Chapter Text
Mom was typing frantically on her keyboard when I returned. “Did Team Flash figure anything out?”
“They’re getting there. They should have something ready by the time we actually need it. Any update from Dad and Dig?”
“Nothing yet, but you can check in with them.”
I leaned over the comm and turned it on to Dad’s frequency. “Find anything yet?”
“Negative. The place is quiet. Right now, we’re just avoiding the security that’s already here.”
“Yeah, like that security did any good last time. Alright, just keep your head on a swivel.”
“Copy.” I turned back to Mom.
“Anything suspicious at all?”
“Nothing. LuthorCorp has made so many purchases of patents and other holdings in the last decade it’s staggering. Nothing unusual, nothing that could help them with water distribution.”
“Huh. Mind if I take a look at what you were able to come up with?”
“Be my guest.” She gestured at the printer, and I grabbed a list of the purchases. She was right; there were way too many to count. I gave a stack to Don and started going through mine, knowing Mom would’ve already run them through several algorithms looking for something that could spread LP to the public. Most of the names were of companies that were unrecognizable to me. There were several hundred patents and I saw that Mom had annotated all of them. They were for things like microchips and jet engines, but nothing that screamed contagion.
I slammed my hands down on the desk. “This is pointless. We’re running out of time. We only have a day and a half left.”
“We’ve come this far by working the evidence. We’ll get there, hon, just be patient.”
I swiveled in my chair to look at my mom. “What did you just say?”
“We’ll get there.”
“No, what did you call me?”
She paused. “Oh. Sorry.”
“Don’t apologize. I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t just hallucinating.”
“It’s just that ever since I...found out, I just want to hold you close and never let you go. I know I’m not making any sense-”
“No, it’s all good.”
“Yeah, just I didn’t expect the motherly instinct to come on this strong. Is that normal?”
“Beats me. I’m nineteen.”
“Right. I guess I meant, am I usually like this?”
“Yeah, pretty much.”
“Huh.” Mom turned back to her computer and Don and I exchanged a look. I was appreciative that he had stayed out of the conversation, but I would definitely need to rehash it with him later. As it was, I was holding back tears. I reminded myself I was here for a reason. My mind drifted back yet again.
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It was Day 185. Don, Frankie and I had been extensively briefed on everything that was going on with Team Arrow and Team Flash in the days that we’d been traveling to. We were standing in the pipeline, fully suited up, with our bags in front of us. This was it. This was the moment we were actually going to do this. I double-checked that my tablet was safely tucked away, and that my bracelet was secured around my wrist. Nothing to do now but say good-bye.
Mrs. West-Allen gave me a giant hug and whispered in my ear, “Bring them back.” I nodded.
Grandpa Joe looked me in the eye and said, “You be careful, alright? I want all of you back in one piece,” before hugging me.
Cisco was next. He clasped me on both of my shoulders. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” I laughed before he held out his fist for me to punch. I did, disappointedly, before he grabbed me and hugged me.
Dig stepped up next, and just gave me a hug. “You know what to do.”
Tommy was crying, so I stooped down and gave him a hug. “It’s going to be okay, buddy, I got this. You won’t even know I was gone.”
“That’s just it. I’m going to forget all about this, and I don’t want to.”
“I’ll make you a promise. If you forget all about this, I’ll tell you, alright? I’ll remind you of what a hero your sister is.” I held out my pinkie, and Tommy linked it in his. “You try not to forget, and I’ll help you remember.” Tommy nodded and I released his hand.
Finally, Dad ushered me out into the hallway, to give the twins privacy with their mom, and, hopefully, to say something to me. We stood there for a while, neither of us saying anything. I just wished he would say what something, anything, like “I love you” or “you can do this” or even “good luck.” Finally, I broke the silence.
“Well, I’m leaving now.” As I turned to go, Dad called out to me.
“Ryder.” I turned to face him. “Thank you.”
“For what?”
“Doing what I couldn’t. You’re right, I haven’t been here, not...here, here. So, go, bring her back, and when you do...bring me back, too.” I wasn’t going to cry. I had promised myself that walking into this. So I just nodded. Mrs. West-Allen came out of the pipeline, so I took that as a cue to join the twins.
I stepped up to the edge of the pipeline with them and fastened my backpack to my back. “So, we’re really doing this?”
“Looks like it,” Frankie said. We stood standing there, at the edge of the everything, for what seemed like hours, but was probably only minutes.
“If anyone wants to back out, now’s the time,” I offered. Don shook his head and grabbed my hand.
Frankie locked eyes with me. “If we do this, there’s no going back. We have to face the world we come back to. The three of us. No one else can ever know.” Don and I nodded our heads in agreement. It would be going back on my promise to Tommy, but it was for the better. No one could ever know we had altered the timeline, even if it was for their own good. No one we brought back could know that they had died. No one would be able to handle that. It would be our burden. “Is this what we want?”
I could tell she was unsure, and I wanted to reassure her. This was the right thing to do. “This is the only thing there is left to do.”
“Okay,” Don said. “Let’s go.” And they took off running.
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I came back to my senses with Don tapping me on the shoulder. “Where’d you go just now?”
“Nowhere. I’m here.” I smiled up at him and returned to sorting through my papers. After another hour of trying to draw connections, I threw my hands in the air. “That’s it. I’m done. I’m just going to march down to Luthor’s office and see what he’s up to. He appreciates people being up-front anyway.”
“Okay, but which Luthor? Lionel or Lex?” Good point. I knew nothing about Lionel Luthor, and I doubted that he was running his company dirty like his son soon would.
“Lex. We know what we’re dealing with there. And playing the long game makes sense.”
Mom turned toward me. “You’re just going to confront a madman and demand that he, what? Give you his secret formula?”
“I can be pretty persuasive when I need to be.”
“No. I know what that’s code for, and I won’t allow it.”
“Sorry, you don’t tell me what to do. I came into this mission willing to do whatever it takes, and that’s what I’m going to do. Come on, Don.” I grabbed my tablet.
Don followed me toward the elevator, and Mom did nothing to stop me.