave her a sympathetic look from behind.
"That you will be soon to be married & that it will be quite lovely I believe Ms. Queen. That'll be all." Gideon spoke sincerely before she disappeared, meaning she was done speaking or relaying any information. Barry turned off the counsel & saw Thea still looked bothered or more so deep thought about that revelation from Gideon. Barry couldn't blame her at all though.
Their was a whole bunch of things he wish he could know now that would soothe his thought process out better. But sadly, he doesn't have that luxury. Well maybe not sadly, knowing your future may sound good but also can be heavily the opposite thing of 'good.'
They both began leaving the time vault to go relay what they learned or little of but still better than nothing.
"Got to be hard to know you have a way of knowing your future & not using it." Thea said as they turned from the time vault. Barry had a feeling this was going to come up with the way she was flustered in there. "Yeahh, well see remember when I told you about the evil version of me who was Savitar?" He asked not as a true question but to get his point started as she nodded.
"Well knowing that Iris was supposed to die in the future by his hand seemed like it was a good thing at first you know? Which in the end it was but the road to get there.." He shook his head at the memories of those difficulties. "Everyday you wake up wondering if doing this or that will cause that dreaded future to happen. You never stop thinking about it & you almost drive yourself crazy thinking of the most smallest or ridiculous things to do or not do to prevent it. Sometimes you'll do some really messed up things too" He couldn't help but to think about how initially at the time his reason for proposing to Iris was to try to change the future.
Thea squinted her eyes slightly as she was soaking up what he was saying. "So basically, you go crazy from trying to prevent the later crazy?"
Barry let out a deep breath at the irony. "Pretty much."
"Un-fucking-believable" Was all she had to say to that. Either way, knowing or not knowing is bad. She just shook her head at that one.
They now were back too tell Caitlyn & John everything. Thea was still a little checked out of the moment at her word with Gideon & Barry but she seemed to be more level headed than earlier. As they entered they saw Caitlyn removing something from Diggle chest. They were pretty sure she was probably done then.
John heard the footsteps & hopped off from his seated position on the bed to see what they were about to say as they entered. Putting his shirt back on as they approached & he tilted his head up.
"What did you guys find?"