Something Greater
Disclaimer: I don't own DC. I'm writing fanficfion for frak's sake. Don't sue me.
Suit up
A breach opened up, and Josh and Kent landed on the main courtyard of the big House. Cisco and Caitlin were waiting on the porch, alongside Irea. Kent swung his side bag carrying his suit, towards his back.
"Hello there young man." Caitlin said, coming forward.
"Aunt Cait." Kent smiled wide, nearly running into the hug Caitlin gestured for, sighing contently. "Been a while."
"Yes it has, young Padawan." Cisco came forward. "Forgotten me, I hope you have not."
"You don't look like Yoda to me, who are you?" Kent joked.
"That's hurtful." Cisco said, mockingly clutching his chest.
Kent laughed and went and hugged Cisco as well. "Hey Uncle Cisco."
"Hey yourself, Kent." Cisco said. "We've got a lot to talk about."
"You know" Kent said, sighing.
"Yes we do. I'm pan-dimensional, for Pete's sake." Cisco said.
"Should have told me, Kent. Could have helped you." Irea said from the back.
"If I needed any, I would have." Kent retorted.
"Regardless, this is a dangerous business. Doing it alone, and unsupervised at your age is unacceptable." Caitlin said.
"Well, I can't just stop helping people. I can't just ignore it every time I hear someone screaming, crying for help somewhere. Blame my super senses." Kent shrugged.
"Oh we know you can't stop. You're your mother and father's son. We're gonna make sure you do it right." Cisco said, and then turned to the other two kids. "All of you."
Josh and Irea looked confused. "And to that end," Cisco continued, "follow me."
The three kids were a little confused, but they complied nonetheless, walking behind Cisco and Caitlin. They went to a certain section of the hallway, stopping in front of a wall.
"Uncle Cisco what is this? Why are we at a wall?" Irea asked.
"Have a little faith, Miss West." Cisco said, before putting his hand on the wall. The area where he put his hand shone, and suddenly the wall retreated, opening up a pathway.
"Whoa." Josh exclaimed. "So that's what I was feeling everytime I was in here."
"Like father like son, huh Cisco?" Caitlin teased.
The two led the kids into the darkness beyond the new opening, and suddenly, everything lit up, and the kids couldn't believe their eyes. It was the SuperFlash Cave.
"Holy shrap!" Irea yelled. The room was huge, one side walled off with an open door, clearly the medbay from the visible medical equipment and crash cart. The centre had an interactive surface interface, with two consoles around it. The computers didn't have a single speck of dust on them. The kids marvelled at it all, before their eyes settled on the wall in front. It was lined with a few mannequins, holding the suits of the Flash and Supergirl.
Kent's eyes were as wide as saucers. He never thought he'd be here, of all places. Seeing his parents' suits brought tears to his eyes, and he quickly tried to rub them off, only to feel a hand on his shoulder. Irea's. She was crying as well, looking upon the Jesse Quick's suit as well. Caitlin went hugged the two tightly
"I know it hurts to see them, but you need to face them and move forward. That's how a hero works. How your parents were.
"Was this yours, Aunt Caitlin?" Josh asked, pointing towards the Frost suit.
"Yes." She answered, letting go of Kent and Irea as they rubbed off their tears, letting out a sigh each.
"Why are we here?" Kent asked.
"You're gonna be heroes, right? You're going to protect the people of this city, and this world. Well you're gonna do it right, with us helping you." Cisco said, gesturing to himself and Caitlin.
"We may be retired, but we were the two founding members of Team SuperFlash, and it's only right for us to help our heroes' children become the same." Caitlin said.
"Plus, that suit, young man?" Cisco said, pointing to Kent, "travesty. Let's see it here."
Kent shrugged and took it out, placing it on a table.
"Okay that's cool, dude." Josh said. "You made this yourself?"
"Yep." Kent answered.
"Silica based sand quartz fabric, huh? How'd you even get this? They used this on space shuttles to keep it from burning up on re-entry." Cisco said, looking like he was surprised.
"I know a friend, who knows a friend." Kent answered.
"That better not be stolen, Kent." Caitlin warned.
"It's not. I just got it discretely and at a bargain. Nothing illegal, I promise, Aunt Cait." He said, putting a hand on her arm. Caitlin was the closest thing he had to a mother. He was always afraid of disappointing her. Luckily for him, Caitlin smiled, and he breathed a sigh of relief.
"Well as cool as it is, it won't do. We have standards. And its look is very bland." Cisco said.
"I don't want to be flashy. I just wanna do my job and get out. I don't need recognition or praise." Kent said, although he always loved being praised by his aunt. However for the most part, it was true, and the others knew it. He liked to work more from behind the scenes. He wasn't one for speeches or grandstanding. He never liked extra attention. Basic acknowledgement was enough for him.
"Be that as it may, you're one of us, and you will get a new suit. All three of you."
Josh and Irea suddenly perked up. "Suits? Us?" they both said, excited.
"Yes. Frankly, we need your help. But we'll get to that later. Right now, get over there." Cisco said, ushering them towards three panels. He pressed a button, and they moved up, to reveal three suits, exactly each of their sizes.
Josh's suit was a black and blue jacket, black pants and boots, a pair of gauntlets, and vibe goggles, but instead of the usual glasses style, it was almost like a visor, forming a full circle around the head.
Irea's suit was similar to her mother's, mostly red, with black and yellow accents all over the full body suit, with a yellow lightning bolt with two strokes and a white background in the middle, like her father's Kid Flash emblem. It had a half cowl, also like her father's suit, so her hair wouldn't cramp up inside a full cowl.
Kent's suit was another full body suit, a very deep blue from the waist up, and deep crimson the waist down, with white lightning accents all over to complement his white lightning. His emblem consisted of the House of El crest, with the Flash lightning bolt with three strokes running through it, the S being red and the lightning in white across the blue background of the suit. It also had no mask or cowl, staying true to his Kryptonian predecessors' way of no masks.
"No mask?" Kent said to Cisco.
"Hey it's how your mother and uncle Clark did things. If you want I can make one right now-" he began, but was interrupted.
"Naah, leave it. I love it anyway. It honors both my parents." Kent said with a gentle smile.
"I love the half cowl. My hair will be free." Irea smiled.
"Well girl, be careful you don't get caught by it." Cisco said. "Both of your suits," He said, pointing at Kent and Irea, "are made of a reinforced Kevlar tri-weave nanopolymer. It's experimental, but it's extremely heat and abrasive resistant, and it's also way stronger and more flexible than that sand fabric Kent was using. Josh, yours is stronger, but heavier. Of course it's not made to withstand speeds. It's mostly made of Kevlar nanoweave, but there are plates of armor, made of silicon carbide discs on ceramic matrices." Cisco finished.
"So basically anything above a 5.56 will get through." Kent clarified. "Pistols are safe though, bud."
"Basically. Also, all the suits are micro-tech compatible, so choose your housing units, or I'll get you one." Cisco added.
Josh shrugged. "Whatever's good, dad."
Irea hurriedly presented an earring. "This is my favourite earring, and the best part is it's singular. Use this."
Kent slowly took off the Kryptonian bracelet on his left hand. "This. Touch function, uncle Cisco. I don't wanna have to take it off."
"Alright, kids. Give me the rest of the day and you'll get your suits. You'll also report here each day before even attempting to save anyone, unless there's an emergency, which you'll have to explain." Cisco said.
"Also, your superhero adventures better not hamper your careers. Understand?" Caitlin added. All kids nodded.
"Now can you tell us what you needed our help with?" Kent said, remembering Cisco say something about it.
"Right, well, you remember Uncle Oliver?" Cisco asked.
"Of course we do. The Green Arrow, one of the first heroes." Kent said.
"Well, we may have some threats rising, which by the way are above your pay grade right now, so don't ask now. Right now, he wants to make sure the newer generation of heroes are trained properly. So the newest recruits, including you three must learn with him, and us." Cisco said.
"Also, we want you to be junior trainer." Caitlin said.
"What?!" Josh and Irea yelled. "Why him?" Irea further added.
"He's been training himself since he got into University. We didn't meddle because, well we wanted to see how he did." Cisco said.
"You knew that too?" Kent said, mildly surprised.
"Pan dimensional, didn't I say?" Cisco said. "Also, Oliver has his ways."
"The point is, you'll still receive training, but you'll be a good mediator between the experienced adults and the new recruits. You've been training well, and you've been helping people for a while by yourself. Now it's time to enter the first stage of the big league. All of you." Caitlin said.
"The Justice League?" Irea asked excitedly.
"No. The Justice League's time is over. We're old, retired, most of us are… gone, anyway." Cisco said, having stopped in the middle there. "No you are going to decide what kind of heroes you will be, we'll just make sure you're competent enough to do it."
"If you're in, and it is your decision, because the first place where you can fail as a hero is not having enough motivation, but if you're in, you have to report to Central City tomorrow, at the old Hall of Justice." Caitlin said. "But I have a feeling all three of you are in, right?"
"You bet!" Irea said, excited.
"I'm in." Josh said.
Kent stepped over to Caitlin. "I'll make them proud, Aunt Cait. And you." He said solemnly.
Caitlin hugged Kent again. She knew how emotional he was about this, wearing his parents' emblems, taking on their legacy. "That's my boy." She gave him an encouraging smile. Kent looked determined.
"Okay, go on now, you kids. You'll get your suits tomorrow. And report to Central by 12 midday!" Cisco said.
"Josh could I have a breach back to my apartment?" Kent said.
"You know you could stay here for tonight?" Irea tentatively said.
"I could, but I have to sort my place out a bit. Thanks though." Kent said with a smile.
Josh held out his hand, and a breach popped open in front of him. "There you go, bud."
"See you tomorrow." Kent waved, and ran in, hopping out into his apartment. He went to the fridge and got some calorie bars to eat, and popped open a soda. He felt nervousness and excitement at the same time. Anticipation flooded him. He went to his nightstand, where his mom's glasses rested, beside his father's Flash ring, that he'd asked Cisco for a long time ago.
"You don't have to worry about anyone anymore, mom, dad. I'll take over, no, we will. And I'll make sure everyone stays safe on the job." He said to the remnants of his parents. "I just wish you were here, you know? I wish you'd told me yourself how you felt about all this. I wish… I could see the two of you one last time. Let you know about everything that's happened, and stuff." He sighed heavily. "Goodnight, Mom, Dad. I love you."
He finished up his calorie bars and the soda and went to bed fast. Big day next day.
.
.
The next day, he rose early, and sped to the House. He went in and entered the lab, only to find it empty. Suddenly, Cisco entered.
"Excited, aren't we? Josh and Irea aren't even up yet." Cisco smirked.
"Can you blame me? I'm getting my suit. With the emblems of both my parents." Kent reasoned.
"I'm glad to see you still love your parents so much." Cisco said, looking a bit emotional. "You miss them everyday, don't you?"
Kent walked over to him, and put a hand on his shoulder. "Just as much as the first day, Uncle Cisco. And I know you do too."
Cisco nodded. "They were two of my best friends. My family."
"I know, Uncle Cisco." Kent sighed.
Cisco cleared his throat. "But that's not why we're here. Here you go." He handed Kent his mother's bracelet. "It's unchanged except for the micro-housing, barely noticeable."
"It's perfect, Uncle Cisco." Kent said, still carrying it in his palm.
"Well try it on, go ahead, man." Cisco encouraged.
Kent activated the bracelet's micro-housing, and the suit materialized onto him. It was a perfect fit, not too tight or loose. The suit also felt lighter than his old one, clearly the product of Cisco Ramone. That's when Caitlin entered the lab as well. She gasped, before morphing into a proud smile.
"You look so much like them." She said, her voice shaky.
"Aunt Cait, don't you dare cry." Kent said heavily. "If you cry, I'll cry."
"No it's okay." She controlled herself, before rushing over and hugging Kent, who immediately hugged back. "You'll make them so proud. I know I already am." She said, pulling back.
"Thanks, Aunt Cait. That means so much to me." Kent said, before clearing his throat again. He de-materialized the suit back into his bracelet.
That's when Josh and Irea walked in, Irea groaning.
"Early again?" Irea said. "It's barely over 4 o'clock in the morning!"
"8 hours should be enough for regular people, so you'll be fine with 7." Kent reasoned. "Besides, I don't actually need nearly as much sleep as you. I'm half Kryptonian."
"So you keep reminding us." Josh said, still rubbing his eyes.
"It has that many perks." Kent shrugged.
"Well don't just sulk there, get your suits!" Cisco yelled, getting them to cheer up.
Irea and Josh ran over to Cisco, to get the trinkets that would house their suits.
"Your earring, milady." Cisco handed Irea the earring. "And Josh, I got you a ring. It's a little unimaginative, but it works."
"Thanks Dad." Josh said, putting the ring on. It had V emblazoned on it. "Vibe?"
"Vibe." His father confirmed.
"Nice dude, and what are you? Kid Kid Flash?" Kent teased Irea.
"Shut it before I throw lightning at you!" Irea yelled.
"As if that'd work." Kent smirked.
"Guys guys guys! Names come later. First, you have to train." Caitlin said, reeling them in. "You remember, don't you?"
"Where was it again?" Irea said, meekly.
"God, how are you a speedster with such a shrappy memory?" Kent smirked again, making Irea glare at him.
"Seriously though, looks good on you." Kent added, softening his expression.
Irea's expression softened too. "Thanks."
"You too, bud." Kent said, now looking at Josh, who was fiddling with the gauntlets.
"This is top notch, dad." He said excitedly.
"Of course it is." Cisco said nonchalantly. "Now, you guys don't wanna be late, right?"
"If you don't, then go ahead and get ready. Clean up, eat breakfast." Caitlin finished.
"Yes, Aunt Caitlin, Uncle Cisco." Irea said, and Josh followed.
"I'll go home and get some more calorie bars, okay Aunt Cait?" Kent said.
"Alright, Kent." Caitlin said. Kent was about to run off, when he suddenly turned and hugged Caitlin quickly, before speeding off.
Caitlin smiled, then noticed Cisco smiling at her too.
"You two really go well together." He said.
"We do." Caitlin smiled. "I didn't start a family myself, but raising Kent was like raising my own son. Speaking of family, when do Cynthia and Wally get back?"
"In a few days, I guess." Cisco said. "I can feel that she's fine." He shrugged, but suddenly fell into deep thought. "Caitlin, are we sure we're doing the right thing? Training them now?"
"Have faith, Cisco. They're our family, and they're our future." Caitlin said.
"And that message?" Cisco asked. "Are we sure not telling them now's right? What if telling them motivates them further?"
"They need to grow on their own first, before they can shoulder such a responsibility." Caitlin said, bringing the 'message' on the screen. To the ordinary, it was a bunch of gibberish. However, Cisco could read Apokoliptian. The text said 'Rest assured. We will avenge our lord. -Grail.'
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And how are we doing today? Great? Good!
Okay this is certainly getting interesting. Now I'm going to introduce quite a few more young recruits in the next chapter, some OCs, some not. And I hope you guys are liking the direction this is going.
As always, review and let me know how you guys feel about this chapter, keep reading and I'll see y'all in the next one. Peace!