MOTHER TRUTH.

The low hum of the S.H.I.E.L.D. helicarrier filled the air as Wally sat in the small, sterile cell, his arms crossed tightly across his chest. His head still spun with the events of the day, his mind fixated on Pearl on how she was taken down and how she was now being treated in the medical room.

He could feel the weight of Fury's presence before the door to his cell even opened. The door slid open with a mechanical whirr, revealing Nick Fury standing in the doorway, his one good eye locking onto Wally. Fury stepped into the room, his posture commanding, though his voice remained calm.

Nick Fury: Do you know why you're here?

Wally's gaze didn't shift. His lips curled into a slight sneer as he leaned back against the wall of the cell. His body ached from the fight, but the pain wasn't enough to keep his temper in check. His eyes burned with frustration, and a hint of betrayal.

Wally: You want me like I'm your damn property, right? Like I'm some kind of weapon you can control. Is that it, Fury?

Fury's face didn't betray much emotion, though there was a flicker of something in his eyes. He took a slow step closer, standing at a distance just outside Wally's reach.

Nick Fury: No, not that.

Wally raised an eyebrow, his arms still folded across his chest. His gaze was defiant, daring Fury to explain.

Wally: Then what? You think I'm just gonna play nice? You think you can just lock me up and keep me in a cage like some animal?

Fury didn't respond immediately. Instead, he paced for a moment, his boots clicking softly on the floor of the cell. Finally, he stopped and turned to face Wally again, his tone sharp but controlled.

Nick Fury: I don't need you to "play nice." I need you to understand something, West. This isn't about control. This is about keeping people safe, especially the people you care about. Like that little girl in the other room.

Wally stiffened at the mention of Pearl. His eyes briefly flashed with something close to panic before he forced himself to look Fury in the eye again.

Wally: What did you do to her?

Nick Fury's voice remained steady, though there was an edge of something unspoken in his words.

Nick Fury: She's being treated by our best medical staff. Linda Carter is a night nurse, she'll take care of her.

Wally's fists clenched involuntarily, his frustration simmering just beneath the surface. Fury noticed the change in him but didn't flinch.

Nick Fury: Listen, West. I get it. You've got a lot of anger. But you're not the only one who's been hurt. You think you're the only one with a past?

Wally's breath hitched for a moment, his gaze flickering with a hint of uncertainty. Fury wasn't wrong. There was so much Wally didn't know about his own powers, his family, and now about the people around him. But none of that mattered if it meant he couldn't protect Pearl.

Wally: You've got a point. But I don't owe you anything. And if anything happens to her…

Nick Fury stepped closer again, his voice quiet but firm.

Nick Fury: Nothing's going to happen to her. But you're going to have to work with us, Wally. You're going to have to trust us.

Wally's jaw tightened. He wanted to snap back with a harsh response, but the words caught in his throat. The situation was complicated. He couldn't deny that. But trust? That was another story entirely.

Wally: I don't know if I can trust you. I've seen what S.H.I.E.L.D. does to people, Fury. I'm not stupid.

Nick Fury gave a low chuckle, shaking his head.

Nick Fury: You're not stupid, that's for sure. But listen, I know you've been through a lot. And I'm not asking for blind trust. I'm asking you to help us prevent something worse from happening. You think you can handle that?

Wally's eyes narrowed, his hands tightening into fists again. He wasn't sure what Fury was really asking of him, but the tension was palpable. Fury, though, didn't back down. He just kept his steady gaze locked on Wally.

Nick Fury: If you can work with us, I'll get you what you want. For you, and for the people you care about.

Wally said nothing, his mind racing, heart thumping in his chest. Fury's words felt like an offer, but could he really trust the man who had locked him up like this? Could he trust anyone, knowing how things had gone so wrong before?

The silence in the cell was heavy, Wally's thoughts running in circles, as Fury let the moment stretch.

Nick Fury: Think it over, kid. I'll be back in a while. But just know... time's running out.

Wally: I want to know why you want me or my mother. It's like you think you own her a debt or something...

Nick Fury didn't immediately respond. He simply stood there, his arms crossed as he considered his next words carefully. The weight of the past seemed to hang heavy in the air. He let out a quiet sigh before speaking.

Nick Fury: It's not that simple, West.

Wally's eyes narrowed as he walked up to the bars of the cell. His voice was filled with frustration and anger.

Wally: Then what is it, Fury? I'm not some puppet you can control. You better start talking because I'm done playing games.

Nick Fury glanced around the room, almost as if he was making sure no one else could hear them. After a brief pause, he spoke again, his tone less harsh, but still serious.

Nick Fury: Your mother... she wasn't just a regular agent. She was a spy. A Hydra agent working within S.H.I.E.L.D. long before you were born.

Wally froze, his eyes going wide in shock. His mind couldn't process what Fury had just said. It took a moment for him to speak again, his voice laced with disbelief.

Wally: What the hell is Hydra?

Nick Fury took a step closer to the bars, his face serious as he prepared to explain. He could see the confusion in Wally's eyes, but this was the only way to make him understand the full scope of what was happening.

Nick Fury: Hydra is a secret, extremist organization with its roots in Nazi ideology. They've infiltrated governments, agencies everything. They believe in world domination. They've been a threat to S.H.I.E.L.D. and the world for decades.

Wally felt a knot twist in his stomach. Hydra. The name sounded like something straight out of a nightmare. He tried to process the weight of Fury's words, but it felt like everything was crumbling around him. He took a step back, hands shaking with emotion.

Wally: So, my mother... she was working for them?

Nick Fury: Yes. She was part of their infiltration into S.H.I.E.L.D. She stole something valuable something that belonged to S.H.I.E.L.D. before you were even born. And now, we need to make sure that what she took doesn't fall into the wrong hands. That's why we're here, Wally.

Wally's fists clenched at his sides. His mother a traitor to S.H.I.E.L.D.? To everything he believed in? The weight of the betrayal hit him like a freight train, and his anger flared uncontrollably.

Wally: And you want me to pay for what my mother did?

Nick Fury didn't flinch. He knew this conversation wasn't going to be easy, but it was the only way to get through to Wally.

Nick Fury: I don't want you to pay for what she did. But you have something she left behind something we need. And I need your help to get it back.

Wally's heart raced as he stepped forward, his anger bubbling over. He slammed his fist against the metal bars of the cell, the sound echoing through the room.

Wally: You think you can just come in here, throw me in a cage, and demand that I clean up her mess? I'm not your damn tool, Fury! I'm not going to help you do your dirty work!

Nick Fury's tone was calm but firm.

Nick Fury: You don't have a choice, West. If you want to keep your family safe, you'll help us. This isn't just about the past. This is about keeping the world from falling into the hands of people like Hydra.

Wally's breath quickened as the anger roared inside him. His vision blurred with fury as he shouted, his voice raw with emotion.

Wally: Fuck you, Fury!! I won't help you! You can't just throw me in here and expect me to do what you say!

Fury stood silent for a moment, letting Wally's outburst echo in the room. There was a heaviness in the air as the young man struggled with the weight of everything Fury had just revealed. But Fury knew one thing for sure Wally wouldn't be able to escape the reality of his mother's past forever.

Nick Fury: You'll come around, West. You don't have a choice in the matter.

Wally glared at Fury, his hands trembling as his mind raced. His heart was torn torn between loyalty to his mother and the harsh truth that Fury had just laid out in front of him.

As Fury turned to leave, Wally's voice called out one last time.

Wally: Don't think this is over. It's far from it.

Nick Fury paused at the door, his back to Wally as he spoke without turning around.

Nick Fury: I'm not worried, kid. This is just the beginning.

Wally: Fine! Just tell me what the hell my mother stole from this stupid team or whatever!

Nick Fury stood still for a moment, staring through the bars of the cell. He wasn't surprised by Wally's outburst. It was only a matter of time before the young man would have to face the reality of the situation. Fury took a deep breath, and his voice was steady but heavy with meaning.

Nick Fury: Chemicals. Various varieties and amounts. Different compounds...

Wally's mind snapped back to the memory of his lab, the chaos that had unfolded there. The lightning. The explosion. Everything that happened nine months ago. He stopped pacing, his thoughts clicking into place. His eyes widened with realization as his voice trailed off, speaking the words in disbelief.

Wally: Wait...

He looked up at Fury, his face pale as the pieces finally fell into place. His stomach churned, and a cold sweat ran down his back as the truth hit him like a ton of bricks.

Wally: The chemicals... they were destroyed... in my lab. When the lightning hit me that night, knocking me out cold. The chemicals spilled everywhere, splattered on the floor, showered me with it...

Fury's face tightened as he realized what Wally was implying. He clenched his jaw, his eyes narrowing as he took a slow step forward. There was an unmistakable look of fury in his eyes something Wally had never seen before from the usually composed agent. Fury's voice was low, dangerous.

Nick Fury: MOTHERFUCKER!

The sound of Fury's curse filled the room like a storm, cutting through the tension. Wally blinked, taken aback by the outburst. He could see the anger bubbling up in Fury, the frustration that was clear in his voice. Fury slammed his fist into the wall, the force of it reverberating through the cell.

Nick Fury: You're telling me that the chemicals the very thing we've been hunting for are the reason you're like this?

Wally's face twisted with guilt and confusion. The realization hit him like a freight train, and for the first time, he felt the weight of the truth crashing down on him. It wasn't just his mother's betrayal that had put them all in danger it was the night of the accident, the night he was hit by lightning, and everything that had come after. It had never been just about the chemicals his mother had stolen it was about the explosion in the lab, the lightning that fused his body with the chemicals, and the consequences that followed.

Wally: I didn't know... I didn't know it was this serious. I swear, Fury... I had no idea that was what she was doing. I didn't even know what the chemicals were...

Fury ran a hand over his face, letting out a frustrated breath. His mind was racing. He had been so close he had hoped that Wally might be able to help them track down the stolen materials, but now it seemed like the one thing they had been searching for had been destroyed in the lab that night. Fury gritted his teeth, fighting the urge to lash out again.

Nick Fury: Do you know what you've just done, kid?

Wally's eyes darkened, his frustration flaring once more.

Wally: I didn't do anything! I just... I just got caught up in something I didn't understand!

Fury gave him a hard look, his voice unwavering.

Nick Fury: You've got no idea what kind of havoc those chemicals could cause. Hydra would've been able to use them to fuel their plans, their weapons, everything. And now, because of your mother's actions, and your freak accident, we don't have those chemicals. And we're left dealing with the consequences.

Wally was silent for a long moment, staring at the ground, feeling the weight of Fury's words. The guilt gnawed at him. He didn't want to believe it, but deep down, he knew that his accident the lightning that had transformed him had tied everything together in a way he could never have anticipated.

Wally: So, now what? You want me to help you clean up your mess, Fury? Is that it?

Fury shook his head, a bitter laugh escaping him.

Nick Fury: It's not that simple. We've already got agents on the ground trying to recover what we can. But you you're part of this now. Whether you like it or not. And until we get what we need, until we can make sure that what you've got inside you doesn't fall into the wrong hands, you're not going anywhere.*

Wally stood there, his fists clenched, his heart pounding in his chest. He wanted to argue, wanted to fight back, but for the first time, he realized the gravity of the situation. There was no easy way out of this one. The accident, the chemicals, his powers it all tied together in a way that he never saw coming.

Wally: I never asked for any of this...

Nick Fury didn't respond. He just looked at Wally with a stern expression before turning to walk away.

Nick Fury: I know. But that doesn't change a thing.

Wally: Hold up! You're just gonna leave me here like this?

Fury paused, his back still facing Wally. He didn't need to turn around to know the look on the young speedster's face. The frustration was palpable. Wally had every right to be upset, but Fury wasn't in the mood for a tantrum. Still, there was a certain urgency to his voice when Wally spoke again, his words cutting through the air like a knife.

Wally: You better explain something else to me, Fury. Why the hell did you let that guy— the one with the weather powers—escape?

Fury stood still for a moment, his hand on the doorframe. He let out a deep sigh, knowing this conversation wasn't going to be easy. He finally turned, facing Wally, his eyes cold but not without a hint of regret.

Nick Fury: You mean Marco Mardon.

Wally's eyes narrowed. He wasn't sure if he had heard the name before, but he could feel the weight in Fury's tone. There was history here—something Fury wasn't eager to discuss. Wally's impatience was growing, but Fury didn't seem to care.

Nick Fury: Marco Mardon was one of the best pilots S.H.I.E.L.D. ever had. No one could fly a plane like him. He was top of his class. Smooth, calculating, and deadly when he needed to be.

Wally: A pilot? What does that have to do with anything?

Fury's face hardened as he walked back toward Wally's cell, his voice low but deliberate.

Nick Fury: It has everything to do with it, kid. Mardon was an asset. But something went wrong. Something happened during a mission. We lost contact, and by the time we tracked him down, he had disappeared. And then...

Fury paused, letting the silence hang in the air before he continued.

Nick Fury: He turned. Somewhere along the way, he lost it became obsessed with his own power. The storm powers you saw? That's him. He can control the weather summon winds, lightning, storms, all of it. What makes him dangerous isn't just the weather. It's the fact that he knows how to use it. He's a tactician at heart, always thinking five steps ahead.

Wally was silent for a moment, processing what Fury had just said. A pilot turned rogue weather-wielding force. The concept was hard to wrap his head around, but Fury's expression made it clear that this was no small matter.

Wally: So, what? You let him escape?

Fury's gaze flickered toward the ground before meeting Wally's eyes again. His voice grew softer, more serious.

Nick Fury: We didn't let him escape. We underestimated him. He knew how to vanish, how to slip through the cracks. And now, with his powers, he's a damn ghost in a storm.

Wally could feel his temper rising again. This wasn't just about Mardon. It was about everything—the chemicals, his mother, the storm that had been unleashed on his life. Fury's words only added fuel to the fire.

Wally: So you're telling me this guy is out there somewhere, and you couldn't catch him because he's got a weather manipulation power and some kind of flight skills? You're supposed to be the world's most elite team, and you let that happen?

Fury took a slow breath, the frustration evident on his face, but he didn't flinch under Wally's words. This wasn't new to him. He'd dealt with worse. But he could sense Wally's genuine concern.

Nick Fury: It's not as simple as you think. You don't just stop a man who controls the weather. The storm he creates can destroy entire cities. We're dealing with someone who's willing to level everything in his path to get what he wants.

Wally's eyes flashed with anger. His own emotions were running high, and he wasn't about to let Fury off the hook that easily.

Wally: So, what's the plan then? Wait until he destroys something else?

Fury didn't answer immediately. He leaned against the wall, his expression hardening again. He could feel the weight of the situation pressing down on him.

Nick Fury: We're already tracking him. We're working on it. But Mardon isn't the only one we need to worry about, Wally. There's more at play here. The Hydra involvement, your mother's betrayal it's all connected. We need you to focus on the bigger picture.

Wally scoffed, shaking his head in disbelief.

Wally: Yeah, well, that's easy for you to say when you're the one sitting on your high horse, giving orders. But I'm the one stuck here, trying to make sense of everything that's going on!

Fury didn't flinch. He had been through far worse situations than this. He knew how to handle a rebellious agent, but Wally was different. He was a wildcard. And as much as Fury hated to admit it, Wally's powers could help. But it wasn't just about the powers it was about understanding the bigger game they were all playing.

Nick Fury: I get it, Wally. I do. But right now, the only thing we can do is keep Mardon off the radar. He's not going to stop, not until he gets what he wants.

Wally's jaw clenched. He didn't want to be anyone's pawn, but the pieces were starting to fall into place. His mother's involvement, the stolen chemicals, the storm that seemed to follow him, and now this pilot-turned-monster. It was a web of lies, betrayal, and power plays and Wally was stuck in the middle of it all.

Wally: Fine. But if you're really going to use me, Fury, you better be prepared for what comes next.

Wally: Alright, Fury. I've got a proposal for you.

Fury, who had been standing by the door, turned slightly, his sharp gaze never leaving Wally. There was something about the young speedster that Fury couldn't quite figure out. His powers, his personality it was a dangerous combination. But Fury had dealt with worse.

Nick Fury: I'm listening.

Wally stopped pacing and faced Fury directly, his eyes burning with determination.

Wally: If I catch Marco Mardon if I bring him back to you then you'll let me go. No more cells, no more chains, just freedom. You want your rogue weather guy? Fine. I'll do it. But you let me go when it's done.

Fury's expression remained unreadable, but his mind was turning. It was a risky proposition, but Wally had a point. Mardon was a threat, and Fury wasn't about to let that man slip through their fingers again. But Fury was also not a man to make deals lightly.

Nick Fury: And why would I trust you to actually bring him back? You could just run, vanish with him, and make things worse.

Wally's lips curled into a smirk. He didn't need to explain himself further. Fury already knew the stakes, just like Wally did. They both understood the game they were playing.

Wally: Because you don't have anyone else who can catch him. I can get to Mardon before he does any more damage. You know what I'm capable of, Fury.

Fury considered Wally's words carefully. He was stuck between a rock and a hard place. On the one hand, Wally's powers made him the best shot at catching Mardon. On the other, trusting someone like him someone who clearly resented being in their custody was a risk. But at this point, it was a risk Fury had no choice but to take.

Nick Fury: Alright. You catch Mardon, and we'll let you go. But don't think for a second I won't be watching you. One wrong move, and it's back in the cell, and this time I won't be so generous.

Wally grinned, relief flashing across his face. The deal was set. But there was a catch. Fury was never one to make a promise without conditions.

Wally: Fine. But you better make sure your guys keep their hands off me after this. No more cages, no more "deals."

Fury's lips twitched slightly, though he quickly composed himself.

Nick Fury: You'll get your freedom, West. Just don't make me regret this.

With that, Fury turned and began to walk towards the door. But before he left, Wally called out one last time, his tone almost mocking but still laced with a hint of seriousness.

Wally: And just so we're clear, Fury… you better keep your word. I'm not the kind of guy who likes being locked up, and if you think you can control me forever, you've got another thing coming.

Fury paused for a moment, but didn't turn back. He knew Wally wasn't bluffing. The speedster's power was unmatched, and if he was given the chance, he would do everything he could to get out. Fury didn't reply, but his expression said it all. The game had just changed.

Nick Fury stood with his arms crossed, staring at Wally through the bars of the cell. The tension in the room was thick, the weight of their conversation still hanging in the air like a storm cloud ready to burst. Fury's sharp gaze never wavered, and as he finally broke the silence, his voice was cold and direct.

Nick Fury: Do you have any suit?

Wally blinked, clearly caught off guard by the question. He'd been expecting more interrogation, more pressure. Instead, Fury was acting like they were just discussing logistics.

Wally: Well, I have a red suit that Storm gave me...

Fury raised an eyebrow at that, clearly unimpressed but intrigued. He stepped forward, his hand hovering near the door of the cell as it slid open. Wally stepped out of the cell, his expression a mix of defiance and uncertainty. He wasn't sure if he was ready to work for Fury, but one thing was clear: he wasn't going to just sit around while his world fell apart.

Nick Fury: Codename?

Wally rubbed the back of his neck, thinking for a second. He didn't really have a codename before all this madness, but given the situation, he guessed now might be as good a time as any to pick one. He looked at Fury and gave a small grin, trying to act casual.

Wally: "Red Runner."

There was a long pause. Fury stared at Wally like he had just told him he was going to change the world. But the silence wasn't filled with admiration. It was filled with something else disappointment.

Nick Fury: That's the worst and trashiest codename I've ever heard in my life.

NEXT ISSUE: FIRST STEP/FIRST MISSION