The Flash: Broken Bonds: A West-Allen Family Story

Chapter Eighteen: Nora West-Allen

Chapter Eighteen: Nora West-Allen

Central City, 2019, Star Labs,

Nora and Iris immediately extrapolated back to Star Labs, where they found Cisco, Catlin, Ralph, and Barry all suited up in their superhero costumes and rushing about the Cortex, pushing past each other as they got ready for action.

" Ah, the other West-Allens!" Sherloque said, sounding out of breath. " As you can see, things are a bit chaotic around here and could use a little.."

Before Sherloque could continue, Iris had already sprung into action.

" Alright everyone, what's the situation?" Iris asked, sliding into the seat to the main control console like she had done hundreds of times before, Nora following behind her.

It always impressed Nora that her mom could stay cool under so much pressure and chaos.

" We just got an alert," grunted Ralph as he pulled his left boot on, " That Savitar, Zoom, and Godspeed have all just broken into Wayne Industries' new lab in Central City."

" And I already have eyes on it." Cisco added as he came to a stop at the console.

Security camera footage came up on the main screen, which showed three blurs of lightning blasting through the front entrance of a Wayne Industries building, frying lights, computers, and everything in between before getting to the cameras.

" Well, we had eyes on it." corrected Cisco.

" We need to get going," Barry said, now dressed in his Flash suit.

It was still almost surreal to see The Flash, her hero, in his red and yellow suit, with the iconic golden Flash emblem on it, standing in front of her. Even more so knowing that that same person was her dad.

" Vibe, Frost, Ralph, you're with me. Iris, Sherloque, you stay here and handle tech support."

" Team Flash out!" shouted Ralph as he bounded out of the Cortex, giving a peace sign as he left.

" Ugh, you love him, but hate him at the same time." Frost sighed as she and Vibe left as well.

As Barry turned to leave though, Nora grabbed his arm as he entered the hallway.

She knew that he didn't want her to come with him, but she felt obligated to do so.

I have to get back out there, start helping people again, helping him again.

" Um, I think that you forgot about me?" she asked, nervously smiling up at him.

Before he could respond, she blurted, " I want to go back out there with you! I know that you don't think that I'm ready, but I know that I am! My leg feels so much better than it did earlier today."

" Nora," Barry sighed, " You just got out of a week-long coma, you really shouldn't push yourself."

She knew that he'd say something like that, but she wasn't ready to give up just yet.

" Come on dad, you know that I'm strong enough to get back out there. Besides, I'll make sure to be really careful so I won't get hurt again."

" Nora," Barry sighed again.

" Well, he can't blame me for trying," thought Nora.

" I know that you want to help, but hurting yourself isn't the way to do it. Just stay here and help your mom with the comms," he put his hand on her shoulder. " I promise that you'll be out on the field again in no time, you just have to give yourself some rest first."

Nora frowned. Resting was the last thing that she wanted to be doing.

" Okay dad." Nora said, admitting defeat.

A warm smile spread across Barry's face.

"What?" asked Nora, confused.

" Nothing, I just remembered when someone else here used to sound like you."

Barry pulled his mask over his head and started back down the hall, but before he left, a thought occurred to her.

" Hey dad. Why didn't you ask me to work comms with mom in the first place?" she called out.

He turned around, a slight glimmer of something in his eyes that she couldn't quite place.

" I'm sorry. I must've just forgotten. I've got a lot going on with these speedsters back," he explained.

She could've sworn that it sounded like he was holding something back.

" Oh, yeah. Makes total sense. Go save the day, dad."

Barry gave her a reassuring smile before blasting out of Star Labs, leaving Nora alone.

" Am I imagining things, or was he hiding something?" she thought as she walked back to the Cortex.

" Either way, I hope that he stays safe."