Alter Egos

Power Swap

Description: Things go awry when Team Flash encounters a new meta with the ability to switch people's DNA.

I'm just gonna say this right now, this story was written long before Run, Iris, Run ever came out. All my info on that episode was from an article that didn't quite get all the facts right. That's why the villain's name is wrong and the characterization is totally different.

That being said, this is my take on what it could have been like if the OTF had switched powers instead.

...

Barry squeezed his eyes shut, a persistent ring resonating in his ears. Faintly, he registered the feeling of the hard, abrasive pavement against his exposed cheek. At first, he wasn't sure what was happening, but he knew he needed to get up. Barry managed to prop himself on his hands and knees before a wave of nausea swept over him. He took a few deep breaths, willing it to pass. Barry opened his eyes, his fallen teammates lit by the glow of the parking lot lamps. After that, it all came rushing back.

The Flash, Killer Frost, and Vibe had been trying to apprehend a new bus-meta. They hadn't been sure what his endgame was, only that he'd been kidnapping terminally ill people. The team had managed to stop him from taking another patient and were on the verge of capturing the meta. That is, until he generated some kind of energy blast, incapacitating them.

As Caitlin and Cisco began to stir, Barry gathered his strength, forcing himself to his feet. As soon as he stood, he knew something was wrong. His feet felt like weights, at least in comparison to how they usually felt. Barry attempted to break into a run, but only accomplished a light jog. He wasn't moving at super speed, or even normal speed for that matter.

About halfway across the street, Barry had to stop and take a breather. Cisco and Caitlin were now upright, trying to recover from the blast. Caitlin caught sight of Barry's hunched form, a worried expression settling on her features.

"I think I lost my speed," Barry grimaced, hints of panic rising within him.

Caitlin moved to clear the distance between them, becoming nothing but a blur of red lightening an instant later. Somewhere along the way she tripped and overshot, crashing into the side of a nearby dumpster.

"I think I found it," Caitlin groaned, rolling onto her back.

Barry quickly ran to help her, waddling as he did.

"That was awesome," Cisco blurted, as Barry helped her to her feet.

He was met with two disapproving glares. "Or not," Cisco put his hands up in surrender.

"We need to get back to the lab and figure out how this happened," Caitlin stated, dusting herself off.

Cisco nodded, moving to open a breach. However, a swirling portal didn't form when he jerked his hand. Instead, a blast of ice shot out, slamming into one of the parked cars. He stood motionless, mouth agape in shock as the ice-coated the vehicle. A moment later the windows shattered from the sudden change in temperature, setting off the car alarm in the process. Cisco visibly cringed as the noise blared through the near-empty parking lot.

"Oh hell no," he muttered, staring down at his hands.

As the reality of the situation sunk in, Barry noticed the hospital staff beginning to pool at the building entrance. That was their cue to leave.

"Well, breach or not, we gotta get going," Barry prompted. "The police are probably already on their way."

"Okay, wait wait wait," Cisco spoke. "If she has your powers, and I have hers. Then that means..." he turned to Barry, "you have mine."