A/N: The timestamps look better with subscript, but alas, there's only so much you can do with the FFN editor.
T1 = 00.00.00
The Flashes blinked at one another.
Then he—the other he—vanished into his past. Into Barry's future.
Barry skidded to a halt before the white marble steps of the Hall of Justice, just across the boulevard from the Flash Museum, and walked inside, tabling the day's multiplying mysteries for another time.
The Hall of Justice was a museum in its own right, with artifacts and souvenirs from the group's many triumphs over the years on display in the entrance halls. Beyond them, however, was the seat of the Hall's primary purpose: the meeting place of the JLA.
Team members trickled in gradually, taking their customary seats around the long, rectangular conference table. Barry sat down at the head of the table. On his right was the Green Arrow, a.k.a. Oliver Queen, and on his left, Hawkgirl, a.k.a. Kendra Saunders. Beyond them, Firestorm and Vixen, Jefferson Jackson and Prof. Martin Stein, and Mari McCabe. Then the Atom and Vibe, Dr. Ray Palmer and Cisco Ramon. The Black Canary and Mr. Terrific, Laurel Lance and Curtis Holt.
The weekly meetings all began the same way. Roll was taken, and each Leaguer would give a report of the week's events. Villains defeated, disasters averted, and the like. This, however, was not a weekly meeting. The Leaguers had been called in, which only happened once or twice a year.
As it turned out, it had been Vibe that had sent the signal.
"I've been vibing all day," said Cisco, green goggles glowing. "I think it's safe to say something big is coming, and it has to do with the multiverse."
"Something extradimensional?" said Barry, thoughtfully. Only he and Cisco had had much experience with parallel worlds. "What have you been seeing?"
"It's… hard to explain. Sometimes just void. Other times, quick flashes of other worlds. Destruction everywhere, and at the heart of it all, this… gigantic… thing."
"You have no idea what it was?" asked Kendra.
"I've never seen anything like it, in our world or otherwise. So, no," said Cisco, frustrated.
"It's okay," said Barry. "Until we get more information, we'll just have to be prepared. The first thing we should try to do is determine whether or not it's connected to the freak earthquakes, volcanic activity, and unpredictable weather patterns we've been seeing around the globe—"
"Also, Barry," Cisco interrupted him, "I need to talk to you about the red sky."
"I know," Barry said, nodding. "I remember too."
"Sharing is caring, guys," said Laurel. "What are you talking about?"
"You've all heard of the Reverse-Flash, right?" said Cisco.
"How could we not? He's caused more problems for Barry than nearly all our bad guys put together," said Mari.
"About nine years ago," Barry began, "when Thawne was hiding in our time period and masquerading as Dr. Harrison Wells, he had a Time Vault in STAR Labs. In the Vault, he had a copy of the AI that I would eventually create, along with a newspaper, dated tomorrow."
This news was met with a general sense of unease.
"Weird, we know," said Cisco.
"Your world is stranger than ours." Ray smiled sympathetically.
"Gideon," Barry called out. "Show them."
"Certainly, Flash," said Gideon. From a projector at the other end of the table, a holographic image was created of the newspaper that had not been published yet.
"While he was in that time—our time—he used this as a kind of landmark for the future. I believe it's some kind of fixed event—something that would and must always happen as long as I am the Flash. He used it to determine whether or not I would still be me—whether or not the future had remained intact despite his meddling."
"… 'Disappeared in an explosion of light'?" quoted Oliver, confused. "You never told me about this."
"I had hoped that with Thawne gone, the future had changed, but I was wrong. The sky is red, and whatever that light was, it's already had a go at me—just before I got the call."
The room fell silent. Barry could almost feel the apprehension—nobody was willing to say what they were thinking: that they were afraid.
"Barry…," someone spoke finally. It was Kendra. "Whatever this is… you have to outrun it. We can't afford to lose you, not right before this… crisis."
Barry didn't respond. He couldn't.
"There's something else," said Oliver suddenly. "What's wrong?"
Barry sighed.
"It isn't just… this," Barry gestured down the table to the glowing image of the paper. "On the way here, to the Hall, I… I ghosted."
Cisco groaned despairingly and laid his head down on his arms in front of him.
"Oh, this just gets better and better," he said, voice muffled by his sleeves.
"Barry… this is good news," said Oliver, consolingly. "This means whatever happens in the next twenty-four hours, you get a do-over. Another chance."
Barry pinched the bridge of his nose. This had hardly begun and already it was getting too complicated.
"I'm sorry, Oliver, but you don't have to be the only one who remembers the terrible, horrible thing that happens the first time."
Oliver's smile faded.
"You're right," he said, and put a hand on Barry's shoulder. "I forgot. I'm sorry."
Barry shook his head apologetically.
"No, it's okay. In a way, you're right. It might give us the time we need to solve whatever this is."
Barry stood up, and the rest of the table followed suit.
"Atom, Firestorm, Hawkgirl—stay on the move," he said. "Help wherever you can. The rest of you, go home to your cities. They'll need you. Focus on relief efforts. I'll try to cover as much international ground as I can. And call the Titans," he added. "I have a feeling we're going to need everyone for this."