Ultimate Flash #1: Theories and Trials.

[jay]

Ultimate Flash: Issue #1

"Theories and Trials"

[/color]

“This makes no sense.”

“Why the hell are they here?”

The sentiments of the two police officers from different cities was a microcosm of how the entire room felt about the situation. Inside of the Central City Police Academy sat around about two hundred members of the Central City Police Department and roughly the same number of the Keystone City Police Department. They were not happy about this at all. It had been roughly two weeks since the heist on the Twin City Bridge. Both departments were made to look like a laughing stock by the press and the communities at large. Citizens in both cities were calling for major changes to occur with both police forces. It got to the point where each department was blaming the other city for the screw up. Tempers were flaring by the time this meeting had been called. One of the officers from the Keystone City police started to leave.

“Screw this. I got cases to work on instead of sitting in a gym all day.”

“Sit down officer.” A man in a gray suit said walking into the room. He looked to be in his late thirties, slight graying temples around his brown short hair. He wore a pair of thick black glasses. He walked to the middle of the gym where most of the cops were sitting around on steel folding chairs.“Sorry I'm late ladies and gentlemen, but I assure you it was well worth the time and effort to drag you away from your busy schedules today.”

“And who are you?”

“Special Agent Derrick Quinn. I work with the F.B.I. in the division of...”

“This isn't a federal matter.” said one of the detectives from Central City. “You got no jurisdiction here. This happened within the city limits...”

“The robbery also happened on the border between two states. Both state governments agreed that a special task force needed to be made. Congratulations. You are the only ones who made the cut. Everyone else in your police departments are all tied up in this mess. For the past two years these “Rogues” as you call them have been running both Keystone and Central City's perspective underworlds. These guys have a lot of money and it goes all the way to top. The only decent cops seem to be all of you. I aim to make sure that you all finally get the chance to help take these guys down once and for all. You are all going to be reassigned with each other. All of your cases are going to be handed over to other officers. The Defense Department has put a lot of pressure on Washington to get some results which is why I am here.”

A snort of laughter started throughout the room. Finally one of the younger officers stood up. He looked like the model poster boy for any police force. Pristine uniform, short hair cut, and clean shaven.

“So you want us to give up what we've been working on to basically get harassed or killed.”

“What do you mean officer?”

“Look. I know you federal guys seem to have it in your heads that this is just gonna be plain and simple. You're right about the corruption. I've seen reports go missing. Evidence disappearing. Raids going off without a hitch and then some paperwork didn't show up when it was suppose to so we had to let the evidence go. I'm not putting my neck out just because your boss is on to you to get this done. Sorry. I got a wife and three kids and I am not going to add more risk to my life when these people will go through them to get to me.”

“What's your name officer?”

“Terry Daniels.”

“Officer Daniels. I'm asking you to do your duty.”

“And I'm asking to you to think about what you are doing before you start this.” Everyone in the room looked at this young man. “I've lived in Central City for a long time pal. These guys are professional criminals. They got a code of conduct they enforce throughout the city. All you guys want is that weapon they stole back. After you get it whose responsible for rounding them up? Us. Whose going to feel the wrath of these guys? Us.”

“So why don't you just quit being a cop then.” said an older police officer as he stood up. The man looked to be in his early fifties. He had a strict military haircut, a scowl on his face, and a slight scar over his right eye. His ice blue eyes stood out against his salt and pepper hair. Black jacket, red t-shirt, blue jeans, and black boots were his attire. “You all got your asses handed to you a month ago and none of you want to pay these guys back? Hmph. Some group of cops. It's disgraceful.”

“Some of us don't have anything to lose like you Detective Allen.” chimed in another police officer from Keystone City. Henry Allen turned and glared at the officer who spoke out.

“You know. I never thought I'd say this. I'm embarrassed to be a police officer. I've been doing this gig since I was seventeen. I've seen criminals come and go, but this is different. I know your scared. Hell. I was on the bridge when the robbery happened. These guys have got some high tech weaponry. They work well as a team. Their good. We're better. You got to ask yourself. Do you want Central and Keystone City to be a place you want to live. Because if the answer is yes then these punks have to go and they have to go now. The job is to serve and protect. I suggest we start doing it.” He turns to the agent. “I'm in. If you'll have me.”

Agent Quinn smiled as a murmur of activity starts within the group of cops either agreeing with Detective Allen or not. He nods his head.

“I'd be honored sir.”

__________

Professor Barry Allen sighed. It had been two, maybe three days and he still hadn't made progress on his new therom. He scratched his slightly unkempt blonde hair as he keep looking at the problem in front of him. His blonde stubble starting to show signs of a poorly done beard and his eyes screamed for sleep. A green “Sentinel” t-shirt, blue jeans, and black converse sneakers stuck to him. Normally most twenty one year olds would not be trying to solve a complex equation like this, but Barry was a former child prodigy. He had graduated high school at age 12, completed his undergrad by age sixteen, and became a doctor in the fields of physics, genetics, and biology before he turned eighteen. This however had him stumped. Barry, as usual, had a theory. The theory was that the “god particle” that had been discovered recently was actually held in place by a force that affects all of reality. His theory also had a basis in time theory, but that was the part that was confusing Barry. Barry was so engrossed in his work he didn't even hear the security door to the lab open.

“Phew! Hey Professor. How about you solve the mystery of the shower.”

Barry turned to see his roommate and best friend Ralph Dibny comes into the lab. Ralph was the same age as Barry, but not as accomplished. Ralph was a junior at Central City University where Barry taught at. Ralph was Barry's only friend from the old neighborhood who didn't think he was some kind of freak. “The weird Allen kid” always was up for taking a study break to listen to Ralph go on about comic books and superheroes. Ralph started rooming with Barry once he got into college. Ralph was majoring in Criminology and a minor in, of all things, Eastern Medicine. The red headed tall man walked in carrying a pizza and a two liter of Diet Soder cola. He looked around the lab and sighed.
For the past few years, on top of his own studies, Ralph had been helping to take care of Barry. The guy was smart, but couldn't remember what day it was when he got thrown into his work.

“Oh sweet. Meatlovers?” Barry asked as Ralph just looked at him.

“Barry. What day is it?”

“Um. I don't really know.” Barry says taking the pizza from Ralph and pulling out a slice. Ralph walked over to one of the cabinets in the lab and pulled out some disposable plastic cups. “It's not D&D night is it?”

“No. You got your lecture tonight.” Ralph says pouring some of the soda in a cup for Barry. “Did you at least refill the ice tray in the fridge?”

“I have an ice tray. Wait. What lecture? I don't do lectures anymore.”

“You remember that guy you work for. You know your department head that told you to take the semester off from your classes you had to do a lecture series. Four over the course of the year. It's tonight.”

“We're gonna have to cancel then.” Barry says grabbing the cup of hot soda and chugging it down with the pizza slice he just engulfed. He belches for a moment as he goes back to his white board. “I've almost got this.”

“You wanna lose your job man you go right ahead. Just don't say I didn't want you when you are on your way to the employment gas chamber.” Ralph said getting ice from the fridge for his drink. He sighs. He was all dressed up all ready in a purple suit, black button up shirt, white tie, and the most awesome pair of purple dress shoes he could find.

“Chamber. Chambers. Ralph you are a genius!” Barry says turning around to his friend. He rushes over and grabs his laptop and starts typing frantically. “Yes! Got it!”

Ralph got up to look at what Barry was babbling on about. On the white board was a bunch of scientific equations that Ralph didn't recognize. The one Barry was drawing out though caught his interest.

3X2(9YZ)4A

“That's great Barry. What the hell is it?”

“This is Johnny Chambers mathematical theory about the speed of the universe. It's a theory that basically shows you why you are where you are in the world by measuring all the variables of speed and light hitting you at that exact second.”

“And that means in standard dumb downed Ralph talk as?”

“It means Ralphy boy. That formula, if correct, proves that you are standing right here next to me at this moment in time.”

“So it's proving that I can stand still while you go on about theories about physics. Remind me to ask you what the one that keeps me awake your rambling is sometime.”

“Ralph. With this I can prove that the force that controls the god particle might actually exist. This helps with my temporal theory I've been working on!” Barry said almost hopping up and down with excitement at the possibilities of what could be done with this theory. “I need to start running the math.”

Ralph grabbed Barry and started pulling him to the door.

“Ralph! What the hell man.”

“You. Shower. Shave. Lecture. Possible celebratory beer. Then math. If you do math now I won't see you until you look like Grizzly Adams. Now come on. We got shit to do.”

__________

Lecture Tonight: Dr. Barry Allen
“Metagenetics: A super step in evolution.”

Leonard Snart could think of fifty billion things he'd rather be doing right now than going to one of these Central City University lectures. He never really liked college when he attended here. It was always a boring pain in the ass, but then he met Barry Allen. The only reason he was here tonight. Barry had helped Leonard discover so many wonderful applications for science. If it weren't for Barry he wouldn't have his cold gun or half of the other “Rogues” equipment. It was actually sort of funny if you thought about it. Barry had turned down positions at S.T.A.R. Labs and working with the government because he didn't want his work being used for military uses. The irony of the situation was probably the only thing that could make Snart smile right now.

“Leo!”

Snart turned around. A man about his age walked up to him wearing a black suit and tie. He kept his long auburn hair in a ponytail and was clean shaven. His green eyes full of joy and his white teeth smiling. It was Hartley Rathaway. Leo smiled and hugged his friend.

“Good to see you Hart. Howse the ears?”

“Great. I see you and I are still using the same tailor.” Hartley said motioning to the suit Leo was wearing. Leo rolled his eyes. Hartley laughed. Getting Leonard to wear a suit outside of work was a chore and a pain in the ass for anyone who had to inform him that he had to wear one.

“One of these days I'm going to show up to one of these things dressed like a Hell's Angel. Maybe then they'll quit asking me for money.”

“Haha. Always with a charming sense of humor Leo.”

“So you seen the golden boy yet?”

“Barry? Nah. I haven't seen him for a few months since my last checkup. He helped me fix a odd whine I kept hearing in my hearing aids.”

Hartley was born deaf, but not in the classic sense of the term. Hartley's ears worked perfectly fine, but they couldn't perceive normal frequencies. All Hartley heard until he was in his late teenage years was what he called “music.” Hartley had seen every medical doctor and hearing specialist in the country to figure out what the problem was. Finally Barry took a look at the problem and found out it was the frequency problem. Ever since then Barry had been working with Hartley's doctors to create microscopic hearing aids that allowed Hartley to hear. The procedures had almost bankrupted Hartley's family, but they had slowly been making a recovery. Leonard wondered for a moment what Hartley would say if he found out he had played a part in stealing his families latest invention.

“Whine? I thought you quit hearing that weird stuff in your head.”

“I did to. Every once in a while I'll bang my head on something or my ears will pop and I'll have to get an adjustment. It's not the worst thing in the world. I mean when you look at all the problems going on in the city...”

“Have the police figured out anything in the case yet?”

“Oh. Um. Not really sure. No sign at all of “The Rogues” other than a sighting here and there around Keystone. I really haven't been keeping up with it.”

“Howse your dad?”

“He's doing well with it. He's trying to work on a way to track the Disruptor.”

“Really? How?”

“I have no idea man. You know me. Science isn't really my gig like you and Barry. Speaking of which I think the lecture is starting.”
Both men headed to the auditorium.

__________

Barry Allen was out of his comfort zone speaking to anyone who wasn't a friend or a student. This lecture hall was packed with people trying to hear his thoughts on metagenetics. He was trying really hard not to sweat to much under the lights in his suit and tie. He borrowed the outfit from Ralph. The pictures for this lecture were going to look great with his cheap yellow tie, white shirt, and black suit.

“So, as we can see here on the diagram. Metahumans are not something we should really be fearful of. Sure their powers present a possible threat to us, but what their powers can teach us is an interesting step to our evolution. It's safe to assume that the increase of metahumans over the past few years shows a steady incline in this evolutionary step. With the knowledge we can learn from the metahumans of today we might be able to test, train, and learn many things from future metahumans as a result of just simply running some basic tests. Now I'm going to open the floor for questions.”

“Dr. Allen!”

“Yes sir.”

“There have been some claims over the years from some super powered criminals that their powers are “magic” in nature. What are your thoughts on this?”

“Well.” Barry says taking a sip of water from behind the podium.
“Unlike a lot of scientists I keep an open mind when it comes to things we don't understand as of yet. Magic could be a possibility I guess, but suppose someone who could wield this power has a genetic marker. And then we could find this marker with a simple blood test. Would it not be in our best interests then to, as I stated earlier, find a link between this power and our science. I hope that answered your question.”

“Dr. Allen!”

Barry looked out into the crowd and saw something...odd. He saw a woman, about his age, holding her hand up like she was desperately trying to get his attention. It wasn't one of his students. Maybe a freshman. Her dark red hair caught his eye first before he saw those green eyes. He shook out of it for a moment. The girl was wearing a Central City University t-shirt, slacks, and black shoes. He pointed to her and smiled.

“Yes. Miss?”

“Iris West. I'm a reporter for the CCU Chronicle. I'd like to know in your opinion would you consider “The Rogues” as part of this metahuman population?”

Leonard leaned forward in his seat interested to hear the response to this question.

“In all honesty I can't say a yes or a no. Could they be metahumans. It's not entirely impossible, but a lot of people also think they are some kind of high tech criminal gang. Until they are captured we're probably not going to get an answer. For all we know they're just a lot of really intelligent human beings.”

“So you're saying that super intelligence might not be a metagenetic trait?”

“Not at all. It's just really hard to figure out now since this is a new field of study.”

“So could you be a metahuman then Mr. Allen?”

A laugh starts throughout the auditorium. Barry smiles at the young lady and winks.

“Yes. In fact I happen to be Super Late-man. Ask my students if you don't believe me.” More laughter from the crowd. “I've had myself tested if that's what you are wanting to know Miss West. I have none of the genetic markers for any of the known metapowers that we have found. Does that mean later I could have one. Yes. The possibility of finding out if Albert Einstein or Jackie Robinson were carried the same markers as let's say The Sentinel or even Superman could very well be possible. Let's move on. You sir...”

__________

Barry finally returned to the lab that night. He sighed. He had reached his limit a while ago drinking with Ralph, Leonard, and Hartley. Big brain means huge hangover. He walked into the lab to pull out the cot. He wanted to get a fresh start tomorrow and if he stayed in his apartment with Ralph he'd be playing Halo until his head exploded. He stopped. There was something on one of the lab tables. It was a canister about eight inches tall and three inches across. It was clear. Barry looked at it curiously. There was a note next to it.

“Dr. Allen,

I hope you find this helpful to your current project. It's what you are looking for.

Sincerely,
J.G.”

“Who the hell is J...” The lab door opened. Barry looked over at it. No one was there and it shut back quickly. No one could get in without the code. Barry started to get paranoid. He rushed over to his work board. Everything seemed in order. He started fumbling around for his cellphone when the lights went out.

“Dr. Allen...”

“Whose there?”

“You're fifteen seconds late.”

“What?”

A hand came out of the darkness holding what looked like a wand. It fired a blast of electrical energy at Barry. It hit the canister and the contents exploded all over Barry. He was shot back from the force of the explosion. As he started to drift off into unconsciousness he could hear the sprinkler system going off. He looked up. The marker board was starting to get wet. All he could see was...

3X2(9YZ)4A

For a moment the world was a blur as Barry looked at himself. He was turning red where his skin had been exposed to the canister. The world started to spin. His life flashed before his eyes. Becoming a professor at CCU. Graduating early. Spending time with Ralph. The night he found out the truth from his parents. Playing ball with his dad. Watching a video of “The Sentinel”. Barry blinked for a moment and looked around. He was breathing hard. This place looked like the woods outside of Central City. He looked around. He couldn't recognize any of the area's landmarks.

“Where am I?”

“You are where you are suppose to be.” Barry turned to the voice and saw a man standing in the clearing. His features a little blurry for a moment until he stopped moving. He smiled at Barry. Barry looked at the man and the gears started to turn in his mind. The outfit. The man had on a silver mask with a helmet that looked like the god Mercury from classic paintings, a red long sleeve shirt with a yellow lightning bolt in the center of it, blue pants, and some stylized brown boots.

“Sir. You look familiar. Who are you?”

“They called me 'The Flash'. I've been expecting you Barry. You've found what you were looking for son. You found the force that links to everything in the universe. Welcome to The Speed Force.”

To be continued...