Disclaimer: I DO NOT in any form or fashion OWN these characters, DC comics entertainment, and Warner Bros. are the owners not me. I do not take any credit for the characters or anything, ALL CREDIT goes to DC…..again ALL CREDIT GOES TO DC! No money is being made off of this story…none, No money whatsoever is being made or exchanged so please…please DO NOT SUE ME! I have no money. None. Okay cool.
Hey all and welcome to another chapter in my ever expanding Superman Universe. I hope everyone has been enjoying the build up and where I'm taking this story. Again I know that it may seem like it's moving slow and maybe it is but I'm building an entire universe from this story, similar to what I'm doing in Batman and Spider-Man. It's my biggest hope that the character moments make up for the light action. Anyway I'm gonna go and let you readers get to the story but before I do I would like to say please continue to Read, REVIEW(A writer's main source of motivation) and of course ENJOY!
Chapter 12: Around the World in 180 seconds starring Jay Garrick
Two and Half weeks Later- Norway
Almost as quick as a bolt of lightening Jay Garrick sped across the grassy peaceful Continent of Norway. He breezed past the people who to him seemed like they were standing at a complete standstill, frozen in time. He zoomed forward pumping his arms and legs and an inhuman pace and before anyone could blink he was gone.
Sweden
The red and black speedster left the proud nation of Norway and entered the beautiful Swedish country side. He ran through the flat plains looking at the sun that was beginning to rise on the horizon. He smiled to himself as he thought about stopping and taking in the scenery but for the tenth time on his run he had to remind himself that he was on singular mission and there was no time to take in the view, so he focused and he pushed himself forward.
THOOM! Came the sound of him increasing his speed.
Finland
A woman leaving a bakery with a bag full of bagels gasped as she felt a gut of wind whip past her. She looked to her left and in the direction she felt the wind go but what really caught her attention was the fact that her bag of bagels was gone and in her hand was the exact currency to purchase another bag.
She stared at the money for a second before turning and walking back into the bakery.
Russia
Jay finished the last bagel as he felt his feet leave the level flat ground of Finland for the icy cold tundra that was Russia. As far as his eyes could see was nothing but powdery white snow. He liked the snow, but the mission on his mind was preventing him from enjoying yet another beautiful side of the world. He breezed through the snow and found himself running along a mountain trail that led to a fairly populated city and as before he was moving so fast that to him everyone seemed to be at a standstill.
He weaved through the unsuspecting people and continued his singular trek.
Jay passed through a dozen more cities in the great and vast continent of Russia before he found himself on a hillside slope. The speedster lifted his left hand and looked at the watch on his arm that displayed latitude and longitude as well as a stop watch timer. He studied the watch for a moment before turning his eyes back to his path.
"Mongolia." He said to himself "I'm making good time, but not as fast as they want me to be." He finished as he attempted to increase his speed more.
China
A red, yellow and black blur ran through the Chinese fields and streets generating a gust of wind which startled anyone caught in the sudden breeze.
(What was that!?) a Chinese man yelled looking both ways but only seeing a trail of dust.
Japan- Tokyo
Jay came to a screech halt as he came into the heart of the highly stylized neon city. He looked up as he saw a kid that could've been no older than a seven fall from a balcony. He could see several people down below who were standing still, frozen as it were and pointing up at the falling child.
"That won't do." Jay said to himself as he sped towards the child that seemed to be dropping in slow motion. He ran up the side of the building and he sprang off catching the child in his arms.
'TOUCHDOWN!' He shouted in his mind as the child made contact with his arms. He landed on the ground and gently placed the seven year old in front of the people, who were still pointing upwards. He patted the kid on the head and he took off in a red, yellow and black blur.
Atlantic Ocean
Jay finally made it through to Japan and now he was running on water. He glanced down at his quickly moving feet and how each step he took felt like he was running on a hard surface. He never understood physics or much science and so every time he ran along water he was like a kid on Christmas.
"Cool." He said to himself before looking up and swerving to the left and out of the path of a whale that jumped up and belly flopped back into the water. He could fee the ripples but it did nothing to break his stride.
KRZZZ "Come in Garrick. Come in. Over." Krzzzz
Jay released a heavy sigh as he put a hand to his ear.
"This is Garrick. I read you loud and clear."
"You're getting slower and slower each day." The voice over the line replied.
Jay gritted his teeth some.
"I'm not getting slower you and the rest of Task Force X are setting impossible goals. I'm already the quickest man alive what more do you want from me."
"We want you to be the fastest man alive." The voice replied quickly "Now get your ass back here pronto. We've got a mission."
Jay took his hand away from his ear and he pursed his lips together before he pushed himself to the limit.
THOOOOOOM! Came the sound of him breaking the sound barrier once again.
Task Force X Headquarters- Somewhere in Virginia
In front of a very large underground bunker stood a man by the name of Sgt. Casey; he was a short stocky man who was decked out in his military gear. Each of the badges that adorned his uniform he polished every night and admired with joy. He joined the army when he was eighteen; now that he's well into his mid-fifties he didn't regret anything. The U.S. government was all he lived for which made him one of the most loyal of patriots to his country and was willing to do anything to ensure its survival and that included putting up with one of his mouthy subordinates.
The Sergeant looked at his watch again and just as he took his hand away from his wrist he heard a familiar sounding boom and in a gust of wind his subordinate Jay Garrick appeared next to him.
"You're late Garrick."
"Whatever" Jay replied curtly and with a wave of his hand, "On the way over I just got word from our Commander Mr. Bones that we have new orders."
Sgt. Casey removed the manila folder from under his arm and he handed it to Jay who swiftly took it and with his super speed rummaged through each paper and picture within the folder. He closed the folder and thrusted it back to Sgt. Casey.
"What does Bones want me to do?"
"What do you think Garrick? The same thing you always do, meet up with the extraction team, trank the target, and allow the team to make the extraction."
Jay turned away from him.
"There are kids in these folders Casey."
"Dangerous kids Garrick. We have to get these freaks off the streets before they do something that threatens innocent lives."
"But they are innocents themselves, you and the rest of Task Force X are living in fear of what these so called freaks will do one day. What if that day never comes or better yet what if one of these kids is the key to saving the world one day."
Sgt. Casey let out a dry laugh.
"Not likely Garrick." He replied "Now enough of your philosophical bullsh**; get to running. Oh and also the boss downstairs wants all of this completed within the span of 180 seconds."
"THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE! EVEN FOR ME!"
Sgt. Casey grinned at him.
"Then I suggest you start making the impossible possible Garrick unless you want us to activate the bomb in your body. The Boss downstairs thinks that you're slacking off, so think of this as motivation for becoming the fastest man alive."
Jay pursed his lips together in anger while Sgt. Casey fiddled with the watch on his fat wrist. He looked at the time and then back to Jay again.
"On your mark, get set, GO!" Sgt. Casey yelled.
In a flash Jay was gone.
Honduras
"Control be advised my team is in position just waiting on codename Flash." Came the hushed voice of a special operations soldier by the name of Nate Fields. The soldier put a hand to his ear as he heard the static cut at the voice of his Commanding officer fill his ear.
KRZZZ "This is Control, codename Flash is on the way, and be advised there are to be no witness."
Nate eyes widen a little as he peered through the grass to see that their target, a young boy no older than twelve standing in front of a rural village of about fifteen people. The boy held out his hand showing a small seed that suddenly glowed green and began to turn into a beautiful sun flower. The villagers clapped their hands in awe before sitting down on their knees and praying to him.
"Control be advised these are innocent people present, I suggest that we…."
"Corporal Fields if we wanted your opinion we would've asked, just do as you're told and leave the thinking to us. Now I repeat there are to be no witness."
Corporal Fields gritted his teeth and nodded his head in acknowledgment.
"Understood control." He replied.
The Corporal continued to peer through the grass he was hiding within until a slight boom was heard in the distance. In the blink of an eye the young boy was standing up and the next he was laying face down in the dirt.
"Move out" Nate stated as he cocked back his gun and emerged form the thick bushes.
The terrified villagers turned to the approaching soldiers just as they opened fire upon them.
Venezuela
A seventeen year old Venezuelan girl ran down the street as fast as she could with her heart beating a mile a minute. She looked over her shoulder and while she didn't see anyone chasing her she knew that something was coming for her, she could sense it….a darkness with red and yellow streaks behind it; ever since she was twelve she's been able to sense things but she didn't know what the things that she sensed meant. However in the past couple of years she had been learning to control her gift on her own. She had told her mother about it once and all her mother said was that when she was younger the sky had fallen and that was the source of her gift.
BOOOM!
The girl gasped as she looked behind her once more to see the red, yellow and black streak heading for her. If she were a normal person she wouldn't have seen him at all but she saw him clear as day. She blinked and he was before her.
"I'm sorry" he whispered before she felt something in her neck followed by his gentle hands laying her down on the ground. She could feel darkness over taking her before she saw him vanish.
"Target is down, we're approaching." Came a gargled voice followed by nothing but darkness.
Bermuda
Jay sped across the Island using calling up on the coordinates form his memory. He weaved through the people looking at their faces until the face of his target finally appeared. A set of fourteen year old twin boys with strange green glowing tattoos on their bodies. He reached into his pouch and he pulled out two tranquilizing darts and while he ran past them he stuck them in the neck with the darts and he gently set them down on the ground and in a flash he was gone again.
Elsewhere- Virginia- Task Force X headquarters
Sgt. Casey stood in front of his boss's desk and he stared at the leather back of the chair. A thick puff of cigar smoke was blown out the right side of the chair and a stern, calm voice emerged shortly thereafter.
"Report."
Sgt. Casey cleared his throat and he straightened his stance a little before he started his daily report.
"Sir, I've contact the other satellite Task Force X sites and all goes well. The extraction process has had a few hiccups but nothing the eggheads can't handle. The Nevada site is holding strong as well, there was an incident but it was handled. Oh, I have some good news coming out of Smallville. Flagg has ensured me that Lionel Luthor will continue the construction of the Smallville facility…one of the major epicenters of the meteor shower. Although Luthor has made a few requests; Flagg says that it isn't anything we didn't already suspect."
"Luthor. Heh, so easily predictable." The voice said as another puff of cigar smoke emerged, "Is our good friend Lionel still with his little astronomy group."
"Yes, from the recordings we've gathered Luthor is still part of the Veritas group, unfortunately we haven't been able to locate any other members of this said group. Our resources are already stretched so thin."
"A sacrifice to remain anonymous and fly under the radar; unfortunate but necessary."
"My sentiment exactly but once the work we're doing is finished then our resources will grow." Sgt. Casey replied.
"This news pleases me but there is something you're leaving out. I can sense that you want to tell me something else, something I'm not going to like."
Sgt. Casey pursed his lips into a thin line and he nodded his head despite the fact that his boss couldn't see him.
"I want to talk about Garrick."
"Ah, our prized running track star." The Boss replied releasing another puff of smoke, "What about him."
"He's becoming a problem. I believe he's going to rebel soon, so I think it's in our best interest to finally cut him loose."
"Cut him loose!" the mysterious Boss shouted "I don't think so, because of Garrick our stock in this meteor shower phenomenon has increased."
"I'm not disputing that Mr. Bones but I question his loyalty. Loyalty is everything in this business and there only so much loyalty threats can buy."
The Boss, Mr. Bones, let out another puff of smoke as a long silence passed between him and his subordinate.
"Where is Garrick now?"
Sgt. Casey looked at his watch.
"He should be returning back to base, his 180 seconds are almost up."
"You're right Casey but Garrick still has a lot of uses left, but I do think we need to buy a little bit more cooperation from him. I've noticed a change in his demeanor as well."
"What do you want me to do?" Sgt. Casey asked.
"I want you to send word to one of our operatives…actually no. I want you to use one of our throwaways to pay Mr. Garrick a visit at his home, remind him who holds all the cards."
Sgt. Casey let a smile grace his lips.
"It will be done sir."
"Good."
Task Force X-Entrance
In a flash Jay returned to the base and he was completely out of breath. He had pushed himself further than he had ever done before to meet the impossible time frame that his 'superiors' had set for him. The middle aged speedster perked up a little when he heard the sound of clapping from behind him. He turned to see Sgt. Casey making his way over to him with a grin on his face and it was a grin that Jay hated with a passion.
"You see what happens when you push yourself Garrick. We get results."
Jay's face contorted into a sneer.
"What's the next mission?" he asked.
"That's all for today." Sgt. Casey replied "We don't need you anymore so you can go home but keep your communication line open…just in case. You understand right."
"…yeah." Jay replied.
Sgt. Casey nodded his head to him and he watched as Jay suddenly vanished in a blur of red, yellow and black. The corrupt Sergeant reached into his jacket pocket and he pulled out a black cell phone where he dialed several numbers before putting it to his ear.
RING! RING! CLICK!
"Yes, this is Sgt. Casey; put me in connection with extension 4,2,6."
10 Minutes Later- Central City
A casually dressed Jay Garrick stood in front of his modest two story home with a bouquet of flowers in hand. He took a moment to compose himself before he put a smile on his face and entered the peaceful home.
Jay looked around the house for only a moment and he spotted the beautiful face of his loving wife Joan Williams-Garrick who was sitting on the couch watching television.
Joan Williams-Garrick was a woman in her late thirties who had strawberry red hair, big light green eyes and an even complexion with a few freckles going along her nose. She had a petite frame that was covered by a yellow shirt, blue skirt and white shoes.
At the sight of her, Jay's smile only grew; she was the one bright spot in his life; the only thing that really mattered to him in the mess that he had created for himself. He remembered the first day he had seen her, the exact moment he had fallen in love with her.
It was a few months after his accident and she was his physical therapist teaching him how to re-use his arms and legs; during that time they had gotten to know each other and bonded on their love of sports and beer. She was always there for him and she was even there the day the miracle happened.
The day where the sky fell and he had been hit by one of the falling green meteorite rocks. The meteor rocks miraculously healed him from his injuries and granted him super-speed which his how he became the fastest man alive. The crucial focal point is that through all of these historic events in his life she had been there and with the ring on her finger it assured him that she would be there for any milestones he would hit in the future.
Joan looked away from the TV and at Jay who was standing at the door. A smile graced her lips as she stood up.
"Ja…" she started before there was a blur of speed and his lips were pressed against hers. She was shocked for a moment but she relaxed and kissed him back. After a long passionate moment they broke apart.
"Wow." She giggled "Where did that come from?"
"I Love you. You do know that right."
"Of course."
"Good." He stated before handing her the flowers.
Joan took the flowers and she inhaled deeply, taking in the intoxicating scent. She looked up at him and opened her mouth however before the words left her mouth he was gone and then back again with a vase full of water. She smiled at him and she placed the flowers in the vase.
"How was work?" she asked
Jay's smile faltered for a moment yet she managed to catch the crack in his facade the moment it happened. Joan knew him well enough to know when something was eating him up inside. He was a romantic person by nature however when he brings her a bouquet flowers and is overly affectionate she knew something had to be eating him up inside.
"Work was work." He answered.
"Jay. In the past fifteen plus years we've been together when have you ever been able to lie to me?" she asked.
Jay smiled a little and shook his head.
"Never." He answered.
"Exactly so spill."
"I had to do something today that I…..that I just didn't agree with, I tried to protest but in the end it meant nothing and I had to follow my orders." He said solemnly while moving away from her and to the couch.
The speedster sat down on the couch and ran a hand through his hair and let out a long heavy sigh.
"What I had to do was morally, ethically wrong because I know what's going to happen."
"What did you have to do?" she asked.
"Joan you know I can't tell you that. I can't tell you specifics, but I can tell you that I can't do it again. I won't."
Joan looked at him with a sad expression; for the past couple of years she knew that his job had been causing him an unbelievable amount of stress. She was still a bit sketchy on the details about what he actually did but all that he said was that he worked for the government. Joan reached up and ran a hand through his brown hair and then laid her head on his shoulder.
"Why don't you just quit?" she asked "You've been working for the government for so long, shouldn't you be able to retire or resign or something."
Jay scoffed.
"If it only were that easy." He said "The people I work for aren't exactly the people you say no to. I've been thinking about what I should do but I haven't been able to think of a way out of ending my contract."
Joan frowned a little; she looked away from him and at the phone that was on the receiver. She reached over the stand and grabbed the cordless phone.
"What's your bosses number, I'll call them right now and tell them you quit. And I'll give them a piece of my mind while I'm at it." She said strongly.
Jay glanced at her and he began to chuckle; that's another thing he loved about her, she was fighter. He gently took the phone away from her and placed it back on the receiver. He took her hands in his and he kissed them gently.
"I don't want to talk about work anymore. I have faith that everything will work itself out soon. All I care about right now is you."
Joan's smile grew. She wanted to keep pressing him about his job but she could see it in his eyes that he eagerly wanted to change the subject, so she relented. Jay stood from the couch.
"Where do you want to go?" he asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Pick a place. Anyplace. And we'll go there right now."
Joan thought it over for a second.
"You know it's been a while since we've been to Paris and…." She started however before she could finish her sentence. A gust of wind happened in front of her and she suddenly found a yellow hat on her head and a red scarf around her neck. Jay picked her up in his arms and smiled.
"Hold on tightly."
Joan held onto him and in a flash they were gone.
Two hours Later: Paris, France
Joan sipped on her wine and lightly clapped her hands along with Jay and everyone else at the small restaurant. They were sitting at a table outside and just finished listening to a young Parisian man playing a set on his violin. Joan got up from her seat and she paid the man for his performance by leaving a few bills in his violin case. She returned to her seat and she smiled heartily at Jay.
"My God that was wonderful, he played so beautifully."
"How was your meal?" Jay asked.
"Superb. Medium rare steak just like I like it and this has got to be the most delicious wine I've ever tasted."
Jay chuckled.
"I'm glad you enjoyed it, because our trip around the world isn't finished just yet. Where to next pretty lady?"
"I need some exercise after that meal."
"I got the perfect thing." He said.
Nightclub- Madrid, Spain- Hour and a Half later
In the middle of a dance floor with a bright spotlight shinning down on her Joan felt herself being lowered to the ground before being pulled back up and close to Jay's chest. They suddenly broke apart and began to circle each other with the salsa music thumping in the background guiding their movements. They both clapped their hands at the same time and then switch directions and continued to circle each other. The tempo of the music started to speed up and they stepped to each other again and clasped their hands together; at the same time they switched their hips and then Jay dipped her again and the song ended.
A round of applause erupted in the small nightclub as the spotlight that was on the husband and wife lifted and the lights came back on. Joan and Jay looked around before smiling and laughing.
"That's was fun. I can't remember the last time we went dancing." said Joan as she sat down in the chair.
"It's been a while, I'll admit, but it's good to know that we haven't missed a beat." Jay replied, he wasn't out of breath or even remotely tired. He could've gone on dancing for hours but he knew Joan needed a break. He needed this, after a long day of working with the shady government squad known as Task Force X. He needed to make someone happy and it made his heart soar to see the smile on Joan's face.
'First good thing I've done all day.' He thought to himself while sliding his had across the table and putting his hand on top of hers, "Where to now pretty lady? Anywhere in the world you want to go."
Joan put her hand on top of his.
"For now, right here with you is good."
Three hours Later: Scotland
Jay pulled Joan close as they sat the edge of mountain side cliff in the hills of Scotland. The cliff was overlooking the sea and the waters beautifully reflected the colors of the setting sun in the distance. It reflected so perfectly that neither could tell where the sky began and the world ended, but it didn't matter, all that matter was that they were together sharing this wonderful moment.
"Have you ever seen anything more magnificent?" Joan whispered.
"Honestly. Yes. Yes, I have seen something better."
"…..Are you about to say me?" she asked.
"You know me so well Joan." He returned with a chuckle.
The husband and wife leaned forward and met each other with a tender kiss that seemed to last forever. In an instant Jay was on his feet with Joan in his arms. They looked at the setting sun on last time before he with her in tow was gone in a flash.
Later: Central City- 2:30 am
A squared jawed, sandy blonde haired man with a pair of black shades on his on his eyes checked his watch for the third time in the past hour.
"I think we've waited long enough." He whispered in a thick Australian accent.
He flicked his cigarette and pulled his brown jacket closer to his body before rolling over onto his stomach.
He loosely gripped his sniper rifle and looked through the scope. He adjusted it a little which allowed one of his brown eyes to have a clearer view of the sleeping form of Jay Garrick and his wife Joan Garrick. He adjusted his position and put the crosshairs on Joan's bare back, right in the spot where her heart would be.
The Australian assassin reached towards his back pocket and he removed a cell phone and he pressed one of the buttons, making his phone automatically dial several pre-programed numbers.
Garrick Home-Bedroom
Jay groggily reached towards the phone on the nightstand and he pressed the call button without looking before putting it to his ear.
"Hello."
"Jay Garrick." Came the Australian man's voice.
"Who is this?"
"I'm the guy that has the crosshairs on your lovely wife. You have great taste by the way…red heads, great in the sack aren't they."
Jay rose up in the bed a little.
"Don't move Garrick. I'm fully aware of your little speed trick. If you move another inch, or if I think you're about to move, I'll put a hole in her.'
"If you do that…" Jay started before lowering his voice, so he wouldn't wake Joan, "If you do that I will find you and I'll vibrate my fingers through your damn skull."
"Heh. I've been around for a while and that has been the most original threat I've ever heard in my life. That's one thing that's missing in the world…originality."
"What do you want?" Jay demanded.
"It's not what I want but what our superiors want."
At the statement Jay's anger bubbled up inside him; Task Force X was responsible for this little call and threat from this mysterious Australian assassin.
"…"
"I see I've got your attention." He continued "Lookie here quick feet, the brass upstairs think you're getting a little lead in your shoes along with a soft heart. I'm only here to tell you one thing, and that's to get with the program. If you won't do that then the next time you won't be getting this little courtesy call. You'll be dead, and she'll be next."
"Tell me who you are." Jay demanded angrily.
"Heh, since you asked so nicely you can call me John Corben."
"Well John, I hope you know that when I find you…."
"You won't."
Jay opened his mouth but it was then that he heard the sound of a helicopter flying over head. The aircraft flew over his home.
He dropped the phone and he dressed himself in a matter of seconds and he was out of the door in a gust of wind.
Joan opened her eyes and grabbed the cover that was covering her body. She looked around but didn't see Jay anywhere.
"Jay?" she questioned.
Nearby- A Few seconds Later
Jay came to stop on the roof of an apartment building that was precisely a half-mile away from his home, however he was too late. The man, John Corben was already in the air hanging onto a ladder connected to the helicopter with his sniper rifle strapped to his back.
John saluted him as the Helicopter pulled further and further up in the air covering their escape with the clouds up above.
Jay could only stand there and helplessly watch as he made his getaway.
End Chapter: Read and Review: Hey readers this is Nomad88 coming at you with another chapter. I'm sorry that there has been such a long wait for a new chapter. I've just got so much stuff on my plate however rest assured that this story has not been abandoned.
I don't generally abandon stories, there may be a wait between updates but I never abandon. If I start the story I'll finish it. Anyway I want to thank all of you for sticking with me through this story and it is my greatest hope that you're still enjoying what you're reading.
If any of you have any questions or comment for me about the story please leave it in the review or hit me up with a PM and I'll get back to you all ASAP. This is Nomad88 saying later.
Ps: Always check my profile for updates and I'll see you readers next time. Peace.
Next up: Swann Song
Summary: Clark and Chloe form a friendship and a plan all the while doing research on a man named Dr. Swann and his connection to Veritas. Meanwhile Jay Garrick confronts his superiors about the threatening message from John Corben. And Jonathan and Martha Kent talk about their son Clark and his destiny. BE There!