She slid the phone to him. “As soon as it’s free, talk with Cisco.”
“Got it.”
“Come on, Caitlin,” Iris encouraged. “Come on.”
“There!” H.R. set aside the tool and grabbed the phone. “Okay, Cisco! Please make this easy!”
Iris paid them no mind. She knew that she had to keep speaking to Caitlin. Any hesitation might reverse all that they had managed thus far.
“Iris…” Caitlin muttered. “I’m cold.”
“I know, honey. The heat is on. You’ll be much better shortly. Just stay with me. You hear?”
“I’m… trying. I want to go to sleep… but I know I better not…”
“No, that’s right,” Iris responded with more confidence. “Just stick with me.”
Caitlin said something else, but it was too muffled for Iris to understand. Fearing that her friend was slipping, Iris gently rubbed Caitlin’s cheek.
She was rewarded with a smile. Caitlin’s eyes opened wider this time.
“It’s fighting me, Iris…”
“I know. You’re strong. We’re here. H.R., how are you doing?”
“That’s it?” he asked of the phone. “I hope it works fast!”
Setting aside the phone, H.R. reached for the wrist device. He cautiously brought Caitlin’s arm around so that he could reach Cisco’s creation. With Iris’s phone in the crook of his neck, he went to work.
Iris continued keeping Caitlin’s focus on her. Every time Caitlin’s gaze started to drift, Iris doubled her efforts to keep the other woman occupied.
“You’re doing great, Caitlin,” she said. “Just a little bit longer and things will be back to normal.”
“It feels… warmer.”
“Good. Are you hungry?”
A pause. “Yes.”
“Well, after we’re done here, we’ll get something to eat. Sounds good?”
“Yes.”
Iris looked at H.R., who was still fiddling with the mechanism. He caught her glance and gave a nod. To Caitlin, Iris added, “That Japanese place we talked about a couple of weeks ago sounds like a good choice. How about we go there?”
Another pause. “Yes.”
The continual short answers bothered Iris. “Any idea what you’d like?”
Caitlin frowned. “No.”
“How about—” Iris stopped. A strong wave of cold air swept over her. She immediately turned her attention back to H.R. and his efforts.
He shook his head in clear puzzlement, indicating with one hand that he was doing what he was told.
Iris fixed on Caitlin. “What about—”
Caitlin’s skin had grown pale again.
“No.” Iris rubbed the other woman’s cheek. “Caitlin. Look at me.”
“Iris? Is it… cold again?”
“Just for a moment. You just focus on me, all right?”
“Yes.” Caitlin’s brow wrinkled. “Yes.”
The cold air faded. Warmth slowly poured over the trio. Iris smiled at Caitlin, who smiled back. Caitlin’s skin returned to normal.
“Got it!” H.R. proclaimed loudly. After a stern look from Iris, he added in a much quieter voice, “Sorry!”
The room got much warmer. Frost began fading—though not yet melting—everywhere. Caitlin reverted to her normal self. She suddenly took a deep breath.
“Praise be!” H.R. exclaimed.
“Iris…” Caitlin hugged her tight.
“Easy, easy…” Iris held her just as close. She felt Caitlin slowly calm.
H.R. lowered the phone. “Cisco says we should bring her back to the lab.”
“We will. Soon.”
“No,” interjected Caitlin more strongly. “Let’s go now.”
“Are you sure you’re up to it?” questioned Iris.
Caitlin exhaled. “No. But I have to be. Let’s go right now.”
Iris stared into her eyes. What she saw made her nod. “All right. Now. H.R., give us a hand.”
“Right. Right.”
The two of them helped Caitlin to her feet. As they did, Iris felt the warm air from the heater. Keeping one hand on her friend, she reached for the thermostat.
“No!”
Caitlin’s exclamation startled her. One hand still stretched to the thermostat, Iris eyed her.
“Please,” Caitlin said more evenly. “Leave it. I’d like it to be… warmer… when I return.”
Iris and H.R. shared glances. Iris lowered her hand.
“All right,” she answered. “We’ll leave it just like you want. Shall we go now?”
“Yes.”
Nodding, Iris took hold of her and led the three of them from the apartment as quickly as she could.
* * *
Barry returned to the lab to find Cisco alone. “Where are the others?”
“They’ll be back shortly,” Cisco replied, setting down his phone. “Got those clippings?”
“Yeah, here they are.” Barry handed them to him.
Cisco studied the images of Clyde Mardon, then the other side of each. “All the same newspaper. See: they all have the same story on the other side. He must’ve gathered them the same day.”
“Well, we know Clyde’s death really stuck with him. If anything, he’s gotten worse about it.”
As Barry talked, Cisco typed. A minute later, Cisco nodded. “Wasn’t too hard to track down. All from the Central Gazette: that smaller paper that covers the area beyond Iron Heights, including the very same hospital where Mark Mardon was comatose. When he woke, he must’ve grabbed every copy he could still find. Almost sad.”
“What about the one I found separate from the others? It didn’t look like it just fell there. In fact, considering how the area around it was so damaged, it was in remarkable shape.”
“Don’t know. I—” Cisco studied the Flash. “Barry, buddy, you look all out.”
Barry rubbed the back of his neck. “I feel all out. I think I need to get something to eat.”
“Yeah?”
“I’ve got to get something to eat.”
Cisco started to reply, but Barry had already moved to the refrigerator and removed half the contents. Before his friend could blink, the Flash had made himself several sandwiches, three salads, and a number of other snacks.
“Seriously, dude. The sandwiches again. We’re going to have to up the food budget if this keeps up!”
Barry didn’t bother answering. He bit into the first sandwich. The second. The third. The rest… all while alternating with the salads, the snacks, and then water to help down the food.
Cisco groaned. “I think I may never eat again. You devoured everything. It’s like you’re a living Pac-Man, only a lot messier.”
“Had to. Cisco, I barely feel full.”
Cisco checked on the computer. “You’re burning things up at an accelerated pace from yesterday. If this is due to the Weather Wizard, I don’t see how he can do all this without burning out himself.”
Barry started to yawn, then stopped himself. “No. If I take another nap, I’m liable not to wake up for a few days.”
“You won’t be able to fight it forever. It’s only getting worse.”
“I’ll do it for as long as I can.” Stretching, Barry added, “In fact, I’d better get out there now. Mardon’s got to make a move again soon.” He paused. “As a matter of fact, I’m going to check on Joe first.”
“Suit yourself, but I’m going to keep a good eye on your readings. Even if you think you can handle everything, there’s a limit. You ought to know that by now.”
Barry didn’t answer, having already raced away.
Cisco grunted, then picked up the phone again. “Iris. How’s it going?”
“We’re on the way. She’s all right now, but she insisted we return right away.”
“She’s right. Honestly, Iris, I would’ve gone ahead and opened a breach to you guys except with this weird storm my own powers aren’t functioning at a hundred percent. Or even half that. By the way, Barry was
here, Iris. He’s gone now, though. Said the first thing he’s doing is checking on Joe.”
“All right.”
He cocked his head: it was not the kind of answer he had expected. “Anyway, glad Caitlin’s with you. I need to check out that worthless piece of machinery.”
“We should be there any moment. I’ve got to go. The storm’s cutting visibility.”
“Roger that. See you.”
Barely had he disconnected from Iris than Barry contacted him.
“Cisco, any idea when Joe’s off duty?”
“Hang on.” Cisco typed. “He’s due off in about an hour.”
“Did you just hack the police department?”
“‘Just’? Dude, we’ve had an in for months—” A signal on the monitor went off. “Wait a moment! We’ve got something coming!”
“Mardon?”
Cisco switched the view on the monitor. “Don’t know. All I’ve got so far is a growing reading near the ocean.”
The Flash’s silence after that did not surprise him. “The ocean. Are you sure?”
“Certain.”
Again the Flash said nothing at first. Then, “I’d better check it out immediately.”
Barry cut contact. Cisco stared at the readings. Even as new as they were, the resemblance to the readings from the previous time the Weather Wizard had struck the coast were impossible to miss.
“Great,” Cisco muttered. “Just great. Another tidal wave.”
* * *
The Flash veered from police headquarters to the coast. He had the utmost faith in Cisco’s reading of the new data, which meant that perhaps the Weather Wizard had finally started unleashing his ultimate plan. The fact it was taking place on the coast meant only one thing to the speedster: Mardon was trying to finish what he had started last time.
The destruction of Central City by a massive tidal wave.
I stopped it before and I’ll stop it again, Mardon, the Flash swore. He had no doubt that the Weather Wizard intended to magnify this new tidal wave’s strength, but to the Flash that just meant that he would have to double his own efforts.
Savage waves struck the shore as he neared. Barry could feel the electricity in the air. He knew the wave was sure to rise far higher than the previous one.
“Cisco! It’s just forming! I’m going to see if I can nip it in the bud! Keep me posted on any abrupt changes!”
“You got it! I estimate you’ve got maybe two minutes before it threatens the shore!”
“Two minutes is more than enough time for me, remember?” Yet despite his bravado, the Flash approached the surging water with caution. Mardon had proven himself smart enough to arrange his traps ahead of time so that the Flash would race right into them.
Barry began running a zigzag pattern, all the while watching for any hint of some trick by his adversary. Still, he knew that the tidal wave did limit him in some ways. Sooner rather than later, the Flash would have to step where the Weather Wizard expected him.
A feeling of déjà vu overcame the speedster as he watched the wall of water build. However, the last time this had happened, the Weather Wizard had had a clear and simple purpose in mind and the Flash had acted aware of that purpose. This time, though, Barry distrusted what his eyes saw; Mardon likely intended more than merely repeating the past. True, the Flash had no choice but to stop the wave as he had previously, but he doubted it was going to be as easy—so to speak—as the last time.
Let’s see if this puts your plans off, he thought as he suddenly ran onto the water. Skimming the surface fast enough to avoid sinking, the speedster quickly rushed along the length of the stirring wave, both measuring its potential and seeking any hint of the traps he felt certain had to be there. However, even after repeating the step, the Flash discovered nothing new. Not only did there appear to be no tricks, but the tidal wave looked little stronger than the previous one.
Even more curious, where was the Weather Wizard himself? Barry had hoped to catch his foe in the act, but there was no sign of the rogue anywhere. The Flash knew that Mardon had far more control over his abilities than during their previous encounter, but it still amazed and bothered him that all this could be happening without the Weather Wizard being close by.
Circling back around, the Flash began racing back and forth, building up speed. A wind arose from his efforts, one that intensified as he accelerated. Barry ran faster and faster, ignoring any touch of exhaustion or pain.
The wind grew into a gale, then to hurricane strength. It buffeted the growing tidal wave as no other force could. Ocean water became swept up in the wind, adding to the destructive force of the Flash’s creation.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed several bystanders who had been so caught up in getting through the storm that they had failed to notice the rising threat from the ocean. Barry debated for a moment, then sped away from his creation to the nearest. One by one, the speedster carried the bystanders to safety far from the ocean.
He was back before his creation could falter in the slightest. The Flash picked up his pace, building up his counter to the tidal wave as swiftly as possible. Faster and faster he ran—
A fog arose. A fog that blossomed directly where the Flash had to run. The speedster plunged into an empty world.
The outline of something massive formed in the fog. Barry adjusted his path—
And suddenly lost his footing on something. He attempted to compensate, but here his speed worked against him. He stumbled, then fell.
Momentum threw him forward. He twisted as best he could, managing to tumble out of the path of whatever lurked in the fog.
But in doing so, the Flash ended up back on land. The uneven surfaces further exasperated his situation. Barry spun in a circle, then crashed against a solid surface with such force that it left him stunned for several seconds. As his head cleared, he heard Cisco shouting in his ear, “—out now, Barry! Hurry! Get out now!”
The Flash rolled over to see a wall of water descending on him. While much reduced in size and strength, the tidal wave still stood several yards high. The Flash attempted to rise, only to have a bout of vertigo send him sprawling again. He looked up as the tidal wave came crashing down—
* * *
As the Flash had raced to the ocean, a startled Wally stared as his father left the police headquarters. Joe West had his collar held tight around him and his head covered by a hat as he pushed through the storm to where his car waited.
“You just had to sneak out,” Wally muttered. Shaking his head, he eyed his father for a moment more. “I’m trying to keep you safe, Dad.”
With a sigh of resignation, he hopped over to his father. Joe recoiled in surprise as Wally appeared in front of the elder West’s vehicle.
“God!” Joe exclaimed. “Do you know what a shock you just gave me?”
“It’s only fair after you tried to sneak out.”
“The chief said I should take off early. I was all for staying and backing everyone during this storm, but apparently I’m a liability now!”
Wally grunted. “And you couldn’t call me about this change in plans? Dad, you know why I’m here. You know how dangerous it is for you right now!”
“Listen!” Joe poked him in the chest. “You are my son! I’m supposed to keep an eye on you and your sister, not the other way around. I have never run from a fight and I will not now! I would rather you stay clear!”
“I know how you feel, but this is different! Besides, all I want to do is see you home safely. I promised Iris, but I also promised myself.”
Lightning flashed. Joe looked up. “Okay, you’re here. Fine. Let’s get going and—look out!”
Lightning struck where Wally stood—except that neither Wally nor Joe were anywhere near anymore.
Wally set his father by the police headquarters. “Get inside! I’ll deal with him!”
“No! Get away!” Joe drew his revolver. “It’s too dangerous!”
“You ought to listen to the cop!�
� the Weather Wizard mocked from above them. “All that concern! Might as well be your father, Flash Junior!”
“The name is Kid Flash!” Wally shouted, racing through the parking lot in order to gain enough momentum to leap up at the hovering figure.
“The name is the late Kid Flash, you mean!”
A tremendous wind stopped Wally in his tracks, then shoved him back. He compensated, using the wind to give him an extra boost to the top of a car. From there, Wally jumped to another vehicle, this time a tall truck.
A bolt of lightning hit right in front of the truck. By then, Wally had jumped to his next choice.
Joe fired. The wind gusted, blowing his bullet far from his target.
“Last shot taken, West,” Mardon called. He gestured at the detective.
A hailstorm assailed Joe. Covering his head, he tried to retreat into the building.
“Not going to escape this time, West!”
A stunning rush of rain bombarded the doorway, forcing Joe back out into the open. He wasted no time, firing again.
Once more, the Weather Wizard seized control of the bullet. He let it spin around in the wind as he looked again at Wally.
“The Flash wouldn’t be caught dead using that stunt against me. You, you’ll just be caught dead because of it.”
Wally jumped.
The same wind that had seized Joe’s bullet trapped Wally in midair.
Mardon descended a few feet. “You quicker than a fast bullet? Let’s see how you do against one aimed right at your head.”
The wind spun both Wally and the bullet around and around, tossing Kid Flash around like a tiny toy. He flailed, unable to get sufficient traction.
“Round and round we go,” the Weather Wizard jested. “Where we stop, you don’t want to know!”
Joe fired again. Perhaps distracted by his other victim, Mardon didn’t immediately realize the threat. The bullet soared toward its target—
Joe West was a crack shot. It had been no fluke that he had managed to bring down Clyde Mardon so efficiently. Given normal conditions, there would have been no doubt as to his aim. Unfortunately, the powerful wind surrounding the Weather Wizard was more than sufficient to disrupt the bullet’s path.
“Aargh!” The Weather Wizard clutched his shoulder. The bullet had not gone in, but had left a distinct crimson graze.
The Flash Page 16
