Mutant Earth

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Chapter 2: Aftershock.

It was morning by the time Caitlin came out of the medical bay to the group waiting outside. Joe and Harry had been nervously waiting, wanting more than anything to help but knowing they would just get in Caitlin's way, that Caitlin was the best option their kids had to live. Cisco was at the computer now and Barry and Kara were hanging around, waiting.

"Well they are stable," Caitlin said to the relief of Harry and Joe. The two had been pacing the floor waiting for Caitlin to come to them with information. "That was a lot of work. It was touch and go for a while, but they will live." Caitlin had to take care of both of them. "But… Joe, Harry… they are in comas."

"How long before they wake up?" Joe asked, his voice hollow, not believing he was going through this again. Instantly he thought back to the bad times, when Barry had been in a coma and the stress that had put the family under. Some of the worst days of his life were seeing the man he considered his son on the verge of death. He has not known Wally for as long as Barry, thanks to Francine's secrecy, but he loved him. Seeing his other son in that condition was not what he wanted.

"Well, timing it to Barry's coma I would say nine months," Caitlin said, eyes going to Kara and Barry who were still in their outfits but still surprising present given the farm was their constant primary concern.

"Why would you time it to me?" Barry asked, curious.

"Because their comas match yours exactly," Caitlin stated, but stopped as at that moment a face none of them had seen for a long time came running in. Iris came in, and right to her father. No-one had seen her since that day Barry had found Kara, and only Barry and Caitlin had known the real reason for her sudden departure from Central City and Team Flash's lives.

"I'm glad you came," Joe said, hugging his daughter close to him. He alone had contact with her after she had decided to get some distance. He had not seen her either though since she had left Kent Farm a year ago; it had been hard on him.

"He's my brother. Of course, I came," Iris said, her eyes momentarily going to Barry and Kara before turning to Caitlin. "What's going on?"

"Wally and Jesse tried to take on a mutant with their own enhanced super-suits, but it didn't work. They're in comas now, comas that match Barry's." Caitlin explained. "I think when their super suits exploded it not only electrocuted them, but mixed the velocity-9 in their system giving them a connection to the speed-force in much the same way Barry was when he was struck by that lightning bolt. They are becoming speedsters."

"I thought Velocty-9 only gave you speed, that is wasn't part of the speed-force?" Joe now voiced.

"No, it's distantly related to the speed-force. Remember I used the stuff on fake-Jay – Hunter – and it worked to heal him, if briefly. A massive doze of the stuff, plus whatever these suits did to Jesse and Wally…" Caitlin explained.

"What was with these super suits?" Iris now asked, as eyes turned to Cisco. While Jesse was smart and Wally was pretty good with science himself, Cisco was the only one who could make something like that.

"Whoa, I had no part in this," Cisco said, defending himself with hands in the air. "If I did, it wouldn't have exploded." Cisco had been at the computer since they got back. No one was sure what he was doing but he was about to explain now. "I found their plans, though. Jesse is brilliant, just not brilliant enough." Cisco brought up the plans on the bigger screen. "Bio suit, as they said. The exterior mimics that of normal tissue and they put a vein-like system in the suit to send the Velocity-9 instantaneously around the thing. Super speed by velocity, without really using velocity. It really is quite impressive, but I can see the flaws. If only they had asked me… They also added special robotics in the arms, I think to mimic Kara's super strength or give them a super-sonic punch-like effect."

Kara gave a laugh at this. "No way some robot arms were as strong as me," Kara said as Iris rolled her eyes at this comment.

"I agree," Cisco said, a finger in the air now. "But I think they did enhance their strength by some. The problem came when they tried to mimic Static's power... The electrics they put in the hands wasn't correctly laid out – it exploded inward instead of sending an electrical bolt outward, causing the suits to malfunction around them. More than likely mixing the velocity-9 into their system, as Caitlin said."

"But they will be fine?' Harry asked. He was emotionally hovering between being worried at his daughter, to anger over her stupidity on these suits.

"I see no cellular degeneration. They have some burns but as I said, they are stable," Caitlin spoke up. "I'm going to dig out the treatment Eobard Thawne gave to Barry when he was like this."

"While this is fascinating and I'm sorry Wally and Jesse are in comas," Kara spoke up. In her blunt way, she almost sounded bored. "I just got back from the… what's it called, Karry Universe, where I helped them break in to some weird government facility, fought some scientifically made mutants, bad vigilantes, and twisted clones of their version of Kal. I am here because I was told the city needed me… but if it doesn't, we do have a farm to run. One we left Chloe and Oliver in charge of."

"Oliver?" Caitlin now asked, sounded surprised.

"Kara is right," Barry said, not giving any more explanation. "We can't do anything for Wally and Jesse. We'll leave them in Caitlin's capable hands. What about this mutant?"

"Well the mutant is on some sort of path of destruction. So far, she destroyed several buildings, including my favorite comic book shop and restaurant and, oh…" Cisco said, noticing one of the buildings in the list. "That's my apartment building! It's dust now…" Cisco looked, and sounded, shocked at this. His home was gone. "All my stuff was in there. Everything I owned… It was rent-controlled. I'll never find another apartment as good as that for as cheap."

"Cisco," Barry said, snapping his friend out of his mourning over his apartment. "Look, I'm sorry for your loss. We'll find you a new place to live after this is over."

"Look at the bright side," Caitlin piped up. "If you hadn't gone to Karry by accident you would have probably been in that building."

"Oh, that's true," Cisco said, realizing Caitlin's point and now slightly relieved although feeling the loss still. The fact he could not get back here right away, and then Kara had gotten side tracked helping that world out had probably saved his life. "Poor little Cisco would have been dust." Cisco now stated.

"You can stay with me until you find a place," Joe said, deciding to help out Cisco. He liked him and the house was lonely with Iris and Barry gone, and now with Wally in a coma, he could use the company.

Cisco gave Joe a thankful smile before turning back to the computer. "This mutant seems to have a loud siren call. Strong enough to obviously take down buildings. There's no videos of her – the only reason we know she's a she is because of observers. And Jesse and Wally, of course. Not enough to make an identification. Tall, blonde hair, wearing black. Seems to have gone quiet for now. I'll keep an eye on the app for any indication of her."

"Well than okay then. I'm starved," Kara said looking over at Barry. "Stalker, want to go get some breakfast?" It was early-morning now, after all.

"Sounds like a plan to me," Barry said as both touched where their rings were and they went from their outfits back into their normal clothes. Barry put an arm around Kara and the two left.

Iris watched the pair leave, biting her lip, before looking to the others in the team. Joe and Henry were sitting by their kids, Caitlin was looking through files, and Cisco was now reading something on his own computer. Iris was tempted to go over to her brother but decided instead to go where Caitlin, was looking through files. "She still calls him stalker?" Iris asked shocking Caitlin who had not noticed Iris come behind her.

"Sorry, was just looking for Barry's file," Caitlin said, turning to her friend. "What were you saying?"

"Kara, she still calls Barry stalker?" Iris said. She had not expected to hear that name anymore. She had figured it would have faded out.

"Yeah," Caitlin said. 'It's sort of their thing now. No one else can call him it though." Caitlin smirked as she remembered Jesse one-time using the nickname. Not only did Barry complain, but Kara had given Jesse a sour look and told her that Barry was her stalker and no one else's. The name had become a pet name for them.

"How are they doing?" Iris asked.

"I would say 'practically married'," Caitlin said. "Barry quit his job, you know. Moved in with her. Works on the farm now, and yes, he loves it there. Kal loves him, too. He and Kara are going good." Caitlin remembered the last time she had seen Iris. When Iris had confessed that she was falling in love with Barry. "You're not still…?"

"Oh," Iris paused. "No… well… I still think of him, but I am moving on. I'm trying to move on."

"Good," Caitlin said. "Because Barry is happy. Happier than I have ever seen him. You can't destroy that. He's like your brother."

"A brother I haven't talked to in a long time," Iris said, knowing it wasn't Barry's fault they had lost contact. When she had left, she had lost all contact with everyone but her father and asked Joe not to tell anyone where she was or give her new number out. She hadn't even talked to her father much since she'd left. Just updates to let him know she was okay and still loved him. She had figured that was the least she could do for her one and only father. She knew his kids meant the world to him, and she wouldn't take that away from him.

Caitlin didn't respond though as she went back into where Wally and Jesse were, information about Barry in hand and Iris followed her. "Right, so I've got Barry's file," Caitlin said. "It will take a while, but I know how to help them." Joe and Harry sighed in relief. "So, Iris," she turned back to the female West, "out of curiosity, what have you been doing lately?"

"I took some night classes, but then got a job over in Opal City," Iris said.

"Another reporter job?" Harry asked, curious himself now that Jesse was being taken care of.

"No," Iris said. "I am working at a college. Psychology department. Doing research into the psychology of mutants. Even talking to them. Teaching some classes. Hoping one day to become a fully-fledged psychologist specializing in mutants."

"Psychologist?" Caitlin said, looking over Iris. "That's a weird career jump."

"I did major in psychology in college," Iris said.

"You know, I forgot you studied psychology," Joe said, causing everyone to look at him, wondering how he forgot his own daughter's major. "Well, you were always so into the paper and then with CCPN..."

"Writing was fun for a while," Iris admitted, "especially when I was writing about the Flash…" She paused as Barry and Kara walked back in, both carrying a giant amount of fast-food. Kara had the most. They seemed to have everything from pizza to Chinese and more. "But it lost my interest." Iris concluded, Caitlin saw where Iris was looking and nodded as she went back to work, being the only one to understand what Iris meant.

"Hey, please tell me you brought something for your now-homeless friend?" Cisco said, turning around and seeing the giant stack of food.

"I think we got plenty," Barry said as he and Kara were already digging in, and Cisco grabbed a slice of pizza to eat as well. "I sometimes miss fast-food, but your cooking is much better." Barry turned to Kara as he said this, and Kara gave him a smile.

"Well, you can't live off fast-food forever," Kara said. "When I got here I knew I had to learn to cook. For Kal. Besides, Martha was a great teacher."

"Those Kryptonian recipes are good," Barry said, continuing to eat.

"Too bad they are only as Kryptonian as Earth allows. I have to make substitutes for plants not on this planet," Kara said. "Sometimes meat, too," Barry gave a smirk as he took a burger at that and Kara took one as well.

"Got some extra food?" Iris asked cautiously, appearing from the medical bay, hungry herself and the smell of all the food the super duo brought, increasing her hunger.

"Dig in," Barry said, holding out his hands and Iris came up taking some food herself. "I'm glad you're back Iris." Barry now said. Iris smiled, but tried not to take it too much to heart. Barry was only thinking of her as a friend, probably a sister, and she knew that.

"Well, when I heard about Wally I had to come. For dad," Iris said. "And I hear you're living on the farm now? Never pictured you a farm boy."

"Me either, but I like it," Barry said. "I like the company." Barry smiled at Kara at this and Iris saw the look in his eyes. He was still very much in love with her, and she with him.

"You better like the company. You stalked me enough to get it," Kara joked, and Barry laughed.

"Oh well, I was just very determined," Barry said back, not arguing about the name. He had long since come to accept the name and even liked Kara calling him by it.

Iris saw the interaction and choose not to say anything. She was thinking joining them for food was a bad idea, but she had to get use to Barry being with Kara. She couldn't live the rest of her life ignoring her family, and Barry was a part of that family and it also seemed Kara and Kal would be too.

That was when the computer started to bing.

"Mutant app," Cisco said, looking over the computer. "It's our wailer."

"Hey, didn't anyone look into Siobhan um… what was her last name?" Barry said, turning his ring and getting back into his flash outfit. "Maybe it will be us against Silver Banshee again. Brings back memories… Well for me anyway. One of the mutants I faced when on Karry."

"Let's hope we never have to face what I did," Kara said getting into her own outfit. "Vibe Junior, give us directions."

"Okay… hey wait, stop the Vibe Junior stuff!" Cisco complained as Kara laughed and the two superheroes were off.

Iris sighed, not used to seeing that anymore. She wondered if she even missed all this now. Looking back at Wally's unconscious form she was thinking she didn't. It was better being away from this, being away from Central and being away from Barry. Especially since Barry didn't like her in the same way anyway. She was liking her new life in Opal City.

Post Chapter Note: I know this chapters aren't as long as Karry chapters, but they're not meant to be – this story is different to Karry. If this was Karry I would have done this plot all in one long chapter and then moved on, after all.

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