Iron Heights Penitentiary, Medical Room.
Yuri, who had transformed into a miniaturized form, stood on a platform observing the virus through a microscope. Numerous test tubes were placed beside him, containing blood samples from all the super-powered criminals in the prison.
The blood samples were labeled with different colors, indicating whether they were infected or not. Each tube had a label indicating the owner of the sample.
On another laboratory bench, a prison guard's body was placed. He was one of the earliest victims to succumb to the infection, and the virus sample was extracted from his body.
Although it was a prison medical room, the equipment inside was more advanced than many hospital laboratories, making Yuri's research much easier.
Wally stood beside him, wearing a protective mask, occasionally going out to patrol the prison, checking on the condition of the infected and looking for any new cases.
It didn't take long for Yuri to understand the characteristics of the virus. He jumped down from the microscope, his brow furrowed in deep thought.
Concerned, Wally immediately asked, "Is there a problem?"
Yuri turned to him and began to explain, "This virus is highly aggressive. Once it enters the host's body, it rapidly multiplies and invades the lungs and throat, corroding the tissues from the inside out."
"Within two hours of infection, the lungs turn into a gelatinous mess, causing the person to suffocate and die."
"They can also induce chaos in the host's immune system, allowing them to dominate inside the body without being blocked or attacked by any immune cells. As a result, infected individuals rarely exhibit prodromal symptoms."
"I have named it the Rampage Virus."
Wally nodded, indicating that he understood, and hurriedly asked, "So how do we deal with this Rampage Virus?"
"First, we need to find suitable antibodies. I have tested all the samples, and only Girder, Tar Pit, Cicada, and Murmur can completely ignore the threat of the virus."
"Girder and Tar Pit have undergone extensive body modifications. One is composed of steel, and the other of tar, making them immune to the virus."
"Cicada is quite special. Although he cannot directly immunize against the virus, he possesses a super-regenerative ability. His regeneration speed far exceeds the virus's rate of reproduction, rendering the Rampage Virus unable to have any substantial impact on Cicada."
"And finally, Murmur."
Yuri looked at Wally with a serious expression. "His blood is quite unique."
"Murmur's blood seems to be immune to everything, not just viruses or toxins but even reagents like luminol cannot react with his blood."
"I believe his blood may hold the key."
Upon hearing this, Wally pondered for a moment and recalled, "Murmur was imprisoned nine years ago. At that time, I wasn't yet the Flash, but I heard about his deeds from the Flash."
"His name is Michael Amar, a doctor by profession. He orchestrated a series of serial killings, murdering twelve people in a row and cutting off the tongues of each victim to satisfy his twisted desire to 'make everyone stay quiet.'"
"It is said that at the crime scenes, Amar's DNA could not be detected. Even if the victims fought back and injured him, the bloodstains left behind would yield no identifiable results. If it weren't for an accident that left traces of his clothing fibers at a scene, perhaps no one would know who Murmur really was to this day."
As the words fell, Yuri immediately thought of a possibility.
"'Make everyone stay quiet'? The Rampage Virus specifically attacks the respiratory system of the human body. It corrodes not only the lungs but also the throat, making it impossible for people to speak loudly..."
At that moment, Wally also realized, "Are you suggesting that the outbreak of the Rampage Virus is likely connected to Murmur?"
"Very likely. Perhaps the virus source is still hidden in his cell."
Yuri looked at Wally, who immediately understood. In a flash of lightning, Wally came back with his expression turning extremely serious, and he held an empty test tube in his hand.
"Amar is gone. He is not in his cell or anywhere else in the prison. All I found was this."
As he spoke, Wally placed the empty test tube on the laboratory bench.
"But there is still a trace of a sample, it should be enough."
—-—
In just a few minutes, Yuri concocted the antidote that could eliminate the Rampage Virus.
Afterward, things became much simpler. Wally activated his speed force and instantly mass-produced the antidote according to the formula provided by Yuri, then in the next instant, he administered a shot to every person in the prison.
The crisis of the chaotic virus came to an end.
Back in the medical room, Wally had a solemn expression as he said, "Murmur was originally sentenced to a lethal injection, but no matter how deadly the toxins used, they couldn't kill him. Eventually, his sentence was changed to life imprisonment."
"Amar couldn't have created the chaotic virus in the prison, which means someone gave him the virus and rescued him afterward."
Yuri couldn't help but let out a scoff, "If the injection couldn't kill him, they wouldn't execute him? Clearly, one bullet could have solved the problem, and we wouldn't be dealing with all these complications now."
Wally fell silent. If it were the old him, he might have argued with Yuri to uphold the law, but now he couldn't be that resolute.
Although several years have passed, that incident remains etched in Wally's heart. The person he admired and idolized the most, Barry Allen, the Flash, was once believed by Wally to be the greatest hero in the world.
In front of a large crowd, under the watchful eyes of everyone, Barry crossed the line that Batman would never cross.
The Flash snapped the Reverse Flash's neck, even though he didn't have to go that far to stop him at that moment.
Undoubtedly, this was a violation of the law, yet the Flash was ultimately acquitted. It was fortunate that it happened in Central City; if it had been in Gotham or Metropolis, the Flash would have found it difficult to escape imprisonment.
If, in certain situations, superheroes killing supervillains is not considered murder, then why can't super-criminals immune to toxins be subject to a different form of execution?
Or rather, why do only a few states in the United States still retain the death penalty, and even then, it is only through lethal injection?
The answer: for the sake of human rights.
Sometimes, even Wally feels that the laws of his own country are absurd, a sentiment shared by Nightwing.
So, can superheroes flagrantly trample on the law just because it is absurd? In doing so, what sets them apart from supervillains? Or rather, how can they convince themselves that there is a distinction?
Wally has contemplated this for several years but hasn't been able to find an answer.
As for the state of US laws, Yuri is not concerned at all. He is only interested in the potential surprises this batch of DNA from Iron Heights can bring him.
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