บท 43: Ch - 43 Man of steel?
Due to Swayam's involvement, the timeline was massively altered. What Swayam was unaware of was that if he hadn't appeared in this continuity, Ms. Sans Souci would have been shot by General Eiling while Barry tried to reason with her. This would have further destabilized her already unstable metahuman ability, turning her body into a bomb with the potential blast equivalent to a nuclear explosion.
It was this emergency that led Barry to think about running on water and dumping Ms. Sans Souci's dead body into the coastal sea area. But now, the whole situation was completely different. Ms. Sans Souci, who would have been incapable of controlling her metahuman ability, could now actively manipulate it. General Wade Eiling, who would have survived a confrontation with Ms. Sans Souci, had died of a "heart attack" without even facing her. And Barry Allen, who would have learned to run on water, didn't have the chance due to the changed circumstances.
Leaving all those complicated things aside, Harrison Wells did indeed have some connections in the military who, for a reasonable price, agreed to help Ms. Sans Souci gain her freedom.
***
A few days had passed since Ms. Sans Souci surrendered to the military personnel arranged by Harrison Wells's contacts.
During these days, Swayam and Barry were frequently seen by the public helping those in need. Tonight was no different. The evening was peaceful until someone decided to create chaos by stealing a yellow Humvee, prompting a hot pursuit by the CCPD cops.
Fortunately, Swayam and Barry were on their nightly vigilante duty. Upon hearing about the chase, they rushed to help. When they arrived, they spotted a teenage boy walking on the street with headphones, oblivious to his surroundings. The Humvee thief, showing no regard for the boy's safety, accelerated with the intention of running him over.
Swayam managed to save the boy just in time. Meanwhile, Barry pursued the Humvee thief, only to discover that the thief was a metahuman who could turn himself into metal. Barry, caught off guard, was badly beaten by the thief but managed to retreat with some fractures.
After consoling the boy, Swayam heard Barry's pained voice over the comms and inquired about his location. Barry informed him that he had returned to S.T.A.R. Labs but fainted before he could say more. Swayam quickly contacted Cisco and informed him of Barry's condition. Cisco, acting swiftly, alerted Caitlin and Dr. Wells and hurried to S.T.A.R. Labs.
At the lab, they found Barry in terrible condition, lying unconscious on the floor.
***
Although Barry's body could heal rapidly, it required someone to reassemble his injured parts to ensure proper healing. Caitlin patched him up before his body could heal incorrectly.
"Thirteen fractures. That's a new record. And that's just in your hands. You also have a concussion, three cracked ribs, and a bruised spleen. Even with your powers, you'll need a few hours to heal," said Caitlin after diagnosing his injuries.
Harrison Wells, waiting for Caitlin to finish, asked Barry, "What exactly did you hit?"
Barry, reclining on a patient bed, replied, "A man. A big, bad man. His skin changed when I hit him. Like it turned to metal."
Harrison Wells, intrigued, crossed his arms and said, "Interesting. A man of steel."
Cisco, hearing Barry's explanation, reprimanded him, "So you went after a metahuman alone? Dude, why didn't you call us?"
Barry responded, "First of all, I wasn't alone; Sam was with me. Secondly, I didn't know what he was. And besides, I was off duty."
Caitlin, Cisco, and Harrison Wells all looked at Swayam with questioning expressions. Swayam clarified, "Don't look at me like that. If I knew the Humvee thief was a metahuman, I would have been the first to go after him, and I wouldn't have pulled my punches unlike Barry."
Though everyone internally agreed with Swayam, they didn't say it outright. Cisco changed the topic to divert Barry's attention. "Anyways, luckily he didn't knock out your teeth. Those puppies don't grow back."
Barry, frowning, spoke absentmindedly, "Strange thing is I feel like I knew the thief."
Caitlin, now interested, asked, "What do you mean?"
Barry continued, "He said something familiar. But that doesn't matter now. What matters is he's going to hurt someone. So how do we fight a guy made of steel?"
Harrison Wells responded, "We will find a way, but tonight, you heal."
Seeing Wells's no-nonsense look, Barry agreed to rest and heal his injuries.
***
Hey everyone,
I'm back from my trip! Now, I just need to shake off the laziness and get some motivation to continue with the story. Your support and enthusiasm really help, so stay tuned for more chapters soon!
Thanks for your patience and encouragement!
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