Hey all, long time no see. I thought it was fair to all of you who actually enjoy what I do to post the other chapters that I finished, I think this might be my last fully finished chapter, and after the last few months I havent had the motivation to write. So this might be the last time you hear from me for a while.
Episode 8: "What's past is prologue."
"My name is Savannah Winters and I used to be normal, but two years after the accelerator went off I found out I had powers, then I'm suddenly kidnapped by a man who says I'm meant for bigger things, I'm not meant to just be a hero, I was meant to be a Legend, I am Trajectory."
Don't get too close, it's dark inside, it's where my demons hide, it's where my demons hide.
Location: Harmony Falls, 1958.
"I'm not the only one whose vision is blurry in their left eye, am I?" Martin was the first to speak after they time jumped.
"Nope, I'm with you Professor." Savannah replied blinking rapidly.
"Seeing three of everything? That's normal right?" Jax inquired, leaning forward.
"Yes, as I mentioned before, the effects of time travel on the human body increases with the length of each jaunt." Rip reassured with a small shake of his head as if he too, was trying to stave off the effects of time travel.
Savannah was surprised when the temporary blindness disappeared only moments later, and she stood up and joined Rip at the console.
"So, where are we this time?" She asked curiously.
"Harmony Falls, Oregon. According to Captain Baxter's intel, Savage makes an appearance in this quaint little hamlet."
Walking over to the screen on the wall ahead of her, Savannah looked at the picture of a town.
"What the heck is Savage doing in Pleasentville?" Jax asked, sounding disbelieving.
Then, a news article came up.
"Murder, by the looks of it." "Murder, apparently." Savannah and Rip said at the same time, causing the duo to glance at each other before Savannah muttered:
"Jinx."
The look she got from Rip, produced a sheepish grin from the blonde.
"Several denizens of Harmony Falls have been brutally slain, and others have gone mission."
At the sight of the teens bodies, she felt as though she had been physically hit with nothing short of the Waverider, Savannah quickly stepped back.
"I warned you." A handwritten note sitting on the bed, blood splattered across the floor, on the bed, on the walls, blood, blood was everywhere.
"No! No!" Her whispered plea turned into a desperate scream as she spun around and ran out of the room that had once belonged her to beloved niece.
"Riley! Riley!" Her call bounced off the walls and echoed back to her, there was no response, Riley was gone.
The flashback only consisted of a moment, but even after it was over, Savannah could still see and smell the blood, feel the paper note, still hear the small voice, calling out...
Shaking her head, Savannah tried her hardest to focus on what Rip was saying.
"Reports are vague, but it seems like the killer is an expert with knives."
"That sounds like Savage's MO." Sara pointed out.
"Yeah, but serial killing isn't." Ray objected.
"Ray's right," Savannah agreed, finally coming back to herself, "Savage kills for a reason, the only time he killed like this was when he killed the three guards, the captain, and the police man, coming off of the S.S. Tithonus."
Everyone looked at her strangely, before Ray continued.
"Sounds pretty small-time for a guy who's had coffee with Hitler."
"Yeah, well, clearly we have to assume that Savage has a larger, more nefarious plan. But since we've jumped back in time, Savage isn't expecting us here."
Rip explained, walking back over to the others.
"Savage is pretty good at hiding, even in a small town." Kendra pointed out, arms folded across her chest. "How do you plan to find him?"
"By investigating these murders. Now, there has to be a common link between the victims, starting with the first."
Savannah leaned against the console and mentally prepared herself for what she was going to see.
"A piano teacher was found slain in her home, which is now on the market." Rip started, pulling a picture of a white bungalow. "Dr. Matt Miller was found murdered on the grounds of the asylum where he worked. Meanwhile, Jefferson is the perfect age to discern the facts behind the disappearances of three teenagers who went missing a week before these murders began."
"So, Raymond and Kendra are shaking up, Sara's nurse Ratched, and Jax's the new kid in town. Where does that leave me?" Snart questioned, and Savannah rolled her eyes.
"You mean us?"
"Whatever."
Savannah scolded as she paced about the bridge.
Why did she have to be the one to hang back? She wanted to be a part of this mission, so why couldn't she?
"Miss Winters."
Biting her lower lip Savannah remained oblivious and continued to pace.
This mission, it reminded her so much of Riley, so much of that pain, so much of that helplessness, she could very well imagine what the parents of those teenagers were going through.
"Savannah?"
Stopping abruptly, only inches away from Rip, heart leaping violently Savannah stumbled back a few steps while bringing a hand to her chest.
"My god, what are you trying to do Hunter? Put me in cardiac arrest?"
Savannah mentally swore when visions of blood and pain so much pain, flashed in her mind, her legs became weak and she tried to make leaning on the console as nonchalant as possible.
It was obvious that she didn't succeed when Rip's eyes somehow both softened in concern, and hardened in alarm.
No, no, no, no, no, no.
"I'm fine," She insisted strongly, "You just scared the heck out of me, that's all."
Rip didn't seem to believe her, but whatever he was going to say was cut off by the arrival of the others.
Breathing a small sigh of relief, Savannah joined them in the study.
Leaning over to Ray, Savannah narrowed her eyes at the object he was holding. "What's that?"
"Tuna surprise." He replied taking the lid off and allowing her to smell it.
"Wow, that smells really good, hey look! It comes with a spoon! Awesome!" Tugging the pot out of Ray's grip, Savannah dropped down in the leather chair and happily started digging in.
Ray looked rather crestfallen, so Savannah set it down and shot off, sending whatever papers Rip had sitting on the table flying all over the place, before Savannah returned with a second spoon.
Ray pulled the other chair up to sit next to her as they both started eating it.
Savannah only half listened to what Kendra was saying as she explained what had happened.
"Savage doesn't think I recognize him, which means he won't try to kill me. He can't steal my powers before I've discovered them."
"Don't forget, we also have to figure out why he's killing the townsfolk." Ray reminded as Savannah nudged his spoon aside playfully.
"Are you two really eating that?" Kendra asked in disbelief, face scrunched up in disgust.
That earned her two looks, one of confusion, and the other of enjoyment.
"Say what you want about Savage." Said the latter. "He makes one heck of a casserole."
The former suddenly looked a little green. "Did you say, Savage made this?"
Ray nodded happily while Savannah looked like she had lost her appetite. "O-kay all yours."
"Yes, well, Mr. Snart and I have been analyzing these forensic files. Which reveal nothing except-"
"Savage is very good at making people disappear." Snart finished.
"Hmm, something you both have in common." Jax commented snidely, causing Savannah to swing around, eyes wide with disbelief.
"Really? You really just had to say that?" She scoffed angrily.
"Are we just gonna pretend like none of this happened?" Jax continued at the multiple looks he received. "That Mick Rory wasn't a part of our team? If you can ice your best friend like that, I hate to think what you could do to us."
Savannah looked over at Rip, and the two shared exasperated looks.
"Right now we need to stay focused on the mission." Rip cut in quickly. "Look, Savage is going to be busy with his little cocktail party. Whilst you two keep and eye on him, Sara and Martin have the opportunity to find out what he's doing in the secret wing of that asylum."
Savannah walked beside Kendra as the four of them walked down the corridor.
"I'm sorry Mr. Palmer. I'm unfamiliar with the term "man cave"." Rip apologized.
"Oh it's a room in a basement where a dude goes to be alone or watch football," Ray started to explain and Kendra and Savannah shared a look, amused smiles playing at their lips.
"Or in Savage's case, it's kill people."
"So Ray and I break in and find out what Savage is doing in Harmony Falls." Kendra offered as they turned the corner, and a door opened revealing Jax.
"Oh, oh, oh!" Ray exclaimed, impressed.
"Is tonight the Enchantment Under the Sea dance?" Kendra asked in a teasing manner.
Jax chuckled, before explaining, "I got a date tonight with Tommy Fuller's cheerleader girlfriend. Turns out Betty's boyfriend was one of the missing high school kids. I think she knows more than she's letting on."
Savannah folded her arms over her chest. "Yeah, but she's also a white girl in a town where people are racist idiots, so just be careful, alright?"
"Savannah is right, please be careful when your out in public with her." Rip agreed, and Jax nodded knowingly to both of them.
"An immortal psychopath and racists. I'm beginning to like this quaint little town less, and less." Ray sighed.
Savannah was eating cheez itz right out of the box when Gideon spoke up.
"Captain Hunter requests your presence in the Cargo Bay."
Narrowing her eyes, Savannah swung her legs off of the other chair and popped another cheez it in her mouth.
"Alright, tell him I'll be there a minute."
Changing into black jeans, a (more resistant) pair of running shoes, and a white shirt with dark blue sleeves, Savannah used her speed to get to the Cargo Bay, she tossed her box of snacks to Rip, who managed to catch it, as she pulled her hair up into a messy ponytail.
"Really?" Rip said holding the box up.
Savannah grinned playfully as she snatched it back. "Yep."
Snart rolled his eyes as the Cargo Bay door open and Savannah was the first one out, she swung around just to throw a cheez it in the air and catch it in her mouth, causing Rip to roll his eyes and grab the box and set it down in the Waverider before taking a gently hold of her arm and leading her to where they needed to go.
"Gideon traced Jax's last biosignature to this location." Rip said as the car they borrowed (stole) approached another one, the drivers door left open, and a shadowy figure slumped over in the passengers seat.
Throwing the door open before they had a chance to come to a full stop, Savannah jogged over to the passenger seat and jerked the door open, revealing Betty, who had long, deep scratches on her neck.
"Well, it seems you had good reason to be concerned for Mr. Jackson's safety." Rip said as Savannah leaned over the girl to try and get a better look at the wound.
"Yeah, sucks being right all the time." Snart replied as Savannah hissed in sympathy.
"She needs medical attention, now." She warned, looking over at Rip through the car.
"Get her back to the Waverider, Mr. Snart and I will catch up." He decided, Savannah nodded, before gently picking her up bridal style, and shot off, the area momentarily glowing by the brightness of her lightning, before fading away.
Savannah gently laid the girl down in the chair, then hooking the cuff on her wrist.
"She has suffered several lacerations." Gideon informed, "I am attempting to cauterize the wound."
"Alright, look after her while I go grab the boys will you Gid?"
"Of course."
Nodding, Savannah took off yet again, and stumbled over herself when she tried to stop.
The two spun around as she hit the back of the car and swore loudly.
"Alright, so I can only take one at a time, I hope you don't get motion sick." She said before grabbing Snart by the arm and running him back to the ship.
She kept her grip on his arm for a few moments to keep him steady, before going back for Rip and did the same.
"What happened?" Martin demanded walking in.
"I don't know. But I'm guessing Jax and Peggy Sue had a pretty lousy first date."
Savannah shot the criminal a look before gently brushing Betty's hair out of her face.
"Where is Jefferson?"
"We didn't see him in the car," Savannah answered, not taking her eyes off of the young girls face as her eyes opened, and Martin leaned over her.
"These wounds don't appear consistent with a knife." Martin pointed out.
"Correct." Gideon spoke up, "I believe these lacerations were made by talons."
Savannah's eyes went wide.
"Talons?"
"It was Tommy." Betty whispered softly.
"Tommy Fuller, one of the missing teenagers." Rip explained when Martin looked over at him.
"He was like a bird." She described. "He-he was like a bird monster."
"A who what now?" Savannah questioned, eyebrows furrowed.
"Captain, analysis of Miss Seaver's blood reveals traces of silicate minerals." Gideon announced, only further confusing Savannah.
"Miss Seaver, do you recall Tommy coming into contact with a meteor of some kind?" Rip questioned.
"The car crash..." She started trying to keep her eyes open. "It was-it was glowing."
"She's talking about the Nth Metal meteorite." Martin revealed, and Savannah shook her head.
"Say something that makes sense." Snart spoke up.
"It seems Mr. Fuller has come into contact with a meteorite with mutagenic properties."
Savannah's eyes lit up in realization.
"Try again."
Savannah turned to the criminal. "He means the kid touched the thing which gave Kendra and Carter their powers."
Savannah offered to stay with Betty as the others left for the bridge.
Pulling up a chair, Savannah opened her book: Harry Potter and the sorcerer's stone, and started reading at normal speed.
About, six chapters in, was she joined by Martin, who explained that he was going to try and make an antidote, and ten minutes after that they were joined by Sara.
Seeing that she wanted to talk to him without an audience, Savannah nodded to her, before walking out and sighed softly when the door slid shut behind her.
Rubbing her face with her hands, she now noticed that she left her book behind, Savannah felt tired.
"Miss Winters?"
"God." She groaned aloud, pulling her hands away from her face she shot him a rather unhappy look. "What?"
The look she received from him was one Savannah was used too by now.
Realizing what he wanted Savannah shook her head vigorously as she stepped back towards where her room was located. "No. I can't deal with this right now."
Rip was a lot faster then she gave him credit for, because almost the moment she turned around, ready to run back to her room, did a hand grab her forearm.
Joints locking in place and the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end as she spun around sharply.
"Deal with what?"
Savannah opened her mouth with every intention of telling him to mind his own business until she realized that he actually looked genuinely concerned, his head ducked down to be able to meet her gaze.
Shoulders slumping, Savannah simply stared back at him, to exhausted and emotionally drained to be able to open that door, not yet.
Somehow, as if he heard what she was thinking, he released her and the two kept eye contact for a while longer.
"Am I interrupting something?" Sara's knowing voice pierced through and shattered the rather calming silence that surrounded them.
Her words took a half second to register and Savannah shot her a "what the heck?" kind of look.
Sara looked completely innocent as she walked by snagging Savannah's arm as she went, forcing the speedster to follow.
Savannah managed to make eye contact with Rip once more, a ghost of a smile touching her lips.
Thanks.
Before she was promptly dragged down the hall, and out of sight.
"Nurse?" Ray called from his place in a wheelchair at the front desk. "Nurse I keep hearing voices in my head. My wife with another man. And it's driving me crazy."
"Well, maybe you should learn to trust your wife a little bit more." Sara said with a faint smile, before turning around. "Orderly? Show our new patient to his room."
Rip walked around the desk to where Ray was.
"And don't hesitate to give him a sedative if he doesn't calm down." Savannah added her shoulder brushing Sara's and the blonde duo shared a smile.
"Right away Nurse." Rip replied before pushing Ray down a hallway.
Savannah tugged on her dress for a moment, before pretending to return to her duties.
Of course, not a moment later did an alarm sound, and then, exactly as Betty had described, bird like monsters appeared, the patients ran screaming, and Savannah ran out and grabbed one of the chairs, before hitting one of the creatures with it, but it only resulted in angering the monster.
"Oh well isn't that just wonderful." She commented, and ducked beneath its arm and ran down the same hallway that Ray and Rip disappeared down not minutes earlier.
"Hey stupid!" She shouted, effectively catching two of the bird-creatures attention. "Come and get me!"
They screeched and immediately started after her.
As she ran, Savannah glanced back for a moment, hence not seeing the turn and slammed face-first into the wall.
Stumbling back, Savannah let out a loud cry half in surprise and half in pain when the bird-creature dug its talons into her shoulders and throwing her into the wall.
Dazed, Savannah barely rolled out of the way in time before jumping to her feet and kept running.
Then a familiar blue glow shone from up ahead.
"Hey Rip!" She called out. "Look out!"
Through the darkness of the hallway, Savannah saw a head snap back and just as he lifted his gun did the blonde duck, and she felt the heat as the laser fire went by and nearly ran into Rip, who grabbed her arm to steady her.
She looked up and offered him a cheeky grin. "Do I know you? I swear we've met somewhere before."
Rip let go of her and, much to her surprise, played along. "We might have."
"Thought so, it'd be hard to forget a face like yours." She shot at him before jogging forward to meet up with one of the monsters and giving him a right hook with the help of her super speed.
The look he shot back at her could've melted steel.
Patting his arm when she got back to him, Savannah noticed a bird-creature behind them and gently leaned her back against his. "Trust me, that's a compliment."
Using her speed Savannah swung her foot up into a round house kick, effectively throwing the bird-creature back several yards.
"Oh is it now?" Rip replied as she joined him after making sure the creature was unconscious.
Leaning against the doorway Savannah couldn't stop the grin from spread across her lips.
"Are you two, flirting?" Sara's voice echoed from her comm.
Tilting her head Savannah narrowed her eyes. "I'm sorry what?"
"We have Jax and we're headed back to the Waverider see you both there." Sara replied sounding amused.
Savannah nodded even though she knew Sara couldn't see it. "Yeah, alright."
She lifted her blue eyes up to him, "Time to go."
Rip barely had time to nod before Savannah grabbed his arm and the rest was a blur.
"Gideon was able to help me devise a gene therapy that will hopefully restore Jefferson and those at the asylum to their former selves." Martin explained injecting Jax with the antidote. "If genome bonding occurs, we should know right away."
Savannah leaned over Jax anxiously, blue eyes scanning the younger mans face for any sign of change.
"Course, we would never have had the slightest chance of saving him were it not for you." Martin said to Snart.
"Let's not get sentimental. Another minute, and things might have gone down very differently."
"Despite your bravado, Mr. Snart, the actions that I witnessed last night were nothing short of heroic."
Savannah grinned broadly, Barry was most definitely hearing about this.
As if sensing her thoughts, Snart turned a warning glare in her direction, but only got a innocent look in return.
Suddenly the computers started beeping, drawling their attention away.
Jax's eyes open, and they went from pure black, back to white and brown.
"It's working." Rip breathed out, relief clear in his voice.
Savannah's version of celebrating was eating four boxes of Cheez its.
Throwing another handful into her mouth, Savannah grinned around them and, without turning around, held the box out. "Want some?"
She swore she could see him roll his eyes as he walked besides her. "No, I'm quite alright, thank you."
"You sure?" She asked again, simply to agitate him. "They're really good."
Rip shot her a knowing look.
"Your loss," She replied with a nod and a grin, her fingers unconsciously fiddling with the flap of the cardboard box, "You know what? I'm gonna go see if Gideon will make me some white cheder ones."
Not paying attention to the look she was receiving, the blonde turned around and started on her way back to the Galley.
Just as Savannah got to her destination, did Gideon's voice call her.
"Miss Winters, your presence is desperately needed on the bridge."
Setting the box on the table she nodded slowly, "What's going on Gideon?"
"Chronos as breached the Starboard hatch and is proceeding to the bridge."
"You gotta be kidding me." She hissed before running off to her room to change, before joining her friends on the bridge.
Upon arrival, Savannah was instantly shot confused looks.
"Gideon said Chronos was headed this way." She said in a way of explanation, before she shot a glance over at the others. "How in the world did he get in?"
"Clearly, he's received some new toys from his Time Master friends since our last encounter." Rip pointed out, walking towards the other side of the room. "Gideon, seal the bulkheads from here until-"
The world slowed down just as Chronos appeared, and he already fired his gun.
Running forward, she just barely managed to get between it, and Rip, but it hit her, throwing her into him, sending them both into the back wall.
"That any way to greet your friends?" She asked in mock reproach as she scrambled to her feet.
Chronos snarled at her, and Savannah felt the energy pulse around her in time with her fast beating heart, she then shot forward, and grabbed his gun, ripping it from his grasp, before hitting him upside the head with it.
Jumping back a few steps, Savannah shot a glance over at the others. "Anyone have any ideas on what to do? Cause now's a good time!"
Whilst she was distracted, Chronos repeated the same action she had just done to him, her head snapped back and pain exploded across her jaw as she was sent sprawling onto the floor.
The world faded around the edges, and what she could see swayed before her, making her dizzy.
"Grey, come on! Let's do this!" Jax's voice came from somewhere on her right.
"If we merge on the Waverider, we could destroy the entire ship!" Martin argued back.
"Um, are you not paying attention to what Chronos is doing?!"
Groaning, Savannah rolled onto her side and grabbed onto one of the chairs to pull herself up. the moment she was on her feet was she hit from behind, launching her forwards and slammed brutally into the console, her body slid across it and her bruised body hit the floor with an audible thud.
"Fall back!" Rip ordered from somewhere in front of her. "Get to the Jumpship!"
Suddenly a familiar figure materialized before her and grabbed her by under her arms and slung her over their shoulders. "Always have to complicate things don't you?"
The doors shut and Snart waited until they were farther down the hall before he set her down carefully, and she offered him a bloodied smile. "It's in my job description."
Noticing that she had everyone's attention she sighed. "Alright, how bad is it?"
"No offense Sav," Jax was the first to speak up cringing slightly. "But you look horrible."
"Awesome, now, look I'm not gonna fall over and die okay? Now can you all please stop looking at me like I am?"
"Hey, are you sure it was a good idea leaving the Terminator on the bridge?" Snart spoke up turning to look at Rip.
"Gideon has lockdown protocols which-"
"Have been overridden Captain. Chronos is utilizing superior Time Master technology. I cannot countermand his orders."
Rip and Savannah groaned simultaneously.
The ship then rocked violently, throwing the injured blonde into the younger half of Firestorm.
"He's Timejumping the ship."
"No really?" Savannah commented sarcastically.
"The ladies will be left in 1958." Snart pointed out as the ship continued to sway.
"What about Ray?" Jax spoke up.
"Like I said."
Savannah choked on her laughter.
"Let's go!" Rip exclaimed, throwing himself to his feet and the others quickly followed. "We have to stop him!"
Savannah grind her teeth as she stumbled down the hall after Rip and Snart, with Jax and Martin close behind her.
"Gideon, open the doors on my mark." Rip ordered, leaning against on side and Snart on the other, before turning to the three remaining. "Get to the Jumpship and escape."
Savannah shot him a withering look. "Not in your life."
"We are not abandoning you." Martin agreed.
"No, you are obeying a direct order from your Captain."
Savannah hissed as her body collided into the wall.
Jax grabbed her arm and helped her as they stumbled down the hall, but at where the hallways meet, she stopped, and Jax let her go.
"You two go ahead. I'm going to help the boys." She decided, pulling out her batons, determination burning behind tired eyes, before she started off down the opposite hallway, so she would, hopefully, sneak up on Chronos.
The door opened and Savannah ran in, headed straight for the Bounty Hunter, she kicked his knee out from under him, before saluting Rip and Snart who looked momentarily surprised.
"You two honestly thought that I'd let you fend for yourselves?"
Chronos rose to his feet and Savannah jumped back, eyeing her opponent.
"Alright, this'll be easy." Chronos swung his arm and Savannah ducked beneath it, the world slowed down and she used her batons to punch him in the face without breaking her fingers.
"Kinda hard to shoot with you in the way blondie!"
Ducking again, Savannah shot the two onlooks a look. "Just shoot him then! I'll get out of the way!"
There was a moment of hesitation, before blue laser fire and a cold stream cut through the air and Savannah weaved through them while trying to stay out of Chronos's reach.
Then, Savannah's clumsiness kicked in, she tripped, and Chronos slammed her head into the console and she knew no more.
WOW that was a long chapter, but you guys deserve it! I just wanted to say that Savannah's emotion reading ability is currently not happening. I did tell you guys that all of Redemption is just a first draft, and when I'm done season 1 I'm gonna re-write it, but just replace the current chapters with the new ones, but we've got a long way to go for that don't we?
~DarkRed101