Chapter 36: Going To The Past 2
Barry and his time remnant emerged on the street outside his childhood home on the night of his mother's death. The familiar sounds of the night, the distant hum of traffic, and the rustling of leaves created an eerie backdrop to the impending tragedy. Barry's heart pounded as he focused on the mission, knowing he had only moments to act.
He looked at his time remnant, who returned his gaze with a determined nod. "For mother," the time remnant said, his voice resolute. With a swift motion, he activated the facial transmogrification device, his features morphing until he looked exactly like Nora Allen.
Before they could even process the transformation, a blur of yellow and red lightning streaked past them—the Reverse-Flash and the future Flash, clad in his futuristic armor suit, had already arrived. The sight of them blitzing through the night prompted Barry and his time remnant to follow suit.
Barry took off in a burst of speed, the force of his acceleration propelling him forward. His time remnant, now appearing as Nora, followed closely behind. They chased after the two speedsters, the streetlights casting long, flickering shadows as they raced.
The battle was already in full swing when they reached the center of the conflict. The future Flash was engaged in a fierce struggle with the Reverse-Flash, their movements too fast for the human eye to follow. Sparks flew as they clashed, the air crackling with the energy of their speed.
In a breathtaking maneuver, the future Flash suddenly broke away from the fight, a blur as he sped into the house. His mission was clear: save the younger Barry. He scooped up the terrified child and, with a speed that even Thawne couldn't process, whisked him away to safety in an instant, effectively teleporting out of sight.
Infuriated by his sudden loss, Thawne's eyes blazed with rage. He turned his attention to the next closest target, Nora. Barry, who was not far away, looked at his time remnant. They exchanged a determined nod, understanding the gravity of what they were about to do.
Using his connection to the Still Force, Barry brought time to a complete stop. The world around him froze in a moment of surreal calm. Even Thawne was caught in the stillness, but Barry knew it wouldn't last long. He had mere seconds to act.
In that suspended moment, Barry dashed forward, reaching his mother and gently lifting her from the ground. As he carried her away from the house, his time remnant took her place, seamlessly assuming the role of Nora to maintain the timeline's appearance.
Barry ran with his mother through the frozen streets, his mind racing with the enormity of what he was doing. He knew he had to get her to safety, far away from the chaos that had enveloped their home. He headed toward Fawcett City, Philadelphia, a place he knew would be safe for her.
The journey seemed both instantaneous and eternal, the streets blurring past them as Barry sped through the night. He finally stopped in a quiet, secluded area of Fawcett City. The Still Force's grip on time eased, allowing the world to resume its natural flow. Barry gently set his mother down, her eyes wide with confusion and fear.
"Who are you? What's happening?" she asked, her voice trembling.
Barry took a deep breath, his heart aching with the knowledge that he couldn't reveal his true identity. "I'm here to help you. You're safe now," he said gently. "Please, listen carefully. You can't go back to Central City. It's not safe for you there."
Nora looked at him, her eyes searching for answers. "But my son, Barry—"
"He will be fine," Barry interrupted, his voice filled with a conviction that he hoped would reassure her. "Trust me. He will be taken care of, and you will see him again. But for now, you need to stay here, in Fawcett City. It's important."
Nora's eyes welled up with tears, a mix of confusion and fear etched on her face. "But why? Why is this happening?"
Barry swallowed hard, struggling to keep his emotions in check. "There are things happening that you can't understand right now, but it's all to keep you safe. I promise you, everything will be okay. In fourteen years, I'll come for you, and you'll see your son again."
Nora nodded slowly, though her confusion remained. "Fourteen years..."
"Yes," Barry confirmed. "Fourteen years. Trust in that. Trust in me."
He knew he couldn't stay any longer. The timeline was fragile, and he had already taken a great risk by intervening. He stepped back, his heart heavy with the weight of the moment. "Stay safe, Nora," he said softly. "And remember, your son loves you more than anything."
With that, Barry turned and sped away, his heart breaking with every step. He raced back to the future, hoping against hope that his actions had been enough to save his mother without unraveling the timeline.
As he approached the present, the familiar sights of Central City came into view. Barry slowed to a stop, his mind racing with the implications of what he had done. He had saved his mother, but the future was still uncertain.
Barry returned to Central City just in time to see Thawne on the brink of using the wormhole with the time sphere. He knew he had to act quickly to prevent further disruption to the timeline. Instead of confronting Thawne aggressively, Barry approached him with a calm demeanor, knowing the severity of the situation.
"Thawne," Barry called out, his voice steady yet urgent. "You need to leave. The wormhole is becoming unstable, and if I close it, you'll be stuck here forever."
He knew Barry wasn't bluffing; the Flash never did. With a nod of resignation, Thawne quickly activated the time sphere and drove into the wormhole, disappearing in a flash of light.
As Barry watched Thawne disappear into the unstable wormhole, instead of stabilizing, it began to collapse in on itself with alarming speed. The air crackled with chaotic energy, and a dark, swirling vortex started to form at its center. Barry's heart sank as he realized the dire consequences of the collapsing wormhole.
"Guys, this isn't good!" Barry shouted urgently to Caitlin, Cisco, and Joe. "The wormhole is collapsing into a black hole!"
Caitlin's eyes widened in horror as she analyzed the readings. "Barry, we need to do something fast. If that black hole stabilizes, it could tear apart everything around it."
Cisco's hands trembled over the controls. "Barry, can you try to phase into it again? Maybe you can reverse the collapse somehow!"
Barry nodded grimly, his mind racing with possibilities. "I'll try, but I need you to find a way to disrupt the gravitational pull. Caitlin, see if you can recalibrate the particle emitter to emit anti-gravitons."
With no time to lose, Barry accelerated towards the collapsing wormhole. The black hole's gravitational force intensified with each passing second, threatening to consume everything in its path. He focused all his speed and concentration, phasing into the event horizon to confront the chaos within.
Inside the collapsing wormhole, reality warped and twisted around Barry. The gravitational forces tugged at him relentlessly, threatening to tear him apart. Barry pushed forward, navigating through the turbulent energies with precise control, searching for a way to reverse the collapse.
Back at STAR Labs, Caitlin and Cisco worked feverishly to recalibrate the particle emitter. "Barry, we're sending anti-gravitons your way!" Caitlin called out over the comm link.
Cisco adjusted the controls, his expression determined. "Hang in there, Barry. We've got your back!"
Inside the black hole, Barry intercepted the anti-gravitons, directing their energy towards destabilizing the collapsing singularity. The energies clashed violently, causing a cataclysmic feedback loop within the wormhole. Sparks of energy erupted around him as Barry struggled to maintain control.
Outside, Caitlin and Cisco monitored the feedback on their monitors. "It's working, but the feedback is intense!" Caitlin exclaimed, her voice filled with urgency.
Cisco nodded, sweat beading on his forehead as he made rapid adjustments. "Barry, you're doing great. Keep it up!"
Barry gritted his teeth, his whole being focused on the monumental task before him. He could feel the black hole's grip weakening, the singularity beginning to destabilize under the barrage of anti-gravitons. With a final burst of effort, Barry pushed the limits of his speed and connection to the Speed Force.
And then, in a blinding flash of light and energy, the collapsing black hole imploded upon itself. The destructive forces dissipated into nothingness, leaving behind only a lingering echo of its immense power. Barry emerged from the remnants of the event horizon, his suit singed and his body weary from the ordeal.
Back at STAR Labs, Caitlin and Cisco let out a collective sigh of relief as they watched Barry return safely. "He did it," Caitlin murmured, her voice filled with admiration.
Cisco grinned widely, relief washing over him. "Barry Allen, the man who can outrun even a black hole."
Barry staggered slightly as he rejoined his team, a mix of exhaustion and triumph in his eyes. "Thanks, guys," he said breathlessly. "We did it."
Joe approached Barry, clapping him on the shoulder with pride. "You saved the day again, Barry. I'm proud of you."
Barry nodded, feeling the weight of their shared victory. "But Thawne..." His voice trailed off as he glanced towards the now quiet and empty platform where the wormhole had been. "He's gone."
"We'll deal with Thawne," Caitlin reassured him, her expression resolute. "Right now, let's focus on what we can control."
"You are right, Caitlin, now time to go get my mother"