Legends of the Flash #14

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Legends of the Flash #14
Black Gold

Written by Nikolai Peter Fomich (Thefastestmanalive)
Edited by Daniel Dyer (Spider-Man Beyond)

"Ackh...ahh...AGHHH!" The screams come easily. The insurance broker, bound by iron clasps to the wall, barely clinging to consciousness. He mumbles a prayer to Allah for deliverance. Instead, he receives another jolt of unnerving energy. His next scream sounds as if he is being fed glass. The sinister force rippling through him continues, neither natural nor manmade. It is, instead, alchemical. The alchemy alters his body, parts of his skin bubbling and bursting. Bustling blues turn into seething yellows, and the potency of the energy comes to an end. Red residue begins to emanate, scattered within his pulpy remains. He cannot form any last words.

"AHHHHH!" The searing chemical force washes over his entire body, leaving nothing but dust.

In front of the victim, a lanky man in dark garb sits studiously at his desk, a glowing red stone in his hand. He wears a loose, blue tunic, crisscrossing black lines evoking a medieval pattern. His fingers are long and delicate, and his face hidden within an olive hood. He observes the remnants of the man with careful intrigue, taking copious notes of everything he sees. “Interesting... the second cellular transmutation trial reduced Subject XXI to dust particles. Subject XXI no longer suitable for reconstruction, as available thus far in research. Alterations on skin cell level still encouraging. Further testing required.” A spider descends from the dank ceiling, crawling across the man's hand and past his shoulder. It goes unnoticed.

* * *

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Central City

Rita Desmond's tears come easily. She had been sobbing for nearly ten minutes. Eyeliner stains Barry Allen's jacket.

"Rita... Rita, it's alright. It's ok. I'm here." She continues crying, though she makes a visible effort to calm down. Backing away for a moment, she almost smiles.

"Barry... you've always been so kind. And you know Albert. You really do. He's not a bad man, he's just confused, and..." The tears start up again. Barry holds her.

"I know, Rita. But I'll do anything I can to help. That I promise." A buzzing noise breaks the moment. Barry turns off his cell phone, missing Ralph's call. The two sit down on Rita's bed. Barry had come quickly to the Waid Hotel after he had received her message regarding her ex-husband, and one of Barry's closest friends, Albert Desmond.

"Thank you. I don't know where to start... I... he called me. Babbling about magic and science as usual. I blew him off, he didn't really seem concerned with our problems. But then he starting saying even stranger things."

"Like what?"

"He said he had found it. The Philosopher's Stone."

Barry puts his hand on his forehead at the mention of the legendary object. Oh,Albert... have you really become that unbalanced, that you believe such a thing exists? Though that... thing I saw in his basement that night... Could it have once been a man? The thought makes Barry shudder, though he continues on with his brave front.

"He's always had an interest in alchemy," Barry says. "Though lately, it had seemed to become more of an obsession... When was the last time you two spoke? Before all of this, I mean."

Rita's face tightens up. "Two years ago. He had told me that he wanted to see me again, but I refused. I wanted to, desperately. But how could I forget all the erratic disregard he had had during the last parts of our marriage? How could I, Barry?" Rita hides her face from her friend. Her voice is soft. "I should have never left him."

Barry closes his eyes. He had been there for Albert during those tough times. "You... you did what was best. But none of that matters now. We have to help Al, in any way we can."

"You're right, Barry." Rita wipes her remaining tears away. She rises from the bed, gazing out the window. "You always seem to be right."

"I saw something strange in Albert's basement the last time I saw him... it almost looked like the remains of a person. I know Albert would never harm anyone, but it... it almost seemed alive..." Barry lifts his head, locking eyes with Rita. "Do you know anything about his recent work?"

Instead of answering, Rita studies her rain-eschewed reflection. Turning away from the window, she slowly marches toward her lone suitcase. From it she produces a flower. Barry eyes widen. The flower had been turned into gold.

* * *

[Spider-Man Beyond]

"....That thei firste founden out the wey/Of all that thou hast herd me sey/Whereof the Cronicke of her Lore/Shall stonde in price for everymore." Whew.

Barry shuts the book carefully, placing it back in the proper shelve. He had read every book on alchemy in the Central City Library, and now every book in the home of Albert Desmond. Barry had never liked the house Albert had moved into after his divorce. The building feels old, almost rotten, the plant life all but dead on the outside. The smell within is a mixture of dust and chemicals, undisturbed by any other fragrance. The only reminder of Albert's life before is the model of an atom hanging from the ceiling. It had been made in his youth. He had been so proud of that model.

God, Al, some of this is insane. I just hope there's enough left of you to reason with. Barry's phone rings, followed immediately by a buzzing from his portable police banner.

“Unknown rogue attacking the Theater District. All available units respond. Proceed with caution.” Barry frowns. The news fells like an omen.

* * *

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Hmm. Osmium or Zirconium? Or perhaps I should try Thallium? Thallium... yes. Perfect. The ghastly figure focuses the glowing red rock in his hand toward the remaining half of the Central City Center for the Arts Plaza. The other half had been turned into molten fire. A young couple dash away from the doctor, only to be turned into a white, toxic element, splashing against the door three feet away. The acid eats through the bronze door. Through the hole, the doctor observes a man in red approaching. Hnh. That costumed buffoon. No doubt having come to damper my work.

The Scarlet Speedster surveys the debris, slowly making his way toward the conductor of such chaos. "Albert Desmond. You're coming with me."

He knows my name? How curious. "No, no I don't think that I will, Flash. You see, I have yet to complete my work." A blast of radiant energy comes from the stone, taking the Flash by surprise. He begins to race away, only to find the floor dissolving beneath him. The acid almost burns through his soles. Jumping through the air toward his foe, the Flash is met by what once was an overhead set of lights - now transmutated into liquid mercury. The Flash cuts a left, the liquid singing his uniform just barely. Behind him, several mannequin props burst into flames, the fire expanding throughout the playhouse. The doctor directs noxious gas from the liquid mercury toward the Flash, allowing himself a smile.

"Hg. Mercury. Fact: at room temperature, can become highly noxious." The stone glows in his hand, obeying the wishes of the doctor. The Flash, turning rapidly to avoid another bursting mannequin, begins to whirl quickly around the gas, sending it up through the broken roof top, away from any crowds close by.

"Air at concentrated high speeds creates a vortex, resulting in the raising of air - and anything in it. Flash Fact." The Flash races toward Desmond, pulling his punch just enough to keep him the doctor conscious. Despite it all, Albert is still his friend.

"Give it up, Albert!"

The doctor wipes blood from his mouth, a stoic, deadly glare staring back at the Flash. "Who?"

Suddenly, the Flash feels the air in his lungs dissipate, replaced by some burning sensation. The Flash falls, chocking on sulfur dioxide.

"I am Doctor Alchemy. And shall be accorded with all due respect. I am a man of science, but I am still a man." Doctor Alchemy steps off the stage platform he had conducted his reign of havoc upon, standing over the body of the Flash. His voice sounds inhuman.

"You have irked me, Flash. Right now, the only thing keeping you alive is your very minor accelerated healing abilities. Though if I were to increase the potency ever so slightly..."

"Aghhh!"

"...such abilities become non gratis." Smiling, Doctor Alchemy's moment of triumph is interrupted by the sound of a bullet. He holds his shoulder in shock, almost dropping his precious stone. "Ahh! Who dares?"

Detective Frank Curtis and Sergeant Jack O'Malley had arrived on the scene mere minutes ago. What they saw now sent shivers down their spines.

"Hands up, freak." O'Malley un-holsters his gun, joining the smoking six caliber in Frank Curtis' hands.

"Uneducated dolt..." With a nonchalant motion, the doctor transmutates Jack O'Malley into mists of hydrogen, his gun falling down with a note of finality. Frank Curtis looks on in shock, unable to come to gripes with what had occurred. The Flash still gags on the ground, trying to recover from his ordeal.

"I was just conducting my experiments. You and your precious society. What need have I for the laws of men? I have the laws of science!"

Before he can fire, Detective Curtis drops his gun, its sudden added weight another deed of Doctor Alchemy. The doctor then takes his leave silently, extremely displeased his scientific inquires had been interrupted so brazenly.

* * *

[Spider-Man Beyond]

"Hey, Flash? Hey, are you alright?"

The Flash awakes to the face of Fred Chyre, Barry Allen's coworker. "I'm alright, Detective." I just wish I hadn't gone easy on Albert. Why couldn't I grab the Philosopher's Stone from him? This crazy alchemy...

"Well, I hope so. Someone needs to take this joker out. Poor Jack O'Malley..."

The Flash stands up slowly, still dizzy from the lack of oxygen only minutes ago. "O'Malley?"

"This Alchemy character got to him." Detective Chyre motions towards Frank Curtis, sitting alone in the wreckage.

“Murder?”

Fred's blue eyes harden. "Take him down, Flash. Do it for the Blue."

* * *

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Albert Desmond tells himself he had come here by chance, that he is not motivated by anything other than a thirst for knowledge. The faculty at Central City University had often mocked Albert for his ideas on alchemy. Now he had come here to continue his experimentations in an uncontrolled environment. Walking through the darkened corridors of the Sciences Department, he opens the door to the Research Area. There, a few lit rooms denote the hard-working few. Entering the room closest to him, Doctor Alchemy startles two young researchers. Hmm.

"What d- do you want?"

"What is it you are working on?"

"I- improving fusion engines."

"Fusion engines? Hnh. What a waste of resources." The Philosopher's Stone glimmers, willed by Doctor Alchemy to bend the elements to his wishes. But to his surprise, the room is now vacant.

"Flash..."

“Right here, Desmond."

Doctor Alchemy whirls around, meeting his foe at the doorway.

"You're done 'Doctor.' You've killed at least one man. A good man."

"You talk to me about life?" A radiant blast misses the Flash, instead transforming a nearby desk into silicon dust. "What is one insignificant man compared to the expansion of human knowledge?"

The walls surrounding them turn into some ghastly, acrid form of steam. The Flash propels his arms - whirling the gas away. Grabbing Albert's hand, he presses down hard..

"Everything." Doctor Alchemy struggles, trying to keep his concentration.

"Listen to reason. Just let go of the Stone..."

"NO!"

The nitrogen and oxygen in the air between the combatants turn into mixtures of calcium, iron, potassium and other elements. A wall of rock collapses onto the Flash. Doctor Alchemy thinks quickly, wondering what he should turn the Flash into, what compounds he could create, and what that creation would mean to his work. Instead, the rock's glow dies down. Albert's face turns pale, and his eyes loose their detached glare. The Flash, buried underneath the rubble, had torn his mask.

"B- Barry? I don't understand." The Stone.. it's stopped working. Shaking away his confusion, Doctor Alchemy takes the Flash's stirring as a sign to take his leave.

* * *

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Rita holds her golden flower, its delicate shape almost bringing a smile to her face. She could not bring herself to turn on the T.V. He always loved picking me flowers... Thinking back to Albert, she wonders if there will ever be times like that again. Rita gets up from the bed, placing the flower near the window sill. Exiting her hotel room, Rita Desmond prays that there is still enough of him left.

* * *

[Spider-Man Beyond]

Albert Desmond's one-story home appears untouched, the gloomy atmosphere feeding Albert's demeanor. Rubbing his forehead, he tries to forget all about Barry Allen. Books. That's all I need. Then I will get back to the laboratory and- A red blur flies at Doctor Alchemy's face. A split-second thought prevents him from being hit as he changes the air between the two of them into iron.

The Flash circles around, trying to grab a hold of the Stone, but only to find that it refuses his touch once more.

"This Stone is not for the mere mortals." A concentrated blast of some titanium compound misses the Flash, who disappears from the Doctor's sight. Out of no where, an object is hurled at him, though it is quickly changed into air. Albert shudders suddenly as he realizes what he has done.

"My books! Don't you dare touch them!" Another is hurled, Doctor Alchemy allowing it to hit him at high speeds. He does not have the heart to alter.

"Sorry, Albert, but I've-"

Not losing the moment, Doctor Alchemy alters the floor beneath the Flash's feet into air. The Flash hits the basement floor hard. Desmond's eyes dim, almost unnatural in their lack of life. The Philosopher's Stone only brightens.

"You should not have come here, Flash. Now, you are in my domain."

In the room where Barry had once been knocked unconscious by Albert, leftover vials of archaic mixtures bubble on their dusty shelves. Red liquid bursts from one, soaring towards the Flash. He moves, the liquid eating instantly through the spot he had once stood. Another vial bursts open, this one a green compound. The gooey substance splashes on the basement floor. The Flash runs at the speed light toward the nearby stairs but cannot escape Doctor Alchemy's ploy. Stuck to the ground, his boots begin to slowly dissolve. Another vial explodes, this one darker green. The dark green toxin dissolves in the air. The Flash begins to choke as a gooey green substance crawls up his uniform.

Above on ground level, Doctor Alchemy allows a smile. "As you can see, I am the master of my domain. And you have-"

"Albert! Listen to me!" The Flash rips the remainder of his mask off, propelling as much gas as he can away. Two more vials burst open.

"You know me! You know I'm your friend! It's me, Barry!"

"Barry- you, I...what's going on?" The toxic elements weaken slightly, as Albert regains some of his senses.

"Please, Al. Let me help you through this."

"Barry... is the Flash? But, my work, I must-"

"No, Albert! You're a scientist, a great one. But you're an even better man."

"I... I can't."

A third voice joins in. "Yes. Yes, you can."

Albert's eyes light up, his own finally.

In the basement, the Flash wins the battle against the weakened gooey substance, vibrating his body enough so it releases its grip.

"Rita?"

"Please Albert." She places one hand on his shoulder and then pulls the knot of his hood with the other. It falls, revealing the man she loves. "Let go," she says.

The Flash appears next to her. "It's for the best," the Flash adds in. "This magic-"

"Magic?" The Stone glows. "It's science!"

"I know. I meant-"

"You can't make me give this up. Please, I finally have control..."

"Albert, he doesn't mean-"

Albert's eyes flash.

"Stay out of this, Rita! Since when did you care for my feelings, anyway?" Doctor Alchemy pulls his arm away from her. He notices the Flash tense up. Suddenly, roots come from the wooden floor, remarkably strong enough to keep Barry from moving.

"Al! Put the-" A blast of energy fires at the grounded speedster.

Doctor Alchemy drops the Philosopher's Stone.

"RITA!" Barry can move again. In front of him, Rita Desmond stands, a statue made entirely of gold.

"No, no, no, no, no!" Albert begins to sob.

Barry places his hand on his arm, only to have it violently shrugged off.

"Get away! I can undo this!" He grabs the Philosopher's Stone, but nothing happens.

"Why can't I make it work, Barry? Please, Barry. Help me save her."

Barry Allen opens his mouth, but words refuse to come out.

Albert hides his face, then looks up toward the ceiling. His childhood model hangs above, innocently. Sweating profusely, Albert Desmond closes his eyes.

"NO!" The Stone in his hand is engulfed in flame. Albert transforms himself, and the stone, into the elements of the air.

In the dark, Barry thinks he hears a goodbye.

Miles away, a golden flower cracks.

* * *

[Spider-Man Beyond]

It had been a long walk home. Barry Allen opened his apartment door with little ceremony, walking slowly to his couch. Sitting alone in the dark, Barry thinks of nothing but Albert and Rita.

The doorbell rings. Twice. A third time. Finally Barry opens it, finding Ralph there, a big smile on his face.

"Barr! I've tried calling, but you didn't pick up."

"Sorry, Ralph, it's been hectic-"

"No worries. Listen, I need to talk to you."

"Ralph, I'm not the best of company right now-"

Ralph puts his arms on Barry's shoulders, ignoring his friend's words. "Barry, I'm going to ask Sue to marry me."

Barry smiles widely, almost laughing in spite of himself.

Then Ralph embraces his best man.

THE END

NEXT ISSUE:

Another rouge! Where do these guys come from?

Things get hot for our speedster! (Or is that speedsters?)