MONSTROUS.
012. | ❛ caring. ❜

"We interrupt this broadcast with breaking news: Chaos in the capital. Just a day before President Reagan is set to welcome General Secretary Gorbachev to the White House to sign the INF Treaty, a White House tour ends in violence and what witnesses describe as 'a rocket man.' Was this an act of terrorism..." The news reported about the attack that the Legends caused, primarily because of Sara's advances on her sister's killer.

"Please, turn it off, Gideon. I can't bear it." Martin looked away from the tv that was playing and turned to Sara, who was with her head down, "So your thirst for vengeance nearly landed the entire team in prison."

"I guess it's only okay to change history if it's with your personal vendetta." Jax's disappointment lashed out to Sara before Mick chimed in.

"Wasn't all Blondie's fault. Haircut screwed up as well."

"Wha... If you would just let me tinker with the cold gun, I told you I could figure out the whole crossing the streams problem." Ray rebutted.

"There's nothing wrong with the cold gun. It's you, you goof."

Crystal quickly changed the subject to what was more important, "The bigger question is: Why did Damien Darhk become an advisor to Reagan's White House on the eve of a nuclear treaty with the USSR?"

"If his involvement with the Nazis in 1942 is any indication, he's working with our time traveling nemesis." Martin made sense of the situation and bringing a new problem to the plate.

"It's the same person who killed Hourman. Amaya needs to hear about this." Sara said, still turned away from them and looking at her feet not making contact with Martin.

"So she can also lose focus, risking everything in a selfish pursuit of revenge?" Martin asked causing Sara to look up in distaste and feel offended at what was directed at her.

"Do you have something you'd like to say to me, Martin?" Sara said up front.

"Yes, that killing Damien Darhk almost 30 years before his actual death will have countless unforeseeable effects on the history that we are charged with protecting." Martin used his stern tone which didn't make Sara see his point at all.

"Well, what about protecting my sister? She brought me back from the dead. She risked everything for me. How could I not do the same for her?"

"Because you answer to a higher calling, Sara. I'm sorry, but we cannot stray from our guiding principle."

"Well, I'm sorry, too. It sounds like you've never really cared about anyone." Sara said before walking away, causing Crystal to even feel that jab. She tried to go after Sara but was restricted by Ray's hold on her hand.

"You have to let her cool down." Ray whispered to Crystal, who looked comfortably in his eyes.

"Sara might be your friend and co captain, but she's gained a place in my heart my sister." Ray let go of her hand and let Crystal go after the League of Assassins member.

Crystal caught up pretty quickly with her super speed that none of the crew would get used to. Sara shuddered a bit before coasting past her and Crystal grabbing her hand. "Sara..."

"It seemed that Martin spoke for everyone."

Crystal lifted Sara's head to look at her, "I know you want justice for Laurel, and we're going to get it. We, more than anyone know that it will cause an aberration in time whether you want to accept it or not. I know that you're going through the steps of grief; right now being anger. Trust me, I've been there and it isn't going to get you want you want right now."

Sara stood looking at Crystal, before Crystal ignited the hug and took her small figure into her arms. She could feel the anguish that Sara was feeling and one that she felt that everyone was against her. "You have me in your corner." Crystal whispered into Sara's ear, "Laurel's your big sister, but I have room for a little one."

[•]

"Rex's killer is here? In 1987?" Amaya was shocked at the information that they supplied to her.

"Potentially, if Damien Darhk is still working with him." Crystal said before being interrupted by Nate's excitement.

"No way, Damien Darhk joined the Reagan Administration as an advisor at the Reykjavík Summit? And after the collapse of the summit, Darhk was credited with reviving the disarmament talks?"

"Darhk prefers stockpiling nukes, not getting rid of them." Sara told Nate because it wasn't a surprise to her.

"The nuclear treaty must be a cover." Jax said.

"For what purpose?"

"That's what we need to find out. Gideon, where is Damien Darhk now?" Crystal asked.

"I'm accessing the calendar on his secretary's IBM personal computer. Mr. Darhk has a meeting in Georgetown Park at 8:00 p.m."

"Late night meeting in the park, that's not suspicious."

"Ray, take Mick. Find out who Darhk is meeting with and why." Crystal ordered as she exited the room with Ray trailing behind.

"Wait, just us?" Ray asked.

"Look, it's not a good idea for Sara to be anywhere near Damien Darhk right now."

"I... I agree."

[•]

After the Damien Darhk mission went array, Martin's younger self was stabbed affecting present day Martin. In the Medbay, they were both attended to and being cured by Gideon slowly. Crystal along with Ray came in checking on Martin, and his knocked out younger self.

"Hey, how you doing?" Crystal rubbed Martin's arm in a comforting matter as Ray took a seat in the middle.

"I'm all right. You know, the truth is, this young man is like a stranger to me. Every time I encounter him, I can't imagine I was ever that person." Martin exhaled in disgust about the person laying across from him, a complete opposite from him.

"I think anyone would feel that way about meeting their younger self." Crystal smiled looking back at when they actually encountered their younger selves, the sweet naive girl that she was compared to the strong immortal woman that she is.

"I don't recognize my current self." Ray huffed before expressing his trouble with being Mick's new partner, "Mick told me I need to be more like me. And he's right, which is rare. The problem is I don't know what being me means right now. I don't know if that makes any sense."

"Mick was trying to make you like Leonard, which is normal because he's only real had one partner. Instead of being Ray Palmer with the Atom suit you have to be Ray Palmer with a cold gun. And not changing who you are or imitating the previous version. You have to be you, with all the crazy and nonsense you talk sometimes. Now I'm not sure that made sense." Crystal titled her head before Martin took the wheel better than Crystal, and offered better advice to not just Ray but all of them.

"I think everyone struggles at least on occasion with who they are and then what their place is in the world. But, I suppose it's just to live. It's all any of us can really do. And then, hopefully, through the act of living we discover who we truly are and learn to grow from that."

Sara came in alerting them of the mission, "Amaya got us invites to the State Dinner. Are you feeling up to it?"

Martin got up, removing the wires that were attached to him, "Yes, I'm feeling much better. You feeling up to it?"

"I think what he means is: are you gonna create a diplomatic crisis and risk unknown damage to history by killing Damien Darhk?"

"We know what he means, Ray." Crystal said.

"Earlier, you accused me of not ever caring for anyone, but you know that's not true. I care very much about you. And I'm less concerned about history than I am about your conscience. You're no longer an assassin, Sara. You're our Captain." Martin's compassionate and caring tone came out like the same Martin that loved and cared about each one of them.

"Well, let's hope I remember that when the time comes. Now let's do this."