Such a Fond Tale

 Balian found his father's people. Imad's conversation at the well was with another French knight, named Nicholas. Imad still calls himself 'Nassir'. For whatever reason, has sworn himself to follow Nicholas. 

One day, Almaric is heckling Nicholas in the street, just generally trying to provoke him to a fight. Almaric is perceptive enough to sense a fighter of some kind in Nicholas, a man at arms at the least and wants to see what he's made of. It would be considered just giving the guy a hard time. Getting almost no reaction Almaric quickly gives up. He turns to a Saracen standing nearby and starts hassling him much the same way; perceiving absolutely NO connection between two men. At which point Nicholas turns on him and yells in the sharp sort of voice which people hardly ever disobey.

“LEAVE HIM ALONE!” Heads turn slowly toward Nicholas. Who seems suddenly super-focused on Almaric. “You tried to get a rise out of me and were disappointed when I didn't join the game. So you turn around and hassle a complete stranger you think will be more easily goaded into fighting. I'm not sure whether to call that cowardice or Idiocy. Either way, your issue is with me so leave him out of it.”

Some of the words he used are strange to them, but his intention and meaning are clear enough.

“So you are capable of fighting after all? More than that, you are willing to. It is...a little surprising to be honest. After all, what is he to you that you stand up for him when you will not even stand up for yourself?”

“That's what I was doing sir. You tried to goad me into fighting and I stayed true to who I was. I can fight and I'm good at it. I just need a good enough reason to do so. You didn't give me one before. I kept my temper to avoid lowering myself to your level. Then you hassled a Friend of mine for no other reason than you thought he would be an easier target. That is quite a different story. THAT is something I will fight you on. And I am fairly certain you will regret it quickly.”

Balian, who was standing nearby smiled at both his lefftenants mistake and Nicholas declaration of allegiance. A few on-lookers gave nods of approval at Nicholas reasoned argument, as well as his restraint at very subtly calling his antagonist an impulsive idiot. Nassir himself was thuderstruck.

Nassir was Nicholas servant, and that would have been enough to explain Nicholas protection of him. Nasir was Nicholas responsibility. The instant it was understood Nasir followed him in any manner the knight would be obligated to respond quickly and decisively. But Nicholas had risen to defend him declaring him his friend, not his servant at all.

In the weeks he had spent at the man's side Nicholas had never treated him with anything other than respect and consideration. But to hear his master, a man to whom he'd freely offered his allegiance declare him his friend was...unanticipated.

Even so, Nasir kept an even voice as he stated. “You are so eager to fight you do not measure your enemy nor the field. If there is one thing I have learned about Nicholas it is how difficult it is to provoke him. And what it means when you do.”

“Nassir Please!” Nicholas snapped in Arabic.

“It seems this has gone on long enough, wouldn't you agree?” Balian said, stepping between them.

Nicholas, who had been reaching for his blade immediately dropped his hand. “I am sorry, mi-lord.” He began in a meek voice. “I did not realize...”

“I was talking to Almaric.” Balian replied, thoroughly astounded. “Believe me you did nothing wrong.”

“Neither did he. I honestly think it would be best if Nasir and I were simply on our way, please.”

At this point Almaric could not keep the look of shock off his face. Then again neither could anyone else who was paying attention.

“Are you, sincerely asking for permission to withdraw?” Balian inquired.

“No, mil-lord. I am suggesting that Nasir and I be the first ones to leave this...situation for lack of another word and then everyone goes back to minding their own business. Which would have been a good approach in the first place I don't mind saying.”

Almaric started to apologize, Nicholas held up his hand. “My friend was trying to suggest to you that maybe you should judge whether you can win a fight before trying to start one. I'm merely agreeing with him that this is very sound advice. When I got here I wanted nothing except to be left alone and at peace. With the exception of Nasir's company, I hold to that.”

“As you please.” Balian said with what looked like admiration in his eyes. Mixed perhaps with a little bit of envy.

“As for you mi-lord, forgive me that I do not ask your name. But I hope I might see you again and learn it...on more equal footing and at a more appropriate time.”

“As do I Monsieur. What did he call you, Nicholas?”

The man bowed his head deeply and, with a quick nod to his friend that basically indicated 'follow', turned and walked away.

“He taught himself French.” Almaric said in a low voice.

“I'm sorry, what?” Balian replied.

“That's why Nicholas sounds like that. So precise and yet almost archaic? He taught himself how to speak French.”

“Then barring him being a foreigner, and I don't think he sounded like one,” Almaric quickly shook his head in agreement. “he grew up alone. That's why he prefers being left alone. By the by, what do you think of our friend?"

"Milord?"

"Nicholas. What do you think of him and his Saracen companion?"

“I think if any man save you was going to put me in my place, I'm glad it was someone like him.”

Arabic to French: Hakim is Sage. 

Sayid is Seigneur or monsieur

almuayid is supporter advocate/second/subscriber like “I support your cause”

Nasir is Supporter champion/supporter/backer “I believe in you.” “I'm here for you.”

Nasir's true name is Imad al-Din. (pronounced Im-ad al deen) He calls himself Nasir because he has chosen to follow Nicholas.

One Noble Gesture (Earth -42)

“Okay, I'm a little lost.”

“Everything that lives has an instinctual fear of dying. But only humans have such a strong sense of self-preservation. Even those who would go out of their way to help and to protect others would still tend to put their own lives and safety first if it came down to it. She's different. She put your safety above her own. She gets a lower grade in self-preservation than she does in protective instincts. Which is unbelievably rare in the galaxies.”

“Well that makes sense” Jeremiah said without thinking. “She told me her race was rare. Not like superior but few and far between. That there literally aren't many of them left.”

Understanding once more blanketed the man's narrow face. “She's Xavallen. That explains it. That explains a lot actually.”

“I'm afraid I don't understand.”

“Enkarens and Xavallens are sibling races to each-other. Enkarens are genetically speaking in trouble but also far superior to humans in most respects. Xavallens are, by comparison to their brethren philosophers and friars. They still speak the same language.”

“And she doesn't make sense for an Enkaren.”

J'onn nodded. “Xavallens are a protected species.”

“Wait, what?”

“Their home-world became uninhabitable over 200 years ago. Most of them are nomadic. But some of them have assimilated, to varying degrees into other cultures.

Jeremiah, – For one thing may I call you that? – Of course – for 16 of the 23 major powers in these galaxies, if I had known what she was, my interrogation of her without cause and without defiance sent would have been a crime.”

"They are...that protected."

A Pretender Ending

The late 90's action-drama  The Pretender. Was about a savant named Jarrod who had escaped the corporation that had raised him. But there was one man there, a psychiatrist named Sydney who actually had raised him and been like a father to him. So while he's running all over the United States helping the little guy, he maintains contact with Sydney. As Sydney, Ms. Parker and a tech geek Broots try to track him down.

Now at First Sydney is too consumed with his feelings of guilt and culpability over what happened to Jarrod at the centre. he'd been raised there since he was like 4 years old and later told his parents were dead. Which was another Centre lie. They push passed that t at the beginning of season 2 and from then on they are always there for each-other and would do anything for each other. Sydney was the closest thing to a father Jarrod ever knew. Sydney learns he has a son Nicholas who never knew that the man who raised him wasn't his biological father. Until that man was dying.

In season four Sydney and Jarrod all but stop talking to each-other. Nothing gets between them they just don't interact for the last third of the season. In fact the trio of hunters I call the three musketeers have minimal direct contact with Jarrod -- the Pretender after whom the series is named -- as they solve Centre secrets, people and deal with increasingly demented co-workers.  In fact for the last 6 episodes fo the series Sydney and Jarrod do not communicate at all. Which I thought was kind of pathetic since thier relationship was the heart and soul of the whole series. I will fix that stupidity in MY version of season 4 of the series. Beginning with the last time they even talk in the actual series. Jarrod demands an explanation for why Sydney didn't protect him from these narcotics experiments years ago. And Sydney admits that he couldn't...because he had been a test subject himself. He'd wanted to spare Jarrod that pain so he'd insisted he be used as a test subject instead of Jarrod.  He'd never told him what he'd done for him 'because I didn't want you to feel obligated to stay at the Centre if you ever had the chance to escape.' Cue the last line Sydney ever says to Jarrod in the series and the first line of MY version of the story.

     A New Ending

“I'm sorry Jarrod. I'm Really sorry.” Sydney said as he hung up the phone. He'd made apologies to Jarrod before. For his part in keeping Jarrod without a past, locked up at the centre since he was a boy. And that he couldn't do more to help him find answers not that he was free. The devastation and sorrow he felt as he said these words left them all behind.

'I never knew. I can't believe I misjudged him. He was a better man than I thought and I thought the world of him before tonight.' These were the expressions that passed across Jarrod's face in the 10 seconds after he hung up the phone. He glanced at the ambulance in front of him. In the four years since he'd escaped the centre his remarks to Sydney had gone from 'tell me the truth' to 'help me find the truth' to 'if you're in danger, walk away' and then finally a demand of 'How do you face your past Sydney?!' that last one was thankfully not the last thing he'd said to the man. But somehow nothing that happened later seemed to even exist anymore. He walked out of the phone booth and back to his apartment.

It was a motel really, one of those pay by the week places. He unlocked the door, flipped on the overhead, turned it off immediately and lay down on the bed. He felt like he'd never had more to think about since father's day 18 years ago. He reached over to the lamp at the nightstand, turned it on low and let his mind go blank.

At 8 am the next morning he called The Centre, Sydney's direct line.

“This is Sydney.” the man said in the familiar, almost familial tone he had.

“Sydney it's me. I just wanted to say...I'm the one who's sorry.”

“Jarrod you don't have to...”

“You were always like a father to me Sydney. And I know you've had to keep that part of yourself locked away. You sacrificed yourself to save me the pain. Then kept quiet to spare me the guilt or..”

“..Let's go with guilt Jarrod.” Sydney answered, his right hand on his left shoulder.

“Sydney, remember a year after I got out, I asked you if you ever thought about what it would have been like to have been my father?”

“I've scarcely stopped thinking about it since.”

“Well let me ask you the same question again.”

“I would have been proud to call you my son Jarrod. But I could never call myself your father.”

“You ARE my father Sydney. You're the one who was there for me___in the little moments.”

Jeremiah Narrates a New Beginning

 Jeremiah Danvers Narrates a New Beginning

Nikita and I were together, alone but together for more than a week. The alien would come, feed us, ask us a few rather simple questions and then leave. I was having trouble making heads or tales of him. “My guess is if he wanted us dead we'd be dead right now, so what's his story?”

“I don't know. He's a GREEN Martian.” She said definitively. “If he's lived his life as alone as I have he's lived it for at least 3 times as long. He's forgotten how to trust people, especially humans. Other aliens wouldn't be as hard.”

“That I can understand.” I said glumly.

Three days later the alien came to take me away. He grabbed me by the arm and started to literally drag me out of the room. “No leave him alone!” Nikita cried out.

“You want to die instead?” The man asked her in a threatening voice.

Nikita's voice was low but distinct. “Yes, I do.”

"I cannot believe you are actually going to kill him; I do not see this in you. 'Discerner of the motivations and intentions of the heart' is a name for my people. But if you were going to kill one of us, I'd rather it be me than him. If for no other reason than that would make sense!” She turned to look at me. “And obviously there is another reason. Listen I am quite familiar with how ignorant humans can be, especially when they're scared. But I'd think if you were angry at either of us it would be a freak of nature like me, not quite literally the best human I have ever known!”

By this time the alien had released me from his grip and was starring at Nikita with something stronger than curiosity. A sentiment I shared with him. But Nikita wasn't finished. “I seriously cannot understand why you hate him. Hate is reserved for Whites and for the worst of humans. Hank would fit in among White Martians. My word for him translates as 'ignorant, arrogant asshole'. But Whites are...something else. They are Crishnaka-Sareth. Or near enough.”

“You've lived under the Whites?” The alien said in a voice of which I could make nothing.

“I've lived under Hank Henshaw; for more than 15 years. He scared the hell out of me. And if I wasn't so busy being scared of him I'd have laughed in his face. You confuse the hell out of me. And if I wasn't so busy being confused by you, I'd weep for you.” Her voice took on an exasperated edge. “Is there literally any thing else that needs saying?!” Answering her own question, she sat down, tucked her feet behind her and looked away from us.

I looked over at the man, trying to judge if her outburst had hit home. It clearly had done: He was staring with wide, sad eyes. Staring at me. “I was wrong about you. And I'm sorry.”

That's when I finally realized. “You thought I was...her keeper?”

“I thought she was Enkaren and you were keeping her calm and under control.”

“Demios Pah, Tor-ek Nitch-a.”

“WHAT?!” I exclaimed. “Nikita, what the hell was that?”

“She says I've dishonored the name of my ancestor. And she's not wrong.”

“Stop it!” Nikita cried out. The alien stopped in his tracks. He turned to Nikita. “He's done nothing to deserve this. I would think if anything you'd be after me.”

“Are you saying you'd rather die instead?”

“...Yes.” Nikita answered her voice low but distinct. “I would rather be killed than let him die. I'd think if you'd be angry at either of us it would be a freak of nature like me. Not quite literally the best human I have ever known. So if nothing else that would make sense!”

The outburst must have hit home; the alien released me instantly. “There was no need for any of this Sajen. There never was, was there?”

“I...I misread the situation.” The alien said as if he were a schoolboy getting dressed down for misbehaving. A feeling that would only deepen as the conversation continued.

“And that's the worst thing about all of this. All you had to do was ask. I would have told you. Hell you're a Martian you could have read my mind. I would have permitted it! How quickly we become the things we hate and we don't even realize it.” Nikita walked to the far end of the room sat on the floor with her feet crossed in front of her and turned her head away from her host. Displaying a universally recognized 'I don't want to talk to you' attitude.

I looked over at the man, who glanced back at me, silently asking for an interpretation. “She's comparing you to Hank Henshaw. Someone who treated her like an enemy for no reason and literally tortured her in a blind attempt to get her to reveal the truth of her intentions. But there was no truth to be found, because she wasn't lying. She wasn't a danger to anyone. And if Hank had looked at her for 5 seconds and seen anything other than a human-looking alien, he would have seen her for the innocent person she was. It was there for all the world to see and he couldn't accept it. I served under Henshaw during this time. I couldn't understand why he saw her as the enemy. The last interrogation he performed on her proved he actually got off on hurting aliens...even helpless ones like her.”

“And you broke her free.” Realization blanketed the strangers face. Followed quickly by a look of unmitigated shame. “You broke her free from the D.E.O.”

“I couldn't stand by and let her get tortured for information she didn't actually have. For being a thing rather than a person. Most prisoners at the D.E.O absolutely deserve to be there. And some fo them, to our eyes would truly look like freaks of nature. There is no getting around that. But Nikita was no threat, and certainly no apparent monster. The night before, when I asked him why he was so convinced this prisoner was an enemy he promised me that 'tomorrow, that thing will reveal its true intentions'. I shut the machine down and took her out of it. Nikita put hank in the device, but kept it turned off. I expected her to run off into the night but she didn't move. She asked me if I wanted to come with her. She said she wanted me to come but wouldn't ask that of me unless I wanted to. We made our escape together. She is quite right. All you had to do was ask. Force, much less pain was useless.

She actually laughed at Hank for making the exact same assumption.”

Eternal Bond of love

The kind of love men can have for one another; a love without need. A familial bond without description or cost...except the cost of being interested in that person's happiness and well being far more than in your own.

The Various ways this has happened in my stories.

“It's quite alright Nasir. I'm going to miss you.”

The shock on the other man's face was considerable. “Where am I going?”

“Nasir, I...just please, take the horse and be about your business.”

“Forgive me but are you jesting with me?”

“No why would I...Why would anyone say that in a jest?”

“Why would you let me go?” Nassir responded instantly. And then slowly as if he were trying to work out in his own head what was going on. “Sir, this is your prize of battle. I was the servant of the man you killed in fair combat. I am your prisoner...your slave should you wish it.”

“Nassir, I understand the custom of position. At least I think I do. And I will have no part of it. Especially not if it's simply because of my rank. Which is why I ask, is it because I won, or simply because of a title I inherited from my father?

“Sir, by our very understanding of fate and destiny it is for you to say what happens now. We are taught that ALL is as God wills it and I truly believe that. My master challenged you, more for sport than on principle mis-prizing what he saw. If you take me with you, if you claim me, I will see it as God's justice. That being said I must ask: What do you intend to do with me?”

“I will ne-ver own another human being. And I refuse to make you pay the price for your master's choices. I was little better than a slave myself before Godfrey...before my father found me my life changed very much overnight. We left for the Holy Land together but he did not survive the journey that brought me here. Regardless of how this came to be, I will not have you following after me because of who my father happened to be. This new life was thrust on me; I've done nothing to earn or prove my rank as a knight. I have done nothing to deserve the admiration I see in your eyes right now. Except be a quick learner when Godfrey gave me a brief fighting lesson. I will find my fathers people and live my life. But I cannot and will not ask you to be a part of that. Go in peace.”

Sometime later after defending Kerak, Balian will say. "So that's why you were so eager for God's justice. It wasn't 'your masters' choices." Having realized rather inescapably that Nasir was the lord.

'You truly must be a stranger here' was the look on Nassir's face as he explained his fate was in his hands because of his victory. That it really was entirely in Balian's hands what happened to him, just from their understanding of fate and chance, the turning of fortune's wheel.. Balian had more than earned the right to decide his own fate. But that Nassir's willingness to become his 'prisoner or slave' was an understanding and allowance due to Balian because of his rank. “That being said I must ask: What do you intend to do with me?”

“I will ne-ver own another human being. And I refuse to make you pay the price for your master's choices. I was little better than a slave myself before Godfrey...before my father found me my life changed very much overnight. We left for the Holy land together but he did not survive the journey that brought me here. Regardless of how this came to be, I will not have you following after me because of who my father happened to be. This new life was thrust on me; I've done nothing to earn or prove my rank as a knight. I have done nothing to deserve the admiration I see in your eyes right now. Go in peace.”

“I cannot Milord.” Nassir said slowly but firmly. “All is as God wills it. I truly believe that. And if I didn't before I would now. I cannot see how the two of us could have come together at all, so soon after you even arrived unless Allah brought us together. At any rate, I am not permitted to leave your side. I refuse to leave a stranger to Jerusalem alone and friendless, lost in a sea of faces.” He smiled softly and continued. “Call me a servant or protector if you want, and if that helps you accept MY decision. It would not be far from the truth. No matter what ELSE my life is now, it is bound to yours, and it is by choice, not compulsion I assure you; inshallah.”

Batman V Superman was a freaking Masterpiece!

 I've been watching some detailed analysis of Batman V Superman. And then I went back to Everything Great about Man of Steel and I came to a conclusion.

This is not Superman yet. He is not only a newborn superhero but a lot of the things we know him as are still in his future. Most especially the final reason the film gets so much hate. When he ends Zod's life to save civilians Zod was about to incinerate with his heat vision. "Superman doesn't kill" being so firmly ingrained into our understanding of who Superman even is. Superman probably developed the 'no killing' rule he's known for BECAUSE of how heavily it weighed on him when he was forced to end Zod's life. Everyone complains that this is not the Superman we know. It's not supposed to be. This is how Clark Kent *becomes* the Superman we know and love. And it's a freaking masterpiece.

Saw something last night, that definitely belongs on my blog about missed treasures and maligned masterpieces of movies and TV Shows. There is something about Batman Versus Superman Dawn fo Justice that I don't think literally anyone has mentioned yet.

The movie does not present itself as Batman versus Superman so much as Bruce Wayne becoming obsessed about Superman and the journalist Clark Kent being concerned over the Bat Vigilante in Gotham. In other words, thier Human identities feelings and fears about the others costumed persona. If you look at it that way, or if people even bother to notice it instead of focusing on the Batman V Superman battle of ideologies this film is "supposed" to be -- the entire film makes a lot more sense.

Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice | EPIC Fight Scene! | ClipZone

This is one of the deepest scenes the movie. In any movie. And it's one of my favorites.

That it was Superman's humanity which stopped Batman. Seeing this 'evil alien' care more for a human life than his own life and not the silly name coincidence seemed self-evident to me.

As well as why Bruce's flashback having nothing to do with his 'Martha' but with him now being the one holding the gun. But even I didn't consider that Clark not only accepted 'Save Martha' as his dying breath, but was giving his final wishes to his murderer. 'After you kill me, at least do this for me'. Anything Superman said would have been heard through Superman's lips, not Clark's because as with any other version of the story Superman's armor as far as his secret identity is that people don't expect an alien to have a human life. So why would this evil god like alien Bruce sees when he looks at Superman have a human mother?

"How many Good guys are left how many stayed that way" not only spells his motivations out perfectly but also explains why he didn't go through with killing Superman later. He finally realized that Superman was a good guy. And that he probably should have been asking that question about himself, not the strange visitor from another planet. Also Superman said 'Martha' not 'mom' because Batman had made it abundantly clear he didn't care about Superman's parents. And since he obviously wasn't *being Clark Kent at the time, Batman would have heard 'Save Jor-el's wife' not "Save a human woman who is in danger".

Batman V Superman Dawn of Justice

I don't understand how blind people are

 4 out of 4 users found this review helpful.

The only convoluted parts of this movie are Lex Luthor's plan and why the world suddenly hates Superman. As far as Why Bruce is so relentlessly pursuing Superman and why 'Save Martha' actually pulls him back, they could not have set it up more clearly. And I realize a lot of Batman fans were disgusted/surprised at this version of Batman but they do explain his character perfectly: this is world weary, Robinless Joker beaten Batman who has almost given up on hope for the world. He spells out his motivations to Alfred "He has the power to wipe out the entire human race and if we believe there is even a 1% chance that he is our enemy" He sees this alien as another freak in a costume. He even tells Superman while he's punching his face repeatedly "You were never a God, you were never even a man." Batman does not spare Superman because thier mother's share the same name. Batman didn't even know 'Martha' was Superman's mother's name at first. But Superman asking Batman to save someone else was enough to make him pause and consider that this evil alien cares about people, cares about someone more than his own life. And then Lois comes in and tells him "It's his mother's name." And he realizes Superman has a human family, has a life, IS a good man I/he almost murdered. He finally realizes that "How many good guys are left, how many stayed that way" is a question he should have been asking about himself all along. It's a line straight out of Aaron Eckhart's Harvey Dent "You either die a hero or you live long enough to see yourself become the villain." Setting up both his mission and his attitude for the next movie.

This is not "Batman" anymore. This is not Superman *yet*. I'm wondering why it's so hard for people to stop, look at the film and realize this. Superman is a new born superhero. People call it unrealistic or something that neither hero reacts how they would in thier prime. Neither hero IS in thier prime. Supposedly Batman hates Superman for clear obvious reasons but that Superman has no reason to hate Batman? Clark Kent has a pretty clear reason for hating or at least mistrusting a vigilante who tramples on the law and civil liberties. People see this movie fail thier own expectations and in so doing, completely fail to see this movie in the context of this universe. Where honestly their expectations do not and should not apply.

With potentially his last breath Superman asks his killer to save someone else. And people calling that sloppy writing and the biggest plot convenience ever, made zero sense. Various commentors ask why Superman asking Batman to save his mother would be surprising to Batman or would make any difference. 'what else would you do, any one would ask for thier mothers life that doesn't make him special'. When the entire point of the scene is that Batman does not see Superman as a person at all until that one humanizing moment. He never considered the evil alien had a human mother, let alone would be willing to die for her, or anyone else. Also it matters to Bruce. Saving Martha matters to Bruce.

One Seriously unexpected Hero

 Barry Allen meets Eaobard Thawne who is finally wearing his original face and not Harrison Wells' face. He claim not to remember Barry or even being the Reverse Flash. Which of course Barry does not believe for an instant. And with Flash-Cowl on Barry rants for five solid minutes that he is taking this lying murderer into Iron Heights which is letting him off easy. Mena supercharges herself with Thawne's machine. and they both get knocked on their asses by blow back from her speed.

Flash: She's gone. This is what you wanted all along isn't it, for the negative speed-force to corrupt her.

Eaboard Thawne: Why would I want That?! I didn't even know the negative speed-force existed before today!

The Flash: She protected you from me why would she do that?

Eaobard Thawne: Because she LOVES me, you idiot. And I love her...more than anything. When I lost my memories, I had a singular focus in my life: Somehow, someway I was going to become a speedster and then I met Mena...everything changed.

(In flashback)

Eaobard: I know it sounds strange but I think I'm supposed to me a speedster. I think that's why despite all the holes in my head I can see the BLOC crystal clear. I think I'm meant to use it.

Mena Dhawan: So you want to be like Flash be a superhero?

Eaobard Thawne: I want to be bigger than a superhero I want to recharge power-grids I want to reverse tornadoes before they destroy cities and towns I want to end famine, end war I want to save the world. (narrating) But it wasn't meant to be. I'd already fallen in love with Mena when we discovered her machine could only work for one person. But that wasn't the worst part. Mena had a heart condition. And one night, she went into cardiac arrest. There was only one way to save her. (Thawne puts Mena into the machine to save her life)

Mena Dhawan: You gave up your dream...your chance to save the world.

Eaobard Thawne: You Are my world. (They kiss)

(back in the present day)

Eaobard Thawne: So please...even if I was this -monster somehow or, in another life don't hold my sins against her, I am BEGGING you...save her.

The Flash: (seeing actual tears in his 'monsters' eyes) The Thawne I know has haunted my life since I was just a kid. He's killed people I care for. He deserves to rot. (reaction shot) He could never put someone else's needs before his. (Softly) I'm sorry. You're not the man I thought you were. (Offers his hand which at first Thawne actually shies away from; a little stunned) You're someone better.

 (Thawne gratefully shakes his hand.)