Chapter 14:
It took some time but Vibe was able to somehow contact Cisco. There conversations were taking turns of inhabiting each others bodies and writing things down or conversing with other heroes. Cisco managed to show Vibe the blueprints for their dimension jumping machine. Vibe somehow memorized the blueprints and brought the info back with him. With the help of the Justice League the part of the machine needed in their world was built. Wally was saying his goodbyes and getting ready to go home. The Arrow team had left after they finished helping out a week ago. Ronnie and Professor Stein had taken off, they had something only they could take care of. Meanwhile the Justice League on Earth-16 had been prepping for his return. It was decided that the team and Artemis weren't to be told, at least not yet. This might not work and if it didn't they didn't want hopes to be brought up just to be destroyed again.
"Batman says they're ready," Cisco said as he returned from his latest interdimensional body swap.
"We are too. You ready Wally?" Barry asked.
"Yeah. Thanks. For everything," he replied.
"You're family," Iris pulled him in for a hug.
"It's no problem. It's what we do," Barry agreed. Wally laughed at that with tears in his eyes.
"It's going to be good to see Dick again. Artemis, Bart and you guys too."
"Even me?" Caitlyn asked with a joking smile.
"Every time I see Killer Frost I'll just think of her awesome Doppelganger," Wally laughed.
It's been great getting to know you," Caitlyn hugged the younger man then stepped back.
"For me this probably isn't goodbye," Cisco said giving Wally a fist pound, "I'll Vibe every once in a while to bring you news. Ready?" Getting an affirmative Cisco flicked on the machine.
Meanwhile on Earth-16 Adam Strange did the same. Batman stood by the computers with Vibe, Atom and Flash. Dick was waiting right near the machine, hoping for his friend's forgiveness once he welcomed Wally home. He hoped the abundance of Agent A's cookies he brought would help with that. It would also help numb his pain if this didn't work. The machine whirred glowing with bright blue light.
In a different dimension Wally West took a step toward the machine. He turned to thank his new friends once again before heading home, "Thanks. I really can't thank you enough ever." He turned back and stepped back toward the machine. He was about to run into the blue light when it turned bright green, then yellow, then blinding white. The machine sputtered, sparks flew. Wally's eyes grew wide. "No. This can't be happening, I was almost home. I was going to see Artemis, I was going to meet the twins, see the Team. Help Barry and Bart."
Barry pulled him away and out for a run as Cisco looked back at the machine to see what went wrong. Maybe it wasn't on this side, he would need to vibe.
On the Watchtower, Dick was on his knees in shock. Bruce pulled his son up, offered him one of Alfred's cookies and led him out with an arm around his shoulder. He sent Barry a pitying look, he knew what it was like to lose a son. Jason would never come back, and it looked like Wally wouldn't either. The Flash was running around, looking at the machine, the computers, and pestering Vibe. What had gone wrong? Why wasn't Wally home? He was looking to Vibe who sat at the computer for answers when the Latino spoke up.
"Flash! Barry! This is the other Vibe. Do you guys know what went wrong? I need to try to communicate it on my side. Wally is devastated."
"Flash is too," spoke Adam Strange, "I don't think the machine had enough power to work. I don't think it ever will. We need to find a different way. Can you guys do that?"
"Do what?" Vibe said, "We switched again didn't we?"
"Yeah, but I think that means he's gotten an idea," Barry smiled for the first time since Wally had ceased.