Chapter Five
He sits at his desk at home, trying to focus on his French homework. Conjunctions are absolutely killing him. There are six different forms, depending on the person (je, tu, il/elle/on, nous, vous, ils/elles), and in six different ways it just doesn't make any sense. He could kick himself for not choosing Spanish. Science makes since, foreign languages do not.
All the while, his phone keeps blowing up every 15 minutes with angry and confused teammates on a text chain, all looking and hoping for answers that none can give.
What little news they do get is not good.
Robin has been eavesdropping on a Leaguewide Emergency Meeting. Red Arrow is in custody after being intercepted trying to smuggle in some kind of alien tech onto the Watchtower. Possibly material stolen from the STAR Labs break-in months ago.
As shocking as that news is, the one delivered days later is devastating. Roy Harper has been discovered to be a clone. The text chain stops shortly after, all of them thinking the same thing.
What if he isn't the only one?
The speedster has known Robin, Aqualad and Speedy…Red Arrow he corrects himself, for what seems like a lifetime. Four sidekicks desperately trying to get out from under the shadows of their mentors. They trained, fought, laughed and cried beside each other. They're his brothers, and now every single moment of that has been called into question.
The speedster wonders if he were a clone would he even know it.
A massive League wide genetic testing program is initiated, and the speedster knows exactly who the first guinea pigs will be; the boys that broke into Cadmus and freed Superboy. In the end, they all pass with flying colors, but the damage is already done. Was this the Light's plan all along? Sow descent and doubt? Leave the League so disoriented and distrustful that the Light could easily continue with their plans right under their noses?
There are some victories.
It's been three weeks since the Biyalian government arrested Queen Bee as she attempted to cross the border under the cover of night. If she's found guilty of high crimes, she could be sitting in a prison cell until her thick black mane turns grey; provided the Biyalian judicial system doesn't screw it up.
She's the first domino to fall.
A few days later the FBI raids the offices of LuthorCorp. A treasure trove of information is discovered, but not the man himself. However, his days as a legitimate businessman are over. He's a fugitive now wanted for treason. He may find a country that doesn't extradite, but the Justice League knows no borders.
Luthor tops a very long list. This is a conspiracy unlike anything the world has ever known. World leaders, high ranking military officers, the League itself: all could have been replaced, allowing the Light to emerge from the shadows and take over the world. They were close; too close.
The League will not stop until everyone responsible is found, tried, and locked away
Everyone
After a long pause he sighs, opening his desk drawer and pulling out the last picture he has left of the two, having cleaned out his phone and iCloud account weeks ago, just in the event the League decided to go poking around. The right of privacy is not something they're too concerned with these days, and the fact that he and the archer chose to keep their relationship a secret just looks bad.
He clearly remembers this day; taken in one of those stupid mall photobooths somewhere near Providence. Just two normal teenagers, eating, shopping, talking. Fingers lightly brushing up against the other. Not quite hand in hand, but close enough.
God she was beautiful. It's crazy how long it took for him to see that. It still makes him sick to his stomach realizing how bad he was played. He missed all the signs. They must have been in front of him the whole time, but he was just too blind to see them. There's a big difference between book smarts and streets smarts. He used to think he was both when in truth he's just a kid from Missouri who runs fast.
He really thought it was real.
Life moves on, as its prone to do.
On a personal front there is some good news. He's been accepted to every college he's applied to; scholarships and full rides to every one. Maybe that will get him out of the shit house with his parents for a while.
His cast is off, so out of sight out of mind.
Though the grapevine, he's been told by fellow classmates that there is a girl in his A.P. history class there that would probably say yes if he asked her to prom. It's his last one and he knows his parents would love to have at least one dance picture on their mantle.
Prom
One minute he's fighting for his life; defeating an evil organization hell bent on world domination. The next he's trying to find the courage to ask a girl to the school dance. Life is just too surreal sometimes.
There have been no League sanctioned missions assigned in weeks, so either crime has suddenly stopped across the globe, or the League has decided to reevaluate their need for a covert team. Either way, the Team decides it's time to find some on their own. They need a win.
Instead of searching for super villains storming through the streets of Gotham, they decide to look a little more under the radar. It doesn't take long to find a target.
Human Traffickers. Not the Injustice Society, but just as evil. Despite the fact they have some fairly impressive weaponry, they don't put up much of a fight. Wrong place, wrong time.
The young heroes are a little rougher than they needed to be. The look of fear and desperation on the young captives' faces is definitely the spark, but their built-up anger and the sting of betrayal is the fuel that burns it. In the end, the traffickers should have shouted "we surrender" a lot quicker and a lot louder.
The Team's actions this day will be something that's discussed later at the debrief…or maybe not. Nonetheless, today was a good day
It's not long before May arrives, and the finality of high school begins to sink in. The speedster has traveled the world, fought side by side with some of the greatest heroes the world has ever known, but he can't recall a time he's been so excited and scared at the same time.
Despite all that's transpired, the League actually finds the time to host a graduation party. Completely out of character and a very nice gesture. This is a first for them as well, something they've never quite considered before. Their young heroes are growing up. It's ironic that the party is full of League members in full uniform while he hopes to put his up for a while; just until he settles in and gets used to what college life will be like.
He's not giving up being a hero…. just taking a little break.
The three guests of honor are all smiles. Megan is giddy, Conner surprisingly pleasant, and the speedster can't wipe the grin off his face. Everyone ignores the fact that there should have been four of them, and for just a few hours, the past months are a distant memory.
The speedster proudly announces to a round of applause he'll be attending Stanford; A highly prestigious school that he's worked very hard to get into. Conner and Megan have not reveled their future plans, and the speedster begins to feel bad he's stealing all the spotlight.
Everyone seems very excited, all but one. The young detective hides it the best he can, but the reality is he's saying goodbye to his best friend. The speedster assures him that there's no difference between living in Keystone or Palo Alto. They're just a Zeta Tube away. They've gone to different schools their whole lives, why should this be different?
"It just is" his best friend replies, and it makes the speedster a little sad that maybe Dick might just be right.
Its early August when he and his dad wipe the sweat off their brows, slamming the door of the overpacked minivan. Rudy West marvels at how his son has come to acquire so much stuff in such a short amount of time
The speedster smiles and simply says…Souvenirs
To be fair, his mother has done most the packing, including items he may never need but should always have at his disposal; including heavy winter clothes for a part of the country that rarely gets below 50 degrees. His father gives him the eye every time he's about to protest and Wally knows why. His mother is fragile, her baby is leaving home, so it's best just to let her have her way.
The whole clan is there to see them off. Iris, Barry, Jay, Joan; surrogate parents and grandparents; mentors and friends. Hugs are shared, tears are wiped, but as sad as they are to see him go, they're so excited for the adventure that awaits.
His mom hugs him one last time for what seems like a month. His dad stretches as he squeezes his girth into the driver's seat, still a bit peeved his son never bothered to get his drivers' silence. It's going to be a long drive.
As the car begins to pull out, the elder speedsters suddenly appears at his nephew's window, tapping on the glass with a small black box. Wally roles down the window, staring curiously at it and his uncle.
On the box, the small card attached reads - Break Glass in Case of Emergencies.
He's instructed not to open it until he's all moved in and alone. Wally smiles widely and takes it. So very cloak and dagger, so very corny. So very Barry Allen.
God he hopes it's gift cards.
Finally, they hit the road for what could possibly be last father son road trip they will ever take. By midnight they'll be in Iowa. By tomorrow evening they'll be at the Badlands. The young speedster has been across the country a dozen times over , but this will be the first trip he gets to slow down and actually explore. To truly live in the moment instead of rushing off to the next emergency.
South Dakota, Wyoming, Idaho, Nevada and finally California. Over 3000 miles in ten days, a distance the speedster could have made in a handful of hours, but that's not the point. National Parks and Monuments, hiking and rafting; places Rudy West's father took him so many years ago, and finally he can with his son. It's the best trip the two have ever taken.
Finally, they arrive in Palo speedster can barely contain himself.
His room is smaller than he thought, he's roommate even nerdier than he is, if that was even possible. It takes all his willpower not to unload the car in minutes and send his father on his way. Slowly, methodically, they unload the van. Taking each box up the three flights of stairs in the Adams House dormitory. Marking off each box Mary West took so long to categorize. His mother is nothing if not meticulous
Finally, its time, and as surprised as he is to see his dad tear up, he's even more to find he's doing the same. It will be a log drive back alone, but his father jokes that he will enjoy the silence. The young speedster can be quite the chatterbox. After several hugs and tears his father is on his way and the speedster is alone. He's never felt more alive.
With his roommate off at some orientation, Wally has his room unpacked and everything in place in minutes. He's so excited he doesn't know what to do with himself. There's a Cardinals game in a few days so he has swag to buy. He needs to scout out all the dining halls. He needs to see Hoover Tower. He needs to find out where each of his classes are so he can determine the very latest he can sleep in. He needs go into town and spend some graduation money on real college clothes.
He's almost out the door when he remembers his uncle's gift. Rushing back in, he pulls it from his top dresser door and begins to unwrap it. Gift cards would really come in handy right about now.
Inside he finds a small steel case, sadly too small for gift cards. He picks it up and shakes it, hearing something rattling inside. He carefully pries open the lid to see the shiny metal object inside.
The speedster chuckles, pulling out the lightning bolt adorned piece of jewelry. His very own Flash ring.
An ironic gift from a man who just months ago was trying to talk his nephew out of the life, reminding him there is so much more to life than being a superhero. Still the ring is extremely cool. Designed by Ray Palmer to perfectly enlarge and make accessible the shrunken uniform inside. The trick, as always, is getting it back into the damn thing when the mission is over, but that will be an adventure for another day.
Break Glass in Case of Emergencies. - Good one Uncle Barry, but I'll have to pass.
For now, no more capes and costumes. Just books and laptops. College life and freedom.
It lasts almost two months
"Kid! Watch out!"
The young speedster skids to a stop, looking over at his panicked mentor just as the boomerang flies right past his skull. He's off his game, he knows it.
His mind is thousands of miles away, literally. He's unfocused, and as much a liability as the civilians and police that are currently running for their doesn't look forward to the lecture he'll receive when this is over.
Spinning projectiles are flying everywhere; some exploding on impact, others piercing buildings and cars. It's only a matter of time before they lodge into something much more soft and fragile.
The Flash is everywhere, moving people out of the center of town, flying up and down buildings, changing the trajectory of as many boomerangs as possible, all the while the young speedster just stands motionless in the eye of the storm; lost.
A scream nearby causes his eyes to flutter open and focus, like waking up from a trance. Panic fills the air, and between the screaming, the car alarms, and the explosions, he knows it's more than one man can handle, superspeed or not.
Ahead, he sees a mother and her two children hiding behind their car in terror. The girls are dressed as princesses, probably on their way to someone's birthday party, instead they're hiding behind their car, praying for their lives. As the two young girls sob, tears running down their cheeks, a fire begins to burn in the speedster's gut. No one should have to live in fear like this.
In seconds he's by their side, taking them one by one into the closest building, so fast it's like magic. Once inside, the girls stare at him dumbfounded as their mother grabs the speedster and holds on to him for dear life. He assures them they'll be ok, but to move farther into the store just to be safe.
Across the street a man is making a run for it, and the young hero can see the silver boomerang gleaming in the sun, homing in on its target. Barry is nowhere to be seen, just a blurred afterimage streaking through the town square.
He bursts out of the clothing shop, racing toward the terrified pedestrian. The man is less than 10 yards away when the speedster's boots meet loose gravel and broken pavement. His momentum is still enough to catch the man, but off balanced and off target. The two men end up crashing through the storefront window instead of the easily opened door beside it. Not the most graceful of rescues.
Staring down at the stunned man, he sees no blood or shrapnel protruding from anywhere, just wide-eyed nodding that tells the speedster he's ok.
The young hero stands, brushing off broken glass, bending his leg back and picking the gravel from his treads when it hits him. Bending down he grabs a handful of broken concrete and gravel.
Yep, that will do it.
Down the block, the Aussie has thrown another barrage towards the park, the Flash rushing from blocks away to evacuate the crowds to a safe distance. The villain takes that as his cue, grabbing the black satchel of diamonds, preparing to disappear into the confusion when up the street, he sees a figure in yellow standing in the middle of 5th Avenue, his front foot planted and his left arm already in a follow-through motion.
The first and second stone fly buy, missing its target by feet, but the fourth, fifth and sixth land squarely; all traveling at close to 200 mph. It's like being attacked by a swarm of armor piercing hornets on all sides, no matter which way the villain turns, he's met with sharp deep searing pain.
When the bombardments finally end, the last thing Captain Boomerang sees is a red gloved fist landing squarely on the bridge of his nose, and then nothing.
Sirens wail in the distance, but finally the explosions and screaming have stopped. He kneels down to admire his handwork: the fallen criminal's body is covered in pock sized bruises and sores. He doesn't envy the stitches and skin grafts that will came in the days ahead, but Boomerang brought it all on himself. And for what? $100,000 worth of diamonds? That's how much innocent lives mean to him?
He reaches down and gathers the fallen diamonds, placing them back in the felt lined satchel. For every Captain Boomerang, there's another rouge waiting in the shadows to take his place; a never-ending game of whack-a-mole.
Is this really how he wants to spend the rest of his life?
He's eighteen and he's at a crossroads. He still loves what he does but knows there's more to life than this. He's in college now, and the strain of balancing two lives is beginning to weigh on him. You can't play cops and robbers forever.
This life may fuel his friends, but lately it's just left him empty, and he starting to wonder what life would be like outside of the cowl permanently.