Sorry this is a little late, but better late than never. I'm just really feeling out of it today. Oh well. Co-authors, Brightburn1985 and Bartholomew Henry Allen. You know the whole deal.
Disclaimer: I don't own The Flash.
Barry awoke with a start. Getting up, he saw he'd returned to his childhood home. Everything was as he remembered it. Even the fish tank with half of the water. Taking a look around, he felt as if the world had somehow taken on a brighter colour.
Barry tried to remember the last thing he was doing. Images flashed before his eyes on the experiment his team conducted to try to help him get his speed back.
With that thought, he had a sneaking suspicion he knew where he was now, but just on the off chance, he took a cautious step out the door and down the stairs.
At the bottom of the stairs was Joe waiting for him. "Barry, it was about time you got up. Take a seat," he gestured for Barry to sit down.
Taking a quick look around to make sure nothing was amiss, he sat down on the couch opposite to Joe. "What's going on? What am I doing here?"
"You're here for answers. And we're here to give them," Joe said, or not Joe going off what he was talking about. "Tell me Barry, what do you know about the Speed Force?"
"It's the source of my power. It's what makes me a speedster," Barry easily answered.
"Yes, and no," Joe said vaguely. "When the Big Bang occurred, created the universe, we were there. When the last proton decays and plunges the world into heat death, we'll be there too,"
"The Speed Force," Barry realized. "I'm talking to the Speed Force?"
The image of Joe just nodded its head with an expectant look on his face.
"Isn't that like having a conversation with gravity or light…?" Barry asked, utterly confused on what was going on. "That's trippy,"
"We pretty much invented trippy here," The image chuckled at his mere mortal understanding.
"If I'm here, does that mean it worked? The experiment? Do I have my speed back?" Barry asked.
"In a way," The illusion smirked at him. "You are connected to the Speed Force again Barry. You wouldn't be able to survive here if you weren't,"
"Then why am I here? How do I get back? Please, my city needs me," Barry begged them to release him.
"So many questions. It's a good thing we have all the time in the world to answer them. The short answer of it, you're not going back home Barry. At least, not yet," The Speed Force told him.
"Until what?" Barry asked, almost afraid to know the answer.
"Until you understand what you are up against," The Joe impostor announced. "You need to understand the meaning of what you are,"
"And what is that?" Barry questioned.
"That's not for us to answer," The Speed Force said. "If we just told you, that would defeat the purpose of it all. No, you need to find out for yourself. Only then will you be allowed to return home."
"I can't stay here. I need to get back," Barry said, his powers activating and he ran out of the illusion of his home.
Barry continued to run through the familiar streets that weren't actually real. He just needed to find a way out and get back to his real home and take down Zoom to save Caitlin.
All of a sudden, another blur sped past him. Barry skidded to a stop to look back and try to catch another glimpse of the other speedster, but they were already gone.
Taking a look around, he saw he had arrived at the pier. On the bench was a face he would recognize anywhere, but it wasn't her. "It's you again," Barry grunted in frustration.
"You look tired Barry. Sit down," the image of Iris gestured beside it.
"What am I doing here?" Barry asked again.
"To find answers that you can only discover here," It said.
"Okay then. What was that I saw run past me earlier?" Barry asked a different question.
"Just another speedster. Thousands of them running around. Nothing to concern yourself with," They answered.
"But it looked like me. Does that mean something?" Barry had caught a brief glimpse of the other speedster, and he swore they looked just like him.
"We've lost track of the number of Barry Allen's that we've gifted. Don't think you're the only one we've paid a little attention to," They said.
"But he looked so scared. What are you doing to him?"
"Does it matter? He is not actually you. What happens to him has no meaning to you. You are here for your own reasons, as is he. Try not to get sucked into every little problem. It's the reason you ended up here in the first place after all,"
"So, what do you need me to do? Run around?" He asked, focusing on his problem.
"If that's what you want, but you won't get anywhere. We are endless. You could run in a straight line for all of eternity and you'd still be running. And considering you don't age here, you'll be running for a very long time," They said.
"So what is it that I have to do?" Barry pleaded. "I don't have much time. I need to get back before Zoom destroys Central City,"
"Oh Hunter. Such a disappointment he was. We had such high hopes for him, but alas,"
"You know him?" Barry said in shock. "You know what he's done?"
"Of course. He is just as much our child as you are. It is through your eyes that we see. Every speedster in the multiverse lends us their sight, for we are connected to them just as much they are with us,"
"Why haven't you done anything? You've let him wreak havoc with the powers you gave him,"
"Well not everyone is going to turn out like you. Some people are greedy, trying to obtain what they cannot have. Zolomon was one such person. We hoped he would be able to see beyond his past. That this would allow him to move forward," The Speed Force told him. "We were mistaken. He was too caught up with what had been to see what could be. Which is why people like him are always doomed to failure. Well, they would be if not for another one of our children having a bleeding heart,"
Barry hanged his head down in shame. "I'm sorry,"
"Don't be. You've nothing to apologize for to us. You've unleashed a monster upon yourself, that was your choice. You face the consequences, not us." They said.
"So why am I still here?" Barry asked once again.
"Because you're still searching for something. What that is, only you will know, and only then will you be allowed to return home. But not to worry, you literally have all the time in the world,"
"No I don't. As we are talking, Zoom is preparing his army to lay siege upon Central City. I have my speed back. I can fight him. You have to understand that," Barry pleaded.
"I guess we must correct ourselves. You do not have endless time, but we do. As long as the universe exists, so will we. And if you stay here, so will you," They said.
"But I can't stay here. You are keeping me here against my will. I need to get back. You need to understand,"
"We understand why you think that, and we will allow you to return home. It is you that are keeping yourself trapped here, because you have not finished your search,"
Barry shook his head. "No, you're wrong. I'm going to find my way out of here and I'm never going to come back,"
With that, Barry sped off once again to try to find his way out of the Speed Force.
Caitlin was patiently waiting for the perfect opportunity to escape. Her small disguise wouldn't last forever. Either Zoom would notice her among his army, or somebody would realize that she didn't belong with them. She needed to get out of here soon.
They were hiding out in CCPD after Zoom drove the officers out of the station. They had yet to reveal themselves to the new Earth. They had been waiting on Zoom to arrive to declare their attack. He was still on Earth-2, rounding up the last of the metas they could spare to come to Earth-1 and keep the fear alive on Earth-2.
It was at the dead of night that Caitlin saw her chance. She'd been given patrol duties. She tried to volunteer as much as possible to try to see her chance for escape.
The patrol was shifting positions, and while everyone was gathered at the front of CCPD, Caitlin came to the back and sprinted out into the streets. She deactivated her powers to blend in with the crowd better. Her hair turned back to its normal brown and her eyes dimmed with no power behind them.
She was just another civilian. An unknown face in a crowd of strangers. Caitlin just hoped none of the metas noticed her absence, but from what she saw, they barely knew who each of them were. Only the higher ups were well known, and with Glacier being absent for half a decade, her name had slowly been forgotten except for those who were there. It was pure luck that she was let out of the cage back on Earth-2.
But none of that mattered anymore. Caitlin took a look behind her to see if anyone was going to come after her. When all remained calm, Caitlin carefully made her way out of the area to not draw attention to herself. Now all she had to do was get to STAR Labs before anyone noticed something was amiss.
Quickly, and without interruption, Caitlin was able to make it to the entrance of STAR Labs by dawn. She was tired, she was scared, hungry, and covered in dirt, but she didn't care. All that mattered was that she was home safe and sound.
Caitlin entered STAR Labs and made her way to the Cortex. If there were people there, it would be in the Cortex.
Several people crowded the Cortex. All of them looked worse for wear. Hanging their head down in dejection. Cisco was the first to look up and the sound of someone entering the room.
When Cisco locked eyes with her, his eyes widened in shock and were immediately filled with joy. "Caitlin!" he exclaimed.
That got the attention of everyone in the room and they all turned to see if what Cisco said was true.
The second their eyes landed on Caitlin, they all broke out into smiles and rushed forward to give her a hug and welcome her back. They were all demanding to know how she had managed to escape from the hands of Zoom. They led her to a bed where Barry's father, Henry, was looking her over. Caitlin had no idea why he was here, but she could hazard a guess to say that he was here visiting Barry.
Speaking of Barry, Caitlin took a look around the room to see that he was nowhere to be seen. "Where did Barry go?" she asked.
It was as if her words had hit a mute button because everyone turned quiet at her question. It made her highly suspicious that the man had gotten into something while she had been away.
"Where is Barry, guys?" Caitlin asked once again. This time she spoke a little desperate. Barry was her inspiration that she would be able to get out of that hell hole. If something happened to him and she wasn't there…
"He's gone Cait. Barry's gone," Cisco announced.
Caitlin shook her head in denial. No, he couldn't be gone. Not when she finally had come to the realization that she loved him. Not when it took so long for them to get to this point. He couldn't be snatched from her just when she felt she could have some happiness in her life again.
"He's not gone," Caitlin said with tears starting to stream down her face. "He can't be gone, there's still so much we haven't gone through together. He's Fleet Feet, he can't be gone. What happened Cisco?!"
Seeing as they were best friends, Cisco felt it was best that he be the one to explain to her what happened to Barry. "We were trying to get Barry's speed back, so we used the particle accelerator again. It didn't work. It killed him instead,"
"I don't believe that. Fleet Feet is too important to die from something so stupid. He's survived from the explosion once before, he's survived again. I know it," Caitlin insisted.
"All that was left was the torn Flash suit he was wearing at the time. He's gone Caitlin, I'm so sorry," Joe said, handing the burnt piece of clothing to her.
Caitlin snatched it from his hands and lightly caressed it. Still, even looking at this thing, Caitlin refused to believe that Barry was actually gone. "Where's his body? I'm not going to believe he's gone until I see a body,"
"There wasn't a body. Barry was reduced to ashes. We all saw it, he disappeared before our eyes," Iris explained.
"Cisco," Caitlin shouted. "Vibe him. If he's alive you'll be able to see him. Get to it,"
"Caitlin please, I know this is hard, but he's gone. Barry is gone and I wish he weren't but he is," Cisco pleaded.
"And I'm telling you he is alive, now Vibe him!" Caitlin roughly shoved the piece of cloth into his chest and Cisco released a sharp gasp.
Cisco was transported into the eye of a storm. Wind swirling around him like a vortex with lightning flashing every now and then.
There were several indescribable figures in the storm alongside him. All of them standing as if waiting for something to happen to them.
There was only one figure that Cisco could properly make out in front of him. He was dressed in his normal wear. A red sweater and jeans. Even though his back was turned to him, Cisco could recognize him anywhere. "Barry?" Cisco asked himself.
The vision ended there, but Cisco was still left reeling from the feeling and the knowledge that Barry may not be as gone as they all thought. "I saw him," Cisco declared. "He was in some sort of vortex with lightning all around. I've never seen anywhere like it,"
"That means…" Harry had a look of realization on his face. "He's in the Speed Force,"
"That's great," Caitlin said, slightly smug. "Now get him out of there!" she demanded.
Barry kept running. There never seemed to be an end in sight. It was just everlasting. He wasn't even sure where he was supposed to be anymore.
Barry slowed to a stop and took a look around to see where he ended up.
"So nice of you to join us Barry," a voice called him. "Come take a break,"
"I can't take a break. You know that. I've told you, I need to get out of here!" Barry yelled and looked to see the image of his father staring back at him.
"You are resisting us Barry. We thought by placing you in an environment you recognized, you would be more comfortable. But yet you seemed stressed," The Speed Force said with a puzzled tone.
"Everyone I've ever cared for is at the mercy of Zoom, while I'm stuck here with you, and you don't even seem to care," Barry said. "How do you expect me to react?"
"We want to help you, but you aren't accepting our help. You're rejecting the power we've granted you,"
"How can you stand there and say that I'm rejecting you? Do you know how many people I've saved with the gift you've given me? The people I've lost?" Barry said, devastated at the reminder of all the people who had given their lives for him.
"We're not ignoring all the things you've gained. The accomplishments you've achieved. Or all the sacrifices you've had to endure. But for all of that, you haven't accomplished what we set out for you,"
"And what is that?" Barry asked.
"You've never come here," the image of Henry gestured to the area around them, which Barry finally recognized as the graveyard. Taking a step forward, Barry felt drawn to one particular headstone that bore the words 'Nora Allen'.
"Why am I here?" Barry asked.
"Because you've never been here," They replied. "For all the power you've gained, you never had the power to come here. We think it's because it would make everything real, and you would never be able to accept that,"
"I know it's real," Barry said, tears dripping down his eyes. "Everyday I know it is. I watched her die in front of my eyes, it doesn't get more real than that."
"Yet you have not come to face the reality of it. Always running,"
"Well that's what I'm supposed to do, isn't it? Run?" Barry said, bitterly.
"There's more than one form of running Barry. Which do you think you're doing?"
Barry took in a shaky breath and looked to the horizon. "I don't need to listen to this," and he took off in search of his escape from this cage.
Once again, nothing seemed to make sense on where he was going. Left was right, right was left. Barry wouldn't have been surprised if up was down. He'd passed by several other speedsters, but neither of them stopped or paid a second glance. All of them were here for a reason, and until they figured out what it was, none of them would be escaping.
Barry didn't have time to concern himself with these other speedsters in need. He had his own problems he apparently needed to work through. And he needed to do it soon.
Cisco was hooked up to several wires. The amount of energy they were using to try to trigger his powers was massive, but nothing should come of it as long as Cisco didn't succumb to it. His powers should protect him from the brunt of the discharge.
After another session of Cisco once again failing to communicate with Barry, they had to step away and try to figure out what they were doing wrong.
When Cisco was immersed, he could clearly make out Barry. They were sure it was their Barry, but they just were never able to get to him. His back was turned to them, and it was almost like something was preventing him from noticing them.
"Maybe he needs something that ties him into this dimension. A thing or a person who he has a strong enough connection with. Think of it as a lightning rod, the person or thing is the lightning rod and Allen is the lightning." Harry said after another session failing.
"I don't know if I can bring someone else with me into the Speed Force, especially with how tired I am right now. We've been going at this nonstop all night. I need some rest." Cisco said. He was rubbing his forehead from the mental fatigue he was experiencing from straining his powers. He didn't know how he was able to access the Speed Force. It wasn't like it was another Earth. It existed outside of space and time. They should consider themselves lucky he was even able to see into it.
"Well then you just need to keep trying don't you?" Harry said. "If you can't bring anyone else with you, you'll just need to reach him yourself."
Cisco just shook his head. "It's like there's something blocking him from hearing my voice. I'd need to reach deep within Barry for him to hear me."
Harry had a look of deep concentration as he thought over what Cisco was indicating. "Then you better reach deep,"
Cisco nodded his head, but sincerely doubted he could reach the part of Barry for him to come home. He didn't know if anyone could. Maybe Iris or Joe could, but again he didn't even know if he could bring them inside his vision.
"I'll do it. I'll go with Cisco." Caitlin volunteered, hoping to see Barry once again.
"You can't. With Allen gone, you are the only one who can stop the wave of metahumans from Earth-2 from destroying the city." Harry reasoned as the ice queen scowled at him.
"Well I don't see any attacks happening right now. Take me in, I'll be able to get through his thick skull, and if not I'll drag him back if I have to," Caitlin growled.
Harry sighed. There was really no changing Caitlin's mind once she'd set out to do something. "In a few hours." Harry relented. "Ramon is exhausted, he won't be able to bring himself back into the Speed Force right now, much less with an additional person."
Caitlin nodded. She could work with that compromise, and in the meantime, she could continue to monitor the city for any attacks whilst Barry was still out of reach. Zoom could be launching his attacks at any moment and they needed to be ready when he did. Caitlin wasn't given much information when she was within their midst. She was more focused on finding a way out without being noticed.
Harry turned back to Cisco. "Get some rest. Eat something. You'll need your strength. We'll start again in a couple hours with Snow. Be prepared. We don't know how your powers will react by connecting another consciousness with yours. If it's even possible at all,"
Cisco nodded, grateful for the break. He was going through a mental workout that he just wasn't used to, projecting his consciousness into a place where time stood still while his body remained behind. The mechanics itself made his brain hurt.
Barry wasn't sure how long he'd been running. It was just like the Speed Force had told him. No matter where he went or how long he'd been running, there was no end. His energy was still at a high. It was like his body was soaking up energy from the very air in this place. Not surprising since this was the source of his powers. An endless supply and he was right in the middle of it.
By the time he came to a halt, the sky had turned dark. He wasn't entirely sure why since everything here was an illusion, but he supposes it was just meant to make him more comfortable. Not that it did.
Taking a look around, Barry deduced he was back on the street of his childhood home. And sure enough, right in front of him was the house he grew up in. The house where his mother had been murdered.
Knowing he no longer had a choice and just had to keep going with these games, Barry stepped into the house.
There in the dining room was another figure. His mother.
Barry wasn't sure whether to cry or be angry. The Speed Force was manipulating him by showing the image of his dead mother. Did it not understand how hard this is for him? And it was just acting like this was all okay.
In the end, he cried, letting a few tears fall down his cheeks.
"You look tired Barry. Sit," She suggested.
Barry tentatively took a seat beside the image of his mother. His head hanging, not daring to look at her, lest he be reminded of that night. "You were right. I haven't been able to move past this. I don't think I ever will. I've been running, but I've been running away from my problems," he admitted.
"We know, which is why we're trying to help you. That's why you're here. If you continue, your path will hold nothing but suffering. The same path Hunter has taken. It's too late for him, but you still have a chance."
"A chance at what?" Barry asked.
"To move forward my beautiful boy. To always keep moving forward, and to never go backwards. That's never good, not for anyone,"
"Sometimes I just want everything to stop. Everything seems to be moving so fast and I just want it all to stop because I am so tired. And I'm not sure how much longer I'll be able to keep up." Barry confessed his fears and doubts.
"My beautiful boy, bad things aren't going to stop happening to you. Even The Flash can't outrun the tragedies the world will throw at you, just know that everyone is behind you." The Speed Force said. "And your mother is so proud of the man that you've become. We both are,"
"Who's telling me that? Are you my mother?" Barry asked as the tears started falling down. "Is this real?"
"Whether we are real or not, it does not matter. All that matters is that you hear these words." She said. "We are always with you. In your darkest moments, we will always find you and give you the strength to go on,"
Finally letting out a sob, Barry lunged forward and embraced the illusion of his mother and in that moment he didn't care that this was all in his mind. He just needed to feel the comfort of having a parent with him. Whether that was the Speed Force or his actual mother.
Barry was just so tired. And he didn't know what he could do anymore. Everything seemed to be going so fast and he wasn't sure what he should process first. He just needed some peace and quiet. Just for a moment. Barry just needed everything to calm down.
Barry isn't out of the woods yet. Of course Caitlin is going to bring him back next week. Slightly different than how canon did it. The way I see it, only a speedster can handle the strain of being in the Speed Force for long periods of time. It's the same principle as Flashtime, which is why I made Barry a speedster again, but something had to prevent him from returning. The answer; the Speed Force is deliberately keeping Barry trapped until he's overcome his problems. Or at least takes the first steps towards accomplishing that.
I also added some insight into the Speed Force, but of course the Speed Force is an omnipotent being, so how do I know what it thinks. Caitlin has also returned to the team without the detection of Zoom, so that's all good. But of course Barry is gone when she does. Maybe it's the universe telling her she shouldn't be admitting her feelings to Barry. No, wait. That's just me.
Oh well. Until next week.