The Calm before the Storm

Capt. Singh stands in front of CCPD with a crowd of reporters before him, waving at them to all get quiet he addresses the crowd. "Ladies and gentlemen, we understand the concern and fear stemming from recent events. It's important for you to know that the police force, in conjunction with the new hero, Astrape, is fully devoted to handling the current situation. Rest assured, we are doing everything within our power to mitigate any potential risks and maintain the safety of our community. Your trust and cooperation are invaluable as we work to address these challenges together."

"Excuse me, Captain Singh, who exactly is this new figure, Astrape? What role is he playing in our city's safety efforts?" A reporter calls out.

"Astrape is the blur seen around our city, and he is determined to protect and help those in need. He has displayed extraordinary abilities and has taken it upon himself to aid law enforcement in maintaining safety within our community. We recognize the impact he's made and are working in collaboration to ensure the well-being of our citizens."

Another reporter jumped in asking, "What is the plan to stop the Trickster and ensure the safety of the city? Can you provide details on the next steps the authorities are taking in addressing this ongoing threat?"

" We believe that the original Trickster is assisting the knew Trickster in his plans and have decided to move him from Iron Heights to Blackgate Penitentiary. While doing this, we believe we can prevent any more communication between the two. No further questions." Capt. Singh answered, before turning around and heading inside.

Once inside he was greeted by the vibrating form of Astrape. "Why wasn't the date of transfer made public?"

Captain Singh was momentarily surprised to see Astrape standing suddenly in front of him, his sudden appearance catching the captain off guard. Shaking his head, "Direct release of such information violates policy, but we are planning to have the date and time leaked by one of the prison guards."

Astrape inquired, "When is the transfer of Trickster Sr. scheduled then?"

"In two days at noon," Captain Singh responded, his voice carrying a tone of urgency. "We are moving as fast as possible. The Trickster killed a lot of people with that bomb so we have full support moving forward."

"I'll be around." Astrape nodded, "Don't worry I'll make sure to be watch the transport, until then." Before he was gone in a blast of wind.

During the next two days leading to the grand finale, there wasn't much for Astrape to do in terms of major crises. His visibility served as a source of comfort for many, offering reassurance and a sense of security to the citizens. The news breaking that Trickster Sr. was being transported only two days after the announcement surprised people, but at the end of the day they realized it was because those in power were scared and wanted this fix as soon as possible.

The day before the transfer, after running through the city looking for people he could, Jonathan sat in his apartment. Thinking on what he needed to do. He was seriously considering running barefooted as in the week he had been active he had already destroyed serveral pairs of shoes.

"If I keep burning through shoes," Jonathan thought, "I'll have to buy stock in a shoe company." Then he remembered Cisco's friction-proof suit, a proto-type suit, meant for firefighters, that was intended to hopefully generate some forgiveness for the accident they had caused. "That suit," he mused, "could solve all my issues." The memory of the suit's capabilities, offering protection for his wallet. "I'll snatch it tonight." He thought to himself.

Later that night, Jonathan ran through the deserted city streets. The night was quiet, as quiet as a city could be. His breath fogged in the cool air, and with each block, he felt the familiar rub of his shoes wearing thin. He winced slightly with every footfall, anticipating the moment when the soles would finally give out.

Determined, Jonathan made his way to S.T.A.R. Labs, the practicalities of his mission firm in his mind. The suit he needed would be there—something capable of enduring without the wear and tear that his nightly activities demanded.

When Jonathan reached S.T.A.R. Labs, it was a blur. He slipped through the entrance with a speed that rendered any security measures nearly moot; cameras could only capture the briefest glimpse of his form.

Moving through the dimly lit hallways of S.T.A.R. Labs, his focus was singular: locate the suit that would let him run without ruin. It was an unfamiliar scenario—taking something that didn't belong to him—but with each destroyed pair of shoes, Jonathan was reminded that being a hero wasn't just about speed; it was about endurance. Tonight, he hoped to secure both.

Room by room, Jonathan zigzagged at blinding speeds. He was an blur, a flurry of barely-there vibrations disrupting papers and ruffling the occasional lab coat left hanging on a chair. Each space he searched was scoured, pulled apart and put back together, before moving on to the next.

He felt a twinge of guilt — this wasn't typically how heroes operated. But the needs of his double life called for drastic measures. He reconciled his actions with the knowledge that this suit could save him time and resources, which he could then redirect towards helping those in need.

Jonathan's search came to a halt in what appeared to be Cisco's workshop, a room aglow with the soft, ambient lighting that draped over workbenches, cluttered with toys, as cisco would call them, in various stages of construction. His eyes darted across the room, taking in the multiple variations of the suit laid out before him. Among them, a suit that caught the light just right, like it was made of gold—this was the one that stood out, beckoning.

With careful precision, a contrast to his frantic search, he picked up the golden suit. His fingers moved over the fabric, checking the seams, the lining, for any hidden compartments possible holding a tracking device. The task was crucial. It felt invasive, dismantling Cisco's work with such scrutiny, but it was necessary. In every pocket and under every seam, he searched with the meticulous focus that his super speed afforded, ensuring that when he donned the suit, he wouldn't be broadcasting to S.T.A.R. Labs, or god forbid the fake Dr. Wells, his location.

Once satisfied that the suit was clean, he gently folded it under his arm. Even holding it, he could tell it was different—this suit was perfect, made with materials he could feel were designed to endure the friction he could generate.

Exiting the workshop as quickly as he had entered, Jonathan disappeared from S.T.A.R. Labs. He moved back through the city, a blur barely visable against the night, racing home with his prize. His mind was already focused on the nights ahead, the faster response times,the lack of destroyed shoes, and a hero reborn in gold.

Once home, Jonathan swiftly got to work personalizing the friction-proof suit. With focused precision, he painted the chest, forearms, and "boots" white, adding his own touch to the sleek gold fabric. Taking a grey hue, he carefully adorned the chest with a lightning bolt, a nod to the future hero that he hoped to work next to one day, The Flash. Finally, he made a comfort adjustment, cutting off the top of the cowl to suit his style, allowing his short hair to remain free.

Once Jonathan was done he donned his new suit, standing in front of a mirror he felt ready. Especially now that he didn't have to worry about his shoes falling off mid run, and while Jonathan knew the suit would look better if it was made made to look this way instead of him painting it, it would have to do for now. His main thought was, though, that he looked badass and he couldn't help smirking.

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Shorter than the first two but i felt this was important. For any of you that are reading and not commenting, I'd like to know what you think.