Legends of the Flash #8

[Dark Knight of Steel]

Legends of the Flash #8
On the Run

Writer: Nikolai Peter Fomich
Editor: Daniel Dyer

Even as the chaos dies down around Barry, he can still feel his heart thunder with dread. Keith Kenyon, famed businessman inventor of questionable character, had just been murdered. Murdered with speed known only to one man. Barry Allen. The Flash.

“Move it along, people! Curtis, get these people the hell out of here- I mean now!” Captain Daryl Frye had arrived within minutes after the high-profile public killing of Kenyon, giving orders to just about everyone in sight.

“It’s the Flash, Captain! I thought he was misguided, but this shows- he’s no better than Captain Cold!”

“Senator Phillips, you’ll have to step back. This is police business now.”

“Oh, trust me, I know! But it’s my business now too.” As he exits the building with Fiona Webb and the rest of his staff in toll, he gives a last look back. It is a look that makes Barry shudder. That’s it then. I’m finished.

“Allen, get over here now! I want the entire scene looked over through and through- I want every piece of lint categorized!”

Crossing over the police line toward the body, Barry feels slight remorse for the man. Sure, some people deserve to die. Kenyon had probably done something to warrant it. But that’s for the courts to decide. Looking at the anomaly of a neck so twisted it had rotated 180 degrees, Barry feels the rug beneath the podium that Kenyon had been standing, where he had almost revealed Barry’s true identity to the world. The rug was still warm. Whoever had done this had been extremely fast about it- and thinking about such speed changes the character of Barry’s face to that of a grimace. As his mind sets upon the culprit, Barry realizes that Professor Thawne will be a force to be reckoned with.

* * *

[Dark Knight of Steel]

Inside the hospital, Dr. Claiborne is more than mildly surprised to see Barry Allen in the hospital at such an hour. “Mr. Allen? Excuse me, Barry? Are you here to see Professor West?”

With less of a smile then usual, Barry turns to face her as though surprised to find her there. “No, not this time, Doctor. I came to check on Professor Thawne.”

Color departs from Dr. Claiborne’s face. “I’m sorry,” she says. “But Professor Thawne has disappeared. We reported this to the police two days ago. I assumed you would have-”

“It’s alright, Doctor. I wasn’t really expecting him to be here anyway.”

Taking her glasses off for a moment, uncomfortable at the unexpected visit from the usually amiable Barry Allen, her unease only increases when she realizes he has left the room without a sound.

* * *

[Dark Knight of Steel]

"Patty, I need these analyzed ASAP.” Giving his assistant the fibers found at the scene, Barry is already immersed in other work before she can give her usual aloof reply. Checking the reports he had received back from his various CSI co-workers, Barry finds nothing of use. He had been at this for two days straight, and Iris was starting to worry. Sighing, he knows where his next stop is, though it was one he had not wanted to make.

* * *

[Dark Knight of Steel]

The house of Albert Desmond had been left in much the same condition when it had a resident living there. Other then a few books from Desmond’s prized library- and the freakish laboratory in the basement- everything remained. Even his clothes. Searching the one-story house several times within five minutes, Barry eventually stumbles upon half-finished papers, remnants from Desmond’s secret work with Thawne. Reviewing them, Barry finds several other earlier experiments, scraped in favor of his life work- the Speed Force Theory. Or ‘Reality’, I should say. Some of the work jumps out at him as just plain bizarre, some genuinely genius. But nothing that could help him locate Thawne now, and stop him before he does more harm. Damn.

* * *

[Dark Knight of Steel]

Barry Allen will suffer. Such are the thoughts of Professor Thawne, as he stands alone, atop of a building looking at a distant city. His mind broken, the unconventional thoughts which once made him a genius in the field of science, turn their attention toward more wicked ideas.

***

[Dark Knight of Steel]

"...a public menace, and must be stopped! As your senator, I cannot sit idly by while this costumed murderer is on the streets. The first killing was one to protect his identity, this much we do know. But now that he has shown what he is capable of, we now know that the Flash cannot be trusted. I encourage you and your families to report any suspicions you may have to Captain Frye of the CCPD- the Flash must be captured before anyone else gets hurt, or worse. I urge you, however, not to panic. We will handle this criminal, as we have all criminals in this city. With swift, and undeniable justice.”

Turning up the volume of the T.V., Ralph Dibny shakes his head. “This is bad Barry. I don’t know what the hell is going on. I thought the Flash was a good guy- and there could still be another explanation- but man. I mean, they’ve got it on tape- a blur anyway.”

Moving his hand over the back of his hair, Barry feels the sudden need to be with Iris. Luckily, he was meeting her for a late dinner in twenty minutes. Suddenly, a glance at the T.V. proves this need of his unable to be fulfilled.

“…repeat, Central City Jail is under attack by the man known as Mirror Master. It appears he is making his way toward the jail cell of his former partner in crime, Leonard Snart, otherwise know as…”

* * *

[Dark Knight of Steel]

"Hahahahaha! You lousy cops! Don’t you know the game is up when the Mirror Master comes’a calling?”

Knocking out two cops as he transports through his mirror technology, Sam Scudder is reminded of the gangster movies from his youth. The thrill of the chase. The unmatchable joy after a job was completed. This was no ordinary job, though. When they had begun their ‘team-up’, Mirror Master and Captain Cold had promised each other that they would each rescue the other if ever captured. Honor among thieves, and all that. Besides, we’d have a much better chance against the Flash together. He could have been in and out of the prison, with Captain Cold in toe. But Scudder could not help himself- he still needed to have some fun. Tiring of his game with the police officer, Mirror Master finally decides to make his way toward his partner’s jail cell. The streak of red that arrives in front of him sours Mirror Master’s jovial mood.

“Oh sh-“ The red fists come at him with alarming accuracy. Pulling immediately into the reflection of a computer screen, he is unable to make the full jump as the Flash ruins his escape, pulling him out by his collar. The last thing Sam Scudder remembers is a bright flash coming directly toward his face.

* * *

[Dark Knight of Steel]

Well, that’s one problem taken care of, at least. Mirror Master had been subdued with relative ease, compared to the previous battles the Flash had with him. Maybe this time, with both him and Snart in jail, they’ll stay there. Looking down at his unconscious foe, the Flash removes the teleportation gun with the gentle handle of a technician. Part of Barry wants to destroy the device, the rational, responsible part of him. But another part stops himself momentarily; he is, after all, a scientist. Before he can bring himself to break apart the small, deadly machine, several Central City Police Officers barge in, guns raised. “Freeze!” one says. Looking into the face of his friend, Detective Fred Chyre, Barry drops the gun, and is gone in a flash.

* * *

[Dark Knight of Steel]

Where is he? It had been fifteen minutes, and though Barry had often been late before, she felt the need to be with him. She had seen the look in his eyes the day Keith Kenyon had been killed. Barry needed her support more than ever now. Sighing, Iris just chalks it up to his work, and is sure that he will arrive within the hour. Sitting down on the bench outside their favorite café, she feels foolish to have worried. I’ll see him soon. A cold hand places itself upon her shoulder. Turning around, Iris comes face to face with a man in a yellow mask, with crazed eyes. Again she thinks of Barry. But this time, she wonders if she will ever see him again.

To be continued...