Pinch Hitter

[run_barry]

Opening the door from Milliways Barry leads Yamato through and into S.T.A.R. Labs.

"And here we are, welcome to Central City and S.T.A.R. Labs."

They step out into a medical lab space, complete with fancy equipment and an exam table. The place looks pretty high-tech, but it's also currently a shambles. Things are knocked over on the countertops, several drawers have been pulled open and rifled through, there's an IV stand laying on the ground, and the red Flash suit is discarded on the floor beside the exam table.

It's the sort of scene that happens when a speedster on his last legs storms through an infirmary trying to help himself and not pass out in the process.

Glancing around, Barry frowns and rubs the back of his neck.

"Sorry about the mess."

Comments

[run_barry]

"Hey, as long as we have a minute of quiet I can do all that," Barry replies, posing no argument to Yamato's orders.

Taking another drink of the juice, Barry steps in to take a look at the wave pattern Yamato found.

"Nice job finding that. Without anyone back here on the equipment I would never have seen it." How any hero does this stuff solo Barry really can't fathom.

"So if the signal is that unique we're dealing with what, some kind of stylized hacker or something?"

For a moment he wonders if they shouldn't give Felicity Smoak a call, see what she makes of all of this.

Tabling that thought for now, Barry shakes his head. "That's fine. I'll grab a bite and catch some rest and stuff. If you need a break or help though, let me know."

Because they didn't want Yamato running himself down, either.

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"We were getting some scattered dark matter readings at the same time. I don't think it's a hacker, I think it might actually be a meta," Yamato says, rubbing the back of his neck. "Some kind of meta with, I guess, hacking powers. It'd explain why we were able to get a signal back quicker than them, too -- working with actual equipment is probably easier than reaching into computers through sheer force of will."

He cracks a quick grin. "Truth be told, when you were down in the basement, I kind of hated that I couldn't go out in the field and help directly." He'd be a liability right now, after all, having none of his powers and, thus, being in every respect a normal (and highly vulnerable to bullets) human, but that doesn't mean it doesn't suck. "But I'm glad I can help a little, even if it is just reading off a console."

He gives a quick nod at that last, tossing a meal bar over to Barry. "I'll be fine, Gramps. I won't need to take a break, I'm not the one who's been running around an entire city, after all."

[run_barry]

"What? A meta hacker? Cool," Barry enthuses before amending a beat later, "I mean awful."

This person did try and kill him and all.

"Dude you helped a lot," he assures Yamato. "And now I can rest easy for awhile knowing that you've got the city and my friends covered."

And after a week of exhaustion and uncertainty that meant a lot to Barry.

Meal bar in hand after a bobbled catch, Barry salutes Yamato with it while heading towards the door. "I'm gonna go eat this and get changed and all. Call me if anything comes up."

[angry_friendship_wolf]

"It is cool," Yamato agrees, very somberly. "I mean, they happen to be on the opposing side to us, but that doesn't mean they're not really cool."

His cheeks go a little pink at that second part, and he turns towards the console, slipping very easily back into being gruff again.

"I will. And you better nap for at least thirty minutes. There'll be a quiz," he growls.

Which stage of the sleep cycle did you achieve, show your working, will be the first question.

[run_barry]

"Yes sir, Sergeant Hen," Barry says, popping off a grinning salute before leaving in a whoosh.

A few seconds later the whoosh returns for a moment then leaves again and the mannequin on the far wall of the Cortex is now displaying the suit.

[angry_friendship_wolf]

Yamato's about to fire off an old man joke, but then Barry's gone, and then he's back, and then he's gone.

"Jeez," Yamato mutters, grinning a little as he settles into a chair and starts work on re-calibrating the satellite.