Chapter 2: Hypersonic Speed
A brush of wind flew through the parcel of the naked tree line. Fields full of daisies and wildflowers blooming two hearts beat as one. Their favorite hiding spot outside of the campus grounds, the quietness of the place could center anyone. The beauty did not allure them there but the exclusive nature of it all. Brown hair cascaded down the shoulders of the women in front of her between her legs resting back against her chest. Her own arms encased the women's hips her nose's tip rubbed against the back of the woman's ear. Draw in, she turns around straddling her lap, powerful green eyes staring into hers. It became painful not to have her at this moment biting down on her lip.
"I can't think straight...when you're like this," she mumbled.
Those elegant lips curled up into a smile leaning into her face. The two caught within the moment unable to hear the sneaking sounds of footsteps advancing toward them.
Bright sunbeams wandered onto Monica's face as the morning had approached. A groan escaped from Monica's lips unwilling to start the day. Given time, both eyes ruffled to open after a dream like that feeling more inclined to stay in bed. Although she knew she had training with Wally and couldn't miss it. She muscled up the willpower to get up. Her feet hitting the cold floor one at a time of her bedroom at S. Labs, Monica's heart rate quickened gripping the edge of the bed an overwhelming fear of being unstable. Pouring memories drowned into the forefront of her mind. When they succumbed, she sped off into the bathroom to start the day.
Monica felt a ringing in her ears of Tony's voice, "Be Ruthless Above Anything Else."
It was wise lesson that took Monica while too actively use. She walked past Cisco's lab where H.R was once again picking on a design flaw in his invention. She stopped intently peeked her head into the room. Cisco heated in the debate back and forth with H.R when Monica clears her throat loudly. H.R and Cisco's head turn simultaneously to the direction of the sound to see Monica standing with her arms crossed head tilted.
"Good morning boys, don't you think it's a bit early for bickering?" She asked.
"Glad you asked, Francisco won't listen to me. I know…. you… he will listen to," H.R pointing at the objects on the table.
Monica leaned to the side to see yet another impressive invention on Cisco's part, several small oval devices placed in a line on the table. She walked closer to them commending his abilities. She patted H.R. on the shoulder simply, "Cisco's got this one. I'm sure Caitlin could use your help, though."
H.R. exited the lab to find Caitlin.
Monica kept her eyes on the small devices, "Will they really work?"
"Technically yes, I based the science a bit off of my own powers but seeing that we both can open breaches. I recalibrated them to the electromagnetic frequency of the Earth's you've requested and the coordinates you want them to go. The only thing left is for you to charge them. " He picked up the nearest tablet to calculate how much trans-dimensional energy would be needed for two trips.
Monica's hand glowed as electricity transpired from her skin. The intensity of the current increased as it went through all the electromagnetic spectrum. She projected extra-dimensional energy carefully on each device through her hands.
He watched as her forearm charged for the bone up to the skin then into the hands, her palms illuminating the brightest, promoting an idea for another invention. A gaping smile crossed Cisco's face as he looked over the readings of each device. To find, they were charged, "It worked!"
He shuffled to grab a small silver case to place each device in sliding the container over the Monica. Her fingertips graze over it, "Thank you I don't think you how much this means to me."
"It's really no problem. I like having you around. It's going to be sad to see you go. Who else is going to give Barry a run for his title?" He laughed.
"I'd put my money on Wally." She beamed. "I've been meaning to ask you for one more favor. I hear you make the best suits on all the Earth's," Which brought another smile to Cisco's face.
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Back at the Combat Training Facility:
Monica had converted two bare rooms into a massive training room the previous weeks, devoted the space for training Wally. Every so often Iris could come by to check on Wally. Though, Wally found the visits an utter distraction. His self-defense improved every day picking up on effective takedowns. He continuously tried too even the playing field between Monica and himself. Her skills in hand to hand combat, mastery of Muay Thai lead Wally to avoid her knees, elbows, and shins at all cost. One powerful blow could render him crippled for the rest of the day.
Wally already dispatched to his morning warm-up. While, Monica took her time doing multiple sets of pull ups and focused solely on proper form holding a human flag until Wally achieved the end of his warm-up. She dropped down walking toward the modified octagon locking eyes with Wally.
He raced over to the entrance with a glare, "I won't take it easy on you this time."
She hovered into the octagon charging the cells in her body. Electricity sparked off her arms flowing profusely into her hands.
"I'll remember that."
Wally opened the wired door, entering the cage, settling his uneasiness walking to the center of the ring. Monica met him face to face. They both stood with one foot behind the other and fist raised covering their face. Both simultaneously nodded. Monica throws the first hook connecting with Wally jaw, swinging his head to the left. She pushed him back advancing forward attempting a combination to his chest. Wally blocked the next round of blows countering a few knocking Monica off center. Wally stepped his foot into Monica's inside footing, speed punching her abs. It pushed Monica back a few feet, she braced herself, pushed off on the wire wall, catapulting knee into his chest. She fixed her stances. They went back and forth blocking and countering punches.
She grinned at his spirit today. "Time to mix it up..." She thought.
She stepped back rotating her body rapidly smacked her chin against his ribs. The impact cracked a few bones causing him to jump. Followed by hurricane blows to the face leaving Wally disoriented stumbled to the wired walls. Monica's natural speed overshadowed his but he held fast to regain his composer. Hoisted his fist back up protecting his face, he inched back over to her, tucking his elbow on his hurt side. Bolts of lightning generated inside Wally's eyes for the first time. Monica's curiosity officially peaked, he dashed toward her just to smack the wire wall again. He looked up to see her hovering above with her arms crossed.
"Speed Lab Now," She demanded.
He wouldn't admit this out loud although he was happy to be leaving the Combat Room and rely more on his speed. Running felt amazing to him any opportunity he could run he did, vanished to the Speed Lab, Monica trailing behind collecting Caitlin and H.R. from the main lab. Wally had started racing around the track when everyone entered the Speed Lab. Caitlin monitored Wally's vitals while tracking his speed. H.R. adjacent to Monica kept his eyes locked on the screen.
"Run Wallace, Run!" Shouting highly too loud for comfort.
"He has already tripled in speed in a month." Caitlin chimed to Monica.
Monica looked up from the screen, her eyes filled with flaming visible light watching him. "He's at hypersonic speed. This kid is more than a natural," she thought, "how fast?"
"Mach 6" Caitlin answered.
The speed door opens Wally comes flying to a stop. He eagerly turns to Monica, "Well?!"
Her cheek raise immediately smiling, "Mach 6!" They smacked their hands together, locking them then dap's up and shoulder leaned back and forth with a whooshing sound effect hugged laughing.
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A week past, the Flash Team spent most of their time stopping the newest metahuman threat that arose within the City. Monica somehow convinced Caitlin to spend periods of the day without her suppression cuffs on. She felt nervous about it at first. It took one moment only for her to lose control but Monica was determined to show her control can be achieved. Iris noticed Wally pulling away from the West household spending most of his time with Monica either training or hanging out around the city. Eyewitness accounts could place Daystar and Kid Flash working together to take down petty criminals. Iris wasn't sure how to tell Barry or her father. She could see a positive shift in Wally. Monica has shown too always look out for his best interest. Iris was conflicted. Barry could tell something was bothering Iris. He planned to ask her over dinner, however, was surprised to see her walking into his forensic lab at the police department with coffees in her hands.
"Sorry to just drop by…" She sat the coffees down on his desk.
"No, it's fine. What's going on?"
"I've noticed that Wally and Monica have been spending a lot of time together. I can see how it is helping him but he hardly ever comes home. When he is there he's disconnected to dad and me."
"I know what you mean. When, he got powers I thought we'd... I don't know... One day could be on the same team. I thought that's what he wanted." He staggered out.
Iris rests her hand on Barry's shoulder brushing her thumb against his neck, "He's just so happy to have someone believe in him the way we should have. They're helping people at night." Her voice softened.
"What?" Barry stunned.
She nodded, "I don't think this is a bad thing, Barry. I've seen his result he doing more than ok."
"Do you really think he should be out there?"
"No. I can't stop him you know where that got us." Iris' eyes dropped.
Barry rose from the desk moving closer to her. "What can we do, Iris?"
"Support him. That's all we can do." Iris hugged Barry.
Joe walked into the lab keen on getting Barry's attention, "Bear, we have to go. Crime scene downtown."
"Alright!" He looked down at Iris, loosening her grip, "later, ok?"
"Of course."
Barry and Joe left together leaving Iris standing in the empty forensic lab.
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Monica stood beside a half packed duffle bag above her bed. She lifted her head looking around the modern yet cozy bedroom she called home temporarily. That deep feeling of despair burned in her belly again as she packed the bag slowly leaving another great group of friends made Monica feel hollow inside. She couldn't tell which was worse this pain or actually leaving. The hollowness grew into a shell in the pit of her stomach remembering all those she has left behind. Monica was picking up her last bit of clothes when she hears a knock at the door she scanned it. It was Wally. She opened the door.
"I thought we were training today. Are we not.." His voice fading once he saw the bag. The room was clean hardly any trace of Monica anywhere. Except, Monica herself standing in front of him, "Are you going somewhere?"
Her hand motioned for him to come inside. She had been sneaking around the truth with Wally for weeks now. Though, she would not hide now. Wally had a confused look on his face searching for the truth. She waved him to the chair, deeply needing him to sit down so she could get everything out once.
"I'm going… home back to my Earth, Wally." She stammered out.
They both sat down unsure of how to end the painful silence between them. Wally's confused expression changed to hurt. He couldn't believe she actually wanted to leave him behind.
"Why? You could start your anti-terrorism group here in Central City." He reeled off at Monica.
As Monica continued to explain why she had to go, sounds blurred together in his ears drowning out her words to nothing. Without thinking, he blurted out, "No, you can't leave! You're the only one here that hears me out. You believe in me, I can't just go back to my old life now that I know what I'm capable of."
Monica paused, raised her hand reaching to touch his shoulder to reassure him. It would be a lie to her although she needed to calm him. She genuinely could not stomach his rage. Wally stormed out of the room. Her head fell into her hands rubbing her temple. There was hope before just a flicker of hope that kept Monica from falling apart. That singular hope had been tossed into the deep shell fearing she was making a mistake to leave Wally. He was a part of her now. She stood and grabs the remaining items in the room, swung the bag over her shoulder, walking out of the bedroom without looking back. The Flash team collected in the Breach Room. She was surprised to see Joe there. She hasn't had many opportunities to spend time with him.
Iris and Cisco tried to give her a strong smile falling short. Barry reached his hand out to Monica with the best intention to look happy for her. She met his hand and shook firmly.
"It's really been an honor to fight alongside with you, I hope we can do it again in the future." She said hopefully.
Barry released her hand. "Oh, I'm sure of it. You could always jump back for a visit."
"Don't be a stranger." Caitlin reached her arms out hugging Monica quickly. Her embrace gave Monica a chill and she grinned.
"This isn't goodbye it see you later." She promised, walked down the stairs to Cisco. He handed her a large black metal case.
"I hope you like it." Her eyes flashed a striking blue.
Monica looked for a moment for Wally hoping that he would show, when Joe stopped her gaze from the door.
"He will come around. I wanted to thank you for all that you have done. There isn't many that have come through a breach that's been good. Helping my son's and keeping them safe. That's a debt I could never repay."
Monica nodded. "It was my pleasure."
Wally freezed into the room beside his father, a feeling of relief came over Monica when she saw Wally's face. He had come to spend off his friend. Though, it hurt to see her go. She let out a breath, digging into her pocket, pulled out a small jewelry box. She stepped closer to him.
"I wanted you to have this good friend." She said bereaved.
Wally took it, opened it right away, and pulled out a necklace dog tag. The front had a stamp with the word; Nextwave. The backside a symbol of a lightning bolt and Kid Flash engraved at the bottom. His thumb rubbed over the letters admiring the detail. Joe looked over at it.
"You're a hero, Wally. You were destined to help others. It's time for you to become the hero of your own legends. Come with me to National City. We can build Nextwave from the ground up together. You're my best friend I don't want to do it without you." Monica said.
Iris and Barry looked at each other with concern.
Wally, now looking back at Monica, a few seconds past, "I thought you would never ask. All those stories about the Avengers the adventure. That's what I want. Plus, I'm not done with my training." He quickly grabbed the bag he had packed.
Joe turned to Wally, "Are you sure about this Wally?"
"Dad, I'm sure. I want to go." He had a massive smile on his face.
Joe's first instinct was to discourage him from leaving. He knew better not to, both of his sons differed from most. He had accepted who Wally was. He could not stand in his way of his future as Kid Flash.
"My boy," he pulled Wally into a tight hug. Iris walking toward her family, Barry trailing behind her, they both held each other. Monica watched Wally say goodbye to his family. She could hardly remember her own family anymore. She nodded to Cisco to open the breach. He raised his arms bursting out a large energy opening a breach within the room. Wally walked to the breach Monica follow when Cisco shouted, "You never told us your superhero name!"
Monica held onto Wally flying up, "Captain Marvel!", and then flew straight into the breach.
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