Return of a Speedster

Prologue

One Week After Wally's Death

The Flash storms his way towards a secluded office at S.T.A.R. Labs. Once he reaches the door, he stops and observes the scene that is unfolding inside the surprisingly large office space.

Inside the room stands two men on opposing sides of a long table, locked in a heated argument. One is an official representing S.T.A.R. Labs. The other is a prominent member of the defense industry. That man is Joseph Graves.

"Let me make myself clear, Mr. Graves," the official states in a condescending tone. "Experimenting with and tapping into extra-dimensional energy fields is not only in violation of your contract with S.T.A.R. Labs, but is also tremendously dangerous!"

"Dangerous?" Mr. Graves taunts. "Dangerous is housing a failing particle accelerator above ground in the center of a large city. Dangerous is looking down the barrel of gun-toting gang of mercs on the streets of Gotham. What I have done, the word dangerous does not define."

"So, what words would you use to describe your actions?"

"I was saving a friend."

A punch is thrown, and it strikes the billionaire square in the jaw. He stumbles and holds the table for support.

"You call that a punch?" Mr. Graves smirks. "Please, I know a few rookies whose mothers can punch harder than that."

With hearing that statement, the S.T.A.R. Labs rep attempts to punch the billionaire again. But this time, he is stopped by the scarlet speedster himself.

"That's enough!" Barry Allen exclaims. "Go get some air, Jack. I'll handle it from here."

"Huh. Maybe you can knock some sense into him," Jack replies.

As the representative leaves, the two left in attendance take their seats at the table.

"I could have taken him," Mr. Graves states confidently.

"Yes. I now you could have." The Flash responds. "But fighting amongst each other will not excuse what you have done. Seriously, you thought you could just open a portal into the Speed Force and nothing bad would happen?"

"I admit the plan was both poorly planned and executed," Mr. Graves replies sincerely. "But, I had to do something."

"Mr. Graves, sir, with all due respect, accidentally re-activating a planet's core while trying to send a group of inexperienced and heavily armed soldiers into a dimension of pure kinetic energy is not a plan. That is a death--"

"Inexperienced!?!" Mr. Graves interrupts. "Heavily armed,yes, but inexperienced? My men are anything but inexperienced. They can handle any situation that I throw at them."

"I meant that they do not have experience working with the Speed For--"

"I know what you meant."

Mr. Graves let's out a sigh and states, "You know what I was trying to do."

There is a pause.

"I was trying to bring Wally back," the trillionaire states grievingly.

"We both know that that is impossible," Barry replies grimmly.

"I know," Mr. Graves partially concedes. "But you know me. I am a man of action. I just could not stand around and watch as everyone just gave up."

"We did not give up. We just... mutually agreed that he's not coming back," Barry clarifies.

For a few brief moments, both of these powerful men sit in silent contemplation.

"Anyway, I just want to know where you got the technology from in order to build the gateway," Barry states, breaking the silence.

"Well, you are at least aware of the multiverse theory correct?" Mr. Graves implores.

The speedster nods in agreement.

"Well," the industrialist continues, "Let's just say that it is not just a theory, and that I am a member of an organization that monitors this higher plane of existence."

"Keep going."

"Well, a few weeks before Wally's 'death' I was called to a meeting of this organization, that we--the members--call The Board. Now, the matters discussed at this meeting are of no importance. But, while at the meeting, I learned that when speedsters run too fast or die they go into this dimension called the Speed Force. And by extension, if strong enough, can exit this dimension as well. Thus, bringing them back to life.

"After Wally died, I went back to The Board and asked the head chairman, my alternate from Earth-0, about how one would be able to 'tunnel' into this dimension. He responded by handing me proto-types and blueprints for experimental weapons that can channel the Speed Force's energies. As well as a large amount of research that his team has collected about it.

"So, using these proto-types and the research, my R&D team was able to produce two gateway-like structures. One was placed at an underground research station in Colorado, operated by the U.S. Air Force. There other was sent to my research installation on Mars. They were activated one by one, within days of each other.

"The first, the earthbound one, exploded and destroyed half of the base. Luckily, the Speed Force temporarily embued one brave airman with great speed, and he was able to evacuate the base in less than a few milliseconds of the start of the explosion. His powers later faded over the course of two hours.

"My team learned that the explosion could have been lessened if we have better grounding of the equipment. I also learned a little bit later, that the breach was actually two-fold. For when we punched through here on Earth-16, the Speed Force, as if it had a mind of its own, channeled a large amount of its energies away from us and dispelled it above Central City on Earth-0, giving at least a hundred of the city's residents speed powers.

"The second gateway, the one on Mars, did something miraculous. There was no large scale explosion. Instead, the energy was channelled directly into the reinforced grounding, and penetrated the planet's crust. The energy dissipated some where in the planet's core, and it caused the core to spin. The resulting reactivation of Mar's geological cycle caused Olympus Mons to erupt and start the generation of an atmosphere. To say the least, Mars lives again."

The scarlet speedster just stares at the military industrialist in shock.

"Just so you understand," Mr. Allen starts, "you cannot due that again. Do I make myself clear?"

"As crystal, Mr. Allen," Mr. Graves replies earnestly. "I have already dissolved the program; given back the blueprints; and destroyed the proto-types and all other related experiments. I am never going to try this again."

"Good. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have other business to attend to," the Flash replies as he leaves the premises, in a flash to say the least.

As Mr. Graves exits the room, he thinks to himself: No, I won't do that again. But I can try something else. The only foolproof way of attracting a bolt of lightening.

I just have to use a lightening rod.

A/N: Finally finished editing this part. Please leave any questions or reviews in the comments below!

P.S.: I will give a special shout out to whomever is able to point out at least one reference or Easter Egg hidden in any part of my stories! This one included!