Caitlin typed furiously, trying to figure out a game plan on how to stop Alchemy and Savitar for once and for all. They needed to remove the threat of the self proclaimed God of Speed and his minion, to protect all the people that could potentially be changed into meta humans to match their Earth-2 doppelgangers. Enough damage had already been done, enough lives have been torn apart. Beside her Cisco was working on a way to destroy the stone that Alchemy carried, the one that shot energy blasts and seemed to be able to open portals. If they could figure out a way to destroy it then maybe they would have a fighting chance.
"Any leads?" Barry asked as he blew into the cortex, agitated and ready for a fight.
"Other than the fact we know where they are, no, we don't." Caitlin shook her head, wishing they had more to give him.
"Where are they?"
"The I-MAX theater on the north side of town." Cisco replied absently, fingers still typing away. Caitlin moved to change into her outfit while Barry did the same. Together they met back in the cortex, seeing Wally waiting in his suit as well.
"Hey Wally."
"I figured you could use all the help you can get." Caitlin smiled at the young man as Barry nodded, glad that it wasn't just Barry out there fighting. She had gotten sick of him being the only one who had the ability to help, to fight. As much as she feared her powers, she was glad that she had them and could control them now.
"The more metas the better." Cisco pulled on his black jacket that was lined with Kevlar before pulling on his gloves and slipping his visors on his face. "It's about time Team Flash kicked some ass."
It was decided that Barry and Wally would run to the site while Cisco vibed a portal there, hoping to surprise the two villains. Watching her best friend open a swirling, liquid mercury blue portal Caitlin took a deep breath and plunged through. Shivers of electricity crawled across her, rubbing against her powers, seeming to charge her up. In a blink she and Cisco were at the theater, appearing behind and off to the side, out of the line of sight of Alchemy. Savitar was chasing Barry and Wally, the two speedsters trying to keep the God distracted and trying to stay out of his reach. Alchemy, on the other hand, had his hand raised and pointed at the dome of the theatre, stone in his hand glowing blue. He was shooting a beam of light at the dome, the power spreading across the faceted metal and glass slowly.
"Shit." Cisco whispered from beside her.
"What?"
"He's using the dome as an amplifier." Vibe shook his head and dread filled Caitlin. "If he succeeds, every person hit by the particle accelerator will develop powers and potentially go mad from it."
"Well then, we need to stop him." Caitlin nibbled her lip, plan forming in her mind. "Since your powers are light based, you should be able to stop the power from spreading across the dome. If I freeze it, it will just make it spread faster."
Nodding Vibe asked,
"What about you Ice?"
Caitlin knew her eyes were glowing blue and her body was losing color, her powers stirring and ready for a fight. Time to see what she was made of.
"I'll take care of Alchemy and the stone."
Sprinting away from Vibe she positioned herself where Alchemy would be forced to turn, to disconnect the power he was applying to the dome. She hoped that Vibe would be able to stop the power with his. Quickly forming her shield and producing a large ice spear in one hand, Ice ran forward, aiming for his outstretched hand. Just a few steps away he seemed to sense her and turned. Ice just barely dodged a blast from the glowing stone in his hand. Swinging her arm up Ice dislodged the stone from his hand, sending it skittering across the pavement.
"Stupid woman." The masked man growled. "You could have been a goddess, more powerful than anything you could have imagined. Savitar made you to rule beside him as queen, yet you throw all that away."
"I'm not interested in anything your 'god' has to offer." Ice hissed, using the long shaft of steel hard ice as a staff, striking blows and then dancing away before the man could even reach out to touch her. Viciously she hit him, blow after blow, moving faster and faster. Out of the corner of her eye Ice could see Vibe's powers eating away at the power of Alchemy's stone. Unfortunately so did Alchemy. He dodged past Ice, running for the stone.
Extending a hand Ice shot cold fog at the stone, hiding it from view. Irritated, Alchemy turned and charged at Ice. She managed to step out of the way, letting the man barrel past, twirling her weapon in her hand. She had been hoping to avoid the outcome that she knew would happen, not wanting to be like her doppelganger. However, Ice knew if she didn't end this, there would just be another chance for him to come back and hurt them again. Savitar and everyone like him needed to know that there was one person on this team willing to do what needed to be done to protect the ones they love. Unfortunately, it looked like it was going to have to be Ice - Caitlin, that would have to be the one to do it. Joe was nowhere in sight.
Taking a deep breath Ice dropped her spear, raising both hands. Calming her mind she pulled up her powers. Heedless of the doom he was facing Alchemy rushed forward once again only to be met by a blast of super cold powers. Cold washed over him, colder than anything, freezing him on the spot. Clothes froze as skin crystallized, ice spearing though his body, numbing him to the point of pain before the world faded away. When the cloud of ice dissipated, a frozen statue of Alchemy was revealed, mid stride. Caitlin knew she should feel remorse at the life she just took, but as Ice, she knew it was necessary and would do it again if she had to.
"Caitlin?" Cisco asked, running up to her. Flashes of lightning still lit up the park around them, Savitar still a threat even though his minion was dead. "Is he -?"
"Dead? Yes." Ice replied turning her attention to the stone that provided the man with his powers. "I did what I had to do. I don't take joy in it."
"Dude, I'm not judging, just surprised." Vibe knelt with Ice to examine the stone on the ground. "Oh! I have an idea. Can you superfreeze it like you did the minioncicle over there? If you can make the molecular structure brittle enough we should be able to shatter it."
"Worth a try." Ice extended a finger to the stone, stopping just short of touching it. Focusing she visualized the stone freezing, molecules slowing and turning fragile. In no time at all it was done. Standing and stepping back she nodded to Vibe to blast the rock into kingdom come. A full power Vibe blast hit the rock.
The stone disintegrated, but in the process, a concussive blast sent both Ice and Vibe onto their backs, knocking them out. Caitlin only hoped as the world went black that Barry and Wally were able to stop Savitar.
Barry and Wally sped to the park adjacent to the I-MAX theater, hoping to draw Savitar out, pulling him away from his minion. When the two flashes ran side by side, their speed fed off each other, making them both faster than they were apart. The world rushed by in a blur of colors, faster than he had ever gone without opening a dimensional breach. He hoped it would be enough to keep them safe while Ice and Vibe tried to figure out a way to stop the speed demon.
"What's the plan Bar?" Kid Flash asked, a streak of yellow and red next to Barry's own scarlet.
"Chicken."
"Like the bird?" the younger speedster asked confused.
"No, we need to challenge Savitar and make him focus on us. We need to split the god from his avatar. Maybe the distance will weaken him enough that we can stay just out of reach."
In theory the plan should work. Each time Barry has fought Savitar, Alchemy was never far away. Usually within line of sight, sometimes just a little further. It made Barry wonder just who was pulling the strings; the God or the Puppet? It also made sense for Alchemy to have the power, using the stone to generate doorways for the silver plated speedster. Barry knew that sometimes strength or speed weren't the real power to be had. A quick mind was just as powerful as the ability to break someone's neck.
"So Cisco and Caitlin are going after the real threat?"
"Vibe and Ice can take care of themselves." Flash corrected. "After all, they can't stand up against Savitar."
Arriving at the theater Barry saw that Alchemy was using the dome of the I-MAX to amp up his powers, boosting them to an unnatural level. Savitar loomed at the cloaked man's side. It was just another inconsistency that bothered Barry. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a portal shimmer to life, two figures stepping through before closing silently. It was now or never.
'Stay safe Caitlin, I love you.' Barry whispered silently before taking a deep breath.
"SAVITAR!"
"Flash, Kid Flash." The god sounded giddy that they had arrived, shooting towards them almost faster than they could see. The two speedsters took off, darting around the park, trying to stay out of reach of the silver claws chasing them. "Have you come to die?"
"No way metal head." Kid Flash taunted as he and the Flash led him further and further away from the park and the theater. "If anyone dies today, it's you."
"Foolish mortal." The silver figure spat in contempt. "Gods can't die."
"Every god can die, all they need is for people to stop believing in them." Barry replied, darting in and managing to get a punch in before flashing away. "I bet that's why you hang around Alchemy so much; you need him to stay alive."
"I need no mortal!" Savitar roared. "I AM A GOD!"
"You're not my god." Wally piped up, smashing the god over the back of the head with a two handed fist blow. "My god died for me."
"Yes, that pathetic Messiah. Such a waste." Barry noticed that the god was slowing fractionally. Good, they just needed to keep him distracted a little longer. Flash also knew that he and Kid Flash couldn't keep up this pace too much longer. They were both running through their reserves, getting closer to burning out.
"Seems like you are the waste." Barry remarked. "Slowing down in your old age?"
He watched as Savitar's eyes widened, knowing that the god was playing right into their hands. Nodding for Wally to keep the god busy Barry raced away, trying to reach the distance he needed for his Super Mass Punch. Taking a deep breath once he reached the distance he needed Barry closed his eyes for a brief moment, pulling up the image of Caitlin in his mind. She was the reason he was doing this. The rest of his family flitted through his mind as Barry pushed himself to the limit, building up speed and energy.
Zooming toward the god Barry clenched his fist and coiled the muscles in his upper body, concentrating the power and energy. This ended now. Wally was barely a flash of yellow as he sped out of the way, giving Barry a clean shot at Savitar's head. Using everything he had Barry knocked Savitar on his ass, watching the silver creature slide backwards on the pavement. Chest heaving Barry placed his hands on his knees and tried to catch his breath, body humming with power.
"Dude, that was sick." Wally joined him, keeping an eye on the god. "Think you can teach me?"
Barry was about to answer when a groan of pain erupted from the silver man, shifting and lurching to it's feet. Barry swallowed the bile rising in his throat, standing to meet the speedster head on. Beside him Wally tensed up. He was sure the punch would have worked, not just knocking him down but killing him. Sending up another prayer that Cisco and Caitlin found an answer Barry prepared himself for another round.
"Pretty good, Flash." Savitar huffed, heaving himself into a standing position. "That actually hurt. Now it's my turn."
Watching in horror Barry realized that Savitar was about to use the same move on him. Grabbing Wally he turned and ran, trying to widen the gap between them and the metallic man. Suddenly Barry felt his powers leave him, making him and Wally tumble to the ground.
"What just happened?"
"Wally, run." Barry told him. "My powers are blown and won't be back for a while. Get away. You need to run."
"I'm not leaving you man." Kid Flash stood, putting himself between Barry and Savitar, who was closing on them quicker than Barry liked. "Heroes don't quit."
"Wally, don't be crazy!" Barry pleaded. "Joe and Iris need you."
"And they need you too Barry." Wally said calmly. "You and I both know it."
"Ready to die?" Savitar loomed closer and Barry knew he was going to die. He would never get to marry Caitlin, never get to see the children they could have. He would never see Iris find love again. Cisco would lose his best friend. Joe. Oliver. Felicity. Thea. Kara. Everyone. He would never see any of them again.
Bracing himself for the end Barry watched as Savitar reached out for Wally. Time seemed to stop, everything freezing. He couldn't breathe, couldn't think. The world has crystallized into one moment, forever burned into his mind. Just when Barry thought he would go mad, the world went white with a concussive boom.
