Chapter Two: Just A Dream
THE FLASH MISSING - PRESUMED DEAD!
Last night Central City's scarlet speedster faced off against Savitar. Savitar had Iris West held captive. While Flash and his team attempted to save the young woman, Vibe was able to get Miss West to safety before rejoining the battle. Savitar eventually stabbed the Flash and ran off.
Notorious Killer Frost who is believed to be working with Savitar was not present for the confrontation and eludes capture at the present moment. Despite being told by breach creating metahuman, Vibe, that Killer Frost was manipulated by Savitar and is no longer a threat, CCPD cautions and warns against engaging this meta.
"This morning shards of metal were found scattered across the city," Linda Park said on the news. "The metahuman vigilantes known as the group called Team Flash have confirmed these pieces to belong to Savitar. They are currently investigating the whereabouts of Savitar to determine if the Flash was successful in defeating the evil speedster."
"There is still no sign of Savitar or the Flash," Rafael Murray said on the news. "Meanwhile a search for missing persons is being conducted. Reports of missing loved ones are pouring in and we can only assume they are casualties of the battle between the Flash and Savitar."
"Barry Allen, CSI for the CCPD still remains missing. If anyone has seen him, the Police Department would be glad for any information to recover their missing member as well as fiance Iris West who has not given up the search for him."
"Oliver Queen will be arriving in Central City later today…"
"This just in, the Flash's body has been recovered. For respect of the masked man's privacy as requested by his team, the Flash will remain a masked hero. His team is holding a closed casket funeral for the Scarlet Speedster."
"Team Flash is releasing video footage from the deceased Flash…"
"If you're watching this video, that means I lost the battle with Savitar, but I saved the most important person in the world. I have to ask you to believe in the impossible. Most of you know me as the Flash, but for others my name was Barry Allen…"
To an outsider, the scene before them would look like the president's funeral. For anyone who lived in Central City, it was different.
The officers of Central City Police Department provided an escort march. There was a noticeable hole where one of their own should have stood. In the middle of the CCPD escort, eight figures carried a scarlet stained wooden casket with a yellow lightning bolt on the lid.
On one side, the Green Arrow, Vibe, Supergirl, and Firestorm. On the other, Killer Frost, Flash from Earth-3, Kid Flash, and Jesse Quick.
A black car drove behind the procession slowly. When they reached the church, the car parked and a dark skinned woman in a white dress got out of the driver's seat. She pulled the veil in her hair over her face as the cameras clicked away.
A man, her father, extended his arm to her and she gladly took it, ignoring the red eyes she was sure were visible on her too.
As they walked into the church, the military band played music. She and her father made their way to the front of the church and settled next to Vibe.
The preacher stood at the front. "Let us bow our heads and pray. Lord, please lift his soul, and heal this hurt. For a great man has fallen. A hero, a brother, a protector, a friend. We lost two men with his death. Barry Allen and the Flash."
One by one, the superheroes stood up and went to the casket. Each took their turn to pause and place a hand on the casket lid. The Green Arrow, Kid Flash, Vibe, Killer Frost, and Firestorm seemed to pause the longest.
Everyone in the church rose to sing the saddest song the woman in the white dress had ever heard. She lead the way out of the church followed by the casket with the pallbearers and towards the cemetery.
When they arrived, Supergirl lifted the casket and gently lowered it to the ground. She turned to hug the woman tightly and held her as the military band began to play more music and a military officer approached the woman with a folded American flag. He saluted her after she took the flag from him.
The woman gasped and held the flag tight to her chest. Supergirl didn't relinquish her hold as the tears began falling from the woman's eyes.
The twenty one gun salute rang out. The woman cried out and felt her knees collapse. Supergirl was the only thing holding her up.
"Baby," her father said softly, reaching for her.
Supergirl transferred the woman into her father's arms.
One by one, the citizens of Central City left the cemetery until only the superheroes were left.
The White Canary approached the woman. "I know we weren't all very close to Barry, but he was one of the most amazing people I ever met. If you ever need anything, give us a call, Iris." She gestured to the rest of the Legends. "Stein and Jax are staying behind for a while, but the rest of us have to go. Evil stops for no one. Not even Barry," she finished sadly. Laurel squeezed Iris's arm. "I mean it, Iris. Call us."
The Legends left after a few final goodbyes to Barry.
Vibe opened a breach. "We're sharing embarrassing Barry stories if you want to tag along," Cisco offered to Oliver, Felicity, Diggle, Kara, and Alex.
Kara gave Cisco a watery smile. "That sounds perfect," she whispered.
Killer Frost melted back into Caitlin Snow who knelt at the hole in the ground to say goodbye to Barry. When she was done, she followed the others through the breach.
"Goodbye, BA," HR said, looking down into the hole at Barry's casket.
"Cisco, will you give us a minute?" Iris said, kneeling in the dirt. She rested the flag on her dress.
"Course," Cisco responded. He handed her a breach maker. "Come as soon as you're ready." He left through the breach.
Iris inhaled a shaky breath. "Well, Barry, I thought it was supposed to be the other way. Savitar was suppose to kill me, but instead, he killed you." She blinked back tears. "I had come to terms with my own death, but I never considered your death!" She sniffed and wiped away her tears. "I wanted to have forever with you, Barry! Now… now I don't get that." She started sobbing. After a minute, Iris calmed down. "I just want this to be a dream, Barry. A really bad dream and you'll be there to comfort me when I wake up." She stood up, flag in hand. "I love you so much, Barry, and I am so proud of you."
Iris opened the breach and marched through.
"All my career as the Flash I have protected my identity, but when I die, I want to let everyone know that a normal, average person can become something great. They can become a hero." Barry smiled into the camera. An alert went off. His face drained of color. "If you see this video, I'm about to save the love of my life and trade my life for hers. I have to go now and I hope my team will find this and show you."
A/N: Yes, songfic of Just a Dream by Carrie Underwood.
Let me clear up something that is bothering me. I mean no disrespect to military personal. I know this was not the proper order or proper protocol for a military funeral. That was done intentionally because the Flash is NOT an active service soldier nor is he a veteran. Therefore, his "military funeral" will have been run differently.
Traditionally, "The flag-draped casket arrives at the cemetery by hearse or horse-drawn caisson. A six-man honor guard carries the casket to the grave site. The chaplain or pastor (if applicable) reads a committal service. The honor guard lifts and holds the American flag taut over the casket. The seven-person firing party fires three volleys. A spent shell may be picked up and later tucked into the folded memorial flag. A bugler sounds "Taps." The honor guard ceremonially folds the American flag. The highest ranking officer presents the folded flag to the family with a brief statement of gratitude and a salute." According to funeral wise.
For Barry, I gave him the metas or superheroes that were the most important to him and the ones closest to Barry, therefore, not a six-man honor guard because I picked eight. The casket was not covered in the flag because Barry is not a member of the military. The twenty one gun salute I left because I felt that military or not, the Flash deserved an honorable send off and it was mentioned in the song. The already folded flag was presented for basically the same reasons as the gun salute. Plus both are typically what one thinks of when thinking of military funerals.
I would also like to add that I deeply respect all the individuals that bravely serve their country (no matter the country you serve) because everyday they risk their lives for the protection of their respective country. As an American myself, I feel incredible lucky to live in a country where I know there are men and women fighting for my freedom and life as I know it. They are real life heroes and I hope this story does their fallen some semblance of justice.
Thank you.