Chapter 32 - The Reactions - Part 4

Central City-STAR LABS

"Phew! I'm beat," said a tireless Flash, revealing his real identity as Barry Allen, as he removed his mask upon arriving at the high-tech control center of his bustling base of operations, STAR LABS. His unwavering friends and loyal partners in fighting crime, the brilliant Caitlin Snow and the ingenious Cisco Ramon, were present there, awaiting his return.

"I bet! Man, I'm just overwhelmingly relieved you made it back in one piece!" Cisco exclaimed with genuine concern, as he hastily went in for a comforting hug with Barry. Caitlin, too, joined in, her anxiety clearly visible on her face, which was a mirror to the concern they all shared. After they separated, Caitlin quickly handed him a much-needed glass of water.

"Thanks, guys. I really needed that. It was an endless cycle of one deadly situation after another! I'm incredibly glad Batman brought us, a group of unique individuals with extraordinary abilities, together to take a united stand against those monstrous demons. That Stepenwolf was a terrifying monster. It took the combined effort of Superman, Wonder Woman, Cyborg, and Aquaman, to bring him down," Flash recounted in detail, his voice reflecting the horror they had faced.

Hearing the harrowing events of the brutal war, they were both shocked and scared, their hearts pounding in their chests. They realized that their friend had faced a truly gruesome and deadly battle, risking his life to protect not just them, but the whole world.

"But, the biggest surprise, the one that took the cake, was Orach!" Barry said, his voice filled with fear and awe.

"Who? What's an Orach?" Cisco asked, his face a mask of confusion, since it was the first time he'd heard that strange term. Caitlin mirrored his confusion, her eyes reflecting a similar curiosity.

"An alien! Well, another alien party that landed dead center of the battlefield. His ship's entry created a massive boom in the sky, like a sonic boom. Everyone just stopped and looked up, frozen in surprise. I initially thought it was a comet or some sort of celestial body at first, but when it came within visual range, we saw a compact, futuristic ball-shaped ship," Barry explained, his eyes filled with the memory.

"Seriously, another alien! Why are so many extraterrestrial beings visiting Earth?" Cisco said, his tone a mix of anger and helplessness, stemming from the realization of their powerlessness against these alien threats.

"Barry, then what happened? Did this Orach turn out to be another hostile invader?" Caitlin enquired, her voice trembling with apprehension.

"Haah! Thank God, no! If that had been the case, all of us on the battlefield would have met a horrific end!" Barry exclaimed, visibly shivering at the memory of Orach's overwhelming aura in his Super Saiyan transformations.

"SERIOUSLY!" both Cisco and Caitlin exclaimed in unison, their eyes wide with shock. Barry solemnly nodded and continued, "When he landed, he slowly rose from the crater his ship had created. After rising to a considerable height in the air, he just..." Barry took a deep breath and said, "stood there, enjoying moon bathing with his arms spread outwards."

"Excuse me? Moon bathing? Are you serious?" Cisco asked, his voice thick with disbelief and utter bafflement. Caitlin, standing next to him, mirrored his incredulous expression.

Barry just nodded, a serious look on his face. "Yes, indeed. At that moment, all of us, myself included, were overcome with a strange sensation. Seeing him there, moon bathing, was certainly an unusual sight. But what was more unsettling was a faint, almost imperceptible, pressure that began to build around the battlefield. It was a discomforting sensation, as if every single cell in my body was screaming at me to turn tail and run as far away as I could from Orach. It was the most bizarre feeling, but when I glanced around and saw the same confused and uncomfortable expressions on the faces of my allies, I knew we were all experiencing the same thing. I was overwhelmed with fear, thinking that this newcomer might be another enemy. But to our surprise, he simply ignored us, standing there in the air, basking in the moonlight. Later, we came to understand that this pressure was also affecting our enemies, leaving them almost immobilized. Even Steppenwolf, according to Aquaman and Cyborg, seemed to have lost his usual vigor. We seized this opportunity to finish off the invading forces," Barry explained, recalling the strange events.

Cisco and Caitlin listened intently to Barry's account, their eyes wide as they tried to visualize the surreal scene he was describing.

"After we had successfully fended off the invaders, all eyes, whether they belonged to superheroes or brave soldiers, were fixed on the enigmatic visitor from space. Hal attempted to engage with the alien, but his efforts were simply ignored. Feeling slighted, Hal launched an attack on Orach. That's when everything went to hell. An immense, terrifying pressure descended upon us. I genuinely thought I was about to meet my end. Everyone, even the likes of Superman and Wonder Woman, were forced to kneel. It was a struggle, but slowly, we managed to raise our heads, only to be shocked at the sight of Hal lying there, bloody and missing an arm," Barry continued, his voice shaky. Caitlin's hand flew to her mouth, and Cisco's eyes widened in fear at the harrowing tale.

"Orach was holding Hal's severed arm, examining the Green Lantern's ring with a curious gaze. It was as if he had never encountered a Green Lantern before, and later, we discovered that was indeed the case. He bombarded Hal with questions about the ring, its source of power, the Green Lantern Corps...everything! During his relentless questioning, Orach did something incredible. He healed Hal and reattached his arm. It was a spectacle unlike any other. Orach claimed that he meant no harm from the beginning and that his actions were simply a response to Hal's attack. None of us believed him. Batman, ever the skeptic, stepped forward to challenge Orach, asking why he refused to acknowledge Hal's request for identification. Orach seemed genuinely confused by this. He then asked us if we've ever had dealings with higher dimension beings before. We were all taken aback! Sure, we knew of aliens, Superman is one after all. But a being from a higher dimension? It was an astounding revelation! Later, Batman admitted that they didn't even know higher dimensions existed, let alone interacted with beings from them. Orach introduced himself as a science officer from some God branch of the mighty Saiyan race in the higher dimensions," Barry explained, his voice filled with awe and disbelief.

"Wait, higher dimensions are real?" Cisco, who had been forced to sit down to calm his racing nerves, shot up again upon hearing those words. He was struggling to comprehend what he was hearing.

"Yes, they are! But that wasn't all. Do you know what he said when Batman asked him again why he didn't acknowledge Hal's enquiry? He said he was sensitive to ants who act arrogantly in front of him! He had the audacity to call Hal an ANT!" Barry exclaimed, his voice rising in pitch before he took another sip of water to calm himself.

Caitlin and Cisco exchanged terrified glances, the realization sinking in that there existed a being that considered humans as insignificant as ants.

Barry, taking a deep breath, began his lengthy narration. "Understandably, and with just cause, we all felt insulted, demeaned even. Wonder Woman, in her fierce and defiant glory, was the one who stood up to Orach. She argued with him, asking him why he dared to set foot on our plane of existence if he held such disdain for us. His response, however, was something none of us expected." He paused, turning his gaze between Cisco and Caitlin, basking in their wide-eyed anticipation.

Cisco, unable to hold his curiosity any longer, burst out, "What? What was his response? You can't just leave us hanging like this, Barry! We're on pins and needles here!" His voice echoed with a note of desperation.

With a satisfied grin stretching across his face, Barry continued his tale. "He looked as though he was taken aback. He confessed that he didn't know why he landed here. He narrated a tale of a brutal war where he sustained severe injuries, and while he was recuperating back home, he suddenly found himself here amongst us. The utter confusion in his voice and demeanor was palpable. It was then that it dawned on us that the situation might not be as one-dimensional as we expected. He then stated that until he finds a way to return to his dimension, he wished to stay amongst us and would cooperate fully. As a gesture of goodwill, he released the pressure that had brought us to our knees. The moment the pressure disappeared, I sighed with relief. It seemed as though we had reached a mutual understanding. But that moment of relief was fleeting. Without warning, Superman attacked Orach!" Barry took a dramatic pause for effect. "You won't believe it, but Orach stopped Superman's punch with just a finger! Then, with a swift motion, he grabbed Superman's head, threw him to the ground, and pinned him down! It was a terrifying display of strength. We realized that if Orach was an enemy, then we would all surely die. He asked why Superman attacked him and if he should consider this as a collective response from all of us. I won't deny it, I was petrified. But Wonder Woman, the brave soul that she is, stepped up to the plate. She extended a hand towards Orach in a gesture of peace. To our relief, they shook hands and reached an understanding. She even managed to free Superman from Orach's vice-like grip. We thought things had finally settled down, that we could breathe easy. But then..." Barry paused again, savoring the suspenseful atmosphere as he took a sip of water.

Cisco and Caitlin, in unison, cried out, "What the hell, man! We're on the edge of our seats here! For the love of God, tell us what happened next?"

Barry, his smile stretching wider, continued, "Then, all of a sudden, Cyborg's mechanical half revolted and fired a massive energy beam at Orach. Wonder Woman, who was closest to Orach, swiftly jumped into action, defending him with her shield. The beam's blinding light filled the area, and for a moment, we could see nothing. The next thing I knew, Orach was releasing his own energy beam from his palm. The sight of anger on Orach's face filled us all with a bone-chilling terror. It was evident that he was on the brink of killing Cyborg. But then, we saw Wonder Woman, held aloft a foot's distance from the ground by Orach's tail. With her soothing words and calming aura, she was able to pacify him and brought the day's chaotic events to a peaceful resolution. We then huddled at Batman's base and had a get-to-know session with Orach. We were given an insight into his power levels and his Super Saiyan transformations. His hair and tail turned a radiant golden, his eyes changed to a bright green, and even the weather seemed to respond to his transformation. His transformations exponentially amplify his base power level. I'm just glad he wasn't an enemy. By the end of our lengthy discussions, it seemed clear that he might become our friend. Wonder Woman and Orach had become really close. They had a palpable chemistry, almost like they were a couple. Maybe it was love at first sight? I'm just glad Orach is now one of us. After the tumultuous invasion, we realized that we need to stand united against such massive threats. So, we are forming a team with other superheroes called the Justice League! We will announce the formation of our team to the world once we agree on a charter that all of us will abide by." Barry finally finished recounting the eventful and chaotic days during the war, his voice hoarse from the lengthy narration.

Cisco, his voice filled with despair, cried out, "NOOOOOOO! My Goddess fell in love with another! Why God, Why!"

Caitlin, with an amused smirk, rolled her eyes at Cisco's dramatics, "As if she would have even considered going out with you! Like you said, she is a goddess and you are a mere mortal!"

Cisco, with a huff, grumbled, "Hmph! It could happen!"

Barry, with a serious expression, warned, "Cisco, take my advice. Bury those feelings for Wonder Woman deep within and never let them show up, especially if you meet Orach in the future. I won't be able to save you!"

Cisco, taken aback by Barry's serious tone, stuttered, "Huh? He won't kill me, right?"

Barry, his gaze unwavering, replied, "He just might! He made it abundantly clear that he is not a hero, Cisco. He is a warrior, and he doesn't hesitate to go for the kill."

An audible gulp echoed from Cisco who then said, with newfound conviction, "Science is my one true love!"

Once again, Caitlin rolled her eyes at Cisco's exaggerated antics.

Just then a figure rolled into the bustling control center, his wheelchair squeaking slightly on the polished floor. "Barry, it seems you've had quite the eventful day, haven't you?" the figure in the wheelchair mused.

"Ah! Dr. Wells! I was just in the middle of regaling them with the day's extraordinary events," Barry responded, a hint of excitement still lingering in his voice.

Dr. Wells let out a soft chuckle, "Yes, I heard it all. A stranger from an alternate dimension, no less! If what he claims is indeed true, his very existence could alter our understanding of reality. Quite paradigm-shifting, wouldn't you agree?"

"You can say that again!" Barry exclaimed, his eyes shining with the thrill of their new discovery.

"Regardless, Mr. Allen, you've undoubtedly had a whirlwind of a day, to put it mildly. I suggest you head home, nourish yourself, and get a good night's sleep. I heard Joe has already submitted a sick leave request on your behalf at the police department."

Barry laughed, "Haha! I can only imagine Captain Singh's reaction to that! But you're right, Dr. Wells, I am pretty beat. I think I'll grab some pizzas on my way home and call it a night. See everyone tomorrow!" With that, Barry zoomed away, leaving behind a trail of yellow lightning streaks.

"Caitlin, who had been silent until then, suddenly shouted, "WAIT BARRY! I need to run some more checks!" But her words fell on deaf ears, making her stomp her foot in frustration.

As the night wore on, the lab hummed with activity. Cisco and Caitlin got engrossed in their work, while Dr. Wells maneuvered his wheelchair through the labyrinthine corridors until he reached a nondescript section of the wall. He laid his hand on the wall, activating a hidden mechanism that slowly revealed a concealed chamber. Dr. Wells rolled inside, and the wall seamlessly sealed behind him.

Inside the secret chamber, Dr. Wells, who everyone believed was bound to his wheelchair, effortlessly stood up and walked towards a sleek, futuristic terminal at the far end of the room. He hovered over the central control panel, and a holographic projection of a woman's silhouette materialized before him.

"Good day, Dr. Wells."

"I wish it were, Gideon. Show me any record or reference to an individual named Orach. I don't recall encountering any hero by that name in the archives," Dr. Wells instructed, his voice laced with seriousness.

"Certainly, Dr. Wells! Allow me a moment to scan the database," Gideon responded.

"Take all the time you need," Dr. Wells reassured her.

After a brief moment, Gideon announced, "No reference found, Dr. Wells."

"What?" Dr. Wells exclaimed, taken aback. Without missing a beat, he ordered, "Gideon, show me the future !"

"Right away, Dr. Wells," Gideon affirmed.

As the image of the future manifested before him, Dr. Wells was visibly shaken. He gasped, "What... What is this? Why am I seeing this? What could have possibly changed to cause this?"