Rocky Raymond //Book Seven//

Chapter 21 - Family Matters: Part 2

Next chapter up Wednesday February 15, 2023

MacKenzie's POV

"How are we supposed to keep people safe and stop Nora?" Chester poses the question we're all thinking

"CCPD's evacuating people downtown." Barry says. "Let's call Team Citizen, have them help get people to shelters. I'm gonna find Deon again before he does something he'll regret."

"Hey. What if he does kill the Speed Force?" Joe asks and we're all silent for a moment. "It could save lives."

"Joe, you know that's not an option." Barry says
"These are gods, Barr." Joe says. "We're ants to them. What are we supposed to do? Just pray that it all works out?"

"These forces exist because of me and Iris." Barry says. "I have to do everything I can to protect them."

"Well, at least you still can." Joe says before leaving the cortex

"Joe." Barry tries to stop him but he leaves

"Poor Joe." Cisco says. "First the job, now Cecile."

"I know, but right now I need you guys to stay focused on finding a way to restrain Nora." Barry says

"Restraining a Force of nature?" Chester says. "Barry, we've been putting our heads together. I just... I don't know if it's possible."

"It has to be." Barry says

"We're doing everything we can, I promise." Cisco says

"All right, well, call me if you have something." Barry tells him. "I'm gonna keep searching for Deon."

***

"I mean, an Einstein-Maxwell gravitational trap could hold Nora, but..." Cisco starts

"But the coils would need enough current to power Las Vegas." Chester says

"Exactly, so..." Cisco trails off as I stare at the board we were working on

Barry whooshes in. "Still no sign of Deon?" Chester asks

"No." Barry says. "And the storm's taken out more electrical grids. Please tell me you've got a plan."

"No actual plans yet." Chester says. "Just... theories."

"Barry, look. We've been racking our brains nonstop here." Cisco says. "You could give us weeks to solve this and we still might not know how to stop her."

"You're all in agreement on that?" Barry asks and then he looks past Cisco and Chester and over at me. "Mack? Talk to me, sweetie..."

"I...I don't know how we win this one." I say with tears in my eyes and a break in my voice

An alarm goes off and the place rumbles. "Kinetic isotopes." Chester says

"It's Nora. What do we do?" Cisco asks

"Only thing we can." Barry says before taking the device off his wrist and tossing it to Chester before speeding out

***

3rd Person POV

"You didn't bring them." Nora notes as Barry skids to a stop. "Do you want your world to end?"

"No." Barry says. "And neither do you. Nora, you and the other forces were created by something just as powerful as all this. The love that Iris and I have for each other. That love is a part of you. That means you're more than just a force of nature now. Our humanity is inside you too. So please stop."

"You still don't understand." Nora says as the skies rumble. "You feel that? That wasn't me. It never has been. That was a show of strength, Barry. Just like what happened to Cecile earlier."