[Chapter 25]

*on the jumpship*

"Who are you!?" Perdegaton snapped at me.

"An unwilling savior," I say monotone.

"Damnit Isabelle, go back to the Waverider," Rip told me. "I can't. You told me to protect those who need my help. For some reason, this kid counts," I said crossing her arms. "You should choose your words more carefully next time."

"I take it back then," Rip snapped. I sit down in the chair next to Rip. "Hmm... sorry no, it doesn't work that way.

"You're not going to change my mind," Rip told her.

"Wanna bet?" I say, turning around to face Per Degaton.

"Do you know who I am? My father is going to-" The kid began.

"Hear about this? Yeah I'm sure you can't wait to run to Daddy about this," I reply. "Now zip it. The grown-ups are talking.

"Rip, he's a kid. He lost his mother. When I lost my siblings I was lost, alone, and extremely furious. But most of all, I was scared. I had no one by my side to help me through this and I turned into a monster. But inside I was just alone and sad and afraid. I never wanted to love again but I also wanted others to feel my pain." I explain.

"What is your point, Isabelle?" Rip asks.

"My point is this kid feels alone and he has an immortal jackass as his teacher! He needs someone better that will help him greave and then help him move on peacefully," I say and then turn to Per Degaton.

"I know you miss your mom. And I know you probably blame your dad. But these are the moments that you have to stick with your family. You can't let the anger inside of you consume you and you can't let Savage take advantage of you." I tell the boy.

"He would never take advantage of me! He's my friend," Per Degaton denies.

"Kid, who do you think killed your mother?

"Father said there weren't any suspects. Vandal said that she drank the poison on her own accord. He wouldn't lie to me." Perdegaton replied fiercely.

"Well of course, there weren't any suspects Per Degaton use your brain. She did drink the poison herself, but she did it to protect you. Because you were being threatened and you are still are being threatened and she thought that it would save you. A parent would do anything to save their child. Even if it meant giving their own life," I said softly.

"What are you talking about?" Perdegaton demands.

"Vandal Killed your mother. To get her spot on the board and to stand against your father. So he could get her shares, and get even more power. It's likely Savage will kill your father next and have you release the virus into the world as he wishes. Then he'll use you before he snatches your power away from you. When he's done with you, he will kill you," I told the boy.

"Vandal wouldn't do that. He loves me" Perdegaton denied and Rip let out a dark chuckle.

"I'm sorry kid but he doesn't. He's going to use you until your used to him has run out. Then, he will betray you." I told him kindly.

"No. No, he wouldn't." Perdegaton denied.

"Do you really think Savage is too weak to kill someone for his own gain?" I questioned. Perdegaton frowned.

"Your tutor has taught you well despite his ill intentions. What do his teachings tell you, hmm? I highly doubt they show a man of good standing" Rip inquired.

"What can I do? If what you say is true and Vandal is to kill me as you say then how do I possibly stand a chance against him alone?" Perdegaton questioned.

"You must tell your father what you have learned," Rip told him.

"My father? What the hell can he do? He's a weak man," Perdegaton said with a quick scowl.

"Do not." Rip began his tone stern. "Do not underestimate a man who's wife and child are threatened Per Degaton. You are unaware of the lengths that he will go to," Rip warned.

"Be the person that your mother hoped you'd become, not the person Savage wants to use as a puppet," I tell him. Then I turn to Rip. "And you better make the right choice," I say pointedly at Rip.

"My choice is that I command you to go back to the ship," Rip said, holding my ring and I teleported out of there.

Everyone the ship was in the exact same spot as when I had gone.

"How long has it been?" I ask.

"It's literally been two seconds," Sara said.

"Shit, I went back in time somehow," I facepalm.

"Any luck finding our homicidal captain?" Leonard asks.

"Yep but I don't know if he'll make the right choice. He kinda kicked me out of there," I say.

***

"What are you doing here?" Leonard asked curiously as I walk into his room.

"Don't you think you at least owe him a conversation?" I said.

"Owe who?" Leonard asks.

"Mick."

"We had our conversation while he was Chronos, and he made his feelings about me very clear," Leonard said annoyed.

"And what about your feelings?" I asked.

"About you?" Leonard replied and I roll my eyes. Is he playing dumb?

"About Mick. I'm still pissed at you," I corrected, glaring furiously at him.

"I don't have any feelings about Mick," Leonard replied.

"Could have fooled me," I muttered and Leonard glared at me. I sat down across the room from him.

"And you abandoned me on his ship. I think I have a right to be pissed at you too," Leonard spat.

"At least someone you love didn't die in from of your eyes. Again," I say and take a deep breath. "Look, it didn't seem that way when we were dying in the engine room of hypothermia."

"Look, if you want to ease your guilty conscience, that's your business, but he's still the same son of a bitch he was when you all wanted me to put him down," Leonard said annoyed.

"I never wanted you to put him down, Leonard! But you chose to maroon Rory. It's obviously still weighing on your conscience. So stop being an ass and go deal with it," I snapped, standing up.

"Like you're dealing with us?" Leonard muttered but I ignored him and stormed out of the room. I walked back to the main area, annoyed. Suddenly the ship was hit by something.

"Gideon?" Stein asked.

"Tor Degaton's forces have surrounded the ship. I'm afraid our shields will not be able to sustain continued bombardment," Gideon explained.

"You're afraid?!" I snapped sarcastically.

"Here's an idea: why don't you fire back?" Leonard asked, appearing next to me.

"I would, except..." Gideon started to explain.

"The flying robots already targeted our weapons systems," Jax explained.

"We don't need weapons," Ray said. "He's right. We have superpowers," Stein said as he joined with Jax to make Firestorm. We opened the door and ran out to attack the guards.

"I think this is yours," Leonard shouted, throwing a grenade at a group of guards.

"I'll draw their fire. You handle the ground troops," Ray said through the comms to Kendra.

I tackled a guard, snapping his neck before throwing two knives and killing another two guards instantly. I saw Ray hit the ground hard as Kendra ran over to him. I continued to fight and Leonard and I fell back to back. Suddenly I was grabbed from behind by Savage as the robots fell from the sky.

"Look like Raymond was able to sabotage his robot army," Leonard said.

"Which means mopping up the rest of these guys shouldn't be a problem," Jax added.

"Oh, it will be a problem," Savage said as he held a knife to my throat.

"What do you want?" Leonard shouted, his gun pointing at us.

"I want to exchange this woman's life for your captain, Rip Hunter," Savage explained.

"I have a better idea: her life in exchange for his," Rip said, appearing in the jump ship with the boy.

"Your son will be returned to you as soon as you guarantee our safe passage," Rip explained.

"Don't do it, Father. If you let them go now, they will only come back for us in the future," the boy said.

"It's your choice," Rip said, pointing a gun at the back of the boy's neck.

"Your son is right. We should kill them all," Savage added.

"Put down your weapons! Let my son go, and I will let you leave in peace. You have my word," Tor Degaton said.

Savage reluctantly let go of me and I swung around, punching Savage in the face.

Leonard held me back before I could do any more damage but I could tell Savage was seriously pissed. I'm pretty sure he was trying to send me threats telepathically.

"Let it go, Isabelle. You'll get your chance later," Leonard whispers in my ear and I take a deep breath and nod.

Then we all retreated back to the ship.

***

I lay on my bed when Rip walks in.

"Here to take me back to my cell?" I spat at Rip.

"No."

I sit up, surprised and I raise my eyebrows at the captain.

"You stopped me from making a horrible mistake today. I could tell you were speaking from your heart when you were talking to Per Degaton," Rip explained.

"Your point?"

"My point is I deem you trustworthy enough to give you this back," Rip said, pulling you my ring. I gasp and reach for it but Rip pulls his hand out of reach. "First I need you to promise me that you're not going to kill anyone on the team." Now Rip raises his eyebrows at me.

"Fine. I promise not to kill anyone on the team. I'm still mad but I'm not in 'murder my teammates' mode anymore. I'm in 'let's kick Savage's ass' mode." I smile at Rip.

Rip smiles back and then hands me my ring. I slip in on my finger and I feel the weight on my shoulders drop.

"Hey Rip," I call out.

"Yes Ms. Light?" Rip said, walking back into my room.

"I'm sorry," I say.

"Whatever for?" Rip asks.

"When I put on the ring, all the commands don't work anymore. I realize that Mick made me go back in time. He told me to be angry. I was his way of getting revenge on the team so to speak. He used my desire and made it uncontrollable. So I'm really sorry," I say sincerely.

"No worries. You are quite forgiven," Rip smiles at me and then leaves. I smile and sigh, feeling relieved that I was back in total control of myself.

My only question is: how did Mick know that the only reason I joined the team was to save my family?

❤