Ch. 4 - Zoom
I'm not even gonna say sorry. You guys are pissed at me. I've had a bit of writer's block with this story and I'm not promising that another chapter will be up soon because I've had a lot of homework lately. So I'm not sure when I'll update again but just know that it won't take me 2 months this time.
Artemis woke up in bed with a smile. With her eyes still closed, she turned over to Wally's side of the bed. It was empty and cold. She jumped up and called out. "Wally? Wally?"
Wally ran in and wrapped his arms around her. "Babe, what's wrong?"
"I thought that - I... It's nothing." She pulled him into a hug. "I missed you so much."
"I missed you too." He kissed her. She left the room to get ready for the day and when she came back Wally was waiting for her on the bed.
"Did you really see everything that happened while you were gone?" She asked.
"I did. I didn't know you kept that cheesy promise ring."
"Of course I did. It's means a lot to me. Besides you kept your promise which makes it even more special." Wally looked into her eyes and put a hand on her cheek.
"How do you wake up so beautiful?" They smiled at each other before Wally kissed her again but this time with more passion. Artemis wrapped her arms around his neck as she laid back down on the bed, pulling him down as well. The kiss got more heated as they continued.
"I'm surprised you didn't jump me last night." Wally said, leaving a trail of kisses down her neck.
"I was going to but then I saw how tired you were and what we're gonna do requires a lot of energy." Artemis smirked and flipped them over so she was on top.
"I love you." Wally chuckled.
"I love you." Artemis said seriously. Wally locked eyes with her before getting out from under her and walking over to the dresser.
"Artemis." Wally using a tone Artemis knew very well.
"Ugh." Artemis groaned. "Less talking, more kissing. Get back in bed."
"During the entire time I was in a different dimension, I never stopped thinking about you." Artemis stopped her joking and took in what he was saying." Those last 16 seconds were all of our times together. I wanted my last thought to be you. You changed my life so much, I mean you made me a better man."
"Wally, what are you saying?" Artemis sat up and put her feet on the floor.
"Just let me finish. I can't imagine my life without you. Almost dying made me realize how short life really is. All the more reason to do this here and now." He got down on one knee in front of her. "I love you, Artemis and if you say yes, you will make me the happiest speedster in this dimension." He held out the ring box. "Artemis Lian Crock, Will you marry me?" Wally looked into her eyes.
Artemis couldn't speak as she was staring at him. Wally soon got nervous when she didn't reply and looked up. Artemis smiled and nodded. "Yes." Wally grinned. "Yes! Nothing would make me happier." She hugged him and kissed him as he slid the ring on her on finger. The ring was a silver band with green in the center as it went around. At the top was a sliver flower with pointy petals. It had green diamonds along the edges and in the center.
"I think I know the perfect way to celebrate." Artemis pushed Wally on the bed and laid on top of him. They smiled at each other and just as they were about to kiss. Someone's cell phone rang.
"Ugh, Seriously!" They both looked at the phone in disbelief.
"All this time and this moment you decide to ring." Wally said, as if it could speak back.
"Seriously!" Artemis said again. Wally and Artemis sat up and sighed annoyed. Wally reached for the phone.
"Hello." He said plainly. "Uncle B? This really isn't a good time...What?...alright, we'll be there...I know! Bye!"
"What's wrong?" Artemis asked as she sat behind him.
"We're needed on the Watchtower."
"Do you we have enough time for a.." She slid her hands from his shoulders to his chest.
"He said it was urgent." Wally said.
"Fine, Fine. We'll get ready." They left their bedroom. "This better not happen on our honeymoon."
"Trust me it won't."
Watchtower
10:30
Recognized Kid Flash B 03, Artemis B 07
"Uncle B, What's so important that-" Artemis elbowed him.
"What's going on?" She asked Nightwing.
"Remember when I called you last night and I told you that something got out of the Speed Force?"
"Yeah." Artemis said.
"Well something has been terrorizing Central City all night. Flash has dealt with the problem for now but we don't know when it will happen again." Nightwing explained.
"We need to keep Wally here under observation until we find a way to stop him." Flash said.
"What? But he just got back." Artemis snapped.
"We know, but we need to study Wally's speed patterns, if we have a chance to catch this guy."
"What was the point of letting him come home then?"
"Artemis, calm down. It's only for a few days." Wally said. "I'll stay here while you and the others deal with the problem."
"The room is down the hall, to the left and it's the door on your right." Flash told them. "I'll be there to start the tests in a few minutes." Artemis and Wally walked down the hall.
"Why didn't you tell me about the phone call?" Wally asked her.
"It was our first night back home together. I mean that was the first good night's sleep we've had in months. I didn't want to ruin it."
"You still should have told me." Wally said. Artemis looked down.
"I'm sorry."
"It's okay." They stopped in front of the room and Wally put his hands on her shoulders. "Why don't you go back to school while everything's getting sorted out. Just tell them I'm in the hospital. It's not like it a complete lie."
"Okay. I'll visit you later." Wally kissed her and walked into the room.
A few days later, Artemis was at the West house. She was in the living room with Wally's parents, Barry and Iris. Wally was on his way to the house. His tests had ended but it took a lot out of him so he took his time. They were watching the news.
"This is Cat Grant reporting the massive danger alert for Central and Keystone City. We call him a menace, he calls himself Zoom. A new villain has been terrorizing Central and Keystone city." They showed his picture. "He looks to be a Flash/Kid Flash hybrid." Barry and Artemis looked at each other. "But his speed seems to match and go beyond Flash's. At top speed he can pick up buildings and sling them into other places. An evacuation has been issued for Keystone and downtown Central City." She showed pictures of the now ruined part of Keystone City next to Zoom's picture. "While we're not sure exactly what he wants, there seems to be no end in sight for his destruction." Iris turned down the volume.
"It won't be long before he attacks this part of Central." Barry said. "We need to think of some way to slow him down."
"We need to get you guys out of here." Artemis said to Wally's parents.
"We'll be fine. You guys need to stop Zoom." Mary said.
"Artemis is right. You guys need to find a safe place to safe." Barry said and turned to his wife. "That includes you too Iris."
"But I can't leave you here. Besides I have to stay and report what's going on."
"You're going on maternity leave soon, they would never allow you to come in anyway. I want you and the kids to be safe." Barry reasoned.
"You can stay with my mom in Gotham City. She'd love the company and It's nowhere near the danger going on here."
"Fine, We'll leave. But how are we going to get there?" Rudy asked.
"You can go by Zeta tube." Wally said as he walked in. "Artemis, Uncle B, and I can authorize you."
Artemis smiled and hugged Wally. The rest of the family smiled at the sight.
"How was it out there?" Mary asked her son.
"Horrible." Wally answered, still holding Artemis. "I never wanted to see the city like this."
"Which is why you need to go to Artemis' mom's house ASAP." Barry said.
"We'll start packing now." Mary said as she and her husband went up stairs to pack. Nelson came running down the stairs.
"Nelson!" Wally cheered. The dog parked happily as he jumped on his master. In the mist of the happy moment between man and man's-best-friend, Iris caught the sight of something shiny on Artemis' finger.
"On the bright side, it looks like we have a new Mrs. West in the family!" Iris cheered.
"What?!" Mary ran down the stairs. "You mean Artemis is finally my daughter-in-law!" Mary grinned.
"Mom, we have to get married first." Wally chuckled.
"It doesn't matter! I finally have a daughter. It's official, Artemis!" Mary hugged her. Barry slapped Wally on the back.
"Way to go, Kid!" Barry and Wally grinned at each other.
"We've been waiting for this moment since you went to college." Rudy said.
"I've been waiting since they first met!" Barry said. He felt so excited.
Iris hugged Artemis tightly. Artemis was trying to avoid hitting Iris' swollen stomach. She hugged back when they were in the right spot. "I can't wait to start planning the wedding!" Iris said.
"We'll start soon but first you need to finishing packing." Artemis reasoned.
"Fine, fine. We'll get read-" Mary was cut off by the power going out, then they heard a loud crash down the street. They ran outside to see what it was. A car had been flipped over near their house and there was someone coming up the street.
"Get inside, now!" Wally shouted. He rushed everyone inside and slammed the door shut. "Get your stuff cause we're leaving now!" Wally's parents ran to get their stuff.
"That was Zoom." Barry said as he put his flash suit on.
"That was Zoom?!" Artemis yelled. "He looks way worse than he did on the news!" Wally upstairs to change into his Kid Flash suit.
"Babe, stay here and make sure mom, dad and Iris get out of here safely."
"I'm going to help you guys. I'm not leaving you again. Once I get changed, I'll meet you in the fight."
"But I-"
"Go!" Artemis said. Before she got dressed, she made a call to the watchtower.
Tigress ran outside and knocked over with a strong force of wind. So strong that it her almost crash into the car that had flipped over. Kid Flash caught her just time. After 5 years, Tigress was used to Kid Flash's speed but this time was different. The wind surrounding them was stronger and the cool air hitting her face was colder. He seemed faster. How was this possible?
"Are you alright?" Kid Flash asked her as he put her down.
"Fine. D-Did you get faster?"
"I don't know. I feel stronger now. I feel faster."
"Kid!" Flash said as he ran up to them. "I have a plan. Wally, remember that funnel we and Bart created for Neutron?" He nodded. "Well I thought we could do the same for Zoom."
"And how are we suppose to do that without getting flung into the building?"
"Artemis-I mean Tigress will distract him. Just long enough for us to make the funnel."
"What about me?"
"Nightwing you- Nightwing?!" Flash said surprised.
"I called for back up?" Tigress said.
"Well now that you're here, you can help Tigress distract Zoom." Kid Flash ordered. Nightwing nodded and they went to their positions.
Nightwing and Tigress stood on top of building, throwing weapons and explosive arrows at Zoom. He paid them no mind. Tigress, then shot an foam arrow at him. Foam covering him from the neck down. Zoom looked very annoyed.
"Looks like we got his attention. And the foam seems to be holding him." Nightwing said.
"I don't think the foam will hold him long." Tigress said as she watched Zoom vibrate right through the hardened foam. He looked at them and a second later he disappeared.
"Did he..see us?" Nightwing and Tigress looked at each other nervously.
Just as Flash and Kid Flash were about to form the funnel. Flash heard Iris scream. He immediately ran back to the house to help the family.
"Flash, where are you going?" Kid Flash said stopping him.
"Iris is in danger! I'll go back to the house and get them to safety." He ran back to the house.
Kid Flash went to find Zoom but was thrown back at massive force of the wind that Zoom created when he ran by. Kid Flash flew back into a car and passed out.
"Is it me or does Zoom seem familiar?" Tigress suggested.
"What do you mean?"
"He looks like someone I know. But I'm not sure. The way he looks is so familiar." Tigress said.
Suddenly, Zoom ran toward them and rammed Nightwing into the wall of the building next to them. Tigress got out her mini-bow to shoot but he grabbed it in his hand and crushed it. Tigress reached for her sword but Zoom had already thrown it into the distance. She tried to kick and punch him but he dodged every hit. She got out her little knife from her side pocket and tried to threaten him at the least but he took it and ran to get more force.
Zoom ran by Tigress and with her knife he sliced her right side. "AHHH!" She screamed in pain.
"Artemis!" Nightwing yelled. He tried to run to her side but Zoom knocked him out.
Zoom ran toward Tigress again. Fear flashed through her eyes as the harsh wind knocked her mask off her face. Zoom stopped in front of her, he got on his knees and stared into her eyes. They were a mix of fear and confusion. He placed the knife on the floor beside her and slowly got to his feet. He looked disgusted at what he had just done to her. He ran away, a line of yellow following him.
"Artemis?" Nightwing said weakly.
"Dick, get help! I can't move!" Artemis said as she grabbed her middle. She was trying to stop the blood from coming out.
Nightwing yelled into his com. "Wally, Someone, Artemis got hurt. She needs help, like now!" He picked her up Spitfire style and ran to the nearest zeta tube.
Artemis woke up in the med-bay in the watchtower. She flinched as she sat up. Wally walked in with a cup of coffee in each hand.
"Nice to see you're awake." He said as he sat down in the chair beside her bed. "How do you feel?"
"I feel just fine."
"Ahh, the effects of Ivy profane." He smirked.
"What happened?"
"Nightwing brought you here after Zoom sliced your side." Artemis widened as she lifted part of her hospital gown and examined her side. Her entire middle was covered in bandages.
"Don't mess with it, you got cut pretty bad. You even needed surgery."
"What happened to you and Barry?"
"Something happened with Iris and he ran back to help her. She's fine though. I was about to go get you guys but Zoom ran by and basically threw me in to a car and knocked me out." Wally explained.
"Are you okay?" Artemis asked with concern.
"I'm fine. My speed healing accelerated and I was left with very little damage." Wally answered.
"What are we going to do about Zoom? And there's something about him that's really familiar."
"Do you know him?" Wally said with a spark of jealously.
"No, I swear I've never seen him before. He just looks like someone I know." Artemis said.
"I've had enough of this guy."
"Don't do something you'll regret."
"He's effected Mom, Dad, Iris, my hometown, and you." He looked at her. "I don't want anyone else getting hurt."
"Wally-"
"I'll see you later." He kissed her and left the room. Not too long after that Black Canary walked in.
"Was Wally in here?" She asked.
"Yeah, he just left." Artemis answered. "Why?"
"I just got his test results back and there's something very interesting that I think you guys should see."
"Like what?" Black Canary sat next to Artemis on the bed. Artemis looked over the results and her eyes widened. "You mean He-" Black Canary nodded. "Well, I didn't see that coming."
"Have you guys seen Wally?" Artemis and Black Canary walked into the room.
"He's on the news. He's getting ready to face Zoom." Captain Atom explained.
"What?!" Both Blondes shouted. Captain Atom opened up the news and they all watched Cat Grant report what's going in Central City.
"This is Cat Grant reporting the most recent and disturbing news." A live video appeared. "What you're seeing here is Zoom waiting in downtown Central city for something or someone. He seems to be charging up. Wait, here comes Kid Flash." It showed Kid Flash running on the scene. He stood across from Zoom. "It looks like they're trying to imitate each other." The video started messing up. "Uh, it seems we've lost the video fed. We'll ,uh, have more news coming up."
"We have to do something." Black Canary turned to Artemis but was met with an empty space as Artemis was already in the Zeta tube.
In Central City, Kid Flash and Zoom stood in the middle of downtown, staring each other down.
"You've threatened my hometown and the people I care about. Why are you doing this?" Kid Flash asked Zoom.
Zoom opened his mouth and for the first time he spoke. "You have everything." His voice deep yet familiar. "Family, friends, the fame." He narrowed his eyes. "And the love of my life." Kid Flash's eyes widened. "You have the perfect life."
"Who is the love of your life?"
"I think you know. You should also know that I am better than you. And I am a more suitable mate for her than you."
Kid Flash grit his teeth. "Why do you want her?"
"Because she is the most beautiful girl I have ever laid my eyes on. You are not worthy of her. I am prepared to fight you for your perfect life."
"Then why have you been terrorizing the city?"
"To get your attention. Flash isn't the only speedster in this town. It's not always about him. I want your blood, Kid Flash."
"You'll have to catch me first." Kid Flash smirked and ran away. Zoom scowled and ran after him. As KF ran, he was a little unbalanced.
"How did I get faster?" He looked at his hand before looking in front of him and almost crashing into a wall. Without thinking, he vibrated his molecules and ran right through it.
"No nose bleed. What happened to me?" He noticed Zoom getting closer and ran faster.
"There is nowhere to run. I will find you and end you." Zoom said.
"When did you get so chatty?" Kid Flash ran faster.
Zoom caught up to him and slammed into his side. Kid Flash stumbled but didn't fall. KF slammed him back and Zoom fell back a bit before catching up again.
Zoom rammed in to him again and Kid Flash slid into another car. He was about to get up when Zoom ran around him and created a tornado that swept Kid Flash up into the air. Suddenly, Zoom stopped and KF dropped hard into a fountain and didn't get up.
Artemis watched this and ran to Kid Flash faster.
Zoom, then grabbed Kid Flash and ran up a tall building. Kid Flash was flung into the air and when he fell past the building Zoom jumped on him and slammed him into the ground. Creating massive crack in the road. Kid Flash tried to get up but couldn't. Zoom picked him up and threw him into another car. Cracks forming in the road from him.
"What is it with you throwing me into cars?" Kid Flash said weakly.
"Now, it's time to end this." Zoom walked up to him, ready to give a final blow.
"Stop!" Artemis stepped in front of Zoom before he could get to Wally. Zoom stopped directly in front Artemis, looked at her and then ran away.
"What was that about?" Wally said weakly. Artemis helped him up.
"I don't know."
"What are you doing here? You're hurt."
"It's ok. As you just saw, he won't hurt me." Artemis said. "Now, put your arm around me and we'll go back to the med-bay."
"How many times will we end up in the med-bay this week?" Wally said.
"Don't joke. You almost died. Again!" Artemis yelled at him. "What is the matter with you?" Wally was about to speak but was cut off. "That was the most idiotic, reckless, and out right most dumbest thing you have ever done!"
"I'm sorry. But I had the right intentions in mind. I just wanted to protect you and I was sick of him destroying Central City." He answered.
Artemis sighed and took his hand. "If you keep doing this we'll never get married." He smiled.
"You're an idiot." Wally made a face. "But you're my idiot. I love you."
"I love you, too." Artemis leaned in and they kissed. M'gann, Zatanna, and Nightwing walked in.
"Whoa. Keep it in your pants you two." Zatanna said.
"What do expect from people who just got engaged." Dick smirked. Zatanna almost dropped her book.
"What?!" They both shouted.
"Yeah, did I forget to mention that I proposed to Artemis like last week?"
"And we weren't told! Wait how did you know?" Zatanna said.
"I'm Nightwing." He replied.
"We talked about it after Artemis left for the deep cover mission." Wally said. Artemis smiled at him.
"What did you have to tell us?" Artemis asked.
"We re-read the information on the speed force and we've come across something." M'gann said. "When you leave the speed force, sometimes you create a mirror image of yourself."
"Zoom came out of the speed force at the same time you did."
"What are you saying?" Wally asked, suspiciously.
"Zoom is you, Wally. He has all of your memories and feelings, just evil." M'gann said.
"After you left, Black Canary showed me your test results. Your new speed matches Zoom's speed. I wondered why." Artemis said.
"Every good thought you had, all the years of being a superhero just to help people has all been reversed." Nightwing explained.
"Why won't he attack me?" Artemis asked.
"He won't hurt you because he shares my love for you." Wally answered.
"Then why did he attack me the first time?"
"Wally has never seen you in full costume with your mask on. He didn't notice it was you at first. When your mask fell off he felt horrible, just like Wally would've." Nightwing said.
"How do we get rid of him?" Wally asked.
"We'll have to put him back in the speed force."
"Great, I'm gonna be used for bait." Artemis sighed.
"Not entirely. Since he's Wally's double Wally has to put him back." M'gann said.
"What?"
"Isn't that a little dangerous?"
"Dangerous? You don't know how to control your way to the speed force. With your new speed you could sucked in again." Artemis said to him.
"It's only way to put him back in." Nightwing said.
"I'll do it."
"But-"
"Artemis it's okay. I just need time to learn how to control my speed."
"We'll come up with a plan while you're doing that. But you have to make sure you're ready. We only get one chance." Nightwing said.
While finishing this chapter, My neighbor's mother had passed away. He's in his 60's and has been taking care of his mother for as long as I have known him and much longer. I feel so bad for him. RIP to his mother she was a very nice woman and she has been sick for long time. She is in a better place now.