Watching the expectant gazes of the Legends, Jack Kadere chuckled and turned to Diana. "Your turn, Wonder Woman—the woman forced to bear my child. Tell them. Do you wish none of this had ever happened?"
Diana hesitated.
Of course she wished it hadn't happened. But what would have occurred without Jack Kadere? She couldn't have stopped Eris alone. More of her people would have died. Artemis wouldn't have become the new Goddess of Discord. No one knew what Themyscira might have become.
She took a deep breath and shook her head firmly. "This is... perhaps the best outcome."
"I will defeat him. I will make him pay. I will wash away my disgrace and reclaim my glory." Her voice hardened. "I swear it in the name of an Amazon Princess."
The Legends despaired.
Even Wonder Woman wasn't willing to change any of this? Why?
"What the hell did you do?!" Sara Lance demanded, staring at Jack Kadere in disbelief.
"I only did what I wanted to do. Nothing more." Jack Kadere shrugged casually. "For instance... I want the Waverider now."
"Impossible!" Rip Hunter shouted. "The Waverider is mine."
"Was yours." Jack Kadere smiled. "Now it's mine."
He turned to Hippolyta. "Congratulations. You're liberated. Free to go."
Liberation from slavery did not visibly excite Hippolyta. She asked calmly, "Is there anything you need us to do? Kill them, perhaps?"
Diana started to speak, then steadied herself. "Mother, although they caused this chain of events, their crimes don't warrant death."
Hippolyta didn't respond to her daughter. She looked at Jack Kadere instead.
Jack Kadere chuckled. "No need. They came from a future timeline—killing them here leaves their past selves alive anyway. Besides, if they die, who's going to kill Vandal Savage when he takes over the world in 2166? I have no interest in running off to the future just to save humanity." He waved dismissively. "You don't need to do anything. Just be a bit more enthusiastic next time I visit. Don't refuse my horse-riding anymore."
"I will select the finest white horse," Hippolyta replied.
"I'm going to roam around for a while. You can head down now." Jack Kadere waved, and Hippolyta nodded, leading the Amazon warriors toward the exit.
"I..."
Artemis started to speak, hesitant, but Hippolyta stopped her.
"There will be greater crises on Themyscira. You are the Goddess of Discord now. We need you."
"But—"
"I know what you're worried about. Trust me. None of our people will blame you for the decision you made. You saved them."
Artemis looked at Hippolyta, then at Jack Kadere. She left the Waverider in silence.
"Diana."
At the cabin door, Hippolyta called out.
"Mother?" Diana looked at her in puzzlement.
"Stay. Follow him."
"What?" Diana stared. "Why would you want me to follow him? You said Themyscira will face an even greater crisis—I should stay and help. If you're worried they'll try to undo everything that happened, you should leave Artemis here instead. Why me?"
"Child." Hippolyta's voice softened. "Haven't you always wanted to see the outside world? Following him, you will see more. Learn more. Only then will you have a chance to defeat him—and later, the strength to protect Themyscira."
She stroked Diana's cheek gently, then pushed her away and walked toward the ramp without looking back.
"Mother..."
The cabin door sealed shut.
"Why?"
Artemis didn't understand why the Queen had forced Diana to stay.
I am doing this for her own good, Hippolyta answered in her heart.
As a Godkiller, Diana's destiny was to face Ares. But with her current strength, she could never defeat him—especially with the gods still alive and jealous Hera likely to cause trouble after Eris's death. Following Jack Kadere was the safest option.
As for fighting Ares? Hippolyta had planned to find a substitute when Diana was a child. She had abandoned the idea later, but that candidate had continued receiving the same training. Even if never used for that purpose, she could serve as an ordinary Amazon warrior. But now... perhaps she could play a role after all.
I hope Diana grows quickly under his influence. Even if she stayed and defeated Ares, she wouldn't be able to face Steppenwolf's invasion.
Watching the Waverider lift off, Hippolyta sighed.
---
Aboard the Waverider, Jack Kadere swiped idly across the console. Data from various timelines flickered past.
"They all look boring." He glanced up at the Legends sprawled across the floor. "Any interesting timelines to recommend?"
Possessing the Waverider wasn't simple. Jack Kadere didn't know how to pilot it manually, and auto-piloting required cooperation from the AI, Gideon—which required permissions he didn't have. Even if he did, Rip Hunter held the highest authority and could override anything.
So Jack Kadere used a simple, direct method to make Rip Hunter cooperate.
The child is naughty and disobedient? Just give them a beating.
The moment the Amazon warriors left, the Legends had thought they'd have a chance to take Jack Kadere down and correct the timeline deviation. Jack Kadere beat them unconscious before they could try.
Seeing their resentful, furious faces, Jack Kadere smiled. "Don't look at me like that. You should thank me. Thank me for knocking you down—because lying down is very comfortable."
"Then why don't you lie down?" Rip Hunter snapped.
"I haven't met anyone who can knock me down yet." Jack Kadere grinned. "Have I?"
"I wouldn't be so sure."
Sara Lance's voice was flat. Her eyes moved to something behind him.
Jack Kadere turned his head slightly—and froze.
"Diana. Do you really want to have a child with me?"
Diana, still feeling the ache of parting, threw a punch at his face without a word.
"I've thought of it!" Jack Kadere caught her incoming fist casually, a creepy grin spreading across his face. "I've thought of a candidate for a new body pillow."