Jack Kadere was standing on the rooftop of a residential building, hands casually in his pockets.
From his vantage point, by the parapet at the edge of the roof, a figure was crouched low, peering through a pair of binoculars into a room in the building across the street. At first glance, one might expect to see some sleazy voyeur spying on couples or scantily clad women. But that wasn't the case.
The one holding the binoculars was a woman.
A young Black woman with curly, springy hair that framed her face like coils.
Her name was Shawna Baez, better known in Central City's underworld as Peek-a-Boo. Her origin wasn't extraordinary—just another ordinary citizen whose life changed when she was caught in the aftermath of the S.T.A.R. Labs particle accelerator explosion. Unlike most, Shawna walked away with a gift: the ability to teleport anywhere she could see. One glance, and she could blink instantly from one location to another.
In the Flash's original timeline, Shawna had used her powers to break her boyfriend out of prison. She nearly became a real thorn in the city's side, until Barry Allen figured out her weakness. In total darkness, when she couldn't see her destination, her powers were useless. That was how the Flash finally brought her down.
Now, Jack Kadere was observing her as she played scout for a small band of minor metahuman criminals. It was a ragtag lineup, but not without bite:
Multiplex — the metahuman who could split into countless duplicates.
The Mist — able to transform his body into lethal, poisonous gas.
Girder — with a body made entirely of living steel, built to take damage.
And of course, Peek-a-Boo, the teleporter who could strike and vanish in the blink of an eye.
On paper, not the most terrifying of rogues, but together? A dangerous enough crew.
"Phew…" Shawna exhaled, lowering the binoculars. She stretched slightly, shifting her stance. Then, from the corner of her eye, she caught sight of something—or rather, someone—standing on the same rooftop as her.
She stiffened instantly, spinning on her heel.
"Who the hell are you?!" Shawna barked, hand darting toward her waist. "Get lost before I make you!"
Jack grinned, unbothered. "Relax. I'm not here to fight you. I'm here to offer you a job."
"A job?" Shawna narrowed her eyes. "You think I take orders from strangers? You've got the wrong girl." She whipped out a pistol and leveled it at him.
Jack's smirk widened. "Guns again. Everyone's first answer to a problem is pulling a trigger. Fine. But let me show you why that won't work."
The next moment, scarlet lightning crackled around his frame.
Shawna's stomach dropped. Panic hit her instincts. Without hesitation, she turned her gaze to the rooftop across the street and triggered her powers, ready to teleport away—
But she never got the chance.
A sharp blow struck her neck before her power could fully engage. Her vision swam, and the rooftop spun out of focus as she collapsed unconscious at Jack's feet.
Jack crouched over her limp form, brushing dust from his jacket sleeve. "Why even try? Your teleportation only works when you can see your target. My speed is faster than your eyes."
With that, he scooped her up casually. A blur of crimson lightning cut across the night sky, and both of them were gone.
....
Jack reappeared aboard the Disciple.
The time-traveling ship, once the property of ruthless bounty hunters, wasn't as massive as the Legends' Waverider, but it was more than functional. Its facilities were cutting-edge, and its prison cells? Far more advanced than anything Rip Hunter had designed. After all, bounty hunters needed to hold dangerous prey across timelines, and the Disciple was built exactly for that.
Jack dropped Shawna unceremoniously to the floor and glanced toward the containment cells. Inside, three other metahumans were already confined separately:
Multiplex, who sat unnervingly still.
The Mist, whose vaporous form repeatedly slammed against the reinforced walls.
Girder, pounding his steel fists into the barrier over and over, like a caged animal refusing to calm down.
"Shhh," Jack said with a playful grin, holding a finger to his lips. "You'll wake the lady." He gestured at Shawna's unconscious body sprawled on the ground. "Don't worry, I'll explain everything when she comes around."
Minutes later, Shawna stirred, groaning softly as her eyes fluttered open.
Her gaze darted wildly across the unfamiliar chamber. The reinforced cells, the metahumans she recognized, and—most unsettling—the man casually smiling at her from a few feet away.
Shawna instinctively considered teleporting, but quickly realized it was impossible. The prison walls were solid; she couldn't see a way out.
"Good morning," Jack greeted cheerfully. "Name's Jack Kadere. I know everything about each of you—your powers, your backstories, what you've lost, and what you really want."
Shawna pressed her back against the wall, glaring. "And why the hell are we here?"
Jack spread his hands casually. "Simple. I want your help dealing with someone."
From the cell, The Mist snarled, his voice echoing hollow through his vaporous form. "Why should we help you?!"
Jack's smile sharpened. "Because you're still breathing. Fight me, and you'll lose. Run, and you'll never be fast enough. Let's be honest—you've all got powers now. Are you really satisfied hiding in alleys, treated like vermin? Or do you want the chance to use those powers for something bigger?"
His eyes flicked to each of them in turn. "I'm not forcing you into anything you don't already want. Multiplex—you want revenge on the CEO who destroyed your life. Mist—you've dreamed of killing the gang boss who set you up, along with the judge and cops who locked you away. And you, Girder…"
Jack's eyes landed on the man whose body could shift into steel. "Don't you crave the fear and respect your power deserves? Don't you want to live without being pushed around anymore?"
The steel-skinned thug—known on the streets as Girder—hesitated, then gave a faint, instinctive nod.
"And you, Shawna," Jack said at last, turning to the young woman in the corner. "Don't you want your boyfriend out of prison?"
Shawna Baez, better known as Peek-a-Boo, narrowed her eyes. "What exactly are you offering?"
"It's simple." Jack spread his hands casually. "You've all been acting on your own, chasing revenge, freedom, or recognition. I'm offering you a chance to pool your strengths. Whether you carry out your goals separately at the same time, or together as a team, that's up to you. But united, you'll be harder to stop."
Multiplex frowned. "And what do you get out of this?"
Jack chuckled. "Have you heard of the Flash?"
Multiplex, Clayton, and Shawna exchanged blank looks. Only Girder gave a dismissive snort. "You mean that red blur the internet won't shut up about? Some so-called hero running around Central City saving cats from trees? Honestly, I thought that was you."
Jack grinned, amused by the insult. "He's fast, but not as fast as me. And I don't mind giving him… a little push. Heroes don't appear without a crisis. When you light enough fires at once, he'll have to show up. I want to see how he handles all of you when you're striking at the same time."
Clayton tilted his head. "If you're faster and stronger than him, why don't you just take him down yourself?"
"Do I really need to explain myself?" Jack's smile didn't falter, but his tone hardened. With a wave of his hand, the locks on their cells clicked open. "You'll act by tomorrow noon. I don't care how you do it, but I expect Flash to be confronted. Fail to deliver… and I'll make sure none of you get to enjoy your gifts again."
Before any of them could respond, a streak of red lightning flared. In an instant, the four found themselves standing in a dim alley downtown. The city lights glimmered around them, the smell of exhaust and wet pavement heavy in the air.
For a long moment, no one spoke. Finally, Multiplex broke the silence. "He's not wrong. Alone, we'd just be picked off one by one. But together, we stand a chance. Four of us against one hero—better odds than we've had so far. Let's at least talk strategy."
The others exchanged glances. Shawna gave a reluctant nod, Clayton folded his arms but didn't argue, and even Girder muttered agreement.
Back at his villa, Jack returned with a casual stride, brushing the dust off his jacket. He found Laura waiting and waved to her with a smirk. "They'll dance tomorrow. And then we'll see how our hero handles the music."
…
PS: These characters—Multiplex, The Mist (Clayton), Peek-a-Boo (Shawna Baez), and Girder—are all from Season 1 of The Flash TV series. They were handled quickly in canon, so no abilities were copied here. This note is just to clarify for readers who might assume otherwise.