Chapter 18: The Man in the Yellow Suit
The air in Central City was thick with a new kind of fear. Not the fear of a random metahuman, but the chilling dread of something faster, something more malicious. The Reverse-Flash. Eobard Thawne. The Flash S01E09: "The Man in the Yellow Suit." Adam knew this was a game-changer, a villain who could truly challenge Barry. And he was going to help, even if it meant doing it remotely.
Adam was back in Starling City, but his connection to Team Flash was stronger than ever. He was on a video call with Cisco and Caitlin, watching a blurry feed of Barry's latest, terrifying encounter with the Man in Yellow.
"He's too fast!" Cisco exclaimed, his voice tight with fear. "Barry can't even see him!"
"He's like a yellow blur of pure evil! And he's got, what, super-speed, super-strength, and a super-creepy voice modulator?" Adam quipped, though his usual flippancy was tinged with genuine concern. This was Reverse-Flash. This was serious. "Alright, guys, we need a plan. Something that will slow him down. Even for a second. Something that will make him go, 'Whoa, where did that come from?'"
Caitlin was frantically analyzing data, but nothing was working. The Reverse-Flash was just too powerful.
Adam (POV): This is it. The big bad. The guy who killed Barry's mom. I can't let him win. I have to do something. But what? He's too fast. Unless... unless I can make him not fast. Temporarily. Time for the Crown.
He reached for his Crown of Gravitas, which he kept in his Storage Ring, pulling it out and placing it on his head. He focused, picturing the area around the Reverse-Flash, a small, localized bubble of intensified gravity.
"Alright, Cisco, Caitlin, listen up! I'm going to try something. It's a new 'prototype' I've been working on with Ray. A remote gravitational field generator," Adam said, his voice strained with concentration. "It's highly experimental, and it might make things a little... heavy for our yellow friend. Just give Barry an opening."
[CROWN OF GRAVITAS USED (REMOTE ACTIVATION). COST: 75 NON-PLP (TEMPORARY, MEDIUM AREA EFFECT).]
"Seventy-five LP? Ouch. That's like, a week's worth of coffee money. But if it saves Barry, it's worth it. Besides, I can always annoy Oliver for more LP later."
On the blurry video feed, the Reverse-Flash, who had been a whirlwind of yellow, suddenly stumbled. His movements became sluggish, almost as if he were running through thick treacle. He grunted, confused, trying to push through the invisible resistance. It was only for a second, maybe two, but it was enough.
"He's slowing down!" Cisco yelled, his eyes wide with disbelief.
"Barry, now!" Caitlin screamed.
Barry, who had been on the ropes, seized the opportunity. He delivered a powerful punch, sending the Reverse-Flash sprawling. The speedster, dazed but not defeated, quickly recovered and zoomed away, clearly annoyed by the unexpected interference.
"What... what just happened?" Barry's voice crackled over the comms, a mix of exhaustion and awe.
"Gravitational field generator, Barry! Still in its experimental phase! And very, very remote!" Adam yelled, pulling the Crown off his head, feeling a wave of exhaustion. "Think of it as a really bad case of sudden, localized gravity. It's all about the physics, my friend. And a little bit of luck."
Barry (POV): He had no idea how Adam had done it. One moment, he was about to be obliterated by the Reverse-Flash, the next, the speedster was stumbling, as if he'd hit an invisible wall. Adam was a mystery, a chaotic force, but he was also a lifeline. He was always there, somehow, with a solution and a sarcastic comment. He owed Adam. Big time.
Cisco was practically vibrating with excitement. "Adam, that was incredible! You remotely manipulated gravity! How is that even possible?!"
"Trade secret, Cisco. Involves a lot of duct tape and a little bit of pixie dust," Adam said, trying to sound casual, though his heart was still pounding. Reverse-Flash. That was a serious villain. "Just glad I could help. Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I need a very large, very strong cup of coffee. And maybe a nap. Being a remote superhero is exhausting."
[MISSION COMPLETE: THE MAN IN THE YELLOW SUIT. REWARD: 400 NON-PLP.]
"Four hundred LP! And a PLP! Six PLP! I'm practically a god now. A tired, slightly cranky god, but a god nonetheless. Take that, Reverse-Flash! You may be fast, but I've got gravity on my side. And a really good coffee maker."
Adam leaned back in his chair, a mixture of relief and pride washing over him. He had faced down a major threat, helped his friend, and earned a significant chunk of LP. The Arrowverse was getting more dangerous, but he was getting stronger. And he still had plenty of sarcastic comments left in the tank.
System Status After Chapter: Non-PLP: 350. PLP: 5.
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