The speed force has existed for a very long time, giving power to some of the fastest beings in existence. It has been the guiding light in some of the darkest hours for heroes such as the Flash, Max Mercury, Jesse Quick, and others.
But over the years, and through too many speedsters to count, something inside of the speed force was self-aware, watching the people that it powered, helping them against insurmountable odds. But it wasn't until the arrival of one speedster in particular, one Bart Allen, that the speed force started wishing that it could experience what it was like to be one of them. To be able to run across water, to help those in need, to be... human.
Bart was fun-loving, innocent, and loved every moment of being able to run at the speed of light. Even though it wasn't human, something in the speed force wanted to be like Bart, even for just a day. But there was no way to make something like that happen.
Until years later, that is, when the evil speedster Inertia came up with a plan to use the speed force as his own personal weapon. In need of something to filter the energy into him, Inertia sought to create a conduit, but something went wrong, at least for the villain of our story.
The energy was somehow misdirected, and instead of molding an inanimate object to harness the speed, the speed force energy was molded into the form of a human boy, who would soon take the name of Jase. The creation of a seemingly human body had taken a lot of energy, in the process wiping the boy's memory of where he had come from.
Until now...
But over the years, and through too many speedsters to count, something inside of the speed force was self-aware, watching the people that it powered, helping them against insurmountable odds. But it wasn't until the arrival of one speedster in particular, one Bart Allen, that the speed force started wishing that it could experience what it was like to be one of them. To be able to run across water, to help those in need, to be... human.
Bart was fun-loving, innocent, and loved every moment of being able to run at the speed of light. Even though it wasn't human, something in the speed force wanted to be like Bart, even for just a day. But there was no way to make something like that happen.
Until years later, that is, when the evil speedster Inertia came up with a plan to use the speed force as his own personal weapon. In need of something to filter the energy into him, Inertia sought to create a conduit, but something went wrong, at least for the villain of our story.
The energy was somehow misdirected, and instead of molding an inanimate object to harness the speed, the speed force energy was molded into the form of a human boy, who would soon take the name of Jase. The creation of a seemingly human body had taken a lot of energy, in the process wiping the boy's memory of where he had come from.
Until now...
Jase stood amidst the smoke and broken glass, wearing an updated version of Bart's Impulse costume. His eyes were crackling with speed force energy as he stared down Inertia, who was on the verge of killing Bart, Jase's only friend in the world.
"I remember it all," Jase said as he looked at his hands. "Living inside of the speed force since its creation, every speedster who has ever passed through, and those who have yet to become a part of it. Everything about the speed force, its powers, its people... I know all of it."
"That's cute," Inertia said as he stood up and kicked Bart in the face. "But I'm in charge of the speed force now. I'm the only one who--"
Before he could even begin to think of blinking, Jase was already on top of him, giving Inertia a barrage of punches hard enough to send him flying. Jase kneeled down and tried to help Bart up.
"My spine," Bart said. "I can't feel my legs."
"I can heal you," Jase said softly, just as Inertia rushed him, sending Jase flying into the computer equipment on the other side of the room.
"I made you," Inertia told him. "And I can break you into tiny pieces."
"Then do it," Jase said as he stood up. "You think you're a God now? Then come on, prove it. Show me what you've got."
Inertia rushed toward him, as Jase came forward himself, colliding as they fought at superspeed. As Bart lay helpless on the ground, all he could see was a streak of bright green and red going so fast that it was just a blur. Propping himself up against the wall, Bart just stared down at his legs.
"Max, where are you?"
# # # # #
A lifetime away, on the edges of the speed force, a powerless Max and Lucas were trying to find their way back.
"If we've lost our powers, then it's a safe bet that everyone connected to the speed force is powerless as well," Max said. "Including those that are on the outside like Wally and Jesse."
"We'll never make it back in time," Lucas said. "I really will never see my boy again."
"He's not in the speed force," Max said. "I know where your son is, Lucas, I've seen visions of him while trying to become one with it."
"Where is he?" Lucas asked with hope in his voice.
# # # # #
The Fortress of Solitude
"I'm starting to rethink this whole idea," Superman said. "Kryptonian technology mixing with something as powerful as the speed force could have dire consequences."
"It's our only hope," Wally said as he took off his shirt and started attaching a heart monitor to his chest. "It's Barry's only hope. I have to get in contact with Max on the inside and find out what's going on."
"Okay, but if I see that any kind of energy surge is building, I'm pulling the plug," Superman told him as he started the device.
"Fair enough," Wally said as he waited for the machine to tap into the speed force.
# # # # #
"This is going to take forever," Lucas said as he walked behind Max.
"Patience, Lucas, we'll find a way to get there," Max assured him.
"Max?" Wally's voice said, coming from all around. "Are you in there?"
"Wally? How are you doing this?"
"I got help tapping into the speed force. It's bad out here, Max. Everyone's been cut off and Barry's been badly injured. What the hell's going on in there?"
"That's what we were trying to find out," Max told him. "We were about to confront whoever's behind this when we got diverted to the edge of the speed force."
"We? Is Bart with you?"
"No, I'm not sure where Bart is, we were separated. I just hope he's okay."
"I don't know how long I can stay in contact," Wally told him. "Superman's helping me tap into the speed force with some Kryptonian technology and--"
"Wally, I need you to hold on as long as you can," Max told him. "Try to home in on Bart if you can. I have a feeling he needs you right now."
# # # # #
"You can't win," Inertia told Jase as they continued trading punches back and forth. He put his hand around Jase's throat and lifted him into the air. "You're backing the wrong horse, boy. Bart Allen is a fool, a loser! And in the end, I will destroy him and everyone who sides with him!"
"You're a monster," Jase said as he struggled in Inertia's grip. "Bart's one of the nicest, bravest, people I've ever seen. He took me in when I didn't have a clue as to who or what I was. He was kind to me when all you wanted was to use me for evil."
"And it got him paralyzed in the end," Inertia said as laughed. "I took away the one thing that gives him joy. He'll never run again."
" You're wrong, dumbass," Bart said as he shoved an iron rod through Inertia's leg. The villain screamed in pain as he fell, dropping Jase in the process. Bart, still on the ground, tried to crawl over to where Jase had fallen. "I can't run, but that's not the only thing I have to live for," Bart said as he took Jase's hand. "I have my friends."
As Inertia pulled the rod out of his leg, the wound was crackling with speed force energy. Jase smirked as he stared at Bart. "I have an idea, but we're probably going to die for it."
"Hey, we had a good run," Bart said. "Let's save the world."
"You want the power of the speed force?" Jase asked as he looked at Inertia's wound, which was starting to heal. "You're gonna get it. All of it."
Jase held out his hand as Inertia started screaming in pain. "What are you doing to me?"
"Transferring the conduit from me to you," Jase said. "You're going to get the speed force's energy, totally unfiltered."
"Are you sure about this?" Bart asked. "Won't that kill him?"
"His physical body will be destroyed, but he'll still be a part the speed force, but he'll be in pain for every moment of it until the end of time," Jase assured him. "Give up the speed force energy or spend eternity in torment, Inertia."
"Never!"
"Your call," Jase said as he kept focusing the speed force energy on Inertia. "Ultimate power always comes at a price."
Inertia kept screaming in pain before he finally relented. "You win! Take your energy back!"
Inertia fell to his knees as Jase's energy started to be restored to him, the speed force, and the rest of the speedsters. But just as the process started, a shockwave of energy knocked both Jase and Inertia back.
"What was that?" Bart asked.
"The speed force energy, I'm sending it back to everyone who lost it," Jase said. "Now let's heal your spine and--"
"Heal this," Inertia said as he shoved the iron rod through Bart's chest, pinning him to the floor. "This isn't the end, brat. I'll find another way to take over this place. You haven't won!"
As Inertia turned to run, Jase held out his hand. "You're not going anywhere. I've had enough of you."
"What are you doing to me?" Inertia asked as his actions got slower and slower.
"Slowing you down," Jase told him. "I believe you'd been through this before. Only this time I'm making you even slower. Before the process was only physical. Now? It'll take you hundreds of years just to finish one thought. Welcome to the speed force, bitch."
Jase quickly rushed over to Bart, trying to pull the iron rod out, but didn't have the strength. Bart was coughing up blood as he felt himself dying. "Bart, I can't get it out."
"It's okay, kid," Bart said as he took Jase's hand, his voice shaking. "I guess this is where my race ends. Love you, little brother."
"I love you, big brother," Jase said with tears in his eyes. "I'll never forget you."
Max burst in, with Lucas behind him, staring at the sight of Bart pinned to the ground.
"Everyone's got their powers back, hopefully including everyone on the outside," Max said as he pulled the iron rod out of Bart's chest and tossed it away. "Bart, you should have your powers back, why aren't you healing?"
"I still can't feel my legs," Bart said as Jase kneeled down to heal him. "It-- it's not working. Why isn't it working?"
Max looked at the iron rod. "The rod. It deflected the speed force energy when it returned to everyone who lost it. Bart has no powers to heal himself. He's dying."
"No," Jase said as he hugged Bart. "This is all my fault. I'm responsible for everything that's happened. I'm sorry, Bart."
"Hey, this isn't your fault, kid," Bart told him. "Maybe I can see where you came from. Be one with the speed force."
"No, I can fix this," Jase said as he tried to help Bart up. "I can heal you, I know I can. I just need to be faster."
"Jase, what are you--" Max started to ask as Jase started running while holding onto Bart.
# # # # #
"Okay, Max wanted me to lock in on Bart," Wally said. "I think I found him, but something's wrong. It's like he's hurt, bad."
"I just received word from Central City, Barry's powers are back, he's almost healed," Superman said. "He's going to be okay, but we need to disconnect you, the power levels are reaching critical."
"Hang on, I need to talk to Bart," Wally said as he focused. "He's in physical pain, I can feel it."
# # # # #
"Faster, must go faster," Jase said as he picked up the speed, racing as fast as his small body could take him while carrying Bart's weight. "If I can just go a little bit faster..."
The energy of the speed force was hitting both like lightning as Bart started feeling something. "My legs. I can feel my legs! Whatever you're doing, keep it up!"
Jase went faster, reaching beyond the speed of light, just as Wally find found Bart's location. Superman saw the power levels were hitting critical, and just as he went to disconnect Wally from the machine--
BOOOOOMMM!
When the smoke cleared, a large hole had appeared in the wall of the Fortress, leading to the snowy landscape outside. Superman and Wally quickly rushed outside, with Wally's Flash costume appearing around his body as they followed the trail for several miles. When they reached the end, they found Bart huddled in the snow, keeping Jase warm with his body. Superman quickly pulled off his cape and wrapped it around the two as Wally just stared down at the boys.
"Welcome home, Bart."
TO BE CONTINUED...
"I remember it all," Jase said as he looked at his hands. "Living inside of the speed force since its creation, every speedster who has ever passed through, and those who have yet to become a part of it. Everything about the speed force, its powers, its people... I know all of it."
"That's cute," Inertia said as he stood up and kicked Bart in the face. "But I'm in charge of the speed force now. I'm the only one who--"
Before he could even begin to think of blinking, Jase was already on top of him, giving Inertia a barrage of punches hard enough to send him flying. Jase kneeled down and tried to help Bart up.
"My spine," Bart said. "I can't feel my legs."
"I can heal you," Jase said softly, just as Inertia rushed him, sending Jase flying into the computer equipment on the other side of the room.
"I made you," Inertia told him. "And I can break you into tiny pieces."
"Then do it," Jase said as he stood up. "You think you're a God now? Then come on, prove it. Show me what you've got."
Inertia rushed toward him, as Jase came forward himself, colliding as they fought at superspeed. As Bart lay helpless on the ground, all he could see was a streak of bright green and red going so fast that it was just a blur. Propping himself up against the wall, Bart just stared down at his legs.
"Max, where are you?"
# # # # #
A lifetime away, on the edges of the speed force, a powerless Max and Lucas were trying to find their way back.
"If we've lost our powers, then it's a safe bet that everyone connected to the speed force is powerless as well," Max said. "Including those that are on the outside like Wally and Jesse."
"We'll never make it back in time," Lucas said. "I really will never see my boy again."
"He's not in the speed force," Max said. "I know where your son is, Lucas, I've seen visions of him while trying to become one with it."
"Where is he?" Lucas asked with hope in his voice.
# # # # #
The Fortress of Solitude
"I'm starting to rethink this whole idea," Superman said. "Kryptonian technology mixing with something as powerful as the speed force could have dire consequences."
"It's our only hope," Wally said as he took off his shirt and started attaching a heart monitor to his chest. "It's Barry's only hope. I have to get in contact with Max on the inside and find out what's going on."
"Okay, but if I see that any kind of energy surge is building, I'm pulling the plug," Superman told him as he started the device.
"Fair enough," Wally said as he waited for the machine to tap into the speed force.
# # # # #
"This is going to take forever," Lucas said as he walked behind Max.
"Patience, Lucas, we'll find a way to get there," Max assured him.
"Max?" Wally's voice said, coming from all around. "Are you in there?"
"Wally? How are you doing this?"
"I got help tapping into the speed force. It's bad out here, Max. Everyone's been cut off and Barry's been badly injured. What the hell's going on in there?"
"That's what we were trying to find out," Max told him. "We were about to confront whoever's behind this when we got diverted to the edge of the speed force."
"We? Is Bart with you?"
"No, I'm not sure where Bart is, we were separated. I just hope he's okay."
"I don't know how long I can stay in contact," Wally told him. "Superman's helping me tap into the speed force with some Kryptonian technology and--"
"Wally, I need you to hold on as long as you can," Max told him. "Try to home in on Bart if you can. I have a feeling he needs you right now."
# # # # #
"You can't win," Inertia told Jase as they continued trading punches back and forth. He put his hand around Jase's throat and lifted him into the air. "You're backing the wrong horse, boy. Bart Allen is a fool, a loser! And in the end, I will destroy him and everyone who sides with him!"
"You're a monster," Jase said as he struggled in Inertia's grip. "Bart's one of the nicest, bravest, people I've ever seen. He took me in when I didn't have a clue as to who or what I was. He was kind to me when all you wanted was to use me for evil."
"And it got him paralyzed in the end," Inertia said as laughed. "I took away the one thing that gives him joy. He'll never run again."
" You're wrong, dumbass," Bart said as he shoved an iron rod through Inertia's leg. The villain screamed in pain as he fell, dropping Jase in the process. Bart, still on the ground, tried to crawl over to where Jase had fallen. "I can't run, but that's not the only thing I have to live for," Bart said as he took Jase's hand. "I have my friends."
As Inertia pulled the rod out of his leg, the wound was crackling with speed force energy. Jase smirked as he stared at Bart. "I have an idea, but we're probably going to die for it."
"Hey, we had a good run," Bart said. "Let's save the world."
"You want the power of the speed force?" Jase asked as he looked at Inertia's wound, which was starting to heal. "You're gonna get it. All of it."
Jase held out his hand as Inertia started screaming in pain. "What are you doing to me?"
"Transferring the conduit from me to you," Jase said. "You're going to get the speed force's energy, totally unfiltered."
"Are you sure about this?" Bart asked. "Won't that kill him?"
"His physical body will be destroyed, but he'll still be a part the speed force, but he'll be in pain for every moment of it until the end of time," Jase assured him. "Give up the speed force energy or spend eternity in torment, Inertia."
"Never!"
"Your call," Jase said as he kept focusing the speed force energy on Inertia. "Ultimate power always comes at a price."
Inertia kept screaming in pain before he finally relented. "You win! Take your energy back!"
Inertia fell to his knees as Jase's energy started to be restored to him, the speed force, and the rest of the speedsters. But just as the process started, a shockwave of energy knocked both Jase and Inertia back.
"What was that?" Bart asked.
"The speed force energy, I'm sending it back to everyone who lost it," Jase said. "Now let's heal your spine and--"
"Heal this," Inertia said as he shoved the iron rod through Bart's chest, pinning him to the floor. "This isn't the end, brat. I'll find another way to take over this place. You haven't won!"
As Inertia turned to run, Jase held out his hand. "You're not going anywhere. I've had enough of you."
"What are you doing to me?" Inertia asked as his actions got slower and slower.
"Slowing you down," Jase told him. "I believe you'd been through this before. Only this time I'm making you even slower. Before the process was only physical. Now? It'll take you hundreds of years just to finish one thought. Welcome to the speed force, bitch."
Jase quickly rushed over to Bart, trying to pull the iron rod out, but didn't have the strength. Bart was coughing up blood as he felt himself dying. "Bart, I can't get it out."
"It's okay, kid," Bart said as he took Jase's hand, his voice shaking. "I guess this is where my race ends. Love you, little brother."
"I love you, big brother," Jase said with tears in his eyes. "I'll never forget you."
Max burst in, with Lucas behind him, staring at the sight of Bart pinned to the ground.
"Everyone's got their powers back, hopefully including everyone on the outside," Max said as he pulled the iron rod out of Bart's chest and tossed it away. "Bart, you should have your powers back, why aren't you healing?"
"I still can't feel my legs," Bart said as Jase kneeled down to heal him. "It-- it's not working. Why isn't it working?"
Max looked at the iron rod. "The rod. It deflected the speed force energy when it returned to everyone who lost it. Bart has no powers to heal himself. He's dying."
"No," Jase said as he hugged Bart. "This is all my fault. I'm responsible for everything that's happened. I'm sorry, Bart."
"Hey, this isn't your fault, kid," Bart told him. "Maybe I can see where you came from. Be one with the speed force."
"No, I can fix this," Jase said as he tried to help Bart up. "I can heal you, I know I can. I just need to be faster."
"Jase, what are you--" Max started to ask as Jase started running while holding onto Bart.
# # # # #
"Okay, Max wanted me to lock in on Bart," Wally said. "I think I found him, but something's wrong. It's like he's hurt, bad."
"I just received word from Central City, Barry's powers are back, he's almost healed," Superman said. "He's going to be okay, but we need to disconnect you, the power levels are reaching critical."
"Hang on, I need to talk to Bart," Wally said as he focused. "He's in physical pain, I can feel it."
# # # # #
"Faster, must go faster," Jase said as he picked up the speed, racing as fast as his small body could take him while carrying Bart's weight. "If I can just go a little bit faster..."
The energy of the speed force was hitting both like lightning as Bart started feeling something. "My legs. I can feel my legs! Whatever you're doing, keep it up!"
Jase went faster, reaching beyond the speed of light, just as Wally find found Bart's location. Superman saw the power levels were hitting critical, and just as he went to disconnect Wally from the machine--
BOOOOOMMM!
When the smoke cleared, a large hole had appeared in the wall of the Fortress, leading to the snowy landscape outside. Superman and Wally quickly rushed outside, with Wally's Flash costume appearing around his body as they followed the trail for several miles. When they reached the end, they found Bart huddled in the snow, keeping Jase warm with his body. Superman quickly pulled off his cape and wrapped it around the two as Wally just stared down at the boys.
"Welcome home, Bart."
TO BE CONTINUED...