Prologue:



Central City was still in a collective slumber as 1987's final day inched closer & closer towards 1988. However, aside from those working the night shift, one particular residence was clearly awake at 4371 Bates Street. Within the home that was still in need of renovation were loud sounds... one which was clearly human while the other was akin to some sort of beast.



"You must calm down! Your actions are going to damn us both!", shouted Jorman Corterov in his native Markovian tongue towards the house's other resident. "I have gone out of my way to feed you and yet you still had to endanger the both of us by what you did to Mr. Lubinski. If word gets out, everything I've done to try & help you will be for naught and SHE will find us."



Whatever creature was within the cage continued to growl; its movements started to rattle the shrouded cage. As the cage had been used for an indeterminate amount of time, its bars started to weaken. Jorman, however, didn't notice the weakness as his concerns over their current situation took precedent.



"How many more cities-- no... how many more countries must we flee from before we run out of time?!" Jorman exclaimed in an anger quickly turning to fear. The elderly man knelt down and put himself almost face to face in front of the cage. "We are both nearing our end and the prospect of the help we both need diminishes daily."



The creature within the cage started to grow quiet, as if it could understand the tone of Jorman's voice, if not comprehend the words he spoke. Jorman found the change of the caged creature to be some sort of breakthrough. "This is the one I've fought so hard for. The human within", he said with an optimism tinged with an understanding sadness. "We cannot give in to the darkness or we will lose what little we have left."



Jorman turned around to head upstairs. "I know you are hungry even as we fast approach morning. I shall return with something suited to your dietary needs. We WILL get through this."



As Jorman walked, the creature within the cage resumed its growls and with a renewed vigor pulled at the cage's bars that served as both a prison and yet a safe haven. The bars, already weakened, finally started to give way... the noise of which alerted Jorman that one of his greatest fears had just unfolded.



"NO!", Jorman screamed as he reached for a Rosary and clutched it instead of the intended meal for the caged being. He then rushed towards the door leading back to the basement but before he could start walking down the steps, the resident of the cage was upon him, knocking Jorman backwards as his head hit a kitchen chair. The blow knocked him out and rendered him completely at the mercy of the creature. It moved forwards, toward the helpless Jorman as a cat would stalk a smaller prey such as a mouse or chipmunk but before any ill will could take place, the creature recoiled as Jorman's hand still clutched at the Rosary. That, in turn, stirred something within the creature... a faint echo of what it had once been. It paused until it smelled the intended meal that Jorman had ventured upstairs to collect and it turned towards that instead. With a superhuman speed, it consumed the liquid diet then with a renewed strength, promptly ran through the kitchen's window. It was long gone as Jorman slowly started to stir, being greeted by both the sight of the broken kitchen window and the first glimmers of the morning sun.



"No... NO!" Jorman thought, surveying the damage, even as he looked for any other traces of injury on his body... Rosary still in hand. He placed the Rosary around his neck and silently recited its Prayer, eyes closed as his sadness overcame his fear. "I tried to protect you and only now do I see the odds were always going to be against us", he thought. "I would have gladly died for you if it meant I could have freed you from your prison; And yet instead I imprisoned you in just as bad a place despite the vast differences."



Jorman watched the sun slowly rise, sadness giving way to a grim determination. "I can only hope now that the sun can do what I'd tried to do without success but if not", he thought as he reached for an old tool bag and picked it up, "Then I shall undertake other methods to do so".



*



It was several hours later that same day (late-morning to be precise) when Wally West woke up in his Kingsley Apartments residence; the last few months of solo activity (relatively speaking, since at times some 'solo' activities involved teaming with his girlfriend Frances Kane, aka Polara) coupled with Justice League missions and a busy Holiday season of both fun and drama took its own toll of sorts on the twenty-something individual.



"Shoot," Wally thought as he yawned the last of his exhaustion away, "I hadn't planned on sleeping this long but I definitely needed it." Wally sat up and looked around at his apartment, then at his newer Flash costume and boots by the foot of his bed. "I was so tired I didn't even bother to pull my costume into my ring. Well, at least we had another great Christmas even though what I'd intended to do was met with a bit of a delay. However, I can't imagine that it was the best Christmas for Darryl or Angie with what they had to contend with separately with Firefist and Paul Margolin respectively. That said, things are at least looking up for Darryl. Thelma told me he's been as active as he can be with physical therapy rehab without pushing himself too far. With his pacemaker, he can't be too careful or all the work he's putting in to recover from his back and hip injuries will lead him to an early grave."



Wally checked first his JLA Communicator then checked his answering machine in the event he might've slept through a call or any other concerning matter. "I wouldn't want to oversleep in the event something was to happen but fortunately it looks like all's well. And that reminds me... time for a breakfast of champions before I start my day", Wally thought as he walked to his fridge and pulled out a box filled with about a quarter of a pizza and an accompanying drink.



With his superspeed, Wally ate a few slices of the cold pizza, downed a Gatorade and then clothed himself in his Flash costume. "Well, it's not Brannies but that hit the spot," the Scarlet Speedster thought with a slight smile before he was again reminded of the last few weeks events, another which still weighed on his conscience.



"Apparently while the League and I were in that strange Mirror-Earth timeline Doctor Light sent us to, Paul Margolin somehow made bail... which Angie predicted he would. At least now she's got a restraining order against him and she's staying with John Flint in the meantime as opposed to Patty Spivot. I just expected the internal investigation to have wrapped up by now and it's not. Then again, I'm the one with the superspeed, not the CCPD. The investigation has to be as thorough as possible to eliminate even the slightest of doubts concerning Angie's innocence and I know the CCPD's higher-ups aren't criminals like Harvey Paulson was", Flash thought with optimism. "Now it's time for me to patrol the city a few times before Fran gets off work. I still owe her that date in Hawaii and I can't do that if the people in Central City are endangered... especially since tonight's New Year's Eve." With that thought, the Flash utilized his powers to keep the city and its citizens safe.



*



Elsewhere, a train made its way eastbound at a brisk pace towards Metropolis, though its trajectory would put it through some other well-known cities. It wasn't a long train, nor was it populated by many citizens on their way home from visiting relatives. However, those few within were important, as was its cargo... both separated by individual railroad cars. The car with passengers had several armed guards as well as two scientists in their early 40s.



One of the guards spoke to the two scientists, pulling out a pack of cigarettes and gestured to the pair. "Either of you two smoke?", the guard asked before lighting himself one. Both scientists pleasantly refused as their minds were on the cargo that was with them. "Oh, no, but thank you for the offer", the dark medium-haired woman with glasses answered. "I gave that habit up some time back, but all things considered I appreciate the offer", the grey shorter-haired man replied with an eager smile. Both scientists smiled, grasping the other's hands as their travels continued.



"We really did it, Jerry. It's really happening", the woman said to her husband. Jerry responded with his own level of confidence. "It sure is, Tina. We spent so many years on this project... something that should've been impossible or only real in the realm of the fantastic and yet, here we are."



"Sounds like you two created something to benefit humankind," the guard who'd offered them cigarettes said in between his own puffs. "There's not enough of that these days."



"That's for sure", Tina answered as she readjusted her glasses. "I'd have rather waited for the new year to arrive but if news were to get out before the public reveal, it could've jeopardized so many lives involved with the project."



"The way you're talking, I'm surprised you didn't discreetly reach out to your bosses at S.T.A.R. Labs and try to secure some type of crimefighter to, you know, have an added sense of security," the guard said as he started to finish his cigarette. As he ground his cigarette butt into a small built-in ashtray on the train, Tina and Jerry started to feel an uneasiness as they eyed each other, then the guards within... one that quickly turned into a deep dread.



Joining that dread was the sound of an explosion which emanated from one of the railroad cars behind them, even as a second explosion rocked the locomotive pulling them which then started to slow to a stop. "Drs. McGee, I suppose it's time to do away with the games here," the guard who'd conversed with them said with a cold smile. "We know all about your Elemental Transponder thanks to..., well, we'll call it 'shared history'.



The doctors at first had looks of fear and confusion... then slowly those looks transformed into a deep shame. They couldn't look into their captors' eyes as their shared past caught up to them. It was then they realized just who these 'guards' truly were. "B-Barney Mathers", Tina McGee said as she slowly started to shake, her fear gripping her. Jerry McGee wrapped his arms around his wife, willing to do everything he could to keep her out of harms' way. "How dare you...", Jerry seethed with a subdued anger, doing what he could to protect his wife. "After all these years. You haven't changed one single iota. And I suppose our former mutual merrymen are still doing someone else's dirty work, like Fred Milsap, Harry Davenport and Curt Ferguson?"



Barney stifled a chuckle before responding with a question of his own. "You mean Argon, Krypton and Xenon, eh, Neon & Helium? They're doing MY work now. How else do you think we'd come across that type of score in the form of your invention?" He called to his three partners, all the while not taking his eyes off the couple. "Argon, Xenon, Krypton; Get the merchandise unloaded and be as careful as possible." The three men in unison answered Mathers before heading to the railcar where the Elemental Transponder was housed. "Yes Radon!"



Barney looked at the couple and pulled out another cigarette, addressing the couple before lighting it. "All those years ago in Central City, we just did as we were told by Mister Element and we made the mistake of not thinking for ourselves and look what we got for our 'obedience'", Barney said with contempt. "Tina, he named you Neon because you had a glow about you and you, Jerry, he named Helium since you were full of 'hot air'. I'm not even mad at Desmond anymore but what I AM mad at is how you two not only managed to not go to jail with us but parlayed your lives into doing 'good' while we languished for quite some time in prison".



As Barney lit his next cigarette, Jerry responded civilly as he released his wife from his embrace but still stood in front of her, almost acting as a human shield. "We didn't carry out those tasks that Albert ordered us to, and Tina and I realized very quickly that things could end only one way... badly." Tina then addressed Barney with both concern and a bit of determination. "We have free will to do whatever we want to in this life, Barney. The lives affected by our poor choices would be well too many and no matter how 'rich' or 'powerful' we'd potentially become, it wasn't, isn't and never would be worth it."



As Tina briefly sat back down within the passenger car, Barney took a draw from his cigarette and exhaled it towards his former partners in crime. "It is for us, sweetheart", he said with a subdued coldness, narrowing his eyes at the couple, then shouting aloud "You guys finished? We're on a schedule here!"



The man named Fred, aka Argon entered the railcar and answered Barney. "It's safely secured in our packing truck, Radon." The man named Harry, aka Krypton, chimed in. "You wouldn't believe how heavy that thing is, Radon! It's the size of a futuristic mini refrigerator and home computer rolled up into one!"



Barney smiled. "Excellent, Argon and Krypton", he said as he gestured towards the McGees. "They're coming with us. Get Xenon and you three tie them up. As long as they serve our purpose, they'll be safe. If they don't want to serve our purpose", Barney said as he aimed his gun first at Jerry's head, then slowly towards Tina's, "Then we can end this here and now, like that bomb ended things for the conductor mere moments ago."



The seriousness of this life-or-death situation was evident in the eyes of the married captives and without incident, allowed their captors to bind and silence them. Once all parties had been secured, the packing truck took off towards the nearest big city which was both very close and well-scouted in advance: Central City. The McGees were unaware of this fact due to their current predicament. Left behind was the train which had housed the McGees' invention and contained a sliver of hope for the reformed couple at the moment. However, that wasn't guaranteed as another train was making its way westward on those same tracks and would find itself approaching Central City's city limits soon enough.



*



The Flash continued his Central City patrol as late morning turned to early afternoon knowing full well that though he was the Fastest Man Alive, it wouldn't be to the citizens' best interest for a few lightspeed runs... especially factoring the winter weather into the equation even if the sun was out. As long as every single part of the city was patrolled, it'd cut down on any potential danger unfolding. "So far, there's not been a large number of citizens in danger or any sort of criminal actions, so that's a blessing", the Crimson Comet thought as he took a few zig-zag paths down main roadways and side streets. As he explored another main street however, he saw what appeared to be a man clothed in a costume with varying colors changing randomly. The figure loomed menacingly, holding what looked like a sack of cash.



"Give me a break!" Flash said as he felt he knew what was behind this foe. Running towards the figure, he continued to address the situation. "New Year's Eve but it doesn't look like that'll stop a Rogue from being a Rogue, right Roy?" Sure enough, the Rainbow Raider appeared upon hearing his name called, holding two bags filled with cash. "Drat and double-drat!" the Raider exclaimed with a sneer. "You always show up to spoil my fun, Speedster, but I think you'll find that fortunes can turn at a moment's notice!"



"Oh, really?" Flash said aloud as he reached the larger figure and grabbed it... or did it grab him instead? "The hell?!" Flash exclaimed as the moment took him by surprise. A brief struggle began as the larger 'figure' quickly coated Central City's champion even as he was now aware that this strange situation actually wasn't the work of the Rainbow Raider; instead, it was another Rogue that the Flash thought he was going to encounter a few weeks earlier. By this point, what had once been a large looming figure of multicolors had transformed into a substance that was at times the consistency of bubble gum but strong enough to remind one of a thin concrete. The substance also began to emit a strange, noxious fume which was by design. The 'Raider' smirked and addressed Flash as he fought for freedom from this trap.



"I guess that's what you'd call a tricky situation, Flash!"



The Flash had already realized who he was really facing... it was James Jesse, the infamous Trickster and long-time Flash foe to both Wally West and his uncle & predecessor Barry Allen. "Oh, James, we both know how this'll end", Flash said as he struggled, both knowing of the actual dangers presented here but not wanting to appear that way. "I thought Blammo pulled this off the shelves a few years back."



"They did!" the Trickster exclaimed as he quickly removed the Paul Gambi-designed Rainbow Raider costume; once finished, the Rogue pulled from his belt a device that resembled a remote control. "This is MY version of Elasti-Plastomax ... a nice, tye-dye variant that I can manipulate with my handy-dandy device here. I'm sure I could've patented it but what'd be the fun in that? And speaking of fun", the villain said with a slow grin growing on his face as he pushed a button on his device. Upon doing so, the Elasti-Plastomax sphere began to contract. "We're going to see what happens first: the fumes overcoming you, the lack of oxygen or simply being crushed within your sticky prison."



The Flash knew that there wasn't much time to escape, even as he started to get dizzy from the fumes, but he realized he had a longshot at an escape. "If I can get just enough of a vibrational balance to myself, I may be able to use Jesse's trap against him", he thought with determination. With that thought, the Scarlet Speedster managed to use that vibrational balance to expel the Elasti-Plastomax from his costume. Though he was still within his spherical prison, he then used his arms & legs to push against the sphere which slowly started to move. Thanks to maintaining his vibrational balance, the Flash managed to keep the substance from reattaching itself to his boots. The Trickster's glee began to change as he realized that the Flash wasn't going down without a fight.



"I KNEW I should've stayed in Los Angeles!", the villain exclaimed as he turned around & started to run from the fast-approaching sphere that held the still imprisoned Flash. Dropping the bags of money he'd stolen, the Trickster activated his shoes to attempt an escape by flight. "Not much time left... a last burst of speed may still win the day", Flash thought as his spherical prison picked up more speed and finally made contact with the Trickster's leg... trapping the villain just as it trapped the Scarlet Speedster moments before. A few rolls later, the Trickster's remote control found itself smashed into pieces and the Elasti-Plastomax prison Flash found himself in came apart... no longer a danger to Central City's champion thanks to his vibrational balance. The same couldn't be said for the Trickster, whom aside from his head was still coated with the would-be death trap he'd created. Any attempts at escape ended from the moment the villain made contact with it.



The Flash made a near-instant recovery as he spun himself around several times at superspeed to dissipate the fumes that he'd almost succumbed to. "That matter's finished and now I'll take care of the next one", he said confidently as he collected the two bags of money and returned them to the bank. "I believe these are yours", the hero said to the bank manager as he handed them over with a smile.



The bank manager graciously smiled and spoke. "Thank you, Flash! We were getting set to close up early for the day when who we'd thought was the Rainbow Raider appeared and robbed us. I'm glad you stopped him."



"All in a day's work, sir", Flash said with a smile. "I hope you and all here have a Happy New Year."



"Happy New Year to you and thank you so much again", the bank manager replied as Flash sped off to tend to the Trickster. "Remember what I said a few minutes ago, James? Just how this would end?", he asked. "Well sure enough it ended, just like every other time."



The Trickster had a look that was half disgust and half disappointment. "Yeah, yeah, yeah", he replied with a mumble as a Police Van arrived on the scene to cart the Rogue away. As two police officers exited the vehicle to arrest the villain, the Flash used his superspeed to remove everything that might've held a gimmick or any sort of weapon to aid an escape... essentially leaving the foe clothed in only his undershirt and shorts yet still trapped in his self-made solo prison.



"When it comes to any villains, it's safe to say we can't ever be too careful", Flash said as he headed to the CCPD and dropped off the Trickster's costume, flight shoes and any potential weapons contained therein before returning to his defeated foe. "They'll be expecting you, James. By the way... Happy early New Year", Flash said with a content satisfaction. James Jesse could only think about how he was going to be 1987 Rogues' Gallery 'Champion Loser of the Year' and mumbled something incoherent in response to Flash's farewell greeting. Shortly thereafter, James Jesse found himself on his way to the last place he'd planned on celebrating New Year's Eve at... the CCPD jail.



The Flash then took the time to repair what little damage that had been caused by James Jesse's schemes and once that was finished, he briefly thought about what just happened. "I shouldn't be surprised that James would do that... after all, he's the Trickster. I have a feeling Roy's not going to be too happy that James impersonated him, though. Most likely it's another one-upsmanship 'game', as the Rogues are known for. They're their own worst enemies when they're not trying to kill me or steal from the city."



With that thought, the Flash intended to resume his patrol when he heard the tell-tale sound of a train horn blaring non-stop from quite a distance away. As he turned himself around towards the direction of the train horn, the Fastest Man Alive thought to himself: "That doesn't sound good. I'd better check it out on the double!" With that thought finished, the Flash sped off towards the sound to see just what was going on.



*



During the Flash's encounter with the Trickster minutes before, a passenger train was travelling westbound with many New Year's Eve partygoers aboard. This was a fairly normal tradition as it was destined for taking these citizens to different cities for various New Year's Eve celebratory events. Despite the fact that another train had used the same tracks hours before, there was no expectations of danger as that particular train was supposed to have already passed through and switched to a different track on its way to its eastbound destination. The only problem was that it never did.



"Oh my God!" the middle-aged conductor shouted as he saw from a distance that the smaller eastbound train sat motionless as its locomotive bellowed smoke. He immediately pulled his train horn and applied his locomotive emergency brake in the hopes to stop his train before a potentially fatal collision could take place, but the train was still moving too fast. This sudden measure was enough to scare the many others in the passenger cars who grabbed what they could to brace themselves from what was forthcoming. It was a foregone conclusion that a tragic event was about to unfold even as the conductor said a silent prayer to himself as impact was sure to occur momentarily. But before such a thing could happen, the Flash arrived on the scene!



"Good God!", the Crimson Comet shouted as he raced parallel with the westbound train. "There's only one chance to keep this from becoming the worst tragedy Central City's ever seen!" Racing past the westbound train, Flash boarded the smaller train's locomotive and after fanning the bellowing smoke from the damaged locomotive, gripped one of the armbars within it. "This should work but I've got to be as fast as I can if we're all to survive", he thought as he used his superspeed and increased his internal vibrations; with one of his hands holding onto the locomotive's armbar, he managed to not only vibrate so fast that he'd become intangible but so did the damaged locomotive and the rest of the smaller train's cars thanks to the couplers connecting each individual part of the train. The westbound locomotive travelled completely through the entirety of the inert train without incident but though one danger was over, another began as suddenly its emergency brake broke and began picking up speed as it descended downwards on the track. Again, most aboard started to panic but the Scarlet Speedster was on the job. He heard some sort of mechanism break from a distance and had left the smaller train towards the still in danger westbound one.



"I bet that was the emergency break", he thought grimly as he raced towards it. "There's a real danger of derailment or a wreck, and that's not counting the homes & businesses nearby that are also at risk. Again, I have a shot at stopping this before it ends badly, but I'd better hurry." Reaching the train and running parallel to it as before, the Scarlet Speedster used his powers to slowly steal the runaway train's velocity even as he continued to run; he did do knowing that while he could attempt to steal the passenger train's speed faster while running, it wasn't worth risking the lives aboard or the others around in the surrounding communities. The gamble worked: slower and slower the passenger train lumbered until it finally came to a complete stop. With the danger over, the conductor and the passengers supplied voices of thankfulness & gratitude directed towards the Flash. Hearing the voices made the speedster smile until he heard the sirens of emergency vehicles approaching. That in turn reminded him of the original danger moments earlier. "I almost forgot about the other train!" he exclaimed to the conductor.



"That train was heading eastward and was supposed to have been long gone before we reached this area, Flash!" the conductor replied, still slightly concerned after what he'd just been through. "Our route was supposed to stop in Midway City, Ivy Town and River City, among others." Before he realized it, Flash was gone and hadn't stayed long enough to hear the conductor's words. "Jeez, he's fast," the conductor said as emergency vehicles arrived. "Thank God the Flash arrived when he did. I hope something like this never happens again."



"I hated running off as fast as I did but seeing that billowing smoke in the smaller train earlier, I need to make sure that no other danger's unfolding," Flash thought as he arrived back where the first train still rested, noticing now that the back of the train had suffered damage to it as well. "I completely missed this as I was busy trying to save both trains!", he thought as he stopped to examine the damage. A concerned look grew on his face. "The prospect of one area of the train being damaged could be normal, but two? Not at all," he realized as his concern soon turned to caution. Speeding back to the locomotive, he reentered the location he'd chose to prevent the collision from earlier and spotted the damage... as well as the remains of this locomotive's conductor. Even if approaching sirens weren't on their way, Flash knew just what this truly was. "We've got ourselves a crime scene... and this poor soul's the first victim", he thought grimly. "I noticed that this train has one solitary passenger car as well as a hopper car and a box car. I'd better check and see if there's more victims aboard."



Flash sped his way into the passenger car and felt a sense of relief that there weren't further bodies, but only for a moment as the faintest scent of cigarette smoke remained, as well as one other thing... a card of some sort barely peeking through between two of the passenger car seats. Speeding to the seats, the Crimson Comet picked up the card and inspected it... now realizing that matters were even more serious than he'd suspected. "It's a S.T.A.R. Labs Identification Badge for a woman named Christina McGee. I've seen enough of these from my past visits to know they're extremely hard to forge", he thought as he inspected it.



"Flash?", a voice from behind called out. Flash recognized the voice as he turned around and greeted not one but two familiar faces (in a matter of speaking for one of them) ... the magnetically powered heroine Polara and Central City police scientist Patty Spivot. "Polara, Patty... good to see both of you here", Flash said in a serious tone. "It's been quite busy the last half-hour after a relatively peaceful patrol the last few hours."



"I understand. I was getting out of work early when I heard the breaking news report about the trains. Luckily you had it well in hand by then", the Magnetic Maiden said cautiously as she could read her boyfriend's face and saw that he was perplexed.



"It's all good, Polara", Flash said with genuine appreciation, his own way of letting his masked girlfriend know that from one mindset he was okay. "Anything can happen at any time in Central City as we've seen and experienced first-hand. Even I can't be in two places at once. I know that had something else happened at the same time as the trains matter, you would've been there to stop it, just like Francine Nurblin found out a few months back."



Turning his attention to Patty, Flash turned over the S.T.A.R. Labs Identification Badge to Patty, who was already wearing gloves so as to not eliminate or taint the crime scene. "I found this a few minutes ago, Patty. Unless this is a state-of-the-art forgery, this looks like the real deal", he said. "By the way, I hope you & yours had a good Christmas."



"Thanks Wally", Patty said pleasantly as she placed the badge into a small plastic bag. "Thank goodness it was an uneventful one, no dramas, and after the last few months I'd say it was a much-needed break from the insanity we've been through. I hope yours and Fran's was too, as well as the rest of your family."



Under the mask of Polara, Fran had a slight uneasiness as she realized that Patty might know her secret identity. "Uh oh", she thought nervously.



"We did, Patty", Flash stated confidently, "and I'm sure Polara did, too. That said, I think we'd best get back to this matter at hand. You with the police science, Polara with getting the westbound train to a repair station and me with getting in touch with a friend of mine at S.T.A.R. Labs in New York City."



"Sounds like a plan, Wally", Patty said with a smile. "You both be safe and careful out there."



"We will", Polara said with her own confidence. With that, the two heroes left the passenger car and after they found a close enough hiding spot, spoke briefly before tackling their individual missions. "I've been careful not to jeopardize my secret identity, Wally. Between this and the social work I do, I've taken every precaution possible not to connect either identity," Polara said with urgency, yet a bit unsure of herself.



"I wouldn't worry about it, Fran", Flash replied with understanding as he gave his girlfriend a hug and then looked her in the eye and spoke directly with her. "The closest friends I have at the CCPD are completely trustworthy and after what you did in getting Thelma to Darryl's side on Thanksgiving, I'd say you can trust them as well."



"I hope so", Polara said with cautious optimism. "I know so", Flash replied with a determined confidence before pulling just enough of Polara's mask up to share a kiss. Once that was done, both wished the other luck as they parted ways and continued their quest to get to the bottom of this new mystery.



*



Elsewhere within a long-closed auto shop in Central City, Radon and his gang unloaded their cargo which included the McGees and the Elemental Transponder. By this point they'd changed into slightly updated versions of their old costumes a decade-plus prior and activated a gasoline-powered generator to power up the abandoned shop, all the while keeping most lights off so that they wouldn't tip residents of Central City off that they were there. Radon then examined the Elemental Transponder carefully, then glanced at his current and former partners in crime... Argon, Krypton and Xenon playing poker while the former Helium and Neon, aka Jerry and Tina McGee were still tied up, back-to-back.



"Xenon, untie Helium and bring him over here", Radon said in a sinister tone, gesturing with his hand as a parent would to a child. "I want to know how this thing works."



Argon and Krypton both smirked as Xenon protested. "C'mon Radon! After this hand!" Xenon said with some uneasiness in his voice. Some would mistake his uneasiness for a bad hand, but his role in the events earlier gnawed at him slowly but steadily.


Radon glared at Xenon with narrow eyes, then at their fellows in crime and walked towards the three. Without missing a beat, the self-professed leader of Mr. Element's former gang overturned the wooden pallets that functioned as a table, causing the three to scatter as cards and the petty cash spilled about. The noise caused the still blindfolded and bound McGees to react with a start, even as Radon's partners glared back at their leader... with anger and hints of fear. "When I tell you to do something, you DO IT!" screamed Radon. "You might be satisfied with your lot in life as a professional zilch but there's so much potential in that Transponder! We could own this town and you're more content to play cards. You talk about a good hand...", Radon said as he used one hand to grasp Xenon's face, then slugged Xenon with his other hand. Xenon flew back into the arms of Argon and Krypton, all three men's emotions more in tune with fear than anger now as they stared at their leader who then finished his sentence. "...Don't force MY hand. Ever. AGAIN."



Xenon stood for a few seconds rubbing his jaw, then made his way to where the McGees were sitting and untied Jerry. "I'm sorry about this, Jerry", Xenon whispered sympathetically as he removed Jerry's blindfold while Jerry himself removed the tape that had silenced him some time earlier. Alternately taking turns rubbing each of his now-free wrists with the other hand, Jerry stood for a few seconds as he looked at his still-bound wife, then at Radon. "What in the name of God happened to you, Barney?", Jerry asked, his voice once more resonating with concern bordering on fear.



Radon let out a smirk and responded. "Helium, sometimes people are just born bad and don't need some 'origin story' to explain why they are the way they are. Now get over here and show me what that Elemental Transponder can do before I do something you and Neon regret."



Jerry looked back at his still-bound wife, then at his former partners who still wore concerned looks on their faces. Still unwilling to jeopardize his wife's life, Jerry did as Radon ordered... though he'd already decided to go about this as long as he could afford to. "All right Barney. I'll do as you say."



As Jerry started to explain things to Radon, Tina still sat silently... restrained by her bonds and blindfolded but her thoughts told a different tale. "In my youth, I made the poor choice to pick pockets before I joined Albert Desmond's gang and met Jerry. That skill came in handy earlier though. I managed to hide my identification badge on the passenger train and Jerry was aware I grabbed his when Barney and the others revealed themselves to us. I just hope whoever finds mine will find us before it's too late."



*



Polara returned to the westbound train and addressed the many displaced passengers. "The train that the Flash saved you all from is still being investigated and your train's out of commission. That said, I can fly you all to your chosen locations to celebrate New Year's Eve, if you don't mind taking the Polara Express."



The passengers in unison answered with a collective cheer even as Polara addressed the conductor. "I hope you don't mind me doing this, sir."



The conductor gave a grateful chuckle as he responded. "Ma'am, the Flash saved our tails earlier and your kind gesture to the passengers just now helps all of us quite a bit. I'll show you where the train depot is before you drop off the first passengers."



Though Polara's mask hid her features, her voice registered relief: "I'm glad to hear it, sir. We better get started before the New Year."



The conductor concurred, even as he addressed the passengers with an "All Aboard!" The passengers returned to their seats and once all were inside, Polara used her abilities to fly herself and the entire passenger train westward. However, one passenger stayed behind, entirely unnoticed by Polara, the conductor and the other passengers.



This was a woman who despite her early thirties' appearance wore a weary yet determined look on her face despite the sunglasses that covered her eyes. Her strawberry blonde hair in the shape of a shoulder-length bob cut and her figure clad in pink, from her leather jacket to her denim jeans. In each hand was a travel bag, though the contents within those weren't discernable. She looked about, surveying what was around her even as the sky started turning into a similar shade of pink and began to walk eastward towards the main hub of Central City. Who was this woman and why she chose to stay here instead of one of the train's intended stops were questions to be answered another day.



*



Within a house in one of Central City's suburbs, Angela Margolin kept herself busy as she'd done since she and her soon to be ex-husband were suspended from the Central City Police Department. This included a more intense exercise routine to hone her natural strengths and reflexes as a precautionary measure. While the first few weeks had worn her out, her body was now adjusting nicely to the daily regimen. So intense was her workout that she hadn't heard the door open to this small home gym and a figure approach her. The moment that this individual's finger tapped Angela's shoulder, she immediately grabbed the person's arm and flipped him to the floor, ready to pounce.



"Hey there, it's just me!" John Flint said with a surprised grin.



"John!", Angela replied with a brief look of shock, then let go of his arm. "I'm really sorry about that, John. I was 'in the zone', as the younger generation would say." She reached down and helped pull her friend back to his feet. John smiled confidently and responded. "You're not that old, Angie. Seeing how intense you've been working out is a good thing."



Angela grabbed a hand towel and started to dry her face and arms. "I don't ever want to be where I was this time last month," she said as she remembered how her crumbling marriage had evolved into one of violence and unpredictability. John's smile faded as he remembered how domestic violence had shaped his own life in his youth. "I know", he replied as he nodded his head.



Angela saw the pained look in her friend's eyes and felt compassion as she remembered what he'd shared with her several weeks back. "Oh, John", she said, offering her friend a hug. They held one another for a few seconds as their friendship had grown over the last few months and each one quietly reflected on that. It was still mutual friendship they had, even though both had issues with people in their past. Both slowly released their hug as John responded with a confident smile. "It's been quite a fall and winter so far, but I'd say things are looking up. Only a few more hours and we can both say goodbye to 1987."



Angela smiled, wiped a tear away and spoke. "You got that right. No more years like 1987. Just the present and the future."



"Speaking of the present, I think we're both likely ready for some dinner. I'll order some wings and a salad for pick up while you get cleaned up," John said as he walked towards the phone. "And I'll make sure we have just enough so we don't blow our resolutions at midnight."



"Oh yeah?", Angela replied with a smirk as she tossed the sweaty hand towel at John's head. "I'll head out there myself and pick it up after my shower. It's the least I can do after you've let me stay here these past few weeks."



With that matter settled, neither Angela nor John was aware that a third party was nearby. That third party was Paul Margolin, who sat behind the wheel of his recently repaired parked car and cased out John Flint's house. "You shouldn't have been a bad girl, Angie. You and Johnny boy are going to have to take your medicine", he thought menacingly as he looked at the passenger seat where a gun sat, then stared at his broken and casted hand. "And you're not going to like the taste of it, either." As tempted as he was for revenge against the pair, Paul recognized that the CCPD would have an increased presence in Central City tonight to best protect all of the City's citizens. Therefore, Paul started his vehicle up. "You two get a reprieve tonight, but rest assured you're on borrowed time", he thought as he drove away.


*



Crossing into New York City, the Flash arrived at S.T.A.R. Labs and stood for a few seconds as he recalled his previous visits over the years. "When Raven formed the New Teen Titans, one of the very first things we fought was the creature that killed Vic's mom and almost got him, too. Stranger still was that Dick told us about it as if he'd already fought it with us, even though we knew it was impossible."



Walking inside, Flash's memories of several months prior rose to the forefront. "I wouldn't call it unnerving but being here again isn't exactly the fondest of times. I really thought my end was at hand with the news I'd been given." Suddenly, Flash snapped himself out of this unpleasant trip down memory lane and ran to the stairwell. "Christina McGee's life is in danger and her safety takes precedence over anything else", the Scarlet Speedster thought as he opened the stairwell door and ran up each floor until he found the floor containing the office of the man he was seeking.



Dr. Mackenzie Ryan was preparing to call it a day despite the lack of news concerning the arrival of the Elemental Transponder as well as his friends and one-time colleagues the Drs. McGee. "I hadn't planned on staying this late but it was necessary, just as it was for Jenet in Metropolis. I'll grab some takeout on the way home so Jamie and I can ring in the New Year in style", Mac thought with a smile. "I hope she treasures these days. Seems like yesterday she was born but time flies by so quickly for us adults." Before he could continue to reminisce, a familiar voice called his name.



"Mac!"



Mac turned towards the direction of the voice and saw his patient and friend of half a year prior standing by his office door. "Wally West!", he said with a pleasantly surprised look, reaching out his hand to greet the Flash. "I heard you made quite the recovery! How've you been?"



Flash smiled as both men released their handshake. "Well, Doc, I've got a clean bill of health and life's been good. How's Jamie?"



"Jamie's doing well. Santa Claus got her what she'd wanted for Christmas and my ex-wife visited as well. All things considered, it couldn't have been better and I think that she's starting to regret the time away from our daughter", Mac replied before asking "How about yourself? I'm glad to see you back in perfect health and I imagine your Christmas was good, too."



Flash paused for a second before he replied. "It was indeed, but unfortunately there's a reason I'm here and it's not a social call."



Mac had a bewildered look on his face, then his eyes widened. "Oh my God..."



The Flash nodded his head in agreement. "Not long ago in Central City, there was almost a huge catastrophe involving two trains potentially colliding. I should make it clear one was moving and the other was immobile. Luckily, I was able to keep such a thing from occurring but the conductor on the eastbound train wasn't so lucky. He was already dead before I arrived on the scene. Upon investigating the smaller train, I found a S.T.A.R. Labs Identification Badge for a Dr. Christina McGee in between two passenger car seats. I almost didn't see it."



Mac's face emanated great concern as he replied. "Dear God..."



The Crimson Comet grew concerned himself as he realized that the Identification Badge was indeed the real deal, which conclusively proved that the doctor was in danger. "Mac... I need to know everything you know about that train and the doctor."



Mac nodded his head in agreement and responded. "Jerry and Tina McGee are fellow scientists for S.T.A.R. Labs in Omaha, Nebraska. They conceived of a device they named the Elemental Transponder, and it was one of many projects that particular branch of S.T.A.R. Labs was involved with."



"I'm not dealing with one kidnapping, but rather two and a stolen device", the speedster realized in thought before speaking again. "Go ahead, Mac."



"Wally, this device has the ability to artificially recreate every single element on the periodic table. I know that sounds like something more akin to those two 'brothers' you encountered late last spring, but there's much more than an element gun or Philosopher's Stone could offer. In the right hands this could be used to speed up repair to the ozone layer or to create more than enough electricity-conductive metals. In the wrong hands, we could be looking at the creation and oversaturation of precious metals which would collapse economies around the world or God forbid, a worldwide radioactive holocaust the further up the elemental table", Mac said with urgent caution.



"Good God", the Flash said in almost a whisper, the implications of what Dr. Ryan just informed him still on his conscious.



"Wally, like most inventions, this was built with the noblest of intentions. We believed knowing just what kind of device the Elemental Transponder could be, only the highest up should be aware of the project. We didn't want word getting out about this due to the ramifications at stake, or the potential dangers until it was safely in Metropolis", Mac confided.



"If this project was as secretive as you've stated, how could word get out about it as it apparently did? Don't get me wrong, I trust you, Dr. Klyburn, Dr. Charles and so many others, but you could have another Albert Michaels out there with this device in his hands", the Fastest Man Alive said, alluding to the Atomic Skull's alter ego and former head of S.T.A.R. Labs to boot. "And while I'm pretty sure the McGees are in Central City or nearby, I can't be certain."



"That's a very wise question regarding this leak. Whomever it was is either another high-level scientist or someone that was in the wrong place at the right time", Mackenzie answered astutely. "No one would stay at that job knowing what that device is capable of unless there was a deeper conspiracy at hand."



"Then I'd say that our best hope with learning the identity or identities of the thieving kidnappers is the CCPD. They're still investigating the train as a crime scene. Hopefully they can pull up some fingerprints that'll shed some more light on the situation", Flash stated.



"True enough, Wally. I can't even begin to hazard a guess as to who is involved. As to your other question, hmm... Eureka!", Mac shouted aloud with a renewed hope. "There's been several instances where high-level S.T.A.R. Labs scientists have been abducted over the years. One of the last times was several years back as Metallo attempted to kidnap Jenet. The attempt was thwarted by the Blue Devil but it was enough for S.T.A.R. Labs Board of Directors to implement adding a homing device deep within a scientist's Identification Badge. But...", he paused as he grew discouraged, "there's no way to tell if it could be traced from such a distance away."



The Scarlet Speedster briefly pondered this new hurdle, then had his own moment of realization. "Why overcomplicate the obvious, Mac? I can easily build some sort of portable homing device here with my superspeed. All you have to do is give me the proper instructions so that any critical seconds aren't wasted", he stated with a renewed confidence.



That confidence spread to the doctor as he responded in turn. "It's worth a shot!" he exclaimed, as he turned on one of the large S.T.A.R. Labs computers that contained the Identification Badge tracer data. With that done, Mackenzie quickly relayed the instructions on building the smaller device to the Crimson Comet, who built the smaller device to precise standards all the while utilizing enough control to prevent overheating to the circuit board, circuits, solder, battery and the plastic housing the device. "Here goes nothing, Mac", Flash said with cautious optimism as he turned on the device. Whatever concerns the two men had were quickly put to rest as the device worked perfectly. "Thank God!", Mackenzie said with relief as he then hooked it up to the smaller device Flash built, transferring the relevant data concerning Jerry McGee's ID Badge tracer to the device.



Almost immediately, the portable tracking device began to pinpoint the exact location where the badge's tracer was. "I've got my eye on the prize, Mac. God willing, the McGees will be found safe and sound. As for whomever executed this kidnapping and theft, they're going to be brought to justice, Flash-Style!", the Crimson Comet stated with a determined focus.



"Good luck, Wally. The McGees are good people... way more important than their invention", Mac said with concern.



"Lives always are, my friend. Stay safe and Happy New Year to you and Jamie", Flash said with a wave with one hand. With the portable tracing device in his other hand, he was gone before Mac could respond in kind. Regardless, the scientist smiled and knew if anyone could save his friends and stop their kidnappers, it was the Flash.



*



The occupants residing in the closed-up auto shop listened to Jerry McGee as he spoke about how the Elemental Transponder worked. To Argon, Xenon & Krypton, it was just a lot of big words that made some sense, even if now they were having second thoughts about their roles in this situation. Radon, too, listened to the big words but wasn't exactly enamored with the long-winded explanation.



"You know, Helium, you've been chattering away about that device for a while now and I have yet to see anything close to a result", Radon said as he again narrowed his eyes and again lit himself a cigarette. "Ever the long-winded partner in crime all these years later. You haven't even bothered to turn it on! And this has been, what, a half-hour, 45 minutes?"



Jerry knew he was running out of time to delay his former colleagues. "Barney, this is a complex device. You have to be extremely careful and to know exactly how it operates. You can't just push--"



"Push, Helium? PUSH?!", Radon screamed, tossing away his freshly lit cigarette aside, then grabbing Jerry by the hair with one hand and removing his gun from its holster and pointing it at Jerry's head. "You don't want to push ME."



Everyone there bristled at Radon's behavior as it started to dawn on them that he was growing more unhinged by the minute. It was Argon who spoke next. "C'mon, Barney, you don't want to do this. What about the money?" he said, trying to appeal to his friend's taste for valuables as well as to keep his former partners safe from harm.



"Yeah, Argon's right, man", followed Krypton as he did the same. "You kill Jerry and that all goes up in smoke."



"You can have my cut, Barney. This isn't worth it!" Xenon exclaimed, disgusted with himself that he'd willingly rejoined this band of one-time lackeys instead of bettering himself as the McGees had.



Radon paused for a few seconds, turning his head... first to Argon, then to Krypton and finally to Xenon. He then turned his gaze back to Jerry and released his hold on the scientist's hair. "You're right, guys", Radon condescendingly replied before walking to where the bound and blindfolded Tina sat captive. He forcibly pulled her up by one of her still-bound arms to a standing position, and then pressed his gun to the side of her head, cocking the hammer to prove his point.



Jerry and his three former partners grew very worried but none as worried as Tina, who even if she could speak, likely wouldn't have said a word under the circumstances. "Fine, fine, fine!", Jerry shouted frantically, deathly afraid for his wife's well-being. "I'll do it! Just please let Tina go, please, Barney!" Radon stood there, coldly watching Jerry turn on the Elemental Transponder. "You want gold, right Barney?" Jerry asked as he pushed the proper keys on the device. "It'll give you gold, silver, even platinum!" As the proper sequence of elemental keys were entered into the device, the Elemental Transponder whirred for a few minutes until finally a small cube of pure gold was expelled. The four criminals stood in amazement that everything they'd heard regarding the Elemental Transponder was true. "See, Helium? That wasn't so hard now, was it?", Radon said with a cold grin, uncocking his gun's hammer and, after putting his gun back in its holster, pushed Tina back into a sitting position.



Jerry looked at his wife, both grateful and worried that she was safe for now... knowing that her safety wasn't guaranteed as long as she was still captive. "You got what you wanted, Barney. You got your proof, your gold and now... the ability to make gold to your heart's content", Jerry conceded. "I'll even rejoin your 'club' if it means you let Tina go."



"That's a tempting offer, Helium", Radon said with a bemused smile... which then faded quickly into a look of condemnation, "but I'll have to pass." Radon waved his hand at his comrades and spoke to them: "Boys... all's forgiven. Tie Helium back up and at Neon's side. Once you're done, move the Transponder to the packing truck."



Argon and Krypton were eager to get back into Radon's good graces and did as they were told, leaving Jerry in the same predicament that he'd arrived at the auto shop before moving the Elemental Transponder back to the truck. Xenon, however, glared at Radon. "You're a monster, Barney", he said just above a whisper as he shook with anger, pulling his own gun out from its holster and pointed it at Radon. "I should've never rejoined you guys! Prison changes people but people can change for the better. I've seen it first-hand with Jerry and Tina. They made their second chance count the most out of any of us!"



Radon stood amused, stifling a chuckle and in no way concerned with the gun in Xenon's hands. "Ever the dreamer, hmm, Xenon?" Radon said, slowly approaching his second-guessing partner. "We were all in the same place for a while. For some, it was Easy Street. For others, the harshest of realities." Radon continued to slowly approach Xenon, who cocked his gun and ordered the bullying mastermind to "STOP!" "Have you ever shot someone, Xenon? Have you ever killed someone? This isn't 'Miami Vice', son. This is real life, and in this world, it's 'Kill or Be Killed'", Radon replied as suddenly Argon and Krypton each grabbed one of Xenon's arms while Radon removed the gun from Xenon's grip. "Tie him up, too, then seal the windows", Radon said to his remaining partners, who again proceeded to get back into their leader's good graces by doing as they were told.



"At least I'll go out with a clear conscience! And since we're in Central City--", Xenon shouted but unable to finish his sentence as there and then he was knocked out by Radon. With him unconscious, it was easier for Argon and Krypton to secure the bonds and afterwards, sealed the windows as they'd been ordered. "Very good, Argon... Krypton", Radon said as he nodded his head, somewhat impressed.



Hearing Xenon's words, the McGees finally realized where they'd been taken to. Normally a revelation as that would give the couple hope but it dawned on them that the reveal only hastened the danger they were in. Radon noted the urgency the two scientists displayed as they tried to work through their bonds, but to no avail. "Fitting, isn't it?", Radon asked them, knowing full well the pair couldn't respond. "All of us back in Central City for the first time since April 1974... well, aside from the dead Flash that is. Even if the Kid shows up, I don't think either of you or Xenon's going to reveal much." Radon then motioned to his and spoke. "Krypton, Argon... now that the merchandise is back in the truck, drag the generator to these three. I'm feeling mighty generous, so I'll just let that do the job."



Argon and Krypton felt torn as both men realized that Radon was going to leave the three to die, and the two finally confronted their leader. "Barney, can't we just take the device and let them be? We never took a life when we did Desmond's bidding!" Argon exclaimed. Krypton agreed as he responded. "I think Argon's on the money, Barney. Look, we got that thing. There's no need to dirty our hands any more than they are!"



Radon realized right then and there that this score was only fit for one... and he was that one. Removing his gun from its holster, Radon shot his no-longer loyal partners in the chest, each of the wounded falling onto their backs. "To hell with the both of you!" he said bitterly and with the slightest bit of sadness. Though both men were still alive, neither man moved as they bled from their wounds. Radon pulled the generator to where the five were and he began to walk towards where the packing truck was. "It was probably always going to go down like that; it was just accelerated by their weakness, that's all", Radon said aloud, confusing his three former partners' compassion with weakness as he exited the auto shop. He glanced at the small gold cube and had a gleefully sinister appearance as he entered the packing truck, started it up and began to drive towards the main hub of Central City. "Riches are great, but power even more so. With that transponder, MY power will be limitless!" Completely forgotten about was Radon's cigarette... still smoldering within the auto shop floor as the generator continued to operate.



*



Elsewhere, at the same time those actions transpired in Central City, Polara had just dropped off the last of the New Year's Eve partygoers in River City. As she was preparing to make the trek back to Central City and to drop the passenger train off at the train depot, she felt a tiny buzz go off on her communicator. Raising her right wrist to her face, she used her left hand to push the proper button and answered the call. "Hey Wally, you called right on time. The partygoers are all where they're supposed to be for ringing in the New Year and I'm about to make my way back to Central City. I'm guessing you have an update on the train matter?", she asked.



"I do, Fran", Flash said cautiously as he continued his way back to Central City, homing device still in one hand as he used his other hand to work his communicator. The Scarlet Speedster relayed to the Magnetic Maiden all of the information that he himself learned only moments before from Dr. Ryan while at S.T.A.R. Labs New York facility. Polara's reaction mirrored Flash's, from concern for the Drs. McGee to the potential threat the Elemental Transponder posed to Central City's citizens and to the world at large. And, just as the Flash did earlier, Polara grew determined to do her part to stop whoever abducted the scientists and to reclaim the Elemental Transponder. Still, she was puzzled when it came to the mastermind of this scheme.



"I wish we knew who we're up against, Wally. You don't suppose Dr. Alchemy's back, do you?", Polara asked, remembering what her boyfriend told her of the vandalism to her apartment and potential abduction intended for her months ago.



"Rest assured Fran, Alvin Desmond's still behind bars and at least for now, his hold on the Philosopher's Stone has been broken", Flash stated, "and both Albert and Rita Desmond have found a new life outside the confines of Central City."



It was then that the portable tracking device Flash built started to beep a tad bit quicker the closer he got to Central City. "By the way this thing's reacting, I think we'll have a better idea who put this together real quick", the Crimson Comet said as he made a sharp turn near the city limits of Central City.



"Then it's time for me to go radio silent, too", Polara responded in kind as she utilized her magnetic powers to both fly and lift the damaged passenger train... both eastbound towards Central City. "I'll be there soon."



*



The McGees struggled against their bonds, even as the generator continued running and emitting carbon monoxide. That, in turn, began to spread within the former auto shop, as did the scent of the still-smoldering cigarette... Radon's unwitting last coup de grace. "Oh my God", Tina thought in despair as the carbon monoxide began to overcome both Jerry and her, "no one found my ID Badge. And no one's going... to find Jerry's, either. We... we're... going to--"



Suddenly, before the McGees and Radon's former partners succumbed to the carbon monoxide, the Flash arrived on the scene! Racing to the roof of the auto shop, he used his powers to spin around as a human drill to open a man-sized hole through the roof. Then, as he used his superspeed powers to lower himself into the auto shop, began to funnel the carbon monoxide out from the inside of the building through the same hole even before he reached the auto shop's floor. As he did this, he used his ability to lend speed to help dissipate the deadly substance. "Had I not heard the muffled sound of the generator as I fast approached, I might've entered in my usual manner and this would've been the absolute worst time for me to do so", the Crimson Comet thought, surveying the situation. With that particular danger dealt with, he raced towards the generator and turned the device off. After he tended to the captives and revived those not wounded, Flash used his communicator to contact Polara.



"Polara, it's Flash. I need you to contact Central City's Memorial Hospital. There're people here needing medical attention. We're at the old Broome's Auto Shop at 2647 Infantino Street", Flash said solemnly as he used his ability to steal speed to slow the two costumed men's blood loss. As this was the first time he attempted this feat, there wasn't enough ascertained to know if such an effort could save these two men's lives.



"Oh my God, are they safe, Wally?" Polara asked with great concern for the McGees.



Flash reassured Polara as he responded. "The McGees are alive and safe, thank God, but there's others here who've been shot. I'm not taking any chances with the wounded's health."



"I just got back to Central City. I'll let the hospital know and I'll be back with the ambulance in tow", Polara said with determination.



"Thanks Polara", Flash said with gratitude as he then tended to the bound captives, starting with the woman whose action allowed the Fastest Man Alive to eventually locate them. "I found your ID Badge earlier, Doctor McGee. Everything's going to be okay now. You and your husband are safe," he said as he untied her wrists, then removed her blindfold as well as the tape over her mouth. Tina immediately embraced the Scarlet Speedster, weeping quietly in gratitude and relief as this part of her and her husband's nightmare was over. The Flash was almost taken aback but understood that what they'd been through wasn't any different from what he and his uncle's loved ones went through seven months prior. He returned her hug and then tended to Jerry, liberating him from his restraints as he'd just done to Tina. Now that Jerry was free, he and his wife embraced as Flash glanced over at the third figure who was bound and wearing a similar costume to the ones wounded.



"It's clear that whoever these guys are, they're connected somehow with the McGees' kidnapping and the theft of the Elemental Transponder", the Flash deduced, spotting the now-nearly extinguished cigarette. As he heard the sound of emergency vehicles approach, the speedster remembered his conversation with Mackenzie Ryan earlier. "With that machine still in the wrong hands, no one's safe. I have a feeling that this guy can fill us in on just what's taken place, but he'd best be forthcoming", the Flash thought, keeping any anger in check as he approached the bound costumed figure to release him from his restraints.



*



Night settled in a short time later and after the McGees and the two wounded criminals were brought to Central City's Memorial Hospital, Polara spoke with the former Xenon within one of the station's interrogation rooms at the CCPD. The Flash, knowing that the Elemental Transponder was still in Radon's custody, felt it was best he resume patrolling the city to track down the mastermind behind the theft. "Based on what the McGees told Flash and I at Memorial Hospital, it sounds like you had some major regrets rejoining your old crew. It also sounds like you & the McGees bettered yourselves long before today's events. So why then did you partake in this, Curt?" Polara asked.



Curt Ferguson eyed the masked heroine and, after a sigh and briefly bending his head down, responded: "Ma'am, I didn't always make the best choices in my life. None of us did when we joined Albert Desmond's gang back then in '74. We were lackeys and we just did as we were told, even if it meant doing stuff some of us weren't proud of."



"Yet you still joined up with them, and by some irony, found yourself kidnapping your former partners and their invention," Polara stated, "after all of those 'regrets'."



"Yeah, I did! We all did!" Curt shouted, angrier at himself than he was by Polara's questioning. "When we were serving our sentence, the four of us agreed that if one of us were to find something big enough worth getting back into that life, we'd contact the others and plan for the score of our lives. I didn't foresee just how impactful that agreement would become."



Curt paused for a few seconds, remembering how he'd been in his younger years and how that contrasted in the years since as he resumed answering Polara's questions. "Some of us got out on good behavior, and if I were a betting man, I'd say at least one of us probably served the full sentence. Our actions screwed us over because no one out there wanted to hire ex-cons... especially ones who worked for a super-villain back in the day. That said, I eventually got a second chance when I moved to Indianapolis and found work as a city employee. It wasn't the best and the weather probably aged me more than my years, but it afforded me opportunities that I'd thought I'd never see again. That's how it was when I got the call a few weeks back from Barney Mathers. He was part of the gang and he told me about one of our mutual partners; that guy secured a job as a janitor in a Nebraska branch of S.T.A.R. Labs with the aid of a false identity. Indeed, this news sounded just like the type of score we'd dreamed about all those years ago."



Curt paused again as shame pulled at his soul. "After Barney'd told me about the Elemental Transponder and that our former partners created this machine... to my eternal regret, I rejoined them. For a time, I was like them: bitter about my lot in life and placed my self-loathing on Jerry and Tina's shoulders when they were the ones that didn't go through with what Desmond ordered. They made the best of their probation while we made the best of our years behind bars. Even though Jerry and Tina are okay, I have the blood of that dead conductor on my hands, just as Barney, Harry and Fred do... and I can't make that right."



There was silence for a few minutes as the enormous guilt Curt Ferguson felt overwhelmed him. Polara felt some sympathy, but she didn't let him know thanks to her mask hiding her features. None the less, she responded.



"Curt, you've made clear that you turned things around and then you chose to reembrace poor life choices... choices that've impacted many lives today... maybe even more tomorrow and beyond," Polara said civilly, then spoke again with a semblance of understanding. "A lot of us on either side of the law know that sometimes those choices will define us to our dying day. That said, we do good because it's the right thing to do. Despite what's happened today, you did the right thing earlier when you confronted your former partner Barney Mathers, just as your mutual partners finally did as well. Whatever knowledge you have regarding Mathers, the Transponder or the vehicle housing it, we need it now... to keep others from meeting the conductor's fate, or the fate intended for you, the McGees and your partners."



Curt looked up at the Mistress of Magnetism as he realized her words rang true and responded with complete honesty. "I'll give you and the Flash everything I know whether it's the notes we took or the packing truck's license plate number." Quickly, with the aid of a pen and pad of paper, Curt Ferguson detailed everything that he could think of that'd bring Radon to justice.



*



As Curt Ferguson's interrogation was underway, Radon was unaware that he and his former partners were still alive thanks to The Flash. He was still on a high of having the Elemental Transponder to himself and the possibilities of untapped wealth and power within it. "This looks inconspicuous enough", he eagerly thought as he pulled into a parking lot and parked his packing truck. "Let's see just what I can get from this thing."



Radon exited the truck quickly and entered the back where the Transponder was. "Now then, let's see if I remember exactly how Helium demonstrated working it", he thought as he spotted the on/off mechanism and turned it on. The Elemental Transponder made the tell-tale sounds of a mechanism come to life, and that only served to excite the villain further. "That's step one", he thought as he began to show a sinister grin, "now for step two!"



Radon began to work the transponder, but he'd forgotten some of the critical information that Jerry McGee revealed. Missing some of the information started to anger the would-be power seeker. "Blast him!" Radon shouted in reference to Jerry McGee, ignoring the fact that he himself had not retained a perfect working knowledge on how the device performed. "Of course he'd deceive me! Helium always thought he was the smart one, but all he was good at was lying to me! He and Neon think they got the last laugh from beyond the grave? We'll see about that!" Radon pulled out a cigarette and after lighting it, started haphazardly pushing whatever buttons he could to repeat what he'd witnessed a short while ago. The device would sound like it was working to create what was typed, but again and again Radon demonstrated no patience and pushed more buttons, growing further agitated as a result.



As Radon continued his efforts to procure more gold from the Transponder, he lost control of the cigarette in his mouth, which fell directly where the gold exited from earlier. "If it's not one thing, then it's another, damn it!" Radon shouted as he reached to retrieve the cigarette. Unknown to Radon, a finished product was now complete... its origins not quite seen before, and it was that the villain grasped instead of the cigarette. Radon saw just what he'd touched and if there was any pain, he felt none as fear gripped his being with this newer element inching up his arm. It spread quickly and branched off towards the rest of his body and then, without pain, Radon embraced what he was quickly becoming and laughed in triumph... something equally terrifying and evil.



*



The Flash patrolled Central City searching for anything that'd raise a red flag or unwanted attention that would lead to Radon, even as he reflected on the events earlier in the evening. "I'm glad the McGees are safe and once this is done, I'll let Mac know", the Scarlet Speedster thought even as other thoughts ran concurrently. "The two criminals that were shot are being operated on and while there's no guarantee they'll make it, the doctor said that they have a shot at life thanks to my gamble earlier."



Suddenly, Flash's communicator buzzed and instinctively knew who it was. "Go ahead, Polara. Any news?" he asked, not wanting to chance revealing her identity if she was around any others.



"Plenty, Wally", Polara replied with some optimism. "Curt Ferguson gave the CCPD and I a great number of details about the heist and other assorted details, the first of which is the packing truck license plate number and the year & model of the vehicle. You're looking for a 1984 Black Ford Transit with the license BNY-101. It's an out of state plate, so it'll stand out amongst the vehicles in Central City."



"That's a massive plus, Polara!" Flash exclaimed, knowing this info would go a long way to locating Radon. "What other information did you learn?"



"Get this, Wally: All of them faced your uncle roughly six months after he became The Flash!" the Magnetic Maiden answered. "Back when he first fought Al Desmond in his Mister Element identity, he had a gang of six people doing his bidding but two of them backed out of doing what he'd ordered at the eleventh hour. By refusing to do so, it gave them a second chance and they made the best of it."



"Wow!" Flash stated with surprise even as he used the information to concentrate on vehicles matching the description given to him mere moments ago. "I vaguely remember Barry telling me of his first encounter with Albert years ago, but I'd totally forgotten his inert element gang. If I recall that gang just did as they were told, and Albert never employed any sort of gang afterwards to my knowledge. I'm guessing that was why."



"I'd say you're right about that", Polara stated, before she shared the rest of the information Curt revealed in his confession. "I'm glad he has a conscience. Hopefully when this is over, he won't venture down this road again. And speaking of roads", Flash replied, as he spotted a vehicle matching the description Polara gave him. He smiled as he approached the vehicle and spoke again. "I think I found what I was looking for!"



"Well, if that Radon guy's inside, then I better head to where you're at, just in case he's got one more trick up his sleeve", the heroine said as she raced towards the doors leading out of the CCPD.



"Agreed. Plus, there's the matter of that Element Transponder. The sooner that's recovered, the quicker it'll be to stop this wannabe master heister. Flash out", he finished as he quickly approached the parking lot and the vehicle in question.



Suddenly, without warning, the packing truck exploded as whatever was inside generated a massive amount of heat. From the wreckage, a large humanoid figure roughly ten feet stood, possibly made of an evolved mercury-like substance, holding in one hand the undamaged Elemental Transponder, which he quickly absorbed into his transformed body. Though this took Flash by surprise, he avoided the vehicle's shrapnel. "I didn't expect this, though maybe I should've after how things have gone today", he thought cautiously before addressing this transformed menace. "So... Radon, I presume?"



The humanoid figure cocked his head to the side, knowing that the power he's dreamed of was now his reality. "Radon, Flash? No longer Radon. No longer some inert creature. No longer a traditional being but one transcendent beyond the known elements on Earth. I am the Elementus," the creature stated in almost distorted, echo-like voice as he raised his arms to strike, "and your death will be the first of many!"



*



As the larger Elementus brought his arms down to attack the Flash, he'd already moved out of harm's way. "It's not going to be that simple, Radon, Elementus, or whatever you call yourself!" the Scarlet Speedster said as he first used his powers to extinguish and cool the wreckage, then picked up various pieces of the wreckage and chucked them at his foe from several different directions. "By the way, sunshine, you always refer to yourself in the third person?"



The Crimson Comet's derisive comment only fueled the former Radon's rage, who absorbed some of the wreckage and grew a little larger as a result; not only that, but it seemed the creature began to move faster itself, or at least, faster than it had moments earlier. "You think you're smart now, don't you?" the creature asked as he shaped his hands into maces. "I'm smart, too, Kid!" From the arms, Elementus quickly fired the spikes that had been attached to the maces, which nearly made contact with Central City's champion even as he sped out of the projectiles' collective reaches. That paled in comparison to the new threat the projectiles posed. Once they'd made impact against varying objects, they merged back into a mercury-like puddle and resumed its chase of the Flash.



"I can't say I expected that!" Flash thought with a level of concern, as he avoided contact with the ever-growing speed generated by Elementus' 'offspring' thanks to his superspeed. "With the Elemental Transponder inside that thing Radon's become, he might have an indeterminable amount of power with the only limit being his imagination. However, I can't forget I have my own advantages, too!"



Turning his attention back to his pursuer, the Flash stole the speed of Elementus' creation all the while as he attempted to use it as his own offensive weapon. Grabbing the muffler from the destroyed packing truck, he swung it at the smaller mass the way a golfer would swing a five-iron at a golf ball, propelling it at superspeed towards Elementus himself. The impact made contact with the foe's head and knocked him back to the ground... but not for long. The mercury-like substance making up Elementus' body reformed itself back into a standing position and after reabsorbing the smaller portion, then grasped one of the damaged vehicles in the parking lot. Almost instantaneously, Elementus not only absorbed the object but grew in size, doubling his initial height, then expelled the glass from the car as tiny splinters of silicone at the Flash.



"You don't really believe you can stop the Elementus, do you, Flash?" the creature bellowed, almost amused as he watched the smaller speedster avoid the silicone he'd fired off only moments before. "To think that, by chance, I'd finally get revenge on the McGees AND that they'd inadvertently be the ones who made this all possible... the irony is rich, don't you think? And this is just the beginning!" With that, Elementus grasped both his hands together and slammed them down onto the ground towards the Flash, who narrowly avoided the attack.



"Beginning of what, trying to bore Central City to death with long-winded threats?" The Scarlet Speedster asked as he used Elementus' attacks to his own advantage, first collecting the silicone shards and redepositing them against his foe's body, then throwing several superspeed punches towards his larger foe's head (which was low enough to the street from the villain's attack mere moments ago) and connected with his foe's right eye several times. "There's been many before you and there'll be many more after you but Central City's still standing... and so are its citizens!"



The pain to Elementus' right eye caused the creature to recoil not in fear, but in a renewed anger. "AAGH!" the gigantic foe shouted as he realized that he couldn't see all that well from his damaged eye... and the likelihood that the damage was permanent bolstered his anger. "I'll KILL you for that, Flash!" he yelled as he fired a laser-like blast from the damaged eye. The Flash again avoided contact from his enemy, but the laser connected with another damaged vehicle, which promptly exploded and caught the speedster off guard.



"Ungh... got to--", Flash said as he tried to shake the cobwebs from his head, even as his giant foe grabbed him with his hand and began to squeeze. "AAGH!" the Crimson Comet shouted, as he was slowly being crushed alive. The immense pain he was in kept him from formulating an escape, even as Elementus found himself amused with his foe's impending end fast approaching. "So much for all your talk about Central City standing. My only regret is that you'll not live long enough to see the city fall. Losing the sight in my right eye'll be worth it since you're about to lose your life!"



"Not if I have something to say about it!" Polara shouted with determination. Elementus looked towards the direction that the voice came from as he lessened his grip on the Flash, and the villain was met with a steel girder to the face! "YAGHH!!" he shouted as he released the Flash; as he fell, he regained enough of his faculties to control his descent to the street. "I almost bought it. Thank God Fran got here when she did", the Flash thought as he quickly recovered.



Polara turned her attention to the Flash for a moment, worried that he'd sustained permanent damage at the hands of Elementus. "You all right, Flash?" she shouted, unaware as Elementus grabbed the girder and tried to swing it at her the way she'd done to him mere moments beforehand.



"Careful, Polara! I'm ok but so is he!" Flash warned her as Elementus, with his own increased speed swung the girder at Polara, who managed to create a magnetic field in front of herself in time. Unfortunately, the girder's impact on the magnetic field knocked her back towards a nearby building. Flash sped towards the Magnetic Maiden and stole enough speed from Polara's velocity to prevent any sort of fatal impact, even as she recovered and lowered herself to where he stood. "Whew... thanks, Wally. I owe you", she whispered graciously.



"And I, you Polara", Flash said, his own gratitude from Polara's actions moments earlier clearly evident, even as Elementus mounted another attack at the super-powered couple. "One hero or two, it doesn't matter! I'll destroy all who oppose the Elementus!" their foe exclaimed as he shot projectiles resembling large thorns towards the pair.



"Watch out! His projectiles are essentially an extension of his mercury-like body, Polara!" the speedster warned as both heroes used their unique abilities to avoid contact with Elementus' weapons of attack. "We've got to stop him before he makes his way into downtown. He absorbed the Elemental Transponder earlier and based on what Mac told me earlier, that device could do as much harm as good. With tonight being New Year's Eve, this could turn more into an eve of destruction!"



"If that thing's made of mercury, then my magnetic powers'll be able to stop him!" Polara realized. "It's a plan at least in theory", Flash replied cautiously as he used his powers to halt another of Elementus' attacks.



Polara detected the Crimson Comet's uncertainty. "Mercury's a magnetic metal, element, whatever we're referring to. Surely, we can stop it!" she stated as she used her magnetic powers against the projectiles... which had NO effects on the substance. She created a magnetic shield around herself in time as she realized that her boyfriend's concerns were valid. "Can't we?" she whispered, realizing that this was uncharted territory for the rookie super heroine.



"We can stop it. We HAVE to. With this presumably new element, we're facing something totally foreign to us both and I'm thinking the device the McGees created is keeping this 'Elementus' supplied with a power source", the Flash stated grimly. "Our best option is to try and separate Radon from the Transponder. I'd presume the machine's metal would be magnetic."



"Then I'm going to try that option while you distract him and, God forbid if I fail, come up with our best plan B", the Mistress of Magnetism solemnly replied.



"Agreed. Good luck", Flash stated with determination before racing towards Elementus. "Hey, 'the Elementus', ready for round two with the Flash? I can do that third person schtick, too!"



Elementus glared at the Flash with his one good eye and responded, shaping both gigantic hands into ones with protruding knuckles in an effort to pulverize the Scarlet Speedster. "You're testing my patience, boy. Rest assured you'll be joining your uncle and my deceased former colleagues soon enough!" he shouted as one after another his arms punched at the ground, attacks Flash narrowly avoided even as Polara readied herself for her task.



"I've got to make this count because if I fail, so will fall Central City!" she thought as she concentrated her powers as best she could on Elementus' body, focusing on anything she could that didn't have the same structure as the giant figure. It wasn't unnoticed by Elementus as he felt the tug within his chest and turned to face the heroine once more. "YOU again!", Elementus seethed. "I'll give you this: your kind doesn't quit, even when you should. Every action has a reaction, like so!"



With that, Elementus shot from his chest more of the mercury-like substance which completely enveloped Polara; this in turn became a struggle for her survival as she had no access to oxygen. "Polara!", Flash exclaimed in fear as he raced towards her now-falling limp figure, generating enough kinetic energy to force some sort of release, then using his powers to slow her fall to the ground even as what had coated her remerged with Elementus. Before reaching the ground, the Flash caught her and sped back to the parking lot where the battle began earlier. "Fran!" Flash whispered frantically, more concerned with her well-being than the threat Elementus posed. "Fran, talk to me."



Slowly, Polara stirred and though she was grateful to be alive, her voice shook as she spoke. "Wally... I failed. I almost had the Transponder, but that monster stopped me before I could free it from him."



The Flash looked at Polara with understanding as he responded. "Thanks to your work, we know the device is still working and we learned it's made with a magnetic metal. We're not out of this yet." Upon finishing his sentence, the Fastest Man Alive spotted a glimmer from the corner of his eye, a glimmer reflected from a streetlight which he raced towards. He quickly bent down and picked it up, which was a small gold cube and then ran back to the Magnetic Maiden. "This is definitely a game changer and one component to our best chance left."



Polara's demeanor changed as she realized what the Flash held in his hand. "Oh my God, Wally, that's a gold cube! Curt Ferguson detailed in his confession that the Elemental Transponder created it, but how is it the key to stopping Radon? It's not a magnetic metal."



"You're right about that, Polara, but it has its own benefits to my plan. It's risky but it's our last, best shot and while it's not ideal, at the end of the day it's always about the lives we seek to protect", he responded as he started using his powers to shape the cube into something else as quickly as he could, even as the pair could hear Elementus approaching. "This is where we make our last stand possibly. Two questions, Fran. Do you trust me? And are you ready?" the Scarlet Speedster asked as he reached out one of his hands to Polara. Without hesitation, Polara looked at her boyfriend and partner, grasping his hand as she responded. "Always", she replied to both. Though she was uncertain of their chances, the one thing she was certain of was that win or lose, they'd do so together.



"So... have you two finally resigned yourselves to your fate?" Elementus asked as neither hero moved from where they stood. The Flash shot off a smirk and responded in only the way he could. "Please. We're always rewriting the tripe you guys put to paper, and this'll be no different!" he responded, as he grabbed Polara and took off.



This angered Elementus yet again. "No more chances for you! Only death will suffice!" the giant yelled as he ran after the pair.



Polara was confused at her boyfriend's actions, but suddenly realized just what the Human Thunderbolt was attempting. "Why didn't I think of this before?" she asked as the tone of her voice alerted Flash that Polara understood what his plan was, even as he answered her. "Again, it's a huge gamble, but our powers being what they are gives us an edge. We're not guaranteed a second chance so we'll do what we've got to."



After enough running and evading attacks from Elementus, Flash came to a stop and the pair enacted their plan: Flash, after he and Polara linked hands, shared some of his built-up kinetic energy with the Mistress of Magnetism, who grew temporarily more powerful as she functioned as a human electromagnet. Her increased powers weren't perfect, but directing what she could control towards Elementus put her and her foe in a tug of war over the Elemental Transponder within him. The Flash, on the other hand, continued to hold one of Polara's hands as he shot out random bursts of his built-up kinetic energy towards Elementus' chest, his own efforts to loosen their mutual foe's hold on the device. Elementus, for the first time, faced a unique attack that he'd never anticipated and in turn grew fearful that his chances of victory were dissipating. "No-- NO!" the creature exclaimed, even as the device started to be pulled out of him.



The struggle continued to go in the heroes' favor, but the joined attack wasn't something Polara could maintain for much longer. Indeed, Flash saw her mask grow damp with sweat and knew it was time for his final gamble, even as they could finally see the Transponder. "It's now or never!" Flash thought as he grasped the gold spear he'd fashioned from the gold cube with his free hand and threw it at the machine, javelin-style. The spear, aided by the Crimson Comet's precise control, pierced the Elemental Transponder and right before Polara fell unconscious, the Flash shot off one last burst of kinetic energy in the form of a lightning bolt... which, upon making contact with the gold spear, fried the Elemental Transponder's circuits! With the device no longer working, the Transponder fell from Elementus even as the villain started reverting back to a semblance of normal, shrinking back to his regular size even as the Flash prevented the device from smashing onto the street.



"No... NO!" Barney Mathers shouted as the mercury-like substance no longer coated the villain's body. Indeed, Barney was left with two reminders of his failure: one being his damaged eye, the other the immobile, heavy claw that had formerly been his hand... the initial contact he'd made with the unique element he'd inadvertently created earlier. It was then that Barney Mathers wept, not out of regret for his poor choices, but out of him realizing that he'd had what he'd desired, and his insatiable greed cost him so much more than he'd realized.



"Was it worth it, Barney?" a voice called out from his side. Barney couldn't turn in the direction of the voice thanks to the weight of his clawed hand but he recognized it as one of the foes who'd bested him moments earlier. "This is your damned handiwork, Flash! Your fault!" the villain exclaimed, still living in denial over his failings and who was the true enemy.



Flash, alongside a fast-recovering Polara whom he helped to support, walked in front of their depowered foe as they heard police cars and an emergency vehicle fast approach. "Your New Year's Eve of Destruction is over, Barney", Flash said matter-of-factly, "and I hope the thoughts of every single person whose lives you affected today stay with you for the rest of your life."



At that moment, as the police cars arrived at the scene, Barney Mathers bent his head down as he finally, if only momentarily, understood that being a 'nobody' was much more preferable to being a success at nothing but evil... and even failing at that in the end.



*



A short time later after Barney Mathers had been jailed at the Central City Police Department and what remained of the Elemental Transponder recovered, the Flash and Polara chose to separately update those tied to this case. After the Flash left the CCPD for Memorial Hospital, Polara remained behind and re-entered Curt Ferguson's interrogation room. She closed the door softly as she addressed him.



"Thanks to your cooperation and your detailed notes, Curt, we not only located Barney Mathers but we stopped him before others could be harmed. We also recovered the Elemental Transponder, too", Polara said with a reassuring voice. "I doubt either'll pose a threat here on out."



Curt heard what Polara said and slowly shared a genuine smile in relief that one nightmare was over. That was, until his guilt in participating in his colleagues' crimes reemerged. He slowly bent his head back down and spoke. "I'm relieved that you two stopped Barney and I'm so thankful no one else died. I just wish I'd never rejoined the gang."



"I think we all feel like that, to a degree. That said, you were brave enough to take the stand that you did and, had you not been there, I'd put it as highly unlikely your other partners in crime would've done as you did. The Flash and I might've had to fight three of what Mathers became earlier and that's a prospect that chills me more than the weather outside", Polara stated. "Flash and I spoke with the acting Police Captain and he agreed to place you in a separate holding cell away from Mathers in a different part of the Department. We all agreed you didn't need further reminding of what that monster's capable of."



"Th-thank you, Polara", Curt said as he tried to restrain his emotions in light of this gesture, but it was easier said than done. Polara looked down at him, placed her hand on his shoulder and spoke gently. "None of us know what tomorrow holds but if I can give you a bit of parting advice, it's to approach every tomorrow as one better than the last. Goodbye, Curt, and Happy New Year to you."



Curt nodded his head, speaking at a whisper to prevent his voice from breaking. "Thank you. The same to you, the Flash and Jerry and Tina." Polara nodded in agreement and then exited the interrogation room and soon thereafter, the Police Station proper.



*



Entering Memorial Hospital, the Flash had considered changing back to Wally West to discreetly inform the McGees of all that had transpired since they'd parted ways; he quickly reconsidered since even though his identity was public knowledge, the McGees hadn't seen him without his costume on and they didn't need another shock after the trauma they'd experienced this day. Therefore, he utilized his powers to vibrate so fast that he might as well have been invisible, then raced towards the front desk to locate what room in the hospital the McGees were in, as well as the doctor he'd spoken to earlier regarding the conditions of Fred Milsap and Harry Davenport. With that discovered, the Scarlet Speedster sped towards the doctor first to learn their statuses firsthand.



"I'm sorry for the abrupt visit, Doctor Saunders. Any updates on the two men that were brought in earlier?" he asked quietly so as to not disturb the other patients and staff.



"Flash!" the doctor replied quietly, a little surprised before answering the hero's question. "Yes. They lost quite a bit of blood, and had you not been on the scene when you used your powers to slow down their blood loss, they'd have died before they reached the hospital. That said, their operations were successful, we had enough of their blood types to begin replenishing what they'd lost, and both are expected to survive."



"That's good to hear, Doctor Saunders", Flash responded. "Last thing I wanted to do tonight was disturb you or the staff, but I had to know if what I'd attempted to do gave them a chance. I'm glad it did."



"We'll reevaluate their conditions as the night goes on and if we need to, we'll life flight them to another nearby hospital in the morning."



With that matter finished, both Flash and the doctor shook hands and parted ways. Shortly after Flash used one of the hospital phones to update Mackenzie Ryan on all that transpired in the hours since they'd spoken hours earlier, he reached the McGees' room and softly knocked before entering.



"Drs. McGee?" he asked as he slowly entered their room. "It's Flash. I wanted to see how you both were holding up." Both husband and wife were relieved to see the man who'd rescued them and stood up to greet him.



"We owe you our lives, Flash, and we can't thank you enough", Jerry said appreciatively as he shook their rescuer's hand, as did Tina, who also spoke with some guilt. "I was so shaken earlier that I didn't thank you after you saved us, and I'm so sorry about that, Flash."



"Nonsense", Central City's champion responded. "Both of you went through one hell of an ordeal today and I'd daresay everyone would've reacted the same as you two did. By the way, my uncle would've been proud of you two for making the best of your second chance and in each of your own way, helping us to save the day."



Both Jerry and Tina understood Flash's remark and smiled even as she wiped away a tear as Flash addressed the pair. "I spoke with the doctor whose team worked on the two wounded and they're expected to survive, luckily. And thanks to Curt Ferguson's supplying us with as much as he could remember in his statement, we caught Barney Mathers. He's in a jail cell at the Central City Police Department with a reminder or two of today's events." Both McGees seemed puzzled before Flash continued. "Somehow, and it's pure speculation on my part, Mathers activated your invention and stumbled onto creating some new element... one much like mercury but without its magnetic properties. By the time I got there, whatever this new element was had coated him and gave him both enhanced strength and other abilities to boot, like absorbing most everything he came across and growing bigger and faster as a result."



Both McGees' faces exhibited horrific shock. "My God", Tina said slowly as she brought one of her hands to her mouth, even as Jerry comforted her.



The Flash nodded his head and continued. "Looking back, I'm somewhat surprised that Mathers didn't absorb your invention in the same fashion as he did the other objects, but I think he realized subconsciously that had he done so, he would've either lost those powers or it outright would've killed him. And speaking of that, the last bit of news I have isn't the best but it's nothing compared to what we all faced today." With that, Flash shared the news regarding the damage the Elemental Transponder took in his and Polara's fight against the transformed Mathers, including his own last-ditch effort to stop their foe. Both husband and wife took the news well in light of all they'd endured.



"Even after what he and our mutual former partners put us through today, I wouldn't want his or the others' deaths on our consciences... nor would we want an entire city or more annihilated by someone using something we built to do so", Jerry replied, even as Tina agreed with him. "Nothing's worth that. Machines can be rebuilt but life can't."



"That's true", Flash concurred. "It's getting a bit late as the last remnants of '87 fade away and you've both had so much to handle. You take care and Happy New Year to you both."



"Happy New Year to you, too, Flash", Tina and Jerry both said, almost in unison. The three waved and then Flash was gone as the married couple embraced and shared a kiss.



*



Epilogue:



A short time later as he stood outside of Memorial Hospital, the Flash felt the cold winter weather on his face and yet he felt a joy that kept him warm. So did another as Frances Kane walked towards him in her winter-suited civilian clothes. "What a day. Heck, what a year we've had, Wally", Fran said as they shared a hug.



Flash chuckled before responding. "You got that right, Fran. We've probably had more excitement this year since at least '85, and it's only strengthened things between us. Your embracing being a hero in and out of costume, me putting the last remnants of my doubts and fears to rest after last May. I'm genuinely looking forward to seeing what 1988 will bring us... well, as long as Bat-Mite doesn't show up at next year's Central City Comic-Con, anyway."



Fran herself chuckled as she remembered that adventure and responded. "Heh, yeah, that was something, wasn't it?"



Flash smiled as he answered, then grew serious. "Yeah. Fran... thank you for trusting me earlier tonight. I think we both had questions as to if my gamble would work against Mathers, but using our abilities in that fashion turned the tide tonight. It's one thing to fight a foe when it's one we're familiar with but another when the foe's something vastly different than one you, I or both ever faced."



Fran's face displayed an understanding that she might not have completely realized until tonight. "It's been a learning curve for me. From my beginnings as a heroine during the Invasion to the Colonel Computron affair. Even so, tonight was like a baptism of fire for me, maybe more so than what I've been through so far. As for trust..."



Fran reached towards Flash's face and the two shared a lengthy kiss. As it ended, she finished her sentence. "I'll always trust you. Now... and forever."



Suddenly the pair heard fireworks go off and cheers erupt even as others from a far distance sang 'Auld Lang Syne' as the pair's eyes locked once more. Each smiled as they addressed the other with the nicknames they'd given one another.



"I love you, Blondie."



"I love you too, Red."



Once again, a kiss was shared by the pair as their own gift to the new year of 1988 and hopefully many, many more years to come.





THE END