Issue #2
"The Age of Greatness"
Part 2
By Andrew Morgan
"In Greek mythology the Titans were a race of powerful deities, descendants of Gaia that ruled during the legendary Golden Age."
First National Bank
Central City, OH
At 9am, the morning after Dick Grayson had left Gotham City to investigate the murder of Sarah Kinsmith, the First National Bank of Central City Ohio opened its doors for the day. 12 minutes later Barry Allen, better known as The Flash, in his body tight red spandex suit and rubber yellow boots stood in the lobby. The bank employee's, the customers, all were lying on the floor with their hands behind their heads. All except for 3 intruders which held a hostage each under their free arm and a gun pointed at their hostages head with the other. One of the intruders stood to the left of the flash about 15 feet away. The second stood to the right also about 15 feet away. The leader stood toward the back of the building straight ahead from the Flash at least 20 feet away.
"If you guys see so much as a blink out of that guy don't hesitate to pull the trigger. You're pretty fast Mr Speed but you don't really think you can get to all three of us in time do you?" The leader spoke out.
Barry's eye lids were open even wider then the the holes on his mask. The brown circles surrounding his cornea's frantically moved from left to right as he scanned the trespassers deciding on the best course of action. The man on the left was holding a middle age nerdy looking security guard as a hostage. The hostage being held on the right was an attractive young blond bank teller. The man in the back of the room firmly held the overweight owner of the bank six inches away from the barrel of his gun.
"Now let's all stay calm. I can get you money, just let us go." The owner of the bank stated.
"I already got your money old man." Stated the leader.
"You think I'm dumb enough to keep my money in this crappy bank." The owner shouted as glanced over at his security guard in disappointment. "So look why don't you just let the others go, then me you and your guys we can all go somewhere private and make a deal."
"Yeah right we're not dumb enough to let go of our little insurance policies." The leader replied.
"We can work something out." The Flash said calmly.
"What are we gonna do man," asked one of the criminals frightfully.
"I'm thinking I'm thinking," replied the leader.
"I have an idea," The bank owner chimed in. "Why don't you send the speedster there down to Chili at the bottom of the continent. That should take him awhile to get to. Once he's there have him find a pay phone and make a collect call back here to the bank. When you get the call you'll know where he is and that will buy you some time to get away right?"
"Yeah, yeah that's a good idea." The leader said. Barry didn't like the idea but he didn't see any other way out of this. His eye's continued to move along the room. Suddenly something smashed through the window, something moving so fast that to the naked eye it was nothing more then a red and yellow blur. But Barry Allen's eyes are never naked.
The Flash quickly turned and saw his heroic hot headed partner crashing through the window and charging at the robber on the left. At the same time he heard the clicking of the bullets entering their chambers pounding into his ear drums. The Flash's partner, Wally West also known as Kid-Flash knocked the robber on the left off his feet. At the same time Barry made a straight line through the bank towards the back as he heard the bullet leaving the barrel of the gun that the leader was holding.
Wally rushed to the man that was standing to the right of the Flash. Barry pushed down the straight way as fast as he possibly could. By the time he got close enough the bullet was less then an inch from the owners right temple. Barry knew he only had one shot he continued to charge full on pushing the owner backward deep into the leader of the criminals. He was a micro second to late, Barry had successfully pushed the owner backwards far enough that the bullet didn't go through the his temple. Instead the bullet shot off the tip of the bank owners nose.
Wally had successfully reached the robber holding the blond teller in time to move his arm. Holding the criminals arm up in the air Wally looked over at his mentor for approval but Barry didn't give him the satisfaction. He was relieved that everyone was alive and safe but still didn't approve of his young sidekick's methods.
The bank owner shouted out in pain holding his bleeding nose. "Is everyone alright?" Barry asked as he walked back through the bank toward the front door.
"No, look at me. I'm bleeding." Screamed the owner. "Half of my nose is missing. And who's going to pay for that glass window?" he continued to shout as the sound of sirens came close by.
Barry looked back at the owner and let out a sigh, "I'll have to get back to you on that."As he and Wally made there way out the front door and ran off. Wally and Barry both took off speeding down the street and moments later the two men stood in an ally behind Starbucks.
I use the term men lightly as Barry was only 27 and wally was 16. 2 years ago Barry Allen was a forensics scientist for the Central City police department. He was working late one night during an electrical storm that blasted through window spilling a mixture of chemicals on him. That night changed Allen's life forever, he had become The Flash. A year later his young nephew, Wally West, was visiting him at work when a similar freak accident occurred giving Wally the same ability to move faster then any other living being.
"So what the hell happened back there?" Barry asked.
"What," Wally shrugged, "I was in town so I thought I'd give you a hand. You looked like you were in a tough spot."
"Things were under control."
"They didn't look like it."
"I was taking care of it. Shouldn't you be in school?" Barry asked.
"It's Saturday, what's the big deal huh. We did alright everyone made it out ok."
"Everyone made it out ok, the bank owner is probably back there telling the media it's our fault he can't get his nose pierced anymore."
"At least he's breathing." Wally didn't understand why Barry was giving him such a hard time.
Barry huffed, "for now but what about next time?"
"What's your problem? I was only trying to help." Wally pleaded.
"The man in the back of the room was holding a .38 special, how fast does it's bullets fire?" Barry asked.
Wally sighed, "600 feet per second."
"He was holding the gun 6 inches away from the owners head and standing less then 20 feet from me, how fast did I have to go to stop him?" Barry asked.
"I don't need a math lesson. You know what I'm out of here." Wally turned and ran away leaving The Flash growing smaller behind in the distance.
On the streets of
New York City, NY
Dick Grayson had arrived in New York city hours ago but by that time day light had already set in. He knew he had two places to start his investigation. The first being the police report taken by Detective Banks, the second would be to inspect Sarah Kinsmith's home and personal belongings. Since Batman and Robin didn't have any kind of pull with the police in the city he would have to get the file the old fashioned way. The downfall was that police precinct 12 was heavily guarded and he wouldn't be able get in on his own.
Most vigilantes wore costumes when they went out in the open to fight crime to hide their true identities and protect the ones they love. A very small few of them did the opposite. When Aqualad assisted Aquaman in his adventures he didn't wear a mask at all. Instead of wearing a mask while fighting crime he wore one when he wasn't. He wore thick eye liner and wore baggy black clothes so that he could fit in with the Gothic groups of his age. I know it sounds like a silly way to hide one's identity, but people never really noticed that Superman only put on glasses and combed his hair different way to become Clark Kent. So why should things be any different for Aqualad.
Aqualad was standing around outside of a mall hanging out with some friends. He was wearing tight black jeans and a tight black t-shirt that had the word Twilight written on the front. His bangs were temporarily colored purple but the rest of his hair was black which matched the eye liner he was wearing. His shoes were Kicks and he had a bunch of fake piercings in his ears and above his eye brow.
Grayson, went to the local mall to hide out until he could design a plan to get him in the building. As he walked past Garth in his street clothes, Garth had recognized him from sitting in the lounge of the hall of justice.
Garth, Wally, and Dick being the only sidekicks to the world famous heroes it was easy for them to get to know each other quickly, and learn their secret identities. Grayson went inside to the food court and picked up some lunch. Garth followed him unsure if the underling to the worlds greatest detective knew that he was there or not. "What's up rich boy," Garth said as he sat in one of the seats beside him.
"Garth," Grayson replied shocked to see a familiar face. "What are you doing here?"
"The band Dingos Ate My Baby has a concert tonight," Garth said as reached over and picked a few fries off of Grayson's food tray. "So I came into town to catch it. What are you doing here?"
Grayson threw the fries he was holding in his fingers back on to the tray, "truthfully I don't even know man."
"Wow sounds like you got girl problems," Garth reached over and picked more fries off the tray. "Do you need some help?"
"No I'll be alright," Grayson replied. There was a short silence and Garth could see that Grayson wasn't in much of a talking mood.
"Alright well let know if you need anything," Garth grabbed another handful of fries for the road and turned to walk away.
It took young Grayson a few moments before the answer came to him. "Actually, now that you mention it I could use some help."
Police Precinct 12
New York City, NY
Later that evening Dick Grayson slid a rolled up ski mask over the top of his head like a cap. Even though he wore a mask so many times before the one he was about to put on made him feel cheap. As if he were no better then a common thief, but what had to be done had to be done. His cell phone started to vibrate in his pocket and he took a deep breath before answering it. Grayson barely made a grunt before the voice on the other end of the line began to speak. "You know this isn't exactly what I had in mind," it was Garth.
"I know is everything all set," Grayson asked.
"We're all good to go here, I gotta tell you though man I'm feeling a little uneasy about this," Garth replied.
"I understand, listen you guys are just the distraction I'll take care of the rest," said Grayson. "If you want to back out I understand."
"Nah these guys live for mischief, their good guys but they like stirring it up a bit," replied Garth.
"Then what are you worried about," asked Grayson.
"It's nothing just don't get caught alright," said Garth.
"Yeah you do the same," said Grayson.
There was another short silence before Garth went on to say, "See you in about ten minutes good luck."
"Good luck," and with those last words Grayson hung up his phone and prepared to pull the mask down over his face.
Garth stood with a group of his friends several blocks away from the precinct. The moment they were off the phone I twirled his finger in the air as if together the group. "Alright we're up," he shouted to them. He had over a few of them talking about how this was going to be way more fun then a stupid concert, which made Garth smile. It wasn't often he stood out with his friends, normally he blended into the back round. Now he was at the front of the pact. That same pact all jumped on their skateboards and a few of them tightened the strings of their roller blades. For them it wasn't going to be just another night of listening to the same three cords get played over and over again. For them this was an adventure, something they would be talking about for years to come.
The group of skaters raced down the street jumping over curbs, grinding on benches, and shoving anyone in the way. They speed down sixth street and got faster as they hit seventh. They slowed down to push through the crowd on eighth street, but by ninth they had room to pick it back up again. At the corner of ninth street was the 930 club where the Dingos Ate My Baby band was playing. The skating deviants all waved and laughed as they passed the people standing in line to get in.
Garth and his gang had flown past tenth and eleventh street faster then Garth would have liked. Grayson was ready for them, he pulled the ski mask down to his chin and raced over to the doors of the precinct. Grayson pulled the door open so the skaters could ride full speed into the lobby. Police scrambled from behind their counters and desks to chase the deviants out. None of them noticed Grayson slip past and up the stair case. He made it up to the homicide floor on four with out any officers coming to take the stairs. As he slipped out of the stairwell he noticed them all standing by the elevators waiting for the rides to take them down into the action.
Grayson hunted around quickly before finding Detective Banks cubicle. Banks wasn't in sight and the brown folder containing all the data he had on Sarah Kinsmith sat openly on his desk. Grayson didn't waste time waiting for someone to catch him. He grabbed the folder and rushed to the nearest photo copier. A few minutes later he slipped back down the stairwell. When he got to the lobby he noticed all the cops celebrating their victory over the teens. The cops had only captured two of the intruders but Grayson couldn't live with that. Even if they might have only gotten a slap on the wrist. A quick reflex action lead him to reach over and pull the fire alarm. Sirens screeched through the air as the sprinklers shut on. The two captured boys took advantage of the situation like Grayson hoped they would and ran for it. One of them was still in cuffs but nothing Grayson couldn't help him out with later.
After a few minutes of hiding Grayson and the two boys met up with Garth three blocks down in an alley. Grayson pulled out a lock pick set and quickly freed the one boy from his cuffs. He thanked them for their help and sent them on their way before taking off the ski mask. "Did you get," Garth asked.
"Yeah man thanks, I couldn't have done it without you." Grayson replied.
"What is it," asked a stern familiar voice from behind them. Grayson and Garth now stood still, their eyes widened with guilt, and their jaws hung to the floor. Neither boy wanted to be the first to turn around.
To be continued in issue #3