Disclaimer: Based on characters and references created by the CW and DC Universe, which I do not own. Enjoy.
Break
In a rush, Cisco places his coffee on the table and starts to turn on and calibrate all the equipment in front of him.
Map on. Tracker on Barry's suit is active. Comms channel is clear. Team Flash is live!
Cisco takes a quick sip from his coffee, watching Barry's movement from the map on the computer screen as he runs at Mach speed towards IVO labs.
"Here's the brief," Cisco says through the comms. "There's 2 bad guys stealing IVO lab's tech. There might be a couple of scientists in there being held hostage, so be careful."
Cisco sees Barry turning onto the same street IVO labs is located just as he is finished giving the run down. However, surprisingly, Barry runs straight past it, being slow to stop.
Cisco narrows his eyes, seeing if the marker is somehow incorrect. So far, nothing seems to be wrong with the tracker. Did he forget where it was or something?
"Hey Barry. You might wanna tap the brakes and make a U-turn. You missed it by, like, 10 blocks."
Suddenly, Cisco's phone starts ringing on the table. He looks at the caller ID, seeing it is from Billy Batson, or Shazam as they started calling him when in his superhero form.
Wanting to get the call done with quickly, he answers and quickly says, "Hey Billy. Whatever you need—"
"Where's the Flash?" Billy says in his adult voice.
"He's at the scene of a crime right now. Whatever it is, just give me the mess—"
"Cisco, where is he?!"
Shocked by Shazam's loud voice, Cisco lets out, "IVO Labs!" Realizing his mistake, Cisco quickly says, "But don't go—"
The phone hangs up before Cisco can finish. Feeling stupid, Cisco plops his head down on the headrest and closes his eyes. "PLEASE don't let this day get any worse."
"I'm there!" Barry says frantically.
Cisco brings his head back up and sees Barry's marker just making his way into IVO Labs.
Cisco clears his throat nervously as he says, "Uh…quick update…"
Break
"Shazam is going to crash the party to try and help you," Cisco says, his voice trembling a bit. "Just don't let him get too cocky. Okay?"
Oliver doesn't know who this Shazam is. But if he is coming to help, then fine. So long as there is a backup plan.
As Oliver enters the main Lab, he sees 4 people in the room. 2 of them are criminals in black hoodies and ski masks. The other 2 are a male and female scientist, sitting next to them and quivering in fear. The room they are in is very open, the tables on each side creating a large yet narrow path. There are a few large boxes and sheets of metal near the end row, where everyone else is.
One of the criminals grabs the female scientist, his arm restraining her by the neck and the other holding a submachine gun.
"Not a step closer Flash!" the criminal yells, his voice drowning out the woman's pleas for help. "Or she gets it!"
Oliver readies himself, feet planted firmly on the ground, ready to dash right at him. He then yells out, "You have failed! THIS! CITY!"
"I don't think that's your line," Cisco says over the earpiece.
Oliver, while realizing Cisco is right, focuses on the criminal and the woman. He runs at super speed, planning to take down the man quickly and take the scientists to safety before finishing the criminals off. Instead, he runs right past them, running into one of the large boxes. However, his speed must have scared the criminals and drawn their attention away from the hostages, for when Oliver gets up, he sees the scientists retreat behind the nearest tables.
The criminals do not go after them. Instead, they aim their guns right at Oliver. Seeing no way to get out without his usual equipment and skills, he raises his hands in front of himself and prepares for the inevitable.
"SHAZAM!"
Out of nowhere, two bolts of white lightning hit the two criminals from behind, sending them hurtling towards Oliver and landing next to him, unconscious. Oliver puts his hands down, seeing a man in red spandex with a yellow lightning bolt on his chest and a white cape with yellow streaks running down it.
He hovers over towards Oliver and extends a hand. "The names Shazam! I have come to help you Green Arrow."
Oliver breathes a sigh of relief before accepting the hand to be pulled up. "It's good to see someone who actually knows who I am."
"One of the benefits of the Wisdom of Solomon," Shazam explains, but the reference flies over Oliver's head. "But that's not how I know. The Red Arrow sent me."
The mention of William's codename grabs Oliver's attention and opens up a couple of new questions.
"Red Arrow knows?" Oliver asks, to which Shazam replies with a nod. "Well, where is he now?"
"Saving the Flash," Shazam answers. "Well, the real Flash."
Hearing that makes Oliver more worried. "Save him from what?"
Break
From his perch point, Barry looks down at the garage, seeing a group of thugs loading in weapons crates.
Okay. So, these guys are the Ninth Circle who, according to Diggle, are badasses who can kill me because I'm NOT Oliver Queen. Why I let Diggle take on the Bertinellis is beyond me! Okay. Just think. They're down there, examining all the weapons in the truck. I shoot one of those incendiary arrows and catch them by surprise, swoop in, and buy some time until Dig shows up. No problem.
With his plan all thought out, Barry takes an arrow out from his quiver and shoots it at the ground in the center of the group of Ninth Circle thugs. However, as it flings into the air, Barry notices the rope attached to the shaft. Instead of exploding, the arrow releases a grapple, its talons digging into the ground.
All the thugs notice it and the ones closest to it grab the rope.
"Oh crap," Barry utters before being pulled down towards the concrete parking lot. Barry manages to land on his feet, but from the height he was at, he was prepared to have broken legs.
Still surprised that he survived, he does not notice one of the thugs throw a punch. Disoriented, he does not stop that thug from grabbing him and throwing him towards the center of the group. Barry manages to roll at the last second, allowing him to stand up and raise his arms up quickly.
The thugs come at him with so many punches and kicks that Barry has a hard time keeping up with them. Eventually, he is pushed against the truck, leaving Barry no room to maneuver anywhere. All he does is block and hopes Diggle can make it in time.
Break
Surrounded. Cannot keep up with the speed of the Ninth Circle enforcers. Barry's running out of time. First, implement flashbang arrow.
From the perch he has just taken, William, in his Red Arrow suit, shoots a flashbang arrow into the center of the crowd, leaving everyone blind when it goes off.
Next, use rope arrows to take down 2 targets and get down to the lower levels. Take down the last 4 quickly.
Red Arrow takes out 2 rope arrows, aiming at the enforcers closest to him. As soon as the arrows dig their claws into the enforcer's shirts, he drops down, dragging the criminals upwards until they are near the high beams. He then takes his end of the arrow shaft and presses a button that shoots another grapple into the floor, holding the criminals in place.
His attention then turns to the enforcers, who slowly regain their sight. 2 of them charge at him, their arms stretched out wide to grab him at the ready. Red Arrow quickly takes out and shoots concussion arrows at their heads, knocking them out quickly.
Another manages to get in close and employs a hook punch. Red Arrow blocks it with a helmet guard, following it up with a punch to the stomach. With the enforcer hunched over, Red Arrow grabs him from behind, leans as far back as he can, and throws him towards the last enforcer, who flips over him and runs in to attack.
The enforcer comes in with a couple of fast roundhouse kicks, which Red Arrow either blocks or checks. The enforcer then goes for a spinning back kick. Instead of blocking or checking it, Red Arrow grips it with his arm and kicks the back of the pivoting leg, forcing the enforcer down to the ground. He then knocks the enforcer out with a punch to the head.
"Red Arrow!" Barry calls out as the dust settles. Red Arrow sees a smile on his face, but his jaw is also hanging a bit and his eyes are wide, showing more amazement than relief.
"Flash!" Red Arrow calls back, testing to see if Barry is conscious of his own identity.
Though, Barry doesn't seem to listen, or he is still amazed. "Man, that was awes—" Barry stops speaking for a moment, his smile disappearing, but still maintaining the dropped jaw. "Wait a minute. Did you just call me—"
"Yes! I know who you really are, but I don't know what's going on. That's why I need you back at the—"
Red Arrow and Barry hear a car engine coming from somewhere near them. A black car then shoots out into view from the truck and makes its way towards the garage exit.
"It's getting away!" Barry yells, ready to run after it.
"Wait!" Red Arrow says, placing his arm in Barry's way, for he knows who is going to intercept the car.
As instructed, Mia, wearing a light ARGUS suit and a face mask, waits on the high beam just above the entrance. She takes out an arrow and shoots at one of the tires, causing the car to veer off course and into a wall. She then leaps down and proceeds to take out the 2 criminals inside.
"That's Mia, isn't it?" Barry asks, seeing her break the windshield with her bow and slam the head of the driver into the steering wheel.
"Yep," William answers.
"She has her mom's looks."
Mia then drags the passenger out of the car and employs a punch to the face, knocking him out.
"And Dad's brutality…and his restraint."
Mia, when the job is done, walks over to the pair quickly. She then turns her attention to Barry. "Where's Mr. Diggle?"
"Mia? Red Arrow?" The three of them see John approaching from a hallway, wearing the new armored yet flexible Spartan suit Red Arrow made for him. "What are you two doing here?"
Suddenly, another figure, a gangster looking type, comes out of the hallway and aims a gun at John's head.
"DIGGLE!" Mia and Barry cry out, trying to warn him.
Before Red Arrow can take out an arrow, a bolt of white lightning strikes the criminal and sends him towards the wall, knocking him out. They all turn to see Shazam, his finger and thumb pointing at the criminal like a gun. Next to him was Oliver wearing the Flash suit.
"Hey guys!" Shazam greets with a wave. "One displaced Oliver…" Shazam gives Oliver a soft pat on the shoulder. "As requested."
"Wait," John interrupts, pointing towards Oliver. "Did you just call the Flash Oliver?"
Everyone looks up to John, now realizing that he does not know about Oliver and Barry switching lives, just as everyone except Red Arrow believed.
John grimaces, looking at everyone left and right. "Is there something I don't know about?"
Red Arrow looks at Oliver and mouths, "Team Flash too?"
Oliver nods, confirming Red Arrows fears. The Green Arrow and Flash have somehow switched lives, and only he, Shazam, and said heroes somehow had first-hand knowledge of this.
Red Arrow breathes a subtle sigh, knowing that explaining this to John is probably going to be difficult.
