The Flash: Lightning Rider
Chapter 21

Keep Going

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7mo ago

Two days later, Cisco was holding something that looked like a tennis racket.

The net emitted a faint blue glow, and the handle was twice as thick as a tennis racket.

"Guys, this will open up a new understanding of the world, break our old perceptions, and lead to progress for humanity, for the universe, for the world. This tennis racket shall be called…"

Cisco held the tennis racket high and shouted at Lin Li.

Before he could announce the name, Lin Li beat him to it.

"Radiation detector."

Cisco said with great dissatisfaction, "Hey, I worked hard with you for two days, designing and making this tennis racket for you, and you actually stole my right to name it. This is so unethical."

Lin Li spread his hands and said, "I don't think your name would be as good as mine."

"What? How can you be so sure that 'interdimensional energy detector' isn't as good as your 'radiation detector'?"

Cisco protested strongly and continued.

"No, let's find an outsider to judge and decide which name to use?"

At that moment, Barry appeared in the research lab with yellow arcs of lightning, blowing Cisco's hair backward.

"Good morning, guys, I'm not late, am I?"

Barry said with a relaxed smile.

Cisco said, "You're not late. We just need to solve one last problem before we can leave."

Lin Li looked helplessly at Barry and spread his hands, saying, "Let's go, we can talk as we walk. I can't wait."

Barry looked at Lin Li and Cisco with confusion and followed them out of STAR Labs.

Cisco kept muttering, "Bro, let me state this first, I also put in fifty percent of the effort for this 'tennis racket.' Even if you don't use my name, you can't use yours entirely. I don't think yours is that great either!"

Barry had no idea what they were talking about. He asked, "What are you guys talking about? What name?"

Cisco, holding the 'tennis racket,' asked for consultation, "Barry, which name do you think is better: 'interdimensional energy detector' or 'radiation detector'?"

Barry looked at the 'tennis racket,' took it, and examined it. He said, "This is used to detect the energy fluctuations in my lab? It looks like a tennis racket. Why don't we call it a 'tennis racket detector'?"

Cisco said helplessly, "Okay, it seems like we can't decide on a name for this thing. Then we'll have to combine them to come up with a name. This thing will be called the 'interdimensional energy source detector' from now on."

"Why? If we combine them, it should be called the 'interdimensional energy source tennis racket detector'!"

Barry was indignant. Cisco hadn't even included his suggested name. This was disrespectful and dismissive.

"NO."

"NO."

Lin Li and Cisco jointly rejected the name.

Cisco said playfully, "Oh wow, it seems Lin Li also dislikes your name very much."

Lin Li rubbed his forehead and said to Barry, "Barry, the name you came up with is too terrible. People will think it's a detector used for checking tennis rackets."

Cisco also shook his head. "I can already imagine what people will say. They'll definitely say, 'Who's such an idiot to design something like this?' That idiot is me and Lin Li. So, Barry, your proposal is rejected. Lin Li won't tolerate the handsome Cisco being spoken of like that."

The group chattered all the way, discussing various things, mainly Cisco believing he was very handsome, Barry thinking the tennis racket name was acceptable, and Lin Li believing they were overthinking it, which was not good.

The three walked to the garage and got into a STAR Labs research vehicle.

Cisco drove, Lin Li was in the passenger seat, and Barry sat in the back.

Lin Li asked with slight curiosity, "Barry, don't you always think cars are too slow?"

Barry said awkwardly, "Is… is that so? Sometimes, I also want to experience the slow-paced world."

Lin Li nodded in thought.

Cisco glanced at Lin Li and said, "Lin Li, I don't quite agree with your opinion. I think I'm still quite handsome. You know, my success rate in hitting on people and getting their numbers has always been one hundred percent."

Lin Li looked out the car window.

Houses and trees flowed backward.

Crowds of Caucasians and Black people.

He hadn't left STAR Labs for almost ten days.

Seeing the outside world again felt like a lifetime ago, and indeed, it was a lifetime separated by a world.

Lin Li leaned against the car window, looking at everything in the European and American style outside. He smiled faintly, "Cisco, Barry, thank you."

"Are you guys using this constant chatter to distract me from my anxiety and disappointment?"

Silence fell in the car for a moment. This was a strategy that Cisco and Barry had discussed. They couldn't bear to see hope turn into despair again, so they could only hope that by constantly talking, they could alleviate Lin Li's negative emotions.

Cisco said, "In fact, a month after the particle accelerator exploded, we began detecting that unknown energy—X-rays, dark energy, antimatter. We started detecting these theoretical energies."

"But unfortunately, we found nothing. Everything was just as it was in theory. But your and Barry's waking up proves that 'it' did exist that night the particle accelerator exploded, but it disappeared quickly, annihilated. Perhaps our technology isn't advanced enough to detect 'them'."

Barry patted Lin Li's shoulder from the back, offering some comfort.

"Lin Li, I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I know this disappointment and pain. I told Cisco to do this… I don't know how to say it to you."

Barry said dejectedly. Lin Li's situation, on the road to finding his way home, had brought hope and then disappointment, which would eventually turn into despair.

He felt that he was more miserable than himself; at least he could still visit his father occasionally and continue searching for the truth.

As for Lin Li, who had traveled through worlds and was separated from the person he loved most by two universes, meeting or talking to them was impossible.

Almost everyone didn't believe Lin Li could return. The chances of such a thing happening again were simply unpredictable. Even if the particle accelerator exploded again, no one thought he could return.

"I've long been mentally prepared for disappointment. I want to go back; this is an unchangeable belief, the will that has kept me alive. Just like you, Barry, can't give up on finding the truth about your mother's murder, even if it costs you your life, it's something that must be accomplished."

Lin Li revealed a faint smile and continued speaking.

"Don't worry, I'm not as fragile as you think. On the contrary, my obsession with returning will only make me stronger and more resilient. This time, regardless of disappointment or hope, I will still steadfastly research a way back; nothing will change."

"Also, Cisco, your 100% success rate in getting phone numbers is definitely because you've never tried hitting on anyone before, which is why it's 100% successful."

Cisco was startled by the truth, and the steering wheel suddenly swerved.

"How did you know that?"

"Haha..."

"Haha..."

Barry and Lin Li burst into laughter!

End of Chapter
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