(Scenes from Legends of Tomorrow Season 3, Episode 9)

My apologies for the existent somberness in my voice. We've lost our dear comrade, Professor Martin Stein, amidst the crisis on Earth-X. The team is still coping with the aftermath. I'm generally concerned about everyone, but I've been fretting about Jax in particular. He was with his friend/surrogate father in his final moments, and I'll start crying if I broach it further. I don't even know if it's possible for me to cry. Mr. Leo Snart (otherwise known as Citizen Cold) has been trying to help them grieve by providing one-on-one counseling sessions with a mannequin resembling the deceased professor. The Legends are non-committal to them, I think, because of the discomfiting poppet. Mr. Rory is more unpleasant by the mere sight of his late partner's carbon copy, though he did repeatedly pound its face.

Speaking of fallen co-partners, Mr. Snart's failed meeting with Mr. Jackson ended with a literal shake. A Level-12 anachronism (yes, 12 out of 10) has sparked off a time quake in the Temporal Zone. The Vikings have conquered and settled into the Americas, now called "New Valhalla". Dr. Heywood unfolds that Leif Ericksson did technically find the Americas almost five centuries prior to Columbus' arrival, though the former returned to the homeland after his discovery of Christianity. We journey to 1,000 AD Americas to pin the impetus down. The Legends have uncovered the two objects not belonging in the era: young Professor Stein and a Cuddle Me Beebo doll. Oh, and the Vikings have lionized one of them as a god.

The professor's younger self demystifies how he was originally an interpreter for the blue toy (which is why they kept him alive) until Ericksson's sister, Freydis, usurped him because she didn't like his "translations". She has been using her own renditions to enhance her own agenda of war and conquests. She's a fanatical Viking. So, the Legends plan to retrieve the Beebo doll... and find a way to notify Young Stein of his older self's demise.

Captain Lance is brainstorming to repossess the doll in the bridge with Drs. Heywood and Palmer. The first-mentioned implies that the Vikings are going to celebrate the Yuletide season. This means lots of drinks and merrymaking. A perfect distraction. I chime in on the deliberation with a transmission from... ugh, Agent Sharpe. She probably wants to spiel on their approachment skills. The guys leave, so the captain can take the call. "Put her on," she responds. Upon seeing her face, there's something oddly different about the frosty officer. She isn't giving her usual grimace, has her collar button undone, and her hair is let down literally on one side. If truth be told, it graces her face than that taut bun. "Agent Sharpe, it's been a while thankfully."

She flatly greets, "Captain Lance."

"Let me guess. You saw that there's a Level-12 anachronism, and you're calling to lecture me on everything that we're doing wrong." Typical.

"No," she utters, shaking her head. The captain doesn't believe her reply. Neither do I. "Okay, yes; but I also heard about Martin Stein, and I'm calling to express my condolences." That is… very courteous of her.

"Well, thank you," Captain Lance imparts, "but my team and I, we have it under control."

"Well, I hope so because the Legends fixing a Level-12 under normal circumstances would be a Beebo Day miracle." Wait, what?

"Did you just say 'Beebo Day'?"

"Beebo Day, December 25th," the agent explicates, "where families exchange gifts and sing silly songs and discover they can no longer live under the same roof?" She discerns the captain's unspoken expression. "Beebo Day's part of the anachronism, isn't it?"

"Yeah."

"Yeah, never felt right."

"The anachronism is cementing fast and, to be honest, my team is still raw about losing Stein. We could use an outside perspective." Huh?

"Are you asking for my help?" Is she?

"No." Agent Sharpe voicelessly discredits her retort. Shockingly, so do I. "Okay, yes." An incidental portal opens behind Captain Lance. She turns around to witness her nemesis's entrance. Was she anticipating this moment?

Assuming her professional stance, she inquires, "All right, what's the plan?" I thought she was going to jeer at the captain's idea, but she's relatively agreeable about it. Besides, she doesn't look a fright in her costume.

En attendant, Miss Tomaz and Jax are playing a video game in the lab. She's winning distracting him from telling Younger Professor Stein the truth. He notwithstanding wants to, but Captain Lance has vehemently forbidden him. She challenges this directive, declaring she would let her brother know in a heartbeat if she was in his shoes. Just then, the mini professor walks in, looking for him. The former requests to be taken home to his family in 1992 Central City despite the missing Beebo. The latter offers to accompany him to the jumpship. As they're leaving, Miss Tomaz urges Jax to seize the clear opportunity.

The rest of the Legends, along with Agent Sharpe, have retreated shortly after this. New Valhalla has become Vinland. "Well, that was unexpected," the bureaucrat says as she struts through the corridor with the captain and Miss Jiwe. "I mean, not the Darhks showing up. They seem to enjoy altering history. The moment when you were retreating."

"Well, Vikings are one thing," the captain justifies as they stride into the bridge. "If we're gonna tangle with the Darhks, we have to get our heads on straight."

"I, for one, am glad you're treading cautiously." In the Legends' defense, almost 80% of the madness was not their fault.

"We've arrived safely in the Temporal Zone," I relay, "but I'm afraid the anachronism has..."

"Let me guess, it's worse," Captain Lance deems. "Thank you, Gideon." Another time quake erupts, rocking the Waverider. "We are not letting America go Viking. Ava, can you call the Time Bureau for backup?"

"Wait, wait, wait, are we really that desperate," Dr. Heywood questions. The next time quake affirms it, coupled with Miss Jiwe's "Yeah".

"Well, the last time we faced Nora Darhk," Dr. Palmer adds, "she put Sara in a coma."

"Right," Agent Sharpe mutters. She wasn't so happy about that. "I'll, uh, speak to Director Bennett." She dismisses herself to contact her superior.

"Thank you," the captain expresses. The others disperse at the same time Miss Tomaz turns up and brashly fills her in on Mr. Jackson's unwarranted venture in getting Younger Professor Stein home for the holidays. Her haughty goading is not funny.

In the library, a frantically sober Mr. Rory is searching through his hiding places for a drink. Mr. Snart tries to convince him to eschew his addiction. He refers the former to his Earth-X doppelganger, the latter's best friend, and how his death shattered him. He has realized that he is still grappling with it after he saw Mr. Rory. This is why he came onboard. The two men clash and compare the other's late counterpart. Mr. Rory snarls his unwelcoming dislike for Mr. Snart and pushes him to return to Earth-X. Without resorting to violence, he gives in to this once the job is done.

In the parlour, Agent Sharpe is finishing her call with Director Bennett. "Are we clear, Agent Sharpe," he solemnly asks.

"Crystal, sir," she answers in a displeased tone. He hangs up immediately before Captain Lance drops in and stops at the table.

"Please tell me you have good news."

"I'm afraid Director Bennett doesn't believe this mission is the best use of our resources," she reports, walking to the other side of the table. He's more proscriptive than her.

"So what, the Time Bureau is just gonna let the Darhks run around and change history?"

It may be the loose hairstyle, her hounding of the Legends now bygone, or the fact that she has went on her first mission with them. Whatever the reason, Agent Sharpe decides to lower her guard. "The Time Bureau's in disarray. Ever since Rip was sentenced to prison, we—"

"Wait, Rip's in prison?" If you can see me now, you'd see the demurral on my face rivaling the incredibility on the captain's.

She nods, continuing, "He was hardly convincing at the tribunal, raving about Mallus, completely unapologetic." That's Hunter to a tee. "And, in his absence, Damien Darhk has recruited even more allies. Gideon, can you pull up what Director Bennett showed me, please?" On the computer screen, I put on view a painting of the Gorilla Grodd about to destroy the Great Wall of China. "Grodd survived Vietnam. Darhk secured him a means of time travel."

"Of course." Captain Lance leans against the table, frustratedly rubbing her forehead. Agent Sharpe steadies herself next to her.

"Darhk and his daughter are just too powerful. They have magic we just don't understand. We've lost scores of agents trying to fight them."

"So what? What does that mean," the go-getter questions. "That you're just gonna throw in the towel?"

The pragmatist sighs, "We can't afford to lose anyone else."

"And I can?" Concerning with the pressing loss of the professor, she's understandably offended.

"No, I mean..."

She confronts her, asserting, "Do you have any idea how hard this has been on us?"

"I really am sorry, Sara," she reprieves. She then monitors her loud courier. "Director Bennett has ordered me to return to the Time Bureau." She is on her way out when Captain Lance's next words bring her to a standstill.

"Screw his orders." A minute later, she infers, "I need you here."

Judging from Agent Sharpe's guise, her prevalent employment is the only thing keeping her from hanging around. "I know Darhk is personal to you and you're the last person to back off from a fight, but you asked me to give you an outside perspective," she recounts. "If you're concerned about the safety of your team, leave Vinland. This is not a fight the Legends can win." To my shock, I dislike her less at that point. Directly after imparting the tentative heads-up, she portals back to the Bureau, resigning a disgruntled captain.

Captain Lance ruminates about not just Agent Sharpe's caveat, but the entire situation as well. She calls everyone to the bridge for a discussion. As they roll in, she spots Mr. Jackson among them. "Heard you took young Stein back to 1992."

"Yep," he diffidently admits.

She isn't mad that he defied her. "How'd it go?"

"He's just glad to be home."

"Okay, here's the deal. Backup is not coming," she concedes. "The Time Bureau thinks the Darhks can't be defeated, and they're probably right." She makes a laconic segue in her exposition. "Leo asked us to talk about our feelings. Well, my feeling is that history needs us to stop the Darhks, but after losing Stein, I can't lose anyone else." The captain budges near the passenger seats before she impetrates, "I need you guys to take the Waverider and leave."

"Not without you," Mr. Jackson objects.

Miss Jiwe agrees, "You can't face Darhk alone."

"I have a plan." Her plan was to go head-to-head with Damien Darhk, who has addressed himself as "Odin" to the Vikings. The eventuality is unfavorable as he is strong and powerful enough to kill her. Miss Tomaz composes her variant strategy, which requires all of them to challenge him as a team. Although the prospective outcome is improving, it won't guarantee them a full victory against the Darhks and the Vikings.

Mr. Jackson advises, "Look, Sara, don't let Grey's death teach us the wrong lessons."

"Either we do this together or not at all," Dr. Heywood opines.

The captain knows her crew is jointly resistant in letting anyone, even herself, battle the adversary unaided. At any rate, the alternative is permitting the Darhks to win. She's most unwilling to surrender as Agent Sharpe rightfully noted. Her final decision is instigated as she orders with a smirk, "Gideon, plot a course to Vinland." I was glad to.

The Legends did thwart the Vikings, but the Darhks managed to escape. While they were getting away, Captain Lance had somehow transported to another dimension for a brief period. Agent Sharpe has ushered her into the medbay upon disembarkation and requested an X-ray scan on her. I was pleasantly surprised to see her back for once. "There's nothing physically ailing you, Captain Lance," I report after completing the examination.

"Told you, I'm fine."

"You also told me you visited an alternate dimension," she stresses.

"Well, it wasn't my first time," the captain brushes off. She gets up from the seat and is set to vacate.

"Sara," the cadet persists, grabbing her arm, "tell me exactly what you saw in there."

"Look, I don't know, okay? It wasn't about what I saw. It was about what I... felt." She describes, "It was an absence of feeling: no warmth, no love, just a void, and the only thing filling the void was... Mallus."

The mention of that name rivets Agent Sharpe's attention. "It seems Rip was right to be obsessed with him. I need to tell the Bureau."

"Aren't you afraid of getting in trouble for disobeying orders?"

"It was worth it," the federal agent acknowledges with a slight smile. "See ya again." A bemused Captain Lance observes her exit. You know, this side of Agent Sharpe has begun to grow on me... and possibly the captain too.

The latter smugly quizzes, "Gideon, how's the ol' timeline?"

"Records show that history has been restored," I summarize. "New Valhalla is North America again, and the only war Beebo has incited is in shopping malls across the nation."

My answer pleases her greatly. "Sounds like our work here is done." Someone else has concurrently queried me on the timetable for an unassociated reason.

"Gideon, are you sure that there's no other changes to the timeline," Jax asks in the library, alongside Miss Tomaz.

"If you're referring to Professor Stein, he still died in 2017." I don't enjoy delivering this unfavorable news. He wonders how it can be this way granted that he armed Younger Professor Stein with the loophole. Miss Tomaz deduces he hadn't read the letter. He leaves for 1992 Central City on his own to know the truth.

Captain Lance is privately informed about Mr. Jackson's whereabouts. Waiting for him in the parlour, she hears the doors sliding open and treading footsteps. "Did you try to change his fate?"

He enters after he says, "Didn't work, so, uh..."

"I'm sorry, Jax."

"Me too." He mutters, "If I stay on this ship, I'll never be able to move on."

"What do you mean? Like... you wanna leave? You can't leave, Jax. You're a part of this team." The captain refuses to lose another person, dead or alive. It must be said I don't want to lose another friend either.

"Yeah, and I always will be," he assures, "but, right now, uh, this is something I gotta do. I need a different kind of adventure."

The captain perceives the gravity in his voice. She asks, "Is this what you really want?"

"Yeah."

"I would order you to stay," she yields, "but I know you'd just disobey me and follow your heart, like you always do."

"Hey." The two hug then and there. Over the past three years, Mr. Jackson has become like a little brother to her. They mutually pull away a minute later. "Can you do a favor? Don't tell the others until I'm gone. I'm not very good at goodbyes."

"Yeah, yeah. I totally get it."

"Okay." He grasps her shoulder with one hand and exits the parlour to pack his belongings. While giving the ship one last walkabout, he makes his way into the dark lab. I quietly turn on the lights on cue. "Surprise," the others exclaim, causing him to flinch. The room is garnished in holiday décor and a table full with food. The captain smirks, "Did you think we're gonna let you sneak out without saying goodbye?"

Dr. Palmer accedes, "Yeah, we can't celebrate the holidays without the whole family." Jax can't hide his smile at the sight of this occasion. He places down his duffel bag and engages in the festivities. Amidst of this, Mr. Snart and Mr. Rory have buried the hatchet. My favorite segment of the night is Jax's farewell speech. He vocalizes, "When you get a bunch of broken pieces, and you put them together the right way, they make something new and suddenly they don't feel so broken anymore. I'm pretty sure that's what a family is."

I have the chance to bid Jax adieu before Captain Lance personally sends him off. I'm going to miss him immensely. While entering the cargo bay, she gets an unannounced visitor. A ruggish Englishman with spiky blond hair emerges out of the darkness. She recognizes him as an old acquaintance of hers. He's seeking her help with a little girl possessed by a demon who knows the captain's name. Take a wild guess on who the demon is.