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by JM de Joya Originally presented at DC/Marvel: The Merging as Flash #1-3 |
"Hello? Testing . . . can you hear me? Okay, here I go . . . "
"This is Bartholomew Allen, head and founder of Synergy Chemicals. This is a recording, and if I may not survive, you must not listen to anymore in this tape other than what I have said now. Throw this tape into the river.
"I have left my legacy here on tape, and in secret. For years, I have been searching for the secret of speed, and my own mysterious metabolism that made me who I am today. I have studied this secret carefully, watching it as it grew and exposed more of the world than we could ever imagined.
"I have unleashed pure potential.
"I have two boys. They are the only thing left in the world that I could really love. Walter West and Barty . . . like me, they have pure potential. Two days ago, they got it.
"My god . . . they got it.
"They were orphans . . . they were my sons. It was here in Synergy that everything crashed on them, as the potential I kept encased for years had them wither in pain, like lightning their metabolism increased. Their speed increased.
"God, please forgive me."
"Hey! Hey, Linda! Wait up, will ya!" The young man pedaled faster, as Linda Parks continued to walk towards Channel ANC. "Come on, what's the matter with dating a college stud anyway?"
She turned to him, poking him in the chest.
"Wally. You don't even have work," she said, twirling her fingers on his chin, then snapping her fingers. "You didn't exactly make it out of the first year of Atlanta University that easily either."
"Hey, that's foul play, news anchor girl. You're just doing this reporter thing for credit."
"What if I am?" Linda intoned, as she pushed Wally aside. "And . . . I'm not a girl. Don't ever call me girl."
Linda rushed into the building, slamming the door behind the guy. Wally slapped himself in the head. Suddenly, his sense began to perk up, as if danger was lurking nearby . . .
Suddenly, something tugged him at his shoe. Then, sharp pain began to course through Wally.
"Poochie!!! Don't bite the nice man!" the old lady shouted, as Wally yelled. "Poochie" the toy poodle was nipping him by the leg. After ten minutes, the old lady grabbed the toy poodle, and it sat in her arms, feeling well exhausted. "Oh man . . . " he inspected his shoe, ripped nearly in front, and sighed. "Well, it was going to up like this anyway."
Grabbing his bike, Wally stopped for a second, as the wind began to die down. Something was brewing in Atlanta, like an ill wind that blew no man good. His eyes began to flicker with thunder, as the storm crackled above, and he disappeared within seconds.
Behind him, his assistant began to roll away several containers. Len Snart was happy in what he was doing. He had already achieved his dream, interning as a scientist here, and was lax in his work. Dragging a special machine up front, he fixed its collaborations to suit the test today. Victor smiled, as he fixed his glasses.
"My predecessor once noted that speed is just an expression for molecular displacement that one cannot understand . . . now thanks to his work combined with the high-end technology gathered here in our company, such as this molecular harness, his dreams of controlling speed will be achieved."
With a nod from Victor Freeze, Len began to channel the chemicals into the container. The audience froze in awe, as the machine began to crackle with white lightning.
"Hey, Iggy! What's up?" Wally said to the lab physicist. It was another day in Synergy Chem, after school of course. "Hey, Wally! Did you do your homework already? You should be at the desk right now with Agnes."
"Can't, man. Graduating already. Is that so bad? A few months left, you know."
"Right . . . all the more you should study. If you want to be like Barry, after all. He's your model, right?"
"Rrrriiiigghht . . . whatever, dude."
Behind him, Bart began to dislodge the chemicals on the shelf. "Don't touch that!" Iggy yelled, just as soon as Bart froze, caught in the act.
"Gotcha there, Barty! Think you could escape Iggy Jamele's eagle eye?"
"Don't call me Barty," Bart said, pouting. "I'm cool! Can do! Call me 'Da B-man' or something, just don't call me Barty!"
"Right. Gotcha," Iggy said, as he left the room. "Listen, boys, don't touch the chemicals. Barry says they're hazardous and deadly," his voice trailed. Wally sighed.
"We know, Igs. Everything here is deadly to Barry."
"See what I mean?"
Wally West, eighteen year old, sat on the chair by the desk, as Bart began checking the beakers. "Hey, Wally! This stuff's cool! Like Einstein-cool!"
"Whatever, Barty."
"Don't call me Barty!"
As the two boys began fighting, rooms away, Barry Allen sat on his easy chair, as Victor Freeze, his business partner, began to hold a snowglobe in his hands. "So we're already in the final phase of truly understanding the physics of speed, eh, Freeze?"
"Oh, yes, Barry, very so."
"Well . . . I understand. Must we proceed with the experiment . . . "
Victor placed his hands on Barry's shoulder, a gesture of encouragement. "Barry, I know you as the Flash. This has been your dream . . . to understand why you are what you are now. This 'Speed Force' you're looking for . . . it's here, pure science. Pure physics."
" . . . but I have a feeling something's wrong."
Victor laughed, a friendly laugh, and sat on the chair. "Barry, Physics was created by man to harness it. But there is no real science, only a name that defines this . . . thing. 'Physics' is a force we cannot understand completely, but now you have basis on which we can truly be placed down in history to master this force. "
"Thank you, Victor, we'll . . . we'll push through then. See you tomorrow."
Suddenly, as Barry began to relax, a large explosion burst through the building. "Oh god . . . that came from Mr. Jamele's lab," Victor said, trying to stand up from the floor. "Those are the chemicals . . . we must evacuate everyone from that area."
" . . . the kids. Where are the kids?"
Barry called on the intercom, paging for Agnes, his secretary. The response he got was filled with static, but he heard too well enough.
"Oh my god . . . they're there."
"Well . . . ? I suppose you're going to stare up there into space, Dr. Freeze," Len said, as he began mixing the chemicals in his hands. "The demonstration was a success then."
"Yes, it was."
"What's on your mind, Dr. Freeze?"
"A lot really."
"Must be your wife then, Dr. Freeze. She left you, didn't she?"
"Yes . . . she did."
Len was beginning to grow uncomfortable. His mentor seemed so . . . still. Frozen. He still had work to do, overtime. More credits for college for him, he guessed.
"Cheer up, Dr. Freeze. It's okay, people change. I mean, with your looks, you could gather the chicks!"
" . . . people change. That is true."
Standing up, Victor Freeze, turned to his assistant, grabbing the beaker in his hands.
"Two years ago, my wife was killed by a blood hungry murderer. Two years ago, my heart died."
Silent, Len backed away, his shades falling down on the ground, as his mentor began to walk towards the chemicals on the shelf. "I will find a way to get revenge on that killer. If Barry's boys were given enhanced speed, then what of me . . . ?"
Len ducked behind the table, as Victor began mixing the chemicals with the formula on the table. Suddenly, lightning crackled from the beakers, as Victor found himself in the middle of the explosion, only to find the chemicals working on him differently. As the dust settled, Len grabbed onto Victor, whose face began to twist in pain. "B-b-b-urning . . . "
"Dr. Freeze! What do we do now? Doctor?"
" . . . I-ice. C-oold."
Len opened the giant frozen safe for stabilizing the chemicals, and brought Victor inside. "D--dying . . . .can't happen . . . how could this . . . ?" Victor reached for Barry's notes, and gave it to Len. "H-h-help m-me . . . please, u-use the notes . . . "
Len opened it, and read through it. "A speed containment suit? Speed gun? Are you guys nuts? You're like making stuff for superheroes or something!"
" . . . set a-all calibrations on the n-n-notes backwards. T-to regress sp-sp-speed. Th-they're in the shelf u-under t-the t-table"
"But . . . "
"D-do it-t! Now!"
Len Snart couldn't disagree with a dying man, so he got up and opened the shelf, grabbing the stuff. Using the notes, he set the circuits and turned to Freeze. "Okay, what now?"
"Aim it. At me."
Len, hesitating, fired the gun at Victor Freeze. In a matter of minutes, the pain subsided from within Victor. Len grabbed hold of his mentor, laying on the table. The man was half-burnt, Len noticed, like the speed he was searching for began to combust him from inside.
"I . . . I don't feel anything. Why . . . ?"
"Dr. Freeze, you're fine now. Please . . . "
Suddenly, Freeze grabbed Len, and threw him onto the wall. "NO! NO, this . . . this wasn't suppose to happen! I . . . I . . . Nora's dead, and I couldn't even avenge her! NO! It's not suppose to be like this . . . "
"Dr. Freeze . . . ?"
" . . . Allen. Allen's boys. It's their fault. All their fault."
"Sir, you're not feeling well . . . "
"Don't tell me about what I'm feeling! All I feel right now is . . . revenge."
"Sir . . . "
"First, Barry, you ruined my wife's life. Now, your boys have ruined mine. No, no more!"
Len knew he had a chance to escape, but like reflex, Freeze turned to him, twisting his head like a rag doll.
"You! You have my gun! MY GUN!"
"No, sir, it's me, Len . . . "
"MY GUN!"
Like a madman, the burnt Freeze rushed at Len. Leaning back, the young intern found himself at the edge of the window. Throwing the gun to the other side, he made a leap of faith and dropped to the grassy ground below. Getting up, he managed to run away as fast as he can from the mad laughter that echoed throughout Synergy Chemicals.
"Yes . . . yes, my precious, you're mine. All mine," Freeze held onto the gun, then grabbed the containment suit. Feeling the grim black mask on his face, he knew this suit would keep the burns from burning him completely. It would fully cover his body forever, but that was the price of his vengeance. His lips began to burn, and he knew it would hurt if he continued to speak. It would hurt if anyone knew him behind the mask. The price of vengeance.
But first, destroy the evidence.
Suddenly, a giant projectile flew across the air, smashing the Flash in his chest. The boomerang went back into the hands of the bank robber, who moved in a stance to let it fly once more. "Oy, Flash, let me tell you . . . you're getting too slow then, are you?"
"Shut up, Captain Flying-saucer. It's like you've got some dignity in your name."
"But I do! Watch." The boomerang flew once again, and Wally closed his eyes, and began to vibrate. Within seconds upon impact, the boomerang returned, exploding into a million bits. Captain Boomerang leapt back, throwing miniature boomerangs at the speedster.
"Really now, that's suppose to harm me?" the Flash said, moving within seconds. Suddenly, the small projectiles began exploding upon contact to his skin, and Flash began to lose synchronity in his speed. "See what I mean, Flash ol' boy? Those boomerangs are rigged to ruin your molecule structure, so if you move too fast, you may just dissolve after all."
Damn!
Captain Boomerang threw two more boomerangs, as the Flash began to dodge them, without using his speed. He knew he was slowly dissolving, even while running at a normal rate. Suddenly, he found himself being punched by Captain Boomerang in the face. "Oy, mate! You're as weak as a sissie then without that running thing of yours!"
Sissie? Look who's talking, "mate".
"You'll think wrong after this, Boomerang," Flash said, grabbing onto the robber. "You got too close to me . . . I can hit you at a normal speed at a normal distance now." Holding onto Boomerang's bandanna, the Flash landed a huge sucker punch on Captain Boomerang, sending him unconscious. "Well . . . all in a day's work I guess . . . I guess I have to walk back to Synergy to see if they have a way to revert my molecular structure and . . . "
Suddenly, he noticed a crowd, watching the TV news being displayed on the window of the shop. "Hey what's that?" the Flash asked one of the onlookers, a teenage boy.
"Hey! You're the Flash! Thas cool!"
"I know . . . but what happened there?" He pointed on the screen, as the crowd dispersed for the hero.
It's a fire . . . didn't you know? I bet most you superheroes didn't know about it. Big company fire. Burnt down most of the place."
"Wha . . . "
On the screen, the reporter pointed towards the site, as the police and the fire department gathered around it, taming the fire.
" . . . last night, Atlanta has lost one of its distinguished companies. Synergy Chemicals was burnt down last night by unknown reasons. The police are confounded by who would do this, or what their motives would be . . . "
Barry Allen and Victor Freeze rushed into the scene of the disaster. As Wally and Bart began to crawl out of the rubble. "Wally! Barty! Oh my god, I was so worried . . . thank god you're all okay . . . "
"Don't call me Barty!"
"Barry . . . I--I'm sorry, something Bart touched and . . . "
"It's okay. All that matters is that you're okay . . . you're still the same boys I loved and grew up with."
"No, Barry . . . something's different. Something's happening to us . . . "
Barry Allen stepped back, as the two boys found themselves in front of them, and in seconds, behind their adopted father. For the first time in a long while, Barry found himself face to face with one thing he never saw coming. Wally West, eighteen year old, soon to graduate, never saw it either.
"Barry, don't look at us like that . . . please . . . "
I'm the Flash.
At least I'm supposed to be.
Walking down the streets in spandex isn't exactly what I'd call healthy.
Flash picked up a quarter from the pavement, and sighed. Everyone was staring at him, as he made his way to the payphone. The man who was standing beside it stared in awe, as the hero picked the receiver and dialed a number. And he waited.
" . . . Hello . . . ?" the voice mentioned, as Wally pressed his mouth towards the receiver, already anticipating the shock to come. "Johnny! It's me," Flash muttered. Astonished, the man on the other side yelled in delight. "WALLY?!?! Wally, is that you over there? S'been a long time . . . "
"I know, Johnny," Flash said, trying not to attract attention (like he can help it) as much as possible. "Listen, can you pick me now. Where I am? I'll need your help."
"Shoot. Where're you now?"
The scarlet speedster searched for landmarks and sighed. "Near the clock tower. The payphone with a crowd."
He propped the phone back, as the line faded into the alarming sound that it makes. He turned, and eyed the mini-seconds. Suddenly, an echo filled the air, and suddenly, Wally found himself at the hands of one of the most famous speedsters carrying him back to his lab. "Feels weird, when it's not me running like lightning . . . " Wally said, as he leaned on the wall, trying to shake his dizziness.
Johnny Quick grabbed his pills, and swallowed them. "Yep, these pills Alan gave me back then still work. I'm as young as can be," he said, coughing. "Ol' Alan? Don't tell me he's still wielding that wedding ring on his finger . . . "
Wally laughed and tried to hide his shame. "Johnny . . . Alan's not the Sentinel anymore. He's something else now . . . "
Suddenly, the beakers on the table beside began to bubble. The old hero grabbed the beakers, and began to stir it with the plastic rod. "Now . . . what do you need again?"
Wally sighed, trying to check his heart rate mentally. " . . . some crook whacked me and my molecules are shot*. Badly."
*(See the last issue for details)
"Must be some crook to be able to hit you then."
"Please, his name was Captain Boomerang. Can an action figure be far behind?"
Johnny Quick smiled, and placed the final concoction on a flask, stored in his cupboard. "Well, I'd say you shouldn't underestimate your enemies, even those with the bad names." He sighed, and brought out a injection, and motioned Wally to roll one of his sleeves.
"He'll be back you know. Beating the Flash can do that to an ego."
" . . . how do you know?"
"Barry went through the same things, too."
Wally yelped in pain, as the needle released a new chemical into his blood veins. "There . . . that relaxant should slow down your molecular strands . . . you'll be better in minutes. But just in case . . . " Johnny said, grabbing onto a sheet of paper, and began writing down a formula.
"No, Johnny. I don't think I'll be needing that."
The old speedster sighed, and threw the formula into the garbage bin. "Memorized it . . . well, you should be going now."
"Say hi to Jay and Jesse for me."
Flash began to vibrate, and in split-seconds, disappeared. Johnny Quick sat on his chair and sighed.
"Holy -- !"
Janet Hensing couldn't do a thing, as the chemical model began to fall to the ground. She reached out for it, but then, a streak of white suddenly pulled her back. She blinked, and found everything back in order.
"Wally," she said in relief, as the teen stopped in his tracks, and combed his hair.
"Hey, Jan . . . what say?" His smiled, as Janet pushed away all his advances.
"Whoa, Wally . . . you shouldn't be hitting on me," she said, grabbing the documents on the clipboard. "But thanks. But no thanks, for hitting on me." She walked away, as Wally sat, gloomy. In seconds, Bart, his younger brother (or sorts, since they're orphans), was behind him, throwing popcorn at his back.
"Barty, stop that."
"What's your problem, Wally?" The young teen checked on his watch, and was gone, only to return with his new video game and the television set. "Check this out, Wally! Final Fantasy VII! Tim from school lent it to me!"
"Yeah, yeah. Whatever."
"Sheesh," the other boy muttered, but his attention was drawn to the screen.
As Bart began yelling and howling in triumph ("Can't believe it! The girl got killed!"), Wally found himself being patted in the back by Barry.
"Hey kiddo," he said, and Wally fumed. "Can't believe it . . . after being so cool enough, Jan still doesn't want me."
Barry laughed, and Wally turned to him. "Follow me," he said, as he readied himself. "Race you to the other side of the labs."
"Barry, I don't . . . "
Suddenly, he was gone. Wally sighed, and began to running as fast as he can, scarlet lightning shimmering down the hallways.
"Hey! Watch the dust!" Bart yelled.
"I don't believe this, Len . . . how could you do this?" she said, giving her brother a cup of hot cocoa. "You could damage my name as a figure skating star . . . after I changed it to Star, of course." Covering himself with a blanket, Len sneezed. "I-I . . . s-sorry, Lisa. I was chased, and scared."
"You didn't look chased when you came to my door."
"We've got to warn the Flash," he said, his eyes widened. "Someone's after him."
Lisa smiled, and humored him. Then got up and closed the door, intending to call Atlanta's Mental Institution. Overhearing her, Len shuddered, and then noticed he was still holding the notes in his pocket.
"No choice but to use them. Now or never," he muttered. "Lisa's not going to help me . . . I need someone who can."
Letting the rope down the window, Len escaped the attic, but not before the neighbors mistake him for a prowler. Len Snart ran, his life was already a forfeit. Everything was wrong, all wrong, for him and his world.
"I must have someone who can . . . "
"Yes, Mr. Berkins, I already have the story on the Captain Boomerang attack in . . . yes sir, I mean -- no." Linda Parks sat on the steps of the station, already jotting down notes for her boss. "No sir, the bake sale was fine . . . no, not flakepail, sir, bake sale."
Linda felt a chill down her spine, as the wind bellowed a low whistling sound. She won't admit it, but the night shift she had to take for extra credit. She wanted to be a news anchor, not some errand girl for the board of directors. Sighing, she took a bite of her sandwich. Then, she heard an unearthly howl. Dropping her meal slowly into the garbage bin, she silently tried to make her escape, only to find black gloves clutching her throat. The man (or woman) in the suit was as silent as a stone, as Linda felt his hold on her tighter than ever. Her notes began to fall to the ground, as she wrestled to try and coax a scream out of her lips. Suddenly, the man let go, dropping her to the floor. Picking up the notes, he found the Flash written all over it.
" . . . Yesterday, a bank robbery committed by felon Captain Boomerang, otherwise known as George Wiggins, was thwarted by the red lightning of Atlanta City, the Flash. Experts say . . . "
His breathing grew still, as he ripped the page apart, and turned to Linda. Suddenly he reached for his gun. Linda Parks was crying, for the first time in her life, she was crying in fear.
She was so afraid. She shouldn't be.
As she felt her lower limbs beginning to freeze, the man was breathing excitedly. And he left her there, her lower body frozen in ice. He turned to her and his pained voice whispered in her ears.
" . . . I am Freeze. Tell the world I will be waiting for Wally West, the Flash, in the abandoned Pier Ten."
And he turned away, leaving Linda alone in the dark street. She dried her tears, and looked up, with a puzzled look on her face.
" . . . Wally?"
"Why aren't you with Mr. Freeze anyway, Barry?" Wally asked, as they stepped into the room. "He and his wife are experimenting on a new type of chemical, one that can harness time for us. Imagine that . . . manipulating time."
Bartholomew Allen grabbed a cup of coffee from the brewing machine and sighed. " . . . you know your powers are special, right Wally? Running fast and all that?"
"Wait, Barry . . . don't tell me . . . with great power comes great responsibility?"
Barry laughed, nearly choking on his drink. "Where'd you get that idea, Wally? It's a nice one, but that's not what I'm stretching in point here." Taking a good sip, he released his anxiety. " . . . I don't want you or Barty to use your powers freely anymore."
"What?!!?" Wally exclaimed, pounding on the table. "What load of crap is that, Barry?!?!"
"Wally . . . you don't get it. Being someone with powers requires some growing up . . . "
"And I'm not!?! I'm 18, Barry! Doesn't that mean a thing to you?!?!"
"No! No, that's not it. Sometimes, you lose track of yourself . . . these powers, you don't stop and stop until you realize that once you've made a difference in other people's lives . . . you stopped making a difference in your own. I don't want that to happen."
"Well, I'll do both! Is that such a problem!?!"
Silence filled the air for a few minutes, before Barry could muster his words.
"You can't freeze the moments, Wally. It's not that simple. I don't think you understand . . . "
"The hell with what I understand!!!" Wally yelled at his surrogate father, grabbing his stuff. "You have no idea what it's like to be me! I hate you! I hate you so much . . . I wish I could run away!"
"Do you? Is that what you really want?" Barry asked hopelessly.
Wally slammed the door behind him. The former Flash slumped on the table. Eyeing the ceiling, he just muttered to himself.
" . . . Wally, I know the feeling too."
Suddenly, the doorbell rang. Wally stretched his arms, and rushed to open the door.
"Hey," Linda said, all wet. "Late in the evening and you're watching . . . ???"
"Horror Theater," Wally said in shock. "Well, I guess the next time I wish something, I should go for a million bucks."
"What's that about?"
"Nothing. How'd you get wet?"
Wally ushered Linda to the sofa, giving a towel to her. "It's a weird thing, Wally . . . I met this man," She uttered. " . . . who was looking for you."
"Me?"
"Okay, I can't keep it . . . you're the Flash, aren't you?" she said, eyes lighting up. "Wally West? The Flash? The guy who beat Captain Boomerang?"
"What are you talking about?" Wally nervously sat on the chair. "Don't lie to me, West," Linda said in her interrogative tone. "I do believe I have a big report for ANC tomorrow . . . "
"Linda! Wait! Don't do.."
"Don't do what?" Linda Parks turned to Wally. "Well, I'll see you later in those assets, Wally. Pier Ten, meet me there."
"Why should I?"
"Some guy named Freeze told me."
"Freeze . . . Victor Freeze . . . ?" Wally sat on his chair, trying to contemplate.
"Of course, there's also the fact I could rat in on your identity, West . . . "
"That's blackmail!"
"I know," she said, and walked out of his apartment.
" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ."
" . . . I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Bart. I'm so sorry, Wally. I couldn't do anything. I assured Victor nothing would go wrong. His wife . . . oh god, she died in the experiment, and I couldn't do a thing. She said she was ready, terminal cancer. But Victor wouldn't accept that.
"I know he'll be waiting for me. I shouldn't have pushed the limits. Everything I've told you before, Wally . . . I've never listened to.
"If I die, please . . . go on. Move on. Live on.
"And . . . remember what I said, Wally. You never did before.
"Don't be a Barry Allen."
" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .."
"Those were his last words," Bart said, handing the recorder to Wally. "Found it in the garbage bin."
"I didn't know . . . " Wally said, rewinding the tape. Silently, he played it again. And again.
"Wally . . . ? You ran away, remember? We only found out today . . . "
Wally sat on the chair, with nothing to say.
"Look at the bright side. We can go play bowling. Eat at Chuckle's. C'mon, Wally . . . we can open the gifts Barry hid in the closet for Christmas . . . or play hide and seek in his room. We can play the Playstation Barry bought for my birthday . . . finish Final Fantasy VII . . . and get a happy ending . . . "
The eighteen-year-old looked up to Bart for a moment, his eyes melancholic. They hugged each other, trying to console each other's pain and grief . . . the only way they would ever understand.
"You know . . . the last thing Barry told me was to live my life," Bart said, trying to hide his emotions.
Wally looked at him, and held back his grief. "Barry told me to find one," he said, as he reached for Barry's old Flash costume in the closet. Grabbing the mask, he lifted it over his head. A perfect fit.
"I'll show you, Barry, I can make a difference. In my life, as well as others," Wally said, taking off the mask. " . . . and I won't let you down."
Falling for Linda's media trap. That's not going to be good . . .
Moving at 765 mph, the Flash, in his scarlet red suit, rushed towards the abandoned marina at the northwest edge of Atlanta. Pier 10 was situated on the lake, a two hour's drive from where Wally was. Not that that counts.
Details, details . . . Wally thought, passing by the detour sign.
Already 20 miles from the Pier . . . shouldn't be a problem then . . .
8
2 . . . " . . . whadda..!?!?!"
A blue blinding ray of ice flew directly to him, grabbing him, smashing him on the tree trunk by the side. There was no one there.
Or was there?
The water in the lake began to bubble, as if something was beginning to rise from it. suddenly, from the center, ice extended towards the shoreline from all sides. Wally eyes grew wide, as the figure in a black containment suit rose from the murky depths of the lake water, covered in weeds from the lakebed. Even from afar, the Flash could see from between the visor of the figure.
" . . . Victor?!" Wally yelled, as the figure closed in on him. "Oh my god, it that . . . ?!?!"
"What?!?!" Wally yelled in disappointment. "How could that . . . "
"Without Barry to support you, Walter, I'm afraid you and Bart have no place in here," Victor Freeze said, callously checking the reports given to him by his aides. "So far, the cause of many of our problems has been your interferences. I'm afraid it's time . . . "
"No! No, I can't . . . this isn't happening!" Wally shouted, angry. "After all this time . . . ? Why are you doing this?"
Freeze stared into his eyes, and Wally found in them an emptiness that swelled the soul. "Of course, if you work as an experimental model for Synergy, we'll be all the more happy to accommodate you . . . "
"Never," Wally said, grabbing Bart's hand. "We may not be with Synergy any longer . . . but Barry still left us a legacy."
Suddenly, the door flew open, as a brilliant ray of light zoomed across the place. Wally once again felt that they were alone in this world once more, and maybe . . . no one will ever care for them again.
"Say," an old man from afar muttered, as the two raced towards him. Jeremy Irons sat on chair in the dude ranch. Vacation, after all, was great rest for an old man. Suddenly, he swerved, blocking the path of the two blinding lights, chaotically laying waste to the land.
The moving light began to swerve, and like a comet, crashed into the corn field. Johnny walked closer to inspect and found the two boys, tired and hungry, kneeling down before him. "Well . . . you must be Barry's boys, I take it."
"Huh?!?" Wally then got the energy to stand up, and cling onto the man. " . . . you know Barry?"
"Know him? Why, know him I do!" Jeremy coughed, trying to gag a snicker. "I retired once he took over, you know. Sends letters now and then . . . "
"..right." Wally turned his back and sighed. "But you won't be receiving letters from Barry again."
"He's already there. I can feel him, one with the Speed Force." Jeremy ushered the two back to the ranch and sat on his rocking chair. "When you're old . . . you die. But when it concerns the Speed Force, you become the energy that fuels the speedsters after you. So, no matter where you go, Barry'll be watching you." He smiled, rocking back and forth. "Listen kids, since Barry's gone . . . and my wife and I never really had children . . . why don't you stay with us?"
" . . . Why?" Wally turned to him. "Why are you so kind to us?"
"Because," Jeremy said whispering both in their ears. "I know you're gonna wear the mask one day too."
Grabbing the wrapper, Linda was about to open her mouth to taste it when she heard a loud crash among the trees. She rushed out of her car, right before a giant icicle crushed it to pieces. Freeze stood before the Flash, wrapping him with his gloves.
"Flash."
The only word he said before aiming the freeze gun on his forehead. Suddenly, a rock hit him from behind, and Freeze let go of the Flash, only to find Linda ready and aimed, licenced to kill. "I swear buddy, these rocks hurt. Don't kill my Pulitzer prize!"
Freeze arched his head, then fired the freeze gun at Linda. Fortunately, Wally grabbed her, before the gun could do damage. Freeze stood before the frozen tree, and roared in rage, smashing the side in half. The tree shattered into many shards of ice, prickling the skin of Linda and the Flash. "Stay here," he said, hiding her among the bushes, and turned back to Freeze.
Len Snart tripped. he crashed onto the grassy fields in the forest, trying to reach his destination. Grabbing onto the notes he had in his pocket, the young man knew he couldn't go back to the University just yet. What if Freeze finds him? Or the Flash? "No," he muttered to himself.
Then he was there. His hideout, an abandoned shack in the middle of the forest. He'll have to protect himself. With these notes, just maybe . . . do a variation? Something much more powerful than Freeze.
He had to.
He'll go in hiding for now; until he was ready. He'll find a way.
"Hey, Jeremy! Guess what!" Bart said. "There's someone here to see you. Some named . . . the Red what?!?!"
[The Red Tornado.]
"Right. Jerrreeeemmmyyyy!!!!! There's a Red Tomato to see you!"
Jeremy Irons sighed, grabbing onto his hat and coat. He got down and greeted Bart, swinging the front door open and sat on the porch of his house. Staring at the metallic red-and-gold android standing before him, his face shining like the sun.
"It doesn't look like a red tomato to me, Bart," he said, sighing. " . . . did you steal it from another super-villain? I mean Red Tornado WAS created by T.O. Morrow and all . . . "
[Pardon me, sir, but I DO believe that I am NOT a tomato, Rapid,] the sentient said. [Sir, I have been given the privilege to work with the next generation of superheroes. Among them, we have detected your son Bart as one with potential.]
"A privilege. Right," Jeremy said, winking at Bart. "Well . . . since you do know about his life so much already . . . what do you think, Barty?"
"STOP CALLING ME THAT!!!" Bart said, jumping up and down. "Sure! Save the world and all that . . . uh . . . how? Like when I teamed up with those guys to take on the Looter?"
[You will have help,] Red Tornado said, as he opened the door to the white van behind him . . . er, it. Bart hopped on, noticing a green girl sitting beside him. " . . . uh . . . hi," he said, blushing.
"Hi! Name's Jenn . . . can call me Jade . . . you have the nicest shirt . . . do you shop at . . . ?How's . . . why . . . ?"
"Boy," Bart muttered to Red Tornado. "She talks faster than I can move."
[I know,] the sentient muttered, slapping his forehead. [I--am a--getting-- ma-ma-alfunction just listening to her . . . ]
"You take care of Bart now, you hear?" Jeremy yelled, and Red Tornado nodded, slamming the door shut. Wally just got down and was ready to go to the arcade.
"Hey, where's Bart?" he asked Jeremy. The old man sighed and pointed to the direction of the leaving van. In an instant, he stomped his foot to the ground, then disappearing, running at a light speed.
Five miles an hour.
" . . . and blah blah blah . . . hey, know him, Bart?" Jenn asked, and Bart peered out of the window. On the side, Wally was running at the same speed of the moving van, and was waving hi. "HEY! Wally! Going to be on a team!"
"HeyBarty!don'tforgettobrushandwritetomeusalot!" he yelled, and Bart gave him a thumbs-up.
Suddenly, Wally swerved, right before a giant truck could smash him like a bug. But the velocity was too strong, flinging him over to a pile of hay. "Oh . . . MAN!" Wally yelled. "My new Gap's ruined!"
Then he laughed out loud. "Well, it's just me now . . . someday, I may be on a team too . . . "
The cold man in the containment suit said nothing, as Wally rushed to get behind him. Suddenly, the speedster found himself trapped in an ice field, then crashing back onto the ground. "How . . . ?!?!"
"Physics," Freeze said, kicking the Flash aside.
Wally the rationalized the impossible. Okay . . . Barry taught me this little sucker . . . he's got a gun. He's got a gun that could make the whole of Atlanta into a popsicle, which shouldn't be too bad. But . . . I can't touch him. Rolling back, Wally got up and made another try at the man, this time heading straight towards him. Then, another blinding blue Flash, that stopped Wally in motion, and gave enough time for Freeze to pummel him. Bleeding, Wally stood up, a little dazed, as Freeze fired the gun at him.
"Freeze," he uttered, as the patches of ice began to grow around his body. Moisture in the air . . . so that's why he wanted to fight me in the lake, it's the water! What else, what else . . . think Wally, or you'll be the first popsicle on his list! The ice flow was already up to his neck, when Wally paused.
"Oh god, Barry, hope you're right on this . . . " the Flash closed his eyes, as if praying. Suddenly, the ground began to vibrate, like an earthquake was occurring near the lake. The Flash opened his eyes again, only to find the molecules in his blood vibrating, as he burst through the patches of ice covering him. "Molecules, you better try harder than that Freeze," Wally muttered. "That gun's to make it slower, all I have to do is adjust mine on a different level and . . . kaboom! Instant crushed ice. Care for a drink?" Without hesitation, Wally grabbed Freeze by the collar, and held him up.
"So . . . what do you have to say to . . . what the . . . ?!!?!" From inside the black suit, the Flash could've sworn he heard Freeze laughing at him, as he himself was turning to ice. "Molecules . . . on a different level," Freeze said from his mask. "Energy levels on ice have increased as well. Freezing your molecules. Savor it, Wally West, for you cannot freeze the moment no longer . . . "
Struggling, Freeze pushed the speedster aside, smashing him against the tree. He then readied his gun, only to find it no longer in his hands. "I believe you were looking for this," Wally said, grinning in pain. "Linda! Help please!"
From the bushes he heard the reply. "I thought you wanted me out!"
"Not anymore, so please haul yourself over hear before Freeze gets you . . . or me . . . " Wally felt the ice slowly clasping him. He couldn't move, as Freeze drew near him, arms outstretched for the ray gun.
"Mine . . . " he chanted, as Linda appeared behind his back.
"Y-you know what?" Wally said. "Catch!" He threw the ray gun on the air, missing the clutches of Freeze, and landing on the grass behind the man. Linda hesitated, but seeing Freeze reach out for it, she immediately grabbed it and sidestepped aside. "Reverse the switch!" Wally yelled to her.
"Where?"
"On the right! I saw it!"
"Right . . . right," she muttered, pushing it to the other side, suddenly she found herself being pulled upwards, as Freeze held her by her other arm. "Wally . . . " she grumbled. "I hate you for this."
Firing the ray gun at speedster, the Flash found the ice in his molecules suddenly disappearing, and within seconds, Wally West was back to normal, ready to kick some serious . . . stuff. Freeze threw Linda aside, grabbing the gun. Only this time, he found himself staring into the Flash's eyes. "Y'know about that freeze the moment thing you were talking about?" he said, crunching his fist. " . . . Barry told me the same thing . . . and I'm going to savor it, yep."
Freeze never knew what hit him, as the Flash pounded the man several times within a second, and going over almost five minutes. Letting go of his enemy, Wally held on to Freeze as he lay unconscious in his hands. "He's like putty, if you ask me," he muttered.
Suddenly, Linda grabbed hold of him, holding onto her tape recorder. "'kay, superstar, speak up! I want a full interview here now, see . . . "
"Whoa, Linda, you're forgetting about my identity that easily?" Wally said, surprised at his friend. "I thought you wanted it badly . . . "
"Nah. Not this time," she said, smiling. "For saving me . . . and my butt back there, I'll save it for a rainy day. Besides, you look cute under that mask, I don't want the world to know the Flash looks cute."
"Right . . . "
"So . . . why don't we do it like this. I interview and report your stories personally, and I shut up about you being Flash? Deal?" She placed her hand on his. Wally blushed for a second, but was then jolted into reality. " . . . sure. Why not?"
"Settled. See you tomorrow, I'm sure you'll be as heroic as ever," she said, as she jumped into her car and drove off. Wally sighed. And within a blink of light, disappeared into the night.
This is one of those stories that I think is too well written for its own good. After reading this story, I want to read more about Flash. But not just any Flash, the DCM Flash, as written by JM de Joya. Originally, JM was going to return to the series after an arc by Bob Young and another issue by myself, but his untimely death prevented that. I'm just glad I was able to get him to write this arc to start the series off. JM is still missed, and will always be missed by the DCM staff.
-Chip Caroon
Originally published as Flash #1-3 at DC/Marvel: The Merging, and may not be reused or
republished in any way without the permission of the author.
DC/Marvel: The Merging is a fanfiction site, and is not affiliated with nor
endorsed by DC Comics or Marvel Comics, nor any company that owns these
characters. All of the stories here are written for fun, and the authors are not
making any profit from them, and do not intend any harm to the original
creation. This site is for entertainment purposes only. DC/Marvel: The Merging
concept created by Chip Caroon, developed with other writers.