Chapter 24: Tricksters
Chapter 24: Tricksters
The timeline was back on track, or at least, the version of it where Cisco was still breathing. My internal anxiety, however, was a constant low hum. Every time Wells looked at me, I felt a phantom chill, remembering his true face. Every time Cisco laughed, I saw the ghost of his death. It was exhausting, trying to maintain normalcy while living in a personal horror movie.
"Okay, Adam. New week, new villain. And this time, it's clowns. Literally. The Tricksters. Because life just loves to throw me a curveball shaped like a giant exploding teddy bear. At least it's not time travel again. My brain can only handle so many paradoxes before it starts speaking in binary."
James Jesse, the original Trickster, had escaped Iron Heights, and he had a protégé: Axel Walker, the new Trickster. Their methods were chaotic, theatrical, and filled with deadly traps and explosives.
"They're hitting public places," Cisco explained, pointing at a map of Central City. "Setting up bombs. And they're sending cryptic messages to the police."
"They're putting on a show," I stated, my voice grim. "They want attention. They want chaos. And they love their explosives. We need to anticipate their next move. Where's the grand finale? Where's the biggest audience?" I subtly hinted at the location of the next bomb. "And we need to be careful. They're all about misdirection. Every distraction is a trap."
I also knew Henry Allen, Barry's father, was a potential target, or at least, a key emotional component in this episode. I subtly suggested to Joe that Henry should be kept safe, perhaps at S.T.A.R. Labs, away from the chaos. Joe, ever protective, agreed.
The Tricksters' attacks were a whirlwind of explosions, red herrings, and taunting messages. Barry was constantly on the move, defusing bombs, chasing down leads.
During one particularly chaotic attack at a crowded shopping mall, Axel Walker, the younger Trickster, unleashed a barrage of small, spherical bombs, designed to cause maximum panic and collateral damage. I was helping civilians evacuate, when one of the bombs, a brightly colored orb, rolled directly towards me.
[IMMINENT THREAT DETECTED. EXPLOSIVE FORCE. FRAGMENTATION. INSUFFICIENT BLAST RESISTANCE.]
[ADAPTATION: ENHANCED BLAST RESISTANCE. DOUBLING THREAT'S EXPLOSIVE FORCE. ACTIVE.]
A familiar, electric surge coursed through me, but this time, it was a profound density, a feeling of being impossibly solid. The bomb exploded with a deafening BOOM! that rocked the mall. I was directly in the blast radius, engulfed in a flash of fire and shrapnel. I felt the immense concussive force, the searing heat, the sharp impact of debris, but no pain. No broken bones. Just a violent shove that sent me flying backwards, slamming into a display case with a loud CRACK!
"Well, that was rude. And loud. And surprisingly effective. My ears are ringing, but at least I'm not a pile of dust! Take that, Axel, you poor man's Joker wannabe! My body is officially explosion-proof! Mostly."
I lay there for a moment, dazed, covered in soot and shattered glass, but otherwise unharmed. The display case behind me was obliterated, but I was intact.
[ADAPT SYSTEM: DEACTIVATED. SIGNIFICANT STAMINA DRAIN. RECOVERY INITIATED.]
The incredible density drained from me, leaving me weak and trembling. My limbs felt heavy, and my head throbbed.
Caitlin was by my side in an instant, her face pale with worry. She immediately began scanning me, muttering. "Adam! Oh my God! You were right in the middle of that! How are you not… disintegrated?!"
"Just… really, really good at surviving explosions, Doc," I wheezed, trying to force a smile. "Turns out, I'm a human blast shield. Who knew?"
Joe West arrived then, his eyes wide as he looked at the shattered display case, then at me. His detective instincts were clearly piqued. He'd seen me survive the wind, the cold, the energy drain, and now an explosion.
"Adam," Joe said, his voice low, a hint of suspicion in his tone. "You've got a knack for walking away from things that should kill you. What exactly are you?"
Crap. Joe's on to me. Or at least, on to the 'something's weird with Adam' part. Time for some classic deflection.
"Just lucky, Joe," I said, forcing a casual shrug. "Born under a lucky star, I guess. Or maybe I just have a very stubborn guardian angel. Who occasionally likes to throw me into explosions. It's a weird relationship."
Joe just stared at me, a thoughtful, almost disbelieving expression on his face. He didn't press, but I knew he wasn't buying it. The questions were piling up, and sooner or later, I'd have to give them some answers. Or at least, better lies.
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