The Flash in Action FanFic #22
The Fastest Man Alive
Three Months Earlier
My name is Barry Allen, I'm a forensic scientist with the Central City Police Department, and I'm late! I am SO late! I can't believe that I did this again! Really, Barry? You can't believe it? I suppose what I can't believe most is the incongruous nature that I find myself in. Barry Allen is a slow, methodical, always late individual. However, my alter ego has been claimed to be the fastest man alive! Outside of this building the city knows me as the Flash!
I've always liked to study things; found minute details fascinating. Flash Fact: Lightning is an atmospheric discharge of electricity accompanied by thunder, which typically occurs during thunderstorms, and sometimes during volcanic eruptions or dust storms. In the atmospheric electrical discharge, a leader of a bolt of lightning can travel at speeds of 60,000 mile per second or 130,000 miles per hour, and can reach temperatures approaching 30,000 degrees, hot enough to fuse silica sand into glass channels known as fulgurites which are normally hollow and can extend some distance into the ground. There are some 16 million lightning storms in the world every year. Matter of fact, it was lightning that started off my story.
Two months ago, much like tonight, I was working busily in my lab and not paying much attention to the time. It was pouring rain outside, thunder and lightning shooting all over the place. I didn't think much about it then, because it was just any other storm, right? I walked towards the door, lost in thought on a case I was working on when I realized I had something in my gloved hand. I was completely absent minded that I was walking out with evidence in my hand. I shook my head, chastising myself slightly for not paying attention and placed it down on the table. I took off my lab coat and started to walk back to my locker to hang it up and grab my jacket. I didn't make it two steps when I felt a tingle in the air. I stopped and looked down at my arm to see that all the hair was standing up. No sooner did I realize what was about to happen when a bolt of lighting struck the chemical rack and me! The solutions that were behind glass and plastic were now freed from shattered or melted containers and splashing what was sure to be a horrid burn. I felt like I was suspended in the air forever until it rendered me unconsciousness.
I woke up a few minutes later, shaken but surprisingly uninjured. My clothes were shredded by glass and splinters of metal and wood. I wasn't really hurt, but I was lightheaded. It was the weirdest sensation, it's like I knew that I was physically in the room, but I was floating looking down on myself. It was so strange, of course I was just struck by lightning... Once I identified that I was going to make it, I decided that I didn't want to go to the hospital as much as I wanted to go home and lie down for awhile. That's how I really knew something was wrong with me, because I knew something was wrong with me. I didn't feel completely right and I still decided to go home and not to the doctor where I could be checked on. I'm a stickler for things like this, but I went to get a cab regardless. I tried to hail one, but he passed me up as if I wasn't there. I know some people think all cab drivers are rude, but most of the ones I've known have always been really nice guys. I figured he just didn't see me waving him down, mind you I was seeing about 3 of me waving around. After that I got to thinking if I didn't chase him down I might have to walk home. I really didn't feel like walking anywhere; again, it's that lightning just hitting me thing. I took off trying to catch up to him, and succeeded beyond my wildest fantasy. Before I had the thought to go after him, his tail lights were nothing more than blinks in the distance, when I started running I was looking clearly through his window at him. I was keeping pace with him, running in shock of what I was doing. Scientifically impossible most would say, unless you happen to be the Flash. Now there was a guy who could run! World War II era Mystery Man of the highest caliber. He was the hero of the lost sister city of Central; Keystone City, Kansas. My dad and I spent many nights staying up watching old documentaries on him and the Justice Society in general. Being an Iowa boy, we just like that midwestern hero, most of 'em were based off the east coast. That was all fine and well, but what happened when there was a major disaster in the bread basket of America? The answer: The Flash! That's not to say the Spectre or Dr. Fate, or even the Green Lantern couldn't have shown up, but he'd be the first one there. Sorry, I'm rambling...
As the story goes, I ran right beside the cab until I realized what was going on. The guy hadn't seen me because I was moving too fast for his notice. Even at that point I think the only thing he might've noticed was the heavier gusts of wind that were blazing past his side. It occurred to me that I didn't need to press my luck, if I slowed down too much and he noticed me then he could put a face with this newfound blur. I didn't think I was ready to handle that kind of attention, so I blazed forward. The speed was incredible, so much so that the first thought I had was why I wasn't running into objects. Well it seemed that my view of the world in this speed was so slow that it was like I was dodging furniture more than cars or people. It was really cool! There's just no other word for that! It took me about 2 minutes to get across town to my apartment. Come to find out that was because I was going slower than I've proven myself capable of going. I got in doors and I locked the door quickly behind me, a little out of breath. I figured out that it wasn't the running that had done that, but just the thought that I'd run across town with little effort. A massive hunger maybe, but the effort was negligible. There was so much running through my mind, and then it occurred to me that what was running through my mind the most was the fact that I was processing all this information without even blinking. It all came back down to the lab accident giving me these powers and that it didn't just enhance my physical speed, but my mental speed too. It was amazing to me! I mean, I've studied the metagene in all the journals. I was a scientist after all, and the material was fascinating. I figured that the supercharged chemicals that got flash-fried into me must've activated the dormant gene. The idea that it could happen to plain ol' Barry Allen was crazy! Who would've believed it? And that's the case, nobody would believe it! Well, nobody normal would. Of course, that leaves the abnormal individuals that didn't know who Barry Allen was. They'd see it and want to dissect me like a frog to see how the inner workings went. Look at Superman! The guy admits that he's from another planet, he's got all these powers and we don't know if it's metagene related or if there's something else to it. There's a lot of people that would kill to have a sample of his blood, I mean I'd love to study Superman's blood work sometime! Find out what makes the Man of Steel tick! However, I don't see that happening any time too soon. Kinda runs with the territory of he's a hero and I'm just a forensic scientist. Albeit, I'm a forensic scientist with superspeed!
Back on track again; I started wondering what I was going to do with this new found speed. Certainly it would give me an advantage in the lab being able to process information a lot quicker than normal, still as fast as I move I can't speed up everything! Chemicals and computer processing takes time. If I could speed through physical files then I guess it would make things a lot faster, but who keeps those sorts of things anymore? Well, we do keep them, but most times its old cases and the newer ones are all uploaded to a central database for countrywide consumption. You know, just in case a small time crook turns big. Mind you, that's happened quite a bit! Someone gets tired of stealing beers from a convenient store one day, then they escalate to robbery at gun point. Then there's the eventual turn when the cashier tries to play the hero and gets shot because he just wasn't fast enough. I've had to do the work-up on more than one kind of case like that. That's when it gets bad, because a number of things can happen. The criminal in question can't live with what he's done and he'll turn himself in. That's the golden case scenario, which mean it practically never happens. The second is that he'll shoot himself because he can't live with what he's done. I wish I could say that was silver, but really is there a golden scenario to this? I say so, but it's more a bad joke really. It's only golden because we didn't have to work that hard to get it, the crook gave it all to us. In any case, every other scenario turns out worse and worse as it progresses. The police do what they can to stop it, but sometimes it just isn't enough. I'd sure like to stop some of these crimes before the ever get committed and that's when it clicked that I could. I could pay homage to one of my favorite heroes and save lives in the process! I work within the system everyday, so I know how this could be done and what limits I can push before it becomes vigilantism. Superman was doing it, right? So what couldn't I? That's what this world needed, a new Flash!
The costume elements weren't that hard to find in all honesty, I found all the elements basically in my closet. I was able to make a vintage Flash costume in no time... okay, so I'd already had one. I read some comic books growing up, and of course they did spreads about the real mystery men in them once and awhile. When I got older, there were these conventions... never mind. As I looked into the mirror I saw the look and realized that it wasn't a good idea. It wasn't that the style was outdated, I mean it was by today's standards, but my real problem with it was that the face was still hanging out. Of course the helmet shaded it, and I could vibrate fast enough not to be able to make out features. Still, I didn't really like that thought. I want to put a friendly face to these people. Again, Superman does that sort of thing. The problem is I'm not completely unknown about town, which I proved when I decided not to let the cab driver get a look at me. I need something that covers my face, but still gives them the sense that I'm there as a friend. After much deliberation I went over old costume designs others had. Star-Spangled Kid had the right idea. The mask obstructed the top half of my head and leave the bottom half enough to be able to see a smiling face. The eyes of course are open enough to where people can see something friendlier behind it. Of course these are very identifying features, but I needed to still be in touch with people. Show them that I'm here and not trying to spook them half to death. I got the material necessary and made my costume entirely red. Now the embellishments. One thing in particular that struck me as a necessity since I know I can't be everywhere at once, is a a police band radio. I knew I needed to install it on my costume, but it's a bit skin tight. I looked back to the Flash's costume and I nodded, the wings on the helmet gave me the answer. I made a bigger set of wings to put on the mask of the costume. In one of them I put the radio, which meant that whenever there was trouble, I knew about it. Therein came the final embellishments. The golden wings on either side of the mask worked well. Red and Gold, it shouted urgency! Like someone needed to pay attention to me, because I was the new thing in town. Still, it was missing something more to it, and then I figured it out when I looked back at the old Flash's uniform. The lightning bolt; the symbol that everyone saw when the Flash ran into town. I marked off the areas on the costume where I thought that'd look best and started straight to work. Long story short, it made the whole thing feel right, it just needed that one last step, the emblem itself. I decided that I didn't want it running down the mid of my costume. It was a nice look back then, but I wanted something simple and understated. Funny considering that I was hit by a bolt, you'd think I'd want to do big! Still, the rest of the costume was flashy enough, no pun intended, so simple with this might actually make a better impression. I grabbed a white circular piece of material and the golden fabric and created a small lighting crest that went dead center of my chest, just like Superman had. Funny, as much as the Flash inspires me, Superman's done his fair share too. Of course, who wouldn't want to be like that? He's a friendly guy and he's made his presence known. He's here to help everyone that will let him. Still, he's based out of Delaware! Another east coast superhero. Sorry, Superman I'm gonna make sure that the midwest gets protected just in case you're busy fighting something from space! He's an alien, right? So it's possible that something could come from space...
After getting the final touches for the costume completed I was on such an adrenaline rush that I decided I had to go out and try this! I grabbed a pair of yellow boots I got that one year I actually decided to go as the Guardian to one of those conventions, that way it just added that bit more gold to the color. What? Yeah, I'm a science geek, I liked comic books and mystery men. I found other people out there that had the same interests, they invited me and I joined in the spirit of it a couple of times... Give me a little credit, I'm a cop too! I've stopped robbers, it's actually how I got the job here in Central City! I stay in shape, work out! What I'm saying is don't judge! Anyway, I got my costume gear together and I was about to head out the door. I moved quickly to avoid being detected by the other tenants in my apartment building, but little chance of them actually spotting me at this speed. Again, it's the careful thing. Once I got outside I really stretched my legs, I started moving so fast that a blur of red and gold trailed behind me. It actually looked like lightning was trailing off my body as I moved. Just 3 hours ago I was another cop in Central City, now I'm a mystery man myself! I can't stress how exciting this really is! The wind was impressive, but it never effected me. The rain was still coming down and I could see the water droplets suspended in the air as I moved through the streets. Lightning flashed in the slowest of motions and I saw it start to strike. The heat it radiated as I passed it by didn't seem possible, but there it was in front of me. I felt alive! All the things I had done in my life for fun and science were no longer crowding my mind. There was a brand new confidence that was tempered in good nature. I rode the lightning like an errant spark passing between two metal rods. It was exhilaration that I wish I could share with others.
I look up at the clock again and realize it's been another 30 minutes. Thinking about all this made me lose track again! Iris is going to kill me! I check my hands for any evidence and when I'm satisfied that I've put everything away I walk towards my locker. One of my lab partners looks up from his work and smiles sympathetically, "Iris waiting on you again, Barry?"
I sheepishly grin towards him, I can feel my face flush a bit, "Yeah, I got caught up in my work."
"You're a dedicated guy, Barry. Just make sure you know to dedicate to the right things at the right time. Now go have fun, kid." He turns back to his work as I leave. Carmine's a good friend and he happens to be right. I need to pay more attention on Iris. It seems like work is always getting to be the excuse for why I'm late. Iris West and I have dated for quite some time, we've been serious for a long while, but we've been a bit reluctant on full commitment. That's not to say that she's ever gone and started dating others, but she's never accepted my engagement proposal either. The last time I brought it up to her was just after I gained my powers and she told me that if I wanted her to be my wife, she was going to have to make sure that there was a paradigm shift in the way I view time. Meaning, I needed to focus on her a bit more. She knew I was a police officer and that cases needed to be solved, she understood it full well. The problem she had was that even in my free time I spent it dedicated to lab work of some sort, unless I had something else going on. Though I do try to devote a great deal of time to her, because the woman stole my heart. I remember when I first met her, I was at a crime scene collecting data on some back street homicide. Of course the media was alerted to the situation and we were told that we couldn't talk to them about anything other than what they already knew. Of course we've been fully briefed as to what they know because we can't take the chance of letting something slip on a guess. I generally don't speak with the reporters, but there's been exceptions. The others liked that I would because I was very outgoing and polite without saying much, which means that my co-workers would push me to talk. I declined on more than one occasion because regardless of how I come off to others, I feel myself ready to upchuck in front of large groups. My nerves have gotten to me because I'm not a public speaker. However, this crime scene I was last to arrive and got voted unanimously to go and talk with them. Too many people said I'd have my hands all over the case soon enough, so I might as well just suck it up and do this now. I reluctantly agreed, and as I turned back towards the ever collecting crowd I saw this red haired, green eyes bombshell walk through like she owned the place. I looked at her and I felt the sparks flying around, this was better than superspeed. Of course I met her before I got my superpowers, but that's how I know which of the two is better. Though I've never told her that I'm the Flash, she's still treated me like her hero. Albeit, her always late hero, but her hero nonetheless. She and I hit it off immediately, which meant when I was finally allowed to talk about a case then I could tell her all about it. At first people weren't sure that I should be dating a reporter as she might try and ferret stuff out of me. Luckily I've never found that to be a problem. Iris is a dedicated woman and I love her more than I could ever say. She's accepting of me, no matter my little 'nerdy' moments. She smart, talented, beautiful, and she deserves to be given the stars in heaven. How she puts up with me, let alone falling for a guy like me, is beyond me. Don't question it Barry; don't make your angel fly away like that.
I get to the restaurant an hour and a half late. The waiter is talking to her now, I'll bet he's been trying to see if she didn't just want to order and then I'll figure out what I want when I finally get there. She's always waited for me before she ordered. Said that if I had to make her wait that long, she was ordering the best thing on the menu. I'm about to walk around the corner to finally enter the building when I realize it might go over better with a few flowers. Two seconds later the cashier at the store finds a wad of cash on his counter and I have a dozen fresh cut roses in hand. I wander to the door with the roses behind my back and I move very slowly. I'm embarrassed, yet again, that I've done this. She's looking at me with all the predatory instinct of a jungle cat. I've messed up, I know that already. She places the menu down very softly as I walk into earshot of her. She looks me over, knowing that I've got something behind my back. Not saying a word she raises an eyebrow and there's a gleam in her eye. It's not a happy gleam by any stretch of the imagination. No, I dare say she's looking to beat me senseless. I bring my arm around with the flowers and she looks at them and she slips a slight smile on her face as I hand them to her. She takes them and stares at the beautiful flower and hands them to the waiter who rushes to put them in water until we leave. I pull the chair out slowly and take my seat. As she turns her eyes back to me, she loses the smile. "I'm wondering Barry, do you understand what a watch is all about?"
"I'm so sorry, Iris. I didn't mean for this to happen! I was working late in the lab and..."
"...I lost track of time. I knew we had a date, but there was something fascinating about the mold spores growing off of the leaves in the area we found the body. Maybe the slug you pulled out of your victim was some sort of rare metal from Norway."
"Norway?"
"Or Bhutran, or Kahndaq, or Qurac, maybe even Pokolistan! Barry, let's focus on the real issue here. The point is you're late again, and that would almost be excusable considering your job, but you do it all the time!"
"I know, honey. I wish I could tell you it would never happen again, but I'm so scatter brained to everything when I'm working."
"Yeah, I know. You're a blonde Gil Grissom, I get that. I don't begrudge the work either, but I'd like to know I'm a priority once in awhile. I don't want to be a case on your desk, I want to be the woman in your life."
"You are Iris, there's no one but you in my life. I want you to be happy and I honestly try."
She looks me over a little bit and sees the sadness of knowing I've caused her this much grief. She softens her look a great deal and grabs my hands, "I know you do. I never for a moment doubted that you've tried to make me happy. The only thing I ask is that you use your scientific reasoning to remember that the case of the ticked off girlfriend could be solved if you watch the clock a bit closer. Okay?" I smile and nod very somberly. She kisses my hand and we go back to the menu, and she starts looking over the choices. "Still, I guess I shouldn't complain too much. I get a really great dinner out of it and you are a great exclusive into the inner working of the latest criminal mysteries."
"So it's not my good looks and boyish charm?"
"Please, I've met Bruce Wayne!" I look at her with a moment of surprise and then I smile at her a little bit as I pretend to catch an arrow in the heart. She laughs and so do I. This is a great evening out! I wish that it could've lasted... Without much notice, there's a sound of metal being malformed. I turn to see what's going on, only to see a mound of ice in the middle of the street. Everyone runs to the window to see what's going on and I notice that a vehicle is trapped in the block. I know what's going on now, someone I dealt with a couple months ago is back to even things up. Great, just what this date needed, another disappearing Barry act. Soon I see a man run into view; he's wearing a blue parka with white trim, a visor for all intents and purposes and carrying a gun in his hand. He looks over to the window and sees the group of us standing there and he points. People start to scatter as the impact of blast hits the glass and it starts to freeze it. The build up starts causing cracks in the glass and outside he laughs. Iris looks at her purse and pulls out a mini-recorder and starts taking notes. She looks up and sees me staring at her, "I'm a reporter Barry, this is what I do."
"I know, but I don't want you getting hurt..."
"Look, Lois Lane keeps writing big news stories about the Metropolis Fly-boy and his exploits against some of these villain types. She's setting the bar for this stuff and I make sure it's on the front page. Now you're a cop, shouldn't you be calling back up or something?"
"I don't want to leave you here by yourself!"
"Cell Phone?"
"I left it at the lab!"
"Barry, I swear! Here take mine, just go get reception somewhere else, it never works here in the dining room anyway." I nod and I take off into the kitchen. The cooks have apparently heard the commotion and took the quick route out the back door along with the bigger portion of the wait staff. I shake my head, of course what do I expect? They weren't going to fight this guy.
Before we go further, let's give you an introduction. His name is Leonard Snart, better known amongst the civilian population as Captain Cold. I guess you can figure out why he's called that. This is the second masked villain I fought since becoming the Flash, but this is the third time I've had to deal with Leonard. Sometime later I might actually talk about Turtle Man. It's a long story, and more hilarious than an actual harrowing tale. Anyway, Snart was a part of another group set on robbing banks. They were rather good at their work, which eventually ran them afowl of me. I'd managed to snap up all the weapons and put them into lockdown before they'd gotten away with another robbery. Police had been wanting to catch these guys for awhile, so I was only too happy to assist. Snart was really well chosen, because he was a tactician and the real brains of the outfit. However that didn't stop him from getting caught, namely because he didn't count on something like me popping up. As Captain Cold, this guy gave me a bit more trouble than I bargained for. You see he's got that pistol that shoots ice. Well, I'm good at running, so fast in fact I can actually run on the water, but on ice it gets a bit more difficult. Of all the improvements I've made to my costume since, I only put little golden wings that match the ones on either side of my head. Two wings, one on each outer side of my boots. Ice cleats, though? You think I could've remembered the ice cleats? No, and that's not good. I knew that Cold wasn't going to leave this alone, and now I'm left having to fight a villain that could potentially make me run into walls at superspeed. Ice cleats, that's the next addition. I get into the alley and look for the escaped staff. None to be seen so I change into my costume in the blink of an eye and now it's time to take out my dinner problems. As I blur out of nowhere he looks happy to see me. "Didn't you learn last time, Cold?"
"Ah, Flash... I'm glad you could come and join us!"
"Us?" No sooner than I ask the question, when a man in an orange suit, green jumper and mask pops out from behind the truck. Great... "Mirror Master!"
"Glad to see I made an impression Flash! I've learned a few more tricks since the last time we met!"
"And I see you're teaming up with Captain Cold? I didn't think you boys liked to play together! Len, I thought you were a solo act?"
"After the last time you brought me in, I met Mirror Master and decided that I'd share the wealth if it meant beating you!" I take off running just in time to have Cold fire at me. The ground gets nice and slick which causes some problems with friction. As fast as I'm going I should be melting the ice, but the constant source of the beam is keeping it from fully making it go away. That's going to be a problem. Mirror Master's beam does something else entirely, wait... that's not the weapon he used last time, he's got that one with him, but he's just fired some sort of metal at the ice. It's hardening itself at the cold temperatures and spreading out. Oh no, it's creating a mirror! Not good Barry! You need to do something quick!
"I hope you like the other side of the mirror, Flash. You're going to be there forever!" I stand still as the mirror starts to come towards my feet. I can't stand here, because in less than a minute I'll be knee deep in mirror and unable to get out! As it approaches just a little bit more I jump into the air, which in of itself isn't impressive and I start to move my arms quickly enough to hover above it. I move as quickly as I can, like a hummingbird, away from the mirror and the two creeps that've decided to try and get rid of me. I'm fast, but it doesn't stop them from hitting my Achilles heel, they've started to take aim at the people.
"I wouldn't run away yet, I don't think you want these fine people to pay the price for your cowardice!" Cold screams at me with a smile on his face. I don't think he'll do it, but then I can't be certain of that either. Him and Mirror Master working together, that's already bad enough. Mirror Master's not a lightweight by any stretch. Sam Scudder was a man in prison that managed to find some way to get inside of mirrors. When we first tangoed, he had a hall of mirrors that he used to trap me. I was hit in several directions because i couldn't tell where it was that he was coming from, and I tried! Eventually he made the one mistake I needed him to and I caught the image of the real one. He hit me and I went down on my hands and knees. He laughed as he stepped out to get me, and I stole his gun and managed to punch him several times before the full shock even hit him. Much like Len, he swore he'd get even with me. I suppose while he's been in prison he's managed to read a few newspapers and see how other competition and been holding up. I'm just surprised at the willingness of these guys to work together. They just didn't seem the type.
I decide to land for two reasons, one because I have to keep those people safe no matter what and two because my arms hurt! I'm glad I've been getting into shape since becoming a hero, but it looks like I've still got a lot to do. "Alright, I've stopped. How's this gonna go down?"
Mirror Master grins with a look of pure hateful glee, "With us trapping and torturing you for many years to come." I look down and see that the mirror that he created has become very large and look back at him. He points to it as to tell me to get in, "Do you have any last words?" I don't know what to say at first until I see a red and blue blur over head. My eyes adjust to his speed and the red 'S' shield comes into full form and I smile.
"Yes, I do. Superman."
"Superman?" In perfect timing, no sooner did he say the name as the Man of Steel landed in the street right behind Cold. He saw the shadow hit the ice and he turned quickly to fire. Superman moved quickly, gliding just about the ice. As he moved to the front of Cold, he tapped him on the shoulder.
"I don't think you're going to want to do that." He turned with a look of horror on his face. I soon see a beam of light emanate from Mirror Master's gun. Which takes Superman by surprise. I don't think it actually causes him any particular pain, but merely shock that someone tried that stunt. He turns his attention back and it gives Cold all the time he needs to fire his cold gun. Superman starts to get encased in ice and I realize that the very presence of this man put me in a state of shock, mind you the ice and iced over mirror isn't helping me to move any faster. I have to act quick, they're about to dump him into the mirror and trap him! That's all this town or I need! 'Breaking News: The Flash stands by as villains kill Superman.' Yeah, I'm sure that'll go over well. Still, I can use this ice to my advantage and Superman's, now it's more important than ever!
I rush back to the restaurant and in a blink of an eye I come back with several meat cleavers. As Superman inches nearer and nearer to the mirrored surface and the villain laugh because I ran away, they don't notice I've returned to the other side of the large ice rink, that was created. I start to work two of the cleavers along the ice creating a virtual whiteout. I can hear the two within screaming that they can't see. I laugh a little, "Thanks for the help gentleman. I'll be with you both really shortly." I move quick around the ice and start to bust the mirror into so much fodder. As the snow starts to clear I see the two of them behind I rather large ice shield themselves where Cold couldn't quite stop the gun fast enough. I rush to the other side of it and rip the weaponry out of their hands. In the mean time I hear the cracking of a larger piece until finally Superman's freed. Figured I'd leave him to do that so I could round these guys up. I mean he is Superman, right?
"You know, this isn't any way to treat a guest of the city."
"I'll get you Flash!" Cold screams at me.
"NO! I'LL GET YOU!" Mirror Master retorts.
"Can you two be any more cliché?" They grumble in their protests, hating me even more that I find it amusing when Superman appears at my side. Knowing he's there I take off and return in moments with a rope to tie them to a lamp post. I keep the guns on hand until the police arrive. Superman nods, like he approves. Can't help but puff out my chest a bit more on that one. Of course, I'm nowhere near the muscular specimen that he is. I'm more skinny with defined muscle tone. You can tell I'm in fair shape, but not built with hulking muscles. I'm curious if the sun has created such a physique on him or if that was because of exercise. Okay, I'm awe-struck and I'm staring at him like a science project. You need to get a grip Barry! After a moment I give him a good natured smile and extend out my hand. "Welcome to Central City, Superman!"
He returns the smile and handshake with this confidence and gentle manner, "Thanks, Flash!"
"You know me?"
"Oh yes, I can't help it. I pay attention to anyone who takes on the legacy of that name. I'm a huge fan of the original." I stare at him with a bit of surprise. Wow, even Superman has heroes! Somehow though it doesn't diminish the awe-inspiring feeling of standing here. As I realize that I've continued to gawk at him longer, he finally decides to break the ice "So I see you've got your share of villains too?"
"Yeah, an entire Rogue's Gallery. Since I've been around I've had a few different pains-in-the-neck show up."
"I can certainly understand that!" We both keep this up and then I think we both start to feel a bit awkward about the whole thing. It's like two kids in 5th grade meeting after school finding out they have common interests. They're trying to be cool with one another, but there's just something that keeps us from breaking down the walls. You know what that's like, right? I mean it wasn't just me...
"So... what actually brings you here?" I ask trying to keep this ball rolling.
"Actually I was just doing a bit of sightseeing over the US and decided that I wanted to meet you. I've been curious to meet others like myself."
"Well, that's rather flattering that'd you'd come all this way out here to meet me. I mean I actually got into this because I was following your lead!" I wonder if I should've said that...
"Wow! Really, I'm flattered myself! I guess I figured you'd be more inspired by the original Flash than myself."
"Don't get me wrong, I am! The Flash was a wonderful hero, someone I've looked up to all my life in fact! Well, it comes down to knowing that Superman's out there fighting the good fight after all these years of having no real heroes to speak of. I just decided that it was the time to act when I got these powers. Take up the example, I mean you are Superman after all. You're a great role model to the cause."
"I don't know if I deserve all that. I'm still just an ordinary man, Flash. I'm a bit nervous about all this still, especially because I don't know my full limits."
When the police arrive, Superman and I answer their questions. Of course the media at this point start pouring out and I realize that Iris is standing there digging up the story on this. Superman meets the Flash, this is gonna be news gold around here. Still, I see that little look in her eye that tells me she's not amused by the fact that I haven't appeared. I'm gonna have to think of something to get out of this one...
I stroll up to Iris and she looks at me with some smile. I move a bit faster to blur some of my features. Just enough to make myself look like a blurred T.V. screen. "Excuse me, Ms. West?"
"What can I do for you, Flash?" She smiles at me, trying hard not to look around for where her date should be.
"I just wanted to let you know that Barry's fine. I took Mr. Allen to safety. He got hit by a stray ice blast. I tried taking him to the doctor's office, but he thought it was more important to get police help once I got his legs unfrozen."
"That man of mine… I wonder about his brain sometimes. Did he remember he had the cell phone in his hand?"
"No, ma'am. He dropped it in the alley. I recovered it after he started running off. I would've handed it back to him, but Captain Cold was causing a ruckus."
"Don't worry Flash, he does this sort of thing. He got caught up in a case, as per his usual and the obvious thing is the one he missed." She smiles and giggles a little bit shaking her head. She'll head out looking for him in a bit when he doesn't come back to the restaurant. I breathe a bit of a sigh, knowing full well I still have to come up with something later. Geez… I'm trying to protect her, but this is hard!
After we answer a few more questions to the rest of the media, I suggest to Superman that we take a bit of a stroll. He agrees and we take off at a nice leisurely pace of less than Mach-1. I think he enjoys being at this speed as much as I do, but I'm not going at full speed either. Can't speak for him on that one, but he's not struggling to keep up. I think it's the scientist in me that's coming out, I'm actually testing my speed vs. his. You can't take the scientist out of the hero, I guess I'm just gonna have to accept that. We start zooming around city blocks and he marvels at the sites around him, not that I blame him. Central isn't that big a city, certainly not the size of Metropolis, but that's part of the charm. I think he sees that too. Eventually I decide to strike the conversation back up. "You afraid to push those limits?"
"Excuse me?" He looks with a puzzled expression across his face.
"Sorry, remembering part of our earlier conversation. You said you didn't know your full limits, are you afraid of that?"
"In a way I am. I'm afraid of how it might hurt someone or if something will be destroyed. I sometimes have to hold back so much, that it seems like I'm straining myself."
"I suppose I never thought of you having to hold back so much. You never seem to."
"I hope that doesn't shatter too many expectations of me." He laughs slightly, there's a look in his eyes like somehow he's embarrassed. I guess that the star-struck fanboy in me can't help but show how much he means, still I don't know if it's necessarily just some hero geek thing. I truly think it's just him; and the more interesting thing about that? I think he's only really coming to terms with this now.
"Your reputation is well secured. You're a great hero; truly an American icon. I don't know how you'll take that, but it's the truth. The world needs someone like you to look up to and you answered that call. I don't know if you knew it would happen that way, but it did. You've given a generation something to believe in again. Something bright, pure, and needing to be lived up to by others. While it's a privilege for me to honor an all-time favorite hero of mine, I still look towards you as a beacon. Think of it as when you lit the torch, the flame jumped and I happen to catch a spark. Now I'm nurturing it and hoping to be the example you've brought forth." He looks ahead and his expression is interesting, it's not sorrow or embarrassment, nor or ego. In a way it's part relief, and part humility. He's Superman, and he's humble. I look forward and I dodge the minor obstacles in my way, despite the wind there is a silence that seems to creep over us.
"Thank you, Flash. I really appreciate those kind words, and I'm glad that someone like you can help carry that torch." Okay, talk about humbling. The guy just pretty much gave me the biggest compliment ever. I don't even know what to say. Still, I have to say something.
Skip that, I know exactly what I should say. "Thank you, Superman."
As we do a bit of a patrol through the city, several times, he tells me about fighting the Parasite, Conduit, even the troubles he's had with Lex Luthor. Who would've believed that Luthor could be behind stuff? I certainly wouldn't! I mean the outer agricultural companies are all LexCorp, which in turn were former LuthorCorp productions. I tell him about Turtle Man or The Second Turtle by quite a few people's reckoning, my first meeting with Captain Cold, and the Mirror Master. He gets a kick out of Turtle Man's exploits.
Okay, so here's the deal with Turtle Man. The guy was a huge fan of the original Turtle, who was in turn a villain of the original Flash. The guy's a world class inventor and has claimed himself to be the Slowest Man Alive. He set up this elaborate plan to rob a bank, and since he was moving so slowly I wouldn't notice him. He went out of his way to paint a silhouette of himself on an alley wall next to the bank so I'd think he was out there while he pulled the robbery. In the mean time, he snuck inside and hid himself. Now, the only thing I can't figure out is how he got in the place and hide himself without attracting attention. I mean I've heard of moving slowly, but this guy's moving at a turtle's pace. I figured he'd be caught; I mean I could've even understood if he managed to get himself a trench coat and such to hide the costume. What's worse, is what happened to the surveillance cameras and guards? How did they miss this guy hiding in the bank? So much was wrong, and I was truly at a loss for how. In any case, the shadow on the wall was obviously fake so I chased him into the bank and found him in the vault after the silent alarm got tripped. He tried to escape while I moved faster than him. To his credit he had some nice gadgets that gave me something to consider, however he was still trying to move slower than me and hoped he'd be too slow to not notice. What in the world this guy was thinking is beyond me. Cest la vie… I mean they can't all be real challenges!
Superman and I stop and I tell him I'm going to have to get going, I had a meeting to attend to rather fast that I left kind of hanging when Cold and MM showed up. He nod telling me that Metropolis awaits him as well. Before he gets going, he gives me a rather shy look and asks, "Are you really that inspired by me?"
"I wish I could say no, but your miraculous tale of how you arrived from a dying world to save us from the world we were creating… Well, that's a little hard not to paste you into that light."
"You know, I think you're more the inspiration that I am."
"I hope I do inspire some to do the right thing. I really like the idea of helping out and meeting the people."
"I like that myself. It makes me feel like I'm accomplishing that greater good. Like every day I'm helping to move this world into something brighter and that when others of like powers or like minds come together that we could give a helping hand and make those with the real power to change the world make the difference that even we couldn't."
"And that's why people look up to you, Superman. It's words and inspiration like that, that make people want to be and do better." Part of him fights the obvious ego boost I've been pumping him with. Instead he just looks at me with a smile and gladdened eyes. He extends his hand and shakes it, then he lifts up in the air. I smile and wave, then I decide to do one last thing. "Hey Superman, how about you come back for a race sometime?"
He laughs a bit and says to me, "Maybe if we have a charity benefit one of these days." I grin from ear to ear as he takes off into the night sky. I better get back to Iris, and I hope that I get to work with him again.
Two Days Ago
Great, I finally get some peace and quiet and Captain Boomerang has got to cause me problems. He's tossing a great deal of explosive boomerangs towards the crowd and causing a great deal of mess in the process. He knows I'll catch them, that's not the problem. He's just made away with several thousand in cash and now he's standing there bold as brass trying to make me get it back. In the mean time, he's got a ton of tricks up his sleeve that's going to cause me problem after problem. This is just what I need. I'm going to be late meeting Iris for dinner after all… I guess the lab was extra busy thanks to the rash of reported freezings or boomerang explosions. Am I actually saying this? I'm glad the news can vouch for my sanity, because I don't think anyone else could.
"Strewth, Flash! Them was some of me best boomerangs!" He laughs as one goes up in my hands. Not a bomb in this one. Glue… He glued me to the rest of his boomerangs! I move as fast as fast as I can towards a body of water and start to run across it and use the boomerangs as basically a set of fins. They start to drag and the faster I go they pull away. I wish I could say that they didn't explode before I'd gotten loose from them, but that would be too easy. As I skid across the water I sink quick. As I slow down and the water hits my face, the bitter cold wakes me up. I tread the water like a mad man to get back on the land and I race back towards the city. Boomerang's took the time to go down into the sewers. I see the open manhole cover and I try to go down inside. From behind me I see a shadow hit the street. I'm about two seconds from being hit by a blast of energy. I dodge it easily and the being that did it floats down gently to the ground.
"Your speeds are excessive for a human of your proportional size. Query: What can make a homo sapien gain such an ability. Analysis: DNA testing is indicated. Subject must be subdued for further experimentation. " It's some sort of machine, but where did it come from? More importantly, does it truly believe that I'm going to stand still and allow it to dissect me so it can get a look at my genetics?
"I don't think I'm going to let you get anywhere near me, mister!"
"This units designation is Brainiac. Your designation is Flash and you will be a fascinating specimen for my collection."
Specimen? I don't think so. What I do know is I'm going to have to beat this thing and I might need help doing it. I wonder if he's collecting other 'specimens'? Better yet, I wonder if he's collected them?