“Outlaw Country” is episode six of season two of DC’s Legends of Tomorrow.
This episode opens in Liberty, Colorado in 1874. A man is using some high-tech equipment that is definitely not period, and finds something with it. Then some horsemen approach. The leader gets off his horse and both he, and the probable time pirate, draw, but don’t shoot. The man asks the pirate what he is doing, for the mine he is outside hasn’t produced gold in years, The pirate tells the man that he knows things about the mine he can’t tell if he’s dead. He’s told to tell, or get shot. Apparently the mine contains a rare ore, more powerful than gold. He pulls out the device he was using, explaining he used that to find it. There is enough for both of them. They could be partners. The horseman asks the time pirate for the device. The pirate, probably operating under the reasonable assumption that handing it over would mean he has outlived his usefulness, tries drawing on the horseman. And fails.
On the Waverider, the Legends are looking at the amulet they retrieved in the previous episode, “Compromised”. Damien Darhk was rescued by Eobard Thawne after Sara told him how his life would fall apart. This may have been a mistake; Darhk has headed off with the Reverse-Flash. Amaya, on hearing that Darhk was rescued by a speedster, wants to know what a speedster is, and Professor Stein explains. And that speedsters can use the energy of the Speed Force for chronological manipulation. Sara translates that for Rory – they run really fast and can travel in time as a result.
Sara wants Martin to do some research on speedsters. The amulet is similar to the one the Nazis had, so she wants Nate to hit the library. As they leave, Jax asks the professor how long they are going to keep the message from Future Barry secret. Stein is adamant that they will do as Future Barry asked. Then gets hit by a painful headache.
Nate has decided the amulet is from Late Antiquity, probably Judeo-Christina. Other than that, nothing. Historically, it does not exist. Sara points out that it clearly exists – it’s in front of them. Nate thought he would spend less time in the library when he got superpowers. Then they get a temporal quake warning from Nate’s device – Ray calls it a trouble alert. Both Ray and Nate bail on telling Rory, so Amaya gets saddled with it.
When they arrive in the Old West, they come across a hanging in progress. Of Jonah Hex, last seen in “The Magnificent Eight”. Nate runs in, turning to steel, to stop this – startling the horse Jonah is on. Sara shoots the rope. Nate seems to be channelling Westerns and, when the others arrive, Jonah remembers them.
On the ship, Sara tells Jonah that his hanging was historically important, as they were led to it by the alert. They also explain that Rip is MIA and that Sara is captain. Jonah is not that impressed. Jonah was trying to collect a bounty on Quentin Turnbull. Of, according to Nate, Turnbull Country. Which isn’t supposed to exist – the book changed since the last time he looked at it. Now a former cattle rustler is going to control all the land west of the Rockies. So, he needs to be stopped.
In town, Jonah explains that most folks have either been run out of town or work in Turnbull’s mine. Which is not producing gold. Turnbull is still making money, and has bought several places. Including the saloon, and he has offices above that. Sara sends Rory into the saloon to cause trouble, and Amaya after Rory to keep him out of trouble until needed. Jax, Nate and Ray will work out how Turnbull made enough money to buy his own country. By posing as tax collectors. Mr Turnbull does not like tax collectors, and the three get in trouble with some of his men. That doesn’t go well for the outlaws. With outlaw outfits, the three head to the mine.
Sara has been trying to find out what Jonah’s history with Turnbull is, because he clearly has one. Inside the saloon, it looks as if Rory is going to get in a fight with Turnbull. In the mine, Ray discovers what Turnbull is mining. Dwarf star alloy, one of the rarest minerals in the universe. The Atom suit was powered a piece the size of his finger. Turnbull has a pile of it. Jax tries picking it up and Ray tells him it’s also one of the densest materials in the universe too (frankly, real dwarf star material is so dense it would likely sink into the ground).
In the saloon, the fight has not materialised. For Rory is sitting drinking with Turnbull. The two are getting on well. So Jonah ignores Sara and heads inside. The entire saloon is armed – including the girls. Turnbull has also been turning the ore he discovered into bullets. Fortunately for Jonah, Sara uses a whip to pull the gun aside before Turnbull shoots Jonah – as it blows up the wall. With this, they all start to leave, just as the other three arrive. And Nate discovers that turning to steel is not so useful against dwarf star bullets.
Professor Stein is having Gideon do neural imaging of his brain. Several times. She can find nothing wring physiologically. The professor doesn’t think the headaches are psychosomatic. They also don’t appear to be merely headaches – he’s getting visions of a woman as well. An unfamiliar woman.