Barry and Wally blinked out of the Speed Force and ducked behind Deathstroke, while The Batman Who Laughs and the Speed Force Zombies remained within the Speed Force.
The Batman Who Laughs, now a mass of shadow, scratched his head in puzzlement.
The Flash gratefully hugged Deathstroke, panting heavily. "Thanks. You finally came. I thought you were really going to sacrifice me for some enhancement plan."
"Let go already. Daniel reminded me that you were the one who crashed into me when I entered Earth -11. That was the beginning of my story. Ever since then, I'd always felt that the Speed Force had a special affinity for me."
Deathstroke pressed a hand against Barry's head and shoved him away with a look of disgust.
"But now I understand. It wasn't that the Speed Force was giving me special treatment. It was because I became your 'Lightning Rod,' Barry—a spacetime coordinate outside the Speed Force Plane. That was how I could pick you up here today. But when I think about it, having that kind of special connection with another man still feels pretty disgusting."
Barry pursed his lips. It wasn't as if he had gotten to choose who his Lightning Rod would be. The Speed Force had decided it, all right?
"I'd also prefer my Lightning Rod to be a beautiful woman, but I don't get a say in it. Besides, your cousin once said that stuff about sacrificing the Flash too—"
"You believe what a lunatic says?" Su Ming chuckled and took sodas from his waist pouch, handing them to the two Flashes. "Small investments for huge returns may be a Mercenary's pursuit, but a Warrior should always avoid unnecessary sacrifices."
Barry immediately relaxed and nodded frantically. "Right. Then let's fight side by side again. What's your plan?"