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You guys showed so much support that I am going to be putting up this chapter now that the administrative business is completed we can now progress with the story. Because Seriously that's why you all are here anyway.

The Flash: Survival of the Fastest

Chapter 1: Prelude of War

October 2, 2017

Things certainly had been strange over the last few years. Team Flash has grown and evolved since their second and third years. Barry and Caitlin were getting faster and more confident in their roles as the Flash and…well, Caitlin hadn't exactly come up with a good name for herself. Cisco offered names like Lady Flash, and Fast Track but Caitlin felt like they didn't feel right so instead she allowed others to call her whatever they liked. Most people just called her The Flash, just like Barry which could get extremely confusing when she and Barry were both in the field. After Eddie and Iris' wedding the two speedsters had decided to give them a shot. So here they were, Flash and his Partner, superhero coworkers, by day and by night they were Barry Allen and Caitlin Snow, Boyfriend and Girlfriend.

Cisco was starting to get more and more involved with his Vibe persona, even going out into the field with Barry and Caitlin every once in a while. When he wasn't doing that, the young engineer was left to be the only person running S.T.A.R. Labs especially after H.R. went back to his earth to have his novel published. In all honesty having H.R. around showed Team Flash that they didn't need the great Harrison Wells around as much as they initially thought. They had all grown so much in the past three years that they were no longer the same people.

Iris West-Thawne, as her name was now legally, was living across the river in Keystone City with her husband Detective Eddie Thawne. She still worked at CCPN as her commute wasn't that much longer and things between her and Eddie couldn't be better. There had been some rough patches such as when Barry told Iris and Joe how he and her were married on Earth-2, but that didn't stop them. She and Eddie had just returned from their honeymoon which took them all over the United States, from Coast City to Happy Harbor. Eddie was really starting to come into his own as the hero Cobalt Blue. He fought crime and protected Keystone like Barry would Central City. They'd even team up once in a while when needed.

Joe was still working as a Detective for the Central City Police Department while Wally worked part time tuning up the Police Department Patrol Cars. Wally had gone through some adjustments because of Flashpoint, Dr. Alchemy and Savitar. He wanted to have powers like Barry, Caitlin and Jesse and when he had the chance he almost took Alchemy up on his offer he got his powers but chose to use them how he wanted.

Central City, Barry and Caitlin's Apartment

7:48 AM

"So, what do you want to do today?" Barry asked the woman hooked on his arm as they lay on their couch. He and Caitlin had been come an official couple in June, six months after Iris and Eddie's wedding and one month following the defeat of the self proclaimed 'God of Motion' Savitar about a month after that they moved in together.

"I don't have any plans." Caitlin said. "We could always just spend the day doing Netflix and chill."

The Flash chuckled. "Yeah well, that's what we did last night. you know, before we fell asleep on the couch with me being your personal mattress and pillow."

"Quite complaining, you were the one who had a personal blanket." Caitlin huffed before looking at the clock. "Well… you should be over at the precinct and I should head over to S.T.A.R. Labs. Other wise we'll be late."

"You know, as your boss, if you give me a good reason for your tardiness I'll over look it." Caitlin smiled before pulling back from Barry. "Besides, we both have super speed. We can be ready and on time in legit thirty seconds or less."

"Sorry boss, but I promised myself I wouldn't date my employer."

"Oh? Then as the guy you are dating what does that make me?" Barry asked feigning hurt.

"The nerdy forensic assistant I fell in love with." Caitlin answered. Barry smiled and gave her a chaste kiss on the lips.

"Come on. We should get moving." On cue Barry's phone began to vibrate. Caller ID showed Joe's name. "Well, duty calls. Are we still on for tonight?"

"Are we talking about training or Dinner?"

"Well, it is Tuesday so that means date night."

"Then of course. I'll see you at S.T.A.R. Labs Barry." There was a flash of blue and yellow lightning and both Barry and Caitlin were dressed and ready for the day, including eating a hearty breakfast. They shared one last kiss before heading to their respective jobs.

Central City, Just Outside the City Center

8:34 AM

While the two speedsters worked, a blue portal opened up in an ally not too far from the city center. A figure wearing a white body suit coated in white lightning came racing out dragging a man behind him.

"Damn… Where the 'ell are we?" He demanded of the white clad speedster.

"Not where, when." He corrected. His voice was deep, and menacing, there was even a slight echo to it making it slightly difficult to understand some of his words. "Now…If you want me to return the rest of your speed all you've got to do is fight the Flash."

"Better Idea. How about I just kill you now and take my speed back myself!" He went to throw a punch but the white speedster caught it. Using strength higher than what would normally be found in a speedster he brought the other man to his knees as he twisted his arm and threatened to snap it like a twig.

"Don't try my patience. I have a low tolerance for Failures…" With that he released his arm and vanished into another blue portal. Shortly after he left there was the sonic boom that shattered all the windows around them.

Whoever this white speedster was, he was fast. Fast enough to easily leave sound in the dust.

The man who was left behind stood back up and rubbed his arm in pain. As much as he wanted his full power back things didn't look that good for him. He challenged the white speedster to a race and lost. His punishment, he lost most of his speed. Now to get back the thing he loved most he had to comply with the will of a madman. And so, he walked out into the city center.

Dozens of people; men women and children, were out and about enjoying this particually ordinary day completely unaware of the man in their midst.

A sinister smirk spread across his face before he crouched to the ground and the muscles in his legs flexed and bulged in size. His mission: Cause chaos and panic, two things he was exceptionally good at thanks to his abilities.

"I need everyone geared up and mobilizing in three!" Captain Singh ordered

"Hey Joe, what's going on?" Barry asked as he came down the stairs from his lab to see, Joe, Captain Singh and Julian gearing up.

"Disturbance downtown Allen." Julian said as he holstered his gun. "Meta-Human."

Barry watched the police squad leave and ran back up to his lab answering his phone as Cisco called.

"Barry we've got major trouble all over Central City!" Cisco cried into the phone. The feedback from the Meta-Human App was going completely crazy as reports and sightings were coming in all over downtown.

"Yeah, I heard. I'm heading there now. Anything to tell us what we are dealing with?"

"Folks are saying there's a Meta-Human tearing up downtown, not much else." Cisco explained as Barry flashed into his suit. "Go kick his ass buddy."

"Barry, wait, I'm going with you!" Caitlin said to her boyfriend. "Give me thirty seconds and I'll be right there by your side." She voiced her desire to aid the Flash against this new Meta mainly because this was an unknown Meta-Human. If it had been someone like Weather Wizard, they would know.

"It's OK Cait. I've got this one." In a crackle of yellow lightning Barry was out of his lab, in his suit and on his way to the scene of the disturbance.

Downtown Central City

Barry arrived on the scene in a crackle of golden electricity. His eyes quickly scanned the area but he couldn't see anyone, just shattered windows, crushed cars, dented buildings cracked sidewalks and ruined streets.

"'BOUT TIME YA GOT 'ERE FLASH!" Barry looked up to see a man standing on the ledge of a high roof. The man appeared to wear casual attire including only a black muscle shirt, dark leather pants, boots and a domino mask fitted with lenses. His messy blond hair fluttered slightly in the breeze. Barry could also make out what looked like a wicked looking scar on the left side of his face disappearing under his mask.

"So, who the Hell are you supposed to be?" Barry asked not really caring what this guy's deal was, it was probably to try and get famous quick.

"The way he talked ab't ya, he made it sound like ya were som' kind o' Demon."

"Who said I was a demon?" Barry questioned but the man ignored him.

Instead of answering the man leaped off the building much to Barry's shock but he landed on the ground and Barry watched as the man's legs began to compress like springs.

"Don't matter… long as I kill ya 'e promised ta give me back my power!" His legs were throbbing as they compressed far too much for a normal human. "I've been waitin' for this moment for a long-time flash! YOU'LL PAY FOR WHAT YA DID TO MY EYE!" He roared as he sprung forward at Barry creating a sonic boom as he did.

Barry was so caught off guard by this man's speed he hardly registered the supersonic punch as it collided with his face.

"BARRY!" The Scarlet Speedster could hear Cisco through the coms, no doubt his vitals were going nuts as his jaw got rocked. He skidded across the ground before pushing himself back up and wiping the blood from his lip.

"OK, this guy as some kind of propulsion ability." Barry said into his com-link as he watched the man pull his fist out of the side of a building. "Oh, and apparently punching a hole in a concrete wall does not hurt him."

"Yeesh…That can't be good for his hands."

"DIE FLASH!" The Man yelled before propelling himself at Barry once more only for Barry to move out of the way. Barry watched in slow motion as the man flipped midair landing on the side of another building and began to once again compress his legs like springs.

As he charged once more a flash of blue lighting arced across the road as Caitlin came rushing in striking the propulsion meta out of the air and to the ground.

"What!?" The Meta looked up at Caitlin and Barry rather confused. "Two Flashes? There's only supposed to be one of ya!"

"Lucky you. You get two for the price of one." Caitlin fired back before turning to Barry. "Ready to go Flash?" Caitlin asked

"After you." Barry smiled back as the two speedsters moved to intercept the meta.

He sprang forward but they veered away and came back in hitting him in his blind spots. It was fairly easy for them to figure out that he could only use his propulsion to go in a straight line and while he was using it he could not stop or even turn unless he had something to act upon like another wall. The man took off once again like a rocket only this time he wasn't aiming for either speedster. Instead he ricocheted off the ground then an adjacent ledge then a wall. He continued this pattern while Barry and Caitlin tried to chase him.

Unfortunately, the man seemed to be getting faster and faster each time he pushed off a new surface. Soon he was moving so fast that Barry and Caitlin were actually having a hard time figuring out where he was going.

Out of the corner of his eye Barry barely had time to react as he saw one of his fists barreling towards Caitlin at speeds easily over Mach 3. Pushing her out of the way Barry took the fist to his jaw and he felt his entire body rattle in pain as he momentarily lost consciousness.

"FLASH!" Caitlin cried out rushing to his side.

"HAHAHAHA! EVEN THE MIGHTY FLASH CAN'T KEEP UP WITH ME!" Suddenly He was behind Caitlin in a position to push off, of her.

Thanks to the Speed Force she had enough time to turn around and block his feet as he planted two strong legs against her arms. Pain shot through them like a thousand needles indicating to Caitlin that the force was sufficient to crack her bones. She was blown back and the man landed on top of Barry pinning the Flash's arm with his legs as he cocked his fist.

"Ever see them old cartoons? The ones with a boxing glove on a spring?" Caitlin watched as began to compress before firing off in Barry's face, retract and repeating the process.

Cisco helplessly watched the monitors as Barry's vitals spiked with each hit to his face, chest and stomach. This new Meta-Human was showing no mercy as he used his fist like a spring-loaded gun to repetitively beat down Barry.

Caitlin couldn't take seeing her boyfriend in pain. Blue lightning arced over her arms. She rapidly spun her arms creating large cyclones of wind that threw the Meta off of Barry. She ran over to Barry to check on him.

"You OK?"

"Been Better…" Barry groaned

The Meta got back up and glared at Caitlin and Barry. He was ready to launch himself again when Gun fire filled the air. The Speedsters could see several Central City police officers open fire on this Meta-Human, but he seemed to be unaffected by the bullets as the hit him and fell to the ground.

"Heh, you think Bullets will hurt me?" He scooped up all the bullets in his hand. He cocked his right arm as if he was to throw a shotput and Barry watched as his forearm compress like a spring. "HAVE A TASTE OF YER OWN MEDICINE YA DAMN PIGS!" His arm shot forward as he unleashed the bullets like buckshot at Mach 3.

Using Their speed Barry and Caitlin raced the bullets. They were both weak after that beat down he had been given and could barely hear or register anything anyone was saying to them. Desperately Barry grabbed each and every bullet saving the police officer's lives.

One last sonic boom rippled through the air and Barry felt a searing pain in his stomach. He placed his hand on his stomach and felt the red liquid beginning to spill out.

"I heard you were fast Flash, but it looks like even you can't dodge a bullet going Mach 3." The Meta-Human chuckled darkly as he juggled what looked to be half a dozen bullets in his right hand.

"BARRY!" Caitlin yelled in her distorted voice so no one could catch the Flash's identity.

"DIE FLASH!" The Meta cocked his arm. His muscles bulged and condensed. And in slo motion he fired his arm forward which made a noise like a cannon.

Suddenly there was a mighty roar like thunder on a clear day. Barry and the Meta turned just in time to see a golden-yellow bolt of lightning blitz onto the scene. Inside Barry could barely make out what looked like a man who was in a position to deliver a painful dropkick, which is exactly what he did as his feet collided with the other Meta-Human's face propelling him quite some distance down the street.

The Meta looked upon the new figure that arrived and his face contorted into rage and fear. "This ain't over Flashes! When I come back We're gonna race for real!" The New speedster charged the propulsion Meta-Human but he leaped into the air easily clearing several tall buildings before disappearing from Barry's line of sight.

That's when Barry got a good look at this other New Meta-Human, he was clearly a speedster, wearing a Crimson colored jacket, navy blue pants with lightning patterns running up the outside of his legs and boots. On top of his head were only two articles of clothing; a red scarf around the lower half of his face and a pair of goggles covering his eyes.

"Are you OK?" The mysterious speedster asked as he approached Barry.

In a crackle of blue lightning Caitlin was by Barry's side. She ignored the newcomer and devoted her full attention to Barry. "You OK?" She asked her friend. Barry just groaned in pain as he clutched the bullet wound in his stomach. "Thanks for your help but we had that under control."

"Really? Cause from where I was it looked like you were getting your asses handed to you." The Speedster looked down and saw the bullet wound. "Here, let me help you. I can get that out." He began to vibrate his hand and Barry instantly thought to how both the Reverse-Flash, Zoom and even Savitar used their vibrating hands to kill people. This guy was about to kill him.

Lightning flashed in Barry's eyes as he entered flight or fight mode and he grabbed Caitlin tightly and took of a break neck speeds. Barry ran all the way back to STAR Labs before collapsing onto the cortex floor from Blood loss.

S.T.A.R. Labs

"Cisco! Help me get him on the gurney!" Caitlin ordered as they draped the speedster's arms over their shoulders and dragged him to Caitlin's lab. Caitlin would be damned if she was going to let Barry die from something as trivial as a bullet, he was the Flash for god's sake something like this shouldn't have even hurt him.

Because Barry had begun to heal around the bullet Caitlin was forced to cut him open with a scalpel in order to take the bullet out herself, which was not too difficult, but there was still an awful lot of blood on top of Barry's other injuries; Cracked jaw, five broken ribs, a punctured lung, cracked skull, a severe concussion, all on top of the obvious bullet wound.

"Ugh…" Barry groaned as he opened his eyes.

"Easy man, you really had us worried there." Cisco placed a hand on Barry's shoulder to keep him down.

"What happened?" Barry asked completely disoriented.

"You don't remember what happened." Caitlin asked as she shined a light in his eyes to make sure they were still reacting to light. "That's to be expected, you do have a concussion. You're vitals read you fell unconscious more than once in that fight."

"I just remember being taken off guard by his speed and him hitting me the first time."

"Dude you took a supersonic punch to the face." Cisco interrupted. His tone was both excitement at the prospect of another person being able to use the supersonic punch and also upset that it was a villain. "We've got to see if we can recruit this guy to our side."

"Yeah well, next time I see him I'll be sure to ask him if he isn't too busy punching me at Mach speeds." Barry replied while Caitlin cleaned a cut that had formed just above his eyebrow.

"How about we try and learn more about this Meta-Human instead of barreling in head first so he can do this to you all over again." Caitlin's tone clearly indicated she was unhappy with what transpired.

"Well, from your fail of a fight we gather that his ability lies in propulsion." Cisco said looking down at the data on his tablet "Though I'm not exactly sure how he could take so many bullets to his back and just have them ricochet off him."

Caitlin just ignored the ramblings and gave Barry the rundown of his injuries. "You have a cracked jaw, five broken ribs, a punctured lung, cracked skull, a severe concussion, all on top of the bullet in your stomach."

"That might explain why it's painful to breathe." Barry joked earning him a slight scowl from Caitlin. "And here I thought it was because my beautiful girlfriend is looking out for me."

"Even with your healing factor it'll take you a few hours to fully heal even after that I still need to monitor you because of the concussion."

"Alright, but we should at least let Iris, Joe, Wally and Eddie know that I'm OK, no doubt they heard about the Flash's little scuffle by now."

"Speaking of your scuffle, we were getting a massive spike in energy readings." Cisco said. "Any idea what might have caused that since I doubt it was Ricochet."

"Really? You're naming the Meta who nearly beat Barry to death right now?"

"Someone has to do it Caitlin." Cisco's then went into a rant about the importance of nicknames for all the Meta-Humans and skilled individuals while Barry got up and out of the bed.

It was rather painful but he managed to make his way to the cortex and while his friends meant well Barry needed to think. His mind kept drifting to that other speedster who showed up out of nowhere then tried to throw a vibrating hand through him.

"Barry, Thank god you're OK!" Barry looked up to see Joe, Wally and Iris entering into the Cortex. When they heard what happened that's to social media they dropped everything and made their way to STAR Labs to make sure Barry was OK.

"What happened out there Barry? People are saying all sorts of crazy things." Iris approached her best friend wanting to know what was happening. "Some are saying how the Flash and his partner failed to stop a man who could bounce all over the place and some are even saying that they saw another Flash show up in the end."

"I wish I could tell you what happened out there Iris, but I have no clue myself." Barry sighed heavily.

"Is there another speedster running around out there?" Joe was honestly hoping for a break from all these evil speedsters. First it was the Reverse-Flash and then Zoom, Trajectory, the Rival and Savitar. So far bad speedsters out weighted good speedsters 5:4 so any new speedster was more than likely to be evil. "Because we just dealt with Savitar and I'd hate for another Evil Speedster to be running amuck. Again."

"I don't know Joe" Barry was mad with himself for failing against not one but two Meta-Humans; one kicked his ass hard and he ran away from the other. "But for now we're going to work on catching Ricochet."

"Actually, his name is Recoil. He's a Meta-Human Speedster with the ability to utilize his muscles like springs granting him exceptionally high acceleration." Everyone in STAR Labs turned to the entrance of the Cortex to see a young man, who could easily be mistaken for Barry if not for his brown eyes and slightly bulkier stature, walk in.

On reflex Joe reached for his gun but in a flurry of yellow electricity the young man grabbed the gun and disassembled it. "Please detective, There's no need for guns, besides I hate guns." The man said casually.

"Who the hell are you?" Barry asked the mysterious man completely shocked that he had the Speed Force.

"Jeeze, you're acting like this is the first time we've met, which technically it is but I saved your ass earlier and you never thanked me." Everyone's eyes widened. This was the other speedster that was there earlier.

"Just who the hell are you?" Barry demanded again with his patience wearing thin. No matter what this man answered he knew he was not going to believe him, there was no way he'd fall for it thrice.

The stranger took a deep breath before explaining. "Look, this will probably sound crazy, and you probably won't believe me given our point in the time line but my name is Benjamin Joseph Allen, I'm your son from the future."

This is the end of the chapter

Please tell me what you liked, didn't like, look forward to/think will happen, or your general thoughts and comments, this'll help me make the story better; I'm a big boy so I can take criticism. And if you Review you get a Shout Out and questions answered either privately or in the next chapter.

SEVEN REVIEWS, FAVORITES OR FOLLOWS AND I'LL UPDATE IN A WEEK. EVERY FIVE OVER THAT AND I'LL DO ONE DAY SOONER.

(i.e. 12 R/F/F = 6-day update)

Have a Fantastic day