A/N: THIS STORY HAS PASSED 50 FOLLOWS AND 50 REVIEWS! I'm screaming with joy right now. Thank you to all of you for your reviews, favs and follows. It truly means a lot to me. Thank you guys, just thank you. Now, for my intro.
Welcome to another chapter! In this chapter, I'm gonna have Barry go through some sort of mind trials (you know, the kind that they do in movies and TV shows) while the agents work with a special guest from the mainstream Arrowverse, who will arrive to help out. Enough talk, on with the chapter!
Response to reviews:
spiderman1fan: Thank you. No, not in this arc. I might bring some of them in during the Framework arc but not this one.
Chloe (Guest): Thank you, glad you liked it.
sterling2003: Thanks, mate. Appreciate it. Indeed, it is pretty sad to see what Barry is going through right now. Little warning, it may get even more emotional in the next chapter. As for chapter 6 of The Avenging Scarlet Speedster, I've just finished the Capitol Bombing part. Now, all I need to do, is add a bit of an aftermath, make a few edits and it should be good to go. All in all, I'd say between two to four days.
S.H.I.E.L.D. Base (The Playground)
After the battle with Savitar,
6:03 am
In the hospital wing of the Playground, Barry was lying on a hospital bed, unconscious from his previous fight. He had been changed out of his broken suit to some black pants and a blue unzipped jacket. Around him, Mace and Agents Coulson, May, Mack, Bobbi, Hunter, Piper, Davis, Simmons and Fitz were all spread out across the room. The agents managed to get to Simmons in time for her to stabilize Barry and removed the blade from his stomach. Since then, Barry had been unconscious for the past three hours. There had been no change in his condition. At this point, even Simmons was worried for the young speedster. The deafening silence in the room, save for the machines hooked up to Barry beeping, was tense for a few moments until someone decided to break the tension.
"How is he?" Hunter asked, concerned for the speedster.
"He's stable," Simmons said. "He's just unconscious. It will take him a while to wake up from his injuries, even with his speed healing."
"When will he wake up?" May asked.
"A few hours," Simmons guessed. "A couple days. Really, there is no way of telling for sure."
"I thought you said Barry could heal from a fractured arm in less than two hours." Mack asked.
"Maybe," Simmons replied. "but whatever Savitar did to him...the effects of it are still taking a toll on his body. That and..."
"And what?" Coulson asked.
"Well," Simmons began. "His back is covered in scars and a small third degree burn. Twenty-four percent of his body is covered in scar tissue."
"Twenty-four percent?" Fitz asked. Simmons nodded. "And this was just training from the League of Shadows?"
"According to Barry." May said.
"I'd like to have a good word with those people." Mack said firmly.
"So would Daisy." Bobbi pointed out.
"He really is The Flash?" Piper asked, still trying to take in the new information that she, Davis and all of S.H.I.E.L.D. had learned.
"Yeah," Fitz replied. "And he's from an alternate universe."
"What? Like that..." Davis struggled to find the word.
"Multiverse?" Bobbi asked.
"Yeah, Multiverse," Davis agreed. "Like that?"
"The same." Coulson said.
"This was a set up from the start," Mace said disappointingly as everyone in the room faced the director. "It was a trap to ensure Savitar's escape."
"Escape from what exactly?" Simmons asked.
"Yeah, what was he escaping from?" Fitz added. "We don't know anything, the only thing we know is that..."
"Now, anyone can see Savitar," Coulson realized. "Not just speed force speedsters."
"But how?" Bobbi asked. "Barry said only speed force speedsters could see him but now everyone can. How's that possible?"
"We don't know," May said bitterly with disappointment. "but Barry would."
"Either way it was a trap," Mace said. "We captured some of the members of the Cult of Savitar and the Watchdogs. Others fled the scene with Alchemy and they escaped."
"Where are they?" Davis asked. "The ones we got?"
"Interrogation rooms," Mace answered. "Separated, of course. Daisy has been...uh...interrogating them."
Everyone in the room took a shaky breath at Mace quoting the word 'interrogating', they all knew what that meant. When Daisy had found out about Barry's condition, she went into rage and immediately stormed into the interrogation room, where she had turned off the cameras and microphones and began 'interrogating' them.
"How is she?" Piper asked.
"Not very good," Coulson answered. "She didn't take it very well."
In one of the interrogation rooms, Daisy Johnson slammed one of the members of the Cult of Savitar against the wall, she grabbed him by the collar as she kept him pinned to the wall. The man's name was Thomas Smith, a worshipper who believed in Savitar but Daisy didn't care, she just wanted to know one thing and one thing only. She wanted to know where Savitar was, where Alchemy and the rest of the Cult were. Savitar had hurt Barry, he broke him, tortured him, beat him to near death and Daisy wanted revenge. For the past hour or so, she'd been going to room after room after room, interrogating every single Cult member with brute and violent force. None of the members talked and Smith better have said something or Daisy swore she would kill someone, then and there.
"Where is Savitar?" Daisy growled. "I'm only gonna ask you once."
"Our orders are to speak only to Barry Allen," Smith replied for the millionth time. "And to Barry Allen, only."
"Stay away from Barry. You're not going anywhere near him," Daisy gritted. "You won't even touch him."
"Ah, I see," Smith taunted. "You love him and yet, you failed to protect him. What kind of person fails to protect the ones they love and care about the most? Tell me, do you wonder what part of Barry Allen Savitar broke first? His spirit? His soul? His mind? Or was it just his body?"
Daisy roared with rage as she picked up Smith and swung him over her shoulders and onto the interrogation table. Smith landed on his back with a bang as he slightly winced in pain. Daisy grabbed Smith by the hair as she threw him off the table and onto the ground. She then sent a quake to Smith's leg as it broke with a crack, causing Smith to cry out in pain, wailing hopelessly. Daisy then kneeled over Smith as she began punching him across his face, over and over again. She even started earning blood from him. In rage, Daisy continued her punches, the mental images of Barry laying on the ground after Savitar had beaten him to a pulp flashing through her head. Daisy then spoke with each punch.
"Where..." Punch. "...is..." Punch. "Savitar?" Punch.
"I don't know," Smith wailed, raising his hands in front of his face, begging for mercy. "I never knew, I swear. Just spare me!"
Daisy angrily grabbed Smith by the collar. "Give me one reason why I shouldn't snap your neck right now."
"I know where they're going next," Smith begged. "They'll be on a drilling platform. At the Baltic Sea, one of Anton Ivanov's."
"You better be right," Daisy growled. "Or I swear, I will come back here, take you to the roof, quake you off this damn building and I'll let you fall to your goddamn death."
Smith nodded in fear. Daisy then quaked him in the head, knocking him unconscious. She rose to her feet and angrily stormed out of the interrogation room, opening the door before slamming it shut behind her. Daisy stormed down the halls, searching for the rest of the agents before eventually finding them in the hospital wing of the Playground. Daisy stormed into the room as Mace and all the agents inside were interrupted by her arrival.
"Agent Johnson," Mace said. "What can-"
"I know where Savitar and the Cult are," Daisy breathed, exhausted from her earlier interrogation. "Even Alchemy and the Watchdogs."
"Alright," Mace said. "We'll wait, assemble a team, then when the time is right, we strike."
"What?" Daisy asked. "No, we can go now. While they're still there."
"Daisy," Bobbi said. "We can't do this without Barry. Savitar's too powerful."
"She's right, D." Mack backed up.
"We can't just sit here and do nothing!" Daisy shouted.
"We are doing something, Daisy," May argued. "We're here, trying to make sure that Barry gets better."
"And everyone for every second we're here," Daisy argued back. "Savitar is out there killing god-knows-who! All because we won't get the hell up and do some-goddamn-thing!"
The entire room suddenly dropped to silence, save for Daisy's heavy breathing and the beeping from the machines that were hooked up to Barry's unconscious body, which was laying on the hospital bed. Daisy then took a step back, realizing what she had done and what she had said.
"I'm sorry." Daisy said in a bare whisper.
"Look, Daisy," Hunter said. "You care about Barry. Hell, you love him - don't give me that look it was obvious from the beginning, Barry's literally the only one who doesn't know. Look, the point is...Savitar hurt Barry, he hurt the one you love and you want revenge. I get it, I do. I felt the same way when Ward tortured Bobbi...but Daisy, if you go out there, like this, you're only going to get yourself hurt, killed or worse. Barry wouldn't want that for you the way you don't want this for him."
"You're right," Daisy sighed, giving in. "We need a speed force speedster, one that isn't Barry and will help us."
"I believe that's where I come in." an elderly voice said.
Daisy spun around, holding her arm up, ready to quake anything when she saw an elderly man in black, long sleeve t-shirt and grey pants. Daisy and the team all circled around Barry, some of them holding guns at the man, who kept his hands in the air in a sort of surrender position.
"Easy," the man said. "I come in peace."
"Why the hell should we believe that?" May demanded, aiming a pistol at the man.
"My name is Jay Garrick," the man introduced himself. "I'm a speedster, a speed force one, from Earth Three. I'm a friend of Barry's."
"Jay Garrick." Daisy said, noticing some form of familiarity in the name.
"Tremors, you know this guy?" Mack asked.
"He's one of Barry's speedster friends." Daisy explained as she turned to face Jay. "Are you a speedster?"
"I am." Jay said as he raised his hand, vibrating it for a few moments as evidence.
"Well," Mace said. "I'm convinced."
"Well, in that case, Mr. Garrick-" Coulson began.
"Please, call me Jay, son." Jay said in a fatherly tone.
"Alright, Jay," Coulson said. "You say you're here to help us with Savitar?"
"That," Jay replied. "And I think I might be able to put a little bit of info as per Barry's condition."
"Is he gonna be okay?" Daisy asked in panic as everyone in the room had their full attention turned to Jay.
"I'm not sure," Jay said in an ominous tone. "In fact, I think he might be in trouble."
Elsewhere
In Barry's mind and subconscious, Barry opened his eyes, waking up with a start as he found himself dressed in a short-sleeved grey t-shirt and black pants as he also found himself in a dark room. Barry looked around and noticed that the dimly lit room was actually a courtroom. Though, it didn't look like the usual one. It seemed to look more like the one from Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part One, a small circle of space in the middle of the courtroom. Circles of church-like 'chairs' encircling the room, each level higher than the other and a sort of stand of which the Judge would sit behind. Barry then noticed a man standing not too far away from him. The man had his back turned to Barry, he was dressed in Oliver's Green Arrow suit and even had a quiver around him and a bow in his hand. The man turned around, taking off his mask and hood, revealing the face of Oliver Queen. Barry sighed with relief at the sight of Oliver.
"Oliver." Barry said as he ran forward.
After running about three feet, Barry was stopped by a strong force that was tightened on his wrists. Barry looked down to see chains tied on his wrists, tying them together. The chains were five feet long and were attached to a sort of chain holder on the ground. Barry then tried phasing, generating Speed Force energy inside him. However, nothing happened. No lightning, no phasing, not even vibrating.
"I don't have my speed," Barry realized, looking up to face Oliver. "Ollie, you gotta help me, man. You gotta get me out of this thing."
"I can't do that, Barry." Oliver said, his tone was cold and practically soundless.
"What?" Barry asked in shock. "Why?"
"Because...you're under arrest."
"For what?"
"Everything. All the things you've done, all the mistakes you've made, the crimes you've committed. Everything. You're here to be judged."
"Here?" Barry asked in complete confusion. "What is here? Where the hell am I?"
"Well," Oliver began, preparing to explain. "After your fight with Savitar, you passed out and Daisy and the agents were able to get you to the hospital wing of the base. Your physical body is currently laying in a hospital bed. This place is a mixture of your subconscious, your consciousness and the Speed Force itself. Your very appearance here is coming from your mind and your soul."
"What?"
"Defend yourself, Barry. Not by fighting or running. Face your fears, your regrets, your pain, your anger, all of it. And remember, whatever happens to you here, happens to your physical body in the real world. If you die here, you die out there. Good luck, Barry."
Oliver then turned around and began walking away into a dark corridor as Barry desperately called after him.
"Oliver! Ollie! Oliver! Damn it, Ollie! OLIVER!"
"Silence!" an elderly voice boomed throughout the courtroom as Barry looked up to the stand.
Behind the stand, an elderly, ninety-year-old man sat on a chair. His face and his hands (which were the only visible parts of his body), were wrinkles and thinned. He wore circle-shaped glasses that covered his eyes and as it appeared, this old man was the Judge. The Judge then raised his gravel and struck it on the wooden, circle-shaped stopper, causing a sound to echo throughout the room.
"Let The Trial of Barry Allen begin!" the Judge began.
Barry stared up in horror when he noticed a certain 6' 3" tall, white male, dressed in a suit, walking through the side of the courtroom. The man emerged from the dark shadows of the courtroom, stepping into the light as Barry stared in shock at the man. It was himself, the man was literally a living clone of Barry and he was here to prosecute him.
"I'm in a nightmare." Barry whispered.
The Real World
"So, let me get this straight," Mace said. "Barry's physical body is here, on this bed...but his soul and his mind are in the Speed Force?"
"Yes and no," Jay replied, confusing everyone in the room even more. "You got the part about his physical body right. His mind and soul have temporarily merged themselves to form an avatar for Barry. That part of him is in a space, his subconscious, his consciousness and the Speed Force all combined into one."
"You're hurting my brain." Bobbi commented.
"Honestly, Jay," Simmons began. "None of us understand what you mean."
"Okay," Jay began. "To put it simply. Barry is trapped in his subconscious and the Speed Force is there as well."
"So can't they just..." Hunter said. "...I don't know, put his soul and mind back into his body?"
"They could do that," Jay said. "but they won't. In fact, in a way, they put him there in the first place."
"What?" Daisy asked in shock. "Why?"
"He's there to be judged." Jay replied.
"Judged?" Mack asked as Jay nodded.
"Judged for what?" May asked.
"Everything," Jay replied. "His past mistakes, his crimes, his regrets, everything."
"So he's being put on trial." Fitz said, putting it simply.
"Essentially, yes?"
"Isn't there a way of getting him out?" Daisy asked.
"There's only way Barry can come back," Jay said. "It's if he succeeds the trial, if he passes, he lives."
"What happens if he doesn't?" Fitz asked as everyone, especially Daisy, looked over to Jay.
"If he fails," Jay began ominously. "If he's found guilty, he dies. He'll be sentenced to death via execution."
Just then, before anyone else could do anything, Agent Burrows came through the door of the room, breathing heavily and out of breath.
"Sir!" Burrows called out. "We've tracked down the base, the one in the Baltic Sea!"
"Alright," Mace said. "Everyone suit up, you too, Mr. Garrick."
"I'm coming." Daisy said immediately.
"No," Mace said firmly. "I need you focused and you can't do that, not when Barry's like this."
"Let me help." Daisy argued.
"Look, kid," Jay said. "I'll go with them. You stay here with Barry."
"Daisy," Coulson said as Daisy turned around to face Coulson and May. "Trust us."
"We'll get that bastard," May promised. "For Barry."
Daisy took a deep breath. She didn't trust Mace or Jay, neither of them and it was doubtful is she ever would. But Coulson. And May. They were practically parents to her, the parents she always wanted and need. The parents she never had. She trusted them with anything, even her own life. Which meant she could've trusted them with this.
"Fine." Daisy said with a sigh. "Just take Yo-yo and Joey with you."
"We're bringing them in as we speak," May said, putting a hand on Daisy's shoulder. "You stay here with Barry."
"Alright." Daisy sighed, giving in.
"Okay, in that case," Mace said. "Everyone suit up. Mr. Garrick, do you have a suit?"
"Yeah, I've got one," Jay said. "Let's just go get Savitar already."
"Agreed." Mace said.
Barry's Mind
In Barry's mind, the courtroom grew dim as Barry looked at his clone in shock and horror. He then noticed someone on a witness stand as he suspiciously watched their every movement. The person seemed to be a woman, who wore some form of a black, cloth hood that masked her face. The woman reached to the bottom of the hood as she pulled it off, revealing the face of Iris West to a stunned Barry. Meanwhile, Barry's clone walked up to the witness stand.
"State your name for the record." Barry's clone ordered.
"Iris Ann West." Iris replied, her voice echoing in Barry's head.
"What is your relationship with Barry Allen, Miss West?" Barry's clone asked.
"I love him."
"And is he a good man? Do you feel that he is?"
Iris took a shaky breath. "He may have good intentions...but everything he touches dies. Everything and everyone he gets close to."
Barry stared in confusion, Iris would've never said that about him. No one in Team Flash would've said such a thing about Barry, would they? Barry wondered to himself. Did Iris truly think this back on Earth One?
"Everything he touches dies," Barry's clone repeated. "That sounds convincing enough to me, Your Honor."
Suddenly, the church-like chairs that encircled the courtroom became filled with tens and hundreds of people. They all looked like supernatural zombies, stab wounds, blood trickling down their bodies. It truly horrified Barry.
"You see, Your Honor," Barry's clone said, walking around a terrified Barry Allen. "These are the deaths that have been caused by Barry Allen, these are people he's killed. Not directly by murdering but by refusing to do the one thing that he's always wanted to: kill the Reverse Flash."
Barry looked up at his clone in shock, staring at him wordlessly as the clone continued speaking, pacing around the courtroom.
"You see," the clone said. "These two hundred and forty-two deaths are the killings of the Reverse Flash...but Barry Allen has murdered each and every single one of these people by allowing the Reverse Flash to live, by sparing his life..." the clone then turned around and walked up to Barry, eyeing him with anger and hatred. "...all because Barry Allen doesn't want to get blood on his hands, all because he won't get his hands dirty." the clone then turned around to face the Judge. "Your Honor, I don't believe the question here is 'how many people has Barry Allen killed?'. The question is 'how many more people have to die in order to ensure that Barry Allen can think of himself as a hero?'"
Barry looked down in guilt, the clone was right. Barry had murdered all these people, all by letting Thawne live. He wanted to kill him, more than anything, for all the deaths, all the people he'd hurt, but if Barry went down that path, he would've never come back. Suddenly, the entire courtroom dissipated into colored, smoke-like air, the chains on Barry vanished as well as all of his surroundings were completely black. Then, everything suddenly changed as the scenery matched that of the inside of the Nanda Parbat building. Barry stared in shock, wondering why and how he was here when he suddenly heard a voice.
"Did you not think I would return?" a familiar voice said as Barry's blood ran cold, a shiver going down his spine.
Barry turned around as he spotted one man, of whom he said just one word. "Azaad."
"Hello Barry," Azaad said. "We have much to discuss."
Real World
A S.H.I.E.L.D. Quinjet flew through the air, the sun casting the Quinet's shadow on the dark blue, greenish ocean of the Baltic Sea under it. Inside the Quinet, Agents Piper and Davis flew and navigated the Quinjet as pilot and co-pilot. Meanwhile, Jay Garrick, Director Mace, Bobbi, Hunter, May, Coulson, Mack, Joey and Yo-yo were seated in different seats, their belts wrapped around them, keeping them on their seats. When S.H.I.E.L.D. had called Yo-yo and Joey, the two Inhumans had come in a heartbeat for Daisy, they weren't all so sure about Barry but they would've done anything for Daisy, after everything she had done for them, it was the least they could do. The entire team had suited up, even Jay, who was wearing his Flash suit, which consisted of blue pants, a thick red, full-sleeved shirt (or something like that, no one could tell) and a sort of cap-like helmet he wore on his head.
"Sir," Davis called out to Mace. "We've reached the platform. We're landing now."
"Alright, everyone," Mace said. "This is it, keep your eyes peeled and stay alert. Jay, Joey, Yo-yo, you three are our biggest big guns. So we split with one of you. Bobbi, Hunter, you two are with Jay. May, Coulson, you two are with Joey. Mack, you're with me and Yo-yo. Piper, Davis, you two stay onboard, in case anyone tries to come aboard the Quinjet. You have your orders, you know what to do."
Everyone nodded as the Quinjet opened it's landing wheels, docking on the landing pad of the drilling platform. Suddenly, just as the Quinjet landed on the landing platform, an army of bullets ricocheted on the side of the Quinjet as everyone inside jumped in shock. From the window, Davis spotted multiple Cult members and Watchdogs firing at the Quinjet.
"We're under heavy fire!" Davis yelled out.
"Jay!" Mace yelled.
"On it." Jay replied, nodding his head.
Jay phased through the Quinjet as he ran at super speed, taking out the shooters in mere seconds with flashes of orange lightning. Then, the firing on the Quinjet stopped as the hangar door swung open. Mace and the agents, save for Davis and Piper (who stayed back as per Mace's orders), exited the Quinjet, walking down the ramp of the hangar door. Mace and the agents then saw Jay standing over the unconscious Watchdogs and Cult members. Mace gave a nod to Jay, who nodded back at the Director. The group then walked towards the door as Joey melted it by simply raising his hand, aiming it at the door. The door melted to the ground like lava, only it was nowhere near as hot. The group walked over the melted remains of the door as they went in, preparing for whatever came next.
Elsewhere in the drilling platform, Anton Ivanov, The Superior, the leader of the Watchdogs, was sitting behind a table, on a chair. He was dressed in black business shoes, grey pants, a black t-shirt and a black coat. In front of him, Savitar, the God of Speed, stood tall, his grey, metal armor glowing blue as the speed god carefully eyed Anton.
"So what do you want with the Flash?" Anton asked out of the blue, his Russian accent thickening within his voice. "You could have killed him when you fought him but you didn't, instead you spared his life. You showed him mercy."
"Oh no," Savitar said, his metallic voice echoing throughout the entire room. "Mercy is for the weak. Mercy would be me killing him and freeing him from his pain and his suffering. No, Barry Allen's punishment must and will be more severe. I will destroy everything he stands for, everything and everyone he loves. And then, once it's done, when I believe he has suffered enough, Barry Allen will have my permission to die. And you, my loyal Ivanov, will help me punish him."
"So you want to make him suffer? Then why haven't you done it? Why haven't you killed the one person, the one woman he means the most to him?
"You speak of Daisy Johnson. Ah yes, Daisy. I will kill her, her death will be one of the many keys to making Barry suffer...but I can't kill her now. Not in Barry's current state. He must be there, he must watch me kill her, that will be true suffering."
Before the conversation could be continued any further, Shockley, one of the lieutenants of the Watchdogs and one of Ivanov's followers, ran into the room. Shockley was out of breath and exhausted from his running.
"Sir," Shockley said, heaving in deep breaths. "We're being attacked. S.H.I.E.L.D. is here."
Anton suddenly had a grim look on his face as Savitar nodded his head with disappointment.
"Ivanov," Savitar called out. "Go, get to the submarine and leave. You yourself have made it far too dangerous to be anywhere near this platform."
"And what will you do?" Anton asked, already on his feet as he shook his coat with both hands.
"I will make an example of S.H.I.E.L.D. and their beloved agents." Savitar replied as he turned to Shockley. "Go, do what you can, slow S.H.I.E.L.D. down, long enough for my entrance."
Shockley nodded as he pulled out his electric batons and ran out the door of the room. Anton left through another door as he headed towards the emergency submarine in the drilling platform. Savitar simply stood in the room, standing still, as if he were waiting for something or rather someone, given what the current situation was. Elsewhere in the base, Mace, Yo-yo, Mack, Coulson, May, Joey, Bobbi, Hunter and Jay all found themselves in a room that had three separate hallways, leading to different parts of the underwater oil drilling platform.
"Alright," Mace said. "This is where we split up, let's go."
Mace, Mack and Yo-yo went down the hallways on their right, Bobbi, Hunter and Jay went down the hallway on their and May, Coulson and Joey went down the hallway in front of them. The team split as they all went in their separate directions. Down their hallway, Coulson, May and Joey walked through a rather thin space of hallways before finally finding themselves in a room full of men in hoods and armed men in military uniforms, Cult members and Watchdogs. The Cult members and Watchdogs all took notice of the surprised trio as they turned and faced them. The Cult members drew out knives with both hands as the Watchdogs pointed their machine guns at them, ready to fire.
"Hands where we can see 'em!" one of the Watchdogs demanded.
"Alright, alright, jeez," Coulson said in a humorous tone as he, May and Joey played along, raising their hands in the air. "Don't need to be so rude about it."
"One more word and I'll put a bullet in that hole of a mouth you got." the Watchdog threatened.
Suddenly, the knives in the Cult members' hands and the barrels of the machine guns the Watchdogs had began melting as they dripped to the ground. The Cult members and the Watchdogs stared in shock as Coulson, May and Joey took advantage of the distraction. Coulson immediately charged at a Cult member with two punches to the face before using his prosthetic hand to punch the Cult member powerful enough to send him flying as he hit two other Cult members, the three of them falling like bowling pins. May did a turning hook kick to one of the Watchdog's mouth as the Watchdog fell to the ground unconsciously. May then did a front kick to the remaining Cult member's face, causing the Cult member to fall to the ground unconsciously. Coulson and May then turned to see three more unarmed Watchdogs, all of whom charged at the duo and Joey. Coulson used his prosthetic hand to create a blue, holographic-like shield as he used to push one Watchdog of his feet and onto the ground. Coulson then sent a kick to the Watchdog's head, knocking the man unconscious. May did a quadruple punch to a Watchdog's soldier, then kneed him in the chest twice before doing a back flip in the air, kicking the Watchdog's lower jaw in the process. May did a perfect 360 back flip as she landed on her feet, the Watchdog landing on the ground unconsciously. Joey, on the other hand, struggled a bit as he threw two punches to the remaining Watchdog's face before grabbing his head and bashing it against the wall, the Watchdog collapsing to the ground unconsciously as Joey breathed heavily with exhaustion.
"I know," Joey said, breathing heavily. "Not all that impressive."
"Better than what you could've done last year." Coulson said, his blue shield dissipating back into his prosthetic, human-looking hand.
"Let's move," May ordered. "We don't have much time."
Coulson and Joey nodded at May in agreement as the trio continued walking throughout the platform, their eyes peeled and scanning for a certain God of Speed that they were after. In a different area of the oil drilling platform, Mace, Mack and Yo-yo were currently in a room, battling an army of fifteen Watchdogs, armed with pistols and ten Cult members armed with knives. Yo-yo was speeding across the room and back to her original spot over and over again, taking out many of the Cult members and Watchdogs. She wasn't moving anywhere near as fast Barry, let alone Savitar but she was moving fast enough to take much of the Watchdogs and Cult members. Mace lifted a Watchdog by his throat with his super strength before chucking like a plaything at a group of four Cult members, all of whom went down with the flying Watchdog like bowling pins being hit by a bowling ball. Mack was currently in a situation with the remaining Cult member in the room, he used his shotgun-axe to disarm the Cult member of his knife before he aimed the gun at the Cult member, firing it. The Cult went flying as he landed in the corner of the room, collapsing to the ground lifelessly.
"Well that was fun." Mack said sarcastically.
Suddenly, Yo-yo was hit with a beam of white energy as she was sent flying through the air, before landing on the ground, skidding across it before her body stopped in motion. Mack immediately rushed to her side.
"Yo-yo!" Mack cried out.
"She will live, for now." a metallic voice said ominously.
Mack and Mace looked over to see a certain man in black robes and a metal mask, standing in front of the doorway-like entrance to the room.
"I'm assuming you're Alchemy." Mace said, stepping in front of Mack and Yo-yo.
"That I am," Alchemy replied, holding the Philosopher's Stone in his hand. "And you must be Jeffrey Mace, the Director of S.H.I.E.L.D., the Patriot. An honor to meet you, at last."
"I would say the same for you...but seeing as how I'm gonna be kicking your ass, I don't think that would be appropriate or accurate."
"You can try...and you will only die in the process."
Alchemy then used the Philosopher's Stone to send a beam of white energy at Mace as it struck the Director square in the chest. Mace was sent flying in the air as he hit the ceiling before falling face-first onto the ground. Mack held his shotgun-axe up to Alchemy, who used the stone to create a force field just in time. Mack fired his shots on Alchemy but the force field protected him, the bullets merely ricocheting off of it. Eventually, the shotgun-axe ran out of ammo as Mack stared in horror. Alchemy sent a blast to Mack, sending the S.H.I.E.L.D. agent flying to a corner in the room. Just then, Yo-yo got to her feet as she charged at Alchemy with super speed, hitting him with her side before returning to her spot via her speed. Alchemy stumbled back before eventually regaining his balance.
"Fool!" Alchemy yelled at Yo-yo. "I am the servant of a god. Did you truly think you can beat me-"
Before Alchemy could say another word, Yo-yo rushed at him, throwing a right hook to his jaw as Alchemy's face hit the wall with a bang. Yo-yo was forced to return to her spot as Alchemy fell to the ground unconsciously. Mack and Mace both got onto their feet, grunting and groaning in pain.
Yo-yo rolled her eyes at the two as she muttered in Spanish. "Men, so pathetic."
"Yeah, I heard that." Mack heaved.
"What'd she say?" Mace asked.
"Nothing." Mack replied.
"Ugh," Mace sighed. "That stone of his, really packs a punch, eh?"
"Let's get him up," Mack suggested. "We'll bring him to S.H.I.E.L.D. for interrogation."
"Best we do that." Mace agreed.
In a different part of the platform, Bobbi and Hunter ran through the halls, Jay had run ahead with super speed to scan the perimeter. Bobbi and Hunter then found themselves in a room full of the unconscious, sleeping bodies of many Cult members and Watchdogs. The duo noticed Jay standing over them.
"Couldn't have left just one for us, eh mate?" Hunter asked.
"I don't exactly think they were gonna just let me stand here and wait for you guys to catch up." Jay shot back.
"Fair point." Bobbi admitted.
Then, Coulson, May and Joey all emerged from a different door in the room as Mace, Mack and Yo-yo came from another. Mack and Yo-yo were dragging an unconscious Alchemy across the floor before dropping to the ground once they reached the room, everyone inside stared at Alchemy.
"So," Jay said. "This world already has it's own Alchemy, huh?"
"That's the guy that attacked and tried to kidnap Daisy." Bobbi noted.
"We're bringing him in to S.H.I.E.L.D. custody." Mace explained.
"Good," May gritted. "Wouldn't mind having a few minutes with him alone."
"What about being alone with me?" a metallic voice said.
Suddenly, white lightning temporarily flashed throughout the entire room before Jay, Mace and the agents all saw a certain, hulk-like, God of Speed in metal armor.
"Bloody hell." Hunter gasped.
"Bow before your god." Savitar demanded.
Jay charged at Savitar with super speed in a flash of orange lightning as he jumped at the God of Speed, throwing a punch at him. However, Savitar grabbed Jay by the throat, abruptly stopping the elderly speedster in his tracks as he held him in the air.
"Not fast enough, Garrick." Savitar said.
Savitar then chucked Jay like a plaything, sending him flying through the air. Jay hit both Bobbi and Hunter, knocking the two S.H.I.E.L.D. agents off their feet as the three fell to ground unconsciously. Everyone else stared at Savitar in shock, Yo-yo charged at Savitar but before she could reach him, Savitar ran at her in a flash of white lightning as he grabbed and spun her around, forcing her to face everyone else. Yo-yo struggled against Savitar's grip but the God of Speed was too strong for her. Mace, Mack, Joey, May and Coulson all stood still, none of them making a move towards Savitar for fear of what he would do to Yo-yo.
"Joey, melt the suit." Mace ordered.
"I'm...trying." Joey gritted, aiming his hand at Savitar's suit as he struggled to try and get to melt but much to his shock, nothing happened.
"Apologies, Joseph," Savitar said, holding Yo-yo firmly with his left hand as he drew out one of his blades from the right. "Your abilities are useless against my suit. They will not work, this suit contains Speed Force energy, which is protecting me from any form of damage, your abilities included."
The agents stared in shock as Mack pointed his shotgun-axe at Savitar after reloading it.
"Mack..." Yo-yo begged, tears forming in her eyes.
"Yo-yo, listen to me," Mack said. "It's gonna be okay."
"Don't lie to her, Alphonso," Savitar said evilly. "Not the way you lied to Hope."
"Shut up." Mack gritted, tears pouring out of his eyes.
"Mack..." Yo-yo cried, tears clouding her eyes.
"I'm sorry that none of you were there to see me break Barry's body and spirit," Savitar announced as the agents all glared at him. "but I'm so glad that you'll be here to watch me kill her."
"Let her go." Mack gritted.
"Mack..." Yo-yo said once again, the tears in her eyes wetting her cheeks.
"LET HER GO!" Mack roared.
"No," Savitar said. "This will be emotionally painful for all of you, especially you, Alphonso. I know the pain of losing the one you love the most and this is an evil but a necessary evil. Apologies in advance."
"Please don't do this, please," Mack said, dropping the shotgun-axe to the ground as he raised his hands in the air. "I'm begging you, I'll do anything! Just let her go!"
"Say your goodbyes." Savitar said.
Then, in a fraction of a second, in the single most painful moment of Mack's life since he lost Hope, Savitar plunged his blade into Yo-yo's back as it went through her heart, the end of it being plunged through her chest. Mack let out a scream in agony and pain, a tear escaped May's eye, Coulson and Mace stared in horror and shock, Joey had completely burst into tears, horrified at what he was seeing. Savitar pulled his now blood stained blade out of Yo-yo's heart as Yo-yo fell to her knees lifelessly.
Yo-yo's eyes fluttered, opening and closing as one word escaped her lips. "Mack..."
Yo-yo then lifelessly fell to the ground, right in front of Mack who fell to his knees, holding Yo-yo's body. Mace, May, Joey and Coulson all stared in shock, too horrified to make a move on Savitar. From the edge of the room, Jay, Hunter and Bobbi slowly got to their feet as they saw what was happening in front of them, they stared in horror and shock, seeing Yo-yo's bleeding body. Beside her dead body, Mack angrily looked up at Savitar, anger in his eyes, rage burning inside him like a fire, a fire that took him over very quickly. Mack grabbed his shotgun-axe as he quickly rose to his feet and began firing on Savitar, the bullets ricocheting off his armor. After a few bullets, Savitar sped over and knocked Mack down. Then, Jay charged at Savitar with super speed as he jumped behind him, wrapping his arms around his neck as Jay struggled to keep Savitar restrained. Hunter, Bobbi, Joey and May took ahold of Savitar's left arm, using all their strength to hold it in place while Coulson used his prosthetic hand and Mace his super strength to restrain Savitar's right arm. Mack used the axe part of his shotgun-axe to slam it into Savitar's leg as he jammed it in, doing his best to shove it inwards.
The team managed to restrain Savitar for a few moments but then, it all fell apart. Savitar jerked his head backwards, hitting Jay in the face as the elderly speedster slithered off of Savitar's back. Savitar then jerked his leg, the shotgun-axe being removed from it as he kicked Mack, sending him flying over to a wall. Mack hit the wall and fell to the ground unconsciously as Savitar jerked his arms forward, breaking free from the team's grip. Savitar then used his left arm to slap Hunter, Bobbi, Joey and May away as they were all sent flying like playthings, hitting the wall before falling to the ground. Savitar then turned to Mace and Coulson, he kicked Coulson in the stomach, causing the ex-Director to be sent flying in the air before landing on the ground. Mace threw his strongest punch at Savitar square in the chest. However, Savitar didn't even flex as the God of Speed grabbed Mace's head with one hand and began punching him at super speed, repeatedly with the other. Blood trickled from Mace's mouth as his face became cut and bruised. Savitar delivered one final blow to Mace as the Patriot fell to the ground weakly.
Suddenly, Savitar felt the presence of someone behind him. He turned to see Joey, raising his hand at him, trying to melt Savitar's suit. Joey's attempts were unsuccessful as Savitar punched him to the ground. Joey stumbled down to the ground as he weakly lay there, face-flat. Savitar then knelt down, kneeling beside Joey.
"I was always curious about you Inhumans," Savitar said, grabbing Joey by the arm and the leg. "I wonder what breaks first? Your spirit..."
Savitar then picked Joey up, rising to his feet as he raised Joey above his head, ready to slam him down on one knee.
"...or your body!" Savitar yelled.
Savitar then brought Joey down onto his knee, Joey's spine shattering like a rock that had hit glass. In this case, Joey's spine was the glass and Savitar himself was the rock. Joey let out the loudest cry of pain ever, feeling his back shattering into pieces. Savitar then released Joey from his grip, letting him fall to the ground.
"And broken." Savitar said.
Savitar then turned to face Alchemy's unconscious body, he walked over to him and kneeled beside him, taking the Philosopher's Stone away before rising to his feet.
"Don't worry my dear, Alchemy," Savitar promised. "You still have some purpose left."
Savitar held the stone in his hand as he turned to face the unconscious bodies of the S.H.I.E.L.D. agents, Jay and the dead body of Elene 'Yo-yo' Rodriguez.
"You are all nothing!" Savitar declared before racing out of the room and the entire place in a mere flash of white lightning.
Meanwhile, Mace crawled onto his elbows and knees as he crawled over to Alchemy, desperate to find out who he was. Mace reached Alchemy's unconscious body as he grabbed his metal mask and pulled it off. The Director of S.H.I.E.L.D. stared in horror as the metal mask slipped from his hands, falling onto the ground with a clang sound.
"No." Mace whispered, staring down at the unconscious body of Dr. Holden Radcliffe. He was Alchemy.
A/N: I'll end that chapter right here. Apologies for killing Yo-yo, I understand that she was a character favorite but I needed the tone of this book to be a dark and gritty one and so, Yo-yo's death was necessary.
Well, things are only getting worse for our heroes. Barry's trial isn't going so well, Yo-yo is dead, Joey's back has been shattered and apparently, Radcliffe is Alchemy and Savitar is on the loose. What will happen next? Follow this story and stay tuned to find out. Please leave a review and tell what you think of it.