Chapter 2: Family Gathering.
Then. Iron Heights. The Pipeline – this is a deep below ground level of the prison where the most dangerous prisoners are kept under the highest security. In a flash Zoom and the Reverse Flash are inside the pipeline corridor. Cells filled with some of the most dangerous metahumans are ahead of them.
Zoom: Do you see what I meant Eobard? Individually we could not have got here, but by combining my temporal speed and your phasing, we are better.
Reverse Flash: I was going along with your plan for friendships sake, and to see Barry suffer of course but I do see your point. Now shall we begin?
Zoom: After you Professor.
The two walk past many cells – Cicada, Abra Kadabra, Gorilla Grodd. Grodd sees them and lunges at his bars. A forcefield stuns him and pushes him back into the chamber.
Grodd: Get me out!
Zoom: We are not here for you.
They reach a cell. The id simply reads identity unknown. Inside the prison lying motionless on a bed and seemingly in a coma is a thin, old man. Reverse Flash vibrates his hand and cuts through the door. The two Reverse Flashes step inside the cell.
Zoom: You forgot didn't you? You forgot everything and it's killing you. Reduced to wasting away, waiting to die.
Reverse Flash: We know you can hear us. Must be a rich existence, staring at the same section of ceiling all day, every day. Knowing that you were meant for more but not being able to know what.
Zoom: But we know. We can make you better, give you a new purpose. Just follow our plan and it will be yours.
Reverse Flash: Now you need to remember. Do you remember this?
He places his hand over the man's face so he can see it and then makes red traces of reverse speed force spark from his fingers.
Zoom: Remember the lightning. Remember who you are.
In a flash the man sits up, white lightning sparks over him. He stands up and grows in height and bulk until he is almost seven feet tall and very ripped. A mask forms over him while he loses years becoming younger and younger. Long black hair flows from his once bald head. Savitar the self-proclaimed lord of speed is restored.
Savitar: Speed be praised! Savitar has returned!
Now. The Reverse Flashes stand over the beaten and unconscious Wallace West.
Savitar: This boy received the blessing of the speed force?
Reverse Flash: Barry Allen played with the time stream, this was one of the results.
Savitar: The speed force must be purified!
Inertia: I know how we can start! By splitting this kid open!
Inertia begins to vibrate his hand like a saw and reaches towards Wallace. But Zoom stops him and grabs his hand.
Zoom: No. There is a plan here. It will be followed. Or do you want to continue our earlier discussion?
Inertia pauses for a moment and considers.
Flashback to then. Inside a warehouse of Wells Corp, a small technology company Zoom and the Reverse Flash sit back in fine chairs. The entire warehouse has been converted into a fine off grid living space.
Zoom: Savitar should be returning shortly. We'll have our next recruit soon. Who did you steal this place from by the way?
Reverse Flash: I didn't. I travelled back ten years and made some good investments under a fake identity. Used the money to make my own Batcave.
Zoom: Shouldn't that be Flash cave? Or hsalf cave?
Reverse Flash: Hsalf cave?...Oh the reverse. Very good.
Savitar arrives carrying a machinery component.
Savitar: Is this what you desired? I do not understand why I am your errand boy. I am the high priest of speed and I-
Zoom: This was not an attack on you Savitar. The Flash could be looking for myself and Eobard, you are currently an unknown and as such your activities will be somewhat under the radar. It was just the best way to see this stage of the plan.
Savitar: I find your response acceptable. But be warned I will not suffer this indignity again, I will be treated with respect.
Reverse Flash: Understood. May I have the component please?
Savitar hands him the machine piece. Reverse Flash speeds to a tablet sat on a desk and presses a button. A two person glass sphere rises from the ground. Reverse Flash begins attaching the component to the machine.
Savitar: What is this?
Reverse Flash: A time sphere, while I am able to travel in time under my own power sometimes you need to take a more subtle approach. The speed force can leave a trail. Hunter shall we?
Zoom and Reverse Flash step in the time sphere. The sphere floats of the ground and a vortex in front of it forms. The sphere goes straight through the vortex into the time stream. History flashes past the two as they travel to their destination.
Reverse Flash: Savitar could a be good candidate.
Zoom: We haven't met the others yet.
The two arrive in the year 2008 in a field in rural countryside.
Reverse Flash: We'll need to be fast.
Zoom: No problem for us.
Elsewhere is Central City. The Rogues consisting of Captain Cold, Weather Wizard, Heatwave, Trickster and Mirror Master all fire their weapons at Inertia. This will kill him except that Zoom rushes and grabs Inertia, replacing him with a burnt corpse in his outfit.
Zoom rushes back to the time sphere with Inertia. Inertia is a clone of Impulse, except unlike Impulse, Inertia is a psychopath.
Inertia: What the? What the hell do you both want?
Reverse Flash: Some gratitude perhaps?
Zoom then grabs Inertia and slams him against the time sphere.
Zoom: I tried to work with you before. You stole my powers and left me crippled. I would love to leave you to your well-deserved fate but I need all the Reverse Flashes for my plan. That includes you. Now you have a choice. You can become more then a petty sociopath or we can return you to the Rogues. Your choice boy.
Inertia: Self-improvement sounds fun to me. We getting in that? How are we all going to fit?
Zoom and the Reverse Flash get back in the time sphere.
Reverse Flash: We're not. You are going to lie low until 2019 when we call for you. Do anything and we'll know. Then it won't be the Rogues you'll return to, it will be us. And we will take our time.
The time sphere vanishes into the vortex.
Inertia: Jerks.
He prepares to run but then stops to think about it, Reverse Flashes words echo in his mind. He starts walking instead.
Inertia: Could have at least left me somewhere nice.
Now. Inertia steps away from Wallace.
Inertia: Just making a suggestion.
Cobalt Blue: Who is this boy anyway? He doesn't look like the Wallace I knew.
Reverse Flash: As I said, time line duplicate. You missed a lot Malcolm.
Then. Iron Heights. Zoom, Reverse Flash and Savitar walk towards another cell. The cells id plate reads Malcolm Thawne aka Cobalt Blue.
Zoom: Barry Allen had a twin brother? There's no record anywhere.
Reverse Flash: It was a long and complicated story even before the flash point. And then Malcolm was even more forgotten.
Savitar: Like I was.
They open the cell. Inside is Barry Allen's twin brother, the only difference is his eyes are filled with rage and resentment.
Malcolm: What do you want? Leave me alone.
Zoom: Is that what you want? To be left alone to rot in this cell, forgotten by everyone. While your brother lives the life of adoration and worship that you should have had. The life he stole from you. We can help you get that life back Malcolm, all you have to do is help us.
He extends a hand and in it is a pendant in the shape of a blue flame.
Malcolm: My pendant!
He tries to grab it but Zoom keeps it just out of reach.
Zoom: We have something better.
Savitar: You do not need the pendant. Like your brother you have an innate connection to the speed force, the lightning that struck Barry served as a catalyst for him to access his power. The pendant allowed you to mimic his connection but we can forge your own to a better, more powerful speed force. Join our family and all this can be yours.
Malcolm: I want what I deserved, I want Barry to get what he deserved. Give me your power and I'll give you my hate.
Savitar extends his hand to Malcolm. Malcolm takes it and then Savitar joins hands with Reverse Flash while Zoom places the blue flame pendant on him.
Savitar: Reverse Flash shall give the power, I shall transfer it to you. The pendant will bind it to you. The pain while quite intense will be brief.
Malcolm: Wait?! What pai-AAAAAAIIIIIEEEEE!
He screams as red lightning flows from Reverse Flash, through Savitar and into him. The blue flame pendant melts into his chest and spreads over him creating a blue and silver version of the Flashes costume with the blue flame logo on his chest and a long silver cape. He glows with blue lightning as he is once again Cobalt Blue.
Reverse Flash: Was the pain worth it Malcolm?
Cobalt Blue grins.
Cobalt: Oh, hell yes. Now where's my brother?
Now. Wallace begins to stir, he looks towards Negative Flash.
Wallace: Meena? Why would you-?
Then. Black Hole Research Facility. Black Hole is a rogue science organization that has devoted itself to understanding the mysteries of the speed force. They are led by Meena Dhawan aka Negative Flash. Meena was an ex-girlfriend of Barry who gained speed powers during a speed storm. During further adventures she tapped into the Negative Speed force and became the Negative Flash.
Zoom and Reverse Flash sit down at a table with Negative Flash.
Negative Flash: No.
Zoom: We haven't even-
Negative Flash: I know what to expect with you Reverse Flashes. It'll be some scheme to ruin the life of a Flash. Now sometimes these plans of yours have unexpected benefits, for example one of Thawne's schemes made me who I am today. But despite that it usually ends with the Flash chasing you away. I have no interest with that.
Zoom and Reverse Flash share a look. Reverse Flash shrugs.
Reverse Flash: Told you.
Negative Flash: Thawne is right Mr Zolomon. You should both leave now. My scientists and I have more interesting work to attend to.
Zoom: That work would be the ultimate understanding of the speed force wouldn't it? How is that working out? Not as fast as you hoped?
Negative Flash: We have made substantial-
Zoom: But have you made enough? You have built a mighty organization, spent billions of dollars but you only have the most basic understanding of how the speed force actually works don't you?
Reverse Flash: You aren't moving fast enough.
Negative Flash: And you two know more than me?
Zoom: I do actually. Some time ago I was connected to the speed and strength forces. That connection gave me vast knowledge and understanding. Sadly with the connection faded so has my knowledge but I remember enough. I remember how to access it, how to regain that power. Help us and I will show you how.
Negative Flash: Perhaps. Or perhaps you will stick a knife in my back the moment I have fulfilled my purpose.
Reverse Flash: We aren't building a legion or a gang here Meena. We want to build a family.
Negative Flash: Ah, so this is about hurting the Flash and resolving childhood trauma?
Zoom: What Eobard is trying to say is that we want to make a true trusting alliance. One where we trust and help each other. And you will not have to wait until we are done to get what you want. Take a look at this.
He slides her a folder. At speed Negative Flash reads through it. Then she does it again, her eyes widen.
Negative Flash: This can't be-
Reverse Flash: But it is. All the secrets of the speed force are there for the taking. If you want them that is, if not we can find someone else who-
Negative Flash: NO! I'll help you! This will change science as we know it! I will be part of history.
Now. Negative Flash turns away from Wallace.
Negative Flash: I'm sorry Wallace. But there is so much at stake. You and the others are a price worth paying.
Zoom: We are done here, Wallace dying or not is irrelevant. He will draw the Flashes out. We will proceed to the next stage.
Rival: And that is? You still won't tell us anything! I have a right to know what I have agreed to!
Inertia: You should be pleased we allowed you to tag along with us old man.
Then. In Reverse Flashes hidden lair, various speedsters gather.
Zoom: Thank you for meeting here. Now we are all gathered it is time you know the first step in my plan. We need to-
Savitar: Hold. Someone is coming.
Cobalt Blue: The Flash?
Savitar: No...they are...older.
The Rival crashes into the lair, punches Cobalt Blue in the face and stands in front of all the speedsters. The Rival (real name Edward Clarris) is in some ways the first Reverse Flash. He was a college of the first Flash Jay Garrick. Jealous of Garrick's speed he created a serum to give him super speed. When Jay Garrick disappeared the Rival did as well. But now he is back, he wears a darker version of Jay Garrick's outfit with a black helmet, he is much older than the other assembled speedsters. But his eyes make it clear he is no less evil.
Rival: You dare?! You dare all meet without my permission?
Inertia: Who the shock are you to want permission?!
Rival: I am the Rival! I am the first counterpart speedster! The original Reverse Flash.
Inertia: I've never heard of you. Any of you guys heard of him?
Negative Flash: No.
Savitar: I have not.
Cobalt Blue: Won't matter anyway, I'm going to tear his-
The Reverse Flash grabs Cobalt Blue who was getting ready to attack Rival.
Reverse Flash: Wait a moment.
Cobalt Blue: Not easy for a speedster.
But Cobalt Blue does stand down.
Reverse Flash: We are sorry Edward, truth is we thought you were dead.
Rival: I will accept your apology on one condition. You allow me to lead my legacy to-
Zoom snaps his fingers and having done it at speed generates a shockwave that floors the Rival. Before Rival can even react Inertia has a knife to his throat.
Inertia: Try to run! Bet I'm faster, I'll open you up!
Reverse Flash: That won't be necessary will it Edward?
Zoom: I am glad you are here. Our gathering did not feel complete without you, in fact we have a crucial role planned for you. But make no mistake, this is not your legacy. Eobard was the first of us, it is his legacy that we followed.
Reverse Flash: And it was Hunter's idea to gather us, this is his plan. You will follow him.
Rival: You upstarts have no respect!
Cobalt Blue: Respect is earned.
Zoom: Our plan is a complex one Mr Clarris. There is a part that only you can do, we need you. And after you help us the Rival will be feared as he should have been.
Rival: And if I refuse?
Inertia: I take trophies!
Rival: Call of your boy. I will help you, I should try to preserve my legacy after all.
Zoom: Then welcome to our family.
He helps Rival to his feet and shakes his hand. The others glare at him warily.
Reverse Flash whispers into Zoom's ear.
Reverse Flash: And to think I considered Savitar.
The two chuckle.
Savitar: Something amusing?
Reverse Flash: Just how we never considered this before. The Flashes are doomed.
Zoom: I would like to propose a toast.
He moves as a blur and suddenly glasses of champagne are in everyone's hands.
Zoom: To the Reverse Flash Family.