The Flash : The Adapt System

Chapter 32: The Man Who Saved Central City

The peace was short-lived, as always. Six months of relative calm, then the universe decided to remind us who was boss. A new metahuman. A big one. Literally.

"Atom Smasher. Oh, joy. The guy who can grow to giant size and hit like a freight train. Just what Barry needed after his little solo act. And probably me too, knowing my luck. My internal organs are already protesting." My internal monologue was a mix of exasperation and grim resignation.

Reports flooded in: a massive, super-strong metahuman attacking the city, leaving a trail of destruction. Al Rothstein, a.k.a. Atom Smasher. And he was from Earth-2. Which meant the multiverse was officially open for business. And that meant Zoom was coming.

"He's got super strength, and he can increase his size," Cisco explained, pulling up a blurry image of Atom Smasher towering over a building. "He's a walking wrecking ball!"

Barry, despite our pleas, was still trying to handle things alone. He zipped into action, but Atom Smasher was too big, too strong, too slow to hit effectively. Barry was getting pummeled.

"Barry's getting overwhelmed!" Caitlin cried, her voice filled with panic. "He needs help!"

"He's trying to do it alone because he blames himself for Ronnie," I said, my voice tight. "But he can't. Not this guy. We need to work together. We need to exploit his size. Hit him with a concentrated force. And maybe, just maybe, I can buy Barry some time."

Joe, who had joined us, looked at me, his brow furrowed. "Adam, what are you talking about? You can't fight that thing!"

"Just watch me, Joe," I muttered, already heading for the exit. This is going to hurt. A lot. But Barry needs me. And the city needs me. And my Adapt System is probably itching for a good workout. Probably.

I found Barry struggling, trying to land a blow on Atom Smasher, who just swatted him away like a fly. Atom Smasher roared, his massive fist raised, about to deliver a crushing blow to a group of terrified civilians.

"No! Not on my watch!"

I launched myself forward, a desperate, insane act. I ran towards the towering metahuman, my body screaming in protest.

[IMMINENT THREAT DETECTED. EXTREME PHYSICAL FORCE. CRUSHING IMPACT. INSUFFICIENT STRENGTH. INSUFFICIENT MASS.]

[ADAPTATION: ACTIVATION. ENHANCED STRENGTH. DOUBLING THREAT'S PHYSICAL STRENGTH. ENHANCED MASS/DENSITY. DOUBLING THREAT'S MASS. ACTIVE.]

A searing pain erupted through me, a profound pressure that threatened to tear every cell in my body apart. My muscles bulged, my bones felt like solid bedrock, and for the first time, I felt a strange, impossible increase in my own mass, my body becoming incredibly dense, almost impossibly heavy. I slammed into Atom Smasher's leg, a tiny, insignificant speck against his colossal form, but I held on, my enhanced strength allowing me to grapple with him, to push back against his immense power.

"Holy. Crap. I'm actually… holding him! He's huge! And I'm… denser! This is insane! My internal organs are having a party, and I'm pretty sure my spine just sent in its two weeks' notice! But it's working! It's actually working!"

Atom Smasher roared in frustration, trying to shake me off, but I clung to him, a human barnacle of impossible strength and density. I was a tiny, immovable object, briefly matching his raw power, creating a crucial opening for Barry.

Barry, seeing my impossible struggle, seeing me actually grappling with Atom Smasher, snapped out of his guilt-ridden haze. He zipped in, delivering a series of focused, super-speed blows that finally brought Atom Smasher down.

[ADAPT SYSTEM: DEACTIVATED. HIGH STAMINA DRAIN. RECOVERY INITIATED.]

The immense strength and density drained from me, leaving me utterly, profoundly spent. My limbs felt like jelly, and I crumpled to the ground, gasping for air, my body trembling uncontrollably.

Caitlin was by my side in an instant, her face pale with terror and awe. "Adam! Oh my God! You… you grappled with him! You were… you were massive! How?!"

"Just… really, really didn't want him to step on anyone, Doc," I wheezed, trying to force a smile. "Turns out, I'm a big fan of not being squished. And also, I'm apparently a human brick."

Joe West, who had rushed over, looked at me with a profound sense of awe and suspicion. "Adam, I don't know what you are, but you're something else."

"Yeah, well, I'm full of surprises, Joe," I said, a tired grin on my face. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I need a very large nap. And maybe a very large sandwich. With extra pickles. And maybe a new spine. This one feels a little… used."

Barry, now fully back in the game, looked at me, a profound sense of gratitude in his eyes. "You saved me, Adam. You saved the city. Thank you."

"That's what teammates are for, Flash," I said, giving him a tired wink. "Now, let's go home. And maybe you can finally let us help you. Because you're not alone. Not anymore."

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