Episode 7: Marooned

Rip was sitting in the study watching the last message he received from his family. "Go ahead, Jonas. He's listening." "Hi, Daddy. We miss you." Jonas said happily. "And love you." Miranda added. "And love you." "Anything else you want to say?" "Come home soon, Daddy." Jonas then walked away leaving Miranda to finish the message. "Hi, Rip. Not sure if you got our last message. I told Jonas that you got caught up with work, but I really thought you'd be home by now. London is…Things have changed. It's hard to tell what's going on with so many soldiers and rumors. I just want to know you're all right. Wherever you are, whenever you are, I love you, Rip."

Just as the message was replaying Danny and Jenny walked in. "Hey Rip. Sorry to interrupt…" Danny said before Rip cut him off and turned off the message. "You're not, I was just, uh, catching up on work." The two noticed a pile of books and papers on the table. "And how's that going?" Jenny asked. "Not good the trail's gone cold." Rip answered. "In order to preserve the element of surprise, I wager the best course of action is to travel further back in time, but nothing here indicates where to find him." "Do you want some help?" Jenny offered. "If I couldn't find anything what makes you think you'd do any better?" Rip asked angrily. "I apologize it's just the stakes are so high. I vowed to save my family, but I'm failing them. Perhaps I'm not the Time Master they need." Of course you are." Danny said reassuringly. "I mean it's not like rest of the Time Masters are willing to help." "Can't Gideon help?" Jenny asked. "No." Rip answered. "When a timeship returns to the Vanishing Point after a mission, its CPU is updated from the temporal database, which, given my rogue status, we are unable to do." "So basically Gideon needs a software update." Jenny realized. "I guess that explains why you've been cooped up in here for the past week." "Has it really been a week?" Rip asked. "Yeah, and the team is getting antsy."

Danny was right, the rest of the team was currently in the cargo bay waiting for their next adventure to begin. "Uuuuuuuuuggggggghhhhhhh." Star and Mabel groaned. "How much longer do we have to wait?" Mabel asked. "Tell me about it." Randy added. "We haven't had any action since 2054." "Calm down guys, I'm sure Rip will have a mission for us in no time." Kim assured them. "Besides Jenny and Danny are checking for us." "Well maybe they need help." Mabel suggested as she got up. "I'll go with you." Star offered. Steven turned to Ben. "This won't end well." "Agreed."

Just as Star and Mabel were about to confront Rip, Gideon gave him some surprising news. "Captain, I've just intercepted a deep space transmission. It's a distress signal from the Acheron. She's the…" "Flagship of the Time Fleet. Yes, I know that. Thank you, Gideon." Rip said. Gideon then brought the message up for the entire team to see. "Systemic malfunction. I'm stranded, unable to jump. Controls unresponsive. This is Captain Eve Baxter of the timeship Acheron, requesting critical rescue." "We're not actually considering helping her, are we?" Star asked. "We are." Rip answered. "Because the Acheron's computer will contain the current intel on Savage's whereabouts. Gideon, set a course for the Acheron's position in deep space." "Yes, Captain." "Wait the ship can go into space? Awesome." Danny said excited. "You know what's not awesome?" Randy asked. "The fact that we're acting as roadside assistance for the people who are chasing us." "He's got a point Rip." Dipper added. "Doesn't it seem suspicious, that this distress call just happened to reach us? How do we know it's not a trap?" "We don't." Rip answered. "But what we do know is that Savage's trail has run cold. And unless Gideon can upload the data from the Acheron's computer…" "Can I come?" Mabel said. "Really?" everyone said surprised. "Well yeah I'm getting tired of sitting around." "Gideon, engines to full throttle." the captain ordered. "Yes, sir."

The team soon arrived at the damaged ship."Mr. Cunningham, Mr. Universe, would you care to join the boarding party?" Rip asked. "Are you kidding, that would be so bruce." Randy exclaimed. "Space travel isn't new for me so sure I'll go." Steven said. Rip then turned to Danny. "Mr. Fenton, I leave this ship in your hands while were gone." Danny nodded. "I won't let you down Captain." Dipper then pulled Mabel aside for a second. "Mabel are you sure you want to go?" "Don't worry Dipper I'll be fine." Mabel assured her brother.

Rip, Steven, Randy, and Mabel took a Jumpship to the Acheron. "I know this isn't my first time in space but the view never gets old." Steven said. "So when was the first time you went to space?" Mabel asked. "When I was 14. The Gems and I were kidnapped and were going to be taken to a prison. But we escaped." "Man growing up with aliens sounds like the best life." Randy commented. "Gideon, have you been able to link up to the Acheron's computer?" Rip asked getting back on topic. "It appears a self-destruct code has disabled the ship's temporal navigation system." the AI answered. "What does that mean?" Randy asked. "It's possibly the result of a malfunction. Rip answered. "Just in case, Steven, I'm going to ask you to remain behind here on the Jumpship in case things go wrong."

Rip then started thinking back to his days as a rookie. He and his soon to be wife Miranda were in the middle of a battle. They were currently running from assailants while shooting laser guns. "Rip? Rip, I need an update." Miranda requested. "How about this update? They've boarded the ship! We've been overrun!" Rip shouted. "Excellent." "Perhaps you're not taking this seriously, Miranda." But she wasn't listening. She instead turned her attention to the ship's AI. "Gary?" "Yes, Captain?" "Be a dear and open the portside bulkhead, would you?" Miranda ordered. Rip could not believe what he was hearing. "Look, I enjoy a suicide mission as much as the next person…" Once again Miranda wasn't listening. "You heard me, Gary." "Yes, ma'am." "What exactly is the plan here?" Rip asked. "Rip, you might want to grab hold something." Miranda instructed. "I am it's called a gun." "Something else. Do it please." Rip then grabbed hold of one of the chairs as Miranda opened the hatch. As a result all of the bad guys got sucked out. "Gamma-delta hatch opened. Explosive decompression has evacuated the time pirates." the AI informed them. "Seal hatch, engage time drive, and punch it." Miranda ordered.

Just then a bald African-American man wearing grey robes walked in. This was Time Master Declan. "Well done, Lieutenant Coburn." he complimented. "Well done? She nearly got us killed." Rip argued. "The simulation equivalent, at least." "She demonstrated unconventional thinking against overwhelming numbers. You could learn a thing or two from her, Lieutenant Hunter." Declan said. A few minutes later Rip and Miranda snuck away to kiss. "Declan was right. Teach me more." Rip said. Miranda laughed at his request. But the laughter soon turned to fright when Declan walked in and caught them in the act. "Sir, I can explain." Rip said. "Don't bother, Lieutenant. Save it for your disciplinary hearing." Declan said before leaving. Miranda grew more nervous that before. "Hey, hey, hey. We can figure this out. We'll get through this together." Rip assured her. Miranda shook her head. "That's just it. We can't be together. We knew from the start; relationships are strictly forbidden." "There has to be a way to fix this." Rip said. Miranda sighed. "I'm sorry. I need some time to think."

Back in the present Rip, Mabel, and Randy boarded the Acheron while Steven stayed behind on the Jumpship. The halls were dark and there was no sign of the captain anywhere. Randy was suited up holding his sais, Rip was holding his Gun, and Mabel had her trusty grappling hook. "Stay close and stay alert." Rip ordered. "To quote every 'Star Wars' ever made, 'I've got a bad feeling about this.'" Randy quipped. "By the way Mabel why did you bring that?" "This grappling hook has gotten me and Dipper out of trouble before. And it will do so again." she answered. "Can we focus?" Rip said. Just then they heard a clang noise. When they turned around, they saw a group of criminals with blasters. "Uh-oh." Randy said. Randy quickly jumped into action and took down one of the bad guys. Rip shot 2 more and Mabel fired her grappling hook but the assailant dodged and the hook hit Rip instead. "Sorry." That distraction gave the goons an advantage and the grabbed Mabel and Rip. Their leader then turned to Randy. He was a man with short blonde hair and a beard wearing a black leather jacket with chains and silver buttons. He also wore black pants and boots and a belt with a silver buckle that had 4 loops. "Valiant effort. Now drop your weapons and put your hands behind your head." "And if I don't?" Randy asked. "Do what the man says." Rip ordered. Randy took notice of the situation and took of his mask and surrendered. "So who are these guys?" Mabel asked. "These, Ms. Pines, are time pirates." Rip answered.

The captain introduced himself. "Captain John Valor." "Oh. What happened to Captain Baxter?" Rip asked. "She was on her way back to the Vanishing Point to imprison us when we made our escape." Captain Valor explained. "But before we could take control of the Acheron…" "She destroyed her time drive in accordance with protocol." Rip said realizing where this was going. "The same protocol that said another Time Master would come to her rescue." Valor added. "Do we look like Time Masters to you?" Randy asked. "No. You look like someone who'd rather be playing videogames that be here." "Well you're not wrong." "Well I am not a Time Master, so you might as well just let us go." Rip said. Valor just laughed. "Correct me if I'm wrong but you're Rip friggin' Hunter. I thought you'd be taller." "You never said you were famous." Mabel commented." "Infamous." Valor corrected. "There was a time when he had men like me running scared all along the timeline." "Unless you let us return to our ship, a man named Vandal Savage will destroy the entire world. Time Masters and pirates alike. For once, we're fighting on the same side." Rip said trying to explain the situation. Alas Valor wouldn't listen. "That little slogan should come with its own shovel. Prepare a boarding party!" "If I were you, I'd reconsider your plan, Mr. Valor." Rip warned. "Really? And why is that?" he asked. "I gave my crew instructions to shoot any boarding vessel, along with the ship launching it." "With the great Rip Hunter on board? I highly doubt it." "You don't know my crew, they're iron-willed and battle-hardened. The most formidable warriors to navigate time and space."

"Captain's log, stardate 837.9. We're awaiting word from the away team aboard the Acheron." Danny narrated to himself. "What are you doing?" Jenny asked. Danny was shocked to hear this due to thinking he was alone. "Ah. Nothing." Danny answered. "Really? Cause it sounded like you were narrating." Ben said while laughing. "Well maybe I'm trying to live out a fantasy." Danny said embarrassed. "A fantasy of what narrating?" Star quipped. In the distance Kim was laughing at Danny's expense while Dipper was worried. "You, ok?" she asked? "I'm fine. Just worried about Mabel." he answered. "I mean I get she's bored but still." "I don't think that's why she wanted to go." Dipper was confused upon hearing this. "What do you mean?" "I think what Mabel really wants is a chance to prove herself to Rip." "Come on Mabel is fine; she doesn't have any self-esteem issues." "Maybe, but haven't you noticed that Rip often prefers to leave her behind. And even when she's in the field she doesn't get much to do." Dipper thought about this. He hadn't even begun to consider what her sister was feeling.

Just then, the Waverider was being hailed on the communicator on the table. Danny answered and the screen showed Valor. "I'd like to speak to Acting Captain Danny Fenton." he requested. "That's me, who are you?" "I'm the man holding your crew hostage. Rip then came into the frame. "Captain Fenton, I've informed Mr. Valor of the fiery retribution you'll rain down upon him if we are not released immediately." Valor, (growing tired of Rip's nonsense) punched him in the stomach and slammed his head onto the table. "I'm gonna make this really simple. You surrender your ship, and I'll drop you and your friends off unharmed at a place and time of your choosing. You've got 10 seconds to decide." "Or else what?" Danny asked. "If you want the Waverider then there's no way you'll shoot us." "Perhaps, but right now, I've got my sights set on your captain's head." Valor said holding a blaster to Rip. Dipper then cut in. "Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. Okay. Maybe we can work something out?" Valor started counting. "Ten… nine…" "Maybe he's bluffing." Ben said nervously. "Eight…" "I don't think so." Jenny said. "Seven…" Rip laughed. "You don't know my crew, and how they survived the 'Imperiex' onslaught."

Suddenly alarms went off in the Waverider which startled the team. "Uh, Gideon. What's going on?" Star asked. "Captain Hunter programmed me to execute certain protocols in response to specific keywords." the AI answered. "What does that mean in English?" Ben asked. "It means strap yourselves in. We are on the move and preparing to fire." The team did as they were instructed and strapped in. "The ship then flew over the Acheron and started shooting. "What's going on?" Steven wondered. "Gideon, who's shooting at us?" "Captain's orders." Gideon answered. "What is Danny thinking?" "No, Captain Hunter's. I'm Attacking the pirates who've taken the rest of the boarding party hostage." Steven was very surprised to hear this. "Pirates?" "Gideon what are you doing?" Dipper asked. "Just a warning shot to let them know we mean business." she answered. "But my sister's on that ship." Steven tried to contact the others. But no one was answering. "Randy, Mabel, Captain Hunter. Is anyone there?" Steven took a deep breath. "Ok Steven it's up to you now."

Valor was not just going to take this sitting down. "Gilbert!" "Yes, sir." "Set a pursuit course and prepare to return fire." The Acheron then started heading towards the Waverider. "Uh you do realize that if you destroy the Waverider we'll all be stranded in space forever. Right?" Mabel said. "Don't worry. I'm only targeting your ship's life support systems." Valor said. Steven started looking around for anything that could help. He soon saw a circuit board and thought that he should break it. Meanwhile the Waverider was taking heavy fire. "There's a hull breach in the aft portion of the ship, and the pirates have taken out the telemetry controls." Danny got up and headed for the ship's controls. "Gideon switch to manual." "Danny what are you doing?" Star asked. "Well if it's anything like the simulators on my computer, flying a spaceship." he answered. Jenny then started leaving with Kim, Ben, and Dipper. "Wait, where are you guys going?" Star asked. "To deal with the hole in the ship." Jenny answered. "Make sure Picard here doesn't get us all killed." Ben said. "I'm actually more like Han Solo in this situation." Danny said.

Back on the Acheron, Valor was enjoying the chase. "Target their thrusters and fire." he ordered. However the ship wouldn't fire. "I said fire!" Just then one of his men approached him. "Sir, the weapons systems have been taken offline manually." Valor became angry after hearing this and approached Rip. "Who else is on my ship?" "Oh, a good captain keeps his best weapons hidden from his enemies, Mr. Valor." Rip answered. Valor then turned to his men. "Find the saboteur! Bring him to me, dead or alive. I guess we'll just have to follow your friends till they're out of air. Shouldn't take too long, given the size of the hole in the hull." Dipper and Kim found the hole and began patching. But not before Jenny gave them specific instructions. "Ok guys, this adhesive should be strong enough to patch the hole. Just use strand then get out of there." They nodded and proceeded to get to work.

"Hail the crew of the Waverider." Valor ordered. "Rip, tell your crew to let us board, and I will happily save them. But either way, we are taking the Waverider." "You should probably take the deal Rip." Mabel suggested. "A captain never surrenders his ship." Rip said. "Besides, you'll never catch Captain Fenton. He once outran 'Kanjar Ro' himself." "Who's Kanjar Ro?" Danny asked confused. "Engaging protocol now, Captain." Gideon said. "Oh thanks Gideon." "I wasn't talking to you." Just then, the Waverider disappeared from sight. "What the hell happened to 'em?" Valor asked. "We were following a holographic projection which allowed the Waverider to slip away." Valor then realized what Rip was doing. "Giving secret commands to your crew. Very clever, Captain. Throw them in the brig!" Rip, Mabel, and Randy were being taken away. "We'll find your friends bodies. Eventually." Dipper and Kim had just finished the patch work. "Great, lets go." Kim said. "Be advised, the breach is only partially contained." Before they could leave the doors closed and they were trapped in the hull. "Guess we know the bulkhead doors are working." Dipper said. "Too bad we're on the wrong side of them." Kim retorted.

Ben, Star, and Danny showed up to find their friends trapped. "Hang on guys we're going to get you out of there." Danny assured them. But when he tried to phase through the door it proved to be ineffective. Try as they would nothing could open the doors. Not Star's magic, not Ben's strongest transformations, not even the most powerful weapons in Jenny's arsenal could break through the doors. "Guys, I don't mean to rush you but it's starting to get cold in here." Dipper said. "Can't you just open the doors, Gideon?" Ben asked. "The bulkhead is designed to remain shut until the breach is sealed." Gideon explained. "Well, that's not happening from in here." Kim pointed out. "How much time do we have until…we're dead?"

Rip, Mabel, and Randy were thrown into a prison cell with Captain Baxter. She was a woman with fair skin, long brown hair and was wearing a brown coat. "Captain Baxter. I'm Rip Hunter. I'm here to rescue you." Rip said. "I doubt it. You walked straight into a trap." Baxter retorted. "I will admit that we've encountered some…unforeseen obstacles. But, we're gonna get you out of here in a second." Rip assured her. "Mr. Cunningham, will you please see what you can do about breaking us out of here?" "Right." Randy said as he put his mask on. "You don't think I've tried breaking out of here? What makes you think the kid could do any better?" the Time Master asked. "Woah who are you calling kid, I'm 15" Randy argued. "I'm sorry. I meant criminal." "Hang on Randy is no criminal." Mabel argued. "Actually, he is." Eve countered. "All of you are. And if we ever do get out of here, the first thing I'll do is take you to the Vanishing Point to await trial before the Time Council." She then turned to Rip. "The great Rip Hunter, but look at you now." "Yes, look at me now. Helping you break out of a pirate's brig aboard your own timeship." Rip scoffed. "I don't want help from a man who broke his oath, stole a timeship, and decided to change history for his own selfish reasons. Doesn't make any sense to me." Baxter said. "No, I don't expect it would." Rip said.

Rip then thought back to his and Miranda's hearing with the Time Council. "Rip Hunter, Miranda Coburn. Those aren't your real names, are they?" Declan asked. 'No sir." Miranda answered. "And why is that?" "Because if our enemies knew our true identities, our ancestors and descendants across the timeline could be potential targets." Rip answered. "As well as anyone else you might love. Which is why…personal attachments are expressly forbidden by the Council of Time Masters. And grounds for immediate discharge from service." Declan explained. "Do either of you deny that you were conducting an illicit affair in violation of this council's rules?" Neither Rip or Miranda answered. Declan sighed. "In that case, I motion that we adjourn this disciplinary hearing for one hour to afford you the opportunity to consider your response. Though I sincerely doubt there's any answer you can provide that will prevent this tribunal from discharging you both from the Time Masters."

Back in the present, Kim and Dipper were freezing their butts off. "How much longer do we have to wait?" Dipper asked. "Calm down Dipper, Danny and the others will fix the hole soon." Kim assured him. "But that's not all your worried about, is it?" "Mabel's been taken hostage by pirates. What if something happens?" "Dipper I'm curious. Mabel doesn't have that many skills. And she didn't even want to come in the first place but you made her. Why?" Dipper sighed. "Well, truth be told I usually praise myself on being smart and capable. But the truth is without Mabel, I'm nothing. We've always had each other's backs and sure we've had issues but, in the end, we love each other and that's what matters." Kim smiled. "Well don't worry, I'm sure she's fine."

Danny and Ben prepared themselves to fix the rest of the Waverider in space. Ben transformed into "Jetray" and Ben put on a space helmet. "Ok guys are you ready?" Jenny asked. "Let's do it." Danny said with confidence. The hatch was opened and they went into space.

Meanwhile Randy still couldn't break through the door. "Sorry, Captain, I can't break through." "It's not your fault Randy. It's his." Mabel said. "In case you've forgotten, Ms. Pines, you volunteered to be part of this boarding party. Not to mention that you hit me with that ridiculous hook of yours." Rip argued. "First of all that was an accident. Secondly, I only volunteered because you wouldn't have asked me to come if I hadn't." Mabel retorted. "Your right because unlike the others you aren't intelligent enough for a mission like this." "I'm not as dumb as you think!" "Really? Well let's pretend, just for a moment, that you're the captain, stuck in the brig while the rest of your crew slowly perish on their damaged ship. Now, what would you do to get yourself out of that predicament?" Mabel just looked down without answering. "Oh, no brilliant ideas? Really? Why am I not in the least bit surprised?" Rip said rhetorically. "Shut up!" Mabel shouted.

"Okay, let's all just take a deep breath." Randy said trying to ease the tension but to no avail. "Or what, you'll hook me again. Or perhaps you'll just try to attack me with glitter?" Rip commented. "Well don't forget you're the one who recruited me." Mabel reminded him. "Well I hate to burst your bubble but the reason I recruited you was because you and your brother were a package deal." Mabel's eyes widened upon hearing this. "I'm sorry, Ms. Pines. But a boy-obsessed, glitter-happy, sweater wearing teen was never part of my plan to stop Savage, much less one with the IQ of meat." Rip then closed his eyes and took a deep breath. "I didn't mean to be so blunt. If I could just have a moment of quiet, then perhaps I can think of a way of getting us off this pirate ship." "I think I beat you to it." Mabel said. "Hey Pirates." "What are you doing?" Randy asked. "I'm going to talk with the pirates." Mabel answered. "Don't do this Mabel." Rip said. One of the pirates then approached the cell. "What do you want?" "I want to speak with Valor." Mabel answered. "About what?" "About the Waverider." "I am warning you." Rip said in anger. The pirate let her out and took her to Valor.

Mabel sat down with Valor who was surprised that she wanted to meet with him. "Alright, what do you want?" "Well, you want the Waverider and I want to go home maybe we can help each other." "And where is home for you?" Valor asked. "Gravity Falls 2024." Mabel answered. "Of all the places in time, you want to go there?" "Not just me. Send me and my brother there unharmed and I'll help you get the Waverider. So what do you say?" Valor considered the deal and agreed. "Deal. But first things first. There's no way your friends will think you escaped. Unless of course I do this." Valor then punched Mabel in the face.

"Man I can't believe Mabel sold us out like that." Randy said. "But then again maybe she didn't have a choice. I mean the crew left on the Waverider including her own brother are most probably dead by now. And who knows what happened to Steven." "Yes, it's no wonder that Ms. Pines chose to save her own skin." Rip said. "And what I can I do about it? I'm stuck in a pirate's brig and I've lost both my ship and the loyalty of my crew." "You're one to talk about loyalty." Captain Baxter commented. "Oh, but I am, Captain Baxter, and not because I pledged an oath to serve as a Time Master, but a long time ago, I made a far more important oath. When you call me a failure, Captain Baxter, you're right. 'Cause I failed both my wife and my son. For betraying the Time Council I have absolutely no regrets. But failing to save my family? That is something for which I will never forgive myself."

Rip then had another flashback to when he was about to return to the hearing but was Stopped by Declan. "Time Master Declan, I…I thought the tribunal was re-convening." "It's been cancelled." Declan explained. "Lieutenant Coburn assumed full responsibility for the affair. The other Time Masters were moved by her argument." Rip was very surprised to hear this. "They've dismissed the charges?" "Once Lieutenant Coburn resigned." Declan said. "Why would she do that?" "It seems she believes in you. Now you must prove to yourself and all of us that you are indeed the man she believes you to be."

Just as all hope seemed lost Steven showed up and broke the door to the prison cell. "Hey guys." "Steven, you came." Randy said in delight. "And here I thought we were done for." Rip added. "The battle isn't over yet Captain." Steven said with determination. "Now come on, we've got pirates to stop."

Danny and Ben were almost finished fixing the ship. "How's it going guys?" Star asked. "Good. How are Kim and Dipper holding up?" Ben asked. "Not well." Jenny answered. "You better hurry." Danny held the metal in place while Ben melted it into place. With the repairs finished Dipper and Kim were able to escape freezing to death. "I have so much respect for penguins now." Dipper said. "Gideon, what's happening on the Acheron?" Kim asked. "Funny you should ask. I just received a message from Ms. Pines. It seems she escaped capture and is now returning to the Waverider." Gideon explained. "Thank god." Dipper said relieved. "I didn't know Mabel knew how to fly the Jumpship." Star said. "Actually, I did the flying. She received quite a beating at the hands of the pirates" Mabel then arrived. "Mabel are you ok?" Dipper asked. She didn't answer. The team was very surprised by the pirates that appeared behind her.

"Mabel, what are you doing?" Dipper asked. "Your sister here is giving us the ship." one of the pirates explained. "I don't believe this." "Dipper before things proceed there's something you should know." Mabel said. "I'd never betray you." She then pulled out the flashlight and shrunk some of the pirates. "It's a set up." one of them shouted. "Guys do it." Mabel shouted. Danny, Jenny, and Star shot some of the pirates and the fight officially began. "Take care of the kids." ordered a pirate. "I'll get the time drive." Kim pursued the pirate while Ben turned into "Goop" and piled on two more.

"Is the Acheron's Jumpship still operational?" Rip asked. "Yes." Baxter answered. "All right, all of you go to it and get off the Acheron." Rip ordered. "I have some unfinished business with Mr. Valor." "I'm not leaving my ship." Baxter argued. "And we're not leaving you behind." Steven added. "Do you even have a plan?" Randy asked. "Valor and his men substantially outnumber us. We're not going to be able to defeat them by conventional means." Rip answered.

Star punched one of the pirates in the face and kicked another one in the stomach. Danny froze some more while Jenny caught another in a net. "I just hope Rip and the others are doing well." Valor was trying to contact his men but no one was responding. "What's going on?" Rip then walked in holding his gun. "You're losing." "Gilbert, status?" Eve asked. "The time pirates are indeed ten seconds behind you, and closing." "That doesn't give us a lot of time." Steven said worried. "You think Rip's plan will work?" Randy asked. Neither of them answered. "Yeah, me neither." Kim then approached the pirate before he could steal the time drive. "Don't even think about it." Kim warned. The pirate laughed. "I'll tell you what kid, walk away and I won't kill you." "Not gonna happen." Kim said as they started exchanging punches. The pirate proved to be an equal match for Kim and it seemed like she was going to lose. "Hey dummy." Mabel shouted as she shot her grappling hook at him. "Thanks." Kim said.

Rip and Valor fought with everything they had. Valor soon pinned Rip down and started strangling him. "Rip come in, we're in position." Steven said. "Rip?" "Yes, yes! I'm a little bit busy right now!" Rip said as he was being strangled. "We're running out of time here." Randy said as some pirates surrounded them. "Rip the plan?" Steven said. Rip soon broke free and punched Valor in the face. He then grabbed his hair and bashed his hair on the console. Steven, Randy, and Captain Baxter grabbed hold of the railings as the pirates were closing in. "Rip hurry!" Steven shouted. "Gilbert?" Rip said. "Yes, sir?" "I need you to listen to me very carefully." Just then the Acheron's bulkhead doors opened and sucked the pirates out. Steven, Randy, and Eve held on to the railings for dear life as the pirates were sent into space. "Uh Rip were good. Please stop." Steven shouted. The doors then closed. "Bulkhead door closed. Explosive decompression has evacuated the time pirates." "Thank you, Gilbert. Please hail the Waverider." Rip requested. "Waverider, this is Captain Hunter. We've regained control of the Acheron. What's your status?" "The pirates are defeated on our end Captain." Kim informed him. "And it's all thanks to Mabel."

With the Acheron pirate free Rip had one final talk with Captain Baxter. "I suppose it wouldn't be very fair if I arrested you after you reclaimed my ship and apprehended John Valor for me." she said. "Happy to help out a fellow Time Master. Even though I don't deserve that title." Rip said. Eve smiled. "I was wrong, you're still one hell of a Time Master. Which is why I'm giving you this." She then handed him a flash drive. "What is this?" Rip asked. "Gilbert?" "Using the Vanishing Point's most current timeline data, I calculate a 99.8% probability that you will find Vandal Savage in Gravity Falls, Oregon, in March of 1958." Rip was very happy to hear this. "Thank you, Captain Baxter. And don't worry We can take care of Valor." "I still don't understand why you're doing all this." she said. "Before all this started, I don't think I would've, either." "We protect history, safeguard time itself. There is no higher calling." "Actually there is, it's called love."

Rip then thought back to a conversation he had with Miranda. "Rip. Rip. Rip! Look at me, Rip. Please don't be mad at me." Rip sighed. "Oh, no, I'm not mad at you! I…I was going to resign." "I know and I couldn't let you. This has always been your dream." Miranda said. "Yes, but you are so much better at this than me." Rip argued. "I…I can't understand why you would…why you'd give all that up." Miranda smiled. "It's funny, because you're the one who made me realize that I could never be a Time Master. I found something with you, something wonderful. I found love. That thing that the Time Masters always taught us to hide from, but they were wrong, Rip. Love's no threat, it's beautiful, and powerful, and once you know it, love changes everything. Like it changed me and that's why I have to resign, because I could never belong to something that turns its back on the truth." Rip gave what she said some real thought. "Suddenly my chosen profession seems so terribly unimportant." Miranda shook her head. "No. The world needs the Time Masters and the Time Masters, most assuredly, need Rip Hunter. My only wish is that one day, when you're off traveling space and time, you'll realize what I have, and understand why I'm doing what I'm doing. I hope you think of me when that day comes." Rip smiled and gave her a kiss. "I will…because I'll be with you."

Dipper walked up to Mabel. "Mabel that was amazing." "Thanks. Maybe now Rip will start to think that I can be useful." "Mabel, I'm sorry. I had no idea what you were going through." Dipper said. Mabel was happy to hear this. "It's fine Dipper. Besides I know you don't think I'm useless. I mean if you did you wouldn't have kidnapped me." Dipper laughed. "That is true. Awkward sibling hug?" "Awkward sibling hug." The siblings then embraced and went "Pat, Pat."

Back in the study the team was trying to figure out what to do with Valor now that he was in their custody. "Ok what if we take him to 2024 and put him in prison." Danny suggested. Kim shook her head. "Even without his crew and weapons he's still dangerous. He'd escape and attack our families." "So what? We just keep him in the brig until we stop Savage?" Ben asked. "No, no, no, no, the brig is unsuitable for long-term incarceration." Rip explained. "Well we can't just let him roam free on the ship." Steven added. Mabel then had an idea. "What if we sent him somewhere abandoned? That way he wouldn't be trapped here and he'd pose no threat to our families." "I like the sound of that." Star said. "Well Captain?" Jenny asked. "I guess Ms. Pines has proven that she can have good ideas." Rip said.

Dipper and Mabel escorted Valor to the Black Forest 1786 in a Jumpship. "So what's the plan?" Valor asked. "Take me out in the middle of nowhere, where no one can find the body?" "No, you're going to spend the rest of your days here where you can't do any harm." Dipper answered. Valor then turned to Mabel. "I got to hand it to you kid, I never would've expected you'd be able to pull a fast one on me." "Yeah, a lot of people have been underestimating me lately." The twins then made their way back to the ship. "This won't stop me." Valor said. "I will get out of this and you and your friends will pay."