DCU The Flash #17 The Golden Age Hero (Lightning Strikes Twice)

-^- Central City Hospital -^-

 

"J-Joe?"

 

Barry's half lidded eyes stared at the bald man, fast asleep in a chair. His gaze shifted to his arm, catching the IV. It was only then he realized he was in a hospital bed. It hurt to breathe, it hurt to move, and it felt like he'd been jumped on by a gorilla.

 

He then caught sight of Jay, standing outside the room. He opened his mouth to call for him, but the words came out strangled and breathy. Raising his hand through the pain, he snapped his fingers, sending a small burst of air to tap the window.

 

Jay turned to the noise, immediately rushing into the room. The sound of the door opening and closing awoke Joe, who immediately leapt to a stand.

 

"Barry!" Joe shouted, grabbing onto the blond's hand, breathing heavily. "Barry what… what the hell happened to you!?"

 

"I… dunno…" he lied, struggling to speak. "Everything… was a blur…"

 

"You… you could've… " Joe started, stopping himself with a deep breath, squeezing Barry's hand tighter. "You're lucky Flash was around."

 

"Sorry… Joe… hurts to talk…"

 

I… just… just rest, son," Joe mumbled, letting out his breath. "Just rest."

 

Barry looked to Jay, but his eyes struggled to stay open.

 

"Listen to your father, kid," Jay said, nodding to Barry. "You can rest a bit."

 

Barry wanted to stay awake, tried to, but his body betrayed him. His eyes fell shut, sending him into a deep sleep.

 

-^- West Household, 2 days later -^-

 

Joe entered the house, rubbing his tired eyes.

 

"Hey dad," Daniel said, waving to his father from the couch. He sat with a cup of coffee on the table and textbook in his hand.

 

"Shouldn't you be at CCU?" Joe asked, tilting his head to the side.

 

"I would be," Daniel said as he stood from the couch, closing the textbook and walking over to his father, "if it wasn't Saturday. You've been running nonstop since Barry was in that accident… he didn't come back with you?"

 

"No… The Flash, the old one… he offered to have an old friend check him out," Joe mumbled, hanging his head on the rack, along with his coat. "He wants to make sure what caused the accident wasn't…"

 

"A meta attack," Daniel said, placing his hand on his father's back and leading him to sit on the couch. Daniel stared at his father. He'd seen him overwork before, for much longer periods than this. It was different now though. His eyes didn't just look tired, but terrified. "Dad, you okay?"

 

"I'm fine," he said. "Just tired is all."

 

"You don't look 'just tired' right now," Daniel replied, catching the trembling of his father's hand.

 

"Daniel, believe me-"

 

"Dad, you don't have to lie to me."

 

"What if it was Eradicator…"

 

Daniel froze at the name, a cold chill running down his spine. His father's eyes screamed in fear, his breathing was harsh and unorthodox, and his skin looked cold to the touch.

 

Swallowing the lump in his throat, he reachout out, rubbing Joe's shoulder. "Dad, it wasn't," Daniel said, taking a deep breath. "They said he was likely hit by a truck… you know that's not… not his way of doing things."

 

"I-I know… Daniel, I just," Joe paused, lowering his head. "What if it was? What if instead of Flash finding him broken and bloody in the street, he was just a pile of ash. Would he have even found him? Would one of my son's just disappear with no knowing of whatever happened to him?"

 

"But it wasn't Era… erad…" Daniel paused, closing his eyes and calming himself down. "It wasn't h-him… he hasn't made an appearance since the new Flash arrived… he's a ghost dad… one that you shouldn't live every moment being afraid of."

 

"I know I shouldn't… but…" Joe stopped, rubbing his eyes. "I'm sorry Daniel, I didn't mean to..."

 

"You don't have to be sorry, dad," Daniel said, smiling at the older man. "This time of the year… it's hard on all of us."

 

"It doesn't matter, you shouldn't have to see your father like this."

 

"And you shouldn't have to hide away your emotions just to look strong for us." Daniel replied. "I promise you, anyone would say you're the strongest man in the world."

 

"Nah…" Joe chuckled, "that's you… and Barry… and August. The three of you have all gone through so much and you're all still so good. You know the saying, all it takes is one bad day? You three show me that it isn't always true. You show me what it truly means to be strong."

 

Daniel smiled, leaning in to hug Joe.

 

"We learned from the best."

 

-^- Keystone City -^-

 

Barry walked into the Garrick household, smiling slightly at the grey-haired woman who bore a worried frown. "Hello… Mrs. Garrick," he said, waving to the woman.

 

"Barry," she mumbled, grabbing his hand and guiding him to the couch. "I told you not to call me that, I'm Joan."

 

"Right, right… my bad," he said, sitting down and leaning his head back. "Jay… what happened back there?"

 

Jay took a seat in the reclining chair across from the couch. "Edward Clariss… the Rival happened," Jay said, staring down at his hands. "He's… he's the most dangerous villain I've ever faced."

 

"He was… so fast…" Barry said, taking a sip from the glass of water Joan had brought him. "It's like everything was moving in slow motion compared to him… even me."

 

"He's faster than before…" Jay said, shaking his head, "so much faster than the last time."

 

"You… don't sound sure…"

 

"That's because… that's because I killed Edward Clariss 30 years ago," Jay said, staring at the picture of him and Alan sitting on the fireplace.

 

"What? Jay I thought… I thought Mardon-"

 

"Mardon was…" Jay said, pausing as he sighed. "Clariss was different. That's what I told myself for a very long time. That he was a monster, who's addiction took every ounce of humanity he had. I told myself no prison could ever truly hold him… and that someone needed to end him…"

 

"Addiction?" Barry asked, tilting his head to the side.

 

"Velocity 5… it was a chemical combination similar to the one you, Wally, and even myself were affected by… except it was crude…" Jay said as he stood, grabbing a notebook and pen from the side table.

 

"The metagene is something every human possesses. A single strand of DNA that is never completely alike, even for people like me and you," Jay explained, drawing a double helix on the paper. "While every human may have one of these metagenes, not everyone can activate it. Only a small percentage of people do, whether it be from birth, trauma, or outside conditions. Wally was lucky that he didn't have a defective gene… if he did…"

 

Barry breathed a sigh of relief. "So… you're saying Clariss used this V5 to activate his gene?" he asked, leaning forward in his chair.

 

"No, Barry," Jay mumbled. "Clariss' metagene was defective. He used my blood to create V5 and give him artificial speed… but the side effects were… taxing."

 

"And you… you killed him?"

 

"I thought I did…" he said, tossing the notebook onto the coffee table and leaning back, hands rubbing his temples. "It was the day I left the Justice Society… I was ready to…" Jay paused, closing his eyes, "I was ready to end everything. I'd killed a man… then told myself I was just. If it weren't for what happened in Zandia I would've taken my own life."

 

"Jay… you told me that saving everyone is an impossible task… and that sometimes we make the wrong call even if we think it's right," he said, leaning forward.

 

"It was my job to-"

 

"We aren't gods, Jay…"

 

Jay's eyes widened, staring at his protege.

 

"That's what you said right? That sometimes we will stumble… but we just have to get back up?"

 

"Barry you just…" Jay started, pausing and looking down, a tear slipping from the corner of his eye. "You… Wally has a pretty good teacher ready for him…"

 

"What can I say?" he asked, smiling at the man. "I learned from the best."

 

Jay chuckled lightly, before his mouth flatlined. "Barry… there's something I need to tell you… about Clariss."

 

"I'm all ears."

 

"It… he… you and your brother Malcolm; the two of you used to play baseball, right?" Jay asked, looking up at Barry.

 

"Huh?" Barry mumbled, nodding his head. "I-I mean, yeah… I don't think I've ever mentioned it though…"

 

"You had a chore list posted on your fridge… you made beds and cleaned toys while your brother helped in the kitchen…"

 

"Jay… how do you?"

 

"When I first made contact with you… I saw their murders, your mom and brothers," Jay revealed, closing his eyes. "It was… some kind of Speed Force memory link? I'm still not entirely sure, but he was there that day. He murdered them, then flaunted it in front of you."

 

"Wh-What?" Barry asked, dumbstruck.

 

"Clariss killed your mom and brother," he said again, sighing. "I don't know why… or what drove him to do so… but I watched it happen."

 

"N-no…" Barry mumbled. "You're wrong… it wasn't Clariss."

 

"Barry, I'm so-"

 

"Listen to me, Jay!" Barry yelled, grabbing the older man's attention. "I… I've lived that day every single night for the past 15 years. Tripping off the bus, running past the sprinklers, helping Ms. Thomas carry in her groceries… the creak of the slightly opened door." he explained as his hands shook. "He was… he was like a black and red mist, one that was made up of pure darkness and hatred and fear… but for just one moment, one single second that he used to raise his bloody hands and taunt me, the mist disappeared… and I saw him for what he was…

 

"A man in yellow."

 

"Yellow?" Jay asked, an eyebrow raising.

 

"It was only for a second, but I saw yellow… and black and red," he explained, sighing as he looked down at his shaking hands. "What you said, it's true. The chores, baseball… but I know what I saw, even if everyone in my life has told me otherwise."

 

"I… I have no reason not to believe you," Jay said, leaning forward, "especially not with the way Clariss was."

 

"What do you mean?"

 

"He-"

 

"Jay!" Joan shouted, causing Jay and Barry to both shoot up from their seats. The two entered the kitchen, spotting Joan who stood staring out the sliding door.

 

"What's wrong?" Jay asked, stepping up next to her.

 

It was then he saw the message burned into their lawn, the flames glowing in the black of night.

 

Greystone Park. Your Rival.

 

Barry turned upon seeing the message stepping out of the kitchen and towards the front door. "I'm going," he said, a look of determination on his face.

 

"You can't fight the Rival, Barry, he's too strong for you," Jay said, following after him and grabbing onto the blond's shoulder.

 

"I don't have a choice, Jay…" Barry said, turning his head back to his mentor. "I can't just let someone get hurt."

 

"You think I want that to happen?" Jay asked, letting go of Barry and stepping towards the display stand holding his old costume. "He's too strong for you alone…"

 

Barry's eyes widened. "Jay, you don't need to do that," he said, shaking his head. "You put down the helmet for a reason…"

 

"And maybe if I never did…" he mumbled, opening the glass of the case, pulling the helmet down, "maybe I could've prevented things that happened. I could've helped the Mardons, stopped the Eradicator, maybe even this man in yellow…

 

"Besides, I'm not letting you finish my fight," Jay said, placing the silver helmet on his head. "Not without me, at least."

 

Barry smiled slightly, nodding at the man. "Then let's do this, Flash."

 

"Not just yet," Jay said, placing a hand in front of Barry. "We have one more stop first."

 

-^- Central City, Greystone Park -^-

 

Barry stepped into the park, his fingers sparkling with lightning. Sat on the fountain, one leg perched, was Clariss. His smile stretched across his face as Jay stepped up next to Barry, fully adorned in his classic costume.

 

"For someone with superspeed, it sure took you a while to arrive… and it seems you've brought a friend," Clariss said, hopping off the fountain and rolling up his trenchcoat's sleeves. "Not that it matters to me, I'm not afraid of ghosts."

 

"This ends here, Clariss," Barry said, narrowing his eyes at the villain. "I'm not gonna let you hurt anyone."

 

"Do you include yourself in that?" he asked, red lightning sparkling around him. "If you are then hahaha… you shouldn't lie, Barry."

 

"How are you still alive, Clariss?" Jay asked, taking a step forward.

 

"How are any of us still alive?" he fired back, shrugging in a mocking manner. "It just means we haven't been killed properly. You should've taken after me, Garrick…" he said, his gaze shifting to Barry, "I made sure Nora and Malcolm were dead before I left."

 

Barry's fists clenched tight and his teeth grit together. His green eyes narrowed, gold sparkling across them. "I know you didn't kill them, Clariss," he said, letting a harsh breath from his nose. "Lying about it won't do you any good."

 

"Why would I lie?" Clariss asked, bringing his hand to grasp his chin. "If I recall, Malcolm wore white pajamas with little fire trucks all over them… his blood hid the design pretty well, if I say so myself."

 

Barry's lip quivered, his breath stuttering. Jay placed a hand on his shoulders, squeezing him lightly. "Barry, calm down…" Jay mumbled, his eyes shifting to Clariss, who stood smiling. "Like you said, it wasn't him."

 

"Nora had a nice smelling pot of soup on the stove," Clariss said, gaining both heroes' gaze. "I should've left her alive a bit longer, she seemed like a woman who'd make a great soup, can you attest to that, Barry?"

 

"Shut… up!" Barry screamed, blitzing Clariss.

 

"Barry, no!" Jay shouted, watching as the boy ran at a smiling Clariss. Taking his helmet off, he flung the metal like a frisbee.

 

Clariss caught Barry's dashing punch, raising his arm to strike the hero down. His head whipped to the side, using his open hand to catch Jay's helmet instead. Barry took the opening, pulling his fist free and sweeping at Clariss's legs. The villain reacted quickly, zipping back, just out of Barry's range. Shifting his head to the right, he moved out of Jay's swing, the blast of air that followed nearly taking his head off. Holding Jay's helmet with both hands, he swiped upwards, knocking the golden age hero off his feet. Barry rushed forward once more, sending a flurry of punches at Clariss, each missing their mark. Raising his arm, he deflected a strike, sending it into Jay's now standing form, knocking the man back down. Clariss raised his foot and slammed it into Barry's back.

 

Barry hit the ground hard, Clariss' supercharged kick likely breaking one of his freshly healed ribs. Jay reached a hand out, helping to lift him from the ground. Barry looked at Clariss, who's smile hadn't moved an inch.

 

"Barry, you need to keep your head in the game," Jay said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I know more than anyone how easy it is to let him get under your skin… but you can't let him. We just need to hold out a bit longer."

 

"Y-yeah…" Barry mumbled, taking a deep breath. "Yeah, right. Hold out."

 

"Are you strategizing... in front of me?" Clariss asked, pausing before he began to loudly cackle. "That is… truly amusing… especially since you haven't laid a finger on me."

 

"You're as cocky as ever," Jay said, patting Barry's back and turning to the hooded man. "It's always been your downfall."

 

"I'm much different now, Garrick."

 

"I've noticed… you don't twitch anymore," Jay said, taking a step forward. "Why is that?"

 

"So you've become a detective in your old age?" he asked, Barry noticing the way his smile faltered for a moment. "Anything else you've noticed with those keen eyes of yours."

 

"Not really… Clariss…" Jay said, taking another step.

 

"You say my name like it's something special."

 

"Am I saying your name?" Jay said, eyes peering upwards. "Or someone else's? Let's find out."

 

"What are you-"

 

Clariss turned his head, eyes widening at the glowing ball of yellow energy speeding towards him. He tried to move, but it was too late, the blast striking him in the chest and slamming him into the fountain, causing it to crumble.

 

Barry looked up at the open window of the nearby building, spotting Eddie, hands glowing with yellow electricity.

 

"So, he's calling you?" Eddie asked, sitting at a newly installed booth in Vulcan's Veggies. "Last two times you've fought, Barry ended up in the hospital… and you…"

 

"Yes," Jay mumbled, looking down at the ground. "It'll be different this time though. Before I was… clouded by anger and fear, I felt responsible for every life he'd taken. This time… this time I won't be alone."

 

"Mr. Jones, we know that you swore off ever using your powers again, but…"

 

"You need me…" he said, standing from the booth and hobbling towards the backroom. "I told myself I'd never use that curse again."

 

"We understand if you can't, Eddie," Jay said, frowning slightly as Eddie entered the room. "Believe me, I-"

 

"I told myself I'd never use my powers… and yet," he said, exiting the room with a pair of black gloves with silver trim on, "until I met Barry and was brought back into all of this… I hadn't truly smiled since… not since I lost my baby girl."

 

"Eddie…"

 

"I've sat out the fight longer than you have. I've watched the JSA fall, I watched you lose hope…" Eddie said, sparking his hands with electricity. "It's about time I did something with this curse."

 

Jay smiled at Eddie, tipping his helmet to the man standing on the rooftop. Eddie gave him a small salute, before retreating into the building. Jay turned to Barry, his smile flattening. "Let's get him, kid," he said, Barry nodding as the duo neared the fountain.

 

Clariss sparked with yellow lightning, groaning as he pushed himself to a stand out of the shallow water. He panted, hood falling down and folding behind his neck. "I'll admit…" he mumbled, messy blond hair flowing in the wind, "that was a good plan… I'm impressed you could land a hit on me."

 

"I thought something was off," Jay said, eyes narrowing at the man.

 

"I thought… didn't say Clariss was a college professor?" Barry asked, staring at the man. "An older one at that? He almost looks like me."

 

"It's not Clariss…" Jay mumbled, watching as the blond man's smile spread across his face. "I'd thought something was strange back at Eddie's when he first attacked… and especially now. Velocity changed him, his skin was a veiny grey and he twitched with each slight movement. His hair was black too… who the devil are you?"

 

"Ah, right," the man said, his voice shifting from the gruff, booming tone it had been to one much lighter, but still filled with the same dark malice. "I'd gotten so used to being Clariss… I kinda forgot I wasn't."

 

"What's going on?" Barry asked, looking over to Jay. "Where's Clariss? Who are you?"

 

"Oh… Clariss has been dead for what… 30 years now?" he said, shrugging his shoulders. "I tend to lose track of time that isn't my own.

 

"So he did die that day…" Jay mumbled, looking downwards.

 

"If Clariss is dead… then who the hell are you!?" Barry asked, watching as the mysterious man smiled. "And how do you know my name… what happened to…"

 

"C'mon, Barry," he said, vibrating his body rapidly, "Don't go acting like you forgot, you just told Jay about me before you got here."

 

Barry's eyes widened as the red trench coat and black uniform faded, revealing a bright yellow suit with black and red highlights. The cowl mimicked his own, only an inverse of the colors, as did his chest and lightning emblem. Red lightning sparkled off his body as the vibration stopped, showcasing his glowing red eyes and devious smile.

 

"Y-y-you…" Barry stuttered, pointing at the man with his mouth agape.

 

"Me."

 

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

NEXT TIME: Menace of the Reverse-Flash!

Done