2Disclaimer: I don't own DC
Gathering Darkness: Rampage
Hour 3: But still she persisted
My name is Caitlyn Snow
And my name is Frost
After my father experimented on himself, I inherited his ability to manipulate the cold. For years I suppressed my other self and became a doctor. Through Star Labs I help other Metahumans like myself and protect the world with my other.
Together we are the ruthless cold, together...
Together we are Killer Frost!
STAR Labs
Caitlyn checked over the ever shifting vitals of the fastest man alive. She knew Barry's regular readings better than her own, and it had come to the point when she could predict his changes dependent on how much he had used his speed on a particular day. It went beyond simply being a good doctor, she was his closest friend. Before anyone else was involved, Team Flash had started with him, Cisco, herself and Wells. Or at least who they thought Wells was. She and Cisco had come to understand Barry almost better than Joe could. They connected with him as scientists, as socially awkward people themselves, and as metahumans. They had been through the best and worst times together, they understood one another's losses and pain.
"Lies, it was all lies," Barry whispered, half conscious.
His heartbeat flat lined, then jumped hundreds of beats per second, then crawled to twenty per minute. Caitlyn treated him with a mixture of techniques, morphine to relax his muscles, and the defibrillator to kick start his heart. All the while listening to him recount the torment Onyx's power had brought him.
"It was destiny, and that's whatmadeitlies! IRIS NEVER RESPECTED ME! NEVER ADMITTED WHEN SHE WAS WRONG! I justnoddedmyhead...agreed...with...everything...she," there was a surge of black and white lighting and Barry's eyes rolled into the back of his head.
The lightning sparked, blowing up the bulbs in the medical bay, shutting down the equipment. Caitlyn looked at Barry as he began to have a seizure, froth coming out of his mouth. When it had come to pass, Barry had gone still.
"Barry," Caitlyn whispered, checking his pulse, and then putting her ear to his chest.
Nothing, she adjusted the head of his bed and then began to apply compressions to his chest.
"DR STEWART! DR DANVERS!" she screamed.
One, two, three, four, five. She cleared the froth from his mouth, opening it with her finger, squeezed his nose and then breathed into his mouth. Again she pushed her hands into his chest had, then blew into Barry's mouth again.
"What's going on?" Lyn asked, the first into the room.
"I need help here, he's gone into cardiac arrest," Caitlyn said.
"I've got a emergency kit," Eliza ran into the room, opening it.
"Lyn, I need you on compressions, Eliza, put the mask over Barry's face," Caitlyn looked through the glass towards Cisco. "WE NEED POWER BACK NOW!" she yelled.
Cisco sharply nodded his head, quickly running to the circuit breakers with Luke. Lyn continued the chest compressions on Barry, whilst Eliza pumped the breathing mask. Caitlyn took out a syringe filled with adrenaline, injecting it through Barry's IV.
"Come on Barry, stay with us, come on," Caitlyn took over the compressions from Lyn.
"The defibrillator has been shorted out, where's the spare?" Lyn asked.
"I know where it is, here," Nash rolled another machine into the room.
They quickly applied the nodes to Barry's chest. Caitlyn took a step back as Cisco and Luke came into the room.
"Powers back online, he shorted out even the backup," Luke said.
"Charging now," Eliza said.
"Monitor's back online, stay with me Barry," Caitlyn whispered.
"Clear!
Barry's chest rose and the monitor blinked.
"Clear!"
Again the line only shifted slightly.
"Clear!"
"It won't work, try a different charge," Caitlyn said.
"Caitlyn, it's too late," Eliza said.
"No, try it again!"
"Do it, try it again a few more times," Lyn said, turning up the voltage.
"You can do this Allen," Nash muttered.
"Charging, clear!"
The surge was stronger this time, the monitor showing a brief heart beat before it flat lined.
"Please, please don't do this Barry," Caitlyn's eyes glowed white as tears began to form.
"I'm sorry Caitlyn," Lyn said.
"NO!" Caitlyn's hair turned white, her voice echoing.
Frost grabbed the controls and increased the voltage again.
"WE'RE NOT LOSING ANOTHER MAN WE LOVE!" she screamed.
She pushed the button, burning Barry's skin and making him scream. The black and white lightning turned blue and Barry's body turned into yellow energy. He rushed through the people at his bedside, knocking Luke and Cisco through the wall. As a lightning bolt, Barry burned the container for his costume before rebounding through the walls of the lab. He flew past Oliver and Diggle, passing over their heads.
"What the hell happened?" Oliver demanded.
"Out of my way that's what," Frost snapped at Oliver, grabbing her jacket and running after the energy surge Barry had become.
Gotham
It didn't take long for the Waverider to fly to Metropolis's neighbouring city. When it arrived, Ralph, Behrad, Wild Dog, Black Lightning and Black Canary climbed into the jump ship. Behrad turned to Nate, seeing him leaning on a cane in metal form.
"I'll give Stein a call, see if him and Jax can come over to at least get me back into the fight," he said. "You guys be careful down there," he said as the drop ship hatch closed.
He looked at his leg, the mark on it a sign of the damage he had taken. If he dropped his concentration, he would turn back to flesh form, risking losing his leg permanently. Outside, the drop ship manoeuvred around energy blasts and swerved to avoid midair opponents. Taken Parademons surrounded the jump ship, only for red heat visions blasts to hit it. Superman flew around the ship, defending it from Parademons, whilst engaging Martian Manhunter in a fist fight. Upon reaching the ground, Dinah and Rene ran to the streets, whilst Behrad took to the skies, surrounding himself with a whirlwind. Pierce shot lightning into the ground, throwing himself into the Parademons.
"Might be a little surrounded here," Rene said as Outriders surrounded him and Dinah.
The Outriders were led by Ryan, Sara and Batwoman, the three taken Paragons glaring at the two Star city vigilantes. Just when Batwoman was about to strike, pieces of cloth wrapped around her like tentacles. She was then thrown aside, just as a sonic scream knocked Ryan and Sara off their feet.
"That wasn't me," Dinah said.
A blur of green landed between Rene and Dinah, raising its arms. Strands of cloth stretched out of his sleeves, grabbing the Outriders around them and throwing them around. Arrows pierced the heads of Parademons, quickly blowing up. Rene looked towards where the arrows had come from, seeing the Helena Bertinelli Huntress loading her crossbow. She stood alongside Laurel Lance, the Black Siren. Laurel looked towards Sara, narrowing her eyes as she briefly looked at Onyx. The man was engaging Kara and Mon-El in a midair fist fight. He jumped between buildings, dodging Kara's blue heat vision and kicking Mon-El to the streets.
"She's all yours," Helena gestured to Sara.
"We all know how your fight with her ended last time," Laurel huffed before approaching Sara.
Both screamed with their sonic cries, the force throwing one another back.
"Good to see you back Rory," Rene said to Ragman.
"It's good to be back!" Ragman grabbed two Parademons in midair and slammed them together.
Black Canary unleashed her sonic scream, throwing back a group of Outriders.
"You ready to take over Barb?" Huntress asked as she jumped, shooting explosive bolts into the head of a few Outriders.
Black Lightning blasted Parademon, putting his hand to his earpiece for a moment when he heard an echo in it.
"Don't be alarmed everyone, I figured you could use a local ear to the ground," a voice spoke through their radios.
In a clocktower, a red haired woman sat on her wheelchair, surrounding by multiple computer screens.
"This is Oracle, combat team I'll be coordinating you from this point on," she said.
Pierce blasted two Parademons, deflecting a few blasts with his lightning. He landed and rolled out of the way of an Outrider's claws. But as he blasted that Outrider, two more pounced on top of him. There was a sharp intake of breath, before a shockwave threw the creatures back. Black Lightning rose and looked towards Thunder and Lightning, the latter shooting targets in the air. Thunder again held her breath, punching an Outrider and sending it flying into another.
"I thought I told you girls you were to reinforce," Jefferson said.
He went back to back with his youngest, their blue and orange lightning striking Parademons around them. Thunder punched two Outriders, turning to her father with a sneer.
"What do you think we're doing?" she demanded.
"We did what you said dad, and brought some help," Lightning grinned.
Mon-El crossed his arms together, blocking blasts fired by the Parademons. He grit his teeth together as the blasts singed the shoulder of his suit. Tendrils of blue energy suddenly wrapped around the Parademons. Dreamer pulled down on the tendrils, bringing her opponents to the ground. Guardian then smashed them one after the other with his shield. Blasts of yellow light hit the Parademons, hitting them before they could attack Superman. He exchanged punches with J'onn and looked to the direction of the blasts. The Ray flew past him, saluting him before firing blasts onto the streets. On those streets, Robotman and Cyborg of the Doom Patrol punched aside Outriders. Ralph and Elasti-Woman stretched the arms, grabbing Parademons and giving Negative man and Crazy Jane openings to blast them. Yellow lightning passed through the streets, Jesse Quick smirked as she ran through the Outriders, delivering speed punches and kicks to them. Rene reloaded his pistols, yelping as a green tiger pounced over him, burying its teeth into an Outrider. He looked up, seeing a girl with a red jewel on her forehead and a black hooded jacket. Her eyes turned black as she blasted the Outriders with black matter.
"Who are these people?" Rene asked.
"Who do you think?" Ragman huffed.
Jesse came to a halt as a robot slammed its foot into the ground. She looked up at the Mecha hero, Stripes, who slammed a bunch of Parademons he was holding against the ground. There was a flash of light, and Star Girl flew over Jesse, giving her a wave. Vixen flew down from the sky, the form of a tiger appearing around her as she slashed at the Outriders with the green tiger. Huntress took a kick from Batwoman blocking a few of her punches.
"Huntress, flash bomb now!" Oracle commanded.
Helena kicked Batwoman black, covering her eyes and throwing down one of her grenades. The flash made Batwoman stumble, roaring in anger. A motorcycle came around the corner of the street, its rider jumping off. He flipped over Huntress, drawing a staff from his back and slamming the electrified tip into her chest. Sparks of electricity surged out of her body, causing her to scream and shift between her forms. As Batwoman stumbled back, the man removed his helmet, revealing his dark hair and domino mask, on his chest was a blue bird symbol.
"I don't want to hurt you Kate, but if that's the only way to bring you back to us, maybe it's time for that much needed lesson in humility," Nightwing separated his staff into a pair of escrima sticks and ran at Batwoman with Huntress.
"Heroes," Superman said, punching J'onn into a large body of water.
The water slammed J'onn into the ground, where a bear was ripping an Outrider apart. Both the bear and water turned into two red haired twins in purple jackets. They gave Clark the thumbs up and he saluted back.
"So many heroes, but it won't be enough, not unless your true icons come," Onyx said.
He slammed into the ground with Supergirl, their fingers locked. Slowly, Kara was brought to one knee, the dark energy rising around Onyx.
"Kara," Alex whispered with concern.
"Bring as many as you can, twenty heroes, a hundred heroes, these nameless, faceless, feat less, forgotten people will not stop me, for their achievements are insignificant," Onyx explained.
"I don't know, some were good enough to be called Legends," Kara smirked.
Onyx looked ahead, widening his eyes as the sun was obscured by a pair of wings. Hawkgirl yelled as she slammed her mace into Onyx's chin, launching him into the air.
"He's coming your way love," Kendra said.
"I've got him, sending him to you newbie," Carter Hall swung his mace into Onyx's back, throwing him towards Behrad.
"Hey I may be new, but at least I stuck with the Legends for more than one Season," Behrad grinned.
He brought his hands together, forming a powerful vortex above his head. Swinging his arms down, he drilled Onyx into the streets below. Onyx climbed out of the rubble, looking up to see Kara with her arms crossed.
"You may have the numbers Onyx, but everyone of us has overcome the odds, we're not as hopeless as you're trying to make us out to be," she said.
"Spoken like the true Paragon of Hopelessness, couldn't save the man she loved, couldn't stop her aunt without killing her. And the one thing you were sent to Earth to do, was the one thing you FAILED AT!" Onyx swung his head around, firing a blast from his eyes.
The blast cut through Superman's shoulder, taking off his cape. J'onn then punched Clark across the face, throwing him into one of the buildings.
"KAL!" Kara yelled.
Onyx suddenly appeared above her, slamming his head into hers. He grabbed her shoulder, covering her with the field to take her.
"Now you'll be a true Paragon of Hopelessness, my taken!"
"NO!"
Mon-El wrapped his cloak around Onyx's leg, tripping him up. He then wrapped the cloak around Onyx's head, moving his restrained opponent's head into his knee. Onyx tried to punch Mon-El, only or the Daxamite to divert the punch with his cloak again. Mon-El slammed his elbow into Onyx's face, then delivered another punch before cloak throwing him face first into the ground. He wrapped the cloak around Onyx's neck as Dreamer trapped his arm. Elongated man wrapped himself across Onyx's waist, around his right arm, bringing it away from his neck. Onyx struggled, his arms shaking and legs scraping across the floor.
"We've got him," Vixen said.
She latched onto his leg, her eyes like a snake whilst the silhouette of an anaconda surrounded her. She managed to bring Onyx to one knee, the armoured man yelling in frustration.
"Keep hold of him," Black Canary said, glaring at Onyx as she approached him.
She took a deep breath and screamed. The sonic wave blasted the left side of Onyx's head, cracking his helmet and forcing his head to the side. Dinah kept on yelling, yelling until her throat ached, intending to break her vocal chords if she had to. The ground beneath Onyx began to shake, but Dinah set her feet and continued the canary cry. His eyes burned red and black, the left side of his helmet shattering to reveal the full fury in his eye. He fired a blast from his eyes.
"Like that could hit," Mon-El said.
The red and black beam suddenly curved, flying between Black Lightning and Robot man. It twisted and turned, and increased in speed. Rene followed the path of the beam and ran for Dinah.
"LOOK OUT!" he tackled his ally and she stopped screaming.
But the beam flew past Onyx's head, and ripped through Mon-El's chest. Kara looked up and watched in horror as her husband fell to the ground. She immediately flew after him as Onyx conjured a shockwave, throwing Ralph off of him. He swung his leg, throwing Vixen on top of Dreamer before he turned to Rene and Dinah. His hands snapped over their heads, the energy crackling and surrounding them.
"An impressive try, BUT NOT GOOD ENOUGH!"
Onyx pulled away his hands, revealing Dinah's darkened skin and inverted white costume, and Rene's now skull like mask and darker suit. J'onn was thrown across the street and Onyx turned, looking towards Superman. His cloak had been taken off and part of his costume's chest was torn. But his eyes were still glowing red and glaring at Onyx.
Marais Lousiana
Constantine stood at the head of the boat, Lyla, Brainy and Thea behind him. Thea had been in some dark and bloody places over the past few years. But she still had to pinch her nose at times, the swamp smelt worse than some of the places the league of assassins hid in.
"What's the significance of Marais Brainy?" she asked the Coluan.
"History shows it was the site of a series of unexplained events, later dismissed as hoaxes, at one time there was some sort of disease that drew the attention of the CDC," he explained.
"It's the residence of one Alec Holland, latest host for the Green," Constantine said.
"Alec Holland was killed by a criminal organisation in Marais, his body was even recovered," Lyla said.
"You realise the body itself is just a shell for something right? Holland's consciousness became the basis for the protector of the green," Constantine lit one of his cigarettes, and as he waved his match a circle of fire appeared. "OI! SWAMP THING! Come on out, or this perfectly healthy looking tree will burn, don't think I won't do it Holland."
"Always knew he was crazy, now he's threatening trees," Thea muttered.
The boat creaked and Brainy looked around, his hologram flickering to reveal his natural alien form. There was a rocking movement on the boat and Constantine pulled his arm away from the tree. He looked towards ripples in the water, smirking. Suddenly, a vine whipped out of the water, cutting Constantine's cigarette in half. Then another vine wrapped around John's neck, pulling him into the water.
"JOHN!" Thea yelled, grabbing her bow and arrows.
Lyla drew her sidearm, keeping it aimed at the water.
"Um, Agent Diggle, Miss Queen, I believe we should..." Brainy never got to finish his sentence, as the boat was tipped over.
The trio swam to the nearby shore, looking into the swamp again. A giant of a man emerged, holding John by his throat. When he passed out of the shadows, the three widened their eyes. His eyes were blood red, and his skin (though it perhaps couldn't be called that), was made of tree leaves, vines and bark. The green man, the Swamp Thing threw John to the floor and let out an exasperated sigh.
"Why are you here John?" he demanded.
"Lovely to see you again too Alec, how's Abby?" Constantine rubbed his throat, taking a sitting position and looking up at the imposing figure.
"Alec Holland?" Lyla asked, stepping a bit closer to the thing.
"Potentially, it depends on one's perspective," Swamp Thing said.
"You don't seem at all surprised by me," Brainy said.
"I am aware of the existence of alien life forms, the green is connected even to the plants on alien worlds, though it of course strongest here where life originated," Swamp Thing explained.
"Inaccurate, life originated on a planet called Oa!"
"If you say so," the defender of the green turned away and made his way back into the water.
"Wait, we need your help," Thea said.
Swamp Thing turned, his body halfway into the muck.
"The dark one you face does not threaten the green," he said.
"But he still threatens people's lives."
"Wasteful, gluttonous humans whom take and take and destroy the green for their greed," Swamp Thing growled.
"You can't be Alec Holland then, because someone who was a man once would care enough to do something," Lyla stated.
"Holland, eventually Onyx is going to destroy this world, once he's had his entertainment, he'll wipe it out," Constantine said, standing up and stepping into the water.
"Clearly there are rules to you intervening," Brainy spoke up, drawing everyone's attention. "What I mean is, you are protector of the Green correct? Perhaps similarly to Mr Queen's temporary possession of the Spectre's abilities, you are bound by certain rules, a world order similar to the laws applied to time travel," he explained.
"That is accurate," Swamp Thing said.
"You may not be able to combat Onyx directly, but you can at least aid us in finding a means to stop him," Brainy said and Constantine nodded his head.
"I figured that would be the next best thing, we're looking for the book of destiny, we think those who serve old Onyx are keeping it somewhere," he explained.
Swamp Thing walked onto the shore, barging past Constantine. The group followed him, hearing his feet thud against the ground. Though things grew in his wake, Thea looked down at a beautiful flower where once there had been nothing but dirt. Finally, the Green's chosen stopped in a ring of trees.
"This will do," he said, raising his hands.
Small roots extended from his finger tips, latching onto the trees around him. The grass grew at his feet, flowers and vines sweeping past the heroes. Swamp Thing tilted his head back and closed his eyes.
"There are many old places, old trees, they have seen many a thing, yes," Swamp Thing mused. "Before, protectors, those time forgot had taken the book and torn it apart, spreading the pages to different corners of the world."
"Where were they taken Holland?" Constantine asked.
"To places you will need to comb heaven and Earth to find, old magic is trying to severe my connection," Swamp Thing grit his teeth together, his arms shaking as the roots around him snapped. "A place of women, hidden by old gods. A house of mystery, constantly shifting and...and, the TOWER!" Swamp Thing yelled.
He pulled his arms away from the trees, the ground splitting around him. Swamp Thing stomped towards the heroes, making them move aside.
"You may find the pieces of the book, but bringing them back together is another issue. And no matter how strong your will, you will not stop Onyx with it, he has transcended its power now," Swamp Thing began walking back into the water.
"Thank you Holland," Constantine said.
He lit another cigarette and put it to his mouth.
"Was that really Alec Holland, or just a creature that thinks it is?" Lyla asked.
"Despite what he says, he's still Alec Holland in every way that counts!"
Central City
Frost ran through the streets, checking the places where Flash had fought some of his deadliest battles. Even the places where they just hung out as friends, Jitters, the CCPD building. She went to the Karaoke bar where she first heard him sing.
"I never realised until then how amazing his voice was," Caitlyn said within Frost's mind.
"Well he was in the glee club, don't tell me that was when you fell for him," Frost huffed.
"You know when I fell for him, it was the same time you did!"
"When he took his shirt off? hmmm," Frost hummed.
"No!"
"Yeah, I know when it happened and why, why wouldn't it?"
"And now we're losing him."
"Not yet Caitlin, not yet," Frost said.
She found him at the cemetery, knelt by the graves of his parents. But when she reached out to touch him, he disappeared, an afterimage. The spark of electricity lingered over the graves of Nora and Henry Allen. Frost gripped her head for a moment as a static shock stung her forehead. Everything turned white before she emerged in a house.
"Happy birthday dear Barry, happy birthday to you!"
There was a cheer, and the sound of candles being blown. Frost walked into the living area, seeing Barry at a table, a cake in front of him. Standing over him were his parents.
"It seems we have a visitor," Nora said, smiling over at Frost.
Barry remained focused on the cake as his father sliced off a piece.
"Twenty fifth cake, it would have been nice to have reached all the way kid, but..." the man licked the icing off of his fingers, placing the knife on the table and gripping Barry's shoulder. "It's time to go back, you know you can't stay son!"
"But I want to, this place, its better, there's no pain."
"Who would you have been without your pain Barry?" Frost asked.
"She's right son, Flashpoint didn't show you everything you could have been, yes you were brilliant, you're always brilliant son," Henry said.
"But you could have never have become the hero you are today unless you experienced that pain of losing us. You never would have met Cisco, you never would have been that person in his life who gave him hope, who taught him to be a hero. And you never would have met her Barry," Nora nodded to Frost.
"Them honey, them, Frost became who she is now because of who Caitlyn became because of you. Life isn't a painless experience kid, you know that, what Onyx did to you, it's up to you to turn that into a drive, the same way we became a drive for you," Henry explained.
"It's time to take that pain, and move forward Barry," Nora walked away from her son.
"No, don't leave me alone please," Barry cried.
"You are not alone son, you never were," Henry smiled as he joined his wife.
They walked past Frost, and the world went white again. She was back in the cemetery, looking down at the graves of Barry's parents.
"Thank you," Caitlyn whispered, as she took control.
Central City underground
Oliver and Diggle walked behind Nash, the man looking at his wrist scanner. As they walked, John noticed the way Oliver rubbed his hands. He had seen army friend's conceal their pain in such a way. Though Oliver had never served in the military, he had all the mannerisms of a vet. Pain and suffering wasn't exclusive to those whom had been through war, Oliver had endured his own hell. Now he had another hell to add to it, and John wished he could do more for the man he considered a brother.
"Did you ask the Docs for anything?" he silently asked him.
"I need a clear head John, I can't have anything putting me off. Besides, I've learned to work through pain," Oliver said.
"But it's more than just your hands Oliver," John retorted.
"How far?" Oliver asked Nash.
Clearly he was changing the subject, the explorer from an Unknown Earth walked towards the wall he had unlocked. The wall that led to a Nexus prison that released the Anti-Monitor.
"I was able to convert my Anti-Matter scanner into a positive matter scanner, Mar Novu is a being of raw matter, results you'd get from him would be far different from ours, older, more intense. It seems Moebius's prison became his," he began to type in the codes to the doorway and John put a hand to his pistol as he did.
"Get ready," Oliver said.
The symbols glowed, and the doorway opened. A great light was released, enveloping the three men. John shielded his eyes, but Oliver kept on looking ahead. His eyes narrowed into a glare, his heart rate increasing, the anger taking a hold of him. Through the light he saw the demons he fought on Earth 38, saw the hell his soul was sent to, saw the battle with Onyx on Maltus. John's eyesight clear and he saw Oliver's face, saw the anger across it, the kind of anger he'd bear against people like Malcolm Merlyn and Damien Darhk. Oliver kept on seeing the images, seeing Onyx holding his youngest child, see the baby wiped out in flames and the woman she would become erased. He saw his son, a boy he was so proud of, and the man he would become fade. Then the woman he loved ripped apart.
"Oh god," Oliver said.
His hands shook as he brought them to his mouth, the bile gathering. He felt sick but couldn't vomit, an unbearable fear and regret he had not felt since Lian Yu welled within him. Not since those days had he felt so helpless. He was that Oliver Queen again, the ignorant boy afraid of everything that was around him.
"Oliver," John said, catching his friend as he fell forward.
"What's going on?" Nash asked.
"He's having a panic attack."
Star Labs
"What do we know so far?" Ray asked from his work station.
"Caitlyn was able to get a sample of Barry's blood," Lyn said.
"What did it show?" Cisco asked.
"Nothing, nothing that was different about Mr Allen's condition since his last medical check up," Eliza said.
"So this 'taking' process of Onyx's may not be biological in nature, perhaps psychosomatic?" Stein proposed.
The scientists stood in the speed lab, footage of the battle between the heroes and Onyx being streamed through a screen Cisco and Luke set up. Curtis lowered his head when he watched Rene and Dinah being taken. The others looked at him in sympathy, and admiration when he rewound the footage and slowed it down.
"Focus, look at what's happening, they seem to be consumed by energy, yet no actual physical change is taking place," he said.
"Not true, Sara never had a sonic scream before," Cisco flipped to footage of Laurel and Sara.
They knocked one another back with a sonic scream before exchanged blows. Laurel blocked strikes from Sara's staff, tripping her, and then using a sonic scream to deflect Sara's.
"Unless the sonic scream is being produced by the energy field itself, rewind and slow it down to a crawl," Ray suggested, hand on his chin as he focused on the battle.
He saw Sara on the floor, saw the field around her, saw her open her mouth. There was a ripple, and then a wave that clashed with a similar result when Laurel screamed.
"Perhaps the results are different depending on each person taken," Stein said.
"Let's watch the process again," Curtis again rewound to the moment Rene and Dinah were taken.
Each scientist paid attention to the agony that Rene and Dinah went through. But even through that Curtis persisted, watching the field engulf his friends again and again.
"There is something there, there is something there," he muttered.
"Perhaps we should take a break, we don't want to burn ourselves out," Eliza said.
"Maybe we're looking at this from the wrong angle altogether, this is a matter of the soul as farfetched as it sounds, I've come to learn that there is more to the universe than the laws of physical science," Stein explained.
"Never thought I'd hear that from you Gray," Jax said, standing at the doorway.
"Are you all right?" Lyn asked Eliza.
"I should be asking you the same thing, it's more than just my daughters out there," she said.
"I know, but Mon-El," Lyn rubbed Eliza's shoulder as the woman rubbed her eyes.
"It's Kara I'm worried about, he was everything to her," Eliza said, looking to the screen at the battle between Superman and Onyx, knowing that at that moment her adopted daughter was losing the man she loved.
It was happening again, all over again, the day she had to send him away. Only this time, there was nothing she could do. Kara held Mon-El in her arms, cradling him close.
"Please no," she whispered.
Mon-El touched Kara's cheek, all of the love he could muster in his eyes.
"Kara," he said weakly.
"Please," she sobbed.
"You made me...
"Don't you dare, you were always good, always," she said.
"Forever and..." he paled and his head drifted back and forth.
"Forever and always, forever and always," Kara said, kissing his forehead.
He became still, blood leaking from the corner of his mouth. Kara held him tightly, no longer Supergirl, just a woman mourning what she had lost. Even through the shockwaves of battle she mourned, having lost what mattered to her the most. Onyx and Superman slammed into the ground both trying to punch one another. Superman flew to the side and elbowed the side of Onyx's face. Onyx attempted to grab Superman, but the Kryptonian swerved and drove his knee into Onyx's gut, moving like a train and crashing through the adjacent building. There was a blast of red and black energy, and Superman was thrown back. Onyx jumped towards Superman, pulling his fist back.
But when Onyx threw his fist forward, someone caught it. He looked to his right and saw Kara, her teeth grit together, holding back his fist away from Superman. She held Onyx in midair, eyes glowing blue, seething in pure fury. Suddenly, the beams came out of her eyes, turning her tears to steam. The beams hit Onyx's exposed eye and Clark smelt the flesh of the man burning. Supergirl's eye beams ripped through Onyx's head and onto the streets below. Kara threw Onyx's body to the floor, hovering down towards it.
"Kara," Clark said.
"Don't Kal, just don't, there's no redemption here..."
"Kara," Clark touched her cheek and then drew her into a hug. "I understand, I understand!"
She closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around him.
"It isn't fair," she said.
"I know, I'm going to miss him too Kara," Clark said.
Suddenly, a shadow lingered over them. Kara looked over her shoulder, there stood Onyx. Dark energy gushed out of the hole she had put in his head. Supergirl quickly threw Superman across the street, screaming as Onyx took hold of the side of her head.
"What was it you once told Imra? Oh yes, 'you don't get to pick and choose when your ideals matter to you, you either live by them or you don't,' good words, beautiful words. But in the end, you turned out to be a hypocrite, just like the whole lot of you, NONE OF YOU ARE EMBODIMENTS!" Onyx roared.
"KARA!" Eliza yelled.
"NO!" Alex screamed.
Clark flew out of the building, yelling as he flew at Kara and Onyx. But he was too late, the former Paragon of hope was taken, her eyes shooting a white blast that pushed Clark back. Onyx twisted his head back, shadow demons flying out of the hole in it. They flew through the streets, taking people, spreading the darkness Onyx had brought to this New Earth. Yet still, heroes persisted.
Central City
Caitlyn walked to the one place she suspected Barry would be. The house where his life was ruined, where he imagined a happier life. Walking through the front door, Caitlyn's world turned white. The house was cleaner, lighter, pictures of a happy family life filled the halls. Children laughing reached Caitlyn's ears and she walked towards the living room. Her face fell when she saw Barry sitting on the sofa, a brown haired boy on his lap. A girl was standing on the sofa beside Barry, leaning against his shoulder. Iris was kissing Barry's head, Nora beside her.
"My turn, my turn," the girl said, tugging Barry's ear.
"Oh you'll get this too Dawn, come here you," Barry pulled the girl back first onto his lap and began tickling her stomach as he had the boy's.
"This is what you wanted isn't it, wanted with her? This is the light that you needed," Caitlyn said.
She turned away.
"Maybe, this is better for you."
"It's a beautiful dream," Iris said.
"A possible future, a future that somewhere out there came true," Nora said.
"But it isn't the future of this world," Dawn laughed.
"Sometimes you need to embrace the reality that is in front of you," the boy said.
"Please remember," Caitlyn whispered.
"Remember Barry," Iris said.
"Remember dad," said Nora.
"I don't, I don't want to forget, oh god, I don't want to forget," Barry said, tears falling down his face.
Iris and the younger children joined hands, walking to where Caitlyn stood.
"Take care of him," Iris said.
Nora waved at her father, before she ran away. Barry remained sitting, and the world grew darker, it returned to its normal state. The dust stung Caitlyn's nostrils, the floorboards creaked underneath her. She walked towards Barry, looking down at him.
"I wanted to convince myself that he was wrong, that Onyx was just twisting half truths, that what there was between me and Iris was real," he explained.
"It was, he can't ruin that, relationships aren't perfect Barry and Iris wasn't perfect. You're not perfect, and I'm not perfect," Caitlyn knelt in front of Barry, taking his hand.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I wanted to hold on to the old world so much, I wanted to hold on to Iris so much. It was like mourning again, but worse, I tried to deny what there was between us...what grew between us, and I'm sorry Caitlyn, it must have hurt you," he stood up, holding her hands.
"Barry, what do you want?"
"I want to protect the world, I want to move forward, I want to remember how things are not how I used to imagine they should be," he closed his eyes and the energy around him crackled, both the speed force and the taken energy he had been infected with. "I remember losing Iris, the pain, knowing what shutting down would do to the world, comforting Joe and Wally, carrying on as the Flash. I remember, never blaming you Caitlyn, never ever blaming you. You were lost and I had failed to be your friend, I tried to save one person and not everyone."
"The most important person," Caitlyn said.
"You were all supposed to be important, all of you, because I was nothing without you. I remember the days we worked together, you, me and 'Wells' I loved the simplicity of those days. I remember what happened when we moved forward, me helping you with Frost, helping you find your father, you continuing to help men and when we realised..." Barry touched her cheek.
"That even more than Cisco, even more than Joe, at the time, we understood one another the most because we had both lost the people we loved more than anything. Ronnie, Iris, and we never blamed each other, even though we blamed ourselves," he explained.
"We did Barry, and we found each other," Caitlyn said.
She moved her hands to the side of his face as he placed his hands on her hips.
"I feel broken, I'm no good," he said.
"You were always good enough for me Barry, I'm here, I'm right here," she suddenly kissed him.
The yellow lightning crackled around Barry and he widened his eyes.
Then
"Hey Cait," Barry walked into Caitlyn's lab, catching her attention.
"Hey Barry, that last one was tough wasn't he?" she asked.
"Well the Ten eyed man is back in prison where he belongs," Barry grinned.
"We really need to work on the name," Cisco called out from the computer.
"Anyway Caitlyn I was..." Barry paused, taking a deep breath and nervously rubbing the back of his head.
"What is it Barry?" she asked.
"I was wondering, if you wanted to maybe go out tonight, or maybe tomorrow?" Barry asked.
"Isn't that what we usually do?"
"I mean, just the two of us!"
"Oh," Caitlyn said, taken aback.
"Well if you don't want to..."
"No, no, I mean yes, I would love to," Caitlyn said.
"You don't have to say that, I won't feel bad."
"No I want to."
"If you're uncomfortable with it!"
"Why are you?"
"No I want to, I want you to want to...I mean only if you want to."
Cisco looked between his two friends in confusion.
"I want to Barry, I'd like it very much, how about coffee at Jitters tomorrow?" she asked.
"That's great, how about two o'clock?" Barry asked.
"That's perfect, I'll um, meet you there?"
"Yes, yeah, well, see you then," Barry rubbed his hands together, smiling with Caitlyn as he walked away.
Cisco turned back to his work station, shaking his head.
"That wasn't at all awkward," he said.
He remembered, remembered one date after another. Remembered the initial hesitation, remembered suddenly kissing her during a medical check up. The way she froze at first before slowly caressing his lips with hers. He remembered the first patrol they had, his concern for her and Frost. The second time Frost kissed him, celebrating the defeat of a Metahuman.
"We're separate people, but one body Barry," Caitlyn said before she turned into Frost and pulled him into a furious kiss. "And we both love you more than anything!"
A dinner date, a walk in the park together, fighting criminals, making peace with her mother visiting Iris's grave. Spending the night together, Frost slyly pushing him onto the floor of the lab, that awkward moment when Cisco found them. Cisco hugging them with congratulations, the fear when they approached Joe. The joy when Joe tearfully hugged them.
He remembered it all, and felt the great flood of emotions.
Now
Caitlyn slowly pulled her lips away from Barry, his eyes blissfully closed.
"I love you," he said before she could speak. "I love you both, and I need you both, because I can't do this, I can't fight or think. Something's wrong with me!"
He put his hand to his chest, again the white and black energy flashed in his eyes. Caitlyn gripped the back of his head with one hand and his hip with the other.
"I'm always here Barry, I will always help you, and I won't ever stop," there was determination in her eyes as she spoke.
Her eyes, hair and lips changed, the Frost persona joining with Caitlyn, both acting as one. Her blue lips crashed into his, cold steam emanating from her as the yellow lightning surged around him. Barry closed his eyes, wrapping his arms around her hips, losing himself in the perfect kiss. He ran a hand through her hair, tears coming out of one of her eyes as she smiled between the lip contact. The yellow lightning slowly turned blue, both pouring all their passion into the embrace. Both turned into raw energy, and in reverse the lightning rose up to the sky and boomed.
The lovers disappeared in a flash.
Earth 96
Jason walked away from the Metro-University campus. It had been days since the disappearance of his father. He couldn't concentrate on his course work, barely paid attention during lectures. When he got to an alleyway, he removed his glasses and jumped. Only, unlike any ordinary human, he leapt the height of the building with a single effort. Landing on the rooftop, he dropped the glasses and sat on the edge of the roof. His father encouraged him to use the disguise, to act normal. Or at least plain, he said that one day the disguise would serve him well.
But he wasn't Superman.
He couldn't fly, couldn't shoot beams from his eyes. He wasn't even a full Kryptonian. Jason looked down at the people on the streets as they pointed up. Not at him, at something else. He looked up and saw the great cloud of darkness. A great machine that turned a sunny Metropolis day, into a rain of hellfire and dark lightning.
"Dad," he whispered.
But there was no Superman to save this Earth. Narrowing his eyes in determination, Jason Kent gathered his strength and jumped, straight towards the machine.
A blue light surrounded him and he disappeared.
Next Hour 4: Gathering
Hope everyone enjoyed the chapter, didn't want to just make this a 'sweep Iris aside' chapter or story, Barry mourned for her.
This episode of course featured the return of Jessica De Gouw as Helena Bertinelli/Huntress.
Also guest cameos:
The cast of DC Universe's Titans and Doom Patrol shows.
Derek Mears, reprising his role from the Swamp Thing series.
Dina Meyers reprising her role as Barbara Gordon/Oracle from the Birds of Prey.
Brec Bassinger takes on the role of Stargirl based upon the upcoming TV series.
Tristan Lake Leabu reprises his role as Jason White/(SPOILERS)Kent from Superman Returns.
Next time, yes its a treasure hunt episode (an overused plot in TV Shows and comics? Yes, but hopefully you guys like this one).
