Chapter 5: The Man Who Broke the Bank
The city wasn't just abuzz; it was on edge. Reports of strange weather phenomena, localized tornadoes, and inexplicable gusts of wind were flooding the news. It was only a matter of time before our first official metahuman villain made his grand, blustery entrance.
"Clyde Mardon," I muttered to myself, watching a news report about a bank robbery interrupted by a mini-tornado. Right on schedule. The OG villain. The man who taught Barry how to really use his powers. And the guy who almost killed him with a wind gust. Fun times.
"Did you say something, Adam?" Caitlin asked, looking up from her tablet. We were in the main cortex, surrounded by the glow of monitors tracking weather patterns.
"Just thinking about the forecast," I lied smoothly. "Looks a little… windy. For a clear day."
Barry, now slightly more in control of his speed but still prone to overshooting, zipped into the cortex, nearly knocking over a beaker. "Another one! This guy is insane! He just hit the First National Bank!"
"That's our cue, then," Wells said, wheeling forward, his voice calm and authoritative. "Barry, you're up."
The scene at the bank was chaos. Debris was flying, cars were skidding, and a whirlwind of wind was tearing through the building, spitting out cash and terrified civilians. Clyde Mardon, a hulking man with a furious scowl, stood at the center of the maelstrom, looking terrifyingly in command of the elements.
[IMMINENT THREAT DETECTED. HIGH-FORCE KINETIC IMPACT. WIND PRESSURE. INSUFFICIENT STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY.]
[ADAPTATION: ENHANCED WIND RESISTANCE. DOUBLING THREAT'S FORCE. ACTIVE.]
My internal system message blared, making my teeth vibrate. Oh, hell no. I am not running towards a tornado. Barry, where are you?!
But Barry was already a red blur, zipping around Mardon, trying to get a read on him. The wind, however, was too strong, knocking him off balance. Cisco's voice crackled over the comms, "Barry, he's creating a low-pressure zone! You can't get close!"
I, meanwhile, had found myself caught in the periphery of Mardon's wind vortex. I was trying to guide a terrified old lady to safety, when a rogue gust, seemingly aimed directly at me, slammed into my side. The force was immense, enough to send a normal person flying.
But I wasn't normal. The Adapt System slammed into gear. A familiar, yet always shocking, surge of power coursed through me. My feet felt rooted to the ground, my body suddenly dense and immovable. The wind howled around me, tearing at my clothes, but I didn't budge. I was an anchor in a hurricane. I felt the immense pressure, the sheer force of Mardon's power, trying to rip me apart, but my body resisted, doubling its strength against the gale. It was like standing in front of a jet engine, knowing it wouldn't move you.
"Holy crap, holy crap, holy crap!" I thought, grimacing against the invisible force. "This is what 'double' feels like? It still feels like a very angry giant is trying to push me over. But I'm not moving! Take that, Mardon, you windy menace!"
I used the brief reprieve to shove the old lady clear of the immediate danger zone. "Go! Get to safety!" I yelled over the roar of the wind.
My resistance caught Mardon's attention. He frowned, focusing his power on me, increasing the intensity of the wind. I could feel the immense strain on my body, my muscles screaming, but I held firm. My eyes met his, and I actually managed a shaky, defiant grin. Try harder, pal. My system runs on spite and plot armor!
This momentary distraction was all Barry needed. Cisco's voice, now clearer, came through Barry's comm, "Barry! He's focused on Adam! Now's your chance!"
Barry, seeing me struggling against the impossible wind, his face etched with worry, seized the opportunity. He found an opening in Mardon's concentration, a split-second lapse, and zipped in, taking Mardon down with a well-aimed punch. The wind died down almost instantly, leaving an eerie silence in its wake, broken only by the sounds of the sirens approaching.
[ADAPT SYSTEM: DEACTIVATED. EXTREME STAMINA DRAIN. RECOVERY INITIATED.]
The power drained from me like water from a sieve. My body went from an immovable object to a trembling mess. My knees buckled, and I collapsed onto the now-calm street, gasping for air, every muscle screaming in protest. My head spun, and a cold sweat broke out over my skin.
"Adam!" Caitlin's voice, filled with alarm, was the last thing I heard before she was by my side, her hands instantly checking my pulse. "Are you okay? What happened?!"
"Fine," I managed to croak, my voice raspy. "Just… really, really tired. That guy had some serious lung power."
Barry, now in police custody with Mardon, jogged over, his expression concerned. "Adam, what was that? You just… stood there! He hit you with a hurricane!"
"Like I said," I managed a weak grin, "good adrenaline rush. Plus, I think I have really heavy shoes."
Joe West arrived then, taking control of the scene. He looked at me, then at Caitlin, a knowing, slightly worried expression on his face. "You alright, kid? You got a knack for getting into trouble."
Caitlin was already pulling out a portable scanner, running it over me. Her brow furrowed. "His vitals are… incredibly low. But there's no physical damage. It's like his body just… absorbed the impact."
Wells, having wheeled over, observed me with a look of profound intrigue. His eyes narrowed, a puzzle piece falling into place for him, though he still lacked the full picture. "Remarkable, Mr. Stiels. Truly remarkable."
As the police processed Mardon, and the paramedics attended to the other injured civilians, Barry and I sat on the curb, exhausted but alive.
"So," Barry said, looking at me, "I guess this means… you're officially part of the team, huh?"
"Looks like it," I sighed, leaning my head back against the wall, eyes closed. "Just promise me we don't have to fight any more wind wizards. My hair is a mess."
Barry chuckled, a tired but genuine sound. "Deal. Though, if you can stand up to a hurricane, maybe you're exactly what we need."
I opened one eye, looking at him. "Or maybe I'm just a walking plot device with a surprisingly resilient skeleton. Either way, Central City just got its very own Flash. And I guess I'm along for the ride. Let's just try to keep the collateral damage to a minimum, okay? This city's insurance rates are going to go through the roof."
The first battle was won. Barry Allen was The Flash. And Adam Stiels, the transmigrated human cheat sheet, had officially joined the chaotic, metahuman-filled fray, armed with sarcastic wit, meta-knowledge, and a mysterious system that only activated when he was inches from death. My body was screaming, but my internal monologue was already prepping for the next episode.