A few days later.
A modified van set out from Gotham, traveling a long distance before arriving in Central City.
Gotham is in New Jersey on the East Coast, while Central City is located in a place similar to Los Angeles on the East Coast. The two cities are far apart. Flying would be faster, but in Nora's current condition, she couldn't handle being on a plane—changes in air pressure combined with the low temperature of the ice coffin could have dire consequences.
Moreover, Hardy's White Samurai wouldn't make it through train or airport security. Even if Hardy used chakra threads to assemble it into a large suitcase-like cube, the high explosives stored in the rocket launchers inside would still be detected by scanners.
"Oh, hey, Catherine, why are you answering the phone?"
On the street, Hardy sat in the passenger seat, watching the road ahead while talking on the phone. Beside him, a subordinate named Ang served as the driver.
Ang was one of the founding members of Hog United, skilled in car repair and modification. After a year of training with Aman and some retired officers, he'd become a competent fighter, proficient with most firearms and melee weapons.
Now that Hog United had grown, things were different from before. Aman and the accountant, both experienced and respected, needed to be present to keep things running smoothly when Hardy was away.
"Sorry, we're a bit busy at the moment."
Catherine held the phone between her shoulder and ear, tapping away at the keyboard as she sent their location to Cisco and the others.
"Everyone's busy? All right, I see—it's lively out there. Barry isn't around. Do you guys need any help?"
Hardy watched a strangely dressed, jewel-bedecked woman suddenly vanish from the street ahead, followed by a streak of yellow lightning. He spoke into the phone.
Shortly after Hardy had left Central City last time, Barry's battle with the villain Zoom had triggered a Speed Force storm.
To prevent the instability of the Speed Force from releasing massive amounts of energy and destroying Central City, Barry chose to enter the Speed Force alone. As its creator, he could stabilize the Speed Force by running endlessly inside it, generating more Speed Force energy as he ran.
In other words, Barry Allen was now trapped inside the Speed Force.
However, during that incident, Iris—
Wally West, Iris's younger brother, was also affected by the Speed Force and gained a portion of its power, transforming into Kid Flash and taking up the mantle of the Flash.
However, Kid Flash was still in his rookie phase and much slower than Barry had been.
"I don't think that's necessary. Wally will lure her into the trap Cisco set. Once she's in position, he'll use his vibra-powers to send her straight to the metahuman prison at S.T.A.R. Labs."
As Caitlin spoke, the teleporter was being chased by Wally onto a bridge in Central City.
The terrain here was narrow, and with the teleporter's ability, she could only teleport along the bridge.
Just as she arrived on the bridge, Cisco, who had been lying in wait, immobilized her with a vibra-blast.
With one hand, Cisco kept her restrained, and with the other, he opened a portal to S.T.A.R. Labs' metahuman prison. The moment he released his hold, Kid Flash tackled her into the portal before she could react, then used the Speed Force to shut the cell door and activate the power-dampening switch.
On the bridge, Cisco pressed his earpiece.
"Oh, oh, oh, I think I hear an old friend on my channel—Caitlin?"
"It's Walter. He wants to use our equipment to treat a patient."
"Where are they? Should I go pick them up?"
Caitlin immediately relayed Cisco's message to Hardy.
Hardy glanced at the building numbers on the street and gave the address, signaling Anger to stop the car.
Two seconds later, a blue, swirling portal appeared on the other side of the street, and Cisco stepped out.
"Hey! Buddy, long time no see!"
Seeing an old friend, Cisco looked genuinely happy.
"Yeah, it's been a few months."
Hardy shook hands with Cisco.
"About Barry... I'm sorry. I was in Gotham at the time and couldn't help."
Cisco's expression turned a little complicated, but he forced a smile.
"It's okay, I understand. You have your own city to protect. I saw last week's news—though the armor hid your identity, from the way you controlled wind and lightning, I know it was you who stopped the missile in Gotham and protected the city."
I'm not protecting Gotham—I'm just defending my own turf for my buddies.
"Alright, so where's this patient you mentioned?"
Cisco glanced at the van behind them and followed Hardy as he opened the back door.
"And this is…?"
Cisco looked curiously at Captain Cold.
This guy looked a bit like a Smurf, except he was wearing a suit of armor.
"Hello, you must be Walter's friend! I'm Dr. Victor Fries. Due to an accident during a cryogenics experiment, I ended up like this. My body temperature is permanently below zero, and I rely on this suit to survive."
Captain Cold shook hands with Cisco.
"So… you're the patient this time?"
Cisco looked at Captain Cold, recalling how Caitlin looked as Killer Frost.
Both of them had cold mist swirling around them, but Caitlin looked a bit better.
"No, it's my wife, Nora!"
Captain Cold turned slightly, revealing the ice coffin on his back to Cisco.
"Alright, looks like I'll need to open a bigger portal."
Cisco turned and opened a portal behind him, wide enough for two or three people to pass through.
"Uh… sorry, my powers aren't strong enough to let a whole van through—at least not yet."
Cisco maintained the portal with one hand, shrugging apologetically.
"No problem. Victor and I will carry Nora in. Anger, park the van and come give us a hand."
Hardy grabbed the oversized suitcase that White Samurai had transformed into and followed Anger and Captain Cold, who were carrying the ice coffin, through the portal.
"Wally, in a bit we'll release anesthetic gas for the teleporter. Go take the jewelry off her and return it to the store."
Just as Hardy stepped out of the portal, Caitlin, who had just finished briefing Kid Flash, turned her head and caught sight of Captain Cold walking ahead of Hardy.
"You're…"
Caitlin felt that this person looked strangely familiar.
"Long time no see, Caitlin. I hear you've got as many doctorates as I do now."