CHAPTER 11: The Rogue's Gallery Begins
Central City was starting to feel like a revolving door for the criminally super-powered. Every other day, it seemed, a new metahuman popped up, eager to test Barry's speed and the team's patience. Adam, for his part, was enjoying the show, even as he meticulously planned his next "death-cation."
" Seriously, it's like a buffet of powers out here. So many choices, so little time. And so many opportunities to get myself gloriously, yet temporarily, annihilated. Ah, the sweet life of an immortal prankster. "
The latest addition to the city's burgeoning rogue's gallery was Tony Woodward, a former bully from Barry's past who had gained the ability to turn his skin into steel. He was strong, durable, and had a serious grudge. The news reports were filled with tales of his indestructible rampage, his body shrugging off bullets and even Barry's initial, less-controlled punches.
"He's like a walking, talking tank," Cisco exclaimed in the Cortex, projecting a holographic image of Woodward. "Nothing seems to hurt him! Barry, you bounced right off him!"
Barry rubbed his shoulder, wincing. "Yeah, it was like hitting a brick wall. A very angry, very metallic brick wall."
Adam, who had been idly spinning a pen between his fingers, suddenly dropped it with a clatter. He leaned forward, his eyes gleaming with a perverse excitement. "A tank, you say? Indestructible? Fascinating. My 'future insights' are tingling with a very specific kind of… durability. Like, 'can walk through a wall and not even get a scratch' durability. Very useful for avoiding awkward conversations. Or, you know, surviving supervillain attacks."
Caitlin looked at him suspiciously. "Adam, what are you implying?"
"Implying? Me? Never!" Adam said innocently. "I'm merely suggesting that if we're going to be fighting a lot of these… durable individuals, it might be helpful to have someone on the team who can, shall we say, absorb a bit of the impact. Someone who can take a punch. Or a dozen. Someone who's naturally good at being a human punching bag. Someone like… me." He gave a dramatic sigh. "It's a tough job, but someone's gotta do it. And I'm really good at it."
Barry frowned. "Adam, no. You're not getting yourself killed again. That was… that was terrifying. We don't want to go through that again."
"Oh, Barry, you wound me!" Adam clutched his chest theatrically. "You think I enjoy being pulverized? It's for science! And for the greater good! And for my system upgrades! Look, I'm not saying I'm going to run headfirst into a brick wall. But if, hypothetically, a brick wall were to run headfirst into me, and I happened to get a cool new power out of it, well, that's just a happy coincidence, isn't it?" He winked at Wells, who merely observed with a faint, unreadable smile.
The team tracked Woodward to an abandoned steel mill, a fitting backdrop for his metallic rampage. Barry zoomed in, trying to find a weakness, while Adam positioned himself strategically, just outside the main confrontation zone, but close enough to be a tempting target.
" Alright, Adam, this is it. Fourth death. Gotta make it count. No more stun guns. I need a good, solid, full-body impact. Something that screams 'indestructible.' "
As Barry tried to lure Woodward into a trap, Adam started yelling, his voice echoing through the cavernous mill. "Hey, Girder! Is that what they're calling you now? Girder? Seriously? That's like calling a speedster 'The Fast Guy'! No creativity! And your fashion sense? It's a little… rigid! Get it? Rigid? Because you're steel? I'm here all week, folks!"
Woodward roared, his metal-clad fist slamming into a support beam, sending sparks flying. He turned, his eyes blazing with fury, and charged at Adam. "You think this is funny? I'll show you funny!"
Adam stood his ground, a defiant, sarcastic grin on his face. "Oh, I'm sure you will! But first, let's talk about your lack of a proper villain monologue! A good villain always has a monologue! It's in the rulebook!"
Woodward reached him in a blur of metallic force, his massive, steel fist swinging. Adam braced himself, a strange mix of fear and anticipation coursing through him. The impact was immediate, brutal, and utterly devastating. It felt like every bone in his body shattered simultaneously. He was lifted off his feet, sent flying across the mill, slamming into a pile of rusted metal with a sickening clang. The world went black, filled with a ringing silence.
" Well, that was thorough. Definitely felt that one. Hope I got the skill. Because if I didn't, I'm going to be very, very annoyed when I wake up. "
[ SYSTEM MESSAGE: HOST DECEASED. SKILL ACQUISITION INITIATED. ACQUIRING: MINOR DURABILITY/DENSITY MANIPULATION. ]
[ SYSTEM MESSAGE: REGENERATING... ]
Moments later, as Barry finally knocked out a bewildered Woodward, he sped to Adam's crumpled form. Caitlin and Cisco arrived, their faces etched with horror. Adam was a mangled mess, his limbs twisted at unnatural angles, a pool of blood spreading beneath him.
"Adam! Oh my god, Adam!" Caitlin cried, her voice trembling. She immediately began to assess the damage, her medical training kicking in despite the shock. "His bones are shattered! Multiple fractures! Internal bleeding…!"
Then, Adam coughed. A wet, gurgling cough. He slowly, agonizingly, began to move. His limbs, impossibly, started to shift, bones audibly clicking back into place. The blood receded, and his skin, which had been pale and bruised, began to regain its normal color. He pushed himself up, groaning, but otherwise miraculously intact.
"Ugh," he muttered, rubbing his chest. "That's going to leave a mark. Or at least, a very vivid memory. Who knew getting hit by a human wrecking ball was so… impactful? Get it? Impactful? Because he impacts things? I'm here all week, folks!"
Caitlin stumbled back, her eyes wide with disbelief. Barry stared, his jaw practically on the floor. Cisco, however, was already buzzing with excitement, despite the gruesome sight he'd just witnessed.
"Adam! You… you regenerated! Again!" Caitlin stammered, her voice a mix of awe and terror. "How is that even possible? Your injuries were… fatal!"
"Oh, you know, just a little perk of the whole 'Immortal System' thing," Adam said, flexing his arm. He felt a subtle shift in his body, a newfound resilience. He focused, and his skin seemed to harden slightly, becoming denser, more resistant. "And look what I got! Minor durability/density manipulation! I can probably take a punch from a very angry toddler now! Or maybe even a slightly annoyed adult! Progress!" He grinned, then winced as a phantom ache flared. "Though, honestly, I was hoping for something a little more… flexible. Like, turn into a rubber band man. But hey, I'll take it. Less broken bones in the future. Hopefully."
Barry, still reeling, could only ask, "You… you let him do that to you? You wanted him to hit you?"
"Well, 'want' is a strong word, Barry," Adam said, dusting himself off. "More like 'strategically allowed.' It's all part of the plan, Flash. Gotta level up, gotta get those skills. And sometimes, that involves getting yourself thoroughly pulverized by a disgruntled metahuman. It's a dirty job, but someone's gotta do it. And I'm really good at it. Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I just earned myself a very large, very greasy burger. And maybe a full body massage. This immortality thing is exhausting."
Wells, who had observed the entire gruesome spectacle from a distance, wheeled closer, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Mr. Stiels, your… dedication to your 'system' is truly remarkable. And your ability to acquire skills in such a… direct manner. We will need to discuss the full implications of this new ability. And perhaps, how it can be… leveraged." There was a predatory gleam in his eyes.
Adam met his gaze, a challenge in his own. "Oh, I'm sure we will, Dr. Wells. I'm sure we will. Plenty of time for strategic leveraging. But for now, I think we have a metal man to lock up. And I really need that burger."