Spoilers for "Cornered" in comments.

[hasnomentor]

Shut up ese. Look, I don't care what you think or anyone else. I know I did what was right.

End of story.

Comments

[peckish4action]

Yeah, you did. We'll figure it out, Jaime.

[arbadacarba]

Somebody had to.

[hasnomentor]

I know. That's why I told them.

[hasnomentor]

I know you will. Just as long as you get the Scarab off my back.

[arbadacarba]

You did good, Jaime. Really.

[hasnomentor]

Yeah. I know Impulse doesn't think so. I just could keep it a secret. It felt wrong.

[arbadacarba]

Sometimes, it depends on the secret.

He did what he thought was best. But the choice is yours. You're the one wearing the scarab.

[hasnomentor]

Hopefully not for much longer.

[peckish4action]

We. [Firmly.] We will find a way. Because you're the one who've had it all this time, and worked with it, and ignoring the person who knows it best would be a bad idea.

[And asking the Reach for help is just Not. On.]

[arbadacarba]

We'll just have to wait and see.

I'm sure we'll come up with something.

[hasnomentor]

...[He sighs.] Yeah. We'll figure it you. [No use arguing with the leader.]

[hasnomentor]

I know you will.

[He just hopes it doesn't entail locking him up.]

[peckish4action]

Jaime.

[Quiet, but steady, and certain.]

Don't underestimate yourself, okay? You did not become a part of this team because of the scarab alone. You're one of us because you've earned it, and we'll take care of our own.

[Dick... even manages to say that with his voice even. Never mind just how worried he is. For Kaldur and Artemis. For M'gann. For Bruce and the rest of the Leaguers. He needs Jaime to have faith in himself, and he does have faith in Jaime, so it's not... not quite a lie, right?]

[hasnomentor]

[It is hard to not underestimate himself when he has no idea what happens in the future to turn him on mode. He doesn't want to just give up but the possibility of that future isn't something he wants to live with more.]

Even if I end up betraying the Team and doom the human race?

[girlfriend_beyond]

Jaime?

[hasnomentor]

Hey Dana...

[girlfriend_beyond]

What- what did you do?

[hasnomentor]

I told the Team to get the Scarab off of my back.

[girlfriend_beyond]

[Not quite getting it.] And... they think that's a bad thing?

[hasnomentor]

If the Scarab is taken off my back, I die.

[girlfriend_beyond]

Whoa- it'll kill you?! Why- why do you want to remove it?! What's wrong with it?

[hasnomentor]

In the future, I betray the human race and bring about the Reach apocalypse. That is a future I can't live with. It's better this way.

[girlfriend_beyond]

But- now that you know, isn't there some other way to prevent it? One that won't- kill you?

[hasnomentor]

Maybe but what if I can't stop it? I don't know what causes me to turn. I don't want to become that.

[girlfriend_beyond]

But what about the rest of your team? Couldn't they stop you, when- if you turned?

[hasnomentor]

According to Impulse, no. I become the biggest baddest big bad in all of history. I doom everyone. I...I probably kill my Team.

[girlfriend_beyond]

Oh, Jaime.

But still- there has to be something you can try, before doing anything fatal. Is there any weakness your team could use to subdue you, in case the worst happens?

[hasnomentor]

I really don't know. Magic hurts the armor pretty badly but the League only has two magic users on their side.

[girlfriend_beyond]

What about Hawkgirl? She could probably stop you, if her mace disrupts the armor like it does for magic, and she'd be especially motivated both to stop you and to save your life.

[hasnomentor]

...Hawkgirl and Hawkman aren't on Earth right now.

[girlfriend_beyond]

I'm sure she'd come back to help you. Earth is her home, too, as much as the rest of the League.

[hasnomentor]

The head Leaguers are all off being tried for galactic crimes. They might not be back for a while. They might not get back in time.

[girlfriend_beyond]

They're what?!

[hasnomentor]

Yeah, it just keeps getting worse. They went off to be tried for galactic crimes they committed when Vandal Savage had them all under his control for about a day five years ago.

[girlfriend_beyond]

That- that makes no sense. Doesn't whatever galactic court's trying them accept diminished capacity or something? And- can't they try them separately, so all the leaders aren't gone at the same time? Do they care if they're leaving Earth potentially underdefended?

[hasnomentor]

That's why they went to the trial. To argue diminished capacity. And it had to be all six of them at once.

[girlfriend_beyond]

Six? Who's left, then?

[hasnomentor]

I don't know the name of all of them. I just know the league has like 25 members now or something like that? It's just most of the original members are gone. I think Flash is the only one left on Earth.

[girlfriend_beyond]

Have you gone to him? The Flash isn't to be underestimated. He's single-handedly taken down threats that defeated the rest of the League.

[hasnomentor]

No...

His grandson from the future is trying to help me but I couldn't go along with his plan to not tell anyone about the future I might cause.

[girlfriend_beyond]

Not telling anyone isn't a good plan. But neither is going straight to the suicidal option! Look, just talk to him, and the other Leaguers still on Earth. If you can all trust each other... you'll find a better way.

[hasnomentor]

I trust them. I don't trust myself. That's the problem. I'd rather be dead than to hurt the people I care about.

[peckish4action]

[well, yes. And that info is still kind of new. But Dick... isn't going to give up on him anytime soon.]

The future is not set in stone.

But... remember, if that were to happen, the first person betrayed would be Jaime Reyes. So the fight you are fighting, it is for you, and the only certain way to lose is to stop fighting. To give up.

And I'm not going to. Join me?

[hasnomentor]

[Something clicks inside Jaime. He stares at Nightwing as the words sank in. It registers in him. He's right. If Nightwing isn't going to give up on him then he really can't give up on himself.]

Yeah. I'll fight. I'll fight as long as I can.

[peckish4action]

[And Dick's face brightens at that, yes, good. He gives a firm nod.]

That's all anyone can ask.

[Beat, and then, quieter.]

I know it's their tech, Jaime, but... the only info we have that removing the thing will be lethal is from the Reach. And we don't exactly have much reason to trust them. And she... [thumb over shoulder.] She's been reading about you, and there she ran into two things. First, the scarab was removed from you, and it hurt a lot, but you definitely didn't die. And second... you and it - he? I don't even know - become friends. Fighting together as a team, even when you are not - connected.

I don't know what will happen where we are. But there are options other than the one Impulse saw.

[hasnomentor]

[Jaime tries to smile when Nightwing's face brightens but then he mentions that. He coughs and blushes a bit. He knows all about that...]

Yeah. He... [points behind himself.] saw that too. You left out the part where I was completely naked. And carrying a big gun. But yeah...maybe. We'll just have to see.

...I should name it someday though.

[girlfriend_beyond]

Maybe they can help you regain your trust in yourself.

If there's no alternative to removing the Scarab... that's how it'll be. But don't give up yet!

[hasnomentor]

Maybe. [He sighs but there is a small smile afterward.]

Thank you for caring so much.

[peckish4action]

... hey, she thought it made sense at the time. I mean, people who capture other people don't always care about their dignity or anything. And you did really, really well.

Yeah, though finding out if it has one might be a start. Since... we were so very successful at budging it.