Chapter 12
Stars & Stripe PT.2

AN HOUR AND A HALF LATER…

RUNNING, Wally and I finally made it to the cabin with everything in one run as we were on the porch not able to move as I was surrounded in my backpacks. My legs and arms were somewhat tired, but whenever we fight the ISA they should be fine. But looking at Wally he wanted me to give him food, since he needed one more than ever. As I handed one to him before I passed out. Knowing that sometime I will see Courtney and the others, but for now I will be alright. 

Hearing a car approach I woke up luckily my hair looked nice and I could see Rick, Beth, and Yolanda get out of the Yellow Mustang, along with Courtney being there. “How long have we been out?” I asked as Yolanda looked back at me. “You were still out when we arrived ten minutes ago.” She said as I laughed coming down and hugged the three looking at Rick who just stared at us. As Courtney was alright and I checked my phone knowing that she probably had a fight. 

Until we saw a mysterious car, until Justin came out of the car with KFC. Oh no! No no no! I hope there is no coleslaw after last time I had it with Wally. I’m banning him for it this time, I’m not having him fart all the time again. It stunk and I couldn’t even get it out of the room with air freshener. “I bring forth the feast.” Justin said as we all sighed and started heading into the cabin as STRIPE landed and we all looked at it as the motors started running. “Remote control.” Pat said as everyone looked at him. 

We headed up there as Wally woke up and I took out bags in as everyone stared at us. “Where speedsters, don’t expect us not to carry half a house with us.” I told them as Yolanda smiled following behind me.  I was in the door as we all settled down and I checked through a few of the bags to see where something was. And once I found my suit I was ready whenever the battle was to come. And we had to suit up. 

A LITTLE WHILE LATER. . . 

HEADING outside I could see Courtney out here alone, and she didn’t see me until the staff alerted her and came over to me bumping me into her as she caught me. I just glared at the staff not understanding why in the heck….this staff hates me. And if Courtney wasn’t here I would be trying to throw the staff out if it would let me. 

Seeing the red on her cheeks must be in my imagination. The beauty in her eyes, and just everything...it couldn’t be true. Since she likes Cameron, even though everyone denies it. I have known Courtney since she got here, and I don’t believe that she will. Or ever would, is very hard to deal with. But still there is nothing that I could tell that Courtney Whitmore out of all people would like me. And maybe after this I can get over her, or just deal with it after whatever the ISA is planning. 

“How are you doing?” I asked her as she looked at me, “How can I say, hanging in there after these last two days. With everything that happened.” She told me as I nodded and I went to hug her as she put her arms around me as I put my head on her shoulder, as we just sat there in each other's arms for a few minutes until we got untangled and I looked down at my feet knowing the moment got awkward. 

“Thank you.” I heard Courtney tell me as I looked back at her, “For what?” I asked her as she looked in my eyes, “For being there with me...since the beginning. Even with everything that happened. Even without the team, I don’t think I could do it without you McKenna Garrick.” She told me as I smiled. “And I don’t think I could do it without you Courtney Whitmore. Because if you would have never come to Blue Valley, I wouldn’t have become the hero or even the person I am today, the hero. So you're not the only one Thankful.” I told her as she smiled at me knowing that this was one of those happy moments before the fighting begins..one of the moments that could be any of our lasts at this point. And I wouldn’t change it in any way. 

Once Mike came out Courtney and I were standing by the porch as we looked at him. She was pacing around. “Hey.” Mike told Courtney and I as I smiled looking at him. “Hey.” Courtney said as I sat down back on the bench watching this sibling moment. “So you’re, both, uh, patrolling?” He asked as I nodded as Courtney responded, “Yeah keeping watch.” She said as I could see the pain in Mike’s eye from just learning this. As we all knew, but he felt left out for lunch until now. 

“Don’t worry. I think we’re pretty safe out here, Mike.” She told him as I nodded. “Yeah you're safe, both of you.” He said as I understood in ways how he felt. Powerless, and like he was nothing compared to us. Because once as a speedster who knows others sometimes that’s how you can feel. Like your nothing like them, and everyone was better off with or without you. And his face told it all, as he hoped that he could have had the staff, or tried for it. To be closer to his dad, and to be something else than he was. 

“You’ve got a magic staff. And she has her speed and skills. I need a staff, speed, or a robot.” Mike said as Courtney chuckled and I went along as I went to stand next to her looking out as the wind started blowing a bit. “You know, you're so lucky the staff picked you. I wonder if I would have found it first...maybe it would’ve picked me.” Mike told Courtney as it might have happened. But even I suspect with my knowledge of the annoying staff...that it was destiny and belief and ethics that Starman had. “Uh. Maybe.” Courtney said as Mike continued, “I could tell you one thing. It would’ve made my paper route so much easier. Heck, having you or Wally’s speed would have.” He said as I shook my head. “Wally and Barry went into a coma. And speed isn’t the dream all the time, Mike. It’s a blessing and a curse sometimes.” I spoke up as he looked at me. 

“True.” Courtney said, responding to Mike as we all continued to stand here, “Could...Could I try it?” Mike asked as Courtney nodded knowing it might not work, but she let Mike continue even if it would or wouldn’t work. “Go for it.” She said as he headed for the staff and touched it and it didn’t light up when he held it and even Courtney knew it made him sad and even she felt bad. “You know my dad doesn’t have any special powers either. But maybe one day I could do something special like that for the JSA.” Mike said as it would be cool to see Mike become the next superhero who does something to save people with his life. Heck my dad was like that, and he’s now known for being the Flash, not him as an everyday life, but he does hold his legacy. 

A LITTLE BIT LATER. . . 

GATHERED around, Rick asked Beth to use the goggles to find the coordinates of the code that he cracked of his fathers. As for once I have seen Rick all happy and bubbling, which kinda scared me in some ways since he has never been like this since he was younger. But it’s nice at the same time. Because it’s something that Rick has with his father now, that he could crack the code his father made for the future generation. But we watched as Chuck put out this green hologram like the night in the farms that we watched Rick parents die. But this time it was different...it was of the tunnels. 

He came down. “The formulas were coordinates for the maps of the tunnels. My dad must have gotten down there and scoped it out.” Rick told us as we continued to look at the hologram. Everyone did gasp. “This map my dad made, the entrances to the tunnels are here….and here.” Rick told us pointing to the ways the tunnels were. “This is the meeting room.” Rick said pointing to a large room that was further out, but that is so cute….they have an underground meeting room. “In there. Which is where they’re building some sort of….Uh, some sort of Machine.” Rick said as Chuck blew up the room which looked like Satellites. Oh my gosh, Brainwaves...Dragon King would use Brainwaves. Which would explain the stolen satellite codes, and why the American Dream has their plan. 

“What machine?” Barbara asked as we looked at her and back at the machine. “The equipment they stole from the satellite codes. They must have used those to build something.” Courtney said as I started, “A satellite.” I said as it would make sense if they want to have waves go out. “McKenna’s Right it’s a satellite, but more complex. Chuck thinks they built something he calls a “synaptic amplifier” Beth started as everyone looked at her. “It’s meant to transmit.” Beth said as Courtney looked up at her, “Brain Waves.” She told us as it would make sense since the ISA is planning something big. This is something big. “So Henry’s dad can reach someone else's mind.” Yolanda said as I nodded. “Millions of people.” Beth said as Barbara moved looking up at her. “But why?” She asked as I looked at her. 

“Maybe those creepy guys in the tunnels were just a test run.” Rick said as that would make more sense. “Right. And now they;re getting ready for the big roll out.” Pat said as it would be true. Since they were like zombies, and henchmen or even servants at the point of where they had no control over their bodies. “Are they making everyone else zombies or something?” Mike asked as Barbara knew something by the look on her face. “No. I don’t think that’s their American Dream. Like Blue Valley, they wanna have people follow their vision and join them and I guess follow without question.” Barbara said as we knew we had to stop this from happening. What we didn’t know was what would happen in the next few hours. 

“Right, but not if we destroy their machine.” Pat said, “Rick, is there a tunnel that STRIPE could get through?” Courtney asked him as he pointed at one of the tunnels. “The river. But don’t think I’m not coming with you.” He said as Courtney rejected that idea. “No, You, Yolanda, and Justin should enter from the opposite side of town.” Courtney said as Rick didn’t believe this. “You want us to split up?” Rick asked as even I nodded, “Only to try to avoid detection. But we’ll meet back up at the machine.” She said as I looked at her knowing I am going with Courtney. “While you guys go destroy the amplifier. Chuck and I can take down the computers running the show. We traced the town’s electrical surges to The American Dream. Chuck thinks we can access their systems from there. You know, hack the hackers.” She told us as it was a smart idea from Beth. 

“Okay, I’m gonna go with Beth.” Barbara said as her and Pat almost had a disagreement, but Barbara would be good at the American Dream. And how he would let a 15 year old go. And Barbara is tougher than most mothers, she’s up there with my mother, and a few other heroes' mothers. “So we’ve got a plan.” Beth said as I nodded looking at Wally who sat there looking at me. “So, uh...What’s my job?” Mike asked us as Pat looked at his son. “You, Mike Dugan have the most important job of them all. You’re going to look after the dog.” Pat said as we looked at Wally. “I’ll stay with him, so he doesn’t get into too much trouble. Since you guys have the Flash.” He said as I smiled and I knew it was time to suit up. 

We ended our separate ways to quickly get changed, as I could get changed fast, and after putting my boots on. To my red lipstick, then to my gloves. Mask. And last grabbing the helmet and placing it on my straight hair as I headed out looking at Stargirl and STRIPE. As we ran out to the morning skies as Courtney and STRIPE were next to me. As we were near the river bank and spotted the entrance, as the others were arriving at their spots.

Once STRIPE entered the tunnels it was nice, because if not we would have to disassemble him and then resemble him here. “They call it the new constitution. They want to combat Global warming..and force people to….Force them to embrace solar and wind power. They’re going to eliminate discrimnation over race, religion, sexual orientation.” Beth continued as my eyes went wide. Wait aren’t they the villains. I know they are because they have killed many good people including the JSA, but their plans for the world sounded nice, almost perfect….too perfect. 

“Oh, and universal health care.” Beth continued as this sounded like a too perfect world, a utopia that could end up bad in the end. “That sounds good.” Courtney said as I nodded, “Too good. Like a Utopia. Which might I say always ends up bad. It reminds me so much of the giver.” I told them as Courtney looked at me. “Hey I might have read it 300 times already.” I told them as she again looked at me. 

Once we learned that it only affected adults it made me feel better, but then hearing the catch that it could kill 25 Million people, because of the fighting against the reprogramming process. And how they will die. It’s nice to think my mom is out of town, and in a safe town. Until we heard Gambler say good morning. 

Having less than 30 minutes left to stop them...oh my what did we get ourselves into as the adults started to freeze. Hell this can’t end up good. 

WHAT WILL HAPPEN IN THE CONCLUSION OF BOOK 1, OH WELL FIND OUT IN CHAPTER 13!!!!

_____________

A/N: Oh my gosh please enjoy this chapter!!! Or please enjoy every chapter!!!

This was the last chapter I have written for the book. Now that I’m finished I’m crying, and I’m so happy to release the rest to everyone that has given me support on this book. And I’m ready to share this with everyone. And the rest of the book. 

It’s sad to see this book end, but it’s also my first solo book. I have ended and I’m happy. And proud of myself for being able to do it. And I want to thank every reader. I hope you enjoy the extras, and the last chapter, and Alternate ending. 

Until 2021, this has been a fun journey since the end of May...Thank you. 

XOXO -Rosemusic18