206New Justice: Trials of the League
Disclaimer: I do not own the characters (besides Rae) or the Arrowverse or DC, but the idea behind New Justice is mine.
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Note: Well, New Justice season 2… Season 2 will be 20 episodes instead of 18. I will be taking a knock at The Flash Season 3; well just look at the title of this, but it's part of a bigger plot I'm really excited for. But first, let's start where we left off. I hope you enjoy, and don't forget to review!
The Wrath of Savitar
-The Very Distance Future-
There were three teenagers in what seemed to be a garage: Two boys and one girl in. They were working on something big.
"It's working!" One boy shouted excitedly. "I got it working!"
"Is the suit ready?" A girl replied.
"He needs the suit. He told me." The boy snapped in response.
"The suit is ready," the second boy chimed in.
"Okay then, let's welcome a Speed God into the world!" The girl said with a smile as the first one pushed a button and a blue portal started to open.
The three kids crouched down as a light came out of the portal they created and shot into the suit they had made.
They paused as, after a moment, the suit seemed to come to life; the eyes glowing blues as the portal itself closed.
"Savitar… My god," the girl said with a smile. "We have done everything you asked. Make us speedsters as promised, and we will continue to be your loyal servants."
The suit, Savitar, sat up as it gave them a look before moving faster than the eye could follow – all their throats were slit. "Your usefulness is over," the suit spoke in a demonic voice as he looked around and the bodies fell where they stood.
In an open book nearby was a picture of The Flash; red suit, large goggles and metallic hat, staring out of the pages.
"I'll be coming back for you." Savitar spoke to the picture. "But first… to become a god." Savitar ran, another portal opened, and he disappeared through it.
-July 2018-
Rachel 'Rae' Garrick woke up and smiled as she felt arms around her. She opened her eyes to see Kara asleep next to her – she was in her pajamas and so was Kara. They had just gone to sleep together but Rae had to smile as she kissed Kara's cheek.
"What was that for?" Kara asked, her eyes closed but she opened them at that moment.
"For being so great," Rae said with a smile. "You know I was nervous when we…" Kara held up a hand to stop Rae and nodded. She knew why Rae had been nervous as both had some sort of commitment issue: Kara, with her sleeping around before she had met Rae, and Rae, who had only recently discovered her own sexuality after a nasty break up with her ex, Francisco 'Frankie' Ramon. But Rae had to go with her feelings, and those feelings had been leading her to Kara for a long time. "You've proven yourself." Rae said simply, kissing Kara again before sitting up and turning around, but when she did, she noticed something on the nightstand.
"What is this?" Rae asked, lifting the box that was not there when she'd fallen asleep last night. It even had a bow on it.
"A present," Kara said, sitting up. "Open it."
Rae gave Kara a confused look. It wasn't an anniversary, or a birthday and not even close to any holiday one would give a loved one a present. Rae curiously opened the box to see a necklace. It was a simple necklace with what seemed like a little red gem. It took her breath away. "Oh, wow this is beautiful," Rae said, smiling at it. "What's it for?"
"Just for being you," Kara said, taking the necklace out of the box and putting it around Rae's neck. "It looks beautiful on you."
Rae touched the necklace, pausing for a moment and then went to kiss Kara. Kara was stunned for a moment before kissing back, leaning back down on the bed.
Rae put her hand on Kara's stomach before breaking off the kiss. "I know it seemed weird when I said to take it slow, considering we already... well you know… but it seemed important. These last few months." Rae kissed Kara's neck at that. "You have been so great. Everything has been great." Rae kissed Kara again. "I think it's time we moved thing along."
"Yeah," Kara said with a smile, putting a hand under Rae's shirt.
"Yeah," Rae replied, kissing Kara again. "But…" Kara groaned she had been about to put her hand down Rae's pants, to take them off, but paused at that. "I think before we start again… you should get a new bed."
"What?" Kara asked, dumfounded and confused by this.
"Been thinking about it, and it's kind of weird sleeping in the same bed you brought so many people into," Rae pondered.
"One of those people was you," Kara pointed out.
"But at the time I was just a one night stand. Now I am your girlfriend. I think we need a fresh start," Rae said, kissing Kara again before jumping up and changing into her outfit. "I got to run to work anyway. Need me to make breakfast for you and Chris?"
"No," Kara said, shaking her head.
"Okay," Rae said, pausing before she ran. "By the way, what's Chris's problem with me?" Kara raised an eyebrow. "He's been… well, kind of moody lately." When Chris, the teenaged clone of Clark Kent, was first made and given Clark emotions and a very basic memory, he had gone on Clark's love for Rae and they had been friends. But lately Chris seemed to want nothing to do with her, which confused Rae and made her sad. She loved Kara and loved Clark. She wanted to be close to Chris, too.
Kara shrugged. "He's a teenager. He's gotten moody. The only person he has liked recently is Karry Universe's Connor," Kara said, and Rae smiled. After everything Karry had gone through recently they had invite them here for a day. The Kryptonians and Barry had had a blast.
"Go, don't get Ms. Grant mad at you. Besides you have a big day today." Kara gave Rae a wink and a smile. "I'm going bed shopping."
Rae gave a smirk before grabbing her Kryptonian dog, Clark, from downstairs and running off to work.
-New Justice-
Rae had got to work in time to make breakfast for the Grant/Foster household. Cat, her husband Joel and their kids Dawn and Carter.
"Ms. Grant," Rae said after she was done serving. "I have to go to Central for an hour or so around noon."
"Any reason why?" Cat asked airily, as she started on her omelet.
"I'm in a bridal party and we're trying on and picking out dresses," Rae said not hiding her annoyance at this. It wasn't exactly what she'd call a fun lunch.
"Oh," Cat said with a smirk. "Have fun."
"You live in Central right?" Joel asked, and Rae nodded. "Well you might just take the afternoon off then. With the President in town to present Flash with that award, it's going to be crazy. Going to be difficult to cross the river."
"Yes, Joel is right," Cat said with a nod. "Besides, we're leaving tomorrow for our vacation anyway." Rae gave a nod and a small smile. The Grant/Foster were going on vacation for a few weeks, which meant she got those few weeks off – with pay.
"Thank you," Rae said, heading back to the kitchen.
"Rae," Rae nearly jumped turning around to see Carter there. The blind boy, who could only see the presence of meta humans now his own powers had kicked in, could really be quiet when he wanted to be – seeming to get the hang of moving around without his eyesight. "You're showing up, right?"
"For?" Rae said with a smirk, knowing exactly what Carter was talking about. Having Carter in the know about her identity was nice at times.
"Come on…" Carter said, playfully.
Rae gave a look at the other three household members still eating and leaned in close, so she could whisper in his ear. "It would only be right for the Flash to show up. The President has traveled a great distance to see me." Carter smiled. "Go eat." Carter nodded as Rae gave her dog a pet and went to cleaning the pans she had used.
-New Justice-
Caitlin Snow was in the car with her boss, Doctor Samantha Jones; a woman Caitlin admired and respected. The two had left early in the morning to give a talk to a class of medical students.
"You know, you did really well in front of a classroom," Doctor Jones said as she drove. It was a small road they were driving on, with no one else on it. "You have a…"
Whatever Jones was about to say was cut off as she slammed on the break. On the side of the road was a car on fire. Caitlin jumped up in her seat, shocked. "There are people inside," Caitlin said, hearing a baby cry and the parents' unconscious. She got out of the car without thinking.
"Snow, you will burn up if you go in," Jones called, taking out her cellphone, seeing Caitlin heading for the car.
Caitlin didn't stop though as she opened the back door first, going through the flames to take the baby out of his car seat. Coming out she gave the little boy to Doctor Jones before going to the front seat. As she opened the front door, the added oxygen caused the fire to grow and crackle dangerously.
Caitlin came out with the baby's mother, putting her on the ground. Caitlin was completely in flames herself but seemed unfazed by it.
"Doctor Snow!" Doctor Jones called, going to get a blanket to put out Caitlin, but was surprised when Caitlin turned towards the car on fire and the flames around her went right at it. She held out her arms and the fire from the car seemed to be sucked into her until both herself and the car were only smoldering and smoking.
"The father is dead," Caitlin said turning to Doctor Jones who still had the baby in her arms but was staring at her employee in complete dumbfounded shock, "and she will follow if we don't act fast." Caitlin was down on the floor, checking over her patients as her boss still stared.
-New Justice-
Rae walked into the bridal shop having dropped Clark off at home beforehand. She doubted the place would allow a puppy inside, despite Clark's whines on wanting to come with her. She was the last to arrive. Iris, Iris's sister Julia, her mother Francine, and two of Iris's friends were already there.
"Sorry I'm late," Rae said, taking a seat.
"Not a problem," Iris said. "In fact, we just got a selection of dresses selected and you four are going to try them on for me. See which one I like the best. Time to be my models." Rae smiled as the employee of the shop directed them to the fitting room with a selection of dresses waiting.
The next hour was filled with all the bridesmaid trying on dresses. It was starting to get annoying, especially as Rae could have flown through this in five minutes with her speed if she could.
"I like that one," Iris said, looking at the current one Rae had on. "The red is a nice color, especially for a Christmas wedding. A bit of a sleeve… could we add some green? What does everyone think?"
Everyone agreed with Iris, as Rae went to change out of it to let the others try it on to see how they looked in it. Rae put back on her clothes and was going to sit down, bending down to grab something from her bag the necklace she was wear bent forward.
"Oh, that's pretty," Iris said, looking at Rae. Rae was confused for a moment, but then noticed she was looking at the necklace. "Where did you get it?"
"It was a gift," Rae said putting her hand on it with a smile.
"Wait, are you dating someone?" Iris asked, and Rae gave a smile. Despite chasing Plus and Minus around, Iris's meta human twin siblings, and having contact with the West family, she had not told them of Kara. It had seemed too new. Too personal. But now it was something she wanted to tell her friends.
"Is he cute?" One of Iris friend, the one currently wearing the dress, asked.
"Do we know him?" Julia added, getting up. She had to try on the dress as well soon.
"Forgot that. What's his name?" Iris asked as Rae was thrown with the questions.
"Yes," Rae pointed at Iris's friend. "Sort of." Rae told Julia with a smirk, confusing Julia. "And her name is Kara."
"Oh," Iris said following by everyone else's drop in realization. "That leads to a lot of new questions… Since when do you like girls?"
"Honestly, it's not that surprising," Francine said with a smile, and Rae gave her a confused look, an eyebrow raised. "Nora and I talk – she always thought you were a little into girls and I had to agree." Rae gave a slight chuckle, remembering when she had told Henry and Nora and their relief it was out in the opened. It seemed this wasn't a secret from anyone but her. It really wasn't surprising she had not known herself that well though: She had thrown herself into being the Flash when she was young, and people normally discovered these things in their teens, rather than saving the cities as a superhero. She had not had the time to really discover herself as more than a hero. Things she had changed recently.
"You know, my college roommate was named Kara," Iris said thoughtfully, remembering back to her college years; the name bringing back memories. She did not know what happened to that Kara. She had been planning on looking for her to invite her to the wedding soon as invites had to go out.
"Kara Lane, I know," Rae said simply.
"Wait. How?" Iris asked, wondering if she ever told Rae that.
"She's my Kara," Rae said as the other looked on in interest. Iris seeming stunned as she looked at Rae. "We met through mutual friends." Rae decided that was the best answer in present company to the question she knew coming – technically Karry Universe's Kara introduced them, and she was sort of a friend to them both at the time.
"Wow, I'd love to see her again," Iris said with a smile that made Rae nervous. "And I know she will be your plus one now, but wow… wedding. I'm not going to have a lot of time to catch up so, double date. Tonight."
"Can't," Rae said with a smile, but shaking her head. "Not tonight. I got plans."
"What…?" Iris started but then stopped. She knew what plans Rae was talking about, the reason why the President was in the cities. "Tomorrow then. We'll invite Wally and his girlfriend Tally so Eddie is not the only guy." Iris gave a laugh at herself then. "You're not allowed to say no. I'll text you the info tomorrow."
"Okay, okay!" Rae said, laughing at her friend's antics. "Are we done here? I got to run in a minute."
"I bet you do," Julia said with a smirk and Rae stuck out her tongue at her. Luckily Iris's friends weren't listening at this point. Julia had finally tried on the favorite of the dresses to see how she looked in it.
"I do like this dress," Iris said now, smiling at her sister as she took in the dress. "I think it looked good on everyone. Yes, this one." Iris told the shop assistant, who had been helping them. There was another few minutes of her measuring everyone to order the sizes then Rae put the down payment on her dress, smiled at the others and left.
Not long later she was running around the streets as the Flash, smiling.
Running had always been something she loved. It was freeing, being able to zip through the double cities of National and Central. It was also one of the only things that made her feel connected to her long-dead father… That was when she noticed another speedster running just behind her. That wasn't right. She was the only speedster on this Earth!
Rae took a breath. She had to stop just running for fun and get into Flash-mode. She turned around and grabbed hold of the other speedster, running her up a building and tossing her onto the roof. "Who are…?" Rae stopped when she was finally able to take in the face of the other speedster. She lifted her googles to look right into her own face with her two eyes. It was another Rae, who looked winded at her action. "Oh god, please tell me you're not from Paranormal?"
"Sorry to burst your bubble," another voice spoke, and Rae turned to see another face she had seen on Paranormal, and recently on Karry: The younger daughter to Nora and Henry. The one she knew could open portals.
"Paranormal." Rach smiled at her double as Rae groaned.
-New Justice-
"You're firing me?" Caitlin asked, not believing it as she was sitting in her boss's office. She had not expected that to happen – she had not wanted to show her power to her boss, but she could not let that family die. "You can't fire me because I am a meta human. That's discrimination!"
"You're right," Doctor Jones said, but she seemed stern. She was not backing down from her decision. "And you could take this to the board and even the courts, but then you would have to reveal you're a meta human in public. I don't think you will do that. Not with the discrimination against meta humans in the world."
"Like right here…" Caitlin muttered, talking of her work place as she lit up her hand n momentary flame before putting it out. "I am a good doctor."
"Yes, you're a good doctor when you want to be a good doctor," Doctor Jones reasoned. "And indeed, being a meta human was a big part of this decision. If this got out though, patients would not trust you. You would be a liability to this hospital. But I looked over your recent records and you have been late often, with no explanation. Then I remembered rumors around of a new superhero in town. A fire meta human. I looked up the sightings. They coincide with when you were late. You have been doing hero work."
Doctor Jones stood up. "You want to save people. Its why you became a doctor but you can't be both a doctor and a hero. They both need your full attention," Doctor Jones stated. "I don't know which one you will choose, but if you decide you want to be a doctor it's not going to be here. Pack up your stuff and go."
"This is not the end of this," Caitlin stated angrily, standing up and heading out, slamming the door.
-New Justice-
"What are you doing here?" Rae said, not happy to see her double from Paranormal on her world. She did not like that world because any thought of it brought back the pain of her father's death, that he died for another world. Punching Maxwell Lord and finding out the truth behind his death had led to some closure, but it did not mean she liked the world that caused his death.
"I was tired of waiting for you to come back," Rach said, making Rae confused.
"Let's forget the fact I don't have a Premo on the team anymore. Why would I come back to your world?" Rae asked.
"Why wouldn't you?" Rach said, clearly having very different ideas from her double.
"You have a no world hopping law," Rae pointed out, anger in her voice.
"That's a fair point," Rach's cousin said with a laugh. "By the way, I'm Amy but call me Accord." Accord gave Rae a smile, which she did not return.
"Oh, forget the law," Rach continued. "Our world has everything you need!"
"I need nothing from your world," Rae said, her cool Flash exterior melting away as anger built up. Something about Paranormal got under her skin and angered her.
"Your parents are there. Your cousins. Our little sister. And me…. your twin," Rach said, a little hopeful on the last bit.
"They are not my parents," Rae snapped. "Not my cousins. Not my little sister. And you are certainly not my twin!" Rae was not hiding her anger at this. "You're not my family. You're doppelgängers, nothing more, nothing less." This was a very different way to how she reacted with other worlds on the system: Prime, SuperEarth, and Karry Barry she considered her cousin, better than her real cousin here. The Karry kids she had taken as her nieces. There was just something about Paranormal that got to her. She could not, and would not, consider any of them as family.
"I know," Rach said regardless of this reaction as she took a step forward, trying to change the direction of the conversation. "I know the truth."
"Know what?" Rae asked, confused. "What truth?"
"How you always felt you should be a twin. How you woke up at night almost feeling your twin but remembering you are not. We were meant to have a twin. Since we don't have one, we can be one another's," Rach said, hopeful, and Rae anger was turning to confusion.
"Look, I don't know what you think you know about me, but you don't," Rae sighed. "I never wanted a twin." Rae pulled her googles back down and straightened her helmet. "And I got things to do." Rae ran off and Rach watched her go.
"Well maybe now you can…" Accord stopped as Rach ran, chasing after her double. "Urgh, okay. Wait for them to slow down and then catch up." Accord muttered to herself, not liking being here. She knew how Rae felt about them and would have rather given Rae time to forget them before coming back here.
….
Rae ran an extremely long way, taking unnecessary turns and stopping small crimes, hoping to lose her trail before stopping in Nora and Henry's kitchen. Clark barked as Rae bent down to pet her dog, not looking at her aunt and uncle.
Things between Nora, Henry and Rae had been a little weird since Rae had killed Barry. The two had mourned and understood why Rae had to do it, but they had been secretive about something since. Talking something over without including her. Rae decided to give them time, so she had worked on her relationship with Kara.
"Rae we…" Nora started the moment Rae appeared, but was cut off by Rae.
"Don't," Rae said to them, confusing the two before Rach stopped inside the house, taking deep breath.
"Wow you're fast!" Rach said, taking a seat. She had barely been able to keep up with her double. "How can you be so much faster than me?"
"You don't use your powers," Rae said with a snarl. She knew her counterpart wasn't a hero; it was something else she hated about that world. She had always had the need to help people, to be out there, even if her father was alive and had not wanted her to be out there she would have gone. Paranormal's Rach had never done it, using her powers for other things rather than be a hero. She had to wonder why her Paranormal father didn't help her on the way to heroism.
"Rae?" Henry asked, looking between the two as the wind picked up and a portal opened. Accord stepped out of it, Clark now barking at the newcomers.
"I should have known," Acord sighed. "Mom… dad…"
"Another world," Nora muttered, catching on, remembering the Barrys she had seen before when her Barry had been outed as the Reverse Flash.
"The world that killed dad," Rae hissed.
"Oh," Nora didn't know how to react to that. Obviously, this Rachel and alternative daughter wouldn't have had anything to do with their Jay's death, so she didn't know what to say of their remark.
"Well, erm Rae… Anyway, we need to talk to you about something," Henry said.
"Later. I got an hour to go until I am meeting with the President at the rally," Rae gave her aunt and uncle a smile who had to give a small smile back.
"What's a Presi-bent?" Rach asked, curious at the strange word and making all three look at her confused.
"The leader of the country," Henry spoke cautiously at this.
"So... your General," Rach said, and Accord gave a giggle. Unlike her cousin, she was more used to the multiverse and the fact that their Earth government was a bit strange compared to the rest.
"No," Nora said. "He's a politician. We elected him to lead the country."
"Rach…" Accord said, seeing her cousin's confusion and decided to cut this short before it got out of hand. "Their government is different than ours. It's called a democracy. They vote on who rules their country." Accord turned to the three New Justice people. "You see, on our world the military oversees the government. Every country has a military-controlled government and their military chooses one person to be leader, like your President. We call them the General, even if their rank isn't necessary general."
Rae blinked for a moment shook her head. "I really hate your world," Rae said turning to her aunt and uncle who were looking curiously at the two Paranormal people. "I know you wanted to talk, but I'm going to catch you later." Before anyone could react, Rae was running and ran right through a wall – it seemed this little break at her aunt and uncle's house was just a stop to lose them. She had taken Clark with her and taken the Flash pup costume from the living room as she left.
"Oh man!" Rach complained standing up.
"Rach, you think it's time to let this go," Accord said. She had been willing to humor her cousin and bring her here, but Rae wasn't very willing to talk to them. Accord had known that from the off.
"No," Rach said and Accord groaned.
"Why are you here?" Nora asked, looking over the girl who was apparently her daughter. She and Henry looked at each other. Before Jay had died they thought of having another but taking in Rae had stopped that. It was interesting to see the child they could have had.
"She has this… twin thing," Accord said.
"I always thought I should have been a twin and I figured Rae felt the same. That we could be each other twin," Rach said, and Nora and Henry actually laughed at this. Rach pulled a face.
"Sorry it's just… Rae always liked her uniqueness," Nora said. "She never wanted a clone, a twin, or anything like that. She liked being the only one. Being a little speedster. Having her own unique history. Even the bad stuff. Knowing her cousin seemed to be a speedster and she didn't really exist on other Earths reaffirmed this. She likes being special."
"So what she hates us because we have a her too," Accord spoke up.
"No. She thought she would exist on other worlds eventually. Well she dislikes your world because of that Maxwell Lord guy. He was from your world and did kill her father. Almost killed her a few months back too," Nora frowned as she said this.
"I doubt a thousand apologies would even help her get over that," Accord looked down at this, knowing the history, having watched Rae closely for a while.
"But I thought…" Rach spoke up now trying to get back on track. She was so sure another her would know her feelings; would want to have a twin.
"Rae's biggest thing in life was her powers. Learning them. Growing into the Flash," Henry spoke up with a small smile as he talked to these two. He loved remembering his little girl. The childhood. He had enjoyed every minute of raising Rae, of doing what his brother could not. And he liked seeing the daughter he and Nora never had. Knowing what she could have looked like, what her personality would be like. It was just a shame they had never got the chance to have her, with Rae taking up all their time, but he did love Rae as his own.
"Hey. Wasn't she wearing the helmet and the goggles?" Rach asked, noticing the helmet and goggles on a nearby counter. She went up to them and picked them up. She knew the helmet; she had seen and held it many times. It was the one her father still wore as the Flash.
"She made a time remnant a few months ago," Nora explained, feeling uncomfortable talking about this. Talking about her son's death. "So, she now has an extra helmet and goggles."
"Oh. I need to show her," Rach said, putting the goggles on and confusing everyone.
"Show her what?" Accord asked confused as Henry and Nora shared a look.
"That I…" Rach said, tossing the helmet up in the air and catching it, "can be the Flash."
"Rach…" Accord moaned, seeing where this was going, but Rach had put the helmet on and ran out.
"That's not good," Accord said, shaking her head as her this-world parents looked on in shock. "I should follow her. It's nice to see there are other worlds besides mine where you two are still together." Accord told the two before leaving through one of her portals and leaving the two Allens alone and just a little bit confused.
"We still didn't get a chance to tell Rae," Nora said sadly.
"I'm thinking it's something that can wait right now," Henry said putting an arm around his wife and kissing his head. "She has other things to think of with her double."
-New Justice-
Accord was following her Rach as best she could – jumping from portal to portal as she chased the want-to-be-Flash – watching as Rach took out criminals in moves echoing what she'd seen her father do back home. Only she wasn't very good at it. Most of the criminals getting the better of Rach.
"Okay. That one was not even a meta human," Accord said rolling her eyes as Rach knocked out a bank robber. He was the first one she had really gotten the better of but his cohorts had gotten away.
She was impressed at her cousin determination, but not at her ability – Rach had never used her speed to fight crime, only ever using it around the house, playing with her dad or at her job; using it as a short cut and to make simple things faster, never wanting to be a hero like her dad until recently and only then she had doubts. Jay had even talked her out of it. But catching bullets, dodging attacks, and taking down the bad guy was not something she was used to.
"Meta-what? Don't you mean a Paranormal?" Rach stopped, taking a breath. Besides the helmet and goggles, she didn't have a real superhero outfit on, but she was wearing clothes that were made for fast runs.
"Not on this world," Accord explained. "They call them meta humans. Meta. But my point being, isn't it time to give up and go? Rae hates us and is never going to give you a chance. I tried to warn you before…"
"No, I've got to," Rach said but then was cut off by a flash of blue light. For a second, she thought it was Rae, but paused as she saw a speedster in a completely metallic outfit, mask and all. He grabbed her in a split second and then sped off.
Accord stood there, stunned for a minute. A speedster had just kidnapped her cousin. She could find her, but she couldn't take on a speedster. She needed someone fast and she only knew one person on this Earth. She groaned as she came to one conclusion.
-New Justice-
Rae was taking a breath. She was far out from the rally with Clark by her side, but it was time to run into it. She wasn't the Flash for awards though; she did it because she loved it. Loved helping. Loved her powers, and loved her team. But it was pretty awesome that the President of the United States wanted to give her a medal – and it was something that had never been done before for someone considered a civilian. It was in fact a new award completely. Who knows, maybe each member of her League would earn one in time?
She was about to run up when a blue portal opened and she had to stop short as Accord came out. Clark gave a growl. "Kind of in the middle of something…" Rae said, not wanting to deal with her alternate cousins at the moment.
"Rach was kidnapped," Accord said, seeming frantic as she said it. Rae paused, raising an eyebrow. "She was trying to be you… using your extra helmet and goggles to prove to you she could be the Flash."
"What?" Rae asked, getting madder at that. Her doppelgänger had taken her things and tried to take her identity! This was her earth, she was the Flash. No one else – not even an alternate her. "She took my stuff? Tried to take my identity?" Rae voiced this and Accord could hear the anger there. "Why would she do that?"
"She wanted to show you she could be your twin," Accord said, and Rae groaned. "But a speedster took her."
"Wait? A speedster? But I'm the only one…" Rae was confused by this. Rach turning up had annoyed her, but with her Barry dead she thought she was the only speedster on this world.
"Rae…" Accord continued, "I know you don't like us but you're the only one fast enough to save her." Rae sighed, a sad look on her face as she looked towards the distance. The crowds cheering, waiting for her. She had been looking forward to this. "Unless you don't want to…?"
Rae really wanted to go get the award, but even though she hated Paranormal and blamed them for her father's death, she could not let Rach die. "I'll call my team," Rae said going for her communicator. She needed the Justice League.
"No time," Accord said. "Besides, you're the only one fast enough." Before Rae could argue that her team would be a help, that they might not be as fast, but having them would give her an advantage a portal was opened. Accord pushed her through it, an annoyed Clark flew after her, and they were gone.
…..
Rach was thrown onto the floor in what appeared to be a warehouse. They had been running for a while, Rach not able to break from the hold of the man. It scared her. The moment they stopped the helmet dropped off her head and she put her hand on the goggles, lifting them to her forehead.
"I bet you thought you would never see me again," the speedster who had taken her said, his voice almost demonic. "It's been so long… I've been a prisoner for so long. I kept picturing what I would do to you when I got out."
Rach was confused, but before she could say anything else, a portal opened and out of it came her cousin with Rae and Flash Pup. Rae blinked, shocked at the change. Before she could yell at Accord for rushing her into this fight, the speedster turned around, it's blue armored eyes narrowing to look at her. Rae took a deep breath and gave a smirk, getting into her hero mode. "I think you got the wrong person," Rae said. Clark gave a growl next to her.
The speedster looked between the two Rachels. "One of your clones…" the speedster said, walking away from her. "And you came for her? I thought you were content to let them die." Rae raised an eyebrow, confused at the comment. The only thing that could be considered a clone that she had let die would be the time remnant. But that was in the distant past, and in that case, it was her 'clone' choosing death. "See what you did to me? Winning the finale battle was not enough for you! You had to trap me. Trap me in the very thing that gave us power. But you only made me stronger."
The words made no sense to Rae. She had no idea what this speedster was talking about. It was very rare for her to be in the dark like this. "I was being cute before, but I actually think you got the wrong person," Rae repeated, taking a step forward. "I don't know who you are." Rach stayed still on the floor, too afraid to do or say anything. Accord stayed back, waiting for her chance to get to her cousin without getting hurt. Clark stayed by his mistress's feet.
"You know who I am," the speedster growled, "or at least who I was. Because that man does not matter anymore, the boy I was before. No. Let me reintroduce you to the new me. I am Savitar, the God of Speed."
Savitar ran at Rae, who barely dodged the attack. This Savitar was fast; faster than her, actually. And she was without her team, on her own in this fight. She couldn't think about it now though as Savitar came at her again. She needed to fight. Clark flew up, trying to throw down freeze breath to help her, but Savitar managed to knock him aside in a powerful blow that only made Rae angrier.
Accord took the opportunity, the two fighting, light trials running around the room.
She ran to Rach. "Rach!" Accord said, running to her cousin. "You have to help her! You're the only one fast enough."
Rach gave her cousin a look before turning to the fighting two. They were fighting at speeds so fast, she could not even see them. She felt so useless. "No, I can't even see them!" Rach said, putting her hand on the extra helmet for a moment. "I'm not fast enough. I'm no Flash."
It was a few moments after that the two stopped. Savitar pushing Rae to the wall as she cried out and he stabbed her with part of his suit, a metal spike among the other metal. Rae moaned, not looking good. There was blood all over her and she was taking deep breaths, clearly in pain. "I will kill you slowly for what you did to me," Savitar hissed.
"Not… to… day," Rae struggled to get out, vibrating her hand and using it to chop off the piece of Savitar's suit in her shoulder. Savitar screamed, as though it was actually attached to him and hurt when separating. Then a blue portal opened up behind him – Accord had taken the opportunity to help her alternate cousin, even if Rach couldn't. Clark flew at him now, pushing him through the portal and the portal closed behind Savitar, leaving Clark standing there. Clark turned to his mistress, looking up at her.
Rae then collapsed falling to the floor. She had no strength to do anything else. She had never felt so defenseless before; not even against Barry. Barry had been her equal, they had been able to match each other. Savitar though was faster than her. He had made her defenseless. But right now, she was breathing in pain. Not able to move.
"Rae…?" A voice said, and she saw Accord appear over her. "Oh god… all the blood." Accord looked over Rae; her costume was ripped, blood was coming from open wounds, and bones clearly looked broken. Clark moaned sadly, and Rae did not have the strength to comfort him. She was barely conscious.
"We need to get her help," Rach said, moving over cautiously.
"I know where to bring her," Accord nodded, taking Rae's helmet off her head so she did not lose it as Rach picked her up. Accord opened a portal and they all went through.
-New Justice-
"Where is she?" Kara asked, coming out of the zap tunnel into Watchtower. Everyone from the Justice League had been watching TV to see their leader accept the award but were shocked when she did not show up. So, as the news was joking about the President getting stood up, the Justice League was looking for their leader.
"On it," Adam was saying, already in the base and on the computer, ready to track the Flash's whereabouts.
It was only moments later that a portal opened and out came two Rachel Garricks, Clark, and one Accord. "She needs help," Accord said, Rae in Rach's arms. Krypto, who had come in with Kara, went to comfort his sad son as Kara ran to the group.
"Rae!" Kara called, knowing the bleeding one was her girlfriend. Kara took a deep breath; Rae was barely conscious. Rae didn't respond to her girlfriend. It scared Kara to the core. "We need our doctor."
"On it," Donna said, running to the zap tunnel as Kara picked Rae up and brought her to the medical area of Watchtower. Kara had to keep Rae alive until Caitlin Snow got there. She was the only one with any medical experience, being a trained vet, but it was hard seeing Rae like this.
Rach took the helmet off her head and then took the one Accord had. Taking off the goggles as well she put them all down. "These belong to her," Rach said making the group look at her.
-New Justice-
Caitlin was walking out of the hospital, a box with some of the things from her locker under one arm. She was on the phone with Daphne, telling her sister what had happened.
"They can't do that! I mean they can given the prejudice against metas, despite a lot of them saving their lives, but they can't do this…" Daphne was saying.
"They are not getting away with this," Caitlin agreed.
"Doctor Snow?" A voice spoke, and Caitlin looked to see Wonder Girl standing before her.
"Not now, Wonder Girl," Caitlin said, wanting to continue to complain to her sister.
"The Flash is injured. She will die if you don't come," Donna said calmly, which made Caitlin pause and turn to the Amazonian in shock.
"I'm going to have to talk to you later…" Caitlin said to her sister.
"Go," Daphne said, having heard Donna's comment as well. Caitlin hung up the phone.
"Take me to her," Caitlin said, and was picked up in a moment and flown out.
It was a few minutes later they were in Watchtower. Caitlin paused, never having been in this base before, but she had a patient. She dropped the box to the floor as she followed Donna in the unfamiliar base.
She was led to the medical area to see Kara in her Supergirl outfit taking care of Rae's wounds. Kara had ripped opened Rae's costume to get a better look at some of the cuts. "She has multiple deep wounds. A couple of broken bones and of course…" Kara pointed to the spike of Savitar's suit still lodged into her girlfriend's shoulder.
"We're going to need some pain medication," Caitlin said. Rae had seemed to have lost conscious now, but even unconscious this could hurt.
"No good. Her system is too fast. It will burn out in seconds," Kara said. "Everything… has to be without medication." Kara's hands were shaking as she talked, tears in her eyes and Caitlin noticed it.
"Are you able to help me or is this too much?" Caitlin asked seriously.
Kara was silent for a moment but then saw the necklace she had given Rae. It was still on her neck; covered in blood, but it was still there. Kara gave a sad smile. "Save my girlfriend's life? I can do this," Kara said.
"Okay then," Caitlin said, deciding not to make a big deal over the two dating. In a normal hospital Kara would not be allowed on this case, but right now Kara was all assistance Caitlin had. "Then we need to take care of this shoulder first."
….
"What world are you from?" Sara asked the two, knowing they had to be from another world. With Caitlin now with Rae and Kara, all they had to do was figure out what happened and pray for the best.
"Paranormal," Accord was the one to answer, hesitating in the presence of Rae's Justice League, and multiple people groaned. They knew how Rae felt about that world.
"And what are you doing here?" Sara asked, a little more stiffly now as Laurel joined her sister. Accord and Rach looked at each other but told them about why they showed up.
"I was trying to be the Flash, to prove myself," Rach was explaining after telling them of their first encounter and their brief stop at Henry and Nora's. "But then this Savitar… thing came out of nowhere and took me."
"He mistook Rach for Rae," Accord stated. "So I found Rae myself. I didn't think there would be time to call you – I know what Reverse Flash did to her old League and I wouldn't be the cause that again, leading you to him, so I sort of just took her and Flash Pup to where Savitar had taken my Rach…"
"So, let me get this straight." Sara interrupted the two, holding out a hand. "You showed up to try to convince Rae you two could be twins. You tried to be her and failed epically… and then got kidnapped… leading Rae to get beat up saving you." Accord and Rach nodded.
"Yea-ah," Accord looked down at this as Rach looked a little lost now. "Like I said, I know Rae's history with Reverse Flash and if this Savitar was anything like that…"
"You rushed her into a fight she was not ready for," Sara said, angry herself. "If she dies it is your fault!" Accord took a step back at that, not sure how to react. Laurel though looked curiously at these two world hoppers, ignoring her sister's outburst.
"Did you really think we could not help?" Aqualad said. "We are all-powerful heroes. We might not all be fast but we work together for a reason. We are more powerful together."
"Together there is nothing we cannot do," Selena, Aquagirl, agreed with her boyfriend.
"Hey. My dad was part of a League like you – emphasis on the 'was'." Rach suddenly snapped at that. "They thought there was nothing they could stop together until it all went south. Now he's on his own." All this negativity was getting to her. She knew this was sort of her fault though. "Besides, what's to say this Savitar wouldn't have gone at her during this award ceremony?"
"If he had taken her there, we would have seen. The League would have been able to track her and help her fight," M'Gann spoke up. Rach rolled her eyes at this, but Accord silenced her cousin before she could speak up.
"And Rae is different to you," Dinah pointed out. "If Savitar had went after her right out she would have reacted different. It would have been a completely different ball game."
"And the Justice League has been around on this world for a long time," Jon, one of the three Green Lanterns stated.
"In fact, not long after your world killed Jay Garrick was it formed and has existed in one form or another. When the old League died the new League was put together because we're needed," Adam added. "Whatever your League was we're different. We stood up against the Reverse Flash together and won." Accord and Rachel assuming their league would not have been of used annoyed him.
"You should go," Winn said quietly, glaring at the two.
"I need to know if she'll live," Accord said, Rach silent now, and Sara nodded. Letting these two stay for the knowledge.
Attention turned away from the Paranormal duo after that, but Laurel was curious as she moved over to Accord and Rach, a lone member of the League willing to talk to them.
"I'm sorry," Laurel muttered quietly as both turned to look at her.
"What for? It's us who should be sorry. We came to your world and ruined it. Again," Accord muttered.
"Rae… she has a thing against your world," Laurel explained, "A lot of bad blood."
"Trust me, I know," Accord muttered. "I tried to explain to Rach before… and now Rae…"
"She'll pull through," Laurel muttered. "She's the Flash. A symbol of hope for this planet. The worlds longest running hero, no pun intended. She's strong and brave and loyal. She won't go without a fight; at least not this fight. And by the sounds of it this Savitar is not going away. Rae will be up to fight him. Wonder where he came from though? Rae the only speedster since Barry died. Maybe…."
"We didn't bring him," Accord stated, getting where Laurel was coming from. "I don't know where he was from. He could be from a different earth but he did not come from us." Accord didn't want this world thinking they had brought him here.
"That's interesting to know," Laurel muttered, not sure what else to say now. She felt sympathetic to these two world hoppers; after all, events escalated beyond anything they or Rae could have predicted, but it was also true that whenever their Earth came here, they usually came with trouble. First was Jay's death over 20 years ago, then was the ordeal with Maxwell Lord a few months ago and now was this Savitar and Rae's injuries. Who knows what would happen next?
…
It was hours later that Caitlin came up to the group, covered in blood herself and exhausted but seemingly pleased.
"She lost a lot of blood; had a lot of really deep cuts, and broken bones. If she was anyone else she would have been dead before I got here," Caitlin explained. "But she's not anyone else – she is the Flash. She'll survive." A breath of relief went through the Justice League. Their Leader would survive. "But even with her fast healing it will take some time for her to heal completely. She's asleep right now and Supergirl is with her, but I am going to stay here." Caitlin kicked her box still on the floor. "Besides, it's not like I have anywhere else to go."
"Thank you, Doctor Snow," Sara said – with Rae out, and Kara with her, she was acting leader of the League. "Now you two can go." She addressed the two from Paranormal before turning to Adam. "We need to make some statement, to explain why the Flash didn't turn up at her own award ceremony. Something that doesn't say what happened. Just like saying something came up and Flash was unavailable."
"On it," Adam nodded now, moving back to the computers.
Accord glanced at Rach now, opening a portal home. Rach gave a look at the two helmets nearby, before following her cousin out.
-Paranormal Earth-
"Well, where could they be?" Henry and Nora had come to Jay's house, looking for their daughter but had been told that Rach had been gone all day too.
Jay didn't know where the two were; he had sped around the cities trying to locate them but had come up with nothing. Soon though, a portal opened in the lounge, and out came the two missing kids, covered in dried blood.
"Rach!" Jay called, taking in the blood as he went to hug his daughter, but Henry and Nora remained in position as they realized properly what had happened.
"Amy, you brought Rach to another world?" Nora asked, knowing what had happened the minute the two had appeared.
"There's no rule saying I cannot bring someone with me," Accord defended.
"And you're covered in blood!" Jay now pointed out, but the girls ignored this.
"It was my idea dad," Rach spoke up, to get blame off her cousin. "I wanted to go to… what do they call it?"
"New Justice," Accord said.
"Yeah New Justice. To see the version of me who had came here once," Rach said, and her dad, uncle and aunt groaned. "I just… I thought…"
"She thinks she has a twin," Accord muttered.
"And you thought that Rachel would be one?" Jay pointed out, a little taken aback by this as he looked to his daughter.
"I hate her," Rach kicked the nearby chair. "She didn't even want to try and then… well, if she didn't hate us before. She might hate us now."
"What did you do?" Jay asked, wondering. "Is that her blood…?"
"Yeah, but she's fine – or at least, will be," Accord explained. "Long story short," Accord sighed, "she tried to be the Flash." She pointed to Rach who was sitting now on the arm of the nearby couch, arms folded and an annoyed scowl on her face. "She got her ass kicked a couple of times, then got kidnapped by an evil speedster with a god complex. I rushed Rae into saving her without her team and nearly got her killed."
"Is she okay?" Joan asked, concerned for the alternate version of her daughter as she entered the room, glad to see the kids as she had been calling around their friend's homes to see if they were there.
"She'll live," Rach spoke up. "But I was useless. She said I did not know my powers well and she's right. I don't. I can't be a hero."
"You never wanted to be," Jay said. "Then after she turned up you did, but like I said back then, you don't need to be. I'm around."
"Yeah," Rach confirmed sitting down. "But I had you and mom. She didn't. When she turned up and I saw what I could be…"
Accord chuckled making eyes turn to her. "Sorry Rach, but after Rae showed up here I got curious about alternate yous. I had to look at worlds not on the system, since most of them do not have a Rachel Garrick, but I found some other ones. Some of them have both parents gone, some only one, and some have both like you, but all are in some way a hero."
"What?" Rach asked. "They became heroes even with both parents? Why didn't you say before?"
"It's the same thing with Barry." Accord ignored the second question. "He usually becomes a hero – unless he becomes a villain. You see, our world is different from their worlds. Not bad-different, just… different. We're more content to let the government handle things now. They have more of the desire of having to stand up. Besides, their worlds have had situations where they needed good people with great powers to become heroes to face bad people with great powers. Like Uncle Jay used to. But with our military-run government, we have not had the need. It's not Uncle Jay and Aunt Joan that makes you not a hero, it's the world you live in now. Take it as good or bad."
"Well I'm not content anymore," Rach said turning to her dad suddenly. "I want you to teach me. No backing down now. Teach my powers…. for real."
Jay sighed as he looked to his wife. "If you're sure," Jay said, and then nodded. "Okay, we can start tomorrow."
Post Chapter Note 1: Okay, so the new villain is here and is Savitar… One thing I have to say though is SAVITAR IS NOT BARRY ALLEN HERE! I already did an evil Barry for this Earth in season 1. He is dead. Savitar is someone else entirely. Also, notice how everyone, even Savitar, referred to him as a male, even the kids at the start? That's because Savitar IS NOT RAE either. Someone new. Someone this season will reveal.
Post Chapter Note 2: Season 2 has a lot of fun plans. One coming up I'm super-excited for, but regardless, I hope you enjoyed this first chapter.
Please REVIEW.
Karry Master OUT!
