Legends of the Flash #4

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Legends of the Flash #4
Losers and Winners

Written by Nikolai Peter Fomich
Edited by Daniel Dyer

"Captain Cold must die.”

Listening to him speak as they walked through the ruined labs of Kenyon industry, Samuel Scudder realized that Keith Kenyon was doing this for the first time. He could tell he had never hired an assassin before, and the greedy businessman was trying to sound tough. Which was all perfectly fine. After all, Sam Scudder was no assassin.

“I don’t care how. I don’t care what it takes. And it will take some work. The machinery he is using is one of the finest pieces of equipment to come out in years. It’s genius. But lucky for you, I hold the key to his defeat.” With a slight smile on his lips, Keith Kenyon unveils his device. Looking at the small piece of equipment, no bigger than a remote control, Scudder could not help but feel it had all been a little anti-climatic.

“So. What is it?”

“This, my friend, is years of sweat and labor poured into a tiny box. The disaster at my labs may have destroyed my prototypes, but after what happened with Snart, I’m taking no chances. This is the refined version, fully functional and safe.”

Taking the device into his hand, Sam was surprised at how little it weighed. “And what does it actually…do?”

“It allows you to travel through reflective images using holograms. It’s the easiest way I can explain it. The how and why are unimportant.”

“Not to me. If I’m going to be using this thing, I want to know everything about it. I’m no idiot, Mr. Kenyon. I’m something of an engineer myself”.

“Listen Scudder, I’m hiring you to kill Leonard Snart because of what he took from me, not to divulge the secrets of my success.”

“Fine keep your secrets. And how about the Flash?”

This time Kenyon had a straight answer. “You are to avoid the so-called Flash at any cost. I want no harm to come to him Understood?”

“Alright, alight I understand.” But as they walked through the destruction of countless hours of ‘sweat and labor’ Sam Scudder couldn’t help but wonder what exactly Keith Kenyon had planned for the man called Flash.

* * *

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Wondering what could be keeping him, Iris gives an inattentive look to her watch out of habit. Looking across the hospital floor, her eyes began to focus on what appears to be Barry…only to have the vague image disappear. Sighing once more, she turns toward the open window to catch a breath of fresh air, but gets more than she bargained for. Outside, various fire trucks and ambulances race away across town towards an obviously grand emergency. Still blaring, Iris makes a mental note to ask her editor about what had occurred downtown latter today, and then backs up to give her ears a rest, only to bump into Barry Allen. Worried immediately by the distant look in Barry’s eyes, Iris decides against asking what kept him. “What- what’s wrong?”

“It’s Professor Thawne. He’s been in an accident. They don’t think he’s going to make it.”

* * *

[Spider-Man Beyond]

The poor fool. Sam Scudder almost felt sorry for Keith Kenyon. But that was part of Scudder’s nature. He may have been self-serving and selfish, but Scudder wasn’t above a little empathy. Still, the mirror technology would be just what this two-time loser needed. He had been through tough times, and this high-tech device was just what he needed. He was going to kill this ‘Captain Cold’. He was going to make himself rich! Poor Keith Kenyon. Betrayed again.

* * *

[Spider-Man Beyond]

The word ‘patience’ had taken on a whole new meaning for Barry Allen. ‘Patience’ is all Barry seemed to know now. Patience… and guilt. Barry had just been coming to the hospital to pick up Iris West who had been visiting her father, when an explosion had occurred right across town, in the home of a certain professor. Barry had raced to the scene, only to find Eobard Thawne unconscious, badly injured, and clinging onto life. Rushing him to the hospital from which he had just come as the Flash, Barry could not help but feel guilty. Despite the Professor’s feelings towards him, Barry believed that if he had just been able to help the professor, to convince him that he could help improve the Speed Force serum, things would have been different. But that was all in the past now. Eobard Thawne was dying because of an explosion Barry was sure had been caused by Thawne’s need to improve the serum, trying to perfect it. “Come on Professor, snap out of it.” His face had been badly bruised when he had brought him in, his body slightly scarred and burned in some areas. Hitting his head back slightly against the wall as he slumps down, Barry closes his eyes only to feel her hand hold his. His smile lasts three seconds – literally. Looking at his pager, Barry kisses Iris goodbye, apologies accompanied. As he drives away from the hospital, Barry is almost glad to be dealing with impersonal crimes and emergencies again, ones that have no connection to Iris, Thawne or the Speed Force – or Keith Kenyon, for that matter. Unfortunately for Barry Allen, this is not one of those types of crimes.

* * *

[Spider-Man Beyond]

“Hello Allen. Glad to see you’re on time… or at least close to it, anyway.”

Great. Captain Frye. My own calendar, alarm clock, and mother all rolled into one…not to mention my boss. “Sorry sir, there was an emergency at the hospital. What’s going on here anyway?”

“See for yourself Allen.” Crossing under the police lines at Central City National Bank, Barry surveys the crime scene. No sign of entry, nothing out of place – in fact the only indication of the bank having been robbed was the fact that the money was missing. Now he understood why the Captain himself would have come here himself. This was beyond unusual. “Over here Allen.”

“The vault security cameras?”

“Watch.” Playing the tape, a man in a colorful green and orange costume appears, coming through the mirror surface inside the vault. He then takes his time to empty the vault, coming out the way he came.

“Incredible. That looks like the technology used at Keith Kenyon’s lab that went haywire a few days ago.”

Nodding his head in agreement, Barry doesn’t like the look in his Captain’s face. “Allen, seeing as how you know Mr. Kenyon-“

“Sir, it’s not as though we’re friends. Personally, I can’t stand the man”

“Regardless, he’ll talk to you. This is not up for debate. I’m pairing you up with Detective Curtis. I want you to talk to Kenyon, see what you can figure out. I’ll put word out to Curtis. Remember: we’re investigating a major crime here. We need all the help we can get. No screw-ups.” Somehow, I think talking to Keith Kenyon will do anything but help. Then again, seeing his face after he finds out another one of his high-tech projects has gone astray might just be worth it.

* * *

[Spider-Man Beyond]

“I’m sorry Detective, what did you say?”

“We believe that the same mirror technology that devastated your labs recently is the same tech that was used to rob this bank,” Detective Curtis repeated in his usual calm voice. Curtis had been a friend of Barry’s the day he had joined the force, and he had looked up to the older, bearded man ever since. Right now though, Barry was more interested in Kenyon’s reaction than anything else. He looked as though he wanted to jump off his high rise apartment, where the two policemen had interrupted him sleeping.

“Mr. Kenyon, the device used has all the trademarks of the holographic technology which caused the destruction of one of your labs,” Barry reiterated.

“And what we need to know is whether there were any other similar devices in development, or if some of the equipment had survived the destruction in your lab.”

“No, I’m sorry but the only thing that wasn’t destroyed was some parts of one of our other projects, the Weather Wizard System. Now if you’ll excuse me.” Shutting the door in the face of the two other men, Curtis gives Barry a questioning look.

“We certainly hit a nerve, didn’t we?”

“That we did Detective.”

“I wonder if you lab boys can cook up something from the crime scene that’ll allow us a warrant.”

“I’ll certainly try.” And if Barry Allen can’t help with this case, maybe the Flash will.

* * *

[Spider-Man Beyond]

New Costumed Criminal Runs Amok- Central City: Does it Have Gotham Fever? Reading the headline referring to the recent trend involving costumed criminals, namely Captain Cold, the Flash, and now himself, Samuel Scudder lets out a great laugh. Finally some excitement! After all those years of dead-end jobs and runaway girlfriends, Scudder had found something exciting. A new vocation: ‘super-villainy’. It would have sounded corny if it wasn’t so fun. Nothing beat the thrill of stealing, and with this new equipment, he could get away with just about anything. With just one job he had enough money to settle down and retire for many years to come. But no, it wasn’t enough… and it wasn’t just about money anymore. It was about the thrill. Sam Scudder had a new calling. And his mundane existence died with the birth of his induction into the surreal life.

* * *

[Spider-Man Beyond]

After spending a good five minutes searching through all of Kenyon’s labs, offices, and the man’s own private flat, the Flash had come to two conclusions. One was that Keith Kenyon loved gold, hence his nickname among the rich and wealthy, ‘Goldface’. Two was that Kenyon was defiantly involved with the crimes of Central City’s two newest criminals. Reading the plans for the mirror technology and the cold gun, Flash couldn’t help but admire the man’s genius. Searching through Kenyon’s private files, Barry began to wonder if he might have anything on Professor Thawne… or perhaps Barry himself. What the heck is this? Flash feels his jaw slack, as he read the title of one of the files: DESMOND, ALBERT, labeled with a CONFIDENTIAL diagonally stamped onto the folder. But before he can dig any further, the door flies open, as Kenyon enters his private office in alarm at finding the door to this room unsecured. Feeling a breeze as he opens the door, Keith Kenyon finds nothing out of place. Frowning, he heads over to his file drawer, in for more than a slight surprise.

* * *

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Walking up his apartment stairs – and what a strange feeling it was now to walk – Barry didn’t know what to think anymore. First Thawne and now Albert… what was going on with his world? Barry hadn’t taken a look in the files… he was afraid at what he might find. What would Albert have to hide? And did he want to really know? Letting out a heavy sigh, Barry sits on the steps, wondering if the rest of his life would continue to be so complicating. Was being the Flash really worth all this grief? “Hey Barry. Everything OK?”

Turning, Barry turns to see Fiona Webb, his new neighbor and the girl he had saved earlier at Sue Dibny’s gala. “Oh hi Fiona. Just a little down in the dumps.”

Putting down her bags, Fiona joins Barry on the apartment steps. After all, misery does love company. “Want to talk about it?”

“Not really. But thanks. So how’s Senator Phillips doing?”

“Oh, just great. We’ve just been prepping for his big speech tomorrow. He’s going to be giving his stance on various issues, including the Flash.”

“The Flash huh? And what is his stance on that character?”

“He seems to think that Central City can take care of itself, and it doesn’t need such costumed heroes. He thinks the Flash will only attract trouble.”

“He might be right.” Seeing Fiona’s reaction, Barry could tell that she was disappointed with his response.

“Do you really think that, Barry? How about all the people the Flash has saved in the past few days? Forget about the incidents with Captain Cold and Kenyon’s lab, think about all the ordinary people he’s saved in the past few weeks. He’s a hero Barry. Through and through.”

Speechless for a moment, Barry allows himself a smile. “You’re right Fiona. He is a hero. Thanks. I have some things I’ve got to take care of now, but anytime you need to talk, I’ll always be there.”

As Fiona enters her apartment, she gets a glimpse out her window of several police sirens, hearing them wail in the distance. Even briefer is the glimpse she receives of a scarlet figure, running in the distance. But the smile that comes to her face stays for a long time.

* * *

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Damn it! Sirens! Sam Scudder’s second job had been at Central City’s second largest bank, the Geoff Johns Depository, and at a glance it appeared as though it would be as easy as the first. But Scudder had been wrong. Very wrong. Apparently, in his arrogance, Scudder had tripped the alarm while looting the whole bank. Now he was trapped. He could escape anytime he wanted, but he would have to leave the money. And that would be defeat. But before his decision to stay or go can be made, a bright scarlet figure comes into his view. “I think the Mr. Johns will be wanting his bank’s money back.”

Well, that’s a shame, because I have plans for all this money.” Running at the Mirror Master, Flash suddenly finds himself crashing into a shattered mirror. It had been only a reflection.

“I’m the Mirror Master, by the way.” Laughing joyously, the thief appears again.

Mirror Master prepares to escape, only this time the Flash grabs onto his colorful garb. Pulling himself and the Flash into the closest mirror object, Mirror Master is disoriented and, unable to focus, he transports them both to the nearest mirror surface- a glass window on the second floor. Falling along with the shards, Mirror Master quickly tries to transport himself, only to have the Flash grab the device from his hand. Barry wasn’t about to lose round two of his super villain fights.

On the cement ground, outside the bank, the Flash realizes he has a shard of glass in his leg – the same one, incidentally, that Captain Cold had injured not so long ago. “Aghh!” Quickly pulling it out, the Flash doesn’t see Mirror Master’s right hook coming.

“Sorry Flash. Not all of us can be winners.” His device in hand and a smile on his face, Mirror Master prepares to transport himself away, only to see that nothing happens.

“What… what’s going on? Why isn’t it working? My… my device…”

“I- hnn- I deactivated it while we were falling. They don’t call me the fastest man alive for nothing.” Barry had gone through the Kenyon’s files and had learned how the device worked, or at least how to turn it off. Quickly getting a hold of the device in his hands, the Flash takes a good look at his latest foe.

“Not all of us can be winners, Mirror Master.” As the cops arrive to take the crook away, the Flash is gone with the wind. And Sam Scudder prepares to return to another mundane existence: that of prison.

Fini