Writer's note: I'm sorry again for how long this update took. This was the hardest chapter to write- and the longest. But here it is. I hope you all like it. (:
Kiera, Cisco and Caitlin stood about fifty feet from the tall swirling water that developed outside of S.T.A.R. Labs. The tornado of water that surrounded the Meta-human named Tidal Wave didn't seem to slow down, but instead it kept growing as more and more water streamed from the local fire hydrant into the swirling water. Caitlin put her phone to her ear as she speed dialed Barry.
"Duck!" Kiera shouted over the roaring noise of the water. She quickly fell to the parking lot and Cisco and Caitlin did the same a second later. Right after they managed to land on the ground, a large stream of water flew over them towards the hurricane-like water formation. The trio carefully rolled out from under the stream of water and stood back up. They looked back to see the stream of water summoned by Tidal Wave was coming from the river beside S.T.A.R. Labs.
"Where's The Flash?" Cisco whispered as he looked at Caitlin. "We need him here now!" Caitlin shrugged as she indicated the phone was still ringing.
"I can try to delay him again." Kiera said as she stepped in front of Cisco and Caitlin and held her fist out towards the hurricane made by Tidal Wave. She tried to remember how she had 'Brain Blasted' him last time. She took a deep breath and tried what she could remember.
"Barry?" Caitlin said as she heard him say 'Hey. What's up?'. She explained what happened and he told her he'd be right there. Cisco and Caitlin stood back as Kiera continued to concentrate. After a minute she shook her head.
"It's not working like last time!" She shouted as she lowered her hand, confused.
Barry raced through the streets as fast as he could. He was at the bank informing the police and then he had to change quickly to become Barry Allen- the CSI assistant. He was 'late' to the scene, as always- though the police didn't know the real reason. He bagged evidence, examined the scene, and secretly told Detective Joe West what had happened.
But now Barry's friends were in trouble. He changed into the Flash costume at super speed in a dark alley and raced to S.T.A.R. Labs. Even before he turned the corner, he could see the large funnel of water growing in height in the distance and what looked like two tubes of water connected the growing hurricane of water to the river beside it. That meant two things- Tidal Wave's powers were some how growing with every second and his friends were in grave danger.
Barry's speed increased as he thought about his friends in trouble. In less than fifteen seconds, he was skidding to a stop in the Lab's parking lot. Thirty feet in front of him the tornado of water was now higher than a skyscraper. He saw Caitlin, Cisco and Kiera standing near S.T.A.R. Lab's back entrance watching the water swirl in front of them. Kiera was bravely standing in front of the two scientists, trying to use her new abilities to stop Tidal Wave's powers, but with no success. The Flash ran around the fast swirling water towards his friends.
"What happened?" He shouted over the loud noise as he reached them.
"He woke up somehow!" Caitlin said. "Kiera's Psionic Inundation didn't seem to effect him that long."
"I think he's healing himself inside that thing! He's growing stronger by the second!" Kiera shouted as she looked at the water funnel. "I can't read him that well as if the water is preventing me from getting to him. I can't seem to 'Brain Blast' him this time!"
The Flash turned toward the growing man-made hurricane, he now stood in-between his friends and the terrifying event before them.
"Maybe if we can some how cut of his water supply?" Cisco shouted as he pointed at the two tubes made of water that flowed in mid air toward the tornado. The water was being sucked into the Hurricane as it grew.
"How? He has access to an entire ocean from here!" Caitlin said as she grabbed a tablet from the van.
"Can you run fast enough in the opposite direction of the funnel to make it dissipate again?" Cisco said as he remembered The Flash doing something similar before.
"I can try." The Flash nodded and looked back at them. "Get inside!" he added, not wanting them to get in the way, where they could get hurt. Cisco and Caitlin nodded and rushed inside to monitor the event from their computers.
Kiera hesitated. "I can help!" She shouted at him.
"You said your powers aren't working. I can do this. Get to safety!" The Flash said as he studied the funnel of water, getting ready to run around it.
Kiera took a deep breath and finally moved toward the door. She opened the door and then looked back at what was happening. She felt like she could help. She didn't want The Flash doing this by himself. He was watching her though, making sure she got inside. So she sighed and stepped in the building and closed the door behind her.
The Flash ran towards the tornado when he saw she was inside- but Kiera didn't stay in for long. She sensed he was not watching anymore and she opened the door again. Stepping out she saw the streak of yellow lightning circling around the huge tornado of water. The Flash ran and ran as fast as he could in the opposite direction of the swirling water.
"Barry?" Cisco said in The Flash's earpiece. "Can you hear me?"
"Yes." Barry said as he ran.
"We've got a read on Tidal Wave. Kiera was right. It seems he's using the water tunnel as a barrier while he gains more and more energy and strength. He's stronger than ever." Cisco said as he watched a computer-animated scene of what was happening outside of the labs.
"It's turning into a Category 2 hurricane, Barry. The water is going one hundred and two miles per hour." Caitlin said as looked at the readings on her monitor. "If he moves that hurricane-" She stopped, not wanting to say what they were all fearing.
"I know. If they go towards the city, it could rip a building up like it was made of cardboard!" Barry said. The dire situation made him run even faster. He wouldn't let this Meta-human destroy his city. It was his city and he was going to save it.
As Tidal Wave's hurricane grew in size, speed and height, Kiera's fear grew. She watched The Flash race around in circles around the funnel of water and she felt as if her heart were in her throat. She wanted to help him, but she had no idea what she could do. The hurricane's winds made water spray everywhere, making it hard to see.
Kiera looked up at the hurricane and an idea came to her. She ran inside the Labs, looking for Cisco and Caitlin.
"Caitlin? Cisco?" She shouted at the top of her lungs as she ran down the hallway. After shouting their names for about a minute, Cisco finally heard it. He raced out of the room and down the hallway toward her voice.
"Kiera?" Cisco called back," What's wrong?"
Cisco and Kiera almost ran into each other as they rounded a corner in the hallway.
"Cisco! I think I know how we can get to Tidal Wave!" Kiera said as she caught her breath.
"How?" Cisco asked, intrigued.
Kiera ran down the hallway towards the main lab that was now used as The Flash's headquarters. She wanted to explain her idea to both of them at the same time. Cisco sighed as she ignored him and he ran after her. He caught up to her and then led the rest of the way, when Kiera realized she had no idea where she was going.
Once they reached the lab, Kiera ran in and stood before the computers, so she could tell her idea. The mounted monitors behind her showed a computer-animated model of the hurricane with measurements of speed, height, and depth, as well as The Flash's speed and vitals.
Cisco half fell, half sat in his chair, curious as to what her idea was.
"I think I can open a hole in the hurricane like I did for the people in the bank that were inside a similar swirl of water. This one is much stronger and faster, but I think I can do it! I can open it long enough for Barry and I to get through and get us inside the eye of the hurricane." She explained as she demonstrated with her hands in front the monitor that showed the hurricane.
"It could work." Cisco said as he ran the idea through his head.
"What if you're not strong enough to keep it open, Kiera?" Barry said over the intercom. He was listening to the whole thing as he continued to run around the growing hurricane. "He's much stronger now and you barely know what you're doing."
"I can do it." Kiera said, determined. "When we get inside I can probably 'Brain Blast' him again, because he won't have the water to shield to prevent me from getting into his mind. And if I can get close enough to touch him, I could enter his mind and find his weakness."
"I don't know." Caitlin said slowly as she thought it over. She was not convinced it would work. There were too many risks and too many things that could go wrong.
"I have to try. There's no time!" Kiera said.
Cisco nodded and stood up. "She's right."
Barry sighed and slowed down as he ran away from the hurricane. His idea wasn't working and they didn't have time to think of anything else. The hurricane was growing with every passing second. He placed his hands on his thighs, leaning over as he caught his breath. "We can try. But, Kiera," Barry paused, "If it's too much for you, promise me you'll stop and let me try to finish him."
Kiera closed her eyes. She didn't want to picture what could happen if she failed. They could both get injured. If they stepped into that swirling water, their bodies would get sucked up and end up who knows where. They could both die. The Flash would be dead. She didn't want to be responsible for The Flash's death. She knew she'd use her powers to save him, if she had to. He was the hero of this town and she was a nobody. No one would miss her, but everyone in Central City would mourn The Flash. She took a deep breath to relax herself and push those thoughts from her mind.
"I promise." She said to convince him, but she knew she would do whatever it took to take this evil Meta-human down and save Barry.
"You'll need more protection than just those street clothes." Cisco said as he nodded at her soaked clothing. "Since we learned of your powers yesterday, I've started working on a costume for you." He grinned widely. He loved to make awesome costumes for heroes. "It's nowhere near done, but it will work for now." Cisco said as he raced downstairs to get his project.
"For me?" Kiera looked at him stunned.
"That's kind of he's thing." Caitlin said with a smile as she watched him run off.
As Cisco got the costume together, The Flash watched as the Hurricane of water continue to grow in height and width. S.T.A.R. Lab's parking lot was almost completely inside of it. The Flash knew that soon it would be too late to try to even attempt to stop Tidal Wave.
Cisco ran back into the room carrying a light blue and light gray patched costume. It was rough, looking like a weird army bodysuit, but Kiera's mouth opened in awe. No one had done anything like this for her before.
"I had to guess your size, so it might not fit perfectly. It's made of an armored material that will protect you though." Cisco said as he handed it to her.
She smiled and startled Cisco with a hug. Cisco relaxed and grinned. A beautiful woman was literally in his arms. "Thank you." She said as she pulled out of his hug. She raced into another room to try it on. A minute later she came back into the room with a wide smile.
The costume almost fit perfectly on her slender body. The material was plainly stitched, as Cisco hadn't had time to design the final touches on it yet, but it still made her look like she could fight beside The Flash, better than she did in her jeans, t-shirt, and jacket.
"Kiera, if you still want to do this you need to hurry. It's growing fast." The Flash said as he looked up at the water funnel. Water was spraying everywhere, drenching everything and The Flash had to hold up his arm to shield his eyes.
"Right! Sorry!" Kiera said as she remembered her task. Before she could ran out of the room, Cisco stopped her and held out his hand. He was holding a silver circlet for her head- just like the one she had on for the testing yesterday- and a simple gray mask to go over her eyes. "News cameras are gathering outside. I don't think you want them to know your identity. That's why Barry wears a mask." Cisco said.
Kiera nodded and put the mask on her face as he placed the circlet on her blonde hair. Caitlin handed her an earpiece so they could talk to her and Kiera put it in her ear quickly. Kiera smiled and nodded in thanks to both of them, as she finally looked ready to fight.
"The costume will look better when I finish it!" Cisco shouted after Kiera as she rushed down the hallway. Kiera laughed as she ran. The costume was surprisingly very comfortable and she had been able to put her own black boots on over the thin but durable material. She was impressed he was able to do even this much of the costume in one night.
Caitlin monitored the hurricane's specs on her computer. "It's now a Category 3 Hurricane." She said as she saw the wind speeds were now going one hundred and twenty miles per hour. This is when the news would call it a "major" hurricane.
A minute later Kiera pushed open the door and walked out of S.T.A.R. Labs. She saw news vans Cisco had mentioned. Cameras and news people were lined up along a metal fence police had put up to keep civilians away from the event, as well as civilians who wanted to watch the action. Police were watching the hurricane and keeping everyone well away from hurricane for their safety, but several young people were trying to get closer as they filmed it with their phones wanting to show their friends on social media that they were there at the sight. Kiera turned her attention towards the growing hurricane, which had almost doubled since she was last outside. She stood there speechless for a minute. It was so wide that a skyscraper could easily have fit inside and no one would be able to tell.
"Cisco never fails to add the flare." Barry joked and laughed, seeing Kiera's costume as he walked toward her, but also smiled- impressed at his work on her costume.
Kiera returned to realty at his voice. "I like it-" she paused and laughed, "surprisingly!" She said, teasingly.
"Hey! What does that mean?" Cisco said into their earpieces and everyone laughed.
Barry's face became serious quickly. He knew they still had a job to do. He turned his head towards Kiera and said, "Do you think you can do this?"
Kiera's smile faded and she nodded in response. She took a deep breath and she held out her hands in the direction of the swirling water. She closed her eyes and focused on thinking about opening a hole at the base of the whirling hurricane. She imagined it over and over in her mind until it was as clear as if she were actually seeing it.
"It's working!" The Flash shouted over the noise of the roaring water. A small hole was starting to form in the hurricane's base and it started to grow larger with every second. Kiera didn't hear Barry, but she could feel something was happening. She opened her eyes slowly to see she'd actually done it. She stepped forward as she focused on making it larger and larger. She needed it large enough for them to walk single filed inside. The Flash followed behind her, watching the hurricane, but keeping her in the corner of his eye. He still wasn't sure if she could do this without proper training.
After a few minutes, they were within eight feet of the roaring hurricane. It was going so fast that the wind made it hard for them to continue forward. Kiera looked back at The Flash to make sure he was still there and that he was ready to step inside.
Under The Flash's mask, Barry nodded to her to tell her he was ready and she turned her head back around to face the hold in the hurricane. She held her hands up to keep the walls of the hole firm as they started to walk in. She focused on making sure the water swirled away from them.
Barry held his arms out in front of him to help gently push Kiera forward, who was losing her footing as she tried to focus on the hole. He knew she would lose focus if she fell, so he needed to help her move forward. Kiera was so focused on keeping the water off them, that this time Barry's touch didn't bring her into his mind. They kept walking under the hurricane as Kiera mentally kept the path open for them. The roar of the water was almost deafening as the walked through it. Barry focused on keeping Kiera upright and watching in front of them for the hole to open and reveal the inside- or 'eye'- of the hurricane.
Kiera was suddenly having trouble keeping the water from hitting them. The water was going so fast that the weight of holding it up with her mind was like carrying a building. Her head was starting to pound. All this effort was starting to take its toll on her mind. She gritted her teeth and continued on, not giving up.
"Barry! Kiera's readings are spiking! Even she can't take this for much longer! Her activity level is almost what three people total should have!" Caitlin said, worried for Kiera's safety. Barry could hardly hear Caitlin's voice over the sound of the water.
"I can do it!" Kiera said, having barely heard what Caitlin said also. "We are almost there!" She could feel the end of the wall of water was coming up. Barry looked at Keira concerned, but knew they had no choice but to try to go on.
A minute later the water opened up in front of them and they could see the center of the tornado. Light poured in and Barry could see Tidal Wave inside. He narrowed his eyes. They were only five feet from the eye of the hurricane. Barry knew he could outrun the closing of the water and he knew Kiera could not take this much longer. The Flash grabbed Kiera in his arms and ran at super speed into the eye of the hurricane, past the swirling water. As The Flash ran, Kiera lost her concentration and the rushing water started to fall and form a wall again.
The Flash stopped and placed Kiera on her feet once they reached the center of the hurricane. Everything was bright and yet calm. Barry remembered seeing a documentary from school about a hurricane. It had said that the center of a hurricane was actually the calmest part of the storm. Barry looked up at the water swirled around them; making a circular wall that went up and up until it reached the clouds. But inside the massive water hurricane everything was still and peaceful. It almost made him forget what they were there for.
Barry remembered Kiera and looked over at her. She was shaking from the task of holding up the water. Kiera's mind was spinning from the effort it took to hold up the water. Blood dripped from her nose. "Are you alright, Kiera?" He whispered, concerned.
She nodded slowly and wiped the blood from her lip. "Don't worry about me. I'll be fine."
The Flash turned his eyes towards Tidal Wave, his anger towards the evil Meta-human has been growing since the first robbery attempt yesterday. Tidal Wave was standing in the center of the hurricane, his back to them and his hands raised above his head. The man had not noticed they had gotten inside. Barry narrowed his eyes behind The Flash's mask. He was going to end this! Tidal Wave was not going to hurt anyone else.
"Stay here. I'll deal with him while you recover." The Flash whispered and then he ran towards the other Meta-human. The eye of the storm was now about the length of a football field. The only thing that made it look like a parking lot were the white lines for parked cars. The cars that were once parked here were now swirling up in the hurricane.
Kiera watched as it only took a couple seconds for The Flash to reach the man. He now stood only a few feet from Tidal Wave and was ready to fight. Kiera pushed the pain and pounding in her head from her mind and stepped forward as she watched. She was standing at the edge of the water, far away from the two men, but she was ready to help The Flash in any way she could. She wasn't going to let him lose this fight- or die- on her watch.
"Jack Clark!" The Flash shouted at the man, using Tidal Wave's real name as he placed his feet in a ready position- in case he had to run.
Tidal Wave opened his eyes and whipped around to face The Flash. He hadn't expected anyone to make it inside the hurricane. His eyes narrowed and he flicked his hand toward The Flash, not liking that he had made it inside while he was gaining strength. Some of the water flew out of the swirling hurricane of water and formed a pressurized stream towards The Flash. He was too fast though, and in a streak of yellow he was already behind Tidal Wave, well away from the water.
The man screamed in anger and turned quickly to face him again, sending another stream of water mid air towards The Flash. Tidal Wave and The Flash played this came of "Catch" for several minutes, until The Flash ran towards him and punched the man hard in the gut. The speed of the punch sent the man flying towards the opposite edge of the Hurricane and he slammed right into the gurney where he'd been laying only half an hour before. The man gritted his teeth in pain and got up quickly. The strength he'd gained from the water, made it easier for him to regain himself. As Tidal Wave stood up he commanded a wave of water to bring him back towards The Flash in only a few seconds, like a surfer on a surfboard.
"How do I help him?" Kiera asked Cisco and Caitlin, her voice sounded weak, but even though she might physically feel weak, she still could help him with her mind. She had to, no matter what.
"Maybe you can use your telepathy to hold him down so Barry can get to him easier?" Cisco asked.
"Your abilities are putting too much strain on her body, Kiera. You are too weak. Trying to do another telepathic push could put you in a coma-" Caitlin paused and glanced over at Cisco. She didn't want to say it, but she knew Kiera needed to hear it, "or worse." She whispered.
"I have to help Barry. Tidal Wave's too strong for him alone." Kiera said as she watched The Flash and Tidal Wave fight. The Flash had his speed and Tidal Wave had his control over water and his growing strength. She knew even The Flash could not keep up this fight for too long. And idea came to her.
"If I can get close enough to touch him, I could get in his mind and find his weakness." Kiera mumbled out loud.
"That's too risky! He'd hurt you!" Cisco said as he leaned toward the microphone, trying to convice Kiera not to do it.
"I have to try." Kiera said as she ran toward the scene. The parking lot's asphalt was now wet below her feet from Tidal Wave's water attacks, but she continued on. The Flash glanced behind Tidal Wave as he saw Keira run towards the fight. This distraction allowed the other Meta-human's water to slam The Flash to the floor. Barry gritted his teeth and tried to get back up, but the water's pressure prevented him from moving.
"No!" Kiera screamed as she witnessed the whole thing. She ran faster, desperate to help Barry. Just as Tidal Wave moved his head in the direction of Kiera's scream, Kiera was able to place her hand on his shoulder.
Kiera felt a jolt go through her body and saw white flash in front of her eyes. Like the first time with Barry, everything around her was out of focus. She felt as if she was stuffed in clown car, her mind was overloaded with information. Images, thoughts and conversations started appearing in her mind. She saw the battles at the bank, but this time from Tidal Wave's perspective. She saw how he trained for months to get used to his Meta-human skills. She then saw the accident on the night of S.T.A.R. Lab's particle explosion. He was drowning. She felt a tightness in her throat as she experienced what he experienced. A flash of a scene with what seemed to be his family was appearing before her eyes as she felt something grab her arm and pull her against something firm. At first she thought it was just her experiencing one of his memories, but then what could have been a pain in her arm and shoulder jolted her awake from the memories. Everything around her was still out of focus, but she could tell she was now being held by Tidal Wave. He had one hand gripped tight on her arm, holding it against her back. She could see the blurry image of The Flash standing about ten feet in front of them.
"Let her go! You don't have to do this! We can end this now! Surrender!" She heard Barry say- he was giving the Meta-human one last chance to surrender. Barry's voice was distant though; it felt like she was in a fish bowl. Everything seemed muddled. Her mind was trying to focus on Tidal Wave's mind, her own mind and what was happening outside. She heard herself scream in pain, but it seemed strange, as if she wasn't even in her own body.
"Let. Her. Go!" Barry shouted again, this time angrier. Kiera was being harmed by Tidal Wave. He had to do something.
"Ah, but you see, now I have everything I need. Leverage over you! You don't want your precious little girlfriend to get hurt do you? So sweet! Well actually so sad!" She heard Tidal Wave's voice say from what seemed like behind her, but his voice sounded deeper and seemed to rattle her insides. She heard herself scream again and she felt what she realized was a pain in what she guessed was her shoulder as he pulled her arm tighter behind her back.
She saw the outline of The Flash step forward as if Tidal Wave's taunting had made him even angrier- or maybe it was her scream.
She needed to do her task- find Tidal Wave's weakness. She tried to focus on his memories. The world in front her eyes faded away. She could no longer hear the voices, feel the pain, or see The Flash, she instead felt herself getting terrified, but it didn't seem to just be her own feelings. It was Tidal Wave's emotions. He was terrified and a little angry. She realized he was just playing this part of a villain. He was actually terrified. Terrified of his powers. Terrified of losing his family, because they saw him change into a man they didn't recognize. He just played a powerful evil Meta-human in order to help his family. And most of all- terrified of The Flash. That jolted her into her own mind again. She felt the world come back to her. She could see The Flash again- and this time clearly. She screamed in pain as she felt a sharp pain in her shoulder and forearm. This time the scream was clear. She felt herself breath again. She felt like there was more room, some how more room in her mind. She could feel her feet on the ground. She could feel her back being pushed up against the man's chest.
She had left Tidal Wave's mind.
She had to tell Barry what she found out. But if she shouted it to him, Tidal Wave would know what she'd learned. She had to tell him without Tidal Wave knowing.
"Your girlfriend will drown if you don't let me leave!" Tidal Wave sounded at The Flash. She saw The Flash clench his gloved hand. He looked like he was going to explode. She knew he couldn't rush and grab her from the man's grasp without risking her arm being pulled back so far it would break.
She suddenly felt her legs were wet. She glanced down and saw water was travelling up her legs. Soon it would reach her mouth and nose and she wouldn't be able to breath. She really would drown. She tried to push the water down with her mind, but the pain in her arm was too much. She couldn't focus. Her head pounded and her arm felt like knives were stabbed into it.
She quickly remembered being able to talk to Barry with her mind, but she wasn't touching him now. She was far from him. She had to try anyways. It was her last chance.
Barry? Barry! She screamed in her mind, trying desperately to focus on getting into his head. She said his name over and over, concentrating as hard as she could.
Kiera? Is that really you? She heard a voice say. How are you in my mind this time? Barry's faced showed confusion for a second, but then made his face blank, so Tidal Wave couldn't tell.
It was Barry's voice! She felt a wave of relief flow through her. She could not feel his mind, but at least she could communicate with him.
I don't know, but that doesn't matter right now! He's scared! He's terrified!
Who is? Tidal Wave? Barry's voice asked.
Yes! Tidal Wave! You can use that! Use his fear against him!
Kiera felt the water had reached her hips. They had to do something and fast!
Barry thought fast. He still stood about fifteen feet from Tidal Wave and Kiera, watching the water rise slowly up Kiera's body. Soon she'd be drowning like he almost did in the bank.
The bank! That's it. Last time they stunned him with electricity. He was the electricity. Barry felt it surge through his body. The Speed Force allowed him access to lightning. His heart was pounding so fast that he could feel it in chest, as if the electricity was what was flowing through his veins instead of blood. But if he used that electricity to hurt Tidal Wave, it would also affect Kiera. He tried to think. It was so hard to focus when his friend was in danger. She was about to drown.
Think, Barry, think!
Then he had it. He knew what to do.
Do you think you can 'Brain Blast' him again? He asked her with his mind.
She nodded slightly towards The Flash, fear starting to take over her own body. She had to do this. She had to try. She could feel the water reach her chest. She somehow knew attacking Tidal Wave's mind would work again. She was touching him. She had more control. Why hadn't she thought of that before?
Are you ready? Barry asked her as he took a deep breath, ready to do his part. He was going to stun the man and scare him even more. Hopefully that would make him stop.
Yes.
'Three. Two. One." Kiera shouted out loud as she kept her eyes locked on The Flash. Right has she said 'one' she visualized attacking Tidal Wave's mind, overloading him with information, pictures- anything. She was only able to focus long enough to stun him for a second, but that was all The Flash needed.
Tidal Wave screamed in pain and loosened his grip on Kiera's arm. He put his free hand to his temple and closed his eyes tight to try to ease the pain. The Flash ran towards Kiera. In slow motion he got a hold of Kiera and pulled her free from the evil Meta-human's now loosened grasp. Kiera held her breath as the water stopped at her throat and The Flash pulled her through the water. With Kiera secure, The Flash ran away from Tidal Wave. He put Kiera down at one end of the eye of the hurricane and then ran towards him again. This time he ran circles around the man.
Tidal Wave's head started to feel better and looked around to see the yellow lightning all around him. He screamed in frustration and fear and tried to get the Flash with the water that was once used to try to drown Kiera. That is what The Flash needed. He continued to run around the man, building up electricity behind him. In a few seconds the electricity surged into the water and found it's way to Tidal Wave. Just as The Flash's yellow lightning reached the other Meta-human, The Flash sped away from him. He stopped beside Kiera and they watched.
The man light up like a Christmas tree as the electricity hit him and it seemed to spread over his skin. Tidal Wave flung his arms up and screamed as his body surged with electricity. The Flash watched in horror. He didn't mean to do this much harm. He had lost himself in anger and overdid it. As Tidal Wave was being electrocuted, his power of the hurricane of water around them started to fade. The pain caused him to lose his focus and the hurricane started to slow down and fall in waves toward the parking lot's asphalt.
"We need to get out of here! The water will wash us away if we don't move!" The Flash said as he looked up at the water falling towards them from the extraordinary height.
Kiera didn't hear him; she was being overwhelmed with sadness. Her mind had been connected to Tidal Wave. She knew what he felt now. She was watching a man suffer in pain. Even though he tried to kill them several times, she didn't feel like he should die. She wished this could have ended differently. Barry's voice snapped her back to reality. She followed his gaze up towards the approaching wave and gasped.
"How do we get out?" She asked.
The Flash looked around. The once hurricane, was now falling instead of swirling, but it was still a wall of water and they would not be able to get through the waterfall of fast moving water. His head whirled around in every direction and his body followed as he tried to look for a way out. If he didn't find one, they'd be carried out into the river at a very fast speed or electrocuted. They wouldn't survive the trip.
Kiera looked in the direction of the dying man again and their eyes locked. She saw the fear and desperation in his eyes. He was no longer angry at the world, just afraid to die. In only one second, a memory flashed before her eyes, a memory that was familiar. It was not one of her memories, but instead one memory that she'd seen when she looked through Tidal Wave's memories.
The memory was of his family. The image was of Central City's park. The man, his beautiful wife, and his two children were sitting on a picnic blanket on the park's grass. It was a peaceful sunny day and everyone was laughing. They were happy and they loved each other. Everything was perfect.
A tear rolled down Kiera's cheek as she saw the image. He just wanted to be with his family. He wanted them to be safe. He was doing all of this only to make sure his family had money they need to survive, since he'd lost his job on the night of his accident.
I will make sure they are safe and that they know you love them with all your heart. You have my word, Jack. She said to him with her mind. A tear fell down the man's cheek in response and he nodded his head. Before the man took his last breath, he flung his arm in front of him and used all his power he could muster to separate the falling water for them.
Go! He said to her. Get out of here!
Kiera looked towards the now safe exit and then back at the man.
Thank you. She mentally said. She nudged The Flash and pointed at their escape route.
The Flash turned quickly and saw the opening in the water. The water was falling fast; they only had a few seconds before it would close. He took a hold of Kiera and ran out of dying hurricane. In a blink, Kiera looked at the man one last time and saw him falling to the wet parking lot floor, dead.
In a streak of yellow, The Flash and Kiera now stood on the roof of S.T.A.R. Labs. They watched the sad, but also beautiful scene below them. Water was falling from the sky and it all rushed back out into the river. Boats, cars and anything else close by were washed down the river toward the ocean.
After about fifteen minutes, everything was silent and eerie. It looked as if the river had come ashore and swallowed everything insight before retreating back. It almost seemed unbelievable that a deadly Meta-human battle had just taken place down there a short time ago.
"Are you alright?" Barry said as he turned to Kiera.
Kiera's eyes scanned the river for any sign of the man who once commanded those waters, but she didn't see any body floating on the waves. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself.
"Yeah, I'm fine." She said in a somber voice. "He's dead. He didn't deserve to die."
"We had no choice. He was going to kill you. He might have destroyed the city if that hurricane had moved." Barry whispered, seeing how sad Kiera looked. He felt bad for causing the end of that man's life.
"I know. It wasn't your fault. He was just trying to take care of his family." She paused, remembering the beautiful park image. "He loved them so much. I just wish…" She trailed off, not knowing what to say. Another tear fell from her eye. Her emotions were intense. She had experienced Tidal Wave's emotions and memories on top of her own.
"You can't start that, Kiera. If you think of what could have happened, it will rip you apart." Barry replied, speaking from experience. "Maybe we can find his family and you can tell them how much he loved them."
"I'd like that." She whispered back as she slowly looked over at him. Their eyes met and Barry felt sympathy for her. Her eyes were filled with sadness and she felt a touch of that sadness. He had seen that something went on between Kiera and Tidal Wave before the Meta-human's death. Barry couldn't imagine what it must have been like.
He leaned in slowly, until their lips met for a brief few seconds. He wasn't thinking; it was almost involuntary. It just seemed like the only thing he could do to help her feel better.
Their eyes closed as they kissed and Kiera placed her hand next to The Flash's lightning emblem, but then Kiera pulled her head back awkwardly. She took a step back and lowered her hand to her side again.
"Uh, I um," she looked down awkwardly, not sure what just happened. Her emotions felt jumbled. She was not expected that kiss.
"Right, uh sorry." Barry looked out at the parking lot below them. "We should get down from here." Barry said awkwardly as he rubbed the back of his neck. He took a hold of Kiera and ran down the side of S.T.A.R. Labs' circular building in a blur of yellow. The Flash ran inside the building and towards the lab where Cisco and Caitlin were. He placed Kiera in the middle of the room, looking at Cisco and Caitlin over the desk of computers. He stood next to her and finally took off his mask, pushing the mask hoodie down behind him. Caitlin and Cisco stood up quickly and ran around the desk to make sure they were okay. Kiera took his lead and pulled the gray mask from her face.
Caitlin rushed to prepare the side room for Barry, who Kiera just noticed was injured from Tidal Wave and The Flash's battle. He had a scrape on his chin and probably a lot other unseen injuries. The fatigue finally caught up with Kiera as her adrenaline went down. She felt the pain come back to her arm and shoulder. Then she saw the room spin and her legs gave out. Her mind had just been in battle. This was the first time she had extremely used her abilities and her mind was complaining. Everything went black.
"Woah!" She heard Cisco say and she felt someone catch her as she fell. She heard her name frantically said over and over, but somehow the voices seemed to fade away. It was as if she was in a dark pool and had no way of swimming to the surface.
Writer's note: Please note that I still need help with a Meta-human name for Kiera. If you have any ideas, please review or private message me. The person who comes up with the one I will decide to use can have the option of having their name- or nickname- somehow appear in a future chapter, if they'd like. (:
Thank you all for reading! I'll get the next chapter up as soon as I can!