Marvel Comics #1000 Addendum
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Chapter 11: Memory
Location
A blond man sat on the purple grass as he gazed at the sunset. The grass patch was on a cliff that overlooked a city. The city itself looked like it was composed of A smile was on his bearded face. He wore a red bodysuit with a large yellow downward-pointing chevron that went over his shoulders. A yellow belt was around his waist, and there was a yellow stripe across his left leg.
"I believe the phrase on your world goes, penny for your thoughts?" A female voice asked. The man turned around and saw a woman smiling at him. She was a tall brunette, the right side of her body resembling that of a white person, the right side a dark purple in color. She wore a green bodysuit and a brown utility belt with black boots.
"I was just looking at the city." The man said as he got up. "Beautiful, isn't it?"
"Indeed." The woman nodded. She looked at the man. "Have you managed to remember anything?"
The man known as FastForward shook his head. "Afraid not, Irenna."
The Contraxian woman frowned. "That's a shame. I would like to learn your real name. It would be nice to call you something other than 'Buried Alien'."
"I know that's not quite right." The speedster said. "I know it's something like that. I just wish I could remember." He smiled at Irenna. "I do also know your name is familiar to me in some way."
"I know." Irenna smirked. "I remember when I first met you."
"Yes." FastForward recalled. "I managed to help find a way to rescue Makkari from being trapped in hyper-speed. We searched for a way to get me back to my old universe, but the search was fruitless. Didn't help that I have no memory of who I am."
"It's not so bad." The Contraxian bounty hunter smirked. "You ran into me...literally."
"I ended up saving your life."
"That you did." Irenna nodded. "It's the only reason I let you tag along with me on my mission of exploration."
"You have to admit, it is nice to have some company." FastForward responded. "Exploring the universe alone has to be lonely sometimes."
"It...can be." She reluctantly confessed. "We should go. I have already finished surveying the area."
"Alright." The blond man got up. He looked over the city one more time. "It's a beautiful city. We should visit here again one day."
"Maybe when I can get a vacation from my duties." Irenna agreed. The two heard a crackle and looked up at the sky. "A storm is coming. We should get to the ship. We'll be safe from the rain."
"Alright." FastForward nodded. The two then heard an explosion. "What was that?!" Irenna fished out a pair of futuristic binoculars from her utility belt and used them to peer into the city.
"Hmmm..." The Contraxion explorer thought out loud as she scanned the area. "I'm not sure exactly...wait." She had discovered something. "There's a fire going down over there."
"I'm on it!" FastForward nodded, then he zipped into the alien city. Irenna rolled her eyes.
"This man has a real hero complex." The Contraxian noted to herself in amusement. She then headed back to their ship to get some equipment. Meanwhile, the blond man had zipped up to the fire. He had noticed what was the equivalent of firefighters trying to put out the blaze. One of them had noticed him.
"Hey, what the yenbag are you doing here?!" The alien firefighter yelled. "Can't you see we got a blaze here?! This isn't safe!"
"I can help!" FastForward insisted. "Is there anyone trapped in there? I can get them out fast!"
"Unless you're a h'maht, I doubt you can do that, pal!"
"Sir!" Another firefighter ran up. "The truck's scans had found that there's a family trapped in there!"
"Blast it!" The firefighter cursed in frustration. "That fire's too intense!"
"I can handle it." FastForward insisted. "Do you have a gas mask?"
The firefighter stared at the blond red-clad man. "...Garlon! Get this man what he wants!" The other firefighter nodded and retrieved the item. He handed it to the human. "You better be as fast as you say."
"I won't let you down." FastForward zipped into the building. He returned a second later with an alien woman. Then a couple presumed children. And then a male alien. They crowded around the blond man, thanking him. "Don't worry about it." FastFoward smiled as he took off the gas mask and returned it to the firefighter. "It's part of the job."
"Well." The firefighter smiled. "I can admit when I'm wrong." He shook FastForward's hand. "Thanks very much. What do they call you?"
"FastFoward!" Irenna called out. She was flying over them with a jetpack. "We gotta go! There's a bad storm coming!" Everyone looked up at the sky.
"Will you all be alright?"
"We'll be fine! We're used to this!" The firefighter assured. "These kind of storms are not unusual this time of year! Heck, we'll be able to put out this fire!"
"Alright! We'd better head back ourselves!" FastForward nodded at Irenna. The two flew/raced back to their ship as the rainfall became more intense.
"By Sol, this is some rainfall!" Irenna noted as they arrived at the ship.
"Yeah." FastForward agreed. "But we got a nice dry ship. I can't wait to have some more of that tea of yours-"
Kra-KOOM!
A lightning bolt hit the blond speedster.
"AAAAARGH!" He screamed as he felt the electricity burn into his body. He then collapsed to the ground.
"FastForward!" Irenna yelped, running towards the man's body. She carefully turned his smoking form over. She looked at his burned skin as it healed. Thank Sol, his powers allow him to heal quickly...
"Uhn..." FastForward groaned.
"Forward, try not to exert yourself." Irenna told him. "That lightning bolt hit you hard. It's a miracle you lived. We're getting soaked! Let's get you inside!" She managed to drag him into the ship.
"It's possible for humans to survive a lightning strike...AGH!" FastForward clutched his head.
"Forward!" Irenna gasped. "Are you alright?!"
"NNNN!" The blond man gritted his teeth and opened his eyes. He saw images in his head.
–
He remembered running. Running like the universe depended on it. He remembered antimatter eating at him as he ran. Ran around a giant cannon.
He remembered family. A...son? No, nephew. Who could run like him. Who ran in yellow when he ran in red.
He remembered a woman. A woman he loved. A name like Irenna.
He remembered friends. A winged man with the head of a bird. A man in green with a ring. A sorceress. Another man in green...an archer. A small man in blue. A winged woman who also had the head of a bird. A woman of great beauty and strength. A man as powerful as a god. A knight in black with the bead of a bat...
Another man. A man who could run like him. Red and blue with a silver helmet like Mercury...
–
"I...I remember..." He put his hands on his head, tears down his face. "I remember now!"
"You do?" Irenna asked.
"Yes! Yes!" He nodded. "I remember everything! I know who I am! I know my name!"
"What is it?"
"My name...my name is Barry. Barry Allen. I was known as the Flash."
"Flash, huh?" Irenna smiled. "Not a bad name."
Three days later
Barry Allen sat on his and Irenna's ship, looking out at the sunset.
"I see you've been enjoying the sunsets." Irenna smiled as she climbed up onto the top of the ship and sat next to him.
"Yes, they're really beautiful." Barry nodded. "It's...nice to have my memory back. I guess that lightning strike jarred them back."
"Yes, you told me about your home universe." Irenna nodded. "Have you been thinking about going home?"
"I'd be lying if I said I haven't." Barry admitted. "I had been looking for a way home...but a part of me has accepted that I'm stuck here."
"It's not so bad." Irenna assured. "Besides, it's been nice having you as company."
Barry smiled. "I appreciate that. You know, I get the feeling that even if I did manage to return home, it would be unrecognizable..."
1990 – Quasar #17 sees Barry Allen be reborn in the Marvel Universe after his death in the Crisis on Infinite Earths.
A nice little April Fools' treat for you all!