CHAPTER 15: A Friend in the Cold
The Reverse-Flash's brutal introduction had left a palpable tension in S.T.A.R. Labs. Barry was more determined than ever to get faster, to understand his enemy. Adam, meanwhile, was constantly on edge, navigating the dangerous waters of his foreknowledge while trying to keep the team focused and safe. But even amidst the looming threat, life, and the occasional opportunity for a strategic death, continued.
" Alright, the yellow blur is a problem for later. Right now, I need another skill. And maybe a new friend. A very cold, very criminal friend. Because nothing says 'good judgment' like befriending a supervillain. "
Captain Cold, Leonard Snart, had been quietly escalating his criminal activities, his heists becoming bolder, more elaborate. Barry, still reeling from the Reverse-Flash, was eager to prove himself against a more tangible threat. Adam saw an opening. He knew Snart had a twisted code of honor, a preference for order over chaos, and a grudging respect for those who could outwit him.
"My 'future insights' are telling me that Captain Cold is about to pull off his biggest heist yet," Adam announced in the Cortex, reviewing the latest police reports on Snart's activities. "Something involving a very high-tech diamond. Very shiny. Very expensive. And he's going to be surprisingly… chivalrous about it. In his own twisted way, of course."
Barry scoffed. "Chivalrous? Snart's a criminal, Adam. He's not chivalrous."
"Oh, but he has a code, Barry!" Adam insisted. "A very specific, very self-serving code, but a code nonetheless. He doesn't like unnecessary casualties. He doesn't like collateral damage. He just likes money and showing off his fancy cold gun. And my insights are telling me that if you approach him the right way, you might find a… mutual understanding." He gave Barry a significant look. "Sometimes, the best way to fight a villain isn't with a punch, but with a proposition. Or a very sarcastic negotiation."
Caitlin looked skeptical. "Adam, are you suggesting Barry try to… reason with Captain Cold?"
"Reason, negotiate, offer him a very fancy cup of coffee," Adam shrugged. "Whatever works. My insights are telling me that this particular diamond heist is going to be a real mess if it goes down the usual way. Lots of innocent people caught in the crossfire. But if Barry can appeal to Snart's… professionalism, maybe we can minimize the damage. And perhaps even get him to, I don't know, not freeze the entire city block. Just a thought."
Wells, surprisingly, nodded. "Mr. Stiels's suggestion, while unconventional, has merit. Captain Cold, for all his criminality, does operate with a certain… precision. A direct confrontation may lead to unnecessary escalation. A more… diplomatic approach, however brief, could be beneficial."
Reluctantly, Barry agreed to try a different tactic. When Snart initiated his diamond heist, Barry sped in, not to immediately apprehend him, but to talk. Adam, of course, was on comms, providing a running commentary of sarcastic advice.
" Alright, Barry, remember your lines. 'I'm the Flash, you're Captain Cold, let's not make this harder than it has to be.' And if he tries to freeze you, just phase through it! Or, you know, run away really fast. That usually works. "
The conversation was tense, filled with Snart's signature dry wit and Barry's earnest attempts at persuasion. Adam's subtle nudges, relayed through Cisco, helped Barry navigate the tricky negotiation. Surprisingly, Snart agreed to a temporary truce: he would leave the diamond (for now) if Barry allowed him to escape without immediate pursuit, thus preventing the collateral damage Adam had predicted. It was a partial victory, but a victory nonetheless. The seed of a future, uneasy alliance had been planted.
" Phase one of Operation: Befriend the Sociopathic Ice Man, complete. Now, for the next death. I need something… explosive. "
Back at S.T.A.R. Labs, the team was still processing the strange outcome. "I can't believe he actually listened to me," Barry said, shaking his head.
"He didn't listen to you, Barry," Adam corrected, a sly grin on his face. "He listened to the voice of reason, channeled through my superior intellect and charming personality. And a healthy dose of self-preservation, on his part. See? Not all bad guys are irredeemable. Some are just… misunderstood. And really, really good at stealing diamonds."
Adam then turned his attention to his internal system, a new target already forming in his mind. He needed a skill that would complement his growing collection of defensive and elemental powers. Something that would give him a bit more offensive punch, but still be relatively low-risk to acquire.
He began reviewing the emerging metahuman threats, his eyes scanning for a particular kind of power. He knew the next one had to be carefully chosen. He needed a skill that would be genuinely useful, and the death itself had to be manageable.
" Okay, system, what's next on the menu? Something fiery? Something with a bit of a bang? I'm thinking… Pyrokinesis. Yes. That would be very, very useful. And I know just the guy to get it from. "
His mind drifted to the news reports of a new metahuman, a volatile individual with the ability to generate intense heat and flames. A man named Mick Rory, soon to be known as Heat Wave. Adam knew this was his next target. He just had to figure out how to get Mick to kill him without turning him into a pile of ash. It was going to be a delicate dance with fire. Literally.
"Alright, team," Adam announced, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "My 'future insights' are telling me we're about to have a very, very hot problem on our hands. And I think I know just the guy to help us… extinguish it. Or at least, provide me with a new party trick." He grinned, already planning his fiery demise. "Get ready for some heat, Central City."