(Author's Notes)
To explain what was going on at the end of the last chapter, that version of Cole developed his powers a lot differently than the one the story is focused on. Discharge is an ability that sends every last ounce of energy out in an expansive area. Because it is a direct current, it's not enough to kill in a wide spread move. Earth-X's Cole's plan was to stun the New Reichmen's movements long enough for him to get close to Overgirl, decrease the range of the Discharge and make it an alternating current and shut off her abilities long enough to be killed by the electricity by stabbing her with the golden kryptonite. He wouldn't stand a chance against all three alone and was hoping to at least take out the biggest threat to the Resistance. Now with that explanation out of the way, feel free to read and review. Oh, and do keep in mind, we're getting more and more into AU territory here. You'll see what I mean.
(Cole's POV)
I stood in front of Kara and her friends at the secret government agency meant to stop harmful aliens, the D.E.O., Winn and J'onn J'onzz, and her sister Alex an agent in the agency. I spent the last few hours explaining my predicament and how Wells was apparently trying to help me. "So," said J'onn, the Martian posing as a human. "You're trying to find your home."
"Yeah."
"I imagine that must be worrying. More than imagine."
"Last of your kind, right?" J'onn nodded and I sighed.
"Guess we have that in common. The RFI, if it worked, would've killed all Conduits and Kessler, for whatever reason, spared me. For all I know, I'm the last Conduit."
"It's a difficult burden to bear. I know."
"We both do," said Kara. "Last of the Kryptonians along with my cousin."
"What I'm trying to figure out is why Wells sent you here," said Alex.
"You got me," I said. "No idea why he sent me." I passed a current between my hands out of boredom and to focus on something. Winn stared at me before thinking of something.
"Hey, Cole," he said.
"Yeah?"
"You absorbed electricity when you got here, didn't you?"
"Something I do on a normal basis, why?"
"Well, I was just thinking, after Barry first got here, he described each Earth as having its own vibrational frequency. Some are higher some are lower. And the frequency effects all matter in that universe, including energy." I stared at my hands.
"What's your point," asked Kara.
"Well, Cole absorbs energy which means he's also vibrating on that same frequency, isn't he?"
"Sonofabitch," I said. "Wells is testing that same theory."
"So the reason Cole registers as being from Earth-1," said Alex. "Is because he absorbed energy from there?"
"That's what I assume, anyways," said Winn. "If his anatomy is able to adapt to the type of electrical energy he absorbs, that would include any variations to that energy."
"Like when he absorbed the electricity in the bombs powered by Kryptonite," said Kara. "That explains the green glow!" I focused on the unusual feeling from those bombs and focused my energy. All at once, my lightning turned the same shade of green. Shifting over to this was as simple as adjusting the shape of my powers, like switching from my original bolts to a Pincer. As soon as I shifted, Kara started feeling ill. I shifted back to the normal color and she was back to normal.
"What just happened," asked Alex.
"I think I absorbed the natural energy that comes off of Kryptonite," I said. "I'm used to absorbing Ionic radiation from storms or even Ray Field Energy from knocked out militia, I guess my body adapted to the energy signature of the Kryptonite."
"Please don't ever do that again," said Kara.
"Sorry, I didn't know it would affect you like that."
"It's fine, just… never again." I nodded and stared at my hands before clenching them.
"I think I should head back now. I appeared in the air. Kara would you mind…"
"Sure. Do you remember where?"
"Above the stadium."
"That's not where Barry arrived from."
"Don't know what to tell you." Kara helped me back to the spot where I opened a Breach and we went through, arriving back at STAR Labs with the team waiting for us. I glared at Wells as I contemplated shocking him. "Did you know I'd arrive in the middle of the fucking air?"
"No," said Wells. "Normally they're level with the ground. And even if I did know, you can survive a fall like that."
"Asshole."
"Hey, Kara," said Barry.
"Oh," said Kara. "Hi, Barry! Hey, Iris!" I walked over to Wells who immediately scanned me.
"Hope your theory is right, Wells," I said.
"Figured it out?"
"Winn did," said Kara. I looked at the screen and saw that I now registered as being from Earth-38 rather than Earth-1.
"So that's why," I said.
"What," asked Barry.
"Cole's body adjusts to allow for the intake of new energy," said Wells. "My guess so that there's no trouble at the different vibrational frequency between him and the source of energy."
"My Powers evolved when exposed to intense levels of electricity and when I absorbed more Ray Field energy. After using one of the Blast Cores, I could absorb Ionic Energy. My body must've been altered then. I mean, now I've got Kryptonite lightning, so…"
"Wait," said Caitlin. "You what?"
"When I arrived, some cultists Kara had been dealing with had set up bombs in a stadium. I spent about 20 minutes deactivating all of them before restraining the head cultist for the police to collect after Kara called it in. After everything was said and done, my electricity turned green. Before we got back here, I was able to switch back to the normal lightning and found I could transition back to the green. When I did…"
"I started getting sick," said Kara. "Like when exposed to Kryptonite, a radioactive remnant of my planet, Krypton."
"Meaning Cole now has a lightning potentially fatal to you," said Wells.
"But I don't plan on attacking you anytime soon," I said. I turned to Wells. "Got any ideas on how to find my Earth? One that doesn't involve me draining my energy completely?"
"One. We'd need to find a third Earth for you to drain energy from, but aside from Earth-19, which has closed off all Breaches going in, and Earth-3 is too close to Earth-1 for this to work."
"You're going to try and triangulate my Earth using the energy from here, Earth-38, and one other Earth, aren't you?"
"Yes. If I can ascertain the difference in frequencies as they are in your body, I can triangulate your Earth by eliminating all subsequent energies reading in your body."
"So we just need another Earth to Breach to," said Barry. "Shouldn't be too hard."
"It wouldn't be if we didn't have only 52 Earth's to pick from, and nearly all of them have defenses against unsanctioned travel between Earth's in and out."
"So you're saying I'm stuck here until we can find another Earth I can absorb energy from for this to work? One beyond the first 52 that has the right level of technology for me to drain and doesn't have interdimensional safeguards. How long would that take," I asked.
"Can't say. Too many variables to predict."
"Dammit."
"Sorry Cole," said Caitlin as she moved to me and put her hand on my shoulder. I smiled to her before sighing.
"Might as well consider Singh's offer then."
"What offer," asked Barry.
"Singh wants me to join the police. Said he could use me in the ranks, both as good PR for a lot of the force and civilians who don't like Metas operating with masks, despite the reasoning its to protect their families, and to help limit casualties among the police if you don't turn up. Like if you find yourself sacrificing yourself for the city again and leaving your friends and the police to deal with Metas alone. With Wally leaving, you won't have a Speedster on hand to hide the fact that you're not here." I stared him down as he stopped himself from retaliating.
"That's unfair," said Iris.
"It's not meant out of malice. It's a standard fact. Barry is willing to give his life to protect all of you and every single life in this city. And the longer he keeps going at this, the more people are going to try and destroy or take over this city, or harm any of you, he's going to take the bullet every single time. If both he and Wally are gone, it's just Cisco and Cait to defend people from Metas, and people aren't willing to trust Killer Frost just yet after the whole Savitar thing you told me about. Them trusting Frost will take a lot of time and effort on both parts. The police need a Meta on their side in case something happens to either of them. I can take a hit and nearly instantly heal from gunshots. I can take on these Metas and stop them if any of you can't be reached."
"You're considering this," asked Cait.
"I am. I need to do this, since Empire City and New Marais, I can't just sit by and not help people. It's not who I am anymore. At least this way, any action I take would be in the name of the CCPD and allow me to move semi-freely while helping people. Plus, it'll help me pass time in a meaningful way while we think of an Earth to travel to for Wells to do his triangulation thing. I don't plan on just sitting around doing nothing. If I can help people, I'm going to."
"You know you have to limit yourself to just healing and rescuing people while in the academy, right," asked Barry.
"Kinda figured. Limit the number of times I potentially get arrested for vigilante activities. I don't exactly wear a mask out there."
"So, you're going to do this," asked Iris.
"Yeah. Might be nice."
"Well, I wish you good luck," said Barry. I nodded before turning to Kara.
"Thanks again for getting me here."
"I should be thanking you for your help with the bombs," said Kara. "I didn't know if Coville would've still detonated them."
"Coville was the asshole I restrained, right?"
"Yeah. He saw me when I first demonstrated my powers and somehow learned about Rao, an old god from Krypton."
"How did that happen," asked Iris.
"I don't know. I still need to figure that out."
"Need any help," asked Barry.
"No, we can handle it. I should get back."
"Can we expect you guys for the wedding?"
"Definitely. Just let us know when it is."
"You guys got a venue," asked Caitlin.
"Yes," said Iris. "Finally. We'll send you and Alex your invitations soon."
"Great." Kara waved and went back through the Breach after Cait pressed a button to open it and Joe arrived just as she left.
"Hey guys," said Joe, smiling from ear to ear.
"What's up," asked Iris. I spotted him holding a box of cigars and quirked an eyebrow as he offered one to Barry.
"Cecelia's pregnant," he said, grin as wide as ever. Wells left almost as soon as he said that, probably to avoid the celebration as the others congratulated him. I chuckled and clapped Joe on the back before going to Wells.
"How'd you think of it," I asked.
"Your Amp has trace amounts of your electricity still in it," he said, working on whatever it was he was tinkering with. "And while you have only used it once against the android upon your arrival, you still used it to drain energy from it to make sure it was deactivated. Couldn't do what I needed and try and find the vibrational frequency of your Earth. I then realized that your body could've been vibrating on this frequency by you simply draining energy while here."
"Guess I should apologize for the memory thing. I need to find out if what I picked was the right choice."
"It probably wasn't."
"Oh, that's helpful."
"You have no reason to believe the RFI could actually kill the Plague. Personally, I would've sided with John White, if only so life could live on in some capacity. You saw John's process worked. It may have costed people their lives to do so, but it worked. So why go against it?"
"I don't know. I guess… I guess because I hoped that Wolfe was right. Yes, what John showed me meant survival. But it also meant extinction, both methods did. It was an impossible choice I alone had to make. There were plenty of people smarter than me who knew the odds better than me, but I had to choose. Conduits or Humanity."
"What I've learned from working with Team Flash is sometimes you can't just think it through. Sometimes, there's not enough time. You need to trust your gut instinct. What was your gut telling you?"
"To put my faith in Wolfe. He helped build the Ray Sphere, he had years to study Ray Field energy and build the RFI to counter the Ray Sphere. He had to be right. He wouldn't have started helping us if it weren't the case."
"Then stick with that, MacGrath. Until then, let me see your Amp. I may have a way to improve it. Since I can't figure out what the mastermind of the Bus Metas is up to right now without any more clues, I need to find something to work on."
"You got it." I handed him the Amp and went back to the others.
(1 Week Later)
I Pulse Healed a few people who were injured after a car crash and grinned as I heard Cait laughing on her end of the coms. I helped a kid up to his feet and pressed my hand to the coms. "You hear him? He said his friend fell on his butt." Caitlin's laugh over the coms made the kid smile and start ignoring the pain he felt on his hand from pulling at the door which was overheated thanks to a nearby fire as he tried getting his mother out of the car. I healed him and his mother and the passenger of the out of control car before Making sure the fire was out with a well-aimed Ice Grenade. I smiled at them and gave him a high five. "Nice job, kid. You're a hero." He smiled at me before I used a Kinetic Pulse to move the cars out of the way of traffic and let the paramedics examine them as I read the memories of the driver of the out of control car. "He tried to stop the car at the light, but something went wrong. His car was working earlier but he hit a huge pothole before turning on this road, something must've messed with the brakes when that happened. Battery sparked up and ignited gas from the other car's leaking tank after the crash. Did what I could for the injuries."
"Thanks for the help, Megawatt," said the kid with smile. I chuckled and ruffled his hair.
"Name's Cole, Kid." I use a Lightning Tether to bring me to a powerline and Grind away.
"Your antics are getting you a lot of fans," said Cait on the coms.
"Still not something I'm used to. I mean, sure people thanked and tried to help me in both Empire City and New Marais, but still, it's definitely something I never expected to happen to me at all."
"Well, when you get back to your Earth, you know what to look forward t… What the heck?!"
"Cait?! What's wrong?!"
"Um… you're gonna wanna see what Barry and Joe brought in just now. Oh, I think I'm gonna be sick!"
"On my way." I made my way back to STAR Labs and landed at the entrance as Iris got out of her car.
"Hey, Cole," she said.
"Iris. How's the planning going?"
"It's going well. We'll be ready for the wedding in a few weeks."
"Good to hear. Hey, do you know what Joe and Barry brought in?"
"No. Was just getting in right now." We stepped into the lab and started going to the Control Room. "Besides, it can't be anything ba-AAAHHH!" We stopped as we looked down to see what looked like a stretched out human foot, its shoe on the ground beside it and it was wiggling. I followed the still connected leg to the med bay and spotted one of the bus passengers from my vision freaking out as Barry and Cisco tried restraining him, his limbs stretched out like taffy.
"Oh, that is sick."
"Not helping," shouted the man, Ralph Dibny, from what Barry told me. He was out of town a week ago and had just gotten back a day ago. Barry and Joe had gone to see him and see if he had Metahuman abilities. Lo and behold, he did.
"Stand back!" Barry and Cisco moved from Ralph as I sparked up my hands.
"Whoa, whoa, whoa! What are you gonna…" I placed my hands on his leg and shocked him. Ralph exclaimed in slight pain and shock and his body pulled itself in. Barry looked at me.
"What did you do," he asked.
"Electricity makes the muscles tense up, it's why people stop what they're doing when tazed or end up getting electrocuted when they grab a live cable. It's only a temporary fix, though."
"I'll make something to help," said Cait. I nodded and heard Ralph sneeze. I turned around and spotted his face was nearly off his head, stretched out to an ungodly sight. I chuckled as I heard Joe throw up behind me.
"Four years," said Joe. "Four years of this and I finally throw up." Ralph looked at me, pleadingly.
"Hold still," I said before I shocked him again.
"Thank you," he said before getting a good look at me. "You're Megawatt, right?!"
"Name's Cole. Ralph Dibny, right?"
"Yeah. I take it you heard of me. Got a girlfriend you want me to follow?"
"My last girlfriend is dead."
"Oh… sorry."
"Don't mention it. And no, they told me your name." I nodded to Barry and Joe.
"Oh." His look of disdain was obvious, and I looked at Barry.
"Ok. What the hell happened between you two? And don't skip any details. As long as he's here, you two can't be at each other's throats and if you fucking back talk…" I sparked my arms and glared at both of them. Ralph sweated slightly before grunting.
"He got me fired!"
"That was your own fault," shouted Barry. "You falsified evidence!"
"He was guilty, dammit!"
"Hold it," I shouted over the two of them, draining the lights to make them dim for emphasis. "Barry, explain. Ralph, relay your side of the story after Barry is done. Your yelling is giving me a goddamn headache." Ralph blanched again.
"You know, you're pretty scary."
"Shut up. Barry, talk." Barry went on to tell me that Ralph was once an exemplary cop. By the book and following the rules. Then there came a case where a woman was murdered. Her husband was the primary suspect, but there was no evidence linking him to the crime. Not until Ralph miraculously found a knife with the husband's prints on it and turned it into evidence. Barry was suspicious and outed Ralph for planting evidence. Not long after, Ralph was fired. Ralph looked down, sullen before his glare returned in full force and then some.
"He was guilty, Barry. You know it and I know it."
"You can't just bend the rules to make things go your way," said Barry.
"Don't be a hypocrite," I smacked him upside the head. "How many times have you had to bend the rules yourself, huh? Flash?"
"Cole!"
"Flash," asked Ralph as Cait walked over to him. "You're the Flash?!"
"Drink this," said Cait. Ralph looked at the vial before giving her a skeptical glance.
"It's got alcohol," I said, rolling my eyes. Ralph reminded me of Zeke, avoiding the hospital, overweight, bit of a smart ass. Just give him a few extra pounds, some sunglasses, and Elvis styled hair, they could be twins.
"Don't gotta tell me twice," he said as I shook my head as Cait looked at me.
"How did you know it had alcohol," she asked.
"I didn't. It's the only way I ever got Zeke to drink medicine back home." I watched as his still slightly stretched arm fixed itself and Ralph looked himself over.
"What did that do," he asked.
"It it'll restore your muscle's composition and allow you more control," said Cait. "Think of it like muscle memory."
"Muscle memory? How?"
"Just think of a body part and it should respond how you want it to." He lifted up his shirt and we got a good look at his gut before he turned it into a six pack and laughed in glee.
"I could be a Henson!"
"Easy there," I said. "It's still going to take some time for you to get the hang of your powers, man. Good thing you have us here to help with that. Unless you want to look like living snot again." I chuckled as Joe gagged slightly at the memory. "The sooner you master your powers, the sooner you no longer have to worry."
"And who exactly is going to help me?"
"Caitlin, Cisco, Barry, me and Wells."
"And that would be…"
"I don't think Wells is going to be of any help," said Caitlin. "He's still trying to figure out the major scheme. But Barry has the most experience with powers, he'll be able to help you out the most."
"Wha.." started Barry as he turned to her.
"Cole," said Joe. "Come with me. I want to check something."
"Sure." I smiled at Cait before we left, and Joe turned to me. "What did you want to check?"
"Right after we talked with Ralph, a couple of guys were hanging him upside down from the roof, that's how he…"
"Got literal spaghetti legs, got it. So we're going through his office and learning what cases he has and seeing who would want to kill him. Though, being a Private Dick means it could be anyone he dug up dirt on."
"Yeah, but there's only so many people who could hire thugs to threaten him."
"I hear ya. Hey, I got a question."
"This about you considering joining the police?"
"Yeah."
"I think you should. Lord knows it would give the boys some help during a Metahuman incident."
"That was Singh's thinking as well. Just in case Barry disappears again and someone needs to step up to help. You guys need a powerhouse in the department, one to help protect them as well as the people. I agree. There were multiple times I worked with the Police in New Marais and Empire City against the multiple Conduits in both of them."
"How many have you fought?"
"Hundreds when the Ice Freaks showed up. The longer they stuck around, the more they started to change."
"The Crushers and Titans, right?"
"That's what Zeke dubbed them, anyways." We made our way outside and I climbed onto a power pole by Joe's car.
"Is that any fun?"
"Yeah. And it's better than me making a dent in your car. Gotta pay for the ones in the cruiser I rode in on last week."
"Yeah, they don't build them sturdy anymore. Just follow my car, Cole."
"You got it." Joe started his car and I followed close behind. Joe called my phone and I answered. "So, what do you think Ralph got his hands in?"
"Could be anything. Ralph's a good guy, but I think losing his job with the CCPD kind of hit him hard."
"He tried to put a bad guy away."
"By planting evidence."
"Again, you guys are hypocrites, you've done equally shady things to take down Metahumans before."
"I know we have."
"Hopefully those two can straighten things out. Having another Meta on the team will help you guys when I get home."
"Whenever that happens." Cole chuckled before jumping and using a Lightning Tether to bring him to the next powerline. "How does that work?"
"Static cling, Joe. Simplest way to explain how it works."
"Thank you. See, why can't people just explain that the first time around?"
"Eggheads, Joe. Simplest way for them is the scientific explanation the first time around. Average You's tend to forget they spend so many waking hours learning all of this crap it's imprinted in their minds." Joe chuckled.
"Haven't heard that one before."
"I'm sure." I hovered to the next powerline and suddenly stopped as I felt myself head into a powered down zone. "Hey, Joe. There's a power outage in the area."
"Yeah, I could tell when your sparking stopped. Can also see one of the traffic cops directing ahead."
"Know where a generator is?"
"You're not gonna like it."
"Let me guess. Underground?" I shot a Lightning Tether and got up to a roof.
"Bingo. I'll call it in and let the electricians know they're getting some help down there."
"Ok." I hung up and dialed the lab.
"Hey," said Caitlin. "What's up?"
"You got me on GPS, right?"
"Yeah, why?"
"Section of the city I'm in is experiencing a blackout. Can you direct me to the generator? I'm gonna help bring things back online."
"Uh… you know where…"
"Underground, I know. Geez, it's Empire City all over again, just minus the Reapers and Junkmen."
"There should be a lid nearby. Are you gonna be ok?"
"As long as there's not a lot of water. Can't exactly go for a swim anymore."
"Have you tried containing your power when you go in water?"
"Kinda need a better sense of control for that. I've tried that before, but I can't quite get it right." Cole heard the shift in her voice.
"Why don't you try freezing the surface of the water? You have ice powers."
"I have even less control over that, Frost. Unless you have any tips I can use."
"Sorry, I don't think that Metahuman abilities can translate over to Conduits."
"Damn. Oh well. Guess I could always test things out, see what I can do."
"Good luck to you, Sparky."
"Getting sick of that name, Icy."
"Well get used to it. You owe me a date as well, so expect more of it."
"Yes ma'am." I got to the sewer grate and hopped into the sewers after hanging up. I answered as Joe called me again.
"Cole, we got a situation."
"Talk to me."
"Electrician got knocked out by a blown fuse during a routine examination, that's what caused the blackout. Don't know if he's still alive, if you can bring him back up, it'd be a great help."
"Bring the power back on, find the electrician. On it."
"I'll have an ambulance waiting outside the grate to help him. Be careful down there, Cole."
"Yeah, story of my life. Hey, did Cisco find those two professors I helped the other day?"
"Yeah, he did. Clifford and Marlize Devoe. History and physics professors in CCU. Why'd you want to check up on them?"
"Figured Marlize would be able to help me learn more about my powers. Only so much my nearly completed degree in engineering can do. Zeke was the one that was better with tech."
"What about Wells or Cisco?"
"Cisco is good with tech, but he hasn't had any idea how to further extend my powers. And Wells thinks it's trivial compared to figuring out who's behind the Bus Metas." I started making my way to the generator. "Guy's got issues, doesn't he?"
"That's an understatement."
"Hey, how do you stand not punching him in the face?"
"That's what the shooting range is for." I chuckled.
"Now if only I could control my electricity to shoot a gun."
"Just fire off your bolts at some sheet metal."
"Yeah, cause that's original."
"Hey, just trying to help."
"I know." I stopped after a minute and looked around, hearing someone crying. "Hey, Joe? Are there any other people down here?"
"No, why?"
"Because I can hear someone crying." I looked around and spotted a split in the tunnels. "I'm gonna go check it out."
"Careful."
"I heard you the first time." I made my way down the opposite way to the generator and looked around, my arms generating enough light for me to navigate around. "Anyone down here?!" I looked around and spotted a figure rocking back and forth in what looked like a white bodysuit. "Hey? Are you ok?" I stepped closer and saw it was a little girl with shoulder length black hair, probably no older than about 5 or 6. I put my hand on her shoulder and she gasped before turning to face me. The second our eyes met it was like feeling Sasha's mind controlling tar on me all over again. Instantly, I was back in Empire City, surrounded by the Aura Conduits of the First Sons, Ice Titans and Corrupted Behemoths. I almost started firing randomly as instincts started kicking in but experience with Sasha's Conduit ability made me realize it was an illusion, caused by a power.
I shook my head and fell on my ass as I ignored the attacks that weren't really there. I blinked as I felt something switch in my head, and the visions went away, being replaced with what looked like electrical outlines. I watched as an outline of the girl backed away from me before running off. I shook my head and tried reaching out to her, seeing an outline of my hand. "Wait!" She glanced back once before running off and I shook my head as my vision slowly started going back to normal. "What the hell?"
"Cole, you alright?"
"Yeah. There's a little girl down here. I'm gonna go after her."
"Cole that electrician could die if he's not already dead. I'll send a few police after her soon, please get him out."
"Alright, alright. I'm going." I took one last look at the direction the girl ran off to before heading for the generator. After acting as an actual conduit to finish the connection and bring the power back on in the blacked-out section of the city, I shook my head as my instincts kicked in.
"Power's back on. You ok?"
"Yeah. Think I got a new power. Two, actually."
"Two?"
"I'll explain later. The electrician is by the generator and is unconscious. He's barely breathing. I'm gonna heal him and bring him up to street level, then I'm gonna head back down and look for the girl."
"Are you sure? I could just get a few officers down there to find her."
"Yeah, I'm sure. She's about 5 or 6 and seems to have a mind altering ability I don't think she can control. One of my new powers should be able to help with that."
"Alright but make it quick."
"Got it." I focused on my vision and the electric outlines filled the space around me. "Ok, this is gonna take some getting used to."
"What is it?"
"It's like my Pulse, but different. It's like I can see the electrons around me, making outlines in my vision in the darkness."
"That's handy." I brought the electrician back to the surface and went back down before using my vision to navigate the tunnels down where the girl went. I found her hiding behind some pipes and knelt down to her level.
"Hey. Are you ok?" Her outline gasped and looked up at me before she turned her head away quickly.
"Go away," she muttered. "I don't want to hurt you…"
"Hey, this is about the visions I saw earlier, right?" I saw her outline nod slowly. I chuckled and made sure my arm wasn't sparking before reaching out to her and lightly placing my hand on her head. "Relax, kid. I got it covered." She looked up at me and slightly recoiled, probably seeing something different about my eyes. "Powers are kind of helping me see you without seeing you. If that makes sense." I grinned slightly as she shook her head. "Why don't you come out of there?" She shook her head slightly.
"She doesn't trust people easily," said a deep and gruff voice behind me. I whirled around and aimed at whoever had snuck up on me. My Electron Vision allowed me to make out a man my height with a physique that showed he exercised often and was wearing a caped outfit with a cowl with extensions meant to resemble ears. "The last few years of her life have been spent in a lab after her powers manifested."
"Who are you?"
"I knew you weren't from Gotham." He stepped closer and I turned off my Electron Vision. The man wore a completely black armored outfit with the emblem of a dark grey bat on his chest. "I would've known if an electrical based Metahuman had ever popped up there. You also would've known exactly who I am."
"If you're going to take her back to the lab…" I sparked up my arms and stood between him and the girl. "You've got another thing coming, asshole."
"You should watch your language around children, MacGrath." He walked around me and knelt in front of her, his voice growing softer. "Are you ok?" I could barely make out her head nodding in the dim light provided by my arms.
"You know her?"
"I do. I got her out of the facility she was held in. The woman who took her there lost control of her project. We got separated and she ended up in Central City."
"Joe you getting this?"
"He can't hear you." The man held up his hand and showed a small device. "Signal jammer. The less people who know I'm in Central City, the better."
"What do you want?"
"A better life for her."
"Oh yeah, and I'm sure your scary demeanor is just what she needs."
"Better than leaving her with a man from another world." I stared at him for a moment. "I know you're not from this Earth, Cole."
"How the hell…"
"A long story. One I'll explain at a later date. For now…" The man helped the girl out from behind the pipes and placed a pair of glasses on her eyes. "I'm entrusting her to you."
"Me?"
"You both could use some stability in your life. And based on how you handled that boy in the car accident, you know how to treat children correctly. Your powers also seem to be extremely versatile, with time you'll be able to help her with her own."
"Hold on, why am I…"
"Most would've just left her down here alone. You came back to help her, despite what her powers could do to you. She'll be better in your hands than in someone else's. The glasses will stop her perception altering powers from affecting those around her. In a few weeks, you'll find an invitation to a gala waiting for you at STAR Labs. I suggest you attend." She walked to me and I checked on her briefly, seeing a few bumps and bruises I healed her and turned to the man.
"And who the hell are…" I looked around, no one was there. He just up and vanished I sighed and knelt to the girl. "What's your name?" She looked at me and stayed silent, eyes wide. I sighed. "They didn't give you a name at the lab?"
"Subject 135-851181918."
"That's not a name, kid. 135…" I chuckled softly as memories of Trish drilling letter-number ascociation in my head sprang up. "I'll call you Ace. How does that sound?" She blinked at me and I sighed slightly.
"Cole, you ok," asked Joe on my phone. "Couldn't reach you for a second."
"Yeah, I'm fine. Found the girl. We're coming up."