- Look, it's true that I'm trying to ease out of this "kindler, gentler" mode I seem to have fallen into ... still, turning this guy into a corpsicle seems a little extreme. Take him away, boys.
- — Flash
The Flash (Volume 2) #81 is an issue of the series The Flash (Volume 2) with a cover date of September, 1993.
Synopsis for "Back on Track, Chapter Two: Friends and Lovers"
The Flash finds himself under attack by the high-tech crime organization, the Combine, who use ultrasonic canons to disorient him. Dizzy and unstable, Flash nearly wanders into an electrified net before he is saved by Starfire and Nightwing. Together, they take out the Combine's thugs.
Wally takes Kory and Dick to see their old acquaintance Frances Kane, who he had tangled with recently, when her powers made her schizoid. He was forced to kiss her on live TV to break her out of her violent, alternate personality's grasp. Needless to say, his girlfriend Linda Park is not too happy about his decision to let Frances stay in his house.
Wally leaves his friends with a sleeping Frances, while he attempts to cheer up Linda. Despite having already discussed the reason for the kiss between Wally and Frances, Linda is obviously still upset about it. She turns down his chocolates and his invitation to dinner with Dick and Kory, bitter that her boyfriend might be happier with a girl with powers.
At dinner, Dick and Kory distract Wally from his woes by helping him to plan an attack against the Combine. Impulsively, Kory suggests that they simply storm the Combine's headquarters, and for once, Wally agrees. He has Piper give him intel on the Combine's HQ, and develop some technology for them to use on their mission.
Wally assigns Nightwing as point-man as a ploy to rebuild his confidence after being kicked out of the Titans. They all sneak inside and the visitors await Flash's signal. Meanwhile, one of the Combine's men who was defeated by the trio earlier is berated by the Combine's leader, who orders him killed. The man is saved at the last second by the Flash, who moves so quickly that the gang is none the wiser.
When Flash reveals himself to the assembled gang members, he is taken aback by their ultrasonic canons again. He activates the signal, which cues Nightwing to activate the ultrasonic oscillators designed by Piper, which cancel out the disorienting effect of the Combine's devices. Still, the Combine's technology is formidable, and they wonder where it comes from. Unfortunately, in the chaos, Nightwing is knocked out a high window, forcing Wally to save him. As they look back up, the building explodes with Starfire still inside.
Meanwhile, Linda returns to Wally's house hoping to apologize for her shortness with him, but she encounters Frances Kane there. Before she can leave awkwardly, Frances closes the door with her magnetic powers, and says that they need to talk.
Appearing in "Back on Track, Chapter Two: Friends and Lovers"
Featured Characters:
Supporting Characters:
Antagonists:
- The Combine
- Mr. Vernon
Other Characters:
Locations:
Items:
Vehicles:
See Also