Chapter Summaries

Deathstroke reached the Starting Line node and found Mina, the speedster known as Fast Track, alive after she had been trapped there for fourteen years. He began negotiating the terms of her rescue, and Strangle rejected her offer to upgrade his armor.

• Deathstroke returned to the Speed Force Plane’s starting point and used Quantum Concepts to enter the Starting Line node.
• Deathstroke found Mina hiding there and learned she was still lucid and had not aged.
• Mina learned she had been missing from Central City for fourteen years and quickly began speculating about the node’s time properties.
• Deathstroke told Mina that taking her out would require her to agree to certain conditions.
• Mina offered to integrate Amazo’s power-absorbing and mimicry abilities into Deathstroke’s armor, but Strangle roared at her and refused.

Su Ming rescued Mina from the Speed Force after she agreed to stop researching ways to spread it, and he explained why the Speed Force had punished her. He left her prepared to reunite with Barry while he continued through the Speed Force Plane to handle other business.

• Su Ming told Mina to stop distributing Speed Force drugs and teaching others to access the Speed Force, and explained that it had a will of its own.
• Mina agreed to stop researching the Speed Force unless Barry needed her help, then said she planned to marry him and did not mind his other girlfriends.
• Su Ming took Mina out of her prison and assured her that Black Flash would leave them alone for now.
• Mina speculated that the Speed Force used Black Flash to make Barry run and generate more Speed Force, while Su Ming pretended not to understand.
• Mina learned that Su Ming was a wizard and said she needed to update her knowledge of the world.

Deathstroke repaired holes in the Speed Force Plane while guiding Mina and discussing how the world had changed during her disappearance. After learning she could stay with Barry and pursue research, Mina considered joining the Justice League as they reached another large wormhole.

• Deathstroke told Mina he would repair the holes before they left, and she watched Black Flash with curiosity.
• Deathstroke used his supposed magic of friendship and Quantum Concepts to repair a wormhole by inventing an Amazon warrior's story.
• Mina worried about losing her laboratory, but Deathstroke reassured her that Barry had a huge home and an excellent laboratory.
• Deathstroke explained that Luthor had advanced cold fusion and cloning research and had joined the Justice League, while Batwoman had built an anti-matter engine with Superman.
• Black Flash found another large wormhole, and Mina asked whether she could apply to join the Justice League.

Deathstroke investigated a hole that suggested part of the Justice League’s origin story was missing and asked the Adjutant to check whether the others had gaps in their memories. The Adjutant contacted Wonder Woman, who agreed to answer his questions while she spent the night at a bar with Cheetah.

• Deathstroke encouraged Mina to apply to the Justice League, then asked the Adjutant to investigate the hole and check whether people outside had memory gaps.
• The Adjutant contacted Wonder Woman while she was out dancing with Cheetah, who had been enjoying her restored ability to live in human form.
• Wonder Woman watched Cheetah dance and reflected on how she had become friends with her former arch-nemesis.
• The Adjutant told Wonder Woman that Deathstroke needed information while repairing the Speed Force Plane, and Wonder Woman agreed to help.

Wonder Woman learned that Constantine and Zatanna had gone missing and agreed to investigate for Deathstroke. Cheetah joined her, hoping the mission would help her enter Justice League Dark.

• Adjutant told Wonder Woman that Deathstroke had entered the Speed Force Plane and asked whether she remembered the Justice League's founding.
• Wonder Woman recalled a different founding roster and realized that part of her memory was missing.
• Adjutant told Wonder Woman that Constantine and Zatanna had been missing for several days and asked her to investigate.
• Wonder Woman agreed to find them and left the nightclub, while Cheetah followed and asked to join Justice League Dark.
• Wonder Woman agreed to let Cheetah help and spar with her, but forbade her from killing people or using violence to threaten her.

Deathstroke and the Adjutant discussed Diana’s missing memories and the possibility that they came from another universe’s version of her. Mina proposed that parallel-world stories might fill gaps in the Main World’s history, then questioned the Adjutant about her age and transformation into a human.

• The Adjutant worried that Diana might find Zatanna and Constantine and attack him, but Deathstroke said he had sent Diana and Cheetah to bring Zatanna into their outing.
• Deathstroke redirected the conversation to Diana’s memory problem, and the Adjutant repeated what Diana had told her.
• Deathstroke suggested that Diana had connected with memories of another Diana from Earth-One, and the Adjutant proposed that parallel universes supplied substitute stories when Earth-0’s history had gaps.
• Mina offered a quantum-mechanics hypothesis that parallel worlds were variant projections of the Main World, and the Adjutant praised her scientific insight.
• Mina asked the Adjutant’s age and learned that she was over ninety and had once been a Cybertronian before magical alteration and reality modifications made her human.
• The Adjutant posed to show off her figure and said that being a woman felt pretty good.

Su Ming continued repairing the Speed Force Plane until a Hand of Creation appeared and warned him that the world was wrong and time was running out. After killing it again, Su Ming concluded that the Source’s assassin was coming and prepared to move faster.

• Su Ming asked Black Flash what the Speed Force thought of the situation, and Black Flash’s sign said it could not see stories that had not happened.
• A white-robed Hand of Creation appeared and told Su Ming to stop repairing the wrong world while there was still time.
• Su Ming rejected the warning, darkened the Speed Force Plane with the Black Sun, and killed the Hand of Creation with his Lightsaber.
• Su Ming told the others that the Hand of Creation had been warning him to hurry because the Source’s assassin was on the way and the Hands would return under changed identities and sides.
• Mina asked about the Black Sun, and Su Ming falsely described it as a warm, friendly magic that had improved her mood.
• The Adjutant worried they lacked time to repair the Speed Force Plane, while Black Flash offered to let Su Ming ride him.

Su Ming repaired the Speed Force Plane with Black Flash and prepared to free the users of the Strength Force and Sage Force from the Theater. He left to negotiate with them while ordering the Adjutant to relay the Origin Court's intelligence to Lucifer.

• Su Ming decided to repair the Speed Force Plane before pursuing the Origin Court, while gathering more information and considering how to use the four Origin Forces.
• Su Ming rode Black Flash around the Speed Force Plane, sealing the damage and restoring the Speed Force's flow in about a minute.
• Su Ming celebrated with Mina, Fast Track, and Black Flash, then explained that Machoke Woman and Psionic Man were trapped in the Theater.
• Su Ming told the Adjutant to contact Lucifer with the intelligence from the Hands of Creation, then set off with Black Flash and Fast Track.
• Black Flash waited outside the Theater while Su Ming and Fast Track arrived to free Machoke Woman and Psionic Man.

Psionic Man and Machoke Woman were trapped in a theater by the Speed Force and ran out of food while waiting for rescue. Machoke Woman believed The Flash would come if he learned they were imprisoned.

• Psionic Man searched the theater room for food and asked whether any supplies remained.
• Machoke Woman found the last packet of biscuits and shared it with Psionic Man.
• Psionic Man slowly ate a tiny piece of biscuit and wondered whether The Flash would rescue them.
• Machoke Woman insisted that The Flash would help them if he discovered the Speed Force had abducted them.

Psionic Man and Machoke Woman faced starvation while trapped in the Speed Force Plane, until Deathstroke and Mina arrived. Deathstroke took them somewhere cleaner, leaving Mina curious about his Chinese remark.

• Psionic Man and Machoke Woman rationed their dwindling supplies while failing to find a way out of the theater.
• Machoke Woman sensed a powerful presence outside their hiding place after a strange knocking and laughter began.
• Mina accidentally spoiled Deathstroke’s attempt to frighten the prisoners with a joke.
• Deathstroke opened the door, greeted Psionic Man and Machoke Woman, and used The Force to carry them away from the garbage.
• Deathstroke told Mina that his Chinese phrase meant someone was especially sexy.

Su Ming found Machoke Woman and Psionic Man starving in the Theater and rescued them with food, while making clear he expected them to accept his conditions. As they ate, Sanders arrived with KFC and launched into a song and dance, leaving Mina to witness his performance.

• Su Ming introduced himself to Machoke Woman and Psionic Man, gave them soda, and said he would rescue them in exchange for conditions.
• Su Ming called KFC, and Sanders delivered fried chicken and drinks to the Theater.
• Machoke Woman and Psionic Man eagerly ate while Su Ming explained that a new threat had emerged.
• Su Ming invited Mina to share the meal and reminded her that she had been trapped in the Speed Force Plane for fourteen years.
• Sanders tore off his shirt, summoned a group of muscular men, and began singing and dancing to "I Love You, Mom!"

Colonel Sanders entertained Su Ming, Fast Track, Machoke Woman, and Psionic Man with a KFC dance before offering Machoke Woman a franchise partnership in Kodomatis. Su Ming introduced Fast Track as The Flash’s girlfriend, and she learned that Barry had dated other women while she was trapped in the Speed Force Plane.

• Colonel Sanders and the KFC employees performed a striptease for Fast Track, Machoke Woman, and Psionic Man, then Sanders promoted KFC and offered Machoke Woman a franchise deal in Kodomatis.
• After Sanders left, Psionic Man noted that Kodomatis’s low incomes would make a KFC difficult to afford.
• Su Ming introduced Fast Track as a member of the Flash family and The Flash’s girlfriend, prompting Machoke Woman to ask about Iris West.
• Psionic Man tried to stop Machoke Woman from discussing The Flash’s other relationships, but Fast Track concluded that she would win Barry back because their feelings ran deep.
• Su Ming introduced Machoke Woman and Psionic Man as chosen ones of the Strength Force and Sage Force, then arranged for Jessica to be brought back for Barry’s housewarming.
• Fast Track reassured Machoke Woman that she did not go on missions and asked her to make sure nobody got hurt when spending time with The Flash.

Mina, Su Ming, Psionic Man, and Machoke Woman discussed Kodomatis and agreed on terms for working together. After signing a contract, Psionic Man and Machoke Woman prepared to leave and return the next day to help Su Ming examine the four Origin Forces.

• Mina asked about Kodomatis, and Machoke Woman explained the island nation's poverty and the abuses committed there by American interests.
• Mina suggested that Machoke Woman join the Justice League or seek help from Luthor to protect Kodomatis.
• Su Ming asked Machoke Woman and Psionic Man to gather with the four Origin Forces so he could examine their powers, and both agreed.
• Su Ming drafted a contract, and Psionic Man and Machoke Woman signed it before continuing their meal.
• Su Ming offered Bashir watermelon while the group ate fried chicken.

After returning Mina to Central City, Su Ming watched her rediscover the city and learn how much it had changed during her disappearance. Mina found that her old home was gone and planned to stay with Barry.

• Su Ming and Mina returned to a hilltop park outside Central City shortly after two in the morning.
• Mina ran through Central City and excitedly reported that its technology had advanced while the city remained peaceful.
• Mina told Su Ming that Central City had once attracted superpowered bank robbers eager to test themselves against The Flash.
• Mina visited her old home and learned that the landlord had rented it to someone else after she disappeared.
• Mina said she would go to Barry's home because she was now homeless, and Su Ming agreed that she could stay there.

Su Ming rescued Fast Track, also known as Doctor Darvan, from the Speed Force and planned to bring her to Barry, who had dated her before she disappeared. Wally recognized her and worried about how her return would affect Barry’s current relationship, but Su Ming said Barry could marry four wives under a second nationality.

• Mina praised Su Ming for accepting Harley, and Su Ming knocked her unconscious with the Golden Frying Pan.
• Wally arrived in Central City after regaining his speed and found Su Ming beside an unconscious woman.
• Su Ming explained that the woman knew Diana and prompted Wally to recognize her as Fast Track, Doctor Darvan.
• Su Ming said he had freed Doctor Darvan from The Starting Line as payment from the Speed Force and was taking her to Barry’s house.
• Wally remembered that Doctor Darvan had been Barry’s girlfriend and objected that Barry already had a girlfriend.
• Su Ming said Barry could marry four wives because Batwoman had arranged a second nationality for him in Saudi Arabia.

Wally decided to help Deathstroke arrange for Barry to marry multiple women, hoping Iris could be with Barry again. Deathstroke laid out how he would secure the Justice League’s approval, leaving Wally convinced the plan was already settled.

• Wally reflected on Iris’s unhappiness after breaking up with Barry and considered that she might accept sharing him with other wives.
• Wally asked Deathstroke how he could help, intending to help Iris reunite with Barry.
• Deathstroke said he had already given Patty a house and argued that Barry’s multiple marriages could serve Justice and be approved by the Justice League.
• Deathstroke predicted that Batwoman and Superman would abstain, Diana would support him, and several other League members would vote in his favor.
• Deathstroke claimed J’onn and Hawkgirl would follow the majority, leaving Wally to realize that Deathstroke had already planned the outcome.

Su Ming warned Wally that the Origin Court might soon attack and explained his plan to test whether the four Origin Forces and the Speed Force could oppose it. Wally agreed to help gather speedsters and involve Iris, while Su Ming left Barry asleep between Mina and another woman.

• Su Ming told Wally that Multiverse 1 faced destruction by the Origin Court and that he wanted speedsters with Barry's bloodline to help oppose it.
• Wally questioned whether the Speed Force could challenge the Origin Court, and Su Ming said he would test the four Origin Forces the next day.
• Su Ming told Wally that Batwoman was spending her time playing one last game with Joker, and Wally admitted he could not understand their relationship.
• Su Ming teleported Mina and Barry into Barry's bedroom and arranged for Barry to sleep between two women.
• Wally left to notify Aunt Iris, and Su Ming encouraged him to persuade her to stop talking so much.

Su Ming considered how the Origin Court might attack the Timeline and other concepts, and weighed the risks of reaching The Source. He decided against drugging Barry and teleported to Mercy Harbor to sound Aquaman out about Barry’s situation.

• Su Ming discussed with Strangle how the Origin Court and the Judges might target the Timeline, Dream, or other concepts as they sought to reshape Multiverse 1.
• Strangle suggested drugging Barry to help him accept having four wives, but Su Ming rejected the idea and chose to let nature take its course.
• Su Ming noted that the Flashpoint Effect had not appeared and that he needed to remain on Earth-0 while awaiting the arrival of Machoke Woman and Psionic Man.
• Su Ming decided to check on the Justice League and teleported to Mercy Harbor to speak with Arthur about Barry’s situation.

Su Ming visited Arthur at the Mercy Harbor lighthouse and found him living a quiet life apart from Mera and Atlantis. They shared a drink as Su Ming said he had come to discuss some arrangements involving Barry.

• The chapter described Arthur's modest life as Mercy Harbor's lighthouse keeper and his separation from Mera, who had resumed her distrust of land-dwellers after Atlantis returned underwater.
• Su Ming arrived at Arthur's lighthouse during a storm and found him cooking octopus.
• Arthur greeted Su Ming warmly, offered his help, and agreed to drink with him.
• Su Ming said he had come to tell Arthur about some small arrangements involving Barry.

Deathstroke visited Arthur at the Lighthouse, discussed Ocean Master’s Murloc cult, and offered Arthur advice about his marriage to Mera. Arthur agreed to help Deathstroke on Barry’s matter as they prepared to search the ocean for an unusual pet.

• Arthur explained that Ocean Master had founded a cult among Murlocs who had once been humans, but Arthur had failed to catch him and refused to harm his followers.
• Deathstroke suggested searching underwater volcanoes for Ocean Master, and Arthur said Atlantis no longer had much to do with him.
• Deathstroke told Arthur about Barry’s several girlfriends and his own idea, then advised Arthur that a pet might help ease tensions with Mera.
• Arthur asked what unusual pet to give Mera, and Deathstroke proposed searching the Abyss or an ocean trench for ancient Deviants.
• Arthur pledged to support Deathstroke’s opinion at a Justice League meeting, and they set out to search underwater.