Rocky Raymond //Book Eight// - The Flash

Chapter 2- Armageddon, Part 2 (Part 1)

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3rd Person POV

Despero punches Barry hard and Barry falls to the ground. "I thought we had a truce." Barry groans from the ground, holding his ribs

"I thought as much." Despero says. "Your bravery is strengthened by the reassurance you gain from enhanced healing."

Barry stands. "It doesn't mean it hurts any less." He says with a groan

"Pain is the debt we pay for change, and I'm here to change the future." Despero says. "Thanks to this experiment, I now know the force required to kill you when the time comes."

"Oh..." Barry whispers

"I've seen your destiny, Flash." Despero says. "I've watched you use your power to destroy everything and everyone."

"You still haven't told me why I would do this." Barry shoots at Despero. "Huh? What would cause me to turn my back on everything I've sworn to protect?"

"Madness." Despero answers simply. "Many times in the past, the pain you've suffered nearly crushed you. But soon, a new despair will befall you. And it will create an unbroken chain of sorrow so great...your mind will crack. And with it, the world ends. You see...your power has recently accelerated. But so too has your ability to descend into madness. Tragedy is coming for you, Flash. What remains to be seen isn't whether or not you'll break. It's when."

"I have seven days." Barry says

"I'd worry more about tomorrow if I were you." Despero tells him. "I don't know the details of what will happen. But I know tomorrow is the beginning of the end. Your end. I've granted you a chance to defy destiny. But I'll be staying close by. As soon as I sense your mind turning mad, I'll find you. Good luck fighting fate, Flash. I'll be watching."

***

"Okay, uplink to the Tower mainframe is secure." Alex Danvers says on the screen. "You now have access to our alien database including any intel we have on this Despero."

"We appreciate you helping, Alex." Iris says

"How long will it take to download?" Chester asks

"Well, this new algorithm works at light speed." Alex answers. "In fact, Caitlin, that guy Marcus that I connected you with, he designed it."

"Well, if the world's still here in a week, I'll be sure and give him a call." Caitlin says

There's no matches on the program for Despero. "Oh, I'm sorry, guys. I'll keep digging and see what I can find out. But if this Despero has managed to stay off of our grid, then he is a greater threat than any alien we've faced. Keep your guard up."

"Well, you heard her." Allegra says. "We have to protect Barry. There's no way he would destroy the world."

"What if he's right?" Frost poses the question and Mack looks over at her. "I mean, look, we all saw how a massive boost of speed affected Barry before."

"Oh, crap, you're right." Chester says. "Remember the ASF? He gained speed-thinking, but as a result–"

"I turned on the people I love." Barry finishes, walking into the room. "Look, I... that's not gonna happen this time."

"But Barr, what if you just leveled up too much, too fast?" Chester asks

"Barry isn't a threat to us." Allegra says. "Despero is. And his story doesn't add up. I mean, come on, doesn't anyone else think it's weird that an alien cares so much about Earth? He's not even from here."

"Wherever he's from, here's what we know." Caitlin says, bringing up a scan of Despero's brain. "I ran a bio-scan on Despero the minute he entered S.T.A.R. Labs. His anatomy is unlike anything I ever studied before. He has strength and invulnerability that rivals Kryptonians."