I know this is a high school story, but it's time to propel this story towards the big boom. Enjoy.
Leave a review after reading, please. Feedback is always appreciated.
Special thanks to CallMeMiles, Chevalier Lecteur, and NeoTyson for reviewing the previous chapter.
James Jesse, a.k.a. Trickster, and his son, Axel Walker, have just taken hostage of a group of people at a fundraiser hosted by Mayor Anthony Bellows. He had just revealed that everyone's champagne has been poisoned. The person who was handed the first glass had just died from poisoning, scaring everyone. Trickster tells everyone that they will receive the antidote if they call their bankers and transfer all their money to his personal account. If anyone calls the cops, then Trickster will have to use his gun.
Iris, who was at the fundraiser as a test for her reporting skills, manages to secretly contact her dad.
One minute later, The Flash arrived. He grabs Trickster and holds him against the wall.
"Where's Henry Allen?!" He demanded an answer.
"He's where you'll be soon. Heaven," joked Trickster.
Axel quickly puts a device around Flash's wrist.
"Are you familiar with the movie Speed? Keanu Reeves? Sandra Bullock? See, your bus and that's the bomb," said Trickster. "A kinetic bomb, actually. If you go below 600 miles an hour, it'll explode. Same thing happens if you try to remove it."
Axel flips the switch, activating the bomb, as shown by the red blinking light.
"Ooh, it's active," said Trickster gleefully. "Run, run, run, run, run!"
Quickly, Flash runs out of the venue and through the streets of Silverstone City. He made sure to keep his speed over 600 miles an hour less he blows himself up.
"Guys, help!" shouted Flash through his comm-link.
"He's not joking, Barry. The bomb's linked to a speedometer. If you stop, it will explode," said Cisco.
"Well, I can't run forever," said Flash.
"Well, you're gonna have to keep on running until we find a way to remove it without damaging you," said Caitlin.
Dr. Wells comes up with an idea. "Barry, do you see any walls nearby?"
"Why?" asked Flash.
"Because I need you run into one," answered Wells. "Or more accurately, through one."
"What?" asked Cisco and Caitlin simultaneously.
"If you vibrate at the natural frequency of air, your body and your cells will be in a state of excitement that should you to phase through a wall, leaving the bomb on the other side," said Wells.
"Are you sure about that?" asked Flash doubtfully. "I don't know if I can do it."
"I believe in you, Barry," said Wells. "Now listen to me very carefully. Breathe. Feel the air, the wind in your face. Your feet, lifting you up, pushing forward. The lightning, Barry. Feel the lightning. Feel its power. Its electricity pumping through your veins, crackling through you, traveling to every nerve in your body, like a shock. You're no longer you now. You're part of something greater. You're part of the Speed Force. It's yours."
Flash closes his eyes and lets Harrison Wells' words run through his mind. Feeling motivated, feeling the Speed Force run through his system, he opens his eyes and prepares to vibrate. Seeing a tank truck ahead of him, he vibrates his body and runs right through it, leaving the bomb on the road. As soon as he came out through the other side of the truck, the bomb exploded.
"Man, that felt weird," said Flash.
Cisco and Caitlin sighed with relief.
Back at Mayor Bellows' fundraiser, everyone was calling their bankers and transferring their money to Trickster's account. Suddenly, The Flash arrives and started speed-injecting everyone. He stops behind the podium next to the Trickster and his son.
"It's okay. You've all been given an antidote," said Flash. He looks at Trickster and asks, "Where's Henry Allen?"
Trickster looks like he was going to admit defeat. He always looked very ticked off.
"C'mon, dad. Do something," said Axel.
"Trust me. You don't want to do anything," said Flash.
In Trickster's secret warehouse, Henry Allen was tied to a chair. Above him was a crate rigged to drop knives on him as soon as someone activates the trigger on the door. A flash of yellow lightning zoomed into the room and takes Henry out of the warehouse before the knives could kill him.
At the alleyway outside, Flash takes off his mask and reveals his face. Henry smile, happy to see the face of his son. Barry smiled as well, happy to let his father know the truth.
"You always looked good in red," said Henry.
Overfilled with joy, Barry and Henry hugged each other. It made both of them really happy to be able to. It's been so long since they shared a hug.
Meanwhile, somewhere else in Silverstone City, General Astra was hovering up in the air, waiting for someone. That someone just showed up. Supergirl.
"No bodyguards, Astra?" started Supergirl.
"No. No knives. No armor. No one besides you and me," said Astra.
"Then you made a big mistake," said Supergirl.
"I just want to talk, Kara," said Astra. "This doesn't have to end in violence."
"Yes, I think it does," said Supergirl angrily.
Supergirl fires her heat vision, sending Astra flying backwards. Supergirl flies towards Astra at high speed and punches her really hard, sending her flying further away. She did the same move multiple times, attacking Astra with so much rage. Astra manages to get a second wind by hitting Supergirl on the shoulder with heat vision. Astra flies away, but Supergirl chases her.
Instead of following her from behind, Supergirl flies parallel to Astra as she gains speed with every second. She grabs Astra and pushes through a building. Weakened, Astra begins to fall. Supergirl was gonna go after her until she noticed that a huge piece of the concrete wall from the building she crashed into was about to fall on innocent people. She grabs the wall, saving the people, and then throws it Astra, sending her flying down even faster.
Astra crashes into Silverstone Park. Some of the people ran away to avoid getting caught in the crossfire, while some stayed to watch the fight.
Supergirl lands at the park just as Astra gets back up. Astra kicks a car at Supergirl, but she destroys it with her heat vision. Astra speeds through the smoke of the explosion and punches Supergirl down to the ground.
"Again, just like Alura," taunted Astra, looking down at her niece.
"She was a better woman than you'll ever be," growled Supergirl.
"She was a murderer," said Astra.
"Liar," accused Supergirl.
"Oh, she called me a liar, too," said Astra. "She had to. She had to make someone responsible for her deception and cruelty and weakness..."
"Her only weakness was letting you live," said Supergirl angrily.
Supergirl trips Astra by kicking her leg. The Girl of Steel gets back up and punches Astra in the face repeatedly. She then throws Astra up a couple dozen feet in the air and then punches her with as much force as she can throw, sending her aunt crashing to the ground hard. Too battered from the punches, Astra couldn't find the strength to get back up.
Supergirl grabs Astra by the collar of her suit and raises her fist, growling angrily as she prepares to deliver the killing blow. Her first, however, shook and remained raised. Clearly, Supergirl was hesitating. The look of fear in Astra's face, it was getting to her.
Deciding not to be like her aunt, Supergirl punches Astra in the face just hard enough to knock her out, not kill her.
A few people nearby started cheering for Supergirl, but she was too emotional right now to smile at the crowd. She showed up to do one thing. Kill Astra, because Alex told her it was necessary. She couldn't even though she wanted to.
All she could do now was take her back to the D.E.O.
At Simon Stagg's personal fundraiser on the other side of the city, an assassin from the outside was shooting at everyone inside the building where the auction was taking place. The Queen family were present, as were Laurel and Tommy. Everyone had to run for their lives and make their way for the exit. Oliver and Laurel, however, used the chaos to run and suit up, but not after getting their loved ones to safety.
Unfortunately, Tommy saw them and followed them.
Tommy followed Oliver and Laurel upstairs, only to lose them. He heard a noise in an office, so he went there. No one there, except for the one person he didn't want to see.
His father, Malcolm.
"Dad, what are you doing here?" asked Tommy.
"I was coming to extract you as soon as I heard a hitman was hired by the Triad to assassinate Simon Stagg," said Malcolm.
"Stay away from me," said Tommy, backing away from his father.
"Tommy, I know you think of me as a madman, but I am still your father," said Malcolm.
"You were never my father," said Tommy.
"Tommy, we don't have much time," said Malcolm. "We need to get you out of here before..."
Malcolm was interrupted when he felt two bullets hit him. He falls down and starts bleeding out. Tommy didn't know why but he felt the need to help his father.
"Armor-piercing rounds. Smart gunman," commented Malcolm, realizing how the bullets could have penetrated his armor.
"You need to stop talking. You're bleeding out," said Tommy.
"Yeah, well, what have I got left to lose," said Malcolm. "Knowing that you're safe, I can think of no better final thought. I know you... you are angry at me, but... just remember... I came back... for you... I came back for you... my... my son..."
Malcolm's eyes closed as he bled out more.
"No! No! Dad!" cried Tommy.
Tommy heard footsteps behind him. He turns around and sees Black Canary.
"Green Arrow, I found Malcolm Merlyn. He's been shot. His son is with him," said Black Canary through her comm-link. "What do I do?"
"I can't believe I'm saying this, but you have to save him," said Green Arrow. "He needs blood transfusion."
"Got it," said Black Canary.
Black Canary turns back to Tommy, only to see him pointing a gun at her. Clearly, Stagg likes to be prepared.
"Stay away from us," said Tommy threateningly, his hands shaking.
"Your father is bleeding out. He needs help. I know how to," said Black Canary. "The bullets are laced with curare. It's a poison. The Arrow has dealt with his before."
"What do you propose?" asked Tommy.
"Fresh blood," answered Black Canary.
"Blood transfusion? That's insane," said Tommy.
"It's his only chance," said Black Canary. "Mr. Merlyn, you need to make a choice right now. I hate Malcolm Merlyn with all my being, but if you, his son, wish to save him, you have to accept my help. He'll die in minutes."
"Why should I trust you?!" shouted Tommy.
With no other option left, Black Canary turns off her voice modulator. She slowly pulls off her mask and wig as to not alarm Tommy. The younger Merlyn was filled with shock upon seeing the face behind the mask.
"Because you always trusted me," said Laurel.
"L-Laurel?" Tommy was still shocked.
Laurel approaches Tommy, takes the gun away from him, and started the blood transfusion.
...
Meanwhile, Green Arrow was investigating the building across Stagg's office. He busts through every door as he made his way up. He stops at the top floor balcony, where the assassin is stationed. It was Floyd Lawton, a.k.a. Deadshot.
"I thought you were dead," said Green Arrow.
"Your hero, The Arrow, only took out one eye," said Deadshot, pointing at his eyepiece, which covers his injured eye.
"Unless you want me to take out the other, stand down," threatened Green Arrow.
Deadshot puts his hands in the air, appearing to surrender. Suddenly, he activates his wrist turrets and started firing. Green Arrow runs and dodges each bullet as he fires an arrow. It disables one of Deadshot's wrist turrets. The archer then kicks Deadshot in the stomach, sending him stumbling backwards towards the edge. He grabs him to prevent him from falling, but held him close enough to make it appear that he was gonna throw him off.
"You wouldn't," said Deadshot.
"I would," said Green Arrow.
Green Arrow takes out an arrow and jabs it on Deadshot's shoulder. It was a taser arrow, as it shocks Deadshot until he becomes unconscious.
"But I'm not The Arrow anymore," said Green Arrow. He taps into his comm-link. "Canary, are you there?"
"Yes," said Black Canary. "Malcolm Merlyn is stable."
"Keep him there until the police arrive," said Green Arrow.
"Arrow... I-I showed Tommy who I really am," confessed Black Canary.
Green Arrow didn't know how to react right now. All he can think of is how mad Tommy could be right now.
Back at S.T.A.R. Labs, Joe West arrived upon receiving a call from Harrison Wells. He arrives at the cortex to see Wells, Cisco, and Caitlin along with Henry and, to his surprise, The Flash.
"Hey, Joe," said Henry.
"Good to see you, old friend," said Joe. He looks at Flash and says, "Thank you. His son'll be happy to hear that his father is okay because of you."
"Just doing my job, Detective," said Flash, disguising his voice.
Henry puts his hands forward, expecting to be cuffed. Joe, however, decides it's not necessary.
"An innocent man doesn't deserve such treatment," said Joe.
"What makes you think I'm innocent?" asked Henry.
"Wells came to me about the man in the yellow suit," said Joe. "I've re-opened the investigation of Nora's death. We're gonna find the man who killed her. The real man."
Henry smiled. Flash did as well, happy that Joe is finally working on helping Henry get out of prison.
Joe and Henry walk away and back to Iron Heights.
"Well, once again, The Flash saved the day," said Wells.
"I couldn't have done it without you," said Flash. "All of you."
"Well, it's time we all call it a night," said Wells. "We have more training to do tomorrow, Barry. You had just learned a new skill. It requires testing."
As Wells rolled out of the cortex, Flash looked at him suspiciously.
Barry decided to stay in the lab and think. Cisco and Caitlin joined him, confused as to why he was keeping to himself in a strange way. Barry was looking at the board filled with clues about his mother's case. Harrison Wells was more than glad to allow Barry to investigate Nora's death from within S.T.A.R. Labs. To Cisco and Caitlin's surprise, Barry sticks a photo of Harrison Wells next to the newspaper about the particle accelerator explosion.
"Uh, Barry, why are you putting Dr. Wells' photo on your investigation board thing-y?" asked Cisco.
"You won't believe me," said Barry. "You'll just think I'm crazy."
"As crazy as a man who can travel at the speed of sound."
Barry, Cisco, and Caitlin, surprised by the unexpected voice, turn around. It was Iris, who had a disappointed look on her face.
"Isn't it, Barry? Or should I say... The Flash?" She said.
Barry was shocked. Iris knows.
"How did you get in here?" Cisco asked Iris.
"There was literally no security preventing me from coming in here," said Iris.
"Tell me about it," replied Caitlin, remembering how easy it was to break in while she was Killer Frost.
"Iris, uh, I can only imagine how angry you are right now," said Barry. "But let me explain..."
"You can explain yourself later, Barry," said Iris. "Right now, I need your help."
"Help with what?" asked Barry.
"Eddie's disappearance," answered Iris. "Wally and Jesse showed me this..."
Iris takes out a phone and shows Barry, Caitlin, and Cisco a video of Eddie crying for help.
"Wally said he and Jesse were attacked by a speedster in a yellow suit who calls himself the Reverse Flash. Obviously, he's responsible," said Iris. "I just want to ask you if you know something about this."
Barry looks at his board again and says, "I think Dr. Wells is the Reverse Flash."
Barry then turns his head and faces Caitlin, who was trying to avoid eye contact.
"You knew," realized Barry.
Astra has been captured. Tommy knows Laurel is the Black Canary. Barry finds out Wells is the Reverse Flash. Yup, things are really heating up.