Chapter 11: The Flash Is Born
The lingering scent of ozone and the faint hum of the Particle Accelerator were the new normal at S.T.A.R. Labs. Barry, bless his eager heart, was now fully embracing his role as Central City's scarlet speedster, though his methods were still a little… unrefined. He was fast, undeniably, but he was still learning to fight. And that was a problem, because our next metahuman was less about finesse and more about hitting things really, really hard.
"Tony Woodward," Cisco announced, pulling up a mugshot on the main screen. "Barry's childhood bully. Now, apparently, a human block of steel. Dude's practically invulnerable."
"Oh, joy. Girder. The human punching bag. And I thought my life couldn't get any more ironic. At least he's not a weather wizard. My hair is still recovering from that last encounter." I leaned against the console, a familiar ache in my muscles from the last Adapt System workout. The system was a lifesaver, but it definitely sent me a hefty invoice every time it activated.
"Invulnerable?" Barry repeated, his brow furrowed. "How do I even fight someone I can't hurt?"
"You don't fight him with brute force, Barry," I said, pushing off the console. "You fight him with speed. He's a tank, but he's slow. He's strong, but he's not agile. You need to hit him where he's weakest. Not physically, but tactically. Think about disrupting his molecular structure, or hitting him with enough kinetic energy to… well, make him not invulnerable. Or, you know, just run around him until he gets dizzy." I subtly hinted at the concept of phasing. "What if you could… vibrate through him?"
Caitlin looked at me, intrigued. "Vibrate through him? Adam, that's… an interesting theory. But physically impossible."
"Is it?" I countered with a shrug. "This is a world of metahumans, Doc. Anything's possible. Just gotta think outside the box. Or the steel box, in this case."
Wells, who had been observing, gave a subtle nod. "Mr. Stiels has a point, Barry. Your speed is your greatest weapon, but also your greatest tool. Think beyond the punch."
Barry, ever the eager student, nodded. "Okay. No punching. Got it. More… vibrating."
The confrontation with Girder was, as expected, a messy affair. Barry, trying to implement my advice, zipped around Woodward, but the sheer force of Girder's movements created shockwaves that still knocked Barry off balance. Woodward, enraged by Barry's evasiveness, lashed out, his steel fist tearing through the environment.
I was positioned near a group of civilians, trying to guide them to safety, when Girder, in a fit of pique, swung his massive arm, sending a crumbling section of concrete wall directly towards them. There was no time for Barry to react. No time to think.
[IMMINENT THREAT DETECTED. PHYSICAL IMPACT. HIGH-FORCE COLLISION. INSUFFICIENT STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY.]
[ADAPTATION: ENHANCED DURABILITY. DOUBLING THREAT'S HARDNESS. ACTIVE.]
My body reacted before my brain even registered the danger. A familiar, electric surge coursed through me, but this time, it was like every cell in my body solidified, became impossibly dense. My skin felt like tempered steel, my bones like reinforced concrete. I threw myself in front of the civilians, bracing for impact.
The concrete slab hit me with a sickening CRUNCH! that echoed through the street. It was like being hit by a freight train. I felt the immense pressure, the sheer force of the impact, but no pain. No broken bones. Just a jarring, violent shove that sent me slamming back against a nearby lamppost. The lamppost, however, groaned and bent under the impact, leaving a visible dent where my back had hit it. I, on the other hand, was perfectly fine, albeit winded.
"Holy crap! That was… that was a lot. But I'm still in one piece! Take that, physics! And take that, Girder, you big, dumb, metal-skinned bully!"
Girder, seeing me still standing, looked genuinely bewildered. He swung again, a direct punch aimed at my head. I didn't even try to dodge. The steel fist connected with my jaw with a dull thud. My head snapped back, but again, no pain. Just a jarring vibration.
"What are you?!" Girder roared, clearly frustrated.
This momentary distraction was all Barry needed. He'd been watching, horrified, as I'd taken the blows. Now, following a new tactical inspiration, he vibrated his hand at super-speed, hitting Girder with a focused, high-frequency impact that bypassed his invulnerability. Woodward staggered, then collapsed.
[ADAPT SYSTEM: DEACTIVATED. EXTREME STAMINA DRAIN. RECOVERY INITIATED.]
The incredible hardness drained from me instantly, leaving me weak and trembling. My legs gave out, and I slid down the lamppost, collapsing onto the ground, gasping for breath. My muscles felt like overcooked spaghetti.
Caitlin was instantly by my side, her face pale with worry, her medical scanner already out. "Adam! Oh my God, Adam! Are you okay? You just… you took a direct hit from Girder! How?!"
"Just… really, really good at taking a punch, Doc," I wheezed, trying to force a smile. "Turns out, my face is harder than it looks."
She ignored my sarcasm, her eyes glued to the scanner. "His bone density readings are off the charts! And his cellular structure… it's like it temporarily rearranged itself to be impervious to blunt force trauma! This is… this is impossible!"
Wells wheeled over, his gaze intense, scrutinizing me. "Indeed, Dr. Snow. Mr. Stiels, your abilities are… evolving. You are a fascinating anomaly."
Great. Now I'm a fascinating anomaly. Just what I always wanted to be. Right up there with Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster.
Later, back at S.T.A.R. Labs, Caitlin was practically buzzing with scientific curiosity. She had me hooked up to every monitor imaginable, taking more blood samples, running more tests.
"It's like your body has an on-demand, localized hardening mechanism!" she exclaimed, excitedly showing me a graph of my cellular structure during the impact. "But it's not consistent! It only activates when you're in direct danger! And it's always… double the force!"
"Yeah, well, it's exhausting," I grumbled, flexing my still-aching arm. "Turns out, being a human shield is a full-time job. And it doesn't come with a pension."
She stopped, her excitement fading, replaced by a look of deep concern. She sat beside me, her hand gently touching my arm. "Adam… this isn't just a 'quirk.' This is… dangerous. You could get seriously hurt. Or worse. I don't want to see you… I don't want to lose you."
Her voice was soft, vulnerable. My heart did a little flutter-kick. The scientific puzzle was one thing, but her genuine fear for my safety was another. It was a clear sign of how much she cared.
"I know, Caitlin," I said, my voice gentle. "But someone has to do it. And besides, I'm pretty good at not dying. It's kind of my thing now." I squeezed her hand, a silent promise. I'll try to be careful. For you.
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