6 Chapter 6: Patrolling
"You can patent it," Dr. Wells granted approval.
"But we collaborated on this. Let me credit you in the paper, at least," Cisco insisted, feeling a pang of guilt over claiming sole credit.
"It's fine, Cisco," Dr. Wells assured him.
Barry's arrival in the cortex prompted a release of tension, and he exhaled deeply. "That was something."
"Did you deliver him to the CCPD?" Caitlin inquired.
"Yeah, and I briefed them on the situation," Barry confirmed. "I'm heading home now. I'm exhausted from all the running around."
"Already? You've only made a few trips. Why so tired?" Cisco questioned, puzzled.
"Well, I also trained in the deep forest," Barry explained.
"Ah, that makes sense. Take care, Barry," Cisco said, offering his fist for a bump.
Barry reciprocated the gesture before departing Star Labs, intending to unwind by gambling at a casino to bolster his funds.
Although fatigued, Barry managed to visit only two casinos that night, amassing a total of around $820,000,000.
After the taxing evening, he returned home, craving a restful night's sleep.
As events unfolded, Dr. Wells retreated to the secret room, known as the Time Vault, where he stood in solemn contemplation before the future newspaper.
"Barry dies saving the Earth," Dr. Wells murmured grimly.
The dire headline foretold a tragic fate, set to occur within the next two years, on January 1, 2016.
"I must make him faster," Dr. Wells resolved, recognizing the urgency of the situation.
The Next Day,
Barry awoke feeling refreshed, stretching his limbs before taking a brisk cold shower. Energized, he left his home and made his way straight to Star Labs.
Upon arrival, he donned his hero suit, catching Dr. Wells's attention. "Off to do some hero work, Barry?" the scientist remarked.
"Yeah. Any issues, Dr. Wells?" Barry inquired.
"No, just wishing you luck," Dr. Wells replied casually.
Barry flashed a thumbs-up before donning his mask and darting off into the city.
He scoured the streets for signs of crime, thwarting a few pickpockets along the way by swiftly disabling them. However, larger crimes seemed elusive until he stumbled upon a school shooting. Barry swiftly neutralized the threat, confiscating the weapons and instructing the teachers to hand them over to the police.
Continuing his patrol, Barry soon found himself the subject of a news report discussing his vigilantism. The reporter described him as The Flash, highlighting his efforts to warn potential criminals and his acts of heroism.
With a smile, Barry resumed his rounds, alternating between saving citizens and honing his speed. He also took breaks to refuel with food and drink from local vendors.
His efforts served three purposes: preventing citywide destruction, improving his speed, and experiencing the satisfaction of aiding others.
After four intense hours, Barry returned to Star Labs and collapsed onto a bed, exhausted from his exertions. Though he had accomplished little in terms of lab work during his brief visit, he had contributed significantly to the safety of the city.
Cisco arrived later and, upon seeing Barry, turned to Dr. Wells. "What's up with him?"
"He's been running around the city for hours. Now he's catching up on some rest," Dr. Wells explained.
"Sounds like Barry," Cisco remarked with a chuckle. "Any progress on finding other meta-humans, Dr. Wells?"
"Not yet," Dr. Wells replied.
Meanwhile, Caitlin, having checked on Barry upon his return to Star Labs, returned to her book, content that all was well.
Barry awoke with boundless energy. "Yosh, I can keep going," he exclaimed.
Getting out of bed, Barry announced to the group, "Guys, I'm heading out."
"Before you go, Barry, give me your phone," Cisco requested.
Handing over his phone, Barry watched as Cisco swiftly installed an app. "This app will alert you to any crimes happening in the area," Cisco explained, returning the phone to Barry.
"Fantastic, thanks," Barry said before departing Star Labs.
As he made his way out, Barry contemplated his need to enhance his combat skills. 'I need to learn some martial arts. There's no way I can defeat someone faster than me,' he thought to himself. Considering his options, he decided to enroll in both boxing and Taekwondo classes, choosing the two disciplines closest to his home.
After registering for the classes, Barry decided to try his luck at the casino. To his surprise, he managed to amass a staggering $1,200,000,000 in winnings.
Exiting the casino, Barry noticed several individuals tailing him. Feeling fatigued from dealing with such situations, he swiftly evaded them using his speed, leaving them baffled by his sudden disappearance.
"Boss, he vanished," one of the men in pursuit reported via ear comms.
"Vanished?" the voice on the other end queried.
"He's onto us. He must have noticed our presence," the man responded.
With a sigh, the voice instructed, "Catch him next time he's at the casino."
"Roger that, boss," the man acknowledged.
Meanwhile, Barry had already returned home, where he promptly retired for the night, seeking much-needed rest.
The Following Day,
Barry rose at 6 am, glancing at his phone. "Let's squeeze in an hour of patrolling before boxing class," he decided.
Donning his suit, Barry embarked on his patrol, swiftly intervening in various crimes such as robberies, assaults, and aiding those in need until the hour was up.
Returning to civilian attire, Barry headed to the boxing gym for his martial arts lesson. Upon arrival, the coach assessed Barry's physique, noting his average fitness level.
Starting with conditioning, Barry embarked on several rounds of running, impressing the coach with his endurance and lack of complaints throughout the rigorous exercise.
Transitioning to strength training, the coach targeted Barry's core with weighted ball exercises, followed by an hour-long session of relentless jabbing at the punching bag.
Upon completing the day's training regimen, Barry approached the coach, seeking guidance for the next steps.
After a brief deliberation, the coach decided to call it a day, instructing Barry to rest and return the following day.
Acknowledging the directive, Barry bid the coach farewell before making his way back to Star Labs, where he purchased tacos for himself and his colleagues.
Distributing the tacos, Barry settled at a table near the wall, bringing along a selection of books from the gadget room, including works by Lex Luthor, Ted Kord, and Michael Holt.
Balancing his meal and reading material, Barry immersed himself in the texts, rotating through them as he savored each bite of his meal.
"You eat a lot, Barry," Cisco commented over his coffee.
"Yeah, I need the protein and energy," Barry replied between bites.
"Hmm, but how's the book? You've been reading it multiple times," Cisco inquired.
"It's really good," Barry replied.
"What's your take on it?" Cisco pressed.
"I don't really have much to say. The authors are way smarter than me," Barry admitted.
"Yeah, one of them is the smartest man with a trillion-dollar company, another is a professor with a million-dollar company, and the third has 14 PhDs. They're on another level," Cisco remarked.
Barry disposed of his food wrappers and returned to his seat. "I'm going to do some hero work first. See you guys," he said, donning his suit before heading out for his patrol.
As he traversed the city, Barry couldn't help but lament the ongoing crime. 'I hope people start committing fewer crimes, but I bet they'll be at it again come nightfall,' he muttered to himself.
His prediction proved accurate when he spotted a man snatching a bag from an innocent bystander while on a motorcycle. Acting swiftly, Barry disabled the motorcycle by puncturing its tires and then stood in front of it, bringing the crime to a halt.
"Can't you find another way to make money? Like be an Uber driver or something?" Barry asked the man sternly.
"You!" The man attempted to draw his gun, but Barry swiftly immobilized his wrist, applying pressure.
"Fight back or I'll break your hand," Barry warned with a smile.
The man winced in pain and relented, "Okay, okay, I understand."
"Now promise me you'll find a better job," Barry demanded.
"Okay, okay, please let go of my hand," the man pleaded.
"If I don't want to, what will you do?" Barry challenged.
The man stuttered, at a loss for words.
"You get it now. If I catch you doing this again, I'll beat the shit out of you," Barry warned. "But you will still face the consequences regardless"
Confused, the man mumbled a response.
Barry swiftly jabbed him on the chin, rendering him unconscious, and caught him before he hit the ground.
He then returned the stolen bag and the perpetrator to the victim. "Have you called the police yet?" Barry inquired.
"Y-yes, I have," the person stammered, taken aback by Barry's sudden intervention.
"Great, here's the guy," Barry said, handing over the culprit. "Next time, fight back. Don't be a pushover or you won't impress anyone."
With that, Barry tapped the person's chest and resumed his patrol around the city.
