Chapter 33: The Flash:
Nancy's POV:
Shaun and I just got out of a movie.
"I just don't get it," says Shaun, "anyone can tell she did it, so why did she get away with it?"
"Some people don't know how to make good movies," I said.
Then a red streak flew past us. "That was weird," says Shaun.
"Did you guys see that red streak," asks Dilton.
"Yeah," I said, "what was that?"
"I don't know," says Dilton, "but I think it robbed me!"
. . .
We were at Dilton's house, and the police were looking into it. "It looks like you were robbed by someone with superspeed," says Det. Tamura.
"What do we do," asks Dilton.
"Tell you what," says Det. Tamura, "I'll call Central City and they'll send in the only man in the world who is an expert when it comes to super speed." Det. Tamura then makes a call, and another streak came in.
"Hope I'm not too late." It was the Flash, the fastest man alive. Founding member of the Justice League.
. . .
Flash was taking a look around Dilton's house. "How do you afford this stuff," asks Flash.
"It's mostly recycled stuff," says Dilton.
"Well, I think I might know what they took," says Flash, "equipment to make a cosmic treadmill!"
"What's that," I asked.
"Hey, you're the teen detective Green Arrow and Batwoman told us about, right," asks Flash.
"That's me," I said.
"Cool," says Flash, "anyway, I built a cosmic treadmill so I could travel through time by use of super speed. I once traveled to the year 100,842,246 BC."
"Did you ever think about changing the past," asks Shaun.
Flash then has a traumatizing look on his face. "I'd rather not answer that. There are a lot of villainous speedsters, Reverse Flash, Zoom, Rival, Savitar, Godspeed, or it could be someone new."
"Maybe I can help," I said, "after all, I helped Green Arrow and Batwoman."
Flash then looked weird. "Okay, but under one condition... you tell me the best place to get something to eat. I have a very high metabolism!"
. . .
We then took Flash to Pop's.
"It's such an honor to be serving food for the Scarlet Speedster," says Pop.
"Please, call me Flash." He then eats almost as much as Jughead.
"Wow," says George.
"So, do you have to stretch before running," asks Bess.
"Sometimes," says Flash.
"Hey, I found a clue at Dilton's," I said, "it's this weird thing."
Flash takes a look. "Hey, this is Wayne Tech," says Flash, "I wonder how they got a hold of this?"
Then something attacks the place. We looked and it was a guy dressed in red. He had a bat symbol on his chest. "Flash, I am the Red Death!"
"I'm guessing you're the one who robbed Dilton Doiley," says Flash.
"I had to, he's the only one in this stupid town that can get me what I need," says Red Death.
"Then why didn't you just go to Central City or at least any other city that uses advanced tech," asks Flash.
Red Death then attacks Flash and the two start having a fight that we could barely see because of how fast they were.
"I am never fast forwarding again," says Ned.
"I can't tell who's winning," says Shaun.
"What do you want," asks Flash.
"I want you to come with me," says Red Death.
"Why," asks Flash, "is this a revenge thing?"
"It's more complicated than that," says Red Death. Flash then does some kind of lightning blast and hits Red Death with it. Red Death then runs away.
"He's a lot of fun," says Flash.
. . .
I was home, on the computer, trying to find anything I can about Red Death. So far, there have been no reports of anyone getting superspeed, but there is one interesting thing, two guys have been declared missing, Dick Grayson and Nightwing.
. . .
I was with the Flash. "You know, it's weird," says Flash, "there was something familiar about the way the guy fights."
"I wouldn't know," I said, "he was moving as fast as you."
"Fair point," says Flash.
"He dropped something at Pop's," says Shaun, running up to us, "one of those stick things people throw in the air."
"That's one of Nightwing's batons," says Flash, "we've all been wondering what happened to Nightwing. Maybe the Red Death did something."
"If only we knew the Red Death's story," I said.
. . .
I was walking when a mugger came. He was attempting to mug me, but then something killed him. It was the Red Death. "Why did you help me," I asked.
"I'm not a criminal," says Red Death, "I'm only trying to do what I need to do!"
"What do you mean," I asked.
"You wouldn't understand," says Red Death.
I then tried to grab him, but he ran off, but lucky for me, he dropped something. This guy needs to check his pockets. It was a mask.
. . .
I then showed the mask to Flash. "This confirms my theory," says Flash, "the Red Death has Nightwing!"
I was then thinking. If he just kidnapped Nightwing, why would he carry his mask around? "Flash, you're not going to like this... but I think the Red Death... is Nightwing!"
"You're right," says Flash, "I don't like it."
"Flash..."
"Nightwing was the seventh member of the Justice League," says Flash, "and he has been Batman's partner for years!"
That's right. I remember when I saw Batman and Robin taking down the Scarecrow. That was what inspired me to become a detective. "Flash..."
"Let me ask you something," says Flash, "how could Nightwing gain his own super speed?"
"Maybe he's just wearing a speed suit," I suggested.
"I'm still not buying it," says Flash, "we need to find the Red Death!"
"Maybe there is a way," I said, "he's not trying to kill you, he's been trying to capture you. Maybe you can use that."
"How?" Red Death then came and grabs Flash and leaves.
"That could work," I said.
. . .
Using my phone, I was able to call Flash, but Red Death answers. "He can't come to the phone!" And he breaks it, but I was able to find his hideout. The warehouse where Batwoman took me. How'bout that?
. . .
I arrived at that warehouse and saw Red Death's treadmill.
"Beautiful, isn't it," asks Red Death.
"Who are you," asks Flash.
"I am Vengeance," says Red Death.
I was sneaking around, but then the Red Death catches me. "You're starting to annoy me," says Red Death.
"You won't get away with this, Nightwing," I said.
Red Death then pauses, and he takes off his mask and reveals Dick Grayson.
"Wait... oh, Dick Grayson is Nightwing, isn't he?"
"Dick, I don't believe it," says Flash.
"And you shouldn't," says Grayson, "because I'm not the Dick Grayson you know!"
"Wait, what," I asked.
"I'm from another Earth," says Red Death, "you recall that fight between Batman and Superman?"
"The Dawn of Justice," asks Flash, "yeah, Batman was going to take out Superman, but then he learns Superman's Mom was in danger, so Batman decides to help him and then the two teamed up with Wonder Woman against Doomsday!"
"Yeah, but in my world, there's a difference," says Red Death, "you were there, and you killed Batman!"
"What," asks Flash.
"Just as Batman was about to end the fight, you came and you put your vibrating hand through Batman's back, ending him! That's when Luthor unleashed Doomsday and I had to help Superman and Wonder Woman take Doomsday down! We had a funeral for two that day, Superman and Batman! I've hated you since, so I decided to get revenge. Reverse Flash offered to help, but I didn't trust him, so instead, I took his speed, I absorbed so much power, that it destroyed him. I then became the Red Death and I attempted to destroy you! After so many failed attempts, I decided to enter the Speed Force, but it turns out that my Negative Speed Force was messing with it, trapping me here!"
"I thought there was something odd about the Speed Force," says Flash.
"I didn't want to risk it, so ironically, I need you," says Red Death, "you use your speed to power my treadmill and I can go home and destroy my version of you!"
"Wait," I said, "you're still talking about committing murder!"
"That's life," says Red Death, "now, if you excuse me."
"Where is Nightwing," asks Flash.
"How should I know," asks Red Death, "I was surprised he disappeared too!" Red Death then activates the machine and it forces Flash to run. I tried to stop him, but the result was him pushing me into the vortex thing the treadmill was making...
. . .
Now I'm in the Red Death's world. I looked around. Riverdale sure was different. I needed a way back. It then stepped outside.
. . .
I was looking around the city. I then had an idea. "Lucy! Mom!" The Dead Lucy of this world appeared in front of me. "I see you're a ghost here too." She was wondering how I knew she was my Mom. "In my world, I learned that. Did I ever move here?" Lucy shakes her head no. "Still in River Heights, then? That means I have no idea I was adopted, and my real Mom was murdered by Clifford Blossom." She then reveals that in this world, she killed herself. "Oh, well... I guess Clifford's not a murderer here." She then reveals that Clifford killed his own son in this world. "OOOkkkaaayyy, I just need a way home... but first, I don't suppose there's a way I can learn what happened during the Dawn of Justice."
. . .
Lucy guided me to Pop's. In this world, Archie was with Veronica, Betty was with Reggie, Cheryl was with Bess, Ned was with George, and Jughead... was eating a burger. Of course. Lucy took me to a guy named Ace.
"I knew there were other Earths," says Ace, "I once had a dream where a cosmic force destroyed the Multiverse!"
"Interesting," I said, "now, what about Flash and Batman?"
"I actually once talked to the Flash and he told me why he did it," says Ace, "because Batman killed his father!"
"What," I asked.
"I don't know what Batman's like in your world, but here, he's a murderous psychopath who takes things to the extreme with his villains. That's why he and Superman fought. Superman felt that Batman was going too far!"
"And Red Death could have learned that from your Batman," I said, "I have to find a way back to my Earth!"
"I wish I could help," says Ace, "but let's face it, my theories are obviously not scientific."
"Is there a Dilton Doiley here," I asked.
"Who," asks Ace.
"Never mind," I said.
Then a vortex opens. The Flash took control of the treadmill. "NANCY," shouts Flash.
"Thanks for the help," I said, "bye Mom!"
"Wait, Dead Lucy is your mom," asks Ace. I then jumped through.
. . .
I was back in my world and the Treadmill loses power. "NNNNNNNOOOOOOOOO," shouts Red Death, "YOU RUINED EVERYTHING!"
"Flash killed Batman because Batman killed Flash's Dad," I said.
"That... might have happened," says Red Death, "but that was only because Flash's Father killed Flash's Mother!"
"Dick, Batman was a maniac," I said, "you don't have to be like him!"
"If you won't help me, then you must die!" He was about to kill me, but then a weird bat like device was thrown at him. Nightwing threw it.
"I'm glad I found you," says Nightwing.
"Nightwing," says Flash.
"Thank God," I said.
"You stay out of this," says Red Death.
"Here's my opinion," says Nightwing.
Nightwing and Red Death then fight. That thing Nightwing threw on Red Death blocked his connection to the Negative Speed Force, so Red Death lost his speed.
"We are equal in every way," says Red Death.
"You're just a joke to me," says Nightwing.
Flash then steps in and knocks Red Death down.
. . .
Red Death was being taken in by A.R.G.U.S.
"Sorry I thought it was you," I said.
"You were half-right," says Nightwing, "you know, when I was Robin, I went to this detective school owned by Wayne Enterprizes."
"Thanks for the suggestion," I said, "but I don't think I'm ready to travel all the way to Gotham."
"Good point," says Nightwing.
"Well, we better get going," says Flash. Flash and Nightwing then leave.
I wonder what I am like in that other Earth. Oh well.
That detective school thing was something I made up, but I got an idea from an anime. In the next chapter, Nancy meets Superman and Lois.