PowerhousePhantom: Just wait and see.
Shark of The Acrylic: Tim being bisexualk is cool. But not in this story.
drakefireice28: Complicated, most definatly.
Shooting Star Dragon 3000: NEVER a good sign.
B.E.A.T.N: You mean WALLY and Diana. Different Flash.
Here are some Review's answered by Ghost:
jasongd: Thanks for always reviewing.
PowerhousePhantom: Wait and see. It's going to be a hell of a ride
R. Vital: Thanks for being so understanding. Yeah, Zoom is just spelling trouble for them all.
Sir Shark of The Acrylic: Tim is... He's thirteen in this story. He's not thinking about that sort of stuff yet. As for him being bisexual? Good for him.
drakefireice28: Yeah, because everything gets more BS when the Speed Force (or Negative Speed Force) are involved.
Shooting Star Dragon 3000: Yeah, but this is what happens when the past comes back to haunt you. Insert Godfather reference Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in.
B.E.A.T.N: Thanks man, and yeah. Thad's got a lot coming for him in this chapter.
Artist: GhostKaiser23, he goes by Hangman12 on Deviantart. Either look him up, or go to my profile to see links to all of his official work for this story
Disclaimer: Cartoon Network owns Ben 10 or Teen Titans
AUTHORS NOTE
Hey guys! Here we are, the next chapter of this small saga!
I hope you guys all like it!
James' Harem 2
Chapter 74
Test of Speed!
"'Zoom'?" Thad looked on at the Speedster. "No, no! You can't tempt me into this!" His voice cracked as he was shaking.
"Whyyyyy not?" Zoom questioned. "Youuu wantpowermorethan otherrrrs."
"That's not me! I don't-! I don't want power!" He snapped at him.
"Yyyyou'reee a Thawne!" Zoom responded. "YourwholelifeisdriventoKILLTheFlash!"
"No! Bart, he's. He's my brother. He's my friend!" Thad snapped.
"Heeee'll never be yourbrother!" Zoom phased in and out of his speed.
Thad took a step back, looking away "You... You don't know what you're talking about!"
"I don't? Huh? Idon'tttt?" Zoom smirked "My power isn't siiiiiimple speedspeedspeed!" as he spoke his voice echoed, as he appeared around Thad in a circle "It istimeeee! And I know your future! YoukillImpulse! You use the Rooooogue's to steal his speedandthenyou kill him!"
Thad's heart broke as he heard that. No... No! It couldn't be true! He-! He was getting better! He was friends with Bart! "You're-You're lying! There's no way that would happen!" Thad pointed at him.
"Youuuu nnearlyjabbed yourself withV9."
"That was you! That had to be you!" Thad pointed at him. "You were using your speed to make me move!"
"I putitthere. You waaaanteeed to useit." Zoom stressed
Thad's hands shook as he heard that. It... It couldn't be right. He had been doing well. Keeping it under control. "I. Do. NOT want it!" He snapped.
"Youuuu say thaaaat." Zoom responded. "ButyouNEEDit!"
"I. I-!" Thad tried to rebuff that.
"Youuuu misssss it. You want tobefast agaaaain." Zoom answered. "Youwantto beeee a Speeedster again!"
"I. I'm not... S-Sh... shut up!" Thad shook angrily.
"Everyone looks down on you. Yourrrrrbroken! They see you likeatoy!justatoy! A little thiiiiingthatneeds to be protected! Always checking uponyou our of nowhere! Checking on you! Limiting you! Keeping you tiiiiied down!"
"I'm... I'm not gonna listen to some Reverse Flash knock off!" Thad snapped
"... Hahahahahaha!"
Laughter filled the room, as did lightning.
Thad looked around in fear, the red lightning lashing around him like he was in a Faraday Cage, he was in the dead centre of it as it surrounded him in a cacoon.
"You are right. I have beenwearing this tooooooo long! Been compared to him tooomuuuch! Atfirstitwas symbolic! ToshowIwasWally's ultimate foe! ButIandThawneeeee are noticing alike!"
Suddenly the lightning vanished revealing Hunter in a... New costume.
It was now, entirely, that disgusting yellow colour. Around his waist was a black lightningbolt belt. Around his chest was an X made up of two lightning bolts, a red diamond in the centre of his chest with a black lightningbolt in place. Black lightning rings where around his forearms and shins. And finally the antenna on the side of his mask where now black.
"Howwwww doooo I look, Kid?" Hunter smirked
"You... Are hideous." Thad frowned.
...
"I DO enjoy that attitude of yours!" Hunter smirked "So... That V9? Take it. Proveyourpoint. ghtme! Fiiight meeee! Ifyouare past this, youwon'twantanymore! If those heroes trust you, they'dbelieveyou when it's all overrrr! Andifyouare gooood... You'll stopme!"
Thad clenched his fists and took awkward breaths as he was ready to fight... but was he? 'I should call Jay! He's downstairs!' Thad told himself. He was smart, he knew the simple answer. Oh, he knew Jay wouldn't be able to beat Zoom by himself. Zoom was tough, Wally nearly died a few times taking him down. But it was the right thing to do and the others would be over in seconds.
...
But...
He could prove himself to them...
Zoom simply raised his hand and gave the 'come on' motion with his hand, smiling maddeningly at Thad.
...
Thad suddenly grabbed the V9 and stabbed the needle into his arm!
Thad closed his eyes from the pain, pushing the syringe's contents into his veins. Almost immediately, Thad's eyes began to dilate, his pupils opening up before shrinking back down to normal. Red lightning coursing through his irises as his pain soon turned to ecstatic pleasure. The rush. The fuel.
The SPEED!
Lightning sparked over him as a pained clench turned into a maddening toothy grin as the lightning around Thad began to slow... and Zoom began to look solid. Green lightning rushed over his body, spilling from his eyes... And he laughed.
Thaddeus Thawne drifted away... As Inertia felt reborn!
"Come on, Inertia. Can you beat me?" Hunter remarked with a dark smile, the two running at each other and crashed through the windows.
Inertia ran with all his might, wearing his green costume once more. The wind in his air as he ran with all his might. This...
He missed this!
He missed the thrill of the fight, the feeling of his blood pumping through his veins at Mach seven, the speed that he could feel close to the speed of light! He finally felt whole again!
...
So why could he not catch up with Zoom?!
'Damn it! I should be fast! Why can't I catch up with him! V9 is supposed to give me enough speed!' Thad thought as he moved his legs faster and faster. But it was like Zoom was matching his acceleration, somehow!
The two rushed up, down and around buildings in Keystone city.
"What's the matter, Inertia? Rust settling in on your joints?" Hunter jabbed.
"What the hell are you?!" Inertia snapped
"I told you! I'm the 'Reverse'!" Hunter remarked. Hunter answered. "I'm no accident, I make reasons!"
"Are you just talking nonsense?!" Thad snapped
"Possibly. Maybe not!" Hunter responded, before throwing Thad as he seemed to be playing with him now in addition to the race.
"Oaaahhh!" Thad yelled
Hunter simply laughed, throwing Thad around like a rag-doll. Showing his superior speed and experience.
No.
No this wasn't speed.
Thad knew speed.
This... This was something else!
Glass cut up Thad's back as he tried to fight back, the speed of the V9 was pushing his mental capabilities to their limit as he tried to examine Hunter's speed.
'What... Is he?' he thought
SLAM!
Hunter punched Thad in the stomach, the speedsters still fighting throughout the city.
'He's. Fast. Like... he knows things... He's not a true Speedster!' That thought as he was trying to heal at the enhanced speed and tried to get away just to get distance. But no matter where he ran, how fast he ran... Hunter was there. 'Think, Inertia! THINK! What is faster than speed itself?' He thought to himself.
SMASH!
"GAH!" Inertia yelled as a fist slammed into his face, shattering his goggles
*With Jay and Joan*
"Oh, my stars." Joan gasped as she and Jay saw the trashed room.
Jay knelt down and examined the syringe that was tossed to the floor... and his heart sank as he knew what must've been inside. 'Thad...' He frowned. "This is bad."
"Thaddeus... Why?" She mumbled, heart broken
"I need to get the others." Jay frowned, lightning sparking from his eyes
"Jay, if he's taken the drug again...what can the Speedsters do?" Joan asked.
"Make sure he doesn't die." Jay answered. "He's not the fastest there is. And without a bunch, it won't last long."
"Be careful, Jay." Joan asked, giving him a hug for luck.
With a simple nod, Jay sparked and immediately zoomed off in a blast of yellow lightning. He rushed away, hurrying go the West household...
*With Bart*
"Hey, Diana!" Bart grinned
"Oh, hello Bart. Surprised to see you here." Diana Prince, Wonder Woman, Princess of Themyscira and Founding Member of the Justice League; smiled. She was currently in the last stages of her pregnancy and sitting comfortably on a couch.
"Congrats!" he smiled
"Oh, thank you. I guess Wally must've told you. Where is he?" She wondered.
"Sorry, just had to stop at a store." Wally smiled, carrying a pair of cuddly toys and a bouquet of flowers.
"Wally, you spoil me enough already." Diana chuckled.
"What can I say? You ARE my 'princess'." He joked
"Tease." Diana chuckled, taking the flowers. "Lovely. Are those for the babies?"
"Is it that obvious?" He chuckled.
"Hehe." Diana chuckled softly.
"Any ideas on the names?" Bart asked curiously.
"We've selected on the names, but we're waiting until they're born." Diana answered.
"Good idea." Bart nodded, before shuddering.
"What's with the shudder?" Wally asked.
"Just imagining a speedster with Amazonian abilities." Bart chuckled. "They'll give Hermes a run for his money."
...
...
"Snrt!" The two snorted and laughed at Barts terrible joke.
"Okay, I admit that one was bad." Bart slumped into a chair as they laughed.
"Do you want a drink, Diana?" Wally asked.
"I'm fine." She responded.
WHOOSH!
"Huh? Jay?" Both Wally and Bart turned as they saw Jay panting after coming to their location.
"Guys... guys... we have a problem..." he mumbled
"What problem?" Wally asked seriously.
"It's. Thad. He's. He took. V9." Jay panted.
"What?!" Bart shouted in shock. "Why?"
"I don't know. But all I know is he's in trouble, he wouldn't do this without being pushed." Jay responded.
"We've gotta go!" Wally nodded. "Sorry, Diana. We-"
"Wally, I understand. Go." Diana reassured and ordered him to go.
"Thad..." Bart whispered weakly
"I'm sorry, Bart. We've got to go." Jay responded.
"I-I know." Bart nodded, feeling hurt by this. Thad was doing so well. At least... No. There had to be something. He wouldn't just start using again. He held his head softly, trying to work out what he could do.
The three Speedsters rushed out of the room, their yellow lightning seeming to merge together as they ran.
Diana frowned sadly... Before she doubled over, holding her stomach as water splashes on the ground "Oh... Oh no..." She muttered in terror
*With Thad*
"HRARGH!" Thad screamed as he as trying to catch up to Zoom, he could feel the V9 wearing out... and he had yet to figure out how the hell this bastard was beating him!
'Work smarter. Think Inertia, think!' He told himself
"What's the matter, Inertia? Losing speed?" Zoom remarked. "You can't keep up!"
Thad coughed up blood as he was being smacked around, before... something clicked. Something that got Thad's attention. How did he know he was losing speed? Unless... was he counting down the seconds.
'Seconds. Seeing...Time. He's manipulating time!' Thad realised in shock. And with that, he was already coming up with a plan!
...
Just a second later!
...
He... He... he had a plan! He would habe one! He knew he would have one!
...
W-Why couldn't he thinkg of anything?!
...
N-No
...
No...
...
He... He had no plan. There-There was nothing he could do!
...
He had no plan.
How did you beat that?
How could you beat a person who manipulates time?! That power was too much, too broken!
Zoom came to a stop before Inertia, smirking "Doooooo youseeeeee now? Thatyoucan't win?"
"I see. That. I can't... Can't win." Thad panted, his mind slowing down as the V9 begannto wear off
"I... Cansharethis power with Youuuu." Zoom explained, holding out a hand
"'Share it'?" He asked in confusion. "I'll... I can be a speedster again?"
"You can be... better." Zoom smirked as he held out his hand "And by doing so... you can make THEM better!"
Thad looked at the held hand... the temptation was there. The speed to go faster. To make... to make them 'better'? He wanted to help. To make Bart faster? A better Flash? His hands shook as he wanted to reach out... but his mind. It was splitting in two.
...
"What... Are you talking about?" He asked
"Thinkofit. Yoooou'll beee abletomakethem betterrr Flashes!" Zoom responded. "Aaaaalll greatFlash'shavetraumaintheirlives! Thaaaaaat's whaaaat maaaakes tembetterheroes!"
Thad looked at Zoom's hand and was tempted to shake it.
'Yes. Yes, yes, yesyesyesyesyesyes!' Zoom thought to himself, smiling maddeningly. "I know you care for them. Butthat'salsothe problem! You're broken! Itwillalwaysend with you or Bart over the othersdeadbody! So accept it! YoucanhaveREAL poweeeeeer! Bea REAL hero bymakinghim the BEST heerrrrrro hecanbe!"
"If...I do this. I can help them?" Thad whispered, his mind was flooded with thoughts of loyalty to Bart, trying to help him become better.
"Eeeexactlyyyy." He answered. "Whaaaaat doyousay?"
Thad looked at him and was about to answer... only for the winds to pick up as three figures appeared before them.
"THAD!" A figure in red yelled, swallowed by yellow lightning
"Huh?" Thad blinked, Zoom quickly gone
"There you are!" Jay and Bart arrived with Wally.
"We were worried about you!" Jay spoke.
"I-"
"Why did you take V9?" Wally asked "You know what would happen!"
"I-"
"Thad, you could have just thrown your life away!" Wally continued
"Wally, calm down." Jay snapped lightly
"But-!"
"Wally! You're scaring him." Jay calmed him. "Thad, what happened?"
"I... N-Nothing. Nothing happened." Thad lied. "I too the V9."
"Why did you do that? You were doing so well." Jay asked empathetically.
"I did it... because..." Thad mumbled, trying to think of something... but his mind was getting slower.
'No! NO! I WON'T loose my speed!' Inertia thought in rage.
And suddenly, without thinking, his arms shot out. He grabbed Jay and Wally's arms, his body reacting on instinct as it felt the Speedforce begin to leave him.
"Huh?" Wally blinked
"Thad, what are you-GAAAAHHHHH!" Jay began to ask, only to scream in pain
"JaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA-GWRAAAAAHHHHHHHH!" Wally screamed in pain, his scream starting as a cry of concern before agony took it's place.
Yellow lightning was sparking around the two Flash's, the two older men looking like human plasma balls, before the lightning was flowing to Thaddeus. As the lightning touched his body, the yellow lightning shifting into a sickening green.
"AAAAHHHHH!" Inertia gasped in ectasy as his eyes where filled with green lightning
"Guys!" Bart yelled, taking a step forwards
"STAY BACK, KID!" Wally yelled at Kid Flash, gritting his teeth. The pain, the pain! It was so much!
"But-"
"You touch him-then-then-RAAAAHHH!" Jay gasped, as the two Scarlet Speedster's fell to their knees and the lightning around the two began to die down
"Yes~! Yes~!" Inertia cried in joy, looking like a living green lightning storm... before his eyes regained humanity
"No!" Thad yelled in terror at what he had done, thrown Jay and Wally's arms away as he stumbled backwards. He looked down in horror at his hands, which where shaking while surrounded by green lightning.
Jay and Wally where staying perfectly still, even though they should be falling to the ground. Their movements so slight and tiny it was almost unnoticable.
Looking around slowly he came to a realisation... a realisation he hated.
...
He was fast again!
"No..." he whispered as his mind and body where truely in synch again. Faster than a normal human could imagine.
Only...
...
More~!
He was faster than ever!
Faster than even he had imagined!
Looking up and locking eyes with Bart...
...
He ran away.
"No you-!" Bart called, only to hear Jay and Wally groan as they fell to the floor "Guys!" he yelled, rushing over to them
"Hey... Hey Kid." Wally coughed
"We are in bad shape." Jay grunted
"Whathappened?Areyouokay?WtddTadoou?" Bart began to ask a flurry of questions as his speech rushed into Flash speed
"Bart, Bart, stop. Stop, we can't hear you." Wally urged
"W-What? What do you mean? Why?" Bart asked, forcing himself down to normal speed
"Thad... he... he stole our speed." Jay explained weakly "He stole our speed, Bart..."
*with Thad*
Thad zoomed away in fear, realising what he did. He stole their speed. He stole a Speedster's speed! This was the TRUE Speed Force! After so long, he was finally connected to the Speed Force again!
'I'm a Speedster again!' He thought; he was ecstatic! This was the first step to 'make them better'!
...
...
...
And he felt disgusted in himself.
"I'm... I'm a Speedster... again..." He muttered, his feet slowing down as he came to a stop.
He was in China.
"No... way... I-I got here this fast?" He wondered to himself. He looked around at the massive city, feeling out of place and shaking. This was the speed of two Speedsters coursing through him... taking it from Wally and Jay.
...
Oh god, what had he done?!
Thad fell to his knees, his hands clutching his head...shaking as lightning sparked around him. "Ah... ah...!" Tears began to well in his eyes, his breathing became heavy, almost screaming. "HA...! HAAAAAAAAAAARGH!" His screams became wails of anguish and pain. He had just ruined his life!
If he'd just explained the situation they would have been fine! They would have protected him!
Helped him!
But NO! He had to be a fucking IDIOT and do this!
What kinda genius was he?!
"You've done well, Inertia." A dark voice spoke, the maniac who taunted him into this world.
Thad's head turned and tried to look around, seeing Zoom in his vision from behind... The Speedster who was manipulating time!
"You... YOU! You did this to me!" Thad yelled at the man.
"You did this to yourself." he smirked darkly
"Wh-what?" Thad snapped.
"I merely showed you the door. YOU were the one that went through it." Zoom berated. "YOU took the step and stole their speed."
"B-But why? Why did I-? It's because of-!"
"It's in your blood. Your very core. You're a Thawne through and through. A Speedster... Just. Like. Him!" Zoom responded cockily. "But UNLIKE him? Unlike him... you are not a monster. Youcareabout them! You want them to bebeeeter! Andwhatmakes heroeeess beetterrr?! Sufffferingg!"
"Suffering? Suffering makes great heroes?" Thad asked, his mind getting clearer as it was finding the logic in those words.
He began to think, remembering all of the heroes he knew.
Batman's parents.
Superman's parents.
Barry Allen's mother.
Barrey Allen himself.
Bart's origin, trapped in a simulated life.
James, being trapped away from his family.
Trigon looming over Raven.
Victor being turned into a cyborg.
Argent's mother being an alien who abandoned and her father having been a drug dealer.
Bleez's rape.
What happened to Don Hall.
... The ENTIRE situation with the Wilson family.
What happened to Oracle.
... Jason...
What happened with Tim's parents.
What happened to Animal Man's parents.
Starfire being sold into slavery, essentially.
Blackfire's 'dark one' history.
What happened to the previous Blue Beetle's.
All the battles every hero had to go through.
Cheshire nearly destroying Markovia.
...
Cass' history
...
...
...
"You're right." Thad reluctantly admitted
"Whaaaaatwasthat?" Zoom asked
"You're right!" Thad snapped "All heroes are... are... surrounded by tragedy. And... they've used it to pull themseleves from darkness. From despair."
Jay...
Wally...
"They are... they are much better people than I am." Thad mumbled darkly
"Yess~! Theyare!" Zoom nodded with a smirk "Howeveryoucanbe the reaaaalll hero!"
"How?" Thad glared
Zoom smirked... and extended his hand "Take it." he said simply "I will share my power with you, link it to you like Speedstersarelinked to the SpeeeeedForceeeee! You willbecome MY partner! MYsidekick!"
"And?" Thad asked, green lightning still sparking all around him
"Aaaaannnddddd,youwill be a real herooo." Zoom said as he removed his cowl. He revealed his short brown hair and blue eyes, his burley but kind face "Sacriviiiicingyoursellllf to be the villain. Sothatthey can be beeeteeer heroeeesss andsavemore people. We won't be angels, we won't be heroes. Butwewillbe our part. And we will be a TYPE of hero. The bestwecould be. Iask ofyou to be brave."
...
Could he really do this?
If he agreed to this...
If he agreed...
...
He'd be throwing everyone away
'For Bart... for them.' He thought sadly to himself.
There were no more words to be said. Thad had chosen his fate. To make Bart the best Speedster he could be... he would be the monster for him to fight.
Clasp
Thad took Zoom's hand as he made his deal with the devil.
"Nooooowwww Thad." Hunter pulled him up. "Weeeee'll beginyourwork."
...
"GRRAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Thad screamed as powers began to leave him, as the lightning began to leave his body.
Green lightning shot up into the air, like a cannon. Zoom's grip on Thad kept him in place, looking down at the young man with a malicious grin. Lightning rushed into the sky, filling the clouds with tremendous power.
Bart could see the lightning course with intense power, seeing the clouds spark with ominous light that didn't naturally occur. This was big. It was *way* too big for only himself.
Thad felt the speedforce ripped from his body, and a new power filling him. He could feel his body crack and change, this new power fuelling his very core... he was a changed being.
"GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!"