Unfulfilled

The data did not look good. Sure, they were making progress in breaking through the dimensional barrier created by the speed-force. Dr. Anders's theory seemed to be correct. But the data that had just come in from the dimensional collider told a different story. While mostly correct, there seemed to be something off about the theory, or at least its application. Either way, the implications of what Wally was seeing made his heart sink.

"We can't run another test," he said after checking over the data one last time, just to be sure that he was doing the right thing. It tore him up inside to say those words though. Just when he'd really started to have hope of getting home, more even than when he'd gone to Pym for help, that hope was being torn away from him.

"What?" Dr. Anders asked, her head snapping up from where she and Dr. Octavius were working on the collider.

Wally really didn't want to say it again, it hurt badly enough the first time. "We can't run the collider again."

"What do you mean, we can't run it again? Of course we can, and should if we ever want to finish this thing."

Wally shook his head. "Not with this data."

"Let me see that," Dr. Anders commanded. Dr. Octavius paused in his work, his curious gaze following the other scientist as she made her way to Wally and took the tablet from him.

Dr. Anders's brow furrowed behind her comically large glasses as she read the datasheet. "I see," she said at last. "It's no big deal though Wally," she said as she handed the tablet back and returned to her work on the collider.

She really should be more chalant about this.

"No big deal? Dr. Anders, this says that what we're doing is extremely dangerous at best."

"Of course it's dangerous Wally."

"To other people," Wally insisted. "We could but a crater the size of Texas on the face of the earth and that doesn't include all the weird stuff that'll extend for miles around that as a result of trying to force two different dimensions together, even a little bit. At worst this could create a world ending black hole."

"I understand your concern Wally," Dr. Anders soothed. "But all we need is more data to help us refine the theory and all we need for that is a few more runs."

"No, the risk is too high," Wally replied adamantly.

"Too high?" Dr. Anders's eyes bulged incredulously behind her glasses, the lenses magnifying them so they looked almost insect like. "Wally, it's a one in a thousand chance—"

"That we destroy the world," Wally interrupted. "Too. High. We can't run it again."

"What about getting home?" Dr. Octavius asked, standing up next to the other scientist.

Wally winced. "I'm not going to risk ending you and your home just so I can get back to mine," he replied.

Dr. Anders's expression hardened. It was a rare look on her but somehow Wally found it intimidating rather than absurd given how it clashed with the rest of her appearance and manner. "That's very noble of you Wally," Dr. Anders began. "But it's not exactly your decision to make. You may have been a great help in developing the theory and the collider but you are by no means critical. We can and will continue without you if you insist. This work is just too important to leave be."

Wally couldn't believe what he was hearing. He glanced to Dr. Octavius for backup but found that the other scientist, for all his professions of working for the betterment of humanity, seemed to be rather uncertain of what he should do.

Okay then, the big guns it is.

"Maybe Fury would like to have a look at this then," Wally waved the tablet with the data. "Or better still, since the paranoid cyclops has let me off my leash, I'll just run down to Willowdale and show this to your boss, Dr. Wells."

There was a brief pause, then Dr. Anders's gaze only hardened. "Go ahead," she challenged.

"Liv," Dr. Octavius finally cut in. "He's right." The look she turned on him would have been enough to make Batman hesitate. But Dr. Octavius didn't back down, apparently having finally found his certainty again. "I know this has been one of your greatest dreams Liv, but it's not worth it, not if we destroy everything in the process…"

Dr. Anders didn't look pleased, but she conceded. "Fine. Let's pack up then." With that, she began pulling plugs and disassembling and packing equipment with what Wally thought was a bit more force than necessary. He could understand her frustration though. After all, he was frustrated too.

They made quick work of the lab thanks to Wally's super-speed and his desire to just be done with it all. Once the scientists had departed on the Starkjet, the Avengers' new arc-reactor powered mode of rapid transport, Wally noticed Peter standing in the doorway to the compound at the edge of the landing pad. Wally walked over to him slowly, not really feeling up to moving at any kind of speed now that his last chance of getting home had flown off to Virginia.

"What happened?" Peter asked when Wally reached him, concern evident in his tone and expression.

"We had to stop the research," Wally replied glumly.

"Why?"

"Because it could create a world ending black hole."

"I… I'm sorry to hear that," Peter replied after a moment as he held the door open for Wally, who trudged through sullenly with his hands in his pockets. "But maybe there's another way," Peter suggested.

Wally knew that he was just trying to be helpful but he couldn't think of any other way besides the research they'd just killed. "If you're going to try and talk me into just working through it, don't bother," he said bitterly as he followed Peter back to the compound's common area. "To develop a better machine, we need a better theory and for that we need more data and to get that, we need to run the current machine and I won't risk that."

"Okay," Peter replied patiently. "I understand that, and I'm glad you don't want to risk destroying my world, but maybe this isn't the only way."

"What other way is there?" Wally asked. "Magic?"

"Yes, actually," Peter replied.

Wally found himself involuntarily gawking at the younger man.

"I know a wizard," Peter added.

Of course he does.

"You really should be more chalant about dropping bombs like that," Wally said at last as he slumped on the couch. "And besides, I doubt he's and actual wizard."

"What do you mean?"

"We've got this guy back home, Kadabra, as in Abra Kadabra. He makes a show of his 'magic' but it's really all just advanced tech. I bet your wizard friend's just like that," Wally explained.

Peter didn't seem to be convinced. "I don't think it's just really advanced tech."

"If the technology's advanced enough, it'll look like magic to the less advanced," Wally pointed out. Of course if Zatanna were here, she'd remind him of his own encounters with magic, like the Helmet of Fate and the time Klarion separated the adults and kids on two separate earths but Wally would always maintain that they were still the result of the highly advanced application of scientific knowledge.

Peter still didn't look convinced but he dropped the matter and instead chose to change the subject. "We can talk more about it later. He's gone right now anyway and I don't know when he'll be back. But, um… I know that this probably isn't the best time, given what just happened with the collider and all… But I need your help."

"With what?"

"We have a lead on EDITH," Peter began. "Someone from British Intelligence told us, Fury and me that is, that it's all part of a conspiracy to take over the UK and he's asked for help in retrieving EDITH before tomorrow when the conspirators are supposed to launch their attack."

"I'm sensing a 'but' here."

"I don't really trust him, at least, not completely. Which is why, as far as he knows, I'm the only one coming to help."

"And you want me to what? Be your secret backup?"

Peter nodded. "If you could," he replied as he walked over to a box that Wally hadn't noticed earlier. "I've already talked to my friend Ned, the 'guy in the chair' I told you about the last time I came up with Dr. Anders. He'll be watching our backs when we're out there. Harry and MJ have agreed to pitch in too."

Wally stayed silent as Peter opened the box and took something out. It was shielded by Peter's back so Wally couldn't tell what it was from where he was sitting.

"Again, I know this isn't the best time, but all the other Avengers are out and Fury's still rebuilding his network from after the blip. You're the only other person I can turn to Wally, and I really need the Flash." Peter turned around as he finished and revealed what he had taken from the box. It was a speed suit, neatly folded and with goggles like Wally's old ones resting on top. Only, unlike Wally's old suit, this one was crimson instead of yellow.

Peter carefully handed him the suit. The fabric, whatever it was made of, felt like it was even smoother that his old one. It was almost like he was holding mercury the way it slid over his fingers. As he held it, Wally remembered the feeling of running, really running. The rush, the freedom. How everything bad just seemed to slip away with the scenery. Maybe that was what he needed right now, a good run to get his mind off their failure. Then the remembered what it felt like when he was a kid, before he became a speedster. He remembered wanting so badly to become the Flash and here it was. In his hands he held that.

As these thoughts and memories ran through Wally's mind, for a moment, he considered saying yes. The EDITH device was pretty powerful and it had to be kept out of the wrong hands. But as much as he was tempted by the allure of putting on, not a Kid Flash suit, but a Flash suit, and being a superhero again, he instead asked, "These conspirators, have they been able to access EDITH yet?"

Peter looked slightly taken aback. It was clearly not what he'd been expecting but it was an important question that needed to be asked. Wally's decision depended on it. "Well no."

"Then why not wait?" Wally set the suit down next to him.

"For what?"

"For more of the Avengers," Wally replied. He would have thought that the reason for waiting would have been obvious. "I mean, I understand that it's not the most organized organization in the world right now, but waiting for help from them has got to be a better plan. Take it from someone with experience, you want as much help as you can get for this kind of thing."

"I get that," Peter replied. "Believe me I do, I was there at the Battle of Titan and the Battle of Earth. But we don't really have the option of waiting. Thor's off world, Hawkeye and Ant Man are retired, and Strange and Wanda are doing some kind of magic time travel thing. We don't know when any of them will be back and just because EDITH hasn't been cracked yet doesn't mean the conspiracy won't crack it eventually, or even before tomorrow. We need to do this now."

For the second time that day, Wally couldn't believe what he was hearing. He shook his head. "You're just trying to justify this to yourself. I know you feel guilty about the whole EDITH thing, especially since Stark gave it to you but think about it rationally Peter. How probable is it really that these people crack EDITH before the real heroes get back?"

Peter's expression changed then and Wally realized only too late that he probably should have used more careful phrasing.

"That's that supposed to mean? 'Real heroes?'"

"I didn't mean it like that," Wally replied quickly. "It's just that…"

"What?" Peter asked expectantly.

"You know I think you should stop the superhero thing," Wally began. "Because you have a great thing going with MJ, your friends, school. And this life… you could lose it all. But I also know you won't quit. But you're still learning, Peter."

"I know that," Peter replied, his tone rising slightly. "But how am I supposed to learn unless I go out and do. It's not like there's a school for superheroes."

Thank god there isn't. Every kid would want in and that would be a lot of broken families.

Peter continued. "When he was becoming Iron Man, do you think that Mr. Stark—"

Wally snapped then. "But you're not Tony Stark, Peter! You're not Iron Man. You're just a goofy kid who got superpowers and a fancy spandex suit dropped in his lap and decided to go play superhero and it's going to get you hurt!" Wally took a deep breath then said more calmly, "Or worse. Think of your friends. Of MJ, your Aunt…"

Peter stood, staring silently at the floor and for a moment, Wally thought he'd gone too far. Tony Stark was a sensitive subject for Peter and Wally was concerned he may have pushed the guy too hard.

Then Wally saw the determined expression he turned on him as he looked up. "You're right, I'm not Mr. Stark, and I am still learning. But I'm also responsible for EDITH and I know that I could get hurt and the people I love may suffer because of it. But they'll suffer more if EDITH falls into the wrong hands and so will the rest of the world. The world you were so big on protecting five minutes ago. So I'm going to do all I can to get EDITH back and if you're not going to help me then fine."

With that, Peter stalked off, leaving Wally alone with the Flash suit.