Kid Flash: Wally West, In Crisis

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Kid Flash
Wally West, In Crisis
by hitman_44077
based on Crisis on Infinite Earths no. 9 to 12 by Marv Wolfman and George Perez

Wally West was in his room at his family home in Blue Valley, trying to relax. He had just finished his semester at the Community College, but that was the last thing on his mind. It's no use. I can't even read a simple book, he thought. There's been so much on my mind these past few months: Barry's trial and my testimony that nearly put him away, Quitting the Teen Titans was hard as well, even though most of the time, I felt like an outsider. I joined them because of Raven. Wally closed the book and walked downstairs to his kitchen.
Raven. I think there will always be a part of me that will love her. I even rejoined the Titans briefly in order to find her. I'll never forget the sight of seeing her in her demonic form. It chilled me to the bone. I'd like to think we saved her... at least her soul, and put an end to Trigon. Still, it was on that mission that I experienced the first of my pains. In the kitchen, Wally walked to the refrigerator and pulled out a gallon of orange juice. Opening one of the kitchen cabinets, he pulled out a glass, which he filled. He then placed the juice back in the fridge and sat down at the kitchen table. The muscles in my legs cramping up seemed normal enough. I mean, I thought my speed was just slowing down, but the pains in my chest and heart told me something different. The tests Barry conducted on me during the trial proved my own worst fear, he thought.
Wally took another sip of juice from his glass. I'm dying. I'm twenty-one, and I'm going to die. And I'm scared. Fran knows, hell, she was there when Barry confirmed it. She's been a great source of strength, and I love her. We have a love that I never could have had with Raven.
Wally continued drinking the juice from his glass. It's a bitter irony. Growing up, I wanted to be just like Barry. I wanted to be The Flash. I gained the same powers as him in the exact same manner, yet it's those same powers that are now killing me. Despite some misgivings I've had, I wouldn't ever trade my days as Kid Flash for anything. Not even...
Wally's thoughts trailed off as tears welled up in his eyes. He rubbed the tears from his eyes. Not even for a cure. Oh, God. I haven't even told Mom and Dad yet. How can I even tell them I'm dying? There's no telling that it would do to them, especially Mom. She spent a lot of time worrying about me when I was Kid Flash.
Wally finished the juice in his glass and placed the glass in the dishwasher. He then walked to a counter and picked up an apple. I haven't seen Barry since the trial. He's always been a role model for me, just like Dad. I hope he's doing well now that he's been acquitted. I'm going to have to stop at Mr. and Mrs. Allen's house in Central City one of these days. They may know what Barry's been up to.
Wally walked out of the kitchen and upstairs to his room. I'm still alive, Wally thought with a small smile. I still have a little hope. Barry has a lot of Chemistry knowledge. If anyone could find a cure for the disease, it's him. Plus, the Crisis is over. Wally's smile faded. I still can't believe Supergirl is dead. She made the ultimate sacrifice in a selfless manner. I can only hope that in the same circumstances, I'd do the same thing. Wally opened his door, walked over to his bed, sat down and read a letter from Frances Kane while eating his apple.
"Wallace... we need you," a young woman's voice called out.
Wally looked up, surprised as he had thought himself the only one home. Standing by one of his room's windows were two figures, one familiar, one a stranger. "Jay Garrick, but-- you're not his wife, Joan," Wally said, still surprised
"Listen to what Harbinger has to say, lad," Jay said sternly.
"We need you, Wallace...," Harbinger said.
"Need me? Forget it. The Crisis is over. Besides, I'm retired."
Harbinger continued. "The Monitor's Tapes mentioned you... and your problem... as well as your knowledge. We NEED that knowledge."
Jay interrupted. "Don't know what that 'problem' she's talking about is, lad-- but she's right. With Earth-1's Flash vanished-- we turn to YOU." Jay held Wally's ring in his hand. "The Titans say this is your old ring. Will you take it?" Jay asked.
Wally stood up, face to face with Jay Garrick, staring at the ring. Jay's words about Barry shook Wally. He was dying, and he'd vowed not to use his abilities after facing Dr. Light during Barry's trial... but this was Barry they were talking about. If there was one man Wally would die for... it was Barry.
Wally picked up the ring, placing it on his finger. He released the Kid Flash costume from it, and with super-speed, clothed himself in the familiar garb. Wally answered Jay with determination that would make any hero proud. "Once a Titan... always a Titan."
Turning his attention specifically towards Harbinger, Kid Flash continued to speak. "You mentioned something about needing my 'knowledge'. What exactly are you referring to?" he asked.
Harbinger spoke solemnly to the young super-speedster. "The Monitor made specific studies concerning the nearly limitless Earths that existed. He learned that the various Earths, and even, the many universes seemed to exist roughly within the same body of space. If that were the case, the many Earths would have crashed upon themselves in a chain reaction. The Monitor discovered that the many universes were separated by vibrational frequencies, many, many years before your Flash made the first crossing over from one Earth to another."
"I've known of the various Earths for a while, from my experiences with Barry and Jay. What does that have to do with me?" Kid Flash asked.
"Wally, I don't know if you've been watching the news today," the elder Flash said.
"No... why?"
"Several minutes ago, at Earth-1's UN Building, there was an assembly conducted between the world delegates and some of Harbinger's agents. One of our own, a man calling himself Pariah, vanished... shouting warnings as he faded away. Next thing you know, Brainiac interrupts the conference, announcing that Earths 4, S, and X are now under the control of super-villains assembled from the five remaining Earths. Their citizens have been enslaved, and we have no clue as to whether any heroes from those three Earths remain alive," the elder Flash said.
Kid Flash's face was written in shock. The only words that he spoke were "...Good God."
The elder Flash continued. "Your world's Lex Luthor has demanded an unconditional surrender from both Earths 1 and 2, and he's threaten to use raw power to destroy the three Earths. With the five Earths connected together, Earths 1 and 2 would also be destroyed. We've tried to break the barriers that Brainiac set up across the three Earths, but nothing's worked so far. We have a short amount of time to mount some offense"
"That is where your knowledge comes in, Wallace. Your mentor has made travels from one Earth to another, both by himself and with the aid of one of his inventions," Harbinger said.
"The Cosmic Treadmill. Of course!" Kid Flash said, before a realization struck him. "Wait a minute. There's no way we could get enough people across to one of the Earths, much less three, even if they possessed super-speed."
"That's where you're wrong, Wally," Jay said. "Before we decided to locate you, Harbinger had Alex Luthor locate some of Earth-1's greatest scientific minds. Don't be fooled by the name, Alex's one of the good guys. Anyway, he's located everyone from Rip Hunter to Will Magnus. They've been working in a multiple transport platform, so many heroes could make specific journeys to each of the three Earths. All they need..."
"Is the speed. I think we can do that," Kid Flash said with a smile. "I know for a fact that the Treadmill is located in Barry's lab in Central City, but we'd better hurry."
"I've already taken a precaution in regards to the Treadmill, and your world's Superman, being familiar with your mentor, has retrieved it. He alone possesses the strength and speed to deliver the Treadmill in New York City. With our five worlds in peril, time is truly of the essence," Harbinger said with cautious urgency.
She reminds me of Raven... the way she speaks and the way she conducts herself, Kid Flash thought. And the blonde hair reminds me of Fran.
Turning to Jay, Kid Flash spoke. "Is she always this prepared, Jay?"
"Wally, with what I've seen and experienced so far, it can only help us," Jay said, picking up Harbinger and holding her in his arms. "Now then, let's head towards New York."
"I'll meet you there, Jay. In a Flash," Kid Flash said as Jay took off.
I didn't want to alarm Jay. I'm pretty sure I can make the run, but passing through walls isn't in my best interest... not with the disease anyway, Kid Flash thought as he walked downstairs and towards the front door. Fran's letter gave me some comfort, at least. She said she'd be back in a few days. Hopefully, this mess will be over... and Barry will show up.
As he opened the front door, Kid Flash found himself face-to-face with... "Fran?!" He stood surprised at the sight of Frances Kane standing at his front door.
The sight of seeing Wally in the uniform that he vowed never to wear again unnerved Fran. "Wally... what are you doing? Why are you dressed as Kid Flash?" Fran asked, her voice shaking.
"Fran... I--," Kid Flash began.
"What is this about, Wally?" Fran screamed. "Does this involve the Titans? Why can't they just leave you alone?"
"Fran," Kid Flash said, placing his hand on Fran's shoulder, "this isn't about the Titans."
Fran turned around, her back to Kid Flash. "Does this involve HER? Is this about Raven?" she shouted.
Kid Flash turned her around, face to face again with his girlfriend, as tears streamed over her face. "No," he said strongly. "You know I love you, Fran. Raven's gone. She's dead. Let me assure you, we have a stronger love, you and I, that I never could have had with Raven." Kid Flash took Fran into his arms, hugged her and kissed her. "It's true that I left my costume with the Titans. But this is something bigger." He wiped some tears off Fran's cheek softly.
"Several minutes ago, I had a visit from an old friend. He fights crime on one of the other Earths, maybe I told you about him. Jay Garrick, the Flash on Earth-2. He told me that three of the Earths currently joined together with his and ours were enslaved by super-villains from all five Earths. Demands were made by the villains and they've threatened to destroy the three Earths if they aren't met. Barriers have been set up across the three Earths, preventing our heroes from journeying over. Various people are working on a device that would allow the heroes to cross over, with the aid of Barry's Cosmic Treadmill," Kid Flash said. "That's where I come in."
"Why didn't your friend contact your uncle? He'd be a better choice to use the Treadmill," Fran asked, calmly.
"That's the problem," Kid Flash said, cautiously. "I haven't seen him in a number of months, since before his trial ended. I assumed that he was working with the Justice League, but none of the other heroes have seen or heard anything from him."
"Oh, Wally...," Fran said, placing the palm of her hand on Kid Flash's cheek.
Kid Flash placed his hand over hers on his cheek. "I'm concerned. I'm worried, too, but if there's one man that can out race anything, it's him," he said.
"Does this other Flash know about your disease?" Fran asked with concern.
"No, and that's the way I plan on keeping it," Kid Flash said. "The heroes are already in a tight spot. The least I can do is complete a mission meant for Barry and Jay. I wish I could stay, but I've got to travel to New York."
"Then we're going together. I'm not going to let you run out there just to wear yourself out. I'll use my magnetic abilities and fly us out there," Fran said with determination.
"I know sometimes you're not fond of your abilities, Fran. You don't have to do this," Kid Flash said.
"Wally... I love you. That's why I'm doing this," Fran said, as she gave Kid Flash a passionate kiss.
"Thank you... for both," Kid Flash said with a smirk.
"And you're welcome for both," Fran replied with a similar smirk.
"You know, Fran, you never told me that you were coming home this soon," Kid Flash said.
"I wanted to surprise you. Looks like both of us ended up surprised Hopefully, when this is taken care of, we'll have some better surprises in store. Now... let's go to New York," Fran said. Using her magnetic powers, Fran flew herself and Kid Flash towards New York City as fast as they could manage.
"It's insane," Fran said.
"What's insane?" asked Kid Flash.
"All of these Earths. It's almost unfathomable... that there seemed to be as many Earths as there are people," Fran said.
"It did take a little getting used to. Barry used to tell me about his hobby. He loves comic books, he read them as a boy. His hero was the Flash," Kid Flash said.
"You mean--?" Fran asked.
"Yeah. He read comics starring the same man that visited me earlier, Jay Garrick. Barry was inspired by his comic book hero, and that's why he took the identity of The Flash when he gained his super-speed powers. When he first met Jay after accidentally crossing over from our Earth to his, well, I think he felt the same way about Jay that I did when I first met Barry as The Flash. A great sense of awe, and pride. True to his comic book character, Jay is a hero in every sense of the word, never looking at Barry as a novice, but an equal," Kid Flash said.
"Amazing...," was Fran's surprised reply.
Fran and Kid Flash traveled until they reached Buffalo, New York. "This is fine, Fran. You can land here," Kid Flash said.
Fran lowered herself and Kid Flash towards the street below, touching down softly. "I guess this is it, Wally. I really want you to be safe," Fran said with concern.
"I don't think I'll be on the battlefield, but things will work out. They'll have to, if the heroes are going to win. Are you going back to Blue Valley?" asked Kid Flash.
"Yeah. I want to be near home in case... in case they don't succeed," Fran said, wiping away a tear.
"There's the chance that could happen. If it comes to that, Fran, I want you to tell my parents... tell them I love them. Say a prayer for us, Fran. We'll need all we can get," Kid Flash said solemnly. Slowly, the couple embraced, sharing what might be their last kiss. "I love you, Fran. Don't ever forget that." And with those words, he sped off towards New York City.
Kid Flash sped into New York City, and traveled towards the Chelsea section near Greenwich Village. He slowed down as he spotted the many heroes already at the scene. I never knew just how many heroes seemed to live. And this is just the representatives from Earths 1 and 2, Kid Flash thought with unexpected surprise. He looked around for any familiar faces and spotted several members of the New Teen Titans. Well, there they are. It's good to see them.
Firehawk and Wonder Girl were in conversation, exchanging thanks and appreciation for one another. "I can't thank you enough for helping me find Terry. It was like experiencing a piece of history firsthand," Wonder Girl said, referring to her recent adventure within New York's Warp Zone. The two of them went there in an effort to locate Wonder Girl's husband who was lost within it.
"Hey, it was no problem. I'm just glad I could help. I almost wonder if our escapade will make the school books," Firehawk said, with some humor.
"You never know, with the way time's messed up right now," Wonder Girl said. "Maybe when the others return from Tamaran, we might be able to offer you membership in the Titans. That's the least I can do," she offered.
"That could be fun. From what I've seen with you and Cyborg, it seems like there's always something your team's involved in. I'm going to get in position with the Earth-S group. Good luck on Earth-4, Wonder Girl," Firehawk said as she hugged Wonder Girl.
"Good luck to you, too, and thanks again," Wonder Girl said as she waived to Firehawk.
"It looks like old home week," a familiar voice spoke behind Wonder Girl.
Turning around, Wonder Girl found herself face to face with Kid Flash. "Wally!" Wonder Girl exclaimed. "I don't believe it! Oh, it's good to see you!" The two hugged.
"Flasher!" yelled Changeling with joy. "My favorite winged-tip speedster! Back in the saddle, er... boots, again, eh?"
"Yeah, it's me, Gar. How are you all doing?" Kid Flash asked.
"We're doing all right. Vic should be here any minute with Roy. Same with Garth and Tula," Wonder Girl said.
"Where's Dick and Kory... and the new guy... Joseph, is it?" Kid Flash asked, intrigued.
"They're off-planet. They traveled to Tamaran. Kory hasn't been there since our little team-up with the Omega Men. I think it'll be good for her," Wonder Girl said.
"Well, are you going to introduce our new blood or not, Donna?" Changeling eagerly asked.
"'New Blood'?" Kid Flash asked.
"We gained some new members since you retired, Wally. You mentioned Joseph, but...," Wonder Girl motioned towards Kole. "This is Kole Weathers, Wally. Kole, this is Wally West, Kid Flash," Wonder Girl said proudly.
"Wow! It's nice to meet you, Wally. I've only been a member for a little while, but you couldn't ask for a better group of friends," Kole said.
"That's true. They're all special, and I'm glad to have you as a teammate. You have a bright future ahead of you. Just be careful... all of you. There's no telling what's going to happen today," Kid Flash said cautiously.
Suddenly, a voice bellowed from behind Kid Flash. "You. Kid Flash. We must speak."
Even before Kid Flash turned around, he recognized the Russian accent. There stood the former Starfire, now known to the world as Red Star. Kid Flash looked at this man, whom he had clashed with in the past as a member of the Teen Titans. "Red Star," Kid Flash said without emotion.
"We have never operated on the same side. My values and regard for the Kremlin, yours for this Capitalist United States. Yet, when the greater good is called upon, we find ourselves on same side. You...," Red Star paused, "WE have both been ignorant of all sides in this 'Cold War'. Perhaps it is not too late. Perhaps our forces can win this war against the true enemy... those seeking the end of these five worlds. Let us move forward... as comrades." Red Star offered his hand in friendship.
Kid Flash listened, and grasped his former foe's hand, ending the two men's personal 'Cold War'. "I would be proud to call you a friend," Kid Flash said. Turning his attentions back towards the Titans, Kid Flash asked, "You wouldn't know anything about the Flash's disappearance, would you? Earth-2's Flash said Barry vanished. That's why I was approached to become Kid Flash again. Since I haven't seen him since before his trial ended, I've been a little concerned."
There was solemn faces among the Titans near him, even on the usually-happy Changeling. Wonder Girl spoke, breaking the silence. "The last time we saw the Flash, we were protecting Manhattan with the Outsiders. He appeared, surrounded by some strange energy, made references to time, then suddenly vanished. He looked all right, for the most part, when we saw him. I wish we knew more, but we don't," she said as her sadness became evident.
Kid Flash's heart sank. Barry was in danger, he thought. It doesn't look like anyone knows where he is. Does Luthor have him as a hostage? The Rogues? Until I know conclusively what's happened to him, Kid Flash is back in action permanently!
Kid Flash spoke, understanding the situation. "Thank you for telling me, Donna. It's more than I knew before. At least it sounds like he's alive. Look, I'd better help Jay with the Cosmic Treadmill. Remember, be careful," Kid Flash cautioned.
"You, too, Wally," Wonder Girl said as Kid Flash joined the Flash of Earth-2.
"I was starting to wonder about you, Wally. Everything seems to be working with the transport platforms. We just need to calibrate the Treadmill so that the platforms receive the proper vibrational frequencies," Jay said.
"Everything looks right, Jay," Kid Flash said. "I had a little catching up to do. I'll tell you about it in a while."
"The way things are set up, the Titans and the Doom Patrol are heading for Earth-4. They'll attempt to rescue Captain Atom, the Blue Beetle, Thunderbolt, and their world's other heroes. Heavy hitters, like the JLA, Metal Men and other assorted heroes are going to Earth-S, attempting to rescue Captain Marvel and his Marvel Family. Your Batman's Outsiders, Infinity Inc., and the JSA are heading to Earth-X, where they'll try to liberate the Freedom Fighters. God willing, they'll be safe," Jay said.
Finally, all heroes arrived and went to their proper platforms. Kid Flash did a final checkup on the Treadmill. To ease his tension, he spoke with Jay. "Flash and I rebuilt his original Cosmic Treadmill several times over... it always let him cross from one Earth to another... so it shouldn't fail us now."
"Let's hope not, son. If the villains really took over three Earth--," Jay paused, then continued, "--we'll need ALL the help we can get."
Kid Flash and Earth-2's Flash stood prepared for the greatest trial of their lives... a mass liberation effort with the stakes dangerously high. "Ready, son?" Jay asked
The sick pit in Kid Flash's chest refused to defeat his will. "I am. Jay, do you think Barry's okay? I'm worried about him."
Jay viewed Kid Flash's concerned face and replied. "We ALL are, Wally. We all are!" he said.
With that, the two speedsters began to race, first matching marathon runners, then blurring into yellows and reds. "Faster lad-- faster!" Jay shouted. They continued running, faster and faster. There was no way to identify who was who or what was what.
"I see a rift in space-- ahead of us!" Kid Flash shouted, seeing that they were succeeding.
The Elder Flash could only shout "Faster! Faster!! FASTER!!"
In a flash of light, the many heroes assembled on the mass transport platforms vanished. With that feat performed, Kid Flash and the elder Flash began to slow themselves down on the Cosmic Treadmill. "It seemed to work, Jay. There's no sign of the heroes," Kid Flash said.
"I'm hoping it did. I don't want them stranded outside those Earths," the elder Flash said cautiously.
"Harbinger and the others are monitoring inside the building. We could wait there," Kid Flash suggested.
"Good idea, Wally," he replied.
The two speedsters walked inside where Harbinger awaited contact with their forces. "I'm sure it worked," she said.
On one of the radio frequencies, tuned to a STAR Labs band, a voice spoke. "This is Cyborg of the Teen Titans. I'm letting you know that our forces have arrived on Earth-4. Changeling just landed the first assault." There was applause from those in the room, for their efforts were successful. The battle would indeed be waged on Earths 4, S, and X.
On another frequency, specially tuned to the JLA communication devices, the Superman of Earth-1 spoke. "Superman here. The Justice League, Metal Men, and others have arrived in Fawcett City. I've been able to determine with my X-Ray vision that the Marvel Family is safe, although held in captivity. The Martian Manhunter is leading a sub-squad specially equipped to deal with the menaces surrounding the Marvels."
Finally, the third report was made by the leader of the Outsiders on a band specifically tuned to Batman's equipment. "This is Batman. The platform worked. The JSA, Infinity, Inc., and the Outsiders are on their way."
"That's a relief," Jay said. "I just hope that they keep safe."
"Yeah, they're safe, but what's going to happen if they need to retreat?" Kid Flash asked. "Should we be on standby at the Treadmill?"
"That will not be necessary. The Monitor had technology that would send the injured back to their Earth of origin. While his satellite was destroyed by the Anti-Monitor, I was able to transfer his tapes and files to Earth-1. We didn't have enough time to build multiple units, but we were able to build three... one for each battle unit. The device transfers the wounded back to their Earth, so that they may receive the medical treatment they need. It is to be used as a last resort: only the person holding the device and the injured party will be transferred back. The rest will be stranded until this war ends," Harbinger said.
"If you want, you aren't required to stay here. Harbinger and I will keep track of the heroes' progress. I would just tell you to stay within New York, as we may need your abilities again," Alex Luthor said.
"I don't know. I'd feel cheap not staying here," Kid Flash said.
"You have done what we needed. We are grateful, and we wouldn't be here without you two," Alex replied.
"With what's happened so far, maybe I do need a breather. At least for a coffee. What do you say, Wally?" Jay asked.
"All right. But, we'll be back before too long. I have some friends out there, and I don't want anything bad happening," Kid Flash said.
The two speedsters left the tracking room and exited the building. "You know where a man can get a good cup of coffee?" the elder Flash asked with a grin.
"I know just the place. Try to keep up, all right?" Kid Flash kidded.
"Is that right? Well then, I think you have a challenge on your hands," Jay said in the same tone.
The two speedsters made their way to a nearby soda shop. Seeing the place brought back memories for Jay as a boy.
"You know how to pick them, don't you?" Jay said with enthusiasm.
"Hey, I only learn from the best. Plus, I thought it would be like home away from home," Kid Flash said.
The two men walked inside. Jay viewed the many antiques the soda shop had: bicycles, old advertisements, posters, and comics. They walked to two stools and sat down. The 60-year-old owner of the soda shop stood in amazement, then looked at his wall, where a copy of Flash Comics #1 was framed. Again, he looked at this customer, then again at the framed comic book. "Hey, you," the owner called out. "Who are you?"
Jay Garrick replied, "I'm the Flash. Why?"
The owner spoke. "The Flash is a comic book character. You a nostalgic fan? The outfit you're wearing looks the way I always pictured."
"You say? Well, then. Just how did the Flash maintain his secret identity when all he wore was a hat like mine?" the elder Flash asked as he began to vibrate his face, blurring his facial features.
"Just... like... that...!" the owner exclaimed. "You're really him! The Flash! Wow! It's like a dream come true! I collected every comic you appeared in. I was so mad when they canceled your books. Hard water vapors, right?" referring to his hero's origin.
"You got me there," Jay said with a smile. "I'd like to order a coffee, if it's all right."
"I'll do you one better. Both you and your friend have a meal on me, coffee, too!" the owner said.
"We appreciate it," Jay said. The two heroes ordered their meals and began to catch up on what had happened since the last time they saw each other. "What's been new with you, Wally? I was a little surprised that you retired."
"Well, I made that decision shortly after I graduated from high school. I liked what I did with Barry, but I wanted to go to college. I had some goals that I wanted to reach," Kid Flash said.
"I can't fault you there. I went to college myself, and I know that you have to devote your full attention to your studies. Of course, I gained my powers in college, too, but you understand," Jay said, as he cut his pancakes into mouth sized bites.
"Yeah. Believe me, I've had some good times as Kid Flash, but for the last year or so, I've felt like I had no control of my life," Kid Flash said, taking a bite from his chicken-fried steak. "You see, I fully intended that when we teamed up before I graduated, that would be my last case. That was before Raven came into the picture."
"You've mentioned Raven before. Isn't she a member of the Titans?" Jay asked, taking a bite of pancakes.
"She was. She assembled the New Teen Titans to fight her father, a demon named Trigon. She needed my abilities the most, and she manipulated me into joining," Kid Flash said, sipping some coffee, the memories flooding back.
Jay paused. "I didn't know about that. I didn't mean to bring up some bad memories."
"No. It's all right, Jay. It took me awhile to accept that we didn't share the same love... and I found myself falling for an old friend from Blue Valley. Her name's Fran. Frances Kane. As for Raven, she was drawn to Trigon's side, and Trigon took over our world. I was drawn back into the Titans, and we managed to stop Trigon," Kid Flash said, as the owner filled his cup with coffee.
"What happened to Raven?" Jay asked, as he took a bite of bacon.
"We... we stopped her. We were manipulated into giving into our darkest thoughts, and we killed her demonic body," Kid Flash said, wiping away a tear.
"I'm sorry," was Jay's consoling reply. Jay thought, Barry lost Iris to the Reverse-Flash, and I remember how I felt when I thought Joan was dead. Thanks to Barry and Dr. Fate, we managed to save her from that bizarre limbo dimension she was trapped in. I'd hate to imagine a life without Joan.
"We redeemed her soul. With the help of Raven's mother, Arella, and an old teammate from the original Titans, Lilith Clay, her soul purged the evil from her dead body. Her soul destroyed Trigon, and our world was saved," Kid Flash said.
"That's good to know. There's hope... there's always hope. We need to continue believing that," Jay said wisely.
"I think Barry feels the same way, wherever he is. I'm wondering if maybe the villains don't have him. It would explain his vanishing in front of the Titans, and why Brainiac designed those barriers. He didn't anticipate that there was another speedster that could help the heroes," Kid Flash said hopefully, as he took a bite of hash browns.
"That could be it. Tell me about Fran," Jay asked, changing the subject to keep Wally from dwelling on Barry.
"Well, Fran has been a rock, safe to say. There's something about her, it's like she possesses the same quality that Iris had and Joan has. I can't pinpoint it exactly, but it's there. I love her, Jay. I can't see my life without her. She's that important to me," Kid Flash said.
"I'm glad to hear it," Jay said with a smile.
"I'd like to know what's been going on with you," Kid Flash asked, as he finished with his hash browns.
"Well, I've been semi-active for several years. In recent months, we, as in the JSA, were branded fugitives thanks to a plot by Per Degaton. He had the world thinking we were traitors to America back in World War Two with a forged diary of our world's Bruce Wayne. We cleared our names, and Per Degaton's threat was ended as he apparently ended his own life," Jay said finishing his pancakes.

"We've had some help in recent times. Several JSAers had children when they retired years ago. Those children applied for membership with the JSA, but we rejected them. We didn't want them risking their lives like we did. It was just parental concern. They decided to form their own team, and they called themselves 'Infinity, Inc.'. They have already proven themselves more than capable of handling themselves as heroes, and with the aid of our former members Power Girl, the Huntress and the Star-Spangled Kid, they can only get better. Just like your Earth's Teen Titans, they have emerged from their parent team's shadow and proven themselves as a separate team. I think I speak for the rest of the JSA when I say I'm proud of them," Jay said smiling, taking another sip of coffee.

"I'm glad to hear it. I don't think I'd mind meeting them. Maybe I will after this mess is over," Kid Flash said, finishing his meal.

"I think that would be good for everyone. Well, I'm full. We'd better head back to Harbinger's post," Jay said, standing up.

"You're right."

Jay turned to the owner. "Thank you very much for the meal. It was great."

"Hey, it was my pleasure. It's not every day that you meet a childhood hero. I hope you stop by again some time," the owner of the soda shop said.

Both the elder Flash and Kid Flash shook the owner's hand. Then, after exiting the building, they sped off towards Harbinger's monitoring building. When they arrived, the group was still monitoring the progress on the three Earths. "What's happened since we left?" Kid Flash asked Alex Luthor.

"Slowly but surely, progress is being made on the three Earths. While there have been difficulties on those worlds, our biggest success so far has been Martian Manhunter's squad freeing the Marvel Family on Earth-S. The Teen Titans and Doom Patrol have made their way into Earth-4's New York City and discovered that most of their heroes still live. They're making progress. If they can free Captain Atom and the rest, it will turn the tide towards our side, like our rescuing of the Marvels has accomplished. Earth-X has been difficult, to say the least. Both sides seem evenly matched. Unfortunately, Earth-2's Hawkman was critically injured in the melee-"

"What?!" the elder Flash said in shock. "Oh, no. Has he been removed from the battlefield?"

"Not yet. He's being attended to by Northwind and your world's Wonder Woman. At the soonest opportunity, he'll be transported back to Earth-2 for the proper medical attention," Harbinger said.

"We can't lose him. The Justice Society has lost too much since the War. Heroes like Batman, Black Canary and Mr. Terrific, even men who weren't members of the JSA , like the Crimson Avenger. Even in recent months and days, with Wesley Dodds' heart attack and stroke, the destruction of the Red Tornado, and Ted's legs being crushed. Carter can't die. He just can't," Jay said emotionally.

"They knew what was asked of them. If we win, it'll be because of the efforts of heroes like Hawkman and Aquagirl," Alex said solemnly.

The mention of Aquagirl seemed odd to Kid Flash. "What did you mean by Aquagirl? Is Tula okay?" he asked Alex.

"Aquagirl herself may be the closest to death. Aqualad has left the battle and taken her back to Earth-1's Atlantis. She breathed in toxic waste that the creature known as Chemo spat into Earth-4's waters. It'll be a miracle if she survives, but her condition is grave," Alex said sadly.

Kid Flash grew quiet. It was shortly after I retired that the Titans needed my help against the H.I.V.E, and I refused to help. Garth and Tula helped them unselfishly when I wouldn't. This is horrible, Kid Flash thought.

"I need a few minutes. I'll be back," Kid Flash said quietly. The young speedster walked out of the room. Jay Garrick followed him. "It's not supposed to be this way," Kid Flash whispered to himself.

The elder Flash placed his hand on Kid Flash's shoulder. He saw that things were taking a toll on the young speedster. "I know how you feel, Wally. I don't want Carter to die any more than you want Tula to. Unfortunately, there's nothing we can do. We just need to trust God in this," Jay said.

"You're right. I feel helpless... helpless about a lot of things, lately-," Kid Flash started to say, catching himself.

Kid Flash's pause reminded the elder Flash of their initial conversation when he and Harbinger asked him to help. "Harbinger mentioned that you had a 'problem'. What did she mean by that?" Jay asked, concerned.

Kid Flash grew worried, but he tried to hide his feelings. "'Problem?" he answered.

Suddenly, a shout emerged from Harbinger's station. "Holy Hannah-- you see that reading?" Dale Gunn, who had been charting the progress of the heroes, said to Alex Luthor.

"What is it?" asked Alex.

Hearing the yell, the elder Flash ran towards the group. "What happened?" he asked.

Kid Flash felt relieved. In the nick of time. I swore I wouldn't tell anyone about the disease. What they don't know won't hurt them, but it bothers me that the Monitor knew. What else did he know? Did he know anything about Barry's disappearance? he thought.

Walking back into the room, he heard a voice booming from all around, and on all five Earths, even in different eras of time itself, the same voice was heard. It was the Spectre. "STOP! You must cease this mindless battle... for while you fight, the END of all universes is at hand! Heed the words of the Spectre... and learn what you must do! The Anti-Monitor still lives! And he seeks the destruction of ALL life! He has fled from this era... retreated to the past-- before life evolved... before this Earth was formed! He has traveled to the very DAWN of TIME ITSELF! From there, he will change the course of ALL TIME!

"No longer will there be positive matter. Only antimatter will prevail! ALL Earths... ALL Universes... ALL LIFE WILL BE ELIMINATED! While your foe remained in the antimatter universe, I was powerless. But I saw... I observed! The Monitor recruited ALL people-- heroes AND villains-- not to fight amongst themselves-- but to combine their awesome powers! Half must travel to the beginning of time. The others must go to the planet Oa, where history MUST BE CHANGED!

"There must be cooperation or all life is doomed to nonexistence. DECIDE NOW! THERE WILL BE NO SECOND CHANCES!" the Spectre's voice commanded.

I never knew... I never could have imagined it was THIS serious, Kid Flash thought, as the implications of the Crisis truly dawned on him. Every foe I've ever faced, by myself or with others, this puts everything in perspective. I never thought there could be anything as EVIL as Trigon with the utter disregard of all life.

Kid Flash's thoughts were interrupted by the voice of Earth-1's Superman through the JLA communicator band. "This is Superman. Lex Luthor and Brainiac have personally contacted me. There is a cease-fire. We await further instructions from you."

Harbinger spoke on all three radio bands. "Inform the villains that our next action will take place in Death Valley... here on Earth-1. They will meet us there." She then contacted Rip Hunter. "We need ALL heroes from the many eras of time. Please inform them to meet in Death Valley, as soon as possible. Hurry... and thank you," Harbinger said.

"We're definitely going to need your abilities again," Alex Luthor said to the two speedsters. "Do-"

The elder Flash spoke. "You don't even need to ask. We'll be there. Right, Wally?"

"You can count on it," Kid Flash said, putting on a brave face. His thought, however, told a different story. I vowed to help, but what will happen if I have another attack? I'm still dying, and Barry's still missing. Suddenly, he got a hold of himself while still thinking. Five worlds depend on our success. No matter what happens, I can't fail them.

Speaking to the group, Kid Flash said, "Let's go to Death Valley."

Many forces had already converged at the site, as the heroes and villains began preparing, but all hadn't yet arrived. Kid Flash decided to find a payphone to call Frances to keep her up to date on what had occurred.

Fran heard her phone ringing, and picked it up. "Hello?"

"Fran, it's Wally."

"Wally, it's good to hear from you! Are you all right?" she asked.

"I'm okay. I haven't had any problems so far, so that's good. There's been a cease-fire. Now, the heroes and villains have agreed to work together," Kid Flash said.

"That means you'll be back soon, right?" Fran asked.

Kid Flash paused. "Not yet. I'm still needed. We have a mission to accomplish. We're attempting to travel back in time to the very dawn of creation. That's where the Anti-Monitor waits."

"The Anti-Monitor, he's the one behind the destruction of the Earths, isn't he?"

"Yes. He's seeking to destroy our past, when our universe was born. That way, his antimatter universe will be the only universe remaining," Kid Flash said.

"Is there anything I can do?" Fran asked.

"Maybe. We're going to need as many electric and magnetic powered individuals to help power our efforts. I'm not asking that you join us, but we wouldn't be opposed to you help, either," Kid Flash said.

Fran paused before speaking. "Is Dr. Polaris helping in those efforts?"

Kid Flash paused before replying honestly. "...Yeah. Yes he is."

Fran responded, shaken. "I... I can't. I don't want anything to do with Dr. Polaris. Not after what he did to me."

Kid Flash felt like a fool, as he remembered how Dr. Polaris manipulated Fran's powers when he was a member of the Teen Titans. His efforts made the people of Blue Valley think she was demonically possessed. He continued to talk over the phone. "I understand. It's all right. I just wanted to talk to you before we began our efforts."

"I'm glad you called. Really. It lets me know that you're safe. Continue to keep yourself safe, and remember, I love you," Fran said, feeling a little better.

"I love you, too, Fran. 'Bye," Kid Flash said.

"'Bye," Fran said, hanging up the phone.

Kid Flash hung up the phone. I can't blame her. If someone tried to destroy me the way Polaris tried to Fran, I'd be unnerved, to say the least, he thought.

Kid Flash walked towards the many heroes and villains assembled in Death Valley, looking for his teammates in the Teen Titans. Before he could spot any of them, he found himself face to face with Captain Cold, one of the Flash's oldest foes.

"So," Cold sneered, "the junior half's finally made it. What, is the Flash that scared to piss off the super-hero community with his murder conviction that he sends you to represent him?"

"Don't even play that game with me, Snart," Kid Flash said. "If you don't remember, he was acquitted of murdering the Reverse-Flash. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if your forces weren't holding him somewhere!"

"What are you getting at, kid?" asked Cold.

"It seems mighty convenient that the Flash vanishes, then Luthor starts recruiting villains like crazy. What have you done with him?" Kid Flash asked, grabbing Captain Cold by his costume and pulling him to his face.

"You better let go, kid, or you're going to have a problem!" Cold yelled.

"Tell me! Did you freeze him in a block of ice? Did the Mirror Master trap him within one of his mirror dimensions? You Rogues have been set to destroy him for years... now TELL ME!" Kid Flash screamed.

Suddenly, a metal hand reached out to Kid Flash's shoulder. It was the hand of his Titans teammate, Cyborg. "Calm down, fleet-feet," Cyborg said. "He doesn't know anything more than the rest of us."

Kid Flash, shocked at how personal Barry's disappearance was becoming for him, let Captain Cold go. "You ever do that again, and you'll wish you were dead!" Cold shouted, although his face showed some fear. Captain Cold quickly walked away towards other villains.

"Look, I know the Flash's disappearance bothers you, but we need to remember what the Spectre said. We can't fight amongst ourselves right now," Cyborg said consolingly.

"...I know, Vic. I'm sorry."

"It's okay. I haven't had a chance to say this, but, welcome back. I'm glad you're with us again," Cyborg said.

"I have to say, I'm glad, too. It doesn't seem that long, but it's starting to feel good wearing the suit again," Kid Flash confided, feeling better.

"Let me tell you. We had one hell of a time finding your ring after Trigon destroyed Titans Tower. Oddly enough, Kory stumbled upon it by accident. I'm glad it wasn't lost, by the way. We sealed it away after the Tower was rebuilt. It would've stayed there, too, but you know the rest," Cyborg said.

"Is there any word on Tula?" Kid Flash asked cautiously.

Cyborg grew quiet. "She's been taken to Atlantis by Aqualad, and they were followed by Mera and Lori Lemaris. From what I saw, she's not gonna make it." Cyborg bent his head down.

"Oh, no. Poor Garth. He found happiness with her. You never expect things like that to happen, especially when someone's that young," Kid Flash said, thinking of his friend.

"I saw enough death with the gangs I hung around with as a kid. It's never easy," Cyborg said.

The two men's talk was interrupted by Alex Luthor. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but we're almost ready. Rip Hunter's associates are going to fit you with a speed converter. That will aid in our efforts to travel back to the dawn of time."

"I'll be there in a second. Thanks for letting me know," Kid Flash said.

"It's all right. I myself have something to do, some unfinished business, and I will join you shortly," Alex Luthor said, walking towards some mountain terrain.

"You know that feeling you get, when you're about to take a test, and you're unprepared? I'm feeling it right now," Kid Flash said.

"Don't sweat it. Just remember our battle cry," Cyborg said.

"Titans Together?" Kid Flash said with a nervous smile.

"Titans Together," Cyborg said with confidence. Together, the two Titans walked towards Rip Hunter's team, as the final preparations were being made. They saw Wonder Girl and the Flash of Earth-2 near Hunter's teammates. "Listen, Wally, I'm gonna check on Salad-Head, see how he's doing. I'll see you later."

"Okay, Vic," Kid Flash said as Cyborg walked off towards other heroes.

Kid Flash grew nervous as he watched Jay Garrick being fit with the converter. Do I even have what it takes to accomplish this? I was lucky before. What we did on the Treadmill didn't hurt me, but there's no telling what this will do, he thought.

Bonnie Baxter, one of Rip Hunter's teammates, held a converter of her own. "We're nearly set. Let's put this on," Bonnie said, as she walked up behind Kid Flash and began connecting the device to his back.

Jay spoke to Jeff Smith, another of Hunter's crew. "You fit the converter on tight. We can't afford any mishaps now."

Kid Flash concerns about his mentor and his health continued to eat at his conscience. "I still want to know what happened to the Flash! Why haven't we found him? Where is he?" he asked aloud.

Wonder Girl felt there was more to Kid Flash's concern. She knew him well after teaming with him since they were members of the original Teen Titans. "Something else is worrying you, Kid Flash. What is it?" she asked with her own concern for her friend.

Kid Flash grew tense, but kept his feelings to himself when replying to her. "Nothing, Wonder Girl! What could possibly be wrong?" he lied. "Let's get this show on the road!"

"Wait! I want to join you," a young voice shouted. Kid Flash and the other heroes looked up to see a Superboy land in front of the two Supermen. With the others, Kid Flash learned that this Superboy had lived on Earth-Prime, but his Earth had been destroyed as well in the Crisis. The heroes agreed to let him join.

Before they began their efforts to travel back to the dawn of time, the Earth-X hero known as Uncle Sam spoke. "Mebbe it's time t'remind us what this here's all about. We got here folks not only from different countries, but different worlds! Not all of us believe in the same things... 'least not politically speakin'. But that's okay. The thing is we got us the right to think differently... but right now, we all gotta forget those differences. Y'see, we're fightin' not only for our lives... but for our freedom to think as we do... to act as we do... to be what we want to be. That may sound kinda corny to some of you... an' maybe it is... but it's what FREEDOM's all about... and I reckon deep down inside no matter where you come from, no matter what religion you are... or what politics you believe-- you gotta believe that. That's it folks... we're fightin' to preserve life an' liberty... so let's give it our best shot, eh?"

He's right. If we're to win this thing, then I've got to do my part... even if it kills me, Kid Flash thought, as he walked towards the track on which he would run. He waited in thought, not paying attention to anything other than the signal that he needed... the signal that would start this race against time.

"Sure you're okay, Wally?" Jay interrupted.

"I said I was. Let's do what we have to," Kid Flash said.

Within seconds, after the Lord of Time's space craft made it's way into the past, Corky Baxter alerted the two speedsters via radio transmission. "Flashes-- get ready!!"

His sister, Bonnie, then gave them the pivotal order. "Do your stuff-- NOW!" she shouted on the same band.

Instantly, the two speedsters ran on the spherical track. Kid Flash's thoughts raced back and forth, mirroring his physical performance. They don't know... can't know... the faster I go... the faster I'm KILLING MYSELF! But this is more than just Wally West, Kid Flash--, he thought as Superman carried Alex Luthor into the field. -If all those years with the Flash... or alongside the Teen Titans taught me anything-- it's that some things are more important than your own life!

Superman and Alex Luthor's efforts were successful, as all heroes made it to the dawn of time... but they weren't alone. Standing in front of the heroes was... the Anti-Monitor. My God, Kid Flash thought. This is the thing that killed Supergirl. What type of monster are we facing?

"I have been awaiting your arrival here," the Anti-Monitor said to the heroes. "Indeed, I have been disappointed that it has taken you this long to find me." Kid Flash listened with the rest of the heroes as the Anti-Monitor explained his grand schemes, going so far as to admit that Pariah, a survivor who blamed himself for freeing the Anti-Monitor, wasn't to blame for his universes' destruction. Instead, the Anti-Monitor merely used Pariah's experiment of searching the origins of the universe to his advantage, converting antimatter to energy and destroyed his universe that way. He then vowed to do the same to the five remaining universes before they could ever be replicated as they were originally, and remake his antimatter universe in his own image.

Do we even have a shot at stopping him? Kid Flash thought.

Superman thought so. He gave the order to "ATTACK!!" Kid Flash and the rest of the heroes watched as their bravest and most powerful comrades began their efforts to bring this devil down. The energy-based heroes expended everything they had to wear down the Anti-Monitor, while the others gifted with physical strength threw their strongest blows. Nothing worked.

The Anti-Monitor finally attacked, channeling his own powers and turning the heroes' life energies into themselves. Kid Flash, as well as the other heroes, were in immense pain. What's... happening to us? Kid Flash thought in agony. What can... we do? Kid Flash collapsed to his knees, resting one hand against his head, the other resting beneath him.

The Anti-Monitor placed himself in position, raising a pool of antimatter above him. He placed his hand in the center of the pool. Kid Flash couldn't make out what the Anti-Monitor was saying as the pain continued to eat at him. Is this... what it's like... to die...? he thought.

Without warning, the Anti-Monitor sensed opposition. In that second, a fragment of the pain lifted from the gathered heroes. "I feel a force resisting me! Who dares?" the monster asked aloud.

"I dare, cruel one! And I WILL stop you!" the voice spoke. Kid Flash, though he was still in immense pain, looked upwards towards the Anti-Monitor and saw that he was locked in a grip with the embodiment of God's wrath... The Spectre. It was like a nightmare come true. It was a battle no one could win, or could they?

Within minutes that seemed like eternity, and seconds which seemed like hours, Krona's time screen appeared. Kid Flash couldn't take the pain anymore. He finally drifted into unconsciousness, as the universe exploded.

It was the end of all that was...

***

Kid Flash watched helplessly as the Anti-Monitor destroyed everything around him. "Nooooooo!!" he screamed.

Wally West sat up in the bed he was resting in, sweat dripping from his head. Oh my God! he thought, as he began to calm down. It was the end of all life... and there was nothing we could do about it. At least things seem... normal? Wally noticed that the room he was resting in wasn't HIS bedroom. Wait a second. Something's wrong here. Where am I? How on Earth did I get here?

Wally saw his clothes by a dresser and put them on. Was it all a dream? he thought. He spotted his Kid Flash ring and put it on his ring finger. No. Whatever we went through, it sure as hell wasn't a dream, he realized.

Wally walked towards the room's door and opened it. He walked downstairs and spotted Joan Garrick in the kitchen. "Joan?" he said aloud.

"It looks like you and Jay put in a busy night. Either that, or you're just a late sleeper!" she said cheerfully, as she seasoned a plate of steaks. "You are staying for lunch, aren't you?"

It dawned on Wally that he was on Earth-2, and at the Garricks' house. "Uh, yeah, yeah, I am a little hungry. You wouldn't know where Jay is, would you?" Wally asked Joan.

"He had some things to check out both here and in Central City," Joan said simply. "He should be back anytime."

The comment struck Wally as odd. "Isn't Central City on my Earth?" he asked Joan.

Joan found humor in Wally's question. "It's on this Earth, as well as Keystone City, unless you weren't born here," she said, with a friendly chuckle.

Wally paused, as he realized something had truly gone wrong with Earth. "Um, Joan... you don't mind if I call my folks, do you?" he asked.

"No, it's all right. Go ahead," she said, placing garlic bread inside her oven.

Wally walked to the phone and dialed up his parents. "Please let them be safe," he thought.

Mary West picked up the phone. "Hello?" she asked.

"Mom?" Wally asked, feeling immensely relieved. "It's Wally."

"Wally! I'm glad you called. How are things going at the Garricks?" she asked cheerfully.

This really surprised Wally, as his folks were from Earth-1, and the Garricks were from Earth-2. Covering up his surprise, Wally spoke. "Things went well, but we have more questions than answers. I'll be here until Jay solves them. I just wanted to let you and Dad know that I love you," he said.

"Honey, both of us love you, too. Now take care, and we'll see you when you come home," his mother said with parental love.

Wally hung up the phone. It's as if our world has been reshaped into something different. I exist, my parents exist, and the Garricks exist, but who doesn't exist? he thought, when he felt a sense of dread. Oh, no. What about Fran? as his heart raced in fear. Picking up the phone again, he dialed Frances Kane's home. Oh, God, please be all right, he pleaded in thought.

Fran picked up the phone. "Hello?" she asked.

"Fran, it's Wally," he said. "I'm so glad you're okay!"

"Well, why wouldn't I be? Nothing's happened, as far as I know," Fran said, as the concern in Wally's voice registered with her. "Wally, are you okay? You're not getting sicker, are you?" she asked.

"No, no, I'm fine. I just wanted to make sure you were fine. I woke up a few minutes ago from a nightmare. That's all," he said, speaking some truths. "I'll be back soon, but I have some things to take care of."

"I understand. I'll see you when you get back from the Garricks," she said. "I love you. 'Bye," she said.

"I love you, too. 'Bye," Wally said, hanging up the phone.

Thank God they're safe. I only hope Barry is, too, Wally thought, as a hand placed itself on his shoulder. Wally jumped in shock.

"Whoa!" he said, as he turned around and saw Jay Garrick standing in front of him. "Jay! Am I glad to see you!" he exclaimed.

"So am I, Wally. I'm sorry I wasn't here when you woke up, but this morning has been maybe the most puzzling day of my life," Jay said. "Let's go to my lab. I'll tell you everything I've learned so far."

"Hey, you two!" Joan shouted as she walked towards the deck door carrying a plate of steaks. "Hope you have a strong appetite!"

"Oh, we do, dear. Can't wait," Jay said.

"Yeah. Thanks, Joan," Wally chimed in. Wally and Jay walked towards Jay's lab, as they began to reveal what they'd both already learned. "What's happened to Earth, Jay?"

"I'm not exactly sure, Wally. I don't know how much you remember...," Jay began to say.

"I remember that we helped send five Earths' worth of heroes to the dawn of time... and I saw the monster known as the Anti-Monitor. That devil used our own powers against us and put us in so much pain... I'll never forget," Wally said, as fear crept into his voice.

"Then you're not the only one who remembers the many Earths! At first, I assumed that it was a dream, but when Joan said you were in one of the guest rooms, well, that puzzled me, since you've never been to my home before. I decided to do some checking around, and found out some insane things...," Jay said.

"Joan said that Central City and Keystone City are TWIN cities? Is that true?" Wally asked.

"Yeah. It would seem that something's changed a great deal. That's not the only thing. I saw that you called Fran and your folks, so I'm assuming they're all right. But some people aren't so lucky. I tried contacting a few JSA members, but a few phone numbers no longer exist. I had luck in reaching Alan Scott, for example, but not Clark Kent."

"I'm sure Superman's okay, since it seems like the heroes all survived," Wally said, trying to be optimistic.

"I'm not sure they all did. That bothers me as much as this 'new world' does. In fact, here's an odd bit of news. Carter's alive, according to Alan, but he doesn't seem to remember how he was injured. Same thing with the man who helped save him, Northwind. They were with the JSA during the Earth-X battle, yet they don't remember any of it," Jay said, rubbing his eye.

"This makes no sense. It's like the world was put together with pieces of different puzzles," Wally said.

"I had an idea, earlier, but I wanted to wait until you woke up," Jay said.

"What is it?" Wally asked.

"Do you know how to set the calibrations on the Cosmic Treadmill?" Jay asked.

"For the most part. Wait a second," Wally said, as he spotted the Treadmill in one of the lab's corners. "What's the Treadmill doing HERE?"

"That's another in a long line of questions. I have no idea," Jay answered before asking his own question. "Would you be willing to travel to Earth-2 with me later?"

"You don't have to ask. I'd like to get to the bottom of this, too. I'll get the Treadmill set up, and you check on Joan's cooking," Wally said with a smile.

As Jay began walking towards his lab door, he heard some familiar voices outside. Opening the lab door, he spotted Joan talking to the Supermen of Earths 1 and 2. "Ahhh, I was wondering who Joan was talking to. Guess you two are here about the Keystone-Central City problem, eh?" he asked.

Earth-2's Superman approached Jay seemingly grateful that he was known. "You recognize me, Jay? You actually KNOW me."

"Of course I do, Clark... I know both of you," Jay replied before turning to Joan. "Be back in a few minutes, honey."

Joan answered her husband. "Don't be TOO long. The steaks are almost ready."

Jay and the Supermen walked into Jay's lab, where Wally West continued working on the Cosmic Treadmill. "Kal-L's been to my lab before, but I don't think you've been," Jay said to Earth-1's Superman. "You both know Kid Flash."

"Hi, guys," Wally said, looking up at the two Supermen.

"Why do you remember me, Jay, but your wife doesn't? What's going on here?" Kal-L asked his friend.

"Something's strange for certain," Jay replied. "I did some checking this morning. People know about Barry Allen's Flash... even remember his trial. But they say I've lived here all my life, too.
I tried calling you, but your phone number doesn't EXIST in Metropolis."

Wally interrupted. "I don't understand... which Earth are we on?"

The elder Superman answered grimly. "I don't know and I don't think I'll like the answer."

"It's obvious we've got ourselves a problem," Jay said.

"Tell me about it, Jay. I'm starting to feel like a man without a past!" the elder Superman confided.

"My fear is we may all be without a world," Jay admitted.

"What do you mean?" Earth-2's Superman asked with concern.

Before the elder Superman could dwell in Jay's fear, Wally interrupted again. "The Treadmill's set."

"Kal-L and I should go first-- in case there's trouble," Earth-1's Superman said.

Jay spoke with a serious face. "Nope," he answered. "We do this TOGETHER. And NO arguments, hear?" Before either Superman could respond, Jay had already suited up in his Flash costume. "Jay Garrick, Flash of Earth-2, is present and accounted for!" he said adjusting his trademark cap.

Wally decided to suit up as well. "When this is done, I say we begin searching for Barry," he said as he released his Kid Flash costume from his ring. He was in costume as Earth-2's Superman answered.

"Agreed. Let's get started," he said.

"Good luck to all," replied Earth-1's Superman with confidence, as the four heroes walked towards the Cosmic Treadmill and boarded the device.

"Wally and I have done this before," Jay said to the two Supermen. "We have to hit a certain speed and vibration frequency before the portal between universes opens." The four heroes readied themselves for this race, tense with anticipation. "Let's GO!" Jay yelled to his three friends, and they began to run. Within one second, their appearances were distorted by their speed. Faster and faster they ran, as they began the crossover. While the four men were running, Kid Flash felt the pain kick in.

AGH! he thought, as his chest felt the crushing pains through gritted teeth. Not now... not now! Got to... gotta work... through the pain. Can't let them see me like this...

As they continued their run, the elder Flash looked over at Kid Flash, noticing his grimaced face. Something's wrong with Wally... he looks like he's in pain, Jay thought to himself.

Before he could speak, the four heroes finally hit the proper speed and vibrational frequency. Instead of Earth-2, however, all that was left was a solid black void. Not a trace of life existed, except for the four men on the Cosmic Treadmill. The shock of this caught all men off-guard. "What happened?" Jay asked aloud. "Where's our world?"

The elder Superman was more disturbed by this sight. "G-great Scott!" he shouted in shock. "T-there's nothing out there. No Earth-2... no universe... NOTHING!"

"We've got to turn back... return HOME. Don't you see what happened?" the younger Superman asked, obviously unnerved.

The shock of this revelation began to set in with the elder Flash. "My universe doesn't exist anymore. There is NO Earth-2. Nothing exists but ONE Earth... ONE UNIVERSE!"

The elder Superman had held hope that he would return to his Earth after the confusion he'd suffered through earlier in the day. This discovery destroyed his hope. "What about me?" he asked. "I now know why nobody remembers ME."

If Kid Flash was feeling the same as his three partners, he didn't show it. He saw what the discovery was doing to the Earth-2 natives. He had to snap them out of it. "Superman's right...," Kid Flash said, referring to Earth-1's version. "We've got to get back to Earth. We've got to get everyone together and figure out what happened."

"N-no... I-- I feel like I don't belong on THAT Earth. I belong elsewhere," the elder Superman said, slowly losing touch with reality. "I belong out HERE... in the void... in this nothingness. I... I see it now. Nobody remembers ME because I don't have a past... because I DON'T EXIST." The elder Superman began to fly off the Treadmill. "Let me go!" he shouted aloud. "I belong in the dark!"

Before he could get too far, Earth-1's Superman grabbed his elder counterpart's cape. "NO...," he said with determination. "Whatever's going on here, you still exist. You're real... tangible. You BELONG. We can sort out the whys later... maybe even the hows... but you're NOT staying in this nothingness. You're coming HOME!"

"Don't you see?" the elder Superman pleaded. "I don't have a home. There's no longer a multiverse... the universe was re-formed... my Krypton NEVER EXISTED!"

Earth-1's Superman directed the two speedsters in what to do. "We've got to get out of here before it's too late." The three heroes began to run on the Treadmill, as Earth-1's Superman held onto Earth-2's Superman's cape. "Hurry! I can't hold onto him for much longer. HURRY!"

With all the speed they had, the three heroes made it back to Earth, even as the strain of traveling to uncharted territory took it's toll on the Cosmic Treadmill. The device shattered even as they arrived home in Jay Garrick's laboratory. "Great Krypton, we're back!" the younger Superman said, glad that his counterpart was also safe.

"The Cosmic Treadmill's destroyed... this time beyond repair," Kid Flash said.

Earth-1's Superman tended to his Earth-2 counterpart. "Are you okay? Kal-L? Do you hear me?" he asked.

The chilled look in the elder Superman's eyes was frightening, to say the least, as he looked at his young counterpart and spoke. "I-- I do... my God... the voice was CALLING to me. As if I truly BELONGED there."

The elder Flash's voice was full of dread. "You said something in the thrall of that void... about there being only one Earth... one past... one Krypton. You may have been right."

"Even I can see the implications of all that, and I'm not a scientist. I think we ought to call in everyone we know. And I know just the place to meet," Kid Flash said, determined.

"Where?" asked Earth-1's Superman.

"Titans Tower. From what I've seen so far, our new Earth has elements of both Earths 1 and 2. I'm guessing that there are other heroes from those Earths here as well. If we can get them all together, we might have a better understanding of what's happened," Kid Flash said.

"The four of us remember the many Earths, so I'm guessing the other heroes do as well. I'll alert the Justice League of America, as well as past members before meeting you at the Tower. Kal-L, you want to come with me?" the younger Superman asked consolingly.

"... Yes. I... I need a friend right now," the elder Superman replied, still numb from what he just went through.

"I'm going to call Alan. He'll alert the Justice Society, and with his children in Infinity Inc., he can get a hold of them as well," Jay said.

"And I'll take the Teen Titans... if any of us run into anyone else, let's tell them to meet at the Tower, as well," Kid Flash said.

"All right," Earth-1's Superman walked towards the laboratory door and opened it. "Well see you two later." With that, the two Supermen flew off.

Kid Flash and the elder Flash walked outside the laboratory and towards the Garrick house. The two entered the house, and walked to the kitchen. "There you two are!" Joan exclaimed before noticing the two in costume. "Why are you two in costume?" she asked.

"Joan... some trouble's come up. I've got to go to New York with Wally here. I'm sorry," Jay said.

"What's happened?" Joan asked with concern.

"It involves a friend of mine... and a mutual problem we share. The elder Superman that showed up. He's an old friend from the past. He needs help from both Wally and myself," Jay said.

"I understand. Only for you would I cook for nothing," Joan said, trying to cheer Jay up. "I knew what I was getting into when I married you. Whatever happens, just be careful," she said, hugging Jay. "I love you." Joan and Jay kissed.

"I love you, too, hon. And when I get back, we'll have that steak dinner done right, without interruptions," Jay said with a smile. Even when there's trouble, Joan's been supportive. I hope I never lose her," Jay thought.

"You two don't mind if I use the phone?" Kid Flash asked.

"No. Go ahead, Wally," Jay said.

Kid Flash removed his mask, and called Hank and Don Hall's home. Don Hall answered. "Hello?" Don asked.

"Don, this is Wally West. Kid Flash. How are you doing?" he said

"I'm fine. What's up?" Don asked.

"I'm not sure if you've noticed some changes since we were gone," Wally asked.

"I noticed a few things that were different since we traveled to the dawn of time. Hank found them odd, too," Don confided.

"Something big is happening. The heroes are meeting at Titans Tower. Can you two make it?" Wally asked.

Don paused before answering. "Yeah... Hank and I'll be there."

"I'll see you two there later. Thanks, Don," Wally said graciously.

"It's okay, Wally. 'Bye." Don hung up the phone.

Kid Flash then called Roy Harper, also known as Speedy. He picked up the phone on the first ring. "Hello?"

"Roy, this is Wally."

"Wally! Hey, I heard they got you to come back! Congratulations! What's up?"

"You remember about the battle at the dawn of time?"

"Yeah... that was a mess, and so's this world we're on right now."

"You've noticed, too?" Wally asked, referring to the new world's changes.

"Yup."

"Well, we're getting a hold of any heroes we can and letting them know we're going to be meeting at Titans Tower. Can you make it?"

"You know I'll be there. After all, once a Titan, always a Titan, right?" Roy said with a chuckle.

Wally smiled before answering. "That's right, Roy. I'll see you there."

"Take care until then. 'Bye." Roy hung up the phone.

Wally hung up the phone and pulled his mask back on. There's no reason to trouble Mal and Karen, or Betty and Charlie. Plus, I don't have a clue on how to reach Thunder and Lightning. The others should be in New York already, he thought, referring to the current Titans.

"Jay, I'm going to Titans Tower. I'll see you there," Kid Flash said to the elder Flash.

"All right. I'm going to call Alan Scott and tell him what we're doing. I'll be there soon," Jay said to Kid Flash as he ran eastwards. Picking up the phone, Jay paused before pushing the phone buttons. I remember the pain on his face when we were running on the Treadmill, Jay thought with concern. Something's wrong with him. But he hasn't said a word of it. Does it have anything to do with the problem Harbinger mentioned? Jay began dialing Alan Scott's residence, thinking, Hopefully, whatever this is causing him pain can be resolved.

Kid Flash sped eastwards towards New York, and within moments, found himself at Titans Tower. He stood in front of the Tower for a few seconds, remembering the circumstances that brought him here previously. I haven't been here since Lilith conducted the seance... trying to reach out to Raven. At that point, we had no idea what was happening to her. I'm ashamed to say it, but I'm glad she's not here... and we have more important things to do, Kid Flash thought as he entered the Tower.

Kid Flash entered the Tower's elevator and made his way up to the meeting room floor. He wasn't prepared for what he saw when the elevator doors opened. Well... I didn't expect to see THIS many heroes already, Kid Flash thought, walking out of the elevator. Apparently, the other Earths have survivors as well. That's a good thing. He looked for other Titans, but the only one there was Kole. He walked over to her.

"Hello, Kole," Kid Flash said warmly. "How have you been doing?"

"Wally! Hi! I'm doing well, for the most part. It looks like everyone on our side is meeting here," Kole said with a smile.

"It's been a bizarre few days, to say the least," Kid Flash said, as more heroes entered the Tower. "Has there been any word on Tula?" he asked, noticing that the elder Flash had arrived.

"Yes," Kole said sadly. "Garth reached us this morning, before Wonder Girl was called away. Tula died yesterday... while we were fighting the Anti-Monitor at the dawn of time. I feel so bad for him..." Kole wiped tears from her eyes. "I haven't been a Titan for long... but her death hurts."

Kid Flash felt bad for Garth and sad as well at the loss of Tula. It's a damn shame, he thought. Garth deserved some happiness, and Tula gave him that. She deserved better than this.

Kid Flash gave Kole a warm hug. "They're like family... they really are," he said, referring to the Titans. "Unfortunately, we're all mortal. We DIE. But she provided happiness to all that knew her, and knowing that, we are all better for knowing her as long as we did."

"You really seem wise. Why on Earth did you leave the Titans?" Kole asked.

"I had issues that I had to deal with as Wally West, and not as Kid Flash. Sometimes, I've felt out of place here... and when I think about it... I hold some of the blame. I've been selfish at times, and I wish I could take that back," Kid Flash said.

"You could always rejoin," Kole asked.

"I wish it were that simple," Kid Flash said, feeling that he already said too much. "But it's not."

"I had some issues... and the Titans helped me face them, both with Thia and my own parents," Kole admitted.

Kid Flash paused. "Sometimes... sometimes it's hard. You distance yourself from something, trying to escape the past. It catches up eventually," he thought, as his disease seemed to match the very words he was speaking. "Maybe... maybe it is time I faced my past and dealt with all my insecurities. That's the only way I'll be able to move forward."

Kole noticed that he was speaking with confidence. "No matter what... you'll always have friends. And I'm proud to call you my friend," Kole said, giving Kid Flash a friendly peck on the cheek. "Thank you," she said, smiling.

"No problem," Kid Flash smiled. She has a heart of gold. A fresh innocence. That's rare anymore. If I wasn't in love with Fran, then I'd like to meet a girl like Kole, he thought, as more heroes entered the Tower, including the two Supermen, Changeling and Cyborg. Not far behind was Wonder Girl, who just arrived back from Paradise Island.

While Changeling and Cyborg spoke to some of the various heroes from the five Earths, Wonder Girl found herself shocked at the amount of heroes in the Tower. "Great Hera!" she said, as she spotted Kid Flash. She walked over to him and asked him some questions. "Wally, did you ask us all here? What's going on?"

Before Kid Flash could answer the questions, someone else interrupted. "No. I brought you here. You must LISTEN to me," a familiar female voice spoke.

The Superboy of Earth-Prime shouted with surprise. "YOU?"

The many heroes assembled at Titans Tower found themselves face to face with Harbinger, who once again possessed the powers she sacrificed when she merged Earths 4, S and X with Earths 1 and 2. Changeling shouted "Harbinger!"

She looks different. I didn't know she had any powers, Kid Flash thought as she floated in the air.

"I summoned you here because the new Earth is still imperiled," Harbinger said.

"I thought you lost your powers," Cyborg asked.

"In the rebirth of the universe many realities have CHANGED," Harbinger replied. The assembled heroes listened as Harbinger revealed that the heroes survived because they were at the dawn of time when the universe was recreated. They existed before the change.

The Huntress, the daughter of Earth-2's Batman and Catwoman, revealed her experiences waking in this new world. How she searched high and low for proof that she existed, only to find out otherwise. Her partner and adopted brother, Earth-2's Robin related his experiences, and his dealing with his 'nonexistence'. How his confusion led him to the new Earth's Wayne Manor, and its cemetery grounds, as it had lured Helena there earlier. How he and Helena learned that the graves of Earth-2's Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle no longer existed.

Those poor souls, Kid Flash thought, as Earth-2's Robin finished speaking. I can't even begin to imagine what type of Hell this has to be for them.

Harbinger commented on the cosmic rebirth and the paradoxes that, at times, made no sense. She revealed the history of this new world, speaking about all things from the evolution of man to World War Two, mentioning that World War Two was won as it was on most Earths before it, with the added aid of Earth-X's Freedom Fighters and Earth-2's All-Star Squadron, who existed in this new world. She revealed that there was only one Krypton that exploded, with it's only survivor, baby Kal-El, carried to this new Earth, one Wayne Family gunned down in front of one Bruce Wayne.

Several heroes spoke about their existence, or 'nonexistence', but only one hero was beyond rage. "I understand... all too well. Some things from each world survived. Some things didn't. My Krypton NEVER WAS...," Earth-2's Superman shouted, as he began to fly out of the Tower, the truth cutting him deeply. Though the heroes couldn't hear everything he said after leaving, they could hear him scream an anguished "NO!!"

"Omigod-- he's going crazy!" Changeling screamed.

"I'll stop him," Earth-1's Superman said, holding great concern for his friend.

Harbinger turned to the Earth-1 Superman and spoke. "Listen... we must bring him back. There are things he does not know."

"No problem. Kal stuck by me when I needed him most. I'll do ANYTHING to help him now," he said, as he flew off in search for his Earth-2 counterpart.

Kid Flash spoke to the crowd of heroes. "We reached some of you, and Harbinger reached those that we weren't able to. Four of us attempted to cross over to Earth-2. By use of the Cosmic Treadmill, the two Supermen, Jay Garrick and I made the journey. The only thing we found was a black void. No stars, no life... NOTHING. The sight of that nearly pushed the elder Superman over the edge. We made it back, but the attempt destroyed the Treadmill. He needs our support right now, as does everyone who's suffered the loss of their 'existence'."

Subtly and slowly, the Earth sky began changing color, from blue to a shade of pink. With what the heroes were currently involved in, no one noticed the change.

After Kid Flash finished talking, Wonder Girl spoke, relating why she had been called away to Paradise Island earlier in the day. She and Wonder Woman were summoned by their mother Hippolyta due to the arrival of Earth-2's Wonder Woman and her daughter Fury. Since there was only one Hippolyta in the recreated universe, she did not know of the other Wonder Woman's existence. The irony was that the new Paradise Island, like the new Earth, contained elements from both incarnations.

Power Girl was puzzled that she seemed to exist in this new world, yet her cousin, Earth-2's Superman didn't. Harbinger didn't know the answer.

Earth-1's Batman, with Alex Luthor and Jason Todd spoke next. Batman wanted to see if any of the villains remembered joining forces with the heroes, so he visited Earth-1's Lex Luthor in prison. He denied ever helping the heroes and vowed that nothing would ever convince him to ever help any heroes.

"Only the guys who were at the dawn of time remembered the confusin' good ol' days!" Changeling said, noticing the changes in the weather. The skies grew red and purple, and lightning struck across the skies. "Hey, listen to that thunder! Please... not the funny weather again!"

Quickly, the weather grew worse, the lightning and thunder stronger. Swirling energies emerged, as the heroes watched from Titans Tower. "This is crazy! It's like something outta Ghost Busters-- only worse!" Changeling remarked.

"He... help ME," a haunted voice said within the meeting room. The heroes turned to see Pariah in pain.

"Pariah! What is happening?" Lady Quark asked him.

"I-- I feel the tug of evil again... pulling at me... b-but... but I'm not disappearing... Lord, it hurts... so cold... so very cold!" Pariah said, his fear matching his pain.

"Earth-1's Batman turned to see Alex Luthor surrounded by his body's antimatter. "The antimatter effect has taken over Alex's body again," he said.

Within seconds, the very Earth found itself in darkness, with a sky of stars alien to their universe. The lightning remained. The heroes at Titans Tower grew silent. Their silence was broken by another voice that could be heard across the planet.

"WELCOME TO MY UNIVERSE!" It was the voice of the Anti-Monitor. "WELCOME TO YOUR DOOM!"

"Since my birth, ten billion years ago, I have not known defeat. A thousand universes before yours perished without resistance. But you REFUSED to die. I was to enlarge my antimatter universe, to have it replace all other universes... a thousand meaningless victories because YOU resisted my efforts to destroy you. ONE universe... protected by ONE small and terribly insignificant little world. A token force of humans succeeds where untold powers have failed. I offer YOU my congratulations. I acknowledge your PERSISTENCE. Your will to live is ASTONISHING. But it ultimately changes NOTHING. Your world must DIE. As your Supergirl died. As your Flash died. As so many others who tried to stop me DIED. And with its death there will be NONE who can prevent my universe from replacing your own."

The Anti-Monitor's words shook the heroes, but only one spoke. "The Flash... he IS dead?" Kid Flash said, as the Anti-Monitor's claim continued to ring in his ears. "YOU MURDERED THE FLASH?!? How? Where is he?"

The Anti-Monitor continued his speech. "My warriors stain your world with BLOOD! They are EVERYWHERE and CANNOT be STOPPED! Hear the death knell, humans. It is the LAST sound you shall ever hear!" he said, the sky solidifying in darkness.

"Then... then it's true," Earth-1's Batman sadly said. "He DID die."

Kid Flash heard Batman's words and ran to him. "What do you mean by that?" he asked Batman in anger.

Batman addressed the young speedster slowly. "In... in the opening days of this 'Crisis', I had an encounter with the Joker. He had me trapped and was prepared to kill me. Before he could, the
Joker and I saw a decaying man in a Flash costume warning about the future and the end of the world. I freed myself, and the Joker escaped, but it was as if he didn't see me. He made references to his deceased wife and your aunt Iris, which told me this image was indeed the Flash. He vanished before I could learn anything more from him."

"Why... why didn't you TELL me?" Kid Flash asked in anguish. "You knew I was teammates with Nightwing. If I'd been told, I'd have come back immediately!"

Batman looked at Kid Flash, seeing the pain in his eyes reminded him of the death of his own parents all those many years ago. "I saw his image again, in New York, as the Teen Titans teamed with the Outsiders. He looked normal, this time. But he faded away before we could do anything to help him," the Dark Knight said to the speedster. He placed his hand on the young man's shoulder, and spoke softly. "I'd hoped I was wrong. And now... I'm sorry, Wally. I'm so sorry. I should have reached you sooner... but I didn't want to worry you... in case I was wrong."

Harbinger interrupted. "This will be the last hero the Anti-Monitor murders. It is time to act." Harbinger split her body into several bodies, sending them to collect the heroes who weren't already at Titans Tower. One body remained at the Tower and picked from the heroes available. Kid Flash watched as Harbinger chose her team to combat the Anti-Monitor. They were accompanied by Lady Qwark, Pariah, and Alex Luthor.

"You are the most powerful here, and your powers will decide the final battle. Our forces will meet at a region of the country where the Spectre remains comatose. Those who haven't been chosen to combat the Anti-Monitor must protect the Earth. If we somehow fail, it will be up to you to stop him. The people of this world need heroes... now, more than ever," Harbinger said, vanishing with her chosen champions.

The heroes went to work, splitting themselves into teams to defend the many cities all over the United States, and elsewhere in the world. Everyone left the Tower towards their chosen cities, but one hero remained in the Tower.

Kid Flash stood there, numb, trying to fight the tears welling in his eyes. No... this can't be happening! Kid Flash thought. Barry and I faced dozens of foes over the years, and never did anything like this happen! This... no, this shouldn't have been his fate. Oh, God...! He deserved better... he deserved a hell of a lot better, after all he went through. Iris dying, the trial, and the knowledge that he accidentally took someone's life. I... I can't do this. Not anymore. He's dead... and I'll be so glad when this disease takes my life. I have no desire to live anymore.

Kid Flash, tears in his eyes, sped out of Titans Tower and headed home for Blue Valley. The darkness shattered across the sky, but Kid Flash didn't even notice. The revelation of Barry's death still haunted him as he entered Blue Valley. I'm done. There's nothing more I can do, he thought, the sadness overwhelming him.

One woman's scream changed all that. "Mom?!" Kid Flash said. He ran all over Blue Valley, finally locating both his mother and father, who were cornered by shadow demons. "Leave them alone!" he screamed in anger.

"Wally?! Oh, Lord, get away, Wally! Please, get away!" his mother shouted.

The shadow demons turned and went after Kid Flash, who sped off into the middle of the city, while his parents escaped and ran to their home. Within the middle of the city, he found himself surrounded by shadow demons, but he had a plan. If I can use my super speed properly, I might be able to shatter these things, he thought.

Running through an opening, Kid Flash found himself in a position to attack the shadow demons. Straightening his arms and holding his fingers open, Kid Flash sped his arms faster and faster in a small, circular motion, until all shadow demons were trapped within the vibrations. He then spread his arms in opposite directions, his fingers creating such a tearing force that it shredded the shadow demons where they stood. I... I did it! Now, I have something to do... something I should have done a long time ago, he thought. He ran towards his parents' home.

Opening the door and walking inside the house, he found his parents safe, as well as Frances Kane. Wally's mother ran to him and hugged him. "Wally! Thank God you're safe!" she said.

Wally's father walked over and gave Wally a warm hug, as well. "I'm glad you're safe, too, son. You really saved us back there," he said.

Kid Flash's actions started him thinking about everything that had happened to him up to this point. He spoke to his parents. "I need to say something to you. I came back home because I felt I had no more to give. Saving you, and seeing that you're safe has given me some hope for this world. But, within just a few minutes, I've had time to examine myself. The mistakes I've made in the past, my insecurities. I'd continuously choose to be alone than accept the help of my friends, and then I'd find myself angry at them. Since I graduated high school, I've felt a sense of trying to do what's right for Wally West, and just put Kid Flash to rest. What's happened, however, is that I RAN AWAY from my problems, rather than face them. I didn't even tell you guys about the Trigon situation a few months back because of the fears I had to deal with."

A look of understanding appeared on Robert West's face. "We never knew. I'm sorry, Wally," he said consolingly.

"That leads to what I need to say. The only way to move forward is to face the past... to grow up and accept your responsibilities. I have something to tell the two of you. I originally thought I was losing my super speed, but I began to suffer pains anytime I used my powers. I had some tests done. Whatever I have... it's killing me," Kid Flash said.

The look of horror flashed across Wally's parents' faces. "Oh my God, no!" Mary West screamed, as her concern for her son led to tears. "Oh God, Wally, we can't lose you! You're our son! Our only child!"

"Why didn't you tell us sooner?" Robert West asked, trying to hide the fears now possessing him. "We would have tried to help you!"

"I should have told you and the Titans sooner. My friends and family deserved to know. I think I couldn't face my problems because I tried to always be strong. But all it did was make me sick... and more scared. I'm tired of being scared. They say the truth frees you... and I feel good about it. I can't put Kid Flash to rest anymore, because I'm both. I have personal responsibilities as Wally
West, and the responsibilities of a hero as Kid Flash. And now, with Barry dead... I need to do this for him. And, if I just sit back and not do anything, I'll be betraying everything I learned from him. Whatever time I have left... I'm going to make the best of, and that means doing what I can to make a difference. I've got to go," Kid Flash said as he walked towards the door.

"No, Wally! Robert, stop him! We can't let him do this," Mary shouted, her concern for Wally evident.

"We can't, Mary. God knows, I love him, but he's not a boy anymore. He's a man... and a hero. You have our support, Wally. Just be safe," Robert said, hugging his wife, as she cried in his arms.

"Fran?" Kid Flash asked.

"Wally... you know whatever you do, I'll support you. I love you. Just come back. Please," Fran said, as tears began to flow. Kid Flash hugged her and kissed her.

"I will be back. I promise, Fran. I love you," Kid Flash said, and he sped off.

Kid Flash noticed a bluish light far away from him reaching into the sky. The heroes. They're going to fight the Anti-Monitor, he thought. I don't know what I can do, but I have to join them. I need to! Kid Flash ran faster and faster towards the blue portal, his tears burning away as he ran. If I don't do this for Barry, I'll never be able to live with myself for the rest of the time I have left. Faster and faster yet, Kid Flash ran, finally reaching and entering the blue portal.

I did it! I've got to compose myself, and do whatever I can to help them. Barry always said there was hope. I need to keep the hope alive, even in this darkest hour, Kid Flash thought as he was transported to Qward.

Harbinger's group of heroes, consisting of both Earth-1 and Earth-2's Supermen and Wonder Women, Alex Luthor, Lady Quark, Pariah, Captain Marvel, Captain Atom, Firestorm, Firehawk, Jade, Power Girl, Fury, Negative Woman, Dr. Light, and the Ray, found themselves on the antimatter world of Qward, thanks to Alex Luthor's efforts. Unknown to them, they had one more hero on their side.

"We made it this far. Now what?" asked Earth-2's Superman.

"That's up to Pariah. He has the power to focus on evil and bring us to its source," Earth-2's Wonder Woman replied.

"Then let's get on with it," said Earth-1's Superman.

Pariah paused, unsure of what to do next. "I-- I can't. I sense evil ALL AROUND US. There's no single point to concentrate on," Pariah said.

Pariah's words didn't please Earth-1's Superman. He still remembered how the Anti-Monitor killed Kara in front of his eyes. "I'm NOT going to sit around here and wait. I WANT to find the Anti-Monitor-- NOW!" he said in anger.

"So do I, Superman," a consoling yet determined voice called out. "And just as much as YOU do." The man behind the voice stepped from the rock where he had hidden, revealing himself to be Kid Flash.

Jade was the first to see him. "What are YOU doing here?" she asked him.

"The Anti-Monitor said he KILLED the Flash. That makes it MY business. Barry was more than just my uncle-- he was my MENTOR, and my FRIEND," Kid Flash said with determination. "Maybe Harbinger excluded me from this group because I didn't have the NECESSARY powers... but that wasn't good enough for me. I was coming and NOBODY was going to stop me. Don't you see? I felt I HAD to join you guys, or--"

Suddenly, a voice called out, "Wally?"

Kid Flash turned towards the direction of the voice to see an image of Earth-1's Flash reaching out to him. "Flash?" was the only thing that came out of the young speedster's mouth. The other heroes saw the image of the Flash as well, equally puzzled at the apparition as Kid Flash was.

"He's gone? Disappeared," Captain Marvel said, confused. "I-- I thought the Flash died."

Captain Atom, who had been near Kid Flash when he confronted Earth-1's Batman at Titans Tower, responded. "The Batman said he saw Flash's image, too. And Flash was moving through time... his image must have phased in and out as he did."

A glimmer of hope possessed Kid Flash. He had to try and believe that Barry was still alive. He refused to believe Captain Atom's claim that this was an image from the past. "NO! He was CALLING to me. I KNOW he was," Kid Flash said frantically. "I can still pick up an afterimage." With those words, Kid Flash took off, running through Qward's surface, trying to find his mentor.

"I'm going to follow it... no matter where it takes me. I have to find him. Don't you understand? I HAVE TO," he said, hoping against hope that Barry was indeed alive. "Please, God. Please let him be safe... PLEASE," he thought.

The heroes took off after Kid Flash, worried that he was on a suicide run towards the Anti-Monitor. "We can't let Kid Flash run riot over Qward. We still have the Anti-Monitor to deal with," Earth-1's Superman said.

Kid Flash stopped suddenly... for he saw his greatest fear realized. There, buried under several tons of rock, was the costume of the Flash. He stood several seconds, as the sight bled into his soul... the man who had been his idol, the man who had been his partner, and uncle, and treasured friend... the one person he would trust with his life... was DEAD. And his costume... the very costume that defined who he was and his character... was being yanked by a macabre soul who wasn't quite sane.

The other heroes arrived on the scene. The sight of seeing Barry's costume within the rocks saddened Earth-1's Superman, as he had been one of Barry's closest friends in the Justice League of America. He looked at Kid Flash consolingly, knowing the loss of a loved one and friend all too well in the war against the Anti-Monitor. "Wally...," he said sadly, "please, you can't keep this up. Barry's GONE... just like Kara. It's over for BOTH of them."

"I kept praying, hoping... but it's true. Look!" Kid Flash said, not knowing that the heroes had already seen the empty costume.

The Psycho-Pirate tugged at the costume, speaking to it as if it were still a living person. "C'Mon, Flash... you said you'd SAVE me. You promised you would. You PROMISED. The Anti-Monitor lied to me, but I know YOU won't," the Pirate said, his strange behavior making no sense to those watching. "You're one of the GOOD guys. Good guys NEVER lie. I'm scared, Flash... so frightened... he's going to KILL me unless you save me."

Kid Flash watched, trying to believe that this wasn't happening. "No... no... no... no... no... no... no...," was all that he could say, as each 'no' only served to convince him otherwise.

"C'MON!" the Pirate yelled angrily at the costume. "I told you I was sorry for hurting you before..."

The Psycho-Pirate's claim to hurting Barry ignited a fierce anger in Kid Flash. Louder, he continued to say, "NO... NO... NO... NO... NO..."

The Pirate continued to yell, as if in fear. "BUT SAVE ME NOW! SAVE ME NOW!!"

The anger boiling inside Kid Flash exploded. This person had hurt Barry, maybe helped kill him, he'd said he'd hurt Barry. How DARE this scum pull at that suit! "NO!" Kid Flash screamed, the rage flowing out. He ran up to the Psycho-Pirate with his super speed and punched the Pirate with his left fist. "LEAVE THAT UNIFORM ALONE! GET YOUR STINKING HANDS OFF IT! LET IT GO, YOU MANIAC... LET IT GO!!" Kid Flash said, waiting for another reaction from the Pirate. He wanted to KILL the Psycho-Pirate, God help him, he wanted him DEAD.

The punch sent the Psycho-Pirate flying into the arms of Captain Atom and the Ray, who realized that the Pirate had been driven hopelessly insane by his fear. Even though the Pirate had manipulated them both earlier during the Crisis, they felt pity for him. "Kid Flash, STOP!" the Ray said. "Leave the Psycho-Pirate alone."

"The Ray's right. The poor man's been driven INSANE!" Captain Atom replied.

Kid Flash walked over to the rocks pinning Barry's costume to the ground, not really listening to the two heroes' words, and just stared silently at Barry's costume. He was followed by Earth-1's Superman, who lifted the heavy rock off the costume. Kid Flash picked up the uniform... the last thing he had to remember his mentor and friend by, and cradled it.

"That's Barry's uniform, isn't it?" Earth-1's Superman said to Kid Flash.

Kid Flash spoke, calmer and glad that he hadn't done more damage to the Psycho-Pirate, even though he may have deserved it. "It's not fair that he died alone. He was a GOOD man... the BEST. EVERYTHING I am I owe to him," he said to Earth-1's Superman.

Lady Quark noticed something sparkle on the ground near the costume. "What's this?" she asked, kneeling down and picking up a ring. She stood up and showed it to Kid Flash. "A ring with some sort of Lightning insignia on it. Does this mean anything to you?" she asked Kid Flash.

The shock of seeing the ring that Barry used over the years clinched it for Kid Flash. His voice shook, but he spoke nonetheless. "H-his Flash ring... where he kept his uniform until he NEEDED it. It REALLY is over now, isn't it? Oh, Lord, Barry... I'll miss you. Oh, how I will miss you."

Pariah interrupted, as he felt an evil sensation so powerful that it dwarfed the normal evil of Qward. "Hurry," he said urgently. "I feel an overpowering concentration of EVIL-- directly ahead of us. Hurry, before it's too late."

Before the heroes could act, the source of immense evil stood in front of all the heroes. It was the Anti-Monitor. The monster spoke. "YOU WHIMPERING FOOL, IT ALREADY IS TOO LATE! FROM THE MOMENT YOU STEPPED FOOT ON QWARD-- YOU SEALED YOUR OWN FATES! THIS IS THE DAY THE UNIVERSE DIES!" The heroes, including Kid Flash, saw the Anti-Monitor standing in front of themselves.

"SCATTER!" yelled Earth-1's Superman to the others.

"Oh, NO! Flash-- please, Flash... save me! YOU PROMISED!!" the Psycho-Pirate screamed, looking at the costume Kid Flash had in his grip.

Though he had anger towards the Pirate, Kid Flash grabbed him and said, "We're not going to die just yet." He then carried the Pirate and himself away from the battlefield, still holding the Flash costume, as the heroes began to attack. Running as fast as he could, Kid Flash found a safe haven to watch the battle... and to baby-sit the insane Psycho-Pirate. I wish I could combat that thing, but super speed isn't enough... not this time, he thought, turning his attention to the Psycho-Pirate.

"Now, Pirate, you're going to tell me just what happened to the Flash," Kid Flash said with anger.

The Pirate, who hadn't to this point realized that there were more heroes on Qward, responded. "He's right here," he said, pointing to the costume of the Flash. "He SAVED us. Yes he did. Flash saved us."

"Just what happened when he made his 'promise'?" Kid Flash asked the Pirate.

"Oh, you see, the Anti-Monitor gave me a toy to play with... Flash here," the Pirate responded, staring at the costume as if it were still alive. "I was supposed to get an Earth for myself, but I failed HIM. He didn't kill me, but I was scared, yes I was. I hurt Flash... but I told him I was SORRY. He punched me a few times, but it was okay, because he was going to SAVE me. I just had to help him a little, and I did. I think Flash broke the Anti-Monitor's toy... his antimatter cannon, because it was going to be used to destroy the five Earths. There was an explosion, and I got lost. It took me a while to find Flash, but I did. 'Cause he promised..."

Kid Flash' thoughts drifted off, realizing what had happened. The Anti-Monitor DIDN'T kill Barry. My God... he sacrificed his life to save FIVE Earths... not only the lives of those he cared about. The reason we even know he died is because he SUCCEEDED. And this..., he thought, holding the costume of the Flash up, was the only reminder we have towards your sacrifice. God, Barry, you never gave up. You never quit. You were-- ARE A TRUE HERO... and you'll be remembered... I guarantee it.

Kid Flash took his right glove off his hand and placed Barry's ring on his middle finger. He opened the ring's compartment and held the costume until it was pulled inside the ring. He then placed his glove back on his hand. Whatever happens now... at least you're going home... so you can receive the rest you deserve. I love you, Barry, Kid Flash thought, closing his eyes and clinching his right hand in a fist.

"Huh? Where'd Flash go?" the confused Pirate said.

"He's here, Pirate... he's here," Kid Flash said with a whisper.

Kid Flash watched the battle from afar, viewing the many heroes' attacks. He watched as most tried to punch the monster, to no avail. He watched as a woman dressed as Dr. Light began absorbing solar energy from a huge star. Strange twist of fate, Kid Flash thought, remembering that he learned that he was dying after he and Fran had fought another Dr. Light... the former leader of the Fearsome Five. He watched Alex Luthor mount an attack, and then watched as Negative Woman released her radioactive soul form and bound itself to the Anti-Monitor. He watched as the heroes finally unleashed every ounce of power upon the Anti-Monitor, who, for the first time, looked vulnerable. Finally, he watched as the female Dr. Light fired all the solar energy she had collected into an enormous blast.

The impact upon the Anti-Monitor's body was immense, as was the Anti-Monitor's scream of agony. "AARRGHH!" the creature screamed, as it was slammed into Qward's surface. The body lay still, it's chest smoking.

That's right, you bastard. Enjoy your trip to hell, you Devil, Kid Flash thought, his hate for the creature still alive within him.

He turned to the Psycho-Pirate, who spoke. "Is he dead? Duly and truly legally dead? Oh, dare I hope?" the Pirate asked.

"I think that thing's as dead as can be, Pirate," Kid Flash said.

The Psycho-Pirate jumped around in joy, like a child on Christmas morning. "Oh, happy day, happy day! He's dead! Duly and truly, certifiably, legally DEAD! You kept your promise, Flash! Heroes NEVER lie. Oh, thank you, thank you!" the Pirate cheered.

"Let's go. We need to let the heroes know we're all right," Kid Flash said, picking up the Psycho-Pirate and running towards the Anti-Monitor's body, where he stopped.

The Pirate continued to sing. "Ding dong, the wicked witch is dead. He's dead, he's REALLY dead. Talk about happiness, talk about delight, talk about joy!"

"Stay here. I'll be back," Kid Flash said, running towards an asteroid where Power Girl, Captain Atom, Firestorm and Dr. Light stood. "Hey!" he yelled towards the asteroid. "Down here!"

Firestorm heard the speedster, and responded. "Hey, we did it, Kid Flash! We beat the Anti-Monitor!"

"That's great, but I need a little help. I can't fly. Can you come down here?" Kid Flash asked.

"Yeah. I'll be there in a second, don't worry," Firestorm said.

Kid Flash ran back to the Psycho-Pirate and watched as Alex Luthor transformed his body into a portal. "Flash... you SAVED me just like you promised you would," the Psycho-Pirate continued to say.

Kid Flash knew they had little time. If they didn't hurry, they would be trapped in the antimatter universe forever. "C'mon, Psycho-Pirate-- MOVE IT!" he yelled. "He's lost his grip on reality... he's totally OUT of it. I want to hate him, but I can't," he thought, calmer now that the Anti-Monitor had been dealt with. He spoke calmly to the Pirate. "C'mon, Pirate, it's all over. We're going HOME now."

Kid Flash didn't notice that there was a flicker of life still within the Anti-Monitor. Even as Firestorm landed by Kid Flash and the Psycho-Pirate, the ground began to shake. They watched as the green-caged shadow demons were drawn closer and closer to Qward's surface. "Oh no," Kid Flash said.

"Oh, no... don't tell me anything bad-- I don't wanna hear it," Firestorm said.

Faster and faster, the caged shadow demons lurked closer and closer, nearing the planet surface. "The planet's shaking," was all Kid Flash could say.

"I TOLD you not to tell me anything bad," Firestorm responded.

The Psycho-Pirate screamed. "Y-you said you saved me... you lied, Flash... YOU LIED!"

Suddenly, there was the impact of raw energy exploding about... and then, for Kid Flash... there was only darkness.

***

Kid Flash watched helplessly as his hero and mentor, the Flash, fought against the Anti-Monitor. The monster threatened to kill the Flash, but he moved too quickly. Within seconds, however, the Flash gained the upper hand, using various speed tactics to wear down the monster. Suddenly, without warning, the Anti-Monitor was gone... vanished. Kid Flash could move again.

"Flash! You did it!" Kid Flash yelled happily, placing his hand on his partner's shoulder.

The Flash turned around, revealing a skull behind the mask... blood pouring from its mouth.

"Hunghh!" Wally West said, waking from his fever. A doctor who had been keeping track of the speedster's condition spoke to him.

"It's okay. Your fever's broke. You've been out for several hours," the doctor said.

"Where... where am I?" Wally asked, weary.

"You're at S.T.A.R. Labs. You were brought here earlier by Firestorm. He was concerned that something serious was wrong with you. You see, whether you remember or not, you were in a delirious state of mind, making references to a disease killing you. We did some blood work, and we should learn the results soon. I'll alert Dr. Klyburn that you're awake," the doctor said.

"Thanks," Wally said. He looked around the room and spotted his costume, Kid Flash Ring, and Barry's ring. "Thank God it's safe," he thought, referring to Barry's ring. "I might as well suit up."

Using his super speed, Kid Flash put his costume on, but something didn't seem quite right. "Compared to other times I've put on the costume, it seemed as if I were moving a little slower.
That's odd... very odd," he thought.

Just a few seconds later, Dr. Jenet Klyburn walked into the speedster's room. "Kid Flash? I'm Dr. Klyburn. How are you feeling?" she asked him.

"I feel better. Why?" Kid Flash asked.

"We went over your blood work while you were unconscious. Firestorm said something about you mentioning a disease that was killing you. In fact, the doctor who was watching over your condition heard you speak of the same thing," Dr. Klyburn said.

Kid Flash confided to Dr. Klyburn. "Yeah. I have a disease that has caused me pain whenever I used my powers."

"Firestorm mentioned that you received a blast of antimatter before he brought you here," Dr. Klyburn said.

"I can't even remember anything after the blast... I remember the colors and the energy. And the darkness," Kid Flash said.

"We did blood work, and whatever your disease is, it's now in remission. You'll need to do some tests, because it seems that your body chemistry's been altered slightly, but you're in the clear right now," Dr. Klyburn said.

Kid Flash was surprised "Are you serious? Is the disease gone?" he asked.

"Unfortunately, no. It's still in your blood, but apparently, the blast of antimatter you received is keeping the disease in check. It's by no means a cure, but, for the time being, you're going to be all right," Dr. Klyburn said with a smile.

Kid Flash smiled. He felt as if a heavy weight had been lifted off his shoulders. "I'm all right," he said to himself, then he spoke to Dr. Klyburn. "I'm all right!" he yelled with joy, hugging Dr. Klyburn.

Suddenly, he grew quiet. He realized that Barry was still gone. "Dr. Klyburn, I need to ask a favor of you," Kid Flash said.

"What is it?" she asked.

Kid Flash picked up Barry's Flash ring and released the Flash costume contained within. "This is the Flash's costume," he said.

"Oh, no. He really is dead?" she asked with sadness.

"Yeah. You mean, his death hasn't been reported?" Kid Flash asked.

"There's been unconfirmed reports, but none of the heroes have confirmed it," Dr. Klyburn responded.

"I need to know if there is anything inside the costume... ashes, or any proof that this was indeed worn by the Flash. I'm not holding any hopes, but I still need to know for sure," Kid Flash said solemnly, handing the costume over to Dr. Klyburn. "If there's anything left, then I'll need to turn it over to his family. They deserve that much."

"I understand. We'll start right away. We'll collect what we can, and if there are ashes, we'll place them within an urn," Dr. Klyburn vowed.

"I need to see if I can't find Superman. I need to see him... to talk to him about the Flash," Kid Flash said.

"That won't be necessary," a voice said from behind. Kid Flash turned around, and found Superman standing there. Dr. Klyburn walked out of the room with Barry's costume in tow.

"Superman!" Kid Flash said. "What are you doing here?"

"I wanted to see how you were doing. You look all right, and I'm glad," Superman said.

"Dr. Klyburn said that none of the heroes have publicly confirmed Barry's death. Is this true?" Kid Flash asked, not sure how to react.

"Yes. It's true. I asked them not to say anything for now. We've suffered so many losses in the war against the Anti-Monitor. And...," Superman said softly, "it's not our place to do that."

"... Thank you," Kid Flash said calmly. "I felt that before the world needed confirmation that the Flash was dead, I needed to inform Barry's parents about what happened to him. It's the right thing to do."

"I understood that... as did the others. We'll respect the family's privacy," Superman said consolingly.

"I appreciate that," Kid Flash said.

Just then, Dr. Klyburn walked back in the room. "We found very little, but there were indeed ashes inside the costume. We found bone fragments that appear to be human, as well as a few human hairs. I'm sorry... I'm so sorry," Dr. Klyburn said consolingly.

Kid Flash paused, bending his head towards the ground. He knew Barry was dead. Yet, he still had to hope. Now... there was nothing left to do. "Thank you, Dr. Klyburn," Kid Flash said softly, trying to keep his voice from breaking.

"Wally, I'm sorry. I held a little hope, too," Superman said, feeling the loss. "What are you going to do?"

Kid Flash paused. "First, I need to let my folks know I'm alive. Afterwards, I'm going to see the Allens. They deserve to be told. I need Barry's ashes and his Flash costume, so we can put Barry to rest."

"We've already prepared them," Dr. Klyburn said, as another doctor brought the costume and ashes to her. She handed them to Kid Flash.

"Thank you. After this is over, I'll come back for those tests you need," Kid Flash said, running off. "You deserved a lot more, Barry," Kid Flash thought. "I hope that you've been reunited in Heaven with Iris and have found peace."

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