"Professor Stein's problem is actually the same as Ronnie's. To maintain the balance of nuclear energy in their bodies, they must merge periodically. Only after the energy stabilizes can they separate again."
"The issue is that merging will inevitably expose personal privacy to each other. That's why both the Professor and Ronnie are so resistant to it."
Thea sat on a lounge chair, her pale legs gleaming in the light. The goddess remained completely oblivious as she crossed her legs and spoke matter-of-factly.
Barry felt his mouth go dry. He struggled to push the distracting thoughts aside, repeatedly reminding himself that he should prioritize the six million residents of Central City. He forced himself to think about his mother's murder and his father's wrongful imprisonment several times before finally suppressing the chaotic thoughts in his mind.
Thea had no idea of the trouble she was causing. "Come on, let's go convince the Professor again."
"Uh..." Barry hesitated. Normally in this situation, he would just scoop someone up and race back on two legs. But right now, Thea's charm was too overwhelming. He was afraid that while running, he might lose focus and crash into a ditch—that would be mortifying.
Fortunately, Thea didn't make things difficult for him. Her pale hand patted his shoulder lightly. "Let's make it quick. Let's go!"
Sky-blue light flashed. When Barry could see his surroundings clearly again, he found himself back at S.T.A.R. Labs. Thea had also changed out of her bathrobe into her artifact robes, looking every bit the goddess.
Faster than me... Barry grimaced.
"Dr. Wells, long time no see." Thea greeted the Reverse-Flash first. The old man forced himself to stay calm, though internally he was cursing up a storm. Was there anyone more unlucky than him these days? Sitting peacefully at home, a human-shaped nuclear bomb just shows up at his door asking for help, and he still has to put on a welcoming face.
Now, faced with Thea's greeting, he could only maintain his facade and claim he was doing great—never better.
After exchanging greetings with Cisco, she went to the lab area to check on the two "patients."
Ronnie Raymond sat on the floor looking miserable, while the portly professor continued desperately calculating, trying to solve all their problems with science.
"Doctor, do you have any solutions?" Thea asked the Reverse-Flash.
"Sorry, I'm out of options." The Reverse-Flash spoke with absolute sincerity. If they'd come to him from the start, he might have had a solution. But now that Thea had interfered with her highly idealistic methods to separate them, his black-tech gadgets were no longer applicable to the current situation. The Reverse-Flash was genuinely anxious—after all, nobody wants a nuclear bomb wandering around in front of them.
But he truly had no solution. Nuclear energy wasn't cutting-edge technology. In the twenty-fifth century, humanity used clean energy exclusively. Dangerous, highly polluting energy sources like nuclear power had long been abandoned. The Reverse-Flash was a scientist, yes, but not an omniscient one. In his era, nobody studied nuclear energy. From a pure nuclear physics perspective, his expertise was actually inferior to the portly Professor Stein's.
"Professor, Ronnie, you're running out of time. You must merge immediately, or the consequences will be catastrophic." Thea's tone was stern. If they refused to cooperate, she would have to resort to forceful measures. Though her motives differed from Barry and the other heroes, she wouldn't gamble with six million lives either.
The professor had spent all day calculating, going through everything he knew, only to discover he really couldn't solve his own problem. Somewhat dejected, he asked, "What happens after we merge?"
Thea thought for a moment, then whispered something to Barry. The Flash whooshed away and back in an instant, handing her a very sci-fi-looking square device.
"Professor, Ronnie, this is a portable nuclear power device I developed. Just four of these units can keep something as massive as a Ford-class carrier flying nonstop for a week. Now I'm using its principle in reverse—it can absorb the excess nuclear energy from your bodies. There's also a regulator valve here. When the valve is opened to maximum, it will instantly drain your energy, which means you'll separate immediately. When your internal energy builds up again, you merge. Then you use this device to separate. This is the only solution I can think of."
She briefly explained the principle to the old professor. The current device wouldn't work as-is—it was designed for aircraft carriers, over a meter in diameter. It needed to be miniaturized and made portable.
Thea would have to make some modifications, but fortunately this was a laboratory. Whether it was the Reverse-Flash or the Flash's companions, they were all tech-savvy. More importantly, there was the portly professor, a nuclear physics heavyweight. Streamlining the work wouldn't be difficult for this group.
"If we reverse this rotor, we can..." Thea was in the middle of rewiring when suddenly everything went dark. Her super vision automatically switched to night vision mode, and she realized what had happened—S.T.A.R. Labs had lost power.
"Don't tell me you guys forgot to pay the electric bill?" Thea looked at them with amusement.
Everyone unconsciously turned to the Reverse-Flash. Disguised as Dr. Wells, the Reverse-Flash felt a bit uneasy but quickly identified the problem.
"The entire city has lost power."
A citywide blackout was beyond Thea's ability to fix. She had night vision, but without electricity, the modification work couldn't proceed. She had no choice but to set down her tools and wait for power to be restored.
"Cisco, go start the backup generator." The Reverse-Flash just wanted to get these two human-shaped nuclear bombs away from him as quickly as possible—he didn't want to wait even one more minute.
However, before Cisco could leave the room, someone outside started shouting at the top of their lungs. "Dr. Harrison Wells! I want to see you! I know you're in there! Come out!"
The voice was extremely loud, like a human loudspeaker. Thea focused her gaze outward and saw a young man in a leather jacket standing at the door, shouting. The man had dark circles around his eyes, and electric arcs flickered in his palms. From his appearance alone, he didn't look like someone who'd come for a friendly chat.
Knowing they lacked super vision, Thea cast a minor light spell and a water mirror spell, projecting the outside scene. She pointed at the leather jacket man in the image, silently asking if anyone recognized him.
Everyone shook their heads. Without power or internet, they had no way of knowing who this was.
Seeing the man still shouting outside, Barry naturally couldn't let the wheelchair-bound Dr. Wells go out and face danger. With a whoosh, he changed into his suit and rushed out.
Thea considered it and didn't stop him. At least she couldn't see anything particularly formidable about this leather jacket guy. With the Flash's combat ability, dealing with such small fry should be easy.
Unfortunately, the water mirror could only show images without sound. The group inside watched like it was a silent film as Barry exchanged a few words with the opponent, then immediately started fighting.
What she'd assumed would be a minor incident, Thea initially watched with casual interest. Perhaps the Flash thought the same, approaching it playfully, watching the opponent randomly fling electric arcs around like it was a circus act.
---
However, the battle took a dramatic turn after ten seconds. Realizing the Flash was toying with him, the leather jacket man pulled a trick. He deliberately slowed his attack speed, making the Flash think he was running out of steam. Then suddenly, he unleashed full power—a barrel-thick electric arc struck the Flash squarely in the chest.
Similar to Plastique's ability? Thea had just thought this when she realized something was wrong. The electric arc didn't disappear after hitting—instead, it became a bridge connecting the two.
Initially it was silver-white energy, but then the energy suddenly changed nature. A massive amount of golden-yellow energy surged out from Barry's body, drawn by the suction force toward the other side.
Speed Force! Thea was shocked. The Reverse-Flash nearly stood up. The Speed Force kept accumulating, and not only was Barry stunned—the leather jacket man absorbing his energy was also panicking. He didn't know what this energy was, but instinctively sensed it was far more massive and difficult to control than the energy he'd previously absorbed from the city's power grid.
"Stop him quickly!" Even the Reverse-Flash was getting desperate. Thea knew this was critical and immediately teleported outside.
Unfortunately, she was still a step too late. The leather jacket man's ability had a fatal flaw—he only knew how to absorb, not how to stop. Usually he would absorb until there was no more energy. He'd always thought his body could store unlimited energy, but today the Speed Force taught him a harsh lesson.
Massive amounts of Speed Force accumulated in his body, but he wasn't the Speed Force's chosen one—he couldn't control this energy at all. Just as Thea was still figuring out what spell to use to interrupt this, the man exploded from the inside out.
"Holy crap!" Faced with the violent energy shockwave, Thea could only retreat into subspace temporarily. When she emerged, she found the jacket man looking like he'd been possessed by a xenomorph—his chest and abdomen had a gaping hole. With a look of terror frozen on his face and half his heart blown away, he lay dead in a pool of blood.
Barry on the other side didn't have the ability to retreat into subspace, but fortunately he was the Speed Force's chosen one. Since this energy had been drawn from his own body, it didn't cause him significant harm.
A no-name thug who wouldn't last two chapters had taken down the Flash, the Justice League's speedster. Who would believe that? Seeing the pitch-black surroundings, Thea directly retrieved the jacket man's corpse. His body had immense research value. This guy's ability was basically a DC-style energy-draining power. Though the hidden dangers were enormous, if used well, it could produce miraculous results.
If she could clone tens of thousands while preserving the ability and point them at Darkseid for a massive drain... the thought alone was satisfying.
She arranged the scene, scattering some clothing fragments and bloodstains to prove the man had been blown to smithereens. If the Reverse-Flash suspected he'd been absorbed into the Speed Force dimension, even better.
When she brought Barry back to the lab, everyone quickly activated the backup power. After another chaotic flurry of activity, with the Firestorm duo helping out, followed by blood tests and analysis, everyone was dumbstruck.
Barry's Speed Force had been drained. He'd become an ordinary person.
Everyone was dejected. Thea glanced sidelong at the Reverse-Flash. She saw him remove his glasses and rest his forehead in his hand, radiating pure despair.
Well yes, the threat of two human-shaped nuclear bombs hadn't been resolved, and the Flash he'd worked so hard to cultivate was now depowered. That the Reverse-Flash could still sit calmly in his wheelchair was a testament to his exceptional composure.
Thea wasn't too worried. Barry had a protagonist's halo no weaker than Batman's. As the Speed Force's chosen one, he'd be dejected for a while at most, but the Speed Force would definitely grant him abilities again.
At the very least, Thea knew that recreating the moment he was struck by lightning would restore his Speed Force. Anyone else hit by lightning would become charcoal, but when he got hit, he gained the Speed Force. The world was just that unscientific.
However, Thea didn't share this method. The Reverse-Flash would be ten thousand times more anxious than her—let him figure it out.
Soon after, Barry woke up. Seeing everyone's grim faces and the bruises on his own body, he seemed to understand something.
At the crucial moment, the veteran had to step up. The Reverse-Flash was actually dying inside, but he still had to put on a brave front like nothing was wrong, and even turn around to comfort Barry.
The life mentor force-fed the Flash another round of chicken soup for the soul. Compared to his words, Cisco's conversational skills were terrible. What did he mean by "You're still Barry without powers"? What about "You'll always be our friend"?
Those words sounded utterly depressing. Having superpowers versus not having them—how could it be the same!
Thea saw the Reverse-Flash was about to beat up Cisco and quickly pulled the guy away. Everyone fell silent, with only the rustle of papers as the Reverse-Flash reviewed Barry's body data.
Barry's situation was urgent, but the two human-shaped nuclear bombs were more urgent.
The equipment being developed for them was only half-finished when interrupted by the blackout and the leather jacket cannon fodder. Now the work couldn't stop just because Barry had lost his Speed Force—it had to continue.
However, the previously enthusiastic atmosphere had cooled considerably. The group was no longer as energetic in their discussions. Thea could only try to lighten the mood, using the explanation of principles as an opportunity to distract everyone. The principle was actually quite interesting—it was originally a parting gift from the portly professor when she was on the Waverider. She just hadn't found a use for it since her power kept growing.
Now, utilizing its energy absorption and discharge characteristics, it functioned like a switch, helping the Firestorm duo merge and separate anytime, anywhere.
Hearing it was nuclear physics research rather than magic or witchcraft, the portly professor's interest immediately surged. He pestered Thea with questions about how it worked.
She went through it all with him, and the old man understood most of it, with a rough grasp of the rest. His spirits lifted considerably.
Thea felt a bit sheepish—using the professor's future research to bluff his present self really tested the thickness of one's skin.
Once the device was finally calibrated and their worries were resolved, the two no longer hesitated. Neither would do something as evil as dragging six million people down with them if they died.
The two clasped hands. With a muffled "boom" and a shower of sparks, Firestorm—with Ronnie as the primary body and the portly professor as support—once again entered everyone's view.
Thea placed the device on their chest and made minor adjustments. With both of them highly educated, they quickly understood how to operate it.
"Professor, Ronnie, even when separated, you can't be too far apart. One in Chicago and one in Central City definitely won't work. If you have nowhere to go, come to my Alien Affairs Committee. It's located in the Nevada desert. Even if something happens to you, the losses won't be too great."
Thea's meaning was clear—bring this guy to the Committee. Relying solely on the black director to handle everything was becoming untenable. As chairman, she couldn't keep intervening for the sake of her image, so recruiting someone particularly combat-capable was top priority.
Firestorm's strength was a step below the absolute top tier, but he was still among the first-rate elite. This guy could transmute all inorganic matter—he could even create kryptonite from thin air. Physically powerful, highly intelligent, capable of flight and energy attacks—he was a rare all-rounder.
"What if we explode there?" Firestorm still hesitated. He was even considering finding some desolate wasteland to end his life.
"Everyone there is an alien." Thea said it casually.
Everyone immediately understood. Were aliens people? Definitely! But when choosing between sacrificing six million aliens and six million humans, nobody would hesitate. Even Barry, with his bleeding heart, said nothing in objection.
"Professor, don't worry. My tech level won't produce the scenario you're imagining. Moreover, two alien species still use nuclear energy. You could go take a look—you might gain new insights."
Without much consideration, the duo decided to go to Nevada. Ronnie didn't bring up his marriage to Caitlin again. Having a telepathic link with the portly professor made pursuing a wife too awkward.
When one individual got excited, the other would have strong mental sensations. For a long time, Ronnie wouldn't be able to enjoy conjugal relations happily.
The portly professor had the same problem. He was older, yes, but he had a wife too. Nuclear fission had transformed his body—he looked old but was physically like a young man. He didn't want Ronnie to know about his passionate exchanges with his wife either.
The two reached a tacit understanding and left Central City, flying toward Nevada. Seeing the human-shaped nuclear bombs fly away on their own, the Reverse-Flash breathed a huge sigh of relief.
What remained was the Flash's situation. Honestly, the Reverse-Flash had broken his back over Barry. The irony was that this good Samaritan couldn't even take credit. The frustration was indescribable.
While Thea was resolving Firestorm's issue, he'd racked his brain and finally found a solution that wasn't really a solution.
Similar to what Thea had envisioned—just get electrocuted again.
However, Barry hesitated. Facing twenty million amperes of current, he didn't dare claim he could survive.
Thea knew he was the Speed Force's chosen one, but he didn't know that himself.
The Reverse-Flash waited anxiously for a decision. Barry shook his head. "Let me think about it." He grabbed his jacket and left the lab without looking back.
Thea also bid farewell to everyone. Having convinced them to come, she should at least make some preliminary preparations. She didn't dare use teleportation to bring Firestorm directly—mainly because their condition was too unstable. If they exploded during transit, she'd really be in deep trouble.
Though nuclear weapons weren't high-tech, she wasn't willing to face a nuclear blast directly. Fortunately, Firestorm could fly on his own—let him take his time getting there.
Thea arrived at the Committee first, briefing her subordinates on Firestorm's upcoming employment before returning to Star City. After all, she'd been pulled out while soaking in the hot spring—the whole thing hadn't even taken a few minutes. She could still soak a bit longer.
The women were still chatting mindlessly, completely unaware that a city's crisis had been resolved invisibly.
The idea of a female Justice League gradually took shape in her mind. Venue, mission statement—everything needed careful consideration. They were still some distance from official establishment.
It wasn't until that evening when everyone went their separate ways that she learned Barry had returned to the lab after she left. Because Iris was in danger, Barry had no choice but to accept the Reverse-Flash's loving electric shock. Fortunately, the result was good—the Speed Force mother hadn't abandoned her chosen son. The spirited Flash once again played the hero, saving Iris.
Firestorm's matter was perfectly resolved, and Barry Allen's abilities were restored. Only the mystery of his mother's murder remained unresolved—a hazy fog still shrouded him. He had a premonition that he was close to his mother's killer, but the key clue continued to elude him.
Thea didn't have much time to focus on the conflict between the Flash and Reverse-Flash. She was super busy now! She didn't even have time to study the leather jacket man's corpse—she was busy being a mascot.
Moira had won the party primary by a landslide. This first step had been extremely solid. The next step was a national speaking tour (publicity stunt) to let ordinary people know her policy positions and character.
As a family member, Thea could only help build momentum. Originally Oliver would have been a good choice, but compared to Thea's explosively good reputation, his reputation was too scandalous. The campaign staff collectively vetoed the proposal for Oliver to tour the country, only requiring him to appear in a few key cities. The task of accompanying their mother on tour fell to Thea.
She had no problem with stage fright—she just had to appear gentle and approachable while not stealing her mother's spotlight. That was genuinely difficult.
"Mother of a superhero"—this was the biggest card the campaign staff had prepared for Moira. Truly unprecedented and likely never to be replicated. Americans' superhero complex was extraordinarily strong. Many people were inspired by Moira, as if Thea's strength came not from magic or divine power, but from the democratic system that created her.
For a long period, Thea became everyone else's perfect kid. Large numbers of middle-class citizens expressed confidence in Moira's governing ability.
Actually, there weren't many fools these days. The reason the current government appeared powerless in many emergencies was precisely because they lacked significant military force. If Moira became president, this problem wouldn't exist at all—one phone call and a superhero would fly over.
Thea brazenly contributed a photo of herself with Superman and Batman. The two titans owed her quite a few favors. Though extremely reluctant, they still took the photo like they were going to the gallows. The campaign team then promoted it, leveraging the fame of three superheroes to endorse Moira. For a time, Moira's poll numbers exceeded her opposing party's candidate by twenty percent.
Tying the campaign to superheroes brought enormous benefits, but naturally there were troubles too.
Numerous medical workers who'd lost their jobs because of Thea's healing pods would occasionally show up at rallies with protest signs, expressing dissatisfaction.
Aliens dealt with by the Alien Affairs Committee also launched occasional attacks.
Even Bane, Batman's old enemy, was hired to disrupt a venue. Yes, Thea thought this guy was just there to cause chaos. The two-meter-tall muscleman with a green canister on his back was kicked flying over ten meters by her in high heels. Beyond spilling some green liquid on the ground, he accomplished nothing.
Moira's staff went from initial panic to gradual numbness. They truly experienced Thea's exceptional martial prowess firsthand. Seeing it on TV before was nothing compared to the live thrill.
Rocket launchers deflected back to their origin with a snap of her fingers. Armed thugs scared into wetting themselves by a single glare. Aliens of various colors and appearances tossed around like bowling pins.