Disclaimer: Not mine, ask DC
Summary: The Flash (Wally West) ends up in an alternate world, where things did not went as well as they did in his universe.
ALTERNATIVE
Alternate worlds. Different times. Parallell dimensions. The Multiverse.
Whatever you call it, none of the names is entirely wrong, and none truly captures the essence of what it is.
We have many crisises. Too many to count, everyone of those one too many. And there was this big crisis, this crisis of the infinite worlds.
No one can say how many people died that day. Worlds merged, two became one. Destinies were fused...or destroyed. There is no one who can really say what happened, no one who really remembers. But we all agree that this was a big tragedy. Biggest tragedy ever.
Alternate Worlds can be scary and terrifying. We know that there is a world somewhere/sometime in which we are villains; we kill, we steal and we love it. That´s a cruel thought.
On the other hand, we gained a lot of friends from other worlds. Take us speedsters for example. What would we do without Jay Garrick? The first Flash from another world. Or maybe, we are the ones from the other world.
I dread the day when I can´t decide what is real and what´s not anymore. It is a burden and a curse for us speedsters: we are all part of the Speedforce, we are closer to the edge, to the other worlds.
My name is Wally West and I am the fastest man alive.
We´re still not sure how it happened. Another fight with another villain. Calls herself "The Portal". She appeared on Halloween and spent her time sending people to dimensions where their fears become alive. Of course we took her down. But not after a stray blast hit me. I know, fastest man alive...but can you outrun magic? Then everything goes black.
I blink as I regain conciousness. Where am I? Typical question,I know. But I mean it. This here looks like Central City...but it is different. I can´t tell why, but this city has changed. Better to remain incognito at first. This is probably one of those fear-dimensions, but I´m not too sure about it. Portal seemed desperate when she took that last shot. She probably just zapped to hit anything. I change out of costume, just in case.
When I try to activate the JLA communicator, nothing works. Either it got fried during the trip, or ...god, please not.
I walk the streets. The people seem normal, but...I´m not sure how to say this. The city looks less colorful, it seems grey. I wonder how Linda feels. If she even exists here. As I pass a newsstand I notice the newspaper´s headline. "Bankrobbery successfully stopped. Rogues once again save the day." I read the entire article at least 20 time before I put the newspaper down again. The picture shows me Heatwave and Weather Wizard capturing some masked goons. The man in the buisness suit looks an awful familiar lot like James Jesse, the Trickster. He´s the official represent of the group. Still trying to progress all this information I walk on. And where have my feet led me? I´m standing in front of the Flash Museum. Uncle Barry...his statue is still here. Looks brandnew, polished and everything. Someone has layed flowers at the base. Then I walk up to the door. And stop. There are more statues. Two persons. Linda! No! That can´t be! My Linda! Then I take a closer look at the other statue. This is me. Oh my god. What has happened here? There´s a plaque. "Dedicated to Linda and Wally West. Central City will never forget them" And more flowers. Everything hits me like a punch in the face. Suddenly I feel sick. What is this place?
Like I´m sleepwalking I go on. The left wing of the museum seems the same; Barry´s adventures. A statue of Kid Flash.
The most of the right wing is identical to the one in the original Flash museum. But the last chapter of this book is a different one.
"The Rogue War. And Zoom." I didn´t hear him walking up to me. Captain Cold. "That´s when everything went downhill. When you died, hell broke lose." I change into the costume. "Don´t bother kid. We are done fighting."
He seems cold. I know, I know, bad pun. But it fits. His voice lacks the emotion it possessed. He was the leader of the rogues, he was eloquent and famous for his great speeches. I can see him; a grin slashing under the hood, ice gun pointing at me... it all seemed like a game. Of course it never was a stupid game for me; but now it seems so. Those were the easy times. Rogue commits a crime. I stop him and he goes to jail. He breaks out a mobth later. Rogue commits a crime, and then it goes on and on.
But he seems so distant. He pulls the hood off. There are lines deeply engraved in his face, his mouth a grim line.
"What happened here, Len?"
"Don´t you remember? Two years ago, when the Rogue war broke loose. We had it settled all under oursleves until Zoom showed up. We retreated, went to lick our wounds and stay still until the whole thing had cooled off. Sources say that Zoom wanted to kill your wife. You went to stop him. Didn´t work. He killed Linda. You went mad and pushed him into the speedforce. But it claimed you, too. You were both assumed dead. Now you´re back kid. Care to tell how?"
"But that´s not...I stopped Zoom! Linda is safe at home with our...that´s not what happened! There was this villain...Portal"
"I guess he is probably as confused as we are, Len." Trickster enters the stage. He´s not smiling. Bad sign. Of course it´s a bad sign for you when he does, but when he doesn´t at least grin...then it´s a very bad day. "I don´t think that this is our Flash coming back from death. I believe that you are someone else."
"I think I´m from an alternate world. In my time, I stopped Zoom. My wife is safe and sound, you guys are busy plotting revenge...this madness did not happen."
"Madness you call it. That´s our life, Flashypants. We can´t change it, but we try to make the best from it."
Trickster raises his hand abruptly to his ear. "Yes, understood. I´ll take care of it." Ear plug. "Cold, your talents are requested. Rampage at the ice hockey stadium."
Len nods. "I´m not finished talking yet, kid. See you at the headquarter." He blasts his gun, creates an ice slide and skates out.
"He can handle it, no big deal." Trickster speaks up again. "I think you want to know a way to get back. I don´t say that I can help you, or that I know anyone who can...but we have good equipment and scientists at the Safehouse, so I suggest you follow me."
I do, because I have no other options. Out of the costuma again. We ride in a black car. Neither of us speaks during the ride. Trickster stops at a tall building complex. Modern skyscrapers, arranged like a giant C. And in the middle: a typical house out of stone, reddish color and a huge graffiti on the front. Rogues!!
"Follow me." In the brick house he leads me to a break room. Chairs, coffee automat, sweets automat, plants and the obligatory water automat. He takes out a cellphone and talks. And talks. For me time always stretches. He probably just talks for a few minutes, but to me it seems endless. I don´t pay attention. Then he speaks some techno-babble which I don´t understand anway. He turns to me again. "I´ve talked to our top scientists. They´re working on a way to bring you back now. Don´t get your hopes up, cause I don´t make any promises. But we´re trying."
He gets himself a cherry coke, "You want something? Take it. You look like you could use some sugar infusion." I decline.
"What is all this, James?"
"This are the Rogues. After your death...it was just different. I know, in the beginning it was just the reformed Rogues against the "real" Rogues. Then the Top came and messed with our minds. And he brought those lousy amateurs with him. And in the end, it was like in the beginning: Captain Cold, Boomer jr, Weather Wizard, Heatwave, Piper and myself- the old crew together again. We took down all those wannabes. Well, old Boomer is not with us anymore...it´s kinda creepy and yet sad. After a while you really miss his accent, his constant begging for a loan and his insults. After those newcomers were shipped off to Arkham and Blackgate - we don´t use Iron Heights anymore, it was shut down - we agreed that our little game couldn´t go on anymore. The speed kid and speed gramps are filling for your Justice League, but some people thought that Central City was now free for claiming. Not with us, I tell you. If you weren´t there anymore to protect your city...then we would. We built up this little organization. Someone breaks havoc in this city...he has to go through us. And many have tried...but they never succeeded. We took em all out. This city is under our protection...and now most crooks think twice before showing their ugly faces here."
"Where are Impulse and Flash?"
"If I recall correctly, a mission in outerspace. Don´t worry, already contacted them. Message will take some time, though, they´re pretty far out.We expect a return call tomorrow."
That´s good news. They are alive. Out of my reach, but alive. And the JLA still exists, it´s just my communicator after all.
"And where are the Rogues now? And what is this complex out there?"
"Well, this complex is called the safehouse. We have science labs, a training center, a hospital, some cells for temporary visitors, a R&D departement, ..."
"Whoa. You really outdid yourselves."
"Guess so. As for the others, Rory is on vacation after the job yesterday. Mark...don´t know, probably head in the clouds somewhere. You´ve met Cold, Boomer jr is on a mission with the Titans I think and Piper is in his room...probably."
"Can I see him?"
Some good news after all. I always knew that the Rogues had a code of honour. You know, there are villains and villains. Just look at Batman and his crew. With what Dick always has to put up...compared to the Joker and his fellows from Arkham, my Rogues seem like decent, nice people.
I notice a change in Trickster´s body language. He hesitates. "I´m not sure if that is a good idea."
Worry. What if-
"Why? Is he alright? Has anything happened-"
"He´s fine...most of the time. I don´t know what happened to the Piper from your world-"
"You mean like Mirror Master messing with his mind? He has recovered from that."
"How"
"What-"
"You understood me. Exactly how did he recover?"
"I showed him my face and-" realization dawns. "He hasn´t snapped out from this, hasn´t he?"
"Not really. Generally he´s fine, but sometimes... I consulted some of your mind-people from the JLA. We know that he had Mirror Master forcing false memories in his mind. Then the Top programmed him. We´re not sure if there was a previous programme hidden or a completely new one...we went to that martian, but he wasn´t a big help either. If you ask me it just got worse. We hoped that he would get over it on his own, but - disaster time. Some people had found out that he once had a nervous breakdown, back in the times with Flash...Barry I mean. His relatives tried to put him into a mental institution to get his heritage, but I prevented that. Until I was injured in a attack from the Legion of Doom or whatever they call themselves.Lay in a come for three days. Much money and influence were shoved in a certain direction, and Piper ended up in Arkham."
I winced.
"Exactly. Once I could hold a phone again, I got him out of there. But-"
Trickster stopped.
"How is Hartley?"
"You know, he has some reality issues. His memories aren´t working 100 correctly and sometimes he can´t tell you which ones are real and which are not. And on his worst days...he doesn´t know anymore if his life is real. He claims that this life is an illusion and that he wants to wake up. But that happens rarely. Mostly he´s fine. I just worry that if you walk in on him now-"
"I understand. Having dead people walking around can´t be good for his ---state."
Poor Piper. He´s my best friend...and now?
"I don´t want to keep you away from him, but-"
"I understand James."
I pat his shoulder. Feels pretty awkward. A cell phone rings.
"Yes? What´s the matter? --- yes----uh-huh----9:30 am----no----no---yes-----has he?----ok-----no-----now----then get started for heaven´s sake!"
"Good news. Our head scientist says that they have picked up some strange energy today. Should be time and place of your arrival. They´ll investigate. They´re positive that we can figure something out."
I don´t want to get my hopes up...but I start to feel better. I want to go home. And now, maybe I can.
"Anyway, it would be best if you would come to the lab with me. Something about energy signature, traces and advanced stuff."
He openes the door. And we both look into the face of Piper. For an endless second he looks at my face: shock, unbelieveingness, dread in his eyes...then he looks away and goes in the room as if he didn´t noticed me. He has let his hair grown again and wears a new, darker costume I´ve never seen before.
"Owen is back, Tricks. He wants to talk about a temporary transfer with you. And Cold reports back from the stadium; no major damages. And the R&D guy--Ted--has something about explosive bubbles for you."
Piper makes himself a coffee. I´m shocked..don´t know what to say...and so is the Trickster. No one speaks for a minute. Piper´s eyes darts every so often to me, but he stares in a different direction as quickly again. He´s white as a wall and looks thin and exhausted.
"What are you looking at Tricks? The fish out of water look is not very becoming for you- spill it. What´s going on?"
"Piper...Hartley...I´m not sure how to say this...have you noticed anything unusual lately?"
Green eyes stare shocked at me. "No...why?"
"Um..."
"Piper! I´m here! Can´t you see me? It´s me, Wally!"
Glance.
"What´s going on here, James? If it´s one of your schemes again, I´m not falling for it this time."
I run to his side and grab his hands. "Don´t you recognize me?"
I´m stopped by the look of pure terror and fear I receive from him. We are both like frozen. Then he begins to shiver and tears well up in his eyes. He sobs.
"James...it has happened again." Trickster rushes to Piper´s side. "James, I see him again." Reluctantly I let go of Piper. "I could swear he just stood in this room."
Piper sinks down to the floor and Trickster kneels before him. I step back, unsure of what to do. "It seemed so real. I..I fear-"
Trickster pulls Piper in a loose hug. Hartley leans on him for support. "Could have sworn...Wally was right there...heard voices...still hear him...can hear breathing...Wally"
He sobs and clings tightly to Trickster.
I feel like I´m intruding something very personal there, something I´m not supposed to watch. Too private, not meant for me...
"Shhh...Piper? Am I real? Calm down, Hart, and focus: Am. I. Real?"
Tear-blurred eyes look up at Trickster´s face. "Wha-"
"Hartley. Can you see me?" He nods.
"Can you feel me?" Trickster clasps Piper´s hands in his own.
"Yes." whispers Piper.
"Can you hear me?" He nods.
"Is there something else you need to know? Anything else to convince you that this is real?"
Piper sighs. "You smell like a bakery exploded in your face."
"That was an accident, I swear! I didn´t mean to leave the-" He starts laughing helplessly. "Man, Hartley." He pulls Piper to his feet and then again in a hug. "Don´t you ever scare me like this again." He is smiling. For the first time since I entered this world he´s smiling.
"But, there´s something I wanted to show you, Piper." He pulls Piper by his hand over to me. He grabs my hand and places Piper´s own on mine. "He IS real, Piper. I see him, hear him, too. We suspect that he is from an alternate world. This is real." A heartbeat of silence. Piper looks at me; doubt and uncertainity in his face. Then his face lightens up and he pulls me in a rib-crashing hug.
"Wally! O my god..this is you! Really you!" I laugh and hug him back. Alternate world or not, he´s still my best friend.
"How did you get here?" he asks. So full of joy and life...
"Long story short: villain zapped me, ended up here. And you...you all are now the angels here? You´ve done a great job here."
Trickster clears his throat. "If you are quite finished, some mad scientists await us. Could be your ticket home, Flasheroonie."
Piper nods. "Come on Wally! I´m sure Linda waits for you."
Can you see why he´s my best friend? He is beyond words.
We walk to the science lab where futuristic technology, lots of computers and many, many wires await us. A man in a white coat describes some more techno-babble to us. This time I try to keep track. I can´t say that I understood all of it, but the bottom line is that they can trace the energy signature that brought me here and when they are successful at creating the exact opposite vibration, they can get me home. The scientist worries about the energy this would need, but we can reassure them that this is the least of our problems. Fastest Man alive.
Until they discuss every detail it is night time. At some point the others have joined us. From Weather Wizard we didn´t get much more than confused blinking and staring, Boomerang´s son stays reserved in a corner, not sure of what he should do now. Heatwave has canceled his vacation and is now bickering with Cold. At least that never changes.
At midnight the scientist shoos us out of his lab. He says that he will be ready on 10pm. But not a second before that so we should not disturb him. And don´t ask unnecessary questions, don´t annoy him, don´t try to sneak in while he´s not looking...most of this lecture is directed at James. And another precious constant from all worlds.
We sit in the break room and talk for hours. Mostly stories from the good old times. That is such a sweet melancholy...each tale is dripping with fond nostalgia, and then we come to speak of Barry. Each Rogue raises his glas. "To Barry Allen; one true hero." He has touched all our hearts.
As the sun goes up we wrapt it up. They go for a nap, and I make myself ready to face the league. I want to hear about Bart and Jay, about everyone.
Sadly...the league is not what it used to be. In the aftermath of the Rogue War...others died. When I was gone, some missions failed.
The Titans are still an active team. Dick has married Babs, roy was his best man. I would have loved to see that wedding.
But we lost Kyle and Donna; the Atom is gone, Superman is presumed dead, this list goes on...Bats has gone more crazy than he was anyway...I receive a warm welcome from Diana and J´onn, the only ones still in the watchtower. Bart and Jay drop in, and then we just run. Talk and run, reminiscing, talking, never stopping. Apparently my death has left a gap in the speedforce and it compensated by boosting their speed to almost my top level. Almost. Fastest Man alive. I tell Bart how proud I am of him. He has grown, had even taken on the Kid Flash costume. It makes my heart ache...
Jay and Joan are fine. They are glad that the Rogues are now protecting Central City. "Would have made even your uncle proud." says Jay. Life has gone on with them.
Then...after the time is so short, I have to leave. It hurts so much. Leaving hurts, but staying is worse. I have to go. They understand. I don´t know if I ever told them how much I love them.
Then it is time. A giant ring is set up in the backyard of the Safehouse. It looks like that thing from Stargate. It´s powered by a treadmill. Such a torturing sight...reminds me of Uncle Barry. This is goodbye, I guess.
They line up. Awkward handshakes from my rogues, a hug from Piper "Give Linda my regards", and then goodbye to Bart and Jay. "Be careful." I tell them, "I know you´ll grow up to be a good man, Bart. Do your best. You´re a hero after my heart. I´ll always be proud of you, remember that." I tell myself that there are no tears in my eyes. Our eyes.
Then there is silence.
The scientist says that I have to power the machine up until I see a green light; then I have to vibrate until the portal is activated with a lightning. Weather Wizard floats up into the sky and suddenly there are huge, dark clouds and it begins to rain. Faint thunder roars. Solemn.
I begin to run, then accelerate and accelerate. I tap into the speedforce, I become faster and faster. I can feel the gentle tug of the force, it´s pulling me home. There! Green light. I vibrate at every frequency I can think of. Instinctly, I can feel that this is going into the right direction. There, I see white out of my peripheral vision. I almost have it. Lightning cracks down and I shout "Farewell.".
Then I speed off, go home, where Linda awaits me. I love her so much, I´ll always come back to her.
