Chapter 10: Calling all Heroes
At the High Tides bar, Aquaman and Wonder Woman both downed large pints of beer, wiping their mouths and laughing.
"You know, I've never met a man who could drink me under the table, but I'll be damned if you ain't giving me a run for my money." Aquaman declared.
"You are not the first man to foolishly challenge me to such a bout." Wonder Woman informed him.
"Oh?" Aquaman let out. "Who was the poor bastard who claimed that honor?"
"His name was Steve Trevor." Wonder woman answered. "An American pilot during The War to End All Wars. We had just freed a Belgian village and he insisted on celebrating. The next morning, he could barely walk straight, much less fight."
"Sounds like a real piece of work." Aquaman remarked.
"Never have I met a better man." Wonder Woman replied, letting out a mournful sigh.
"The guy must've meant a lot to you." Aquaman surmised.
"More than words can ever express." Wonder Woman agreed.
Aquaman gave a small nod, patting her on the back in an assuring manner. She gave him a smile in return, then her gaze hardened as her eyes fell on a TV in the corner. Aquaman noticed her change in expression, glancing up at the TV to see a report about the attacking drones being played.
"No one is sure where these mysterious robots have come from, but they have been spotted in major cities all over the globe. Those who have engaged with these robots have been met with deadly force, and several army bases and research complexes have been destroyed thanks to them."
"So much for no one being in need of saving." Wonder Woman remarked, grabbing her sword and shield from off the floor.
"No rest for the wicked." Aquaman let out, grabbing his trident. "Need a lift?"
"I'll manage." Wonder Woman reassured, flying out of the bar.
Aquaman just smirked before following her outside.
…
At S.T.A.R. Labs, the Flash arrived to see the drones had already begun surrounding the building.
"What the heck are these things doing here?" Flash asked.
The drones then entered through the roof of the building, prompting Flash to run inside after them.
"Guys, seal yourselves inside the cortex." Flash told his team. "I'm gonna see what I can do about these things."
"Dude, way ahead of you." Cisco's voice came over the comms. "Kick some robo ass for us."
"You got it." Flash confirmed.
He sped down the hallways of the building, on the hunt for his metal quarry. When he found them, they were in the server room, downloading information from the data banks via their metal tentacles.
"I'm afraid that's private property." Flash told them.
The drones turned to him, scanning him as they had previous heroes.
"Scan complete." They announced. "Threat level: medium. Course of action: Incapacitate."
One drone shot at Flash, nearly taking his head off. He quickly dodged it before running towards it and punching it, sending it flying into a wall. It pulled itself out, snapping its head back into place.
"Updating assessment." the drone declared. "Threat level: Critical. Course of action: immediate termination."
"Only if you can catch me." Flash remarked before speeding off.
The drones then began shooting at the Flash, only for him to dodge every shot aimed his way. He then ran up to them and yanked their cables out from the servers before running around them, tying them up in the cables.
"All too easy." He smirked.
The drones struggled for a moment, then snapped through the cables and freed themselves.
"Aw crap…" He let out.
The drones aimed their blasters at Flash again, but before they could fire, a fist came out of nowhere and punched right through one of the drone's chest. The fist pulled back as the drone fell, revealing a large, imposing figure in a hoodie, sweatpants, and gloves. His face was partially excused
"Whoa…" Flash let out.
"Who else wants some?" The figure challenged, pounding his fist into his palm. "There's plenty to go around."
The drones turned to the figure and began scanning him.
"Alert! Motherbox Technology detected! Threat Level: Maximum! Course of Action: Capture for examination."
Spikes immediately shot out towards the figure intent on grabbing him, but he just punched them aside before grabbing one and spun it around, knocking the drones to the ground. Flash quickly grabbed a stray pipe from the wall and quickly sped around the drones, stabbing them in the head and chest. After a little while, all the drones were down, leaving Flash and his new friend to stand over them triumphant.
"Thanks for the assist." Flash told him.
"Whatever." the guy brushed off. "Later."
He began walking off. Flash raised an eyebrow at this before speeding in front of him.
"Hold it." Flash told him. "Those things wanted you for some reason. Why is that?"
"None of your business." the guy snapped, shoving Flash out of the way and continuing forward.
"Well I don't think these were the only ones." Flash countered. "There's gotta be more, and we gotta stop them!"
"You think you can stop a planet wide wave of drones?" The guy snorted. "Not even you can be everywhere at once, and these guys ain't even the top dogs."
"How do you know that?" Flash asked.
The guy seemed shocked for a moment, but quickly recovered and turned away.
"None of your business." The guy snarled.
"If the world is at stake, I make it my business." Flash declared.
"Well that's your prerogative." The guy let out. "Now if you'll excuse me, I've got a pizza in my room with my name on it."
"But-" Flash tried to call out as the guy walked off, forcing him to sigh in response. "Great."
With that, Flash sped towards the Cortex to check on Caitlin, Cisco, and Wells.
"You guys alright?" Flash asked.
"Fine." Caitlin confirmed. "What were those things?"
"According to some strange guy in a hoodie that literally punched through one, they're drones." Flash answered.
"Strange guy in a hoodie?" Cisco inquired. "Got anything more specific than that?"
"He… I think he had a robotic eye." Flash tried to recall. "I saw a red light from under his hood."
"Victor…" Wells recognized.
"Victor?" Caitlin repeated. "Dr. Stone's son? I thought he died in the explosion?"
"No, but he came pretty close." Wells corrected. "His body was badly injured, but Dr. Stone found a way to save him."
"The drones said he had something called a 'motherbox'." Flash informed.
"They must have been referring to Dr. Stone's Black Box." Cisco piped up. "The doc was obsessed with it for years after it was discovered."
"He did theorize it was some form of preservation agent." Caitlin added. "If what you witnessed was really the result of the Black Box, it seems his theory was sound."
"He's kept Victor here at S.T.A.R. Labs ever since his 'recovery'." Dr. Wells went on. "Victor has… not appreciated being quarantined."
"He did seem pretty hellbent on not wanting to help." Flash shared.
"He was an All-Star quarterback with professional recruiters clamoring to get him on their team, and now he's a freak being kept in a lab." Cisco pointed out. "I'd say he's got a good reason to be pissed."
"Understandable." Flash conceded. "Still, he did say these drones were just scouts. Meaning there's something bigger coming, and I'd sleep better knowing what."
"On it!" Both Cisco and Caitlin declared, headed for the computers to get to work.
…
At Lexcorp, Superman, Batman, and Green Lantern arrived to see the drones already tearing through the building's security. Guards were batted aside, disarmed, or outright killed by the dozens. Superman flew in first, mowing down several drones upon arrival. As he came to a halt, he looked down and finally got a good look at one of the drones, seeing three interconnected dots on their heads. His eyes widened, recognizing the symbol immediately.
"It can't be…" Superman let out.
One drone managed to scan Superman.
"Alert: Kryptonian!" it announced. "Threat Level: Maximum! Course of Action: Capture for Examination!"
The drones opened fire on Superman, striking him in the chest. The blasts were at maximum, knocking even him back. Superman quickly heat visioned down three drones in succession before getting shot back.
Green Lantern came from above and formed a giant slab, bringing it down on several drones. This allowed Batman to drop down and throw smoke pellets at the remaining drones, blinding their sensors. This allowed Batman to dart through them and place explosives on the backs of their necks. They went off, blowing their heads off and causing them to fall to the ground.
"That about does it." GL as he and Batman went over to Superman.
"You alright?" Batman asked.
"Yeah," Superman replied as GL helped him to his feet. "I know who's behind this, or more specifically, what."
"What?" they both inquired.
"A Kryptonian artificial intelligence called Brainiac." Superman shared. "It is what..."
He took a deep breath, his fists clenching.
"It's what destroyed Krypton." he finished.
"No wonder the Guardians wanted me to steer clear." GL surmised. "If this thing can destroy planets…"
"Then odds are Krypton isn't its only victim." Batman finished. "And now this… Brainiac has set his sights for Earth."
"If that's true, why is he attacking buildings like Wayne Tech and Lexcorp?" GL questioned.
"Well, what do they have in common?" Superman asked.
"Big corporations run by big shot billionaires?" GL guessed.
"They're hubs of information." Batman corrected. "When I encountered the drones at Wayne Tech, they were downloading information from the server rooms."
"That makes sense." Superman replied. "Brainiac was a keeper and gatherer of knowledge on Krypton."
"Still, that can't be the only reason for this wave." GL rationalized. "Step one of any operation is gathering intel and cutting off communication.."
"These are the intel gatherers." Batman pieced together. "Now we need to find where they plan to cut off communication."
…
At the smoldering remains of the DEO, the drones were finishing up downloading all the information of the remaining servers. As they did, rubble shifted behind them, drawing their attention. It was Faraday, pulling himself out from the rubble and coughing up dust. He had a gash on his forehead and a several bruises, but was surprisingly still alive.
"Illogical." One drone announced. "Survival of attack predicted at 3.72 percent. Query: how are you still alive?"
"I've been told I'm hard headed and stubborn." Faraday remarked.
"Recommendation: immediate termination." one drone declared, aiming his blaster at him.
Before he could get a shot off, a green transparent hand phased through the drone's chest before turning solid and shorting it out. The drone fell to the ground, revealing J'onn behind it. The other drones turned to him, surrounding him on all sides. When they fired, he became intangible once more, causing them to hit one another. They all fell as J'onn returned to normal, almost immediately falling. Thankfully, Faraday caught him before he fell.
"Easy there." He told the martian. "I gotcha."
"Thank you…" J'onn let out before realizing something. "Where is Kari?"
The two looked around and saw no sign of their mutual friend.
"She's gotta be somewhere under all this rubble." Faraday surmised. "Can you find her?"
"I will try." J'onn promised, pulling himself up.
He then went towards the rubble of the DEO and phased inside.
"Kari!" J'onn called out. "Kari!"
As he searched, he nearly missed her. He came to a stop, finding her trapped on a rebar, one end sticking out of her side. Her shirt was torn, wounds decorating her chest as she weakly called out to him.
"J-... J'onn?" she gasped.
"Kari, it is alright." J'onn reassured. "I am here. Hold on."
He took hold of her and began lifting her off of it.
"Stop!" Faraday shouted, having managed to find them and shift rubble to meet them. "If you pull her off the rebar, she'll bleed out in a matter of seconds."
J'onn quickly put her down, fearing for her well being.
"What can we do?" J'onn asked.
"I don't think there's anything we can do." Faraday admitted. "She needs a miracle."
The two then heard the sounds of nearing footsteps, forcing them to hunker down to avoid detection.
"It seems we all do." Faraday noted.
Suddenly, something came to J'onn's mind.
"Or heroes." J'onn declared, activating his telepathic powers.
…
At a research facility in Maine that was under siege by Brainiac's drones, Wonder Woman swung her sword clean through one drone before jamming her shield into the neck of another, decapitating it.
"That's five for me." she called out, cleaving another in two. "Six."
Aquaman stabbed his trident through the head of a drone before lifting it up and tossing it into three more coming his way.
"Nine!" Aquaman declared. "Top that."
As the last four came up, Wonder Woman stepped forward and brought her bracelets together, creating a blast of power that washed over them. They fritzed out before collapsing, Aquaman just staring as she turned to him.
"Ten." She smirked. "I win."
Before Aquaman could counter, both he and Wonder Woman were besieged by a painful vision, as if someone was screaming for help in their minds. After a few seconds, the vision faded and their heads cleared.
"Did you feel that?" Aquaman asked.
"I did." Wonder Woman confirmed. "I feel we are needed."
"Well, let's hope there's more of these things to fight." Aquaman declared. "This contest is not over."
"I suppose it's not." Wonder Woman remarked, hovering in the air. "Need a lift?"
"I'll manage." Aquaman remarked, running towards a nearby cliff overlooking the water and diving off.
Wonder Woman watched Aquaman splashdown and swim off. She just smiled before flying in the same direction he was swimming.
…
Back at S.T.A.R. Labs, Caitlin, Cisco, and Wells were hard at work trying to get a lead on the drones and their plans.
"Please tell me you guys found something." Flash pleaded.
"We're looking, man." Cisco reassured. "But these things are way beyond anything we've ever seen before."
"I doubt even the greatest hackers in the world could breach their software." Caitlin added. "These things are, for lack of a better term, out of this world."
"Then what do we-?"
Before Barry could finish, his head suddenly exploded with visions. He cried out in pain, falling to his knees and clutching his head.
"Barry!" Dr. Wells let out, wheeling to his side.
After a few seconds, Barry's head finally cleared up, and he got back to his feet.
"What happened?" Wells asked.
"I know where I have to go." Barry told him before running off, much to everyone's confusion.
"What the hell was that?" Cisco asked.
"I wish I knew." Caitlin replied.
…
Back with Superman, Green Lantern, and Batman, all three were suddenly hit with the same psychic messages the other heroes were receiving. It lasted for a few seconds before subsiding.
"Did you guys feel that?" GL asked.
"Yeah…" Superman confirmed. "We need to move."
GL then formed the energy bubble around himself and Batman again and took off, with Superman following close behind.
…
Back at the DEO, the drones pulled off piece after piece of rubble, finally locating what remained of the DEO mainframe. They immediately plugged in and began downloading. Others scanned the wreckage for survivors, killing them on sight. They soon came across Faraday, Kari, and J'onn, preparing to terminate them as well.
"These are the final life forms in the area." One drone reported. "Terminate immediately."
Before they could let off a shot, a red streak came out of nowhere and knocked the drone to the ground. Faraday and J'onn were surprised by this, before the streak returned, revealing itself to be the Flash.
"Whoa." He let out, catching sight of J'onn before pointing at the robots with his thumb. "You with these guys?"
"He's with me." Faraday answered.
"Oh, okay." Flash nodded before speeding back into the fight.
He punched out several drones along his path, with the drones not being able to touch him at all. As Flash continued to run, one of the drones shot out its spike, aiming it at Flash's feet and tripping him up. He skidded across the ground, slamming into one of the few walls still intact. He groaned and sat up, seeing a drone closing in on him. Before it struck though, there was a massive splash from the water not far from the wreckage. A figure had sprung out from the water and landed on top of the drone, crushing it. Flash looked up to see Aquaman standing over him with trident in hand.
"Hey. I'm Aquaman." He introduced before turning around and stabbing a drone in the chest.
"And I thought I was the impossible." Flash remarked, getting back on his feet.
He sped off again as Aquaman battled with the drones, slashing and stabbing at any that came close. One drone shot out a spike that wrapped around Aquaman's trident and tried to pull it in. Aquaman just planted his feet and pulled back on the trident, straining the coil. Just then, a broadsword sliced through the spike, knocking both Aquaman and the drone off their feet.
"Tired already?" Wonder Woman quipped as she beheaded the fallen drone.
"Just getting started." Aquaman remarked, getting back up and rushing into battle.
Wonder Woman smirked before charging into battle herself. She sliced through drone after drone with her sword while taking out her lasso and wrapping it around another drone. She then whipped the drone around and crashed it into a wall.
"Nineteen!" she called out.
"Enjoy your lead while you can!" Aquaman remarked, slicing through another drone. "I'm on seventeen and counting!"
As the fight on the ground continued, something fast moved through the air and plowed straight through five drones at once. Flash, Wonder Woman, and Aquaman looked up to see Superman flying over the battleground.
"Whoa." Flash let out. "It's him. The Superman!"
"Somebody's a fanboy." Aquaman joked.
"Shut up." Flash snapped, turning a bit red under his mask.
Superman then flew towards two drones firing back to back, only for him to smash them together. One tried to come up behind him, but that's when a Batarang collided with the back of its head and exploded, taking it out. Superman looked up to see Green Lantern's energy bubble coming into view, before disappearing and allowing Batman to land on the ground and join the battle.
"Sorry to crash the party." GL joked. "Hope you don't mind."
"The more the merrier." Flash piped up, giving him a two fingered salute.
Flash and GL then dashed through the drones, speed punching and blasting at as many as they could. Two drones shot their cables out at Superman, but he just spun around at super speed, sending them flying off of him and allowing one to smash into the remains of a wall as the other to get impaled on Aquaman's trident.
"Nice reflex." Superman commended as he stopped spinning.
"Practice." Aquaman replied. "It helps."
Some of the drones began opening fire on Wonder Woman, who easily used her bracelets to block the attacks. She then pulled out her lasso and shot it at one of the drones, wrapping it around the drone's torso. She then pulled the drone back before swinging it right back around toward the others. As she drew her lasso back, another drone was about to shoot her from behind, only for a batarang to fly into the back of its head and explode. As she turned to see what had happened, she saw the drone fall to the ground and Batman standing behind it before wordlessly returning to the fight. Wonder Woman just smiled at that before returning to the battle.
The remaining drones scanned over the heroes, as if calculating their next move.
"Assessment: complete. Odds of success: 22.82 percent. Course of action: withdraw."
The drones then took off into the air, leaving the heroes alone in the destroyed building.
"Well, that's one problem taken care of." GL remarked.
"Yeah, but we got another to worry about." Flash replied, seeing Kari on the ground.
Faraday and J'onn were both by her side, the latter clutching her hand.
"Please, help her." J'onn begged.
Superman came over and did a quick X-Ray, not liking what he was seeing.
"It's not good." He reported. "In addition to the rebar, there's a cluster of shrapnel throughout her bloodstream."
"If it reaches her heart, she's done for." Batman realized. "We need to get it out."
"How?" Aquaman questioned. "I highly doubt any of us are doctors, and I don't see any medical equipment here."
"I can remove the shrapnel." J'onn informed them. "You just need to tell me where it is."
"I can guide you." Superman told him. "Get ready."
Faraday took hold of Kari's hand as J'onn got into position. He held his hand over her chest, nodding at Superman. He reached in and began taking the shrapnel out, piece by piece. After a few minutes, he'd removed about a dozen pieces of shrapnel before Superman stopped him.
"There's one more." He said. "It's lodged into the center of her lumbar vertebrae."
"Hang on." Flash spoke up. "Removing something that close to her nervous system could be dangerous, even this way."
"Leaving it inside her is worse." Wonder Woman insisted. "I have seen what wounds like that will do to a soldier. It must be removed."
"It seems we do not have a choice." J'onn lamented. "Direct me to it."
Superman moved his hand right above where it went. He then gave a nod and J'onn went for the piece. He pulled it out, finding that it was perhaps the largest piece inside her.
"That's the last of it." Superman told him. "Now the rebar."
"Removing it could cause massive internal bleeding." J'onn told him.
"Not if the would were cauterized the second the rebar was removed." Flash proposed. "If the rebar were severed from its base, I could yank it out and Superman could use his heat vision to seal off the wound before any further damage could take hold."
Wonder Woman drew her sword, sliding it carefully under Kari. She lined it up with the rebar, then quickly sliced through it. Flash took hold of the rebar with both hands, waiting for Superman's signal.
"I suggest somebody hold her." Superman warned.
Faraday took hold of Kari's arms, J'onn one leg, and Batman another. They all nodded, then Superman's eyes began to glow.
"Now!"
Flash then yanked the rebar out and Superman immediately shot out his heat vision, sealing up the wound as quickly as it was made. Kari let out a strangled cry as the wound was closed, her eyes rolling back in her head as she sagged in the grip of those holding her. J'onn gathered her in his arms as Superman sealed the wound on her back as well.
"There." He said, letting out a breath. "We've done all that we can."
"She'll need a hospital." Faraday insisted.
"No offense, but you do too." Flash spoke up. "I'll take her and you, then be back here in a flash."
"Did you really just say that?" GL remarked.
"Not the time." Batman told him.
…
After a few minutes, Flash returned from dropping Kari and Faraday off at the hospital. He leaned against a wall, catching his breath.
"Got them there just in time." He reported. "Apparently those two were government agents, so they got top billing. They're in good hands."
"Thank you." J'onn told him.
"Guess it's lucky you were here." Green Lantern noted.
"Not luck." J'onn corrected. "I called him here. All of you in fact."
"Then that was you?" Wonder Woman realized. "The voice crying for help?"
"Indeed." He answered. "I apologize for any pain I may have caused you. I was… desperate to save my friend."
"A noble cause, I assure you." Wonder Woman told him.
"So… what are you?" Flash asked. "Not trying to sound freaked or anything, but-"
"It's alright. My appearance has been a cause for concern for some." J'onn replied. "Perhaps this will help."
He then morphed his body into the appearance Kari had drawn out for him. His body filled out to more human proportions, his hands gained two fingers each, and clothes began appearing on his body. Soon, he stood before them in a black suit with a long blue cape, a red belt and a red X across his chest.
"My name is J'onn J'onzz." He introduced. "The Martian Manhunter."
Batman just looked at him sceptically.
"Don't mind him, J'onn." Superman told him. "I don't think he trusts anyone."
"A wise policy." J'onn replied.
"A green martian…" GL marveled. "I thought they were all extinct."
"I am the last of my kind." J'onn explained. "The last green martian."
Superman's gaze became sympathetic.
"I'm sorry." he said. "I know what that's like."
"Is now really the time for all this mushy stuff?" Aquaman questioned. "Last time I checked, weird robots were threatening the planet."
"I know where these robots are coming from." Superman shared. "They're drones for a Kryptonian AI called Brainiac."
"How do you know this?" Wonder Woman questioned.
"A message from my birth father told me about Brainiac, and how he destroyed Krypton." Superman answered. "I'm afraid I don't know much else."
"As far as we can tell, these drones have been hitting buildings pertaining to information." Batman added. "I'm guessing that's why they came here."
"Then why blow it up?" GL asked. "They left everywhere else in tact, why torch this place?"
"This building was the Department of Extraterrestrial Operations." J'onn explained. "It was one of the few Deep Space monitoring stations charged with protecting the Earth from alien threats. This Brainiac no doubt destroyed it in order to weaken this planet's defenses."
"Makes sense." GL agreed. "Defang the populus before moving in for the kill."
"There's still more to Brainiac's plan we don't know." Batman stepped in. "We need to figure out his next move before he attacks again."
Flash perked up.
"I think I know someone who can help." he said.
…
Back at S.T.A.R. Labs, the three members of team Flash were going over all of the places the drones had attacks, making sure to differentiate between those that were destroyed and those that weren't.
"It seems these robots have hit just about every major databank in existence, as well as everywhere that studied extraterrestrial life." Caitlin noted.
"Strangely enough, only the centers for outer space studies were destroyed, whether they were observatories or government sanctioned sites." Cisco added.
"Meaning these machines are preparing for a visitor from off world." Wells deduced. "And eliminating anything that could detect it before it arrives."
"Tell us something we don't know." Flash spoke up as he walked inside.
The team turned to greet him, but all three were caught off guard by the six other heroes with him.
"Uh… um..." Caitlin let out, at a loss for words.
"Oh right, intros." Flash recalled. "Everyone, this is Cisco Ramone, Dr. Caitlin Snow, and Dr. Harrison Wells. They're my team."
"Hey." Aquaman greeted.
"Well, Flash," Wells let out, legitimately surprised. "It seems you've made a few friends while you were out."
"Yeah, and I'm about to make one more." Flash told him. "Where's Victor?"
Cisco wordlessly pointed towards a hallway not far from where they were, his eyes never leaving the heroes.
"I… am having a massive geek out moment right here." Cisco let out. "Someone pinch me…"
"Try to act a little professional, will you?" Caitlin told him.
Flash sighed, shaking his head before turning to the heroes.
"Mind hanging here for a bit?" he asked. "Something tells me this is something I need to handle on my own."
"We do not mind." Wonder Woman told him.
"Speak for yourself." Aquaman let out. "The kid's staring at me and it's giving me the creeps."
"He's fine." Flash reassured before speeding off.
There was a moment of silence, then J'onn turned to Cisco.
"What would you like to know?" He asked, smiling kindly.
…
Meanwhile, Victor sat alone in his room, reading a sports magazine. He had a large pile of them, gifts from his father to try and make amends, and many of them showed signs of being torn or crushed by hands that were too strong and with little control. As Victor turned the page, the entire sheet tore off, much to his frustration. He crumbled the magazine in his grip and threw it at the wall, where it joined a few more that had received a similar treatment. As he slumped down in his chair, Flash came speeding, causing the magazines to fly around a bit.
"We need your help." Flash told him.
Victor's fists clenched as he turned to Flash.
"I distinctly remember there being a sign on my door that says 'No Visitors Period'." He snarled. "That includes you."
"Yeah, well I tend to ignore signs when the world itself is at stake." Flash retorted. "You seem to be the only one who knows anything about these robots, and we need your help to stop them."
"No." Victor said, turning his chair away from Flash. "Now get lost."
"So what, you're fine with just letting the world be destroyed?" Flash let out.
"The world can burn for all I care." Victor snapped. "It certainly didn't lift a finger for me."
"Your dad did." Flash responded.
That seemed to snap something in Victor. He stood up, turning around and grabbing the front of his hoodie. He ripped it off like it was nothing, revealing his cybernetic torso, arms, and face.
"My dad did THIS to me!" Victor shouted, slamming a hand on his torso. "He never gave a damn about me until I became this… this… this FREAK! Oh, he goes on and on about how he's trying to help me, but I know the truth. I'm just another goddamn science experiment. Well he, and everyone else can burn in hell for all I care. I'm done trying to get through to him or anyone else."
Flash just whistled in response, taking in everything Victor had said.
"I know you're mad at your dad… but at least you still have him." Flash told him.
"So what?" Victor replied bitterly.
"My dad's serving a life sentence at Iron Heights." Flash rebutted.
"What did he do?" Victor asked. "Experiment on you and make you a freak as well?"
"That's just the thing, he didn't do anything." Flash informed.
That made Victor pause. His anger melted slightly as Flash pulled off his mask, addressing him as Barry.
"When I was a kid, my mother was murdered by something… something impossible." Barry explained. "My father went to prison for it, but I know he's innocent."
"I'm sorry." Victor said, genuinely meaning it.
"I've rarely had a chance to see him." Barry went on. "And everyday, I want nothing more than a chance to hold him, to embrace him… to be able to talk to him without a pane of glass separating us. If I were you, I'd enjoy the time you have with your dad… you never know how much of it you have left."
"Maybe it's different with your dad, but mine never cared about me." Victor told him. "He told me I was a joke, that my ambitions were a joke."
"I'm sure he didn't mean it." Flash replied.
"Oh, he meant it." Victor insisted. "Ask him for yourself. Ask him what he was doing during all my football games, or how I had to make appointments just to talk to him, or how his work meant more to him than his family to the point that my mom up and left him."
"I could…" Barry conceded. "But I can also tell you that he worked night and day to save your life after the accelerator blew."
"How?" Victor asked.
"I did some digging on you after you saved me." Barry explained. "I found something I think you need to see."
Barry then sped over to Victor's computer and began accessing the S.T.A.R. Labs database, pulling up Dr. Stone's video files.
"Take a look." Barry invited.
Victor walked over, seeing the videos of Dr. Stone's attempts to save Victor. He watched as his father agonized over every failure, broke down several times and begged for forgiveness from his prone, broken form. He also watched as his father sacrificed his pet project to bring him back, and the way Victor coldly brushed him off. He thought that was the end, then one more video began playing.
"Victor..." Dr. Stone said into the camera, his voice laced with exhaustion, sorrow, and a heavy dose of regret. "I know that you don't want to see me, or talk to me… after everything I've done, perhaps I deserve it. But I want you to know that I am so sorry for everything. I'm sorry I never came to your games, or made time for you. I'm sorry that I ever told you your dreams were a joke. I love you, Victor, and I hope one day you'll let me try and be the father you deserve."
Victor was stunned, tears falling from his human eye. He placed a hand against the screen, as if to reach out from his father. He then wiped his good eye and took a breath. Barry has been preparing to leave when Victor spoke up.
"42 hours and 8 minutes." he called out.
Barry raised an eyebrow in confusion.
"Come again?" He spoke.
"That's how long until Brainiac arrives." Victor informed him, rising to his feet. "A countdown started in my head the second they breached the upper atmosphere. We have 42 hours and 7 minutes now before he and his entire army come knocking, and I promise that Earth doesn't stand a chance."
Barry pulled his hood back on.
"We'll see about that."
