The Flash: Speed and Greed

Chapter 1

Power Hungry

Earth 1

The definition of death could mean a multitude of things. It could be translated as the ending of life, the act of dying or being killed or the destruction or permanent end of something. Yet, with all those definitions, for the normal person, death was something that they wanted to avoid. Mainly, because it either made them feel uncomfortable or that they feared the unknown that death brought.

For Barry, death was something that he had unfortunately seen a few times in his life and he never grew used to it. He hoped that he never would. It made him feel normal. It made him feel like he was just like everyone else. Normal was relative though. From him being the Flash, to the Reverse Flash, Zoom, and all the Meta-Humans, normal was far different than the dictionary definition.

It had been a month since Jay's tragic death, yet he still felt the sting from it like it had happened yesterday. From the look of horror and shock on Jay's face as Zoom's arm tore through his body like it was nothing, to Caitlin's piercing scream of horror as she watched the second man she loved die right before her. Both of those images still burned strongly in his mind, leaving a sour taste and he didn't know how he could make it disappear.

Now he stood waiting in line at the local 16 Handles to get a temporary fix. An extra-large chunky chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream bowl with all the trimmings. He even topped it with a few of those cherries that tasted terrible, but looked so delicious on top of it. The moment he was done, he sped to Star Labs and found Caitlin alone pulling another late night shift.

He slowly approached her, hiding the bag behind him so she wouldn't see it. "You are here late," She said not looking up from her computer.

"Yeah I know," He said glancing over her shoulder to see what she was working on. A way to open a vortex to Earth 2. She wanted Zoom to die more than anyone else. She was still mourning Jay's death and burying herself in work to deal with it. "Couldn't sleep," He said without thinking.

Caitlin gave him an odd look. "It's a bit too early for that." She glanced at her watch. Eight-thirty PM.

Barry smiled awkwardly and moved the bag in front of him as he stepped away from her. "You know that many people tell me that I am a workaholic," He said hoping she was in one of her better moods.

"Barry," She said giving a 'stop it' look. "I'm fine," She stifled a yawn. "You are the Flash and work at the CCPD as well. As fast you are, that is still a full schedule."

"You are right about that," He agreed with her. "We could all use a long vacation, but since that is out of the option. It is nice every now and then to have a night off."

"That's very sweet of you," She gave him a fake smile. "But I'm fine."

Barry didn't fall for it, but pretended that he did. "Well I guess I will have to call Iris." He turned away from her and continued to shield the bag. "Or even Cisco. But I don't think they'd." He stopped abruptly.

Caitlin interrupted him before he could continue. "What is in the bag" She asked standing up. She smelled something sweet from it.

"What bag?" He asked playfully. He was glad that she noticed and was surprised that it took her this long to notice it.

"The one you are hiding from me," Caitlin looked at his hands and then stepped away from her computer. "Is that cookie dough ice cream?"

Barry smiled and glanced at the bag. "Why yes it is," He said showing her the bag.

Caitlin felt a rush of excitement. "My favorite," She said happily. How did he know? Or did he buy it out of coincidence, she thought.

Barry started to turn away from her again. "Well if you really aren't interested in sharing it with me," He said, "I could call."

"Yeah right," She said grabbing the bag from him hastily. "That ice cream is as good as mine."

Barry had to laugh at her. "Well I guess the flash doesn't get any," He said pretending to be upset and jealous.

Caitlin looked at him. "I may leave you a spoonful or two," She said after a moments thought. She sat down by her computer and took out the ice cream.

Barry sat down next to her in the other chair. She handed him one of the spoons and then opened the ice cream. She took a large spoonful. "So good," She said with a smile. "Thank you so much."

Barry smiled at her. "You're welcome," He said as he took a smile. He had to admit, this was his favorite flavor as well. The cherries though, he could've gone without.

Caitlin took another spoonful. "You even got cherries," She said eating it.

Barry took another spoonful, swallowing it a bit too quickly. "Brain freeze," He said rubbing his temples.

Caitlin gave him a weird look as she ate the cherry. "I didn't know the Flash can get a brain freeze," She teased.

Barry shrugged as the feeling began to fade. "Apparently he can," He took another spoonful, but didn't eat it. "So if you don't mind me asking what were you working on when I came in?" He asked even though he knew the answer.

Caitlin took another spoonful. "Don't even ask," She said shaking her head. She didn't want to get into it. In fact, she didn't even want to think about work now. "I have idea." Excitement flashed in her eyes. "How about we go see a movie."

"A movie?" Barry gave her a weird look. He shrugged and ate the ice cream. "Okay, what did you have in mind?"

Caitlin didn't even have to think twice. "Deadpool," She said quickly. "I have been wanting to watch it."

"I thought you saw it opening night?" He asked giving her a look.

Caitlin took another spoonful. They were nearly finish with the ice cream. "I did," She said, "But aside from it being an amazing superhero movie, it has Ryan Reynolds in tight clothing. What more could a girl ask for?" She gave a sudden hyper giggle.

Barry gave her a funny look. "You really want to see it again?" He asked. He was the type of person who watched a movie once and didn't bother to watch it again.

"Yes," She simply said. "If you don't mind?"

Barry shrugged and watched her take the last spoonful. "I'm fine with it," He said.

"Awesome," She said happily, "It's my treat." She ate the last spoonful. "You'll like the movie." She told him as they cleaned up the ice cream. "It's sort of up your alley." She reached for her sweater that was draped over her chair and put it on. "You know with the super hero thing."

Barry laughed. "If you say so," He said. "So, do you want to drive or take the flash?" He gave her a smile.

"Whatever is fastest?" She gave a small wink and then stepped up to him.

Barry laughed again. "The Flash it is," He said holding on to her. With that he sped off to the theater making sure that no one saw him along the way.

Earth 2

Chris groaned and opened his eyes. His head and neck hurt and his throat was parched. His vision was slightly blurred, but within a few moments it faded and he could see clearly. He sat up touching his head, feeling a welt on the back that was crusted with dry blood. It felt raw and hurt to touch it. He was on the floor in an an unfamiliar room.

He stood up on shaky legs and scanned the room he was in. It looked like a large basement chamber of sorts. It was dimly lit, cold, and had a musty wet smell, which caused him to shiver. To his left and right were glass windowed prison chambers lined up along the wall that held prisoners of sort. Some of them were sleeping on the floor and others were watching him intently, curious at who he was. He was just as curious about them as well.

In front of him along the opposite wall was a larger prison chamber. Inside was a man, floating in midair. There was a brilliant type of light of some sort that seemed to envelop his burgundy colored uniform like an alien ship. Upon close inspection, he saw the man wasn't moving a muscle aside from his dirty blond hair that seemed to slightly be swaying from floating midair. He looked dead and incredibly transparent. He was about to take another step closer to him, when he felt a sudden whoosh behind him.

He turned around and found himself standing in front of Zoom's imposing figure. He gulped loudly, trying not to show his fear. The bluish white electricity that rippled all over him added to his already menacing figure. He knew that he was in trouble.

"What do you want with me?" He asked.

Zoom continued to stare him through his darkened mask not saying anything. He took a floating step toward him, just studying him, which sent a tremor up his spine. He gulped again and took another step backward. He was a foot away from the prison behind him.

"Why am I here?" He asked again, fear creeping up on him.

Zoom studied him for another moment. "You have something that I need," He said in his hauntingly deep tone. "Something that I want."

Chris gave him a perplexed look. "What are you talking about?"

"I have searched everywhere for someone with your abilities," He continued, "And I have finally found it."

Chris couldn't control his fear anymore. "I see," He said trembling visibly.

Zoom took a step toward him. "Oh yes," He said with a nod. "I know that you know exactly what I am talking about and I know that you can feel it too." He paused for a moment. "You can feel it's hunger. Like a burning itch within you, that you have to scratch at."

Zoom sped to the closest chamber and faded through it. He returned a second later holding a middle aged male by the throat. "Can you feel the power that runs through his veins?" He asked menacingly.

Chris licked his dry lips and eyed the man who whimpered in Zoom's grasp. He looked like a rag doll. "Yes," He simply answered.

Zoom smiled with pleasure, but the mask blocked anyone from seeing it. "Good," He said, "And if you want to live, you will take that power."

Zoom began to beat the man in his grasp with such insane speed, that Chris could hardly see the movement. He could hear the punches and the bones cracking as well as the man's painful cries. Not a moment later Zoom stopped and shoved the bloody and broken man into his arms.

Chris caught him and saw that both of his arms were broken in multiple places, one of his eyes was swollen shut and bloody, his nose broken and bloody, and his lip cracked in half and bloody. With his deep and slow painful respirations, he had a feeling that he had flail chest. The man looked at him with his good eye, but was in far too much pain to move. All he could muster was a groan.

"Feed on that power," Zoom said loudly.

Chris gulped as the hunger began to grow within him. Green electricity rippled through his eyes as the man's mouth opened slightly. It began as a sliver of brilliant light, but soon grew larger and longer as it exited the man's mouth. Almost sounding like an exhale, it flew out of the man's mouth completely and into Chris' open mouth. It soon spread throughout his body, giving him a warm and electric feeling that lasted only a moment.

It took only a second, but soon the darkened room suddenly became much lighter. The man groaned in Chris' arms, as Zoom quickly grabbed him and sped out of sight to dispose of the body. He was back a second later, standing in front of Chris once again. Chris looked around the room, that he could now clearly see.

"Now that you have taken that man's power," Zoom said his voice dripping with power. "You understand the importance of your unique ability." He grabbed Chris by the throat and placed him in the now vacant chamber. He still held him by the throat tightly. "Everyone here has unique abilities that will help me kill the Flash. You will use your ability to steal theirs." He lifted him off the ground and leaned close to him. "If you thought that you could try to steal my ability, don't worry you can't. I am far stronger than you will ever be." He paused for a moment. "Stay comfortable Chris. I will be seeing you soon." With that he tossed him roughly against the chamber wall and then sped out of sight.

I hope you enjoyed it! I have more to come soon!

Shaw 18