Chapter 4: Heroics

In the morning I woke to a growling stomach. I begrudgingly forced myself up and went to find leftover pizza. There were only two slices left. Had I really eaten so much pizza yesterday? I dismissed the thought and ate a cold slice while heating up some coffee. While the pot was heating up I dared a peak outside the curtains. I tried to inspect every car and passing person. Anyone of them could be a spy or something. Was I being too paranoid? Or... not enough?

"Ooh, coffee!" said Cisco, startling the bejesus out of me!

"Dude, don't do that," I said, recovering.

"Sorry, sorry," he said. "So, anyway I've been thinking about this situation we've found ourselves in."

"Oh yeah?" I said. "Do tell."

"Okay, let's start with what we know. One, you, Barry Allen, have been imbued with super speed after being hit by lightning. Two, said lightning came from a weird storm that we tried to control with our Wyrm drone. Three, someone or some group has stolen our research which included data on the strange storm I am now labeling as Storm Zero. Four, said someone or some group has listened in on us and probably knows about your super speed. So, I'm thinking we need to train you to be a kickass superhero like Iron Man!" he said, hyping himself up. "We have to investigate this, get our drone back, and take down this shady organization!"

I listened carefully with a bemused expression. Internally though, I knew this wasn't a half-baked plan. We're we just going to stand by and let some unknown thieves use our research to do unjust things? We had promised ourselves we wouldn't let this ever happen. It was our responsibility to bring these people to justice. I nodded in agreement with Cisco. "You're right. We need to train," I said.

Cisco did a double take. "We?" he said.

"You're my Guy in The Chair, Cisco. If I'm out there fighting crime, I need you to be my eyes and ears," I said.

"Dude, yes!" he said with excitement and fist bumped me. "This is going to be so freaking awesome!" He went to his room and returned with his laptop and gaming headphones, more than ready to train. Luckily, Cisco happened to know a guy with access to an old abandoned warehouse where we could train. The warehouse was an abandoned costume shop. All the heavy equipment was sold so there was nothing but open space, beside a few forgotten crates decorating the second floor. Cisco was able to maneuver the van inside so we could use its computer equipment.

Cisco had a speedometer on hand and we started training. I ran laps inside the warehouse while Cisco tinkered. Running around the warehouse was tricky but fun. If I turned too late I had to crouch low and let my feet hit the wall. And let me tell you, running on a vertical surface was something else. My momentum wanted me to crash into the wall but my new powers seemed to come with enhanced strength because my legs held up under the pressure. After forty seven laps of just running along the wall like a horizontal hamster wheel, I started to see something miraculous. Lightning was coming out of nowhere, surrounding me. No. It was shooting off my body. I was creating it. Generating it.

I moved to stop. It was harder than I thought but I managed to skid to a halt. My shoes were a smoking-burned mess. Cisco was looking up from his laptop in awe. "Dude, there was electricity everywhere. How were you doing that?"

I started shaking my head, "I don't how, but at a certain speed it started happening."

Cisco turned around his laptop. On it was a displayed number, "1298 MPH." Cisco closed it and hopped off the van. "Dude you are a speed demon!" Walking over and detaching the speedometer on my hoodie he continued, "I've set up comms so we can talk and..." he reached inside the van drawing out his words, "I found this." Cisco held up an old off color Captain America mask. "Guess the factory closed down 'cause someone was totally colorblind." The mask had a half peeled off letter "A" and was crimson red.

I took the mask and held it up. "We're really doing this," I said.

Cisco gave me an amused grin, "You're the one who wanted to be a superhero." He gestured for me to give back the mask and I did. "I installed Bluetooth headphones in it and set up this smartwatch for you to wear. When you want to talk back you'll have to speak into the watch," Cisco explained.

I took it back and tried it on. It fit snug. I tore off the "A". "How do I look?"

"Dope man. So dope!" He said. "Now you need some running shoes..."

"On it," I said and raced out of the warehouse and to the nearest sports store. In a flash I was right back where Cisco was standing holding a bag with some newly bought clothes. I changed into a pair of black running pants, a pair of red sneakers, as well as knee and elbow pads, both red.

"Hell yeah!" Cisco said, "I am loving the red color scheme!"

"Pretty awesome, right?" I joined in with his excitement. I had a real starter costume coming together. I searched for a mirror and looked at the outcome of our costume creation. The outfit worked well with all its pieces. The Captain America mask or cowl had a chin strap and went all the way down past my neck. Probably so that one could tuck under their shirt, which I did. When I thought the outfit was complete, Cisco brought out one last item.

He held up a metal disc with a lightning bolt emblem on it. "The speedometer," he explained, "I figure it needs to be on the most stationary part of your body while you run, so might as well make it look cool," he said, attaching it to the zipper on my jacket. The emblem was about six inches wide and made of a white polymer with a metal backing. The yellow lightning bolt was bigger than the circle and poked out at both ends.

"This is awesome, Cisco. You've out done yourself, buddy."

Before any of us could say anymore, a beeping came from the computer in Cisco's van. He had set it up to alert him if there was any reported crime or incidents requiring emergency responders. Cisco turned and hurried over, checking it out. He called back to me, "There's a burning building down on 23rd street. Do you think you're up for that?"

I nodded without a word. I checked the smartwatch so that I knew which direction to go. It had a satellite map of the area and a compass. Once I located the street I got into a running stance. A couple of sparks flew off my body and within a second later I was speeding off to the fire! Traveling at superspeed was a strange experience. Everything moved past me so incredibly fast and yet... I could see it all. Every car, every person, every road and street corner, the storefronts, the street signs... and I could see the fire. A red brick building was on fire, specifically the top floor. A roaring inferno broke through the windows of the building. There was an odd sound that wouldn't stop, it was barely heard over the burning crackle of flame. In instance I realized it was somebody screaming but in slow-motion. I didn't wait. I didn't stop to stare in awe at the fire. Within seconds I ran through a wooden door, shattering it, and was racing up the steps. Which was far trickier than I would've thought. Once my foot made it up the last step my momentum would force me to hit the wall. I had to reposition my body to momentarily run on the wall. When I made it to the top floor I skidded to a halt.

"Heeeeelp! Please, anybody!" screamed someone. Their voice resuming to a normal speed.

I ran over to the woman who'd collapsed on the ground. Her eyes lit up in surprise when she saw me. There was a wooden beam pressing against her leg, keeping her from getting up. I grabbed the beam and tried to lift it... but it was stupidly heavy. "Come on!" I growled. The woman even attempted to help and started to push up on the beam.

Then a partial part of the ceiling crumbled, sending burning debris all around us! "Hurry!" cried the woman. At that moment, I forced myself to give it my all. The room was on fire and it was hotter than hell, I should've been passing out from all the heat and smoke. Instead arcs of electricity sparked and traveled along my body as I grabbed the wooden beam and pulled! The wooden support beam was launched across the room! It splintered and broke in two when I yanked it. The woman immediately grabbed my arms as I helped her up. Energized by my sudden surge of power I lifted her up and held her in my arms with ease.

"Let's get out of here," I said and raced down the crumbling stairs and out of the burning building. I was able to slow down enough so as to not make the ride anymore bumpy for my passenger. I found a fire truck and several firemen at the scene. They had just arrived. Two of the firemen saw me and got a gurney out and some medical supplies to treat the woman I was holding. I placed her on the bed and asked her, "Are you alright? Do you know if anyone might still be in there?"

She was shaken and breathing erratically, but she was able to say, "No, It was just me on the top floor... everyone got out before it got bad," she let out a string of coughs, "But the roof collapsed on top of me and I was trapped... Thank you, sir," then she began crying, "Thank you. Thank you so much!"

The fireman beside her gently pushed her down on the gurney and placed an oxygen mask on her and said, "Okay, calm down ma'am. Deep breaths, okay."

I took a few steps back to take in the scene finally. The fire department was successfully putting out the fire. There was a growing crowd of onlookers. Even a news van. Heh, there was even a reporter looking person running over with a cameraman...oh. I should probably go. In a blur of red I sped away from the scene. I stopped a couple blocks away and noticed my smartwatch was getting like fifteen different notifications. Oh, it was Cisco! I answered, making sure to keep the watch close to my mouth. "Hey-"

He didn't let me get a sentence out, "Bro, how'd it go? The news is saying a red streak shot into the building and saved someone! This is incredible, you're already on the news!"

"It was intense! There was fire everywhere but I saved this woman who was pinned under a support beam," I explained. "I am so ready for another save, Cisco. What've you got for me?"

"Lets see, lets see. Oh! Oh," Cisco said with a sudden serious tone.

"What is it?" I asked with furrowed brows.

"Looks like there's a jumper on Ludlow St., updating your watch with coordinates."

I went into a runner stance and took off at a blinding speed! I was moving at another level than before as this time there were trails of lightning shooting off me as I ran through the streets of New York! When I got there I found a hotel building with a crowd of spectators forming around the base of the building. I couldn't see a way in. Every door was blocked by someone and I was far from tempted to run up the side of a building. Even if I could do it, the law of physics told me I would just shoot off into the sky like an idiot. However... an idea came to mind.

I raced into the neighboring building, sped up the stairs, and made it onto the roof! The gravely roof kicked up a small dust cloud when I stopped. From my point of view I could just barely make out the person about to jump. He was a man in a suit and tie. He was in his hotel room, near the very top of the building, hanging out the window. Okay... all I had to do was make it through a window and find his room. Easy peasy.

Then he jumped. I nearly froze on the spot. How the hell was I supposed to catch him? Even if I managed to intercept him in the air, the force from my speed would be far more deadly than the asphalt he was about to hit. Wait. He hasn't hit the ground yet... In a blitz of movement and irrational thinking I ran off the roof of the building I was on! Putting as much strength as I could into my legs I jumped and sailed through the air like a madman! Mid-flight, I curled up my legs to take the brunt of the glass I was about to smash through. When I did, I hit a wall in the hotel room I just crashed into. I went straight through the wall instantly! Wood chips and pieces of plaster flew every which way. Now there was a Barry sized hole in the wall. I had to keep my speed going, though. If I let myself stop moving then I would stop thinking fast enough to react. I needed that man to be moving in slow motion otherwise in seconds he'd be dead. I had to kick off the ground to keep myself mobile. I ran up two flights of stairs and onto the floor below the one the man had jumped from. I ran through the glass sliding door that led into the balcony ,shattering it in the process, and saw the jumper. The man was in freefall. I raced to the very edge of the balcony and threw my arms out to catch him!

And I did! His sudden weight nearly pulled me over the ledge with him, but I got him. I had parts of his suit balled up in my hands because I was desperate to not let him slip. The man had his eyes closed tight and when he opened them he stared back up at me in shock. Realization hit him and he started to bawl. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I know I shouldn't have..."

I consoled the man as best I could, "It's alright, okay? It's going to be alright." He nodded at my words but remained a blubbering mess. I placed him gently back down on the balcony floor and waited for the authorities to arrive. When they did I made a clean exit by speeding past them and out of the hotel building. From a distance I watched as the NYPD took the man down and carefully put him into a police cruiser. Hopefully, now he will get the help he needs. A big smile grew across my face as I came to realize that I was... doing it. I was being a superhero! How many kids who had dreamed of being a superhero, grew up to actually become one? I turned on my comms, "It was a close one, but I caught him. Got anything else for me, Cisco?"

"Alright. Looks like there's an active car chase going on. Two thieves robbed a jewelry store and the police are in pursuit."

I dusted off some stray wood chips and glass and said determinedly, "Where to?"

In two minutes I was halfway across the island of Manhattan. The thieves in question were driving a gray sedan while a police car was driving close behind with sirens blaring. I was trying to come up with a plan; Simply ramming into the car's door might cause the driver to crash. Oh! I had it. Then my sterling idea was interrupted when the thief in the passenger seat started opening fire on the police cruiser!

"Oh shit," I said. Okay. Now or never! I increased my speed and focused my perception of time into a standstill. Immediately I could feel this was a draining power. Running at super speeds was almost like breathing but speeding up my ability to think, beyond the standard level needed to run, was incredibly taxing. I ran into the gunfire, bobbing and weaving, through the bullets! Before the thief could even pull on the trigger I grabbed the gun and tossed it. Then, I took a big step onto the top of the car's hood and slid off on the other side of it. My feet hit the street and started to smoke.

Time was catching up, I had to grab onto the side of the car to keep my momentum. I resumed my running alongside the car and punched through the window! I shot my hand out and snatched the keys right out of the ignition! With my job done I released my mental hold on time and when time resumed, an assault of noise and movement attacked my senses. First, the glass finished shattering, spraying shards into my face. Then, the vehicle veered left and slammed into me! I was thrown into a falling roll on the hard asphalt road. I was in no control of my body as I ragdolled at 80 MPH. The pain was instant and I could feel a couple bones break from my fall. I finished rolling when I hit dirt. I recovered and tried to move my arms under me. I saw the thieves car slow to a stop far from where I was now. The policemen screeched to a halt and got out of their car with guns raised. I couldn't hear what they said but the thieves were clearly surrendering. The driver was sticking both hands out the shattered window, yelling something incoherent. The other thief fell out of the car looking injured but still very much alive.

I let out a painful breath of relief. Not bad for my first car chase, I thought to myself bemused. I forced myself to sit up and barely managed to call Cisco through the watch. My right hand was bruised and my fingers were numb with edging pain. Cisco's voice spoke through the watch but the call was breaking up, "B-B-Bar-y? Y-u oka-y-?"

"I'm fine," I said as loud and clear as I could. "I'm injured but I'm okay."

"Al-ri-g-t, I'm com-n- to - get y-."

"Sounds good," I said and laid down as flat as I could. I don't think anyone saw me bail into the side of the road. Two more police cruisers drove straight past me! I was fairly well hidden in the brush, so I let myself close my eyes and try to relax. Despite all the pain I was in I was actually kind of ecstatic. I just stopped an active car chase. That was incredible.