The New Guardians

Season 1 Episode 2: A Running Start

Disclaimer: I do not own anything related to the DC comics property

AN: Welcome to episode 2! Please leave a review for me so I can know what I need to work on or if you're enjoying it so far! I'm sorry if you already have and I haven't responded I'll be sure to do so when I get the chance. As for now please enjoy this episode can't wait to see you at the next!

In the heart of Gotham City lies the base of the Batman and those who join him on his mission and before the sun has begun to rise Gotham's savior known as Dick Grayson is in his room packing his bags as he begins to see the sun shine through his clear glass window that surrounds his entire room. For only he can see Gotham, but she cannot see him. Zipping up the remainder of his bags he turns to face the one of the few women he would ever hold close to his heart. Seeing her snore louder than any alarm clock in the world can't help but make him chuckle as begins to turn away to set off on his journey, on his way to his private elevator he runs into not just one but two teenage girls.

"Cassandra, Helena." Dick greets them both as they are in his way towards his goal.

"So just like that you're off on some mission to recruit a bunch of heroes personally. Why can't you just give them a phone call and say something like "hey I'm bringing together a group of remarkable people and I want you a part of it.", why can't you just do that?" Helena responds in anything but nicely and without even saying good morning. She takes after her mother on that one, the late Selina Kyle Wayne.

"Ever since the war the Justice League communications have been damaged beyond repair and would need to be rebuilt from scratch and not only that are not so secret base the Watch Tower was destroyed in order to stop Darkseid and his army. With our most notable League members dead I need to be the one to seek out the new recruits and I don't think they would believe me if I just gave them a simple call. I need to do this and with you two and Harley here I know I can leave without having to worry over Gotham." Dick responds as then smiles gently at both girls.

"I will be back, and when I am, I'll teach you both how to drive and operate the Batmobile. How does that sound?" He asks as he throws his duffle bag over his shoulder while holding on to his suitcase. Cassandra comes up to him first and places her hand over his heart and then reaching up to the top of his while giving him a pointed glare. Grayson can only chuckle in response and nod his head. Cassandra seeing this gently smile while hugging him.

Helena looks at Grayson sadly she only just wants him to stay since he's all that she has left in the world with her parents both gone. So, she puts on brave face and begins to hug him as well. Dick realizing, he will have to be the one to break out of the hug first or otherwise he will be late for his own private flight he breaks out of it. "I'll send a postcard, don't burn the city to the ground while I'm gone." Just like that Gotham's protector has begun his journey to go and seek out those who wish to help the world.

Kent Farm, Smallville

It's past noon in Smallville today and a well-built man decides to spend it by throwing hay out into the field while dressed for the part by wearing a red flannel and jeans with brown boots underneath and as he begins to throw the next batch, he hears a familiar heartbeat that he didn't hear until now.

"I'm surprised to see you here, Connor. I would've thought you would've made Metropolis your home base like your father." Dick Grayson announces himself as he stands behind the farmer wearing a black leather jacket with blue stripes a nod to his old alias when he was younger. However, those days are long since gone and someone else has taken the title of that name, someone he trusts with his life.

"Dick Grayson, the legend known as Batman." Connor states as he turns to face the eldest out of the two of them.

"I'm glad you decided to step up and be the hero your father knew you could be. This world needs Superman. This world needs a lot of things these days. However, something is coming, something I fear that is taking advantage of the war's destruction and they're planning something. I feel it with every fiber in my body. I know we haven't worked much together but I've worked with your father on many occasions and I have come to offer you something." Dick pauses as he turns from the view of the land to stare at Connor Kent directly and the response, he gets is a nod to continue. "I'm recruiting and rebuilding the Justice League and I want you, Connor, to be a part of it. We need just about every hero we can get. Not all heroes are as immortal as they are made out to be look at the old Justice Society group for example, those guys had at least twelve people and only three remain. Hell, look at the original Justice League roster we lost four members in the war, four powerful and honorable members. One of which you're carrying the name of. You recently showed up in a new red and blue outfit to tell the world it has hope again. Well, I'm here to tell the world it has its guardians, new guardians to rise and help protect the people and we aren't afraid to stop what's coming. We'll face it head on, together." Dick offers his hand out a show of trust and question to the call he put on the new hero.

Connor stares at the hand barely for a second before he smiles and reaches out and grasps it with his own. "Whenever you need me, I'm there." That was the only answer Grayson needed to know that he had Connor on board with him. "I'm sure that offer extends to my sister and aunt?" Connor questions him after they end the handshake.

"Yes, I was actually hoping to catch your sister her. She seems to be a bit more difficult to track down in one spot." Grayson responds back.

"Yeah, well ever since dad died, she felt this stronger sense of responsibility to the world than I did mainly because I was wallowing in doubt. I'll be sure to let her know, won't be too hard for Superman to catch up to her." Connor remarks with a smirk as Grayson nods in appreciation and begins to walk while yelling out "I'll be in touch, Superman!"

Central City

"Somebody, please help! My baby! My baby is still in there! Someone, help my baby!" A mother shouts out in distress as an apartment complex is on fire with several of the residents outside. She was on her way from work when she noticed her current housing on fire and she didn't see the sitter or her baby outside and fearing the worst she tries to go in but the firemen hold her back to not have her die going in while they try to do their jobs to the best of their abilities. They were trained for this after all. However, what nobody was trained for was a bright flash of mixed colors of red, blue, and white and before anyone could blink the fire was gone and the baby was in her mother's hands and the babysitter standing right next to her. Everyone stood in confusion of what just happened. At first, they assumed the Flash, but he was dead, or at least they thought he was dead. Maybe it was the new Superman that's been flying around? Or perhaps Powergirl?

However, that wasn't the only incident in town to be quickly solved where everyone else is suddenly standing there scratching their heads as many and many more crimes and simple things begin to be solved only those at S.T.A.R. Labs truly know what is happening, for there is a new speedster on the scene. This Speedster has been around for close to a year now and assumed it to be Barry Allen as he must have somehow survived the destruction of the weapon he stopped. That thought was quickly shout out as this speedster made no moves to explain or talk to those that were Barry Allen's friends not even going back to the life, he made of himself. Thus, making the conclusion that this speedster was no Barry Allen and not the Flash they know and loved.

At S.T.A.R. Labs some of the greatest minds work on trying to track down this speedster but it seems as if he never slows down or stops to do anything. It's almost as if he's not alive in the sense or has a life. Once on that single thought a man shouts out in triumph catching the attention of everyone in the room including Harrison Wells.

"I figured it out! This speedster, he's always on the move and why is that? When Barry ran, he always had to stop because he had a job at the CCPD, and he had to regain the calories he lost from runs he exhausted himself with. Even Jay Garrick back in the day when he was The Flash would stop running to be with his wife. So why is this guy constantly running and how is he not stopping? That's when I realized he is stopping. Just not noticeable for our eyes. We thought he was just randomly running around the streets of Central preventing things where he's needed but that's not the case." Cisco states as he pulls up a map of Central with lines all over the districts and roads of Central but there's one place where the lines intersect.

"It's all one big course that has one starting and one finishing pointing. He has a route and it all leads to that one spot. Well done Mr. Ramone. Now tell us where we can find him and send out a message to anyone fast enough to answer and at least help detain him." Dr. Wells answers quickly impressed by Cisco's deduction. After so long of not knowing this person they finally have the biggest lead and hopefully they will have the means to capture him.

"After Darkseid all communications for the old Leaguers are down, I'll have to call them by their actual numbers and well I only have one in my phone. Thanks to Barry though." Cisco mumbles out the last part as he begins to call the person he hopes can get here in time for their move as everyone begins to assemble anti-speedster equipment and everyone looks at the speedster current travels and by everyone's estimate he'll be at the location in thirty minutes. Not enough time but they need to bring him down for this person is a complete unknown to them.

Metropolis

It's beginning to reach the night in Metropolis as the sun is beginning to set. As crowds begin to gather around in public areas such as bars and restaurants and even karaoke bars to spend time with either friends, coworkers, or even family there's one person who isn't joining the crowd as she stands atop a skyscraper that has a view of the whole city. Clad in a white suit with blue boots and gloves and short hair with a blue cape this is "Powergirl." A man dressed in a suit designed for combat and the worst criminals have to offer up to the best technology his company and trusted friend Luke Fox could make. The Batman in his dark blue cowl and cape with gloves and boots in the same blue with the rest of his body in a light shade of grey with a utility belt with a wide bat symbol in the middle along with wide blue bat symbol on his chest colored the same blue. The blue hints towards his old alias, an alias he feels he would never stop feeling a connection to.

"Batman, it's been awhile. Still seeing Zatanna or is it back to Harley these days? Or are you here to try and rekindle something with me?" Powergirl replies with a not so welcoming atmosphere. Grayson picking up on this continues to walk up to her and stand by her side crossing his arms beneath his cape not caring or willing to reply to that comment continues with why he has come here.

"Powergirl, I'm not sure if you noticed but our old rogues have gone quite lately. Not a word from Lena Luthor, the Jokester, and even Reverse Flash who we helped put in the most secure prison hasn't made any attempts to escape after so long of trying. Something is happening and soon. I fear the worst and none of us are ready for it as the world is still adjusting from how much we lost from the war, including you. We lost some good friends and mentors in the war against Darkseid. I'm here to recruit you as you were on the old team of Leaguers and with your experience including mine, I feel like we can help guide the others and put them all into shape for what's coming. I don't care what your current feelings for me may be or what your thoughts on my love life are, that's not why I'm here so I'm going to need you to put that aside and ask yourself if you will help me and stop what's coming and prepare those who haven't faced what he have besides the war. If there's anything I've learned from Darkseid is that we all need to be together instead of separated. That's where the Justice Society messed up back in the day and I'm not here to make the same mistakes." Grayson speaks as he continues to look out at the city but once finished, he turns to look at Powergirl and notices the conflict in her eyes. For no matter their past or the things they've said or done to another this is one woman he knows he would always count on and he hopes she would answer to the call.

"I'll always help." Powergirl starts off as she turns from him to the admire Metropolis "With what you're saying you are going to need all the help you can get and with how you plan on doing things this time around it seems that there will be a lot of people who will need guidance on how to work with a team especially since we need to be better than what we used to be. I'll join you Batman. Let me know when you're ready." Powergirl finishes as she flies off to who knows where.

"You sure know how to pick them Grayson." Dick frowns then chuckles without a hint of humor as he jumps off the building and his cape becomes a glider and he in a sense flies over the city going back to his hotel to get ready for his next stop.

Ferris Airfield, Central City

Once upon a time the Ferris Airfield hangar and base was filled to the brim of workers and aircrafts but after the Particle Accelerator explosion it has since been abandoned and there are no current plans for it to be rebuilt and refurbished. Inside the hangar there are currently twelve screens hooked up to the wall all with a different image on each and there over hundreds of papers littered across the area as well as empty boxes of food and drinks and of course a mattress with blankets thrown on top of it. In the once empty a room a gust of wind announces its presence as a person's form is shown in the light provided. A man walks up the screens while putting down three pizza boxes and begins to eat a slice while taking his mask off.

On his third slice is when he knows he's been made as he sees in the reflection of the screen over twenty armed men aiming at him and before anyone could blink, they were all unarmed with the man still where he was standing. There was a difference however as he was facing them with his mask back on. However with the armed men were most notably Harrison Wells and Cisco Ramone and both of them including the men can't help but see the resemblance to Barry Allen's old Flash suit but more refined and a brighter version of red, however the yellow lightning bolts around the arms, waist, and the symbol he wore on his chest as well as the lightning ears were all a glowing silver and blue as well as his eyes and the boots he wore. However, the symbol on his chest was blue but the background was black instead of the white Barry had.

"Who are you?!" Cisco couldn't help but shout out in a state of distress seeing a suit so similar but different to his deceased best friend.

"Cisco Ramone, it was only a matter of time until you found out where I was hiding. It did take you almost a year though, but I did change my base of operations every so often." The mystery man replies without bothering to regard the question asked.

"I'm not sure you heard my associate. Who are you? You're clearly not Mr. Garrick or Mr. Allen" Harrison begins to say missing the chuckle the man gave "as they are both dead and if you were you wouldn't be able to resist seeing those you love. You're clearly not the Reverse Flash because we would all be dead already."

"Ah, good old Eobard. How's Thawne doing these days? Curious to know if he's glad or upset with dear old da-Barry Allen being dead." The man questions back still no indication of him answering any of their questions.

Cisco Ramone and Harrison Wells both give each other curious glances as the man seemed to know the Reverse Flash on a name to name basis as his real identity hasn't been known to the public very thoroughly due to the complications of where or rather when the Reverse Flash comes from.

"Well, got to say this has been fun but it really hasn't." The speedster announces and right before he's about to take off a hand grips his shoulder tightly so tightly in fact, he can't run away from it.

"I'm sorry but I can't have you leaving without knowing why you're dressed like a very dear and dead friend of mine." Karen Kent dressed as her Supergirl persona address the speedster. The man takes a second to admire her outfit. A blue long sleeve with a slit for her thumbs but the top half of her chest and collar is red minus a few spots that are blue which makes the house of El symbol, the outer area red and the inner blue with a yellow v shaped belt along with a full blue pants with high knee red boots with blue tips however she doesn't wear a cape but she has a red cloth wrapped around her waist that flutter beside her left leg, the remains of her fathers cape.

The speedster's whistles in appreciation to then give his most charming smile. "Well if they told me they were sending an angel I would've cleaned the place up." To which he then holds a pizza box that he wasn't holding before "Pizza?"

Supergirl goes from blushing from the unexpected compliment to confusion at the offered food. Before she has the chance to respond another unexpected turn of events happens when Cisco fires a weapon at the speedster that causes his feet to be clamped down to the ground.

"I'm tired of all the cat and mouse crap! Why are you here? Why are you dressed like my friend? Why haven't you showed yourself to the world? Just answer me!" Cisco shouts in the mans face clearly more distraught than what he has let on with the death of his friend.

"If you wish to know all of that, you're going to have to catch me." The man replies and Cisco shouts with a confused expression "I literally just did!" All the man does in return is smirk and points down to which everyone looks down to see that the device was dismantled, and its part littered across the floor.

Just like that a gush of wind hits everyone as the man is gone from the hangar but not far behind him is Supergirl both running across the city. From the airfield to the streets of the city and everyone in the city begins to look on in confusion with a mix of fear as they hear sonic booms across the city with glass breaking apart all around them. Flashes of all sorts of colors fly past everyone and the city rumbles from the speed the two beings are going at but the speedster seems the fastest of the two as Supergirl tries her best to reach him and each time she's close enough he pulls ahead of her. It's as if he's testing her skills, testing her limits, seeing how far she can keep up and she can't help but smirk to herself willing to participate in this chase.

After causing such a disturbance to the city it seems the man decides to take a change of action as he turns to the right and heads straight for the bay. Without a moment of hesitation, he runs across the water as if he's still running on the ground itself. The water parts in a big display causing waves across the ocean as he continues to run with Supergirl behind him. Getting tired of lagging behind with her speed of just running she easily transitions to flight and begins to gain on him she reaches out for his shoulder and just when she's about to grab he stops and ducks while also turning around and running in a different direction causing herself to shoot past him and make a fast turnaround. The man has even more distance on him but now they reached land and they shoot past even more pedestrians walking the streets of the city. They run from city to city causing sonic booms everywhere they go. Their in Metropolis, Smallville, Washington, New York, Gotham, Star City, back to Central, Opal City, Dakota, Florida, they travel across the states and cities causing everyone in each place to turn their heads looking for what the cause of the sound could be. Soon they travel through different nations passing through a different scenery and passing historical monuments everywhere they go. The world is in complete shock and wonder on what is happening as the chase soon becomes newsworthy as across the globe the race is being captured as best as it could. The other heroes begin to grow concerned not knowing what exactly is happening and not knowing who the people are that's running but know they need to stop this sooner rather than later.

However, they don't have to plan much or plan at all as the speedster changes course once again while they are in a new area and that's because a volcano has erupted while the people who lived near it are in a current state of panic. Supergirl watches the speedster confused and conflicted on what to do but soon makes a choice and begins to help the people of the city by going straight for the volcano. She begins to redirect the lava's course by using her strength to create a pathway away from the people while the mystery red clad man began to take every citizen to the next town thirty miles away from where they are currently at. Once the town was clear and the crisis averted do the two heroes look at each other. Both covered in all sorts of dirt and grim and sweat, both panting heavily while taking deep breathes to calm their nerves from the intense run and the situation they were just in.

"I'm not Barry Allen." The man suddenly states causing her to widen her eyes from the sudden comment. "I'm not Jay Garrick either. Look, I'm not here to take over the world and become a dictator and I'm not here to kill or harm anyone either. I'm here to help and well I have my own agendas as well but there's no need to discuss that. Discuss yet anyway. For right now that's all I'll say."

"I don't trust you, but I believe what you have to say, for now just call this a truce. We won't come for you and we won't hunt you down anymore, but we do have questions and we want answers. Don't make me regret letting you go." Supergirl responds back while giving a heated glare.

"Beautiful I won't make you regret anything when it comes to me. I'll see you around girl of steel, let's hope we run into each other again." The man responds with a smirk and wink towards her and right when he's about to take off again she yells out stop and causes him to turn back towards her.

"What do I call you?" Supergirl questions while staring at him imploringly.

He takes a second to gather his thoughts and a sad look appears across his face as if he's remembering a memory of such a reaction. "The Flash" He answers with a tiny smile and a look of hesitation, contempt, and pride all in one. Once again, he disappears just like his namesake. While Supergirl contemplates by the event unfolded before her and the growing mystery of the person she has encountered today.

Next time on New Guardians

Watch out Star City, here comes the Batman! While searching for more heroes to join the League Dick Grayson goes to Star City to find the heroes that call it home. While Dick Grayson is recruiting new members for his League it seems Tim Drake is doing his own kind of recruiting and what is it that he's looking into? Find out next time!