DCU The Flash #13 Missing (Lightning Strikes Twice)

"Mr. West?"

 

 

"Wha-?" Wally mumbled, shaking his head as he looked up from his notebook. Looking around the room, he could see the grins of his classmates as well as the slight frown his teacher had.

 

 

"I know it's the first day back," the teacher spoke, walking towards Wally's desk, "but winter break is over and you are in class. Science class… not art."

 

 

Wally looked down at his notebook, cringing at the sketches drawn down. The costume drawn was an electric yellow with red pants and gloves, along with twin red lightning bolts running down the chest. The cowl was the same yellow as the chest, using red eye lenses and lightning bolts running along his forehead.

 

 

A small flash from his left made him jerk, watching as Linda Park, his girlfriend, smirked, clicking a few pictures with her digital camera.

 

 

"Mr. West?"

 

 

"Sorry, sir," he said, returning his gaze to the teacher as he closed his notebook. "Just uh… well, I'm ready for spring break?"

 

 

The laughter the class broke out into was quickly silenced by the teacher, Wally watching as the man peered down, staring at the already completed assignment sitting under the notebook. "Aren't we all," he replied, walking back to the front, only after grabbing the paper.

 

 

-^-

 

 

Wally groaned walking out of the classroom, Linda following closely behind. "You improved your anatomy a lot, sure you're not interested in art school?" she asked, looking at the pictures she had taken.

 

 

"God, do you know how embarrassing that is?" he asked her as he spun the dial on his locker. "The whole class had to have seen…"

 

 

"Whole city, actually," she said with a smirk, causing Wally to drop his books. "I uploaded the pictures to FlashFan. It already has a couple thousand likes."

 

 

"W-why!?" he asked, fumbling to pick up his books. "How did you even have the time to do that!?"

 

 

Linda reached down, helping pick up Wally's books. "Well, while you got called up to talk about your perfect paper, I used the computer by the lizard tank," she explained, placing the books she grabbed into his hand, leaning in to kiss him on the cheek. "And I think my boyfriend's art should be shared, it's cute."

 

 

"I'm sure everyone that's giggling at me thinks the same," he mumbled, pulling his backpack from the locker and slinging it over his shoulder. "How did it even get so many views that fast? Flash has gone against FOUR supervillains in the last week."

 

 

Linda chuckled as Wally followed the girl to her own locker, taking hold of her books and camera as she opened it. "What can I tell you, people like good fanart," she said, taking the books from his hand. "You should take it as a compliment, really. Hey, I wonder if Flash checks the site."

 

 

Wally cringed harder than he had been before as Linda closed her locker, taking her camera and began walking to the exit. "Oh God, I didn't think it could possibly get worse," he mumbled, covering his red face.

 

 

"You'd make a cute sidekick," she said, elbowing his side. "Almost as good looking as Robin."

 

 

"Almost?" he asked, hiss eyebrows angling.

 

 

"He's got that mysterious air about him," she said, covering her eyes with a strand of her hair, mimicking his mask as they stepped out of the building. "Guess it's why blind dating is so popular."

 

 

"Yeah, I'll bet," Wally said, rolling his eyes.

 

 

As the two walked along the sidewalk, Wally looked up to the sky, watching the light snow fall down. The wind wasn't too harsh, but it left him full of regret for leaving his scarf back home. The weather was… surreal, like something ripped from a movie. It was magical.

 

 

"You think it's impossible?" he asked, staring into the sky.

 

 

"Hmm?"

 

 

Wally stopped walking, turning to the woman beside him. "Being someone like him… a hero," he said, looking down with a smile. "I know it's a dumb question because duh… but I just… you think there's a chance?"

 

 

Linda smiled at him, though Wally could see a hint of sadness in her expression. "There's a man in Gotham who hops rooftops at night with his kid sidekick, an underwater civilization that's run by someone called Aquaman, and someone who, just a city away, can outrun a sports car with ease," she explained, cupping Wally's cheek. "I don't know if you'll ever be Superman… but nothing is impossible, not in this world."

 

 

Wally smiled at the girl, placing his hand over her own.

 

 

"Touching, touching moment."

 

 

Wally quickly turned, instinctively moving Linda behind him as he saw a man in a long coat standing a few feet away from the pair. The man had incredibly pale, wrinkly skin, with a combover of lime-green hair peeking out from his newsboy cap and pitch black glasses over his eyes.

 

 

"You two make an adorable little couple, you remind me of my ex-wife and myself… well before I blew her up," he said, sliding the glasses down his nose, revealing crazed blue eyes.

 

 

"Who the hell are you, you creep?" Wally said, sliding his backpack off his shoulder, keeping hold of one of the straps.

 

 

The man's smile fell, his hand reaching into his coat. "Y'know, I'm getting real tired of hearing that," he mumbled, pulling out what looked like a water gun. "The name's Jesse, James Jesse."

 

 

"Is that supposed to sca-?" Linda asked, but was cut off when the man blasted a spray of the gun at Wally's backpack, the green liquid that shot out melting the bag in an instant. Wally quickly dropped the item, pushing Linda further behind him.

 

 

"Trickster…" Wally mumbled, watching the lunatic smile.

 

 

"So you do know me, that's a relief."

 

 

"What do you want…" Wally asked, keeping his eye on Jesse's finger. "My uncle and-"

 

 

"I know exactly who your uncle is… your aunt too," Jesse said, a large smile stretching along his face. "Now, you come along with me nice and quietly, or your fling back there gets turned to…" Jesse paused, looking at the melted backpack, "turned to whatever you call that."

 

 

Wally felt Linda's shaking body behind him and could tell she was staring at the bag melting in the snow. Taking a deep breath, he raised his arms. "Alright… I'll come," he said, walking forward. "As long as you don't hurt her, you'll have no struggle from me."

 

 

"Wally, no!"

 

 

"It's fine, everything will be fine," he said, forcing a smile. "I can't go on about being a hero just to let someone die, right?"

 

 

"West, you idiot…" Linda said, tears running down her face as she stood, trembling.

 

 

"Wow… what a performance!" Jesse said, clapping his free hand against the gun. "You should sell that pitch, girlie, it'll be a box office hit for sure."

 

 

"Stay safe Linda," Wally called out as Jesse aimed the gun at the small of his back, moving him along. "I love you."

 

 

"See ya, Laura!" Jesse called back with a wave.

 

 

-^-

 

 

Barry slid along the icy road, narrowly dodging The Top. The villain didn't relent, rocketing after the hero in another attempted strike. It had been two days since the breakout at Iron Heights. A large majority of the escapees were easily caught, but Dillon was the first of the "super villains" that had reappeared.

 

 

"Dillon, turn yourself in!" Barry called back, ducking under a sawblade that was launched towards him. "It makes it easier for both of us!"

 

 

The man ignored Barry's plea, extending his other arm. "Not a chance I surrender, Flash!" Dillon shouted, firing off a barrage of sawblades.

 

 

Barry, using the friction he'd generated, stopped himself on the ice, performing a one-eighty. Taking off like a missile, Barry used the ice to his advantage, dropping to his knees and sliding under the projectiles. As he closed in on Dillon, he launched himself up with a rising fist that caught the villain by the chin.

 

 

Dillon soared through the air, crashing into the door of a sedan. Barry heaved, taking a much needed breath. The sound of a police cruiser caught his attention, August stepping out the passenger's seat.

 

 

"Got another one for me, huh?" he asked, pulling a pair of handcuffs. "The Flash comes out on top once again."

 

 

Barry shook his head, smiling at the man. "Y'know," he started, pulling Dillon from the dented car and stripping the villain's weapons, "I'm glad you went into law enforcement."

 

 

"Really?" August asked, taking Dillon from Barry and snapping the cuffs around his wrists. "Why's that, happy to have someone who's got your back?"

 

 

"Eh, moreso cause you'd flop hard as a comedian," Barry said, causing the man to chuckle.

 

 

"Your words hurt me," August said, taking mock offense as he walked the villain towards the cruiser. "I bet I'd get more days off if I were a comedian. Speaking of which, I'm sure you could take a break. No offense, but you look like shit."

 

 

"Ha, funny," Barry said with a light chuckle, raising his arms above his head to stretch. "There's no room for breaks right now, especially not with the prison break."

 

 

Closing the car door, August turned back to Barry. "I'm serious. Mardon, Scudder, and Jesse haven't showed themselves, and I'm sure the boys back at the station could use the exercise with some of the two-bit rejects running around."

 

 

"Well, i-"

 

 

"Attention. Can I please have your attention!"

 

 

Both Barry and August turned to the sound, a TV in a shop window. Barry's eyes narrowed, watching as the green-haired man adjusted the video camera.

 

 

"So much for a day off," August mumbled.

 

 

"Hello, beautiful people of the world! If you don't know me, you must be living under a rock! Recently, I had a run in with that super-ZERO known as Flash. I had him on the ropes until a reporter by the name of Iris West stepped in."

 

 

Barry' heart began beating faster, his skin running cold.

 

 

"Now, if there's one thing I learned through all my years of being the world's greatest criminal, it's that you don't interrupt a fight! So, as a little bit of revenge…"

 

 

Barry watched carefully as the camera began to jostle. August tensed up as the camera regained focus, Barry's eyes widening at the sight.

 

 

Strapped to what looked like an electric chair was Wally West.

 

 

"Ta-daaaaaa!"

 

 

"That sick son of a bitch!" August shouted, his knuckles turning white.

 

 

"Wally West, Iris's dear old nephew. See, I'm not like your 'typical criminal.' I don't want money, or power. I don't even have a ransom. He's going to die. Who'll be a washed up joke then?"

 

 

As Jesse's words finished, the broadcast cut off, leaving Barry and August out in the snow. August was shaking, his hands balled up and teeth glued together.

 

 

"We're gonna find him," Barry said, placing his hand onto August's shoulder. "Wally won't die."

 

 

"Right, right," August said, opening the passenger seat of the police cruiser. "I'm gonna go see what zones Joe and Ira are getting covered… Flash… we can't fail."

 

 

Barry nodded, speeding off with one goal in his mind.

 

 

-^-

 

 

Daniel burst inside the West home, eyes meeting his cousin Iris'. Sat next to her, crying on the couch was Linda Park.

 

 

"My dad…" Daniel asked, panting and out of breath, "has he called? Has Uncle Ira?"

 

 

"Nothing…" Iris said, tears leaking from her eyes as well. Her fingers gently combing through Linda's raven-colored hair. "He'll be okay though, he's strong."

 

 

"H-h-he just…" Linda hiccuped, clawing at Iris's shirt, "he ga-gave himself up… for me."

 

 

Daniel watched as his cousin's eyes fell, her teeth gnawing into her bottom lip. "That's the West's for you," she mumbled, letting out a stuttering breath. "We don't know when to keep our noses out of things."

 

 

"I'm gonna drive around," Daniel said, grabbing the keys to his car from the key-cup. "Patty called and said she's checking the bay area, let me know if dad or Uncle Ira see anything, alright?"

 

 

"Yeah," Iris mumbled, continuing to soothe the crying girl who sat beside her.

 

 

"Iris," Daniel called, grabbing the woman's attention. "This is no one's fault. Don't forget that."

 

 

-^-

 

 

August leapt out of the cruiser, smacking the roof of the car to send the driver away. There was an anger in his eyes as he stormed towards the station, spotting a plethora of cruisers parked in the lot.

 

 

Wally was like his little brother. The moment he saw the video, every ounce of his being became dedicated to finding him. He wasn't going to let a brother get hurt, or worse… not again.

 

 

August rushed into the station, his anger rising further at the multitude of officers sitting at their desks or standing around doing nothing. Looking around the room, he spotted Joe speaking with the DA, Jared Morillo.

 

 

"Joe!" he shouted, storming towards the detective. Both Joe and Jared turned, Joe frowning slightly.

 

 

"I'll see if I can pull anything," Jared said, Joe nodding in return as the man stepped away.

 

 

"August-"

 

 

"What the hell?!" he shouted, gaining the attention of multiple officers. "What the hell are these people doing!?"

 

 

"August, please," Joe said, attempting to calm the man down. "Let's go to Barry's lab, this-"

 

 

"This what? This should be private!?" he asked, motioning to all the officers simply listening. "They need to hear it! There's a boy who's missing, who was kidnapped by the Trickster! A psychopathic murderer!"

 

 

"I know that August, Morillo is trying to clear some officers to start searching-"

 

 

"Trying to clear officers… there's a child being held hostage!" he shouted. "He's 13!"

 

 

"August, it-"

 

 

"They're sitting around while Wally is out there… alone!" August shouted, cutting Joe off. "He strapped to that machine, scared, while you're sitting here doing nothing!"

 

 

"Dammit, August," Joe snapped back, slamming his hand against the wall. "What do you want me to do!? He was kidnapped in another city! All we have to go on is a goddamn video that wasn't even thirty seconds long! We can't just mobilize the entire force, you know that! There are rules we have to follow!"

 

 

"You don't see a problem with that!?" August asked, pointing to the large of their badge hung along the wall. "That badge says you're meant to protect people… who are you protecting sitting around like this?"

 

 

"That badge lets me protect people under the law, August… so does yours," Joe said, looking down and gritting his teeth. "You don't think I want to be out there right now? I'd break down every door in this city looking for that boy… I'd search until I couldn't stand anymore... but we can't play god, August. We have to abide by the laws we enforce."

 

 

August's eyes narrowed. "Did following the rules stop Captain Cold? Or Weather Wizard… or…" August stopped, shaking his head as he pulled his badge from his jacket pocket. "If having this badge means I can't even help a child in need…" August began, throwing the badge to the ground, "maybe I shouldn't have it."

 

 

"August…" Joe mumbled, picking the badge up from the floor.

 

 

Walking backwards, August looked Joe in the eyes as he entered the elevator. "This whole precinct… you're lucky the Flash exists," he said pressing the button on the elevator. "If he didn't, who knows how many kids you'd leave out in the cold."

 

 

-^-

 

 

Barry dashed down the street as fast as he could, covering every inch of the city. Every corner, every alleyway… Wally could be anywhere.

 

 

He was tired. His legs felt like jello after 2 days of constant fighting. August was right, he wanted to lay down, take a day for himself… he needed it. As the image of Wally strapped to the chair returned to his mind, he shook his head. He had a duty, he had to find him. He was the only one that could.

 

 

-^-

 

 

Jay sat at a booth in Vulcan's Veggies, typing away at a laptop. Every lead he had was a dead end. Jesse's old hideouts all had been repurposed at this point, and any former colleagues had been killed by the maniac years ago.

 

 

"Anything?" Eddie asked, taking a seat across from him.

 

 

"Everything I could think of… it leads to nothing," Jay said, gripping his head in frustration. "He was always a wildcard… but a child? He's gone further than I ever thought he could."

 

 

In an instant the building was turned upside down, tables and chairs flying across the room. Jay and Eddie both stood, defensively, but lowered their guard realizing it was Barry, lightning sparking off his body.

 

 

"Barry-"

 

 

"I can't find him!" he shouted, tearing his mask off. He was panting, sweat dripping down his reddened face. "I've checked over half the city and there hasn't been a trace!"

 

 

"Son, calm down," Jay said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "It's alright, we're gonna find him."

 

 

"You don't know that!" Barry snapped back, Jay only just noticing the tears running down the man's face. "What if we don't? What if we can't find him in time!?"

 

 

"Thinking like that isn't gonna help you, Barry," Eddie said, walking over to one of the fallen chairs, sitting it up, and taking a seat. "Those thoughts are only gonna hurt you in the end."

 

 

"Eddie's right," Jay agreed, looking at Barry. "You've been out there for 2 days straight… I know it can take a toll on you… but those types of irrational thoughts are your greatest enemy."

 

 

"Jay… I couldn't save Bivolo…" Barry said, his breath stuttering as he spoke. "He needed a hero… and I failed him. What does… does that make me?"

 

 

"You are not a god, Barry," Jay said, wiping away Barry's tears with a napkin. "Being in… this line of work, it will cause you pain. You won't be able to save everyone, that's just not how the world works."

 

 

"It chose wrong… the lightning bolt…"

 

 

"Barry," Jay said with a slight chuckle, "I don't think it could've chosen someone better than you."

 

 

"He's right about that, that's for damn sure," Eddie chimed in.

 

 

Barry was quiet, his harsh breathing slowing down. "What if… I can't save him?" he asked, looking at Jay.

 

 

Jay smiled at him, picking up the red mask from the floor. "You haven't failed just yet, Flash."

 

 

Barry looked down at the mask, as if he was contemplating taking it.

 

 

"C'mon, boy," Eddie yelled, tapping his cane against the ground. "You're either gettin' back out there or fixin' this mess you made."

 

 

Jay smiled at Barry, nodding to him. The man's hand grabbed onto the mask, pulling it over his head.

 

 

"I won't fail him."

 

 

-^-

 

 

Crimson stained the crisp white snow, a small trail of the discoloration trailing down an alleyway. A harsh crunch could be heard, followed by a guttural scream.

 

 

August slammed his first into the man's face a second time, staining his first red. "Where is he!" he shouted, slamming the pinned man against the wall by the collar.

 

 

"I… I swear… I have no idea," he pleaded, his nose crooked and lip busted wide open. "I'm not involved with that lunatic."

 

 

Another crack could be heard as August's fist slammed into the man's gut. "Lying to me isn't gonna work," he said, his teeth gritting. "I know your record, Johnson! You either tell me what you know, or I show you that Central City can be just as bad as Gotham."

 

 

"I just… I haven't helped him in years…" he pleaded, tears running down his face. As August reached into his jacket pocket, pulling out a pocket knife, the man cried out. "Okay, okay! He's on 3851, Manapul! He had me make some kind of electric chair. He said it was for revenge!"

 

 

"If you're lying," August growled, raising the knife to the man's throat.

 

 

"I'm not, I swear!"

 

 

August slammed his first into the man's head once more, knocking him unconscious. Breathing heavily, face covered in blood, he reached for his phone and began typing the details to Joe. He paused however, staring at the unsent message. Deleting it, he scrolled through his contacts, finding Barry's.

 

 

Barry, I found Trickster. Text Joe this address, tell him to bring as many men as he can.

 

 

Closing his phone, he once again looked down at the unconscious man on the ground.

 

 

"If having this badge means I can't even help a child in need… maybe I shouldn't have it."

 

 

----------------------------

 

NEXT TIME: Life or Death, a Last Second Decision!

Done