Rip took a drink when he'd finished going over the plan they had for rescuing the Legends. Once they located them properly then he would be able to make a more detailed one. They were meeting onboard the ship in two hours to start the rescue. This allowed everyone to pull together anything they needed for the mission but also gave Rip some time for some personal business he had to take care of.
"I'm assuming your memories have returned fully," Cisco noted, arms folded across his chest and a thoughtful look on his face.
Rip nodded.
"Damn," Cisco sighed, "I'm sorry, Rip. I tried my best not to let that happen."
"It wasn't your fault, Cisco," he assured the younger man, "There was no other way to fix Gideon."
Cisco grimaced, "I just know it isn't going to be easy for you to return to your life here with all your memories. The point of removing them was to allow you to hide with Jonas."
"It will be fine," Rip assured him, "Once we're finished here Gideon will remove them again."
"Hold on," Cisco frowned, "But you said…"
"I lied," Rip replied with a shrug before explaining, "I thought it better that my message be as persuasive as possible so I would choose to have you remove my memories rather than allowing them to surface fully."
"Why?"
Rip shook his head sadly, "Because I didn't want to remember losing Jonas and saying goodbye to Gideon. I didn't want to feel that pain again even knowing it would be removed once more."
Understanding Cisco nodded, "Makes sense."
"Cisco," Rip said before the younger man could leave, "I haven't had a chance to say thank you for everything you've done. Finding me a job, a home, ensuring we were hidden and Gideon told me that you've watched out for us keeping her up to date on how we were. I appreciate it more than I can tell you."
Shrugging Cisco replied, "Not a problem. I'll see you in two hours ready to go."
Rip watched Cisco leave, he needed to see Jonas before he left but he had someone to talk to first.
"Detective West," he found the other man in the cortex talking with his eldest daughter, "Could I have a moment of your time?"
Joe West nodded, "Of course."
"I'll give you some privacy," Iris said, giving Rip a quick smile before she left them alone.
"What can I do for you, Michael? Or do you prefer Rip?" West asked
"Either is fine for the moment," Rip replied before swiftly moving onto why he'd come to talk to the other man, "If something happens to me while I am on this mission then Katrina and Ali will become my son's legal guardians."
"Okay," West nodded.
"If that happens then I am asking you to tell them everything," Rip told him, "I need them to know why I couldn't come back. I want them to be able to explain to Jonas when he's old enough to understand."
West nodded once more, "I will," offering Rip his hand he added when Rip took it, "But I expect you back with everyone else."
x
Rip caught his son when Jonas ran over to him when he walked into the day-care room.
"You're here," the little boy cried excited, it had been days since Rip had been able to have lunch with his son.
"I am," Rip hugged him tightly, "But instead of the cafeteria because we haven't had lunch together for a few days I thought we could go to the café."
"Can I get ice-cream?" Jonas asked hopefully.
Chuckling Rip kissed his son's hair, "If you eat up all your lunch then yes."
Jonas cheered and hugged him again, taking Rip's hand when he was put down they started towards the café not far from Mercury Labs. Rip took Jonas to the family run establishment every so often as a treat. They did mini pizzas and mini burgers, which Jonas loved, they also did kid-sized ice-cream sundaes. These were an additional treat if Jonas had been extra good or, in this case, Rip was about to risk his life to save people he was hiding from and wanted his son to have a good possible last memory of him.
Eating lunch with his son Rip listened to Jonas tell him all about everything he'd done since they were together last. He smiled slightly to himself proud how happy his little boy was, that he had done well caring for Jonas on his own and hoped that this wasn't going to be the last happy memory Jonas had with him.
"It is good to have you in your rightful place once again, Captain Hunter," Gideon stated, gentle vibrations going through the controls when Rip touched them.
Rip nodded, "It is good to be here. Neither of us can get used to it though."
"I know, Rip," she replied softly, "But I can be grateful for your presence here and now."
He smiled at her response turning when his 'crew' arrived on board.
"Mr Ramon, Dr Snow, Mr Allen, Jax," Rip greeted them, "Please take a seat so we can leave."
"Just so you know," Jax spoke up as he settled into his seat, "Travelling through time does have temporary side-effects. He tends to forget the warning until after it happens."
Rip gave a slight shrug before adding, "It is possible that you shall not be affected, Mr Allen."
"You know you can use our names too," Cisco noted.
Rip glanced over at him, "I will try."
Barry chuckled slightly, "We're ready when you are, Captain Hunter."
"Okay, Gideon it's time to go," Rip started the engines, "Begin scans as soon as we reach our destination."
"Yes, Captain Hunter," Gideon replied.
Turning back to his passengers Rip nodded, "Hold on."
With practiced ease Rip lifted the Waverider into the air and flew her into the temporal zone. Despite how long it had been since he'd flown the Waverider, the instinct was there and Rip felt that joy there always was when he piloted his ship. He had missed her so much, hated all the time he'd been parted from her during the years he spent building the Bureau and then by allowing the Legends to 'steal' her. Missed her even with no memory of her.
"I believe I have located the crew, Captain Hunter," Gideon told him when they entered orbit, "They are beneath the Luminous City."
Before Rip could say anything he heard one of his guests being sick, "Dr Snow?"
Caitlin held up her hand letting him know she was alright as Barry rubbed her back. Rip frowned at the way Cisco was waving a hand in front of his eyes.
"Is anybody else blind?" Cisco called.
Rip rested his hand on Cisco's shoulder, "It will wear off quickly," he told the younger man before he moved to Gideon's console, "Show me what you have, Gideon."
The cities schematics appeared on the screen before him just as Jax arrived at his side.
"What is the Luminous City?" Jax asked.
Rip sighed, "It's not as pretty as it sounds. The luminosity of the title comes from a moss that grows over the buildings. It is one of the five cities left on the planet at this time. It is big and dirty with a lot of homeless people."
"Captain," Gideon spoke up, "I believe I have located the Legends."
Rip frowned slightly, "Already? That was a lot faster than I anticipated."
"Dr Palmer wears an activation sensor for the ATOM suit within his watch," Gideon advised, "I have used the energy signature from that to locate him at least."
Rip nodded, "Okay," he breathed, "Gideon, rescan the area and check for any signatures that do not belong in this time period."
"I have done this already, Captain," she reminded him, annoyance in her voice.
He tapped a few instructions into the computer, "Try using this."
"There is a ship berthed not far from where the team are being held," Gideon told him before asking, "Why did you not give me this information until now?"
Rip tilted his head slightly amused, "Because I needed to check if the people who have the team are who I think they are."
"Who do you think they are?" Jax demanded, as Barry, Cisco and Caitlin joined them.
"Time Pirates," Rip explained, "But they have a former Time Master working with them. It's how they got access to the schematics for the weapon and the cloaking signal they are using to hide. Another of my designs."
Jax grimaced, "Do you know which former Time Master?"
"Not a clue," Rip replied before shrugging, "I guess that makes this more fun."
Caitlin gave a small frown, "You think this is fun?"
Rip shrugged again, "It's a matter of perspective. Gideon, have the med-bay ready for the crew just in case."
"Of course, Captain Hunter," she replied.
He opened a file, "Gideon, hack their system. This is what I expect you to find. You know what to do."
"Yes, Captain."
Rip smiled at her before he turned to the four people standing there waiting, "Alright, let's go. We'll take the Jumpship. I'll explain what to do on the way."
"Be careful," Gideon told him.
Sliding his hand across the console in a gentle caress he smiled, "I promise."
x
Sara felt the bonds biting into her wrists as she twisted round to check on Ray and Zari. Both were still unconscious from the attack on the Waverider. Wally was secured to the other wall beside Nate, both appeared to have what she deduced was a power dampener around their necks. John was gagged tied up at Sara's side while Mick was restrained by both his wrists and feet.
"The infamous Legends," a man sneered from the shadows, "It's a pleasure to meet you all."
Shifting slightly Sara glared at the figure, "Trust me, the pleasure is yours."
"Where is the Captain of the Waverider?" he demanded.
"That would be me," Sara snarled at him, "And when I get free I will let you know exactly how I feel about you attacking my crew."
Their captor let out a laugh, "You may lead this group of misfits but you're not the Captain of the Waverider. If you were then you would have had known about the weapon I used. You are not the Time Master."
Realisation hit Sara, "You're looking for Rip."
"Precisely," the man replied, "So now we have that established, where is Rip Hunter?"
Sara glared at him, "Rip is dead."
"That is a pity," he mused, "Because you are of no use to me now. You see Rip Hunter could give me access to what I need from the Waverider."
Sara remained silent working on the bonds that held her to the wall.
"And if you think you can," their captor laughed stepping further into the cell, followed by three other men and two women all armed, "Tell me why did the AI leave you to your fate? The reset I used would previously return her to the Vanishing Point, with that gone it is logical the AI would seek out her Captain. And she left you. Do you still think you're the Captain of the Waverider?"
"Actually," a familiar and unexpected voice came from behind the man, "That would be me."
Sara stared in amazement at the man who stood there, gun in hand, dressed the same as he had been the day they met and cold as ice as he stared at the man who had taken them captive.
"Rip?"