The isotope truck incident left a bitter taste of unfinished business. In the police lab, Barry Allen, in civilian clothes, and Utopian, still in costume, were examining the reports. Medical scans showed no brain damage in the two scientists, and tox screens were clear: no traces of drugs.
"It's as if their will was short-circuited," Barry summarized, frustrated. "And that residual energy you sensed... I don't like the smell of it."
Their only lead was Professor Sarah Corwin, a renowned neuroscientist known for her abrasive character and lack of diplomacy. They found her in her university lab, surrounded by screens displaying complex neural schematics.
"Allen," she said without even looking up from her screen. "If you're here to ask me to analyze the EEG data of your two kidnapped scientists, save your breath. The police already sent them over. The results are... intriguing, but inconclusive. Abnormal theta activity, consistent with an advanced state of suggestibility. But the cause? No idea."
"Can you at least tell us what kind of technology could cause this?" insisted Utopian, his calm voice contrasting with Barry's palpable irritation.
Corwin finally looked at them, her gaze as cold as her instruments. "Technology? Perhaps. A natural or amplified psionic ability? Equally likely. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a lecture in ten minutes. Police puzzles are not my specialty."
Brushed off unceremoniously, the two heroes left the university no further ahead than when they arrived.
"Well, that was productive," Barry quipped sarcastically.
It was then that the next alert sounded: a gorilla had escaped from the Central City Zoo. The police were in pursuit, but the creature, surprisingly agile and strong, was causing panic.
"A gorilla? After mind-controlled scientists? That can't be a coincidence," stated Utopian.
Within seconds, Flash was on the scene. The gorilla, imposing and intelligent, was using rooftops and drainpipes with disconcerting dexterity. But it was no match for the Speed. Flash overtook it with a net made of memory-shape alloy, immobilizing it without harm.
As Utopian landed beside them, ready to intervene, the impossible happened.
The gorilla, panting, stopped struggling. Its brown eyes, full of ancient wisdom, settled on them. Then, its mouth opened, and a deep, articulate voice emerged, tinged with a strange, guttural accent.
"I thank you for stopping me without violence," said the gorilla. The attending police officers stepped back, astonished. "My name is Solovar. I am not an animal from your zoo. I am a security officer from Gorilla City."
Flash and Utopian exchanged a look of complete disbelief.
"The... City of what?" asked Barry.
"A city hidden from the eyes of men, populated by my species, who evolved in parallel to yours," Solovar explained. "I am pursuing a criminal, an exile named Grodd. He is a mad genius, a tyrant in the making. He stole an ancient technology: a mind-control helmet. We thought we had contained him, but he managed to escape into your world."
The pieces of the puzzle began to click into place in Utopian's mind.
"This helmet... Could it force humans to act against their will? Like stealing radioactive isotopes?"
Solovar inclined his massive head. "Exactly. The isotopes are meant to power the helmet's amplification device. Grodd seeks to extend its control range. Perhaps even enslave your entire city to raise an army and march on my city."
The mystery of the scientists was solved, but the threat had just multiplied exponentially. They were no longer facing a simple thief, but a super-intelligent, megalomaniacal gorilla, armed with a weapon of mental domination, and in possession of the materials to make it even more powerful.
The hunt for Grodd had begun.