Written by Charlie Thomas
He woke up, he was in a dark cave, similar to Bruce’s, but it had lots of peculiar Bat-themed technology. “How did you get in?” asked a voice. Barry recognised it but wasn’t sure.
“I’ll ask you again,” the person repeated, “How did you get in?” The person walked closer. Barry used his powers to escape the bed he was strapped to. The man through something at him, in Flash-time, Barry realizes that it is a Bat-shaped dagger. The one that Bruce through at him. “I am Barry Allen, The Flash.” Barry says. The man isn’t familiar with the Flash and Barry asked the same question. “I’m Batman.” Said the man. “You’re not Batman, Bruce is.” Barry realizes who the man was. This is the man from the night of the Scarecrow. The other Batman, this was Bruce Wayne of the universe. Barry was in another universe. (Played by Michael Keaton.)
“I need some answers.” Barry said, “This might sound crazy, but I am from another universe.” “How do I believe you?” asked Bruce. “Listen, Mr Wayne, I need to get home and you might be my only hope. A machine beside them beeped green. “I Believe you.” “I studied multiverse existence and my lie detector is always correct.” Bruce said. “You can study that in this universe?” asked Barry. Bruce handed him a laptop, “Yes.” Bruce answered.
Barry searched a number of things, Bruce Wayne had been Batman for 40 years and it was the year 2025, there was no Wonder Woman, Super-Man died two decades ago and The Atom was not Ryan Choi but a man named Ray Palmer. Victor Stone (Cyborg) was a Football Player. However, no information on Shazam, but a couple of pages about Billy Batson (Shazam).
“Bruce, do you know anything about a Justice League?” asked Barry. “Well, The Justice Team were formed a few decades ago. I declined, but Super-Man, Super-girl Flash and a young man named Ray joined the team.” Bruce told Barry. Barry was confused. “A Flash?” He asked, “But I’m the Flash?” “You might be in your universe, but in this one, Jay Garrick was the Flash.”
In a second Barry was gone. He whizzed towards where he believed Billy lived and knocked on the door. An old woman answered looking angry. “What do you want, it’s six months until Halloween kid.” The woman said. “Is Billy here?” asked Barry. “You want Billy?” the woman said, “Sure.” Billy walked out and was confused. “Do you know of Shazam?” asked Flash. “Do you mean Adam?” Billy whispered. “If so, how do you know?” Flash was so confused. “Come with me.” he told Billy.
“Who is Adam?” Flash asked. “The Black Adam.” Billy stated. “In a battle with Super-Man, in an attempt to live again he forged his soul into this universe and into me. I know about what you said. But I am the Adam. Every time I say, SHAZAM!” He shouted. Smoke bursts from the building and he turned into the figure that Barry remembers fighting with. Except, his suit was Black. “I become this man.” “Who are you then?”
“I am from another universe, I don’t know how I got here but I need to get home, I need you and other people to help me get home.” “In my universe, you are Shazam, a hero, so maybe you could join my team. As the Red Adam.” Barry asked. Adam’s suit glowed Red, “Yes, I will.” he said as his suit glowed and the lack faded away, becoming more of a crimson colour.
Barry’s phone rang. He forgot about his phone. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” He told Billy. He checked his phone and shed a tear; his mother was phoning him. His predictions were right. His parents were still alive in a universe, and he was in it. He answered the call. “Are you alright Barry, it is quite late.” Nora Allen said over the phone. “I’m OK,” Barry said, “Amazing.” Nora replied.
Barry returned home to see his mother, who was dead in his universe, standing there. He walked towards the room, to see another person go to hug his mother. It was himself in this universe. He was perfect. He wasn’t the Flash. Barry hid and realized. Even in a universe with his parents alive, Flash still couldn’t be with them. A Paradox. A Flash Paradox.
He ran away from his house, scared, tired and lonely. He slept in the Batcave, but there were many sleepless nights. Batman, Red Adam and the Flash had tracked down where Ray Palmer worked and the next day, they went to Atom industries. They entered and walked over to the assistant.
“Do you know where Ray is?” Flash told the assistant at the front desk. “You can book with Ray on floor 5 for 6:30?” the assistant looked up and all of the heroes were going up the elevator. Ray’s office was messy, lots of different experiments and objects were growing in size.
“Can I help you?” He asked. Then he recognised Bruce. “Listen, I don’t want to be a hero anymore, it is just too dangerous.” He spoke. “Ray, with your time in the League, you showed off talent. I didn’t get to see that with you. Our friend, Barry, is from another universe and needs help. If you could develop something to get him home?” requested Bruce.
“Another Universe?” Ray was confused, he pulled out a tablet and noticed that Barry’s Atoms moved differently. “This is catastrophic, Barry, you need to get home.” Ray said, “If you our here too long, your particles could spread and a multiversal virus could come to this universe.” “I’ll Help.” He decided.
Ray pushed Barry into a chair and needles locked into his skin. “This is just going to hurt a little.” Ray said. Ray pushed a button on his tablet and tiny molecules were ejected into Barry’s body. “You have two options.” He said, “We clean up your molecules so you can stay here, or you could transport yourself back to your reality?” “How was it you got here again?” Ray asked.
“Every time I have gone into the void, I was following a yellow blur, that I though killed my mom, but I never had run faster.” Barry told Ray. “Fascinating, perhaps, if you were to reduce your Atoms to a certain size, with enough pressure you could go back to the void?” Ray asked. “Is it that simple, then yes!” Barry answered. Barry watched Ray open up a cupboard. Inside was a red and blue suit. “I used to be a hero too.” Ray sighed.
Ray started to attach pieces of his suit to Barry’s and also started to construct a machine. In a few moments, everything was finished. “So, Barry, this is a Cosmetrecon or, its non-Science name, Cosmic Treadmill.” Ray told him. “You will just need to run the fastest you can and then your Atoms will reduce I size.” “The only problem is we cannot generate enough power to keep up with you.” Ray told Barry sarcastically.
“I’ll help.” Red Adam said. “I can drain all my lighting energy into the machine.” “No.” Batman said to Red Adam, “There is a high chance you will lose your powers.” “I want Barry to get home, and I do not care about this dead guy’s spirit in me.” Red Adam argued. “Alright Barry we are good to go!” Ray told him.
Barry started to run on the treadmill as Red Adam forged his electricity into it. Red Adam screamed in pain, but Barry saw the yellow blur. Barry started to run faster, “GO!” The yellow blur tackled Barry as they went into the astral void. Red Adam fainted, but Bruce caught him. “Farewell kid.” He sighed.
Barry’s Atom armour had shattered and the yellow blur was in the astral plane. “Who are you?” Barry asked. “I go by many names.” His blur faded away and a figure dressed in a yellow suit said, “Eobard Thawne, Dr Zoom, Reverse Flash and the murderer of Nora Allen.” “You took everything from me,” Barry screamed as he pushed Reverse Flash. Into a void corner. Reverse Flash laughed, “I forgot one more,” “The person in charge of the purge of Barry’s perfect universe.” The void they had just came out of exploded as Barry jumped back in.
Barry was on the Batcave floor. He could still hear the evil echoes of laughter from Reverse Flash. Barry saw Bruce approaching. “Bruce, Reverse Flash said he was going to destroy your universe.” “Get Red Adam, Atom quick!” Barry shouted. “I believe we haven’t met, are you referring to the Black Adam?" Barry realised, this was a different universe.
To be continued...
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