[Chapter 8]

"We've arrived in Leipzig, Germany, the most current location for Vandal Savage. And by the way, Captain, you are urgently needed in the MedBay," Gideon announced.

"I thought she'd stabilized!" Rip said as he rushed down the hall. We all looked at each other before we raced to catch up with him.

"As did I," Martian replied to Rip as almost half the team was racing to the MedBay.

"Carter, where's Carter?" Kendra cried out, convulsing as Stein and Rip stood next to her.

"He's gone, Kendra. I'm so sorry," Stein said as the alarms continued to go off and Kendra cried in pain.

"Gideon, turn that bloody noise off!' Rip shouted, annoyed.

"Yes, Captain," Gideon replied and the alarms stopped.

"What happened?" Ray asked no one in particular while walking past us in the doorway.

"Saunders appears to have had a complication," Stein explained.

"I know, what kind of complication?" Ray asked.

"How could you leave him?!' Kendra accused before falling unconscious.

"Is she..." Ray asked worriedly.

"Gideon gave her a sedative, but obviously her condition is worsening," Stein replied.

Leonard, Rip and I walked back to the main area where Jax and Mick were waiting.

"How is she?" Jax asked anxiously.

"Pieces of the dagger have apparently broken off and are, as we speak, en route to her heart," Rip explained, obviously devastated. It's clear we have no chance of defeating Savage if Kendra is dead.

"Can't we just time jump into the future where they got the stuff that can fix her?" Jax asked.

"This ship is from that very same future and has, thus far, been unsuccessful in saving her," Rip replied frustratedly.

"Kendra wouldn't survive the time jump anyway' Leonard said as I look at him confused. "I pay attention," Leonard retorted at my gaze, smiling. I roll my eyes and train my attention back on Rip.

"To sum up, Carter Hall is dead, the girlfriend's not too far behind, Vandal Savage is sitting pretty in 1975, which we're all stuck in. That how the plan was supposed to work, Rip?" Mick asked gruffly.

"Obviously not, but the mission is simple. We stop Vandal Savage here in the past and we save the future," Rip retorted.

"Simple don't mean easy, Captain" I state cooly and slightly bored.

"Oh, I never said it was. The benefit of being a Time Master is that the length and breadth of history gives one... perspective. I've seen darker days. I've seen men of steel die and dark knights fall, and even then I accomplished my mission no matter what. Gideon, what is our status?" Rip asked.

"When the Waverider was attacked by Chronos, the jumpship was damaged. Unless you make repairs, we will be unable to..." Gideon started to say but Jax interrupted. "Wait, Jumpship?"

"It's a small expeditionary vessel at the belly of the Waverider... you're a mechanic! You have a look at it," Rip said in realization.

"Uh... auto mechanic," Jax said gesturing to himself. "Uh... spaceship." gesturing to the rest of the ship but Rip just stared bluntly at him.

"Okay, if you've got a set of wrenches, I'll see what I can do," Jax sighed in defeat.

"What about the rest of us? Do we just sit?" Mick asked annoyed.

"Capital idea, Mr. Rory. You're not nearly as thick as most people say" Rip said walking off as I smirked.

"Thick," Mick said slowly, testing out the word. "Does that mean stupid?"

"Congrats, you've figured it out!" I commented and Mick glared at me.

***

I walked around aimlessly until I found Rip by himself, looking at a pocket watch with a photo in it.

"Is that your son? He looks like you," I commented appearing silently behind Rip.

Rip jumped and quickly shut the watch.

"Sorry. Occupational hazard," I said softly.

"I'd like to be alone for a moment," Rip said not looking at me. I cock my head, slightly confused. Why did he comment on how I said sorry. No one has had that luxury in over 80 years.

"You don't actually have a plan, do you? And that speech wasn't about convincing us. It was about convincing you. Didn't work, did it?" I asked, stating everything that I observed during our pep talk while leaning on the desk.

"Not particularly, no. Hence my desire to be alone," Rip replied.

"So... I've been thinking, we can't kill Savage' I stated, completely ignoring his request for me to leave him alone.

"Oh, I see you've grasped the concept of immortality, well done," Rip retorted and I growled, my patience running low.

"Don't mock me' I said firmly before continuing again.

"Like I was saying... we can't kill him but maybe we could slow him down," I explained and Rip turned to me with his eyes widening.

"I'm listening," Rip said.

"Back at the weapons auction, Savage was trying to sell his nuke," I stated, waiting for Rip to catch on.

"Money is power," Rip said.

"Take away Savage's fortune and he's just a regular guy with a really long lifespan," I complete.

"It certainly would set his plan for world domination back a few decades," Rip continued.

"So where does Vandal Savage keep his money in 1975?" I askedRip and I left the room and made it back to the main area.

"Gideon! Where's Savage's money now?" Rip asked.

"Dr. Boardman theorized that Savage entrusted it to the Bruemberg Group, the oldest bank in the world," Gideon explained and I smile triumphantly.

"I'll go tell the rest of the team," I said and started to leave.

"That won't be necessary. I'm going alone. I can't have any more blood on my hands," Rip explained.

"Except for your own?" I asked sarcastically. "You can't go in there without backup. It will be a bloodbath." I added.

"Look, I brought you all with me under false pretenses. Carter would still be alive if I hadn't have convinced him to come," Rip argued.

"No one is on this ship that doesn't want to be here," I stated firmly, believing my words completely.

"But I can't risk the whole team," Rip said with a sigh, giving one last chance of defiance.

"Fine. Sara and I will come. And if it helps, I'm not giving you a choice. You're not going alone to that bank.' I say defiantly.

"Somebody say bank?" Leonard asked stepping into the room as I rolled my eyes.

"Were you stalking me?" I asked smirking.

"Me? Never," Leonard replied emotionlessly.

"Your services aren't required, Mr. Snart. This is purely reconnaissance," Rip explained.

"We know how to case banks. We're practically bankers." Mick said walking into the room and Rip dropped his head annoyed. I roll my eyes a second time.

"Except we take the money out," Leonard added.

"Yes, and when I need someone to steal something, you'll be the first to know, I assure you" Rip said.

"Listen Englishman, I'm getting bored being stuck on this tin can. And when I get bored, I make bad decisions," Mick said angrily.

"Now, now, now, we're all on the same side here. My hot-headed friend and I just want to be helpful. That's all," Leonard said stepping in between Mick and Rip, expertly pickpocketing something from Rip's pocket, only I noticed.

"Duly noted," Rip said and looked at me as he started to leave.

When Rip was down the hall and out of sight, I turned to the criminal duo. "What did you steal?" I asked holding my hand out.

Leonard looked slightly surprised but he covered it up with irritation. "What's it to ya?"

I rolled my eyes. "Fine, don't tell me. But after you're done with the key to the jumpship, swipe it to me cause I wanna turn." I say smiling as I winked at the two boys.

I walked down the hall toward Rip but I hear Mick asked Leonard how did I know that he stole the key.

I smile to myself as I prepare myself for a fun trip to the bank. Once I get that key, I'll be one step closer to saving them.