Disclaimer: The following is a nonprofit Fan based story; The FLASH and all related characters are owned by DC comics, the CW and anyone I may have missed

The Flash: Moving Forward

Chapter 3: Dr. Darwin Elias

In Elias Industries a lone scientist strode through the hallowed halls of the institute.

He wore a white shirt, yellow tie, with brown lacks, brown shoes, and a white lab coat. His hair was decorated with a mop of shaggy brown-gray hair.

He walked through the dark halls looking at all the project he'd started and yet never finished. Dr. Elias saw himself as something like Humanity's Savior.

"ELIAS!" He turned around at the sound of his name. Walking towards him was Joar Mahkent and his son, Cameron.

"Joar? Is that you?" the scientist asked as the large man approached him. When he who it was that was approaching him his expression changed to cold and hard. "Get the hell out of here." He ordered

"Can't do that doc." Joar repied "I've come to ask a favor of you."

Elias touched a wall panel and pulled a pistol out of a hidden compartment. He aimed the gun at the super criminal's head "After you screwed me over in Denmark I promised you that if we ever met again I'd blow your brains out." In an instant Joar pulled out his freeze gun and froze Dr. Elias's gun hand. "AGH!" He clutched the chunk of ice that was his hand and fell to his knees. Joar crouched down to Elias' level and pressed the cold gun into the scientist' forehead.

"Now here's the deal doc. I promised my boy that you'd help him with his powers. Now you're going to do just that, I don't care how you do it just so long as he stops complaining about it. If you do it I'll pay you real good money, plus I'll thaw out your hand."

"Fine…" He complied "I have just the thing."

The three of them walked into Elias's private lab until they all stood before a large tube.

"This is my prototype for a genome de-coder. It's designed so we can read your son's genetic code and determine exactly what part of it is the source of his powers. From there we can regulate it."

"Fine" Icicle Jr. said "just make it so it's easier to control these damn powers." The doors to the tube opened with a loud hiss.

"Get it." Joar shoved his son into the tube and it closed around him before filling up with a clear liquid. Cameron began to freak out as the liquid rose around him. The moment it touched his skin he felt his body go numb, an unusual feat considering his body temperature is on average a negative number.

"They 'ell are you doing Elias?" Joar demanded as he slammed his gun into the back of Elias' head, knocking him to the ground.

"He needs to be unconscious for this." The scientist replied as he looked up at his assailant. "That liquid will help identify his genomes, specifically the mutated genes. From there we can"

"You're making it worse! DAD MAKE IT STOP!" Icicle Jr. yelled from inside the machine as the liquid began to freeze around him as he slowly became encased in an icy cocoon.

"It'll get worse before it gets better. I'll stop it if you're that concerned for your son." Joar struck Elias back to the ground.

"I don't care about that. If he can't handle this then he's hardly worth my time. I don't need a runt who can't control his abilities; I need someone capable of doing his job and not screwing up by getting caught by the police or some spandex clad freak in a mask."

"Well then you won't be disappointed." The scientist said from the ground. "By not his DNA should have been unraveled and he should have better control over his powers."

Icicle sr. walked up to the machine. Wiping away the fog on the glass he got a look at what was inside and he smiled at the results. Joar turned around and pointed his cold gun at the downed scientist. "It's a pleasure doing business with you doc. But I'm gonna have to change our deal." Icicle Sr. was so engrossed in his monologue he didn't even notice a figure in a black suit appear right behind him. "You see any sum of money you want is far too high. SO I'm just going to Ice you here and-" SNAP In an instant Paradox snapped Icicle Sr.'s neck and watched as his body fell haplessly to the ground.

"Dr. Elias, It's an honor to finally meet you."Paradox said in a mocking bow to the cowering scientist. "We have a lot to discuss."

"W-who are you?"

"I go by a few different names, but you can call me Paradox."

The following morning found the Central City Police Department in Elias Industries main lab investigating the events from the previous night. All they had was a broken machine, large amounts of ice everywhere including a trail to nowhere, an injured scientist and a dead body.

Barry Allen was currently investigating the shattered glass of the large tube, hoping to fide some shred of evidence to help the case.

"Anything Barry?" Eddie asked as he walked over to the forensic scientist.

Barry looked up from the shattered tube. "This machine was in use last night,"

"What can shatter something made of steel and glass?"

"Extreme cold did that to my Genome De-coder." Eddie and Barry turned around to find themselves face to face with the owner of the company, Dr. Darwin Elias. Compared to last night he now had small cuts and bruises all over his face, bandages all around his chest, shoulder and his entire right arm. "And for the record it was composed of titanium and tempered glass."

"Oh, wow…" Barry was speechless here he was kind of nonchalantly talking to an idol of sorts. "Dr. Elias, I'm…I'm really excited to meet you…though I kind of wish it were under better circumstances." He extended his right hand before immediately retracting it and extending his left hand which was met with a hand shake. "Oh, right. I'm Barry. Allen! I'm Barry Allen."

"It's nice to meet you Mr. Allen. It is quite rare for me to meet an aspiring man of science." Dr. Elias said smiling. "I suppose you two would like a description as to what was happening here?"

"That would be great." Eddie said

"I was preforming some late night experiments with my Genome De-coder. As you know DNA is a remarkable thing. Every species on this planet is completely different and yet when one compares the DNA one finds very few differences."

"I thought you were into renewable energy." Barry said

"Renewable energy is our main goal here at Elias Industries, but I believe that the key to the future lies within our very own genetic code." Elias explained "Take a look at the world today. There's someone running around our fair city with super speed." He didn't even notice Barry's reaction shifting slightly. "If one were able to harness his abilities we could have potentially an unlimited source of energy that could last forever!"

"You still haven't told us what happened here last night." Eddie interjected

"My apologies detective. When I start talking about my projects I just can't stop myself." Elias apologized "As I said earlier I was doing some genetic research when that man" He gestured to the covered body of Icicle Sr. "Stormed into my lab and demanded that I aid him and his son."

"And did you?"

"Lord no. I refused of course, but he can be quite…persuasive." Dr. Elias said glancing to his injuries. "I regrettably agreed to help him."

"What did he have you do?"

"He wanted me to do some inhumane things to his son." Elias relied "Specifically rewrite his DNA. I'll have you know I am against testing any of my inventions on human subjects willing or otherwise."

"Understood, continue please."

"Well, I had his son get into the Genome De-coder and I began. It was only meant to map out his genetic code to identify the location. The technology to splice and unsplice DNA doesn't exist."

"So, Mahkent Sr. found out you were ripping him off and he attacked you." Eddie clarified piecing together Elias' story.

"Exactly, and when he was about to kill me a red blur burst into my lab and killed him." Elias said "The killer you are looking for is the Flash."

"Are you sure about that?" Barry asked "That sounds nothing like the Flash at all."

"Yeah," Eddie agreed "he's done a lot for this city and after he saved my life twice I like to think that he's a hero, not some murdering psychopath."

"I know what it was I saw." Elias insisted "It was the Flash that killed Mr. Mahkent."

"I would like to see the security tapes." Eddie insisted

"Of course detective."

A few moments later Barry and Eddie were watching the security tapes. Everything transpired exactly as Dr. Elias had described, aside from a few minor details. Sure enough right before Joar shot his gun at Elias a man in a red suit blurred into the screen, moved behind Icicle Sr. and snapped his neck. It was so fast they needed to watch the video frame by frame.

"I told you it was the Flash." Elias exclaimed

Eddie turned around to Elias. "Thank you for your cooperation in this investigation Dr. Elias. Is it alright with you if we take this security tape? It may help us catch Mahkent's son."

"Yes, of course detective."

Barry just kept staring at the frame with the man in the red suit snapping Icicle Sr.'s neck. He knew this was not the Flash for two reasons; One, he wasn't there last night, Two this 'Flash' was surrounded by red lightning.

"Allen, you ready to go?"

"Yeah, it was nice to meet you Dr. Elias." Barry said as he, Eddie and the CCPD left Elias Industries

"It was good to meet you as well Mr. Allen, I do hope we can met again."

"What do you think Allen?" Eddie asked

"About?"

"He answered our questions a little too accurately and quickly. Didn't even miss a step."

"You think he's involved."

"No, I think he's hiding something." Eddie replied "Maybe you should get your friends at S.T.A.R. labs in on this, see if there's a meta-human out there who can affect recordings or something."

Later at S.T.A.R. Labs

"Dr. Darwin Elias…" Dr. Wells sighed "I never really wanted hear that name again."

"You know him?" Barry asked

"Remember how I told you about a former colleague of mine who was more into the money than the benefit to mankind?"

"That was Elias." Barry answered Wells' question.

"When he left"

"More like when Dr. Wells fired him." Cisco interjected

"He had offered everyone at S.T.A.R. Labs a position at his new company, luckily no one took it." Wells glanced over to Caitlin and Cisco "After the Particle Accelerator Explosion, Elias…he made the offer a second time and now he's a front runner in the renewable energy department."

"He personally offered Cisco and I jobs at Elias Industries." Caitlin added "We were probably the only two that turned down his offer both times."

"To be honest Elias is brilliant but he came off as rather arrogant." Cisco said "Like, he makes Hartley seem like the nicest guy on the planet, and that deserves a Nobel Prize."

"Alright I get it. None of you like Dr. Elias." Barry said "Now can we please look over this tape?" He held up the security CD "There's a few things here you're going to need to see."

"So fake Flash comes in, snaps Icicle Sr's neck, uses his cold gun to shatter Dr. Elias' Genome De-Coder and then leaves?" Cisco asked sucking on a lollipop. "I'm sorry, but something just doesn't add up here."

"You think that was actually the Reverse-Flash?" Caitlin asked as they all stared at the still image of the fake Flash snapping Joar Mahkent's neck.

"Well, the Reverse-Flash was after the tachyon device last Christmas. Perhaps he targeted Dr. Elias for a similar power source; he is into renewable energy and technology for the future." Barry replied. "It kind of fits his profile, but I think if he wanted to be seen he would have."

"Barry, you said the man in black also was surrounded in red lightning?" Wells asked which Barry confirmed with a nod. "Perhaps this isn't the Reverse-Flash but rather it is our mystery Meta-human."

"So, Paradox is still in town." Cisco said. "Not only that, but do we know where Icicle Jr. disappeared to?"

"Haven't the slightest clue." Barry said "but," he fast forwarded the tape then played it at a normal pace. In the video the frozen Genome De-Coder suddenly shattered outward, sending shards of ice glass and titanium everywhere, "It shows him here." Out of the Machine stepped Cameron Mahkent, only this time he was far more mutated than he was before. Now his entire body was composed of ice, with icicles growing off his shoulders, elbows and knees. Each finger was now a super long icicle, giving him the appearance of having claws.

He took a few steps to his father's body, embraced it and then fired some icicles into the camera, cutting of the feed.

"And that's where the tape ends." Barry said "He left a trail of ice, but by now it's melted."

"So whatever Elias did, it made Icicle Jr's meta-human abilities spiral out of control." Wells said. He suddenly slammed a hand against the arm of his wheelchair. "Damn that bastard. He's been splicing DNA."

"He said that DNA splicing doesn't exist." Barry said "And yet there's proof that he's knows how to do it."

"That wasn't a Genome De-Coder, it was a Genome Re-Coder." Wells kept talking like no one had said anything. "You sly fox. You found a way to get to a human's DNA and rewrite it however you wish. Clever bastard." Wells kept rambling to himself about Elias as he turned his chair around and rolled out of the room.

"I'm sure he'll stop ranting about Dr. Elias." Caitlin said looking down the hall after Wells "Eventually."

"Well, what are we waiting for?" Cisco said "We've got an abominable snowman to catch."

One Week later

Team Flash really needed a night out, what with the duel assault from the Icicle Duo a week ago, the death of Icicle Sr. and corresponding disappearance of Icicle Jr. (or just Icicle as Cisco had rebranded) coupled with the confirmed reappearance of Paradox and the whole Firestorm fiasco over the last four days. The team really needed some down time.

What started as a double date for Eddie, Iris, Barry and Linda quickly turned into a group function when Barry invited Caitlin and Cisco. So we find the six friends at a local bar, having drinks, eating food, throwing darts, playing ring toss.

Cisco and Barry had challenged Eddie to a darts contest in which detective pretty boy absolutely schooled the scientist and engineer in the art of Darts.

In the meantime the girls were having a nice time chatting it up about the recent changes in their lives. Dr. Snow had even gone out of her way again to get Barry some of her homemade 500 proof alcohol, slipping it to him without Iris, Eddie or Linda knowing.

"You know what? This was a great idea on Barry's part." Linda said to Caitlin and Iris. "That boy's got some good ideas running through that thick skull of his."

Iris just smiled at Linda's comment

"Well that's Barry for you." Caitlin replied "Typically thinking of others before he thinks about himself."

"Yeah, that's typical Barry." Iris agreed

"Next time, we make it a girl's night out." Linda said before putting an arm around Caitlin's shoulder making the young doctor almost spill her drink "I know Caitlin here just loves Karaoke."

"No, Nope, uh-uh. I told myself that I'll never go back up there." Caitlin pointed out "I can't carry a tune to save my life."

"Once you have a few drinks you'll do it." Linda pointed out

"How do you know that?" Iris asked

"Barry never told you how we met? It was actually at a Karaoke Bar, Barry and Caitlin were there on a 'date'."

"It wasn't a date." Caitlin interjected "We were just two friends going out and having a good time."

"The best thing about it was the fact you got Barry to sing." Linda said to Caitlin. "He's got the voice of an angelic choir."

"Oh, god." Caitlin put her head in her hands in embarrassment.

"Sounds like you guys had a good time." Iris said to the bio-engineer.

"Hardly. I can't even remember most of it."

In a heartbeat Barry was behind her as if he was listening in on their conversation. "Summer Lovin'" Just those two words were enough to embarrass Caitlin even more. He was never going to let her forget that.

Linda started laughing while Iris looked between Barry and Caitlin slightly confused.

"I wish I didn't remember that." Caitlin wished she could just curl up and vanish off the face of the earth.

"You know, when we were roommates you never wanted to get out of the room. Yet here you are, out in a bar with friends, and apparently you're visiting the karaoke scene." A voice said that caught the attention of all of them, but no one more than Barry.

The Fastest Man Alive turned around (slowly of course) and came face to face with an old friend he hadn't seen since his very first semester of college. He looked a little different since he joined the air force but there was no mistaking who it was plus the name on his jacket was a dead giveaway.

JORDAN

A wide smile crept across Barry's face and in moments the old friends were embracing each other.

"Hal."

"Barry, remember we said we weren't going to hug anymore?" Hal cocked an eyebrow and a cheeky grin.

"Oh, right! Sorry! I just got caught up in the moment." Barry sheepishly as he held out his hand. However instead of a hand shake as Barry's friends expected the two twenty five year olds did something unexpected.

They slapped their hands together, forward and backhand, followed by an 'explosion fistbump', a high five followed immediately by a low five, before they jumped up and chest bumped each other before extending the other hand for an exaggerated strong handshake.

"Dude, it's been forever!" Barry said

"It's only been a few years." Hal replied "Hardly forever."

"Hey Iris, who is that?" Linda asked. Cisco, Eddie and Caitlin also turned to her intent on learning who this Hal Jordan is.

"That's Hal Jordan. He's an old friend from Barry's freshman year at Central City University."

"Former roommates and best friends actually." Barry interjected as he and Hal strode over, arms slung over the other's shoulder. "Or at least we were for a semester before he joined the Air Force."

"Naw, we're still best buddies in the whole universe."

"You dropped out of Central City University? What possessed you to do that?" Linda asked

"I dropped out to be a pilot." Hal said "Always wanted to be one like my old man."

"You're a pilot? Sweet! What kind of planes do you fly?" Cisco said excitedly

"F-22 Raptors typically and if im really good the boss lets me test prototypes for planes I cannot even begin to describe to you."

"They're that awesome?" Linda asked

"No, I'd probably be arrested for divulging military secrets. And worst case scenario I'd be fired."

"I would love to check those babies out. I've been thinking of nifty things to add to them since college."

"I say if you want, come out to Coast City. I'll hit you up with a ride." Hal turned to Iris, Caitlin and Linda. "And who are these three lovely goddesses before me?" he asked.

"Hal, this is Caitlin Snow, Dr. Caitlin Snow" He corrected himself introducing Hal to Caitlin.

"Nice to meet you." Caitlin said holding out a hand expecting a handshake.

Hal took her hand and kissed the back of her palm. "Enchanté Madaemoiselle." Caitlin shot a pleading awkward glance at her friends.

"You speak French?" Barry asked Hal

"Just those two words." Hal said.

Caitlin retracted her hand and smiled. "Merci pour ce geste amiable monsieur Jordan." She replied back in near perfect French. "Ce est plaisir de vous renconter ainsi." This was now one of the few times in his life where Hal Jordan was speechless.

"That usually works." He said

"Hi, I'm Linda Park." Linda said also holding out a hand to Hal Jordan. "I'm Barry's girlfriend." It was a good thing she said those words because they stopped Hal from kissing her hand. Instead he took her hand and shook it respectably.

"It is nice to meet you Ms. Park." He turned his head to Barry and mouthed 'Nice catch.'

"Hi Hal, it's nice to see you again." Iris said giving the pilot a hug.

"Ah, the infamous Iris West," He nudged Barry's side and slapped him on the back. "I must say Barry told me a lot about you."

"Did he now?"

"Apparently he was lying, for you are far more beautiful than the dawning of a new sun." Hall took her hand with the intent on kissing it like a gentleman.

"Hey, I'm Iris' boyfriend." Eddie interjected taking Hal's hand and shaking it. "Detective Eddie Thawne."

"Ah, nice to meet you Detective Thawne." Hal replied not quite liking how he was cut off by this pozer.

"So Hal, what brings you to Central City?" Barry asked

"What? Can't a guy visit his best friend once in a while unannounced?" Hal asked. He snapped his fingers and their waitress turned to him "Excuse me beautiful, could I get beer please."

"What kind would you like sir?"

"Whatever you have on tap. Other than that surprise me." Hal replied giving her a wink. "If you can do that I'll surprise you later." The waitress smiled as she turned around and headed to the bar. Moments later she was back with a large glass of beer and a sheet of paper which what looked like her name and phone number. "Works every time." Hal said as he tucked her contact info into his chest pocket.

"Whoa…dude's got game…" Cisco said

"I do get that a lot." Everyone chuckled and laughed at Hal's response. "But, I'll be honest, there's a girl waiting for me back home."

"Then why do you seemingly hit on every woman you meet?" Linda asked raising an eyebrow.

"That's just who I am." Hal defended. "It's not like I'm sleeping with a different woman every night.

"You still live in Coast City?" Iris asked

"Born and Raised."

"Ok Hal, why are you really here. And don't say it's a spur off the moment plan." Barry asked once more.

"Fine Allen, you got me. I' here because I heard you were in a coma after being struck by lightning."

"That was fourteen months ago." Barry said

"I would have come sooner or even contacted you but I was…deployed." He took a sip of his beer.

"Where?" Caitlin asked

"Kuwait." He replied. "Just finished my tour about a week ago."

"When are you heading back?" Barry asked his friend

"A month if I'm lucky. Next week if I'm not." Hal replied "I'm capitalizing on my free time, and I figured I should spend it visiting old friends and such."

"You're getting deployed again?" Cisco asked

"Something like that." The pilot said taking another sip of his beer. "Ok enough questions. Next round it on me! Bar keep! Seven car bombs for me and my friends!"

Before the Bartender brought them the drinks Eddie's phone went off and after a short chat with the person on the other end he stood up to leave. "That's the precinct, I've got to go." Eddie said grabbing his coat and giving Iris a kiss. "I'll see you tonight."

"I think I should be heading home as well." Barry said stretching his arms and yawning "It's getting kind of late."

"Still going to bed early Allen?" Hal asked. "Fine, I'll take you home."

"Oh, not I'm fine Hal. I can car pool with Cisco and Caitlin. You're ok with giving me a ride right?"

"Of course." Caitlin replied.

"Hey Caitlin give me your keys. I'll start up your car." Cisco said. Caitlin nodded and tossed him her keys.

"Linda do you need a ride?" Barry asked his girlfriend.

"I'm good Barry. I only live just down the road."

"If you want I can walk you home." Barry insisted.

"Seriously Barry, I'll be fine." Linda replied "I guess that's my cue to head out, otherwise we'll be her all night. It was nice to see you guys, and it was especially nice to meet you Mr. Jordan."

"Like wise." He replied as Linda shook Hal's hand before giving Barry a kiss.

"I'll see you soon Linda, or call you…you know what I'll call you."

"OK Bear." She replied as she left the bar shortly followed by Cisco. "I'll talk to you tomorrow."

"So, we're all leaving? Alright then, guess this mean's I'll see you around Barry." Hal said as he finished his beer. Leaving a nice tip for the bartender Hal put his pilot jacket back on. He and Barry shook hands. "If I don't see you, good luck with everything."

"Same to you." Barry responded.

"Alright, you ready to go." Caitlin asked as Hal left the bar.

"Hey, Caitlin can I ask you something?" Iris asked as everyone was quickly filling out of the bar.

Barry and Caitlin exchanged looks. "Go on, I'll meet you at my car." Caitlin told the scarlet speedster before walking back to Iris. "What's up Iris?"

"You came to me several months ago asking about the Burning Man. I was wondering do you know who he is?"

Caitlin didn't respond right away. "I'm sorry Iris, but I have no idea who he is. I was asking about him because I saw him following me and…I was just curious. Kind of how you were with the Flash, you know before he became publicly known."

"Right." Iris said smiling before fishing through her bag. "That's what I thought initially until I came across this." She pulled out a photo and handed it to Caitlin who's eyes grew wider. "Look familiar?"

"I…is this…what…?" Caitlin was just babbling unsure how to respond to the photo of Firestorm's face.

"That's you cousin right? Sam was it? If that is even his real name."

"Iris…"

"Caitlin, I'm asking you as a friend, something is going on at S.T.A.R. Labs, I need to know what's happening there. I know you guys saved Barry's life and I cannot express how grateful I am for it but I need to know and you can start by telling me who this really is." She took back the photo and flashed it in Caitlin's face. "And maybe, if you want you can tell me about your connection to the Flash."

"What?"

"Oh, come on Caitlin don't deny it. Why else would that guy kidnap you to get to the Flash?" Iris was in full investigative mode but her last few words she suddenly wanted to take back. "Ok, that was uncalled for on my part."

Caitlin didn't know how to respond to Iris. "I-I'm sorry Iris, but I-I have to go. Could we…please talk about this…later?" She asked, practically begged. As she quickly left the bar to meet up with Barry and Cisco, they had an Ice meta-human to deal with.

"Um, sure I guess. It isn't that important. I'm just curious that's all." Once Caitlin left Iris put the photo back in her bag. 'I've never seen Caitlin act like that before. Something is definitely happening at S.T.A.R. Labs.'

Meanwhile Hal Jordan turned into an ally way behind the bar. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a tiny green ring and placed it on his right middle finger.

"Just a normal trip to Central City Jordan, see your old friend hit on a couple of ladies then head back to Coast City before Carol even knows I'm gone, but no. There just had to be crime and super powered people everywhere. Guess I've got to teach these punks that no one messes with my buddy's home city and gets away with it." He extended his ring wearing hand and called forth a green ball of energy from which a green lantern emerged. He placed his ringed knuckle against the lantern and took a breath. "In Brightest Day, In Blackest Night, No Evil Shall escape my sight. Let those who worship Evil's might, beware my Power, Green Lantern's Light!"

Here ends the chapter

Please tell me what you liked, didn't like, look forward to/think will happen, or your general thoughts and comments, this'll help me make this story better, no more of these one to two word reviews. I would like legit reviews. I'm a big boy so I can take criticism.

If there's anyone who speaks French I apologies if I butchered your beautiful language. Let me know how badly I butchered it.

Thank You, and if you sneezed while reading this Bless you.

Have a Fantastic day