The hum of computers and the soft clatter of keyboards filled the control room at STAR Labs. Ethan stood in front of a large monitor, watching Caitlin as she worked, her focus entirely on the data streaming in front of her. The lab was busy, as always, with technicians running tests and analyzing the latest metahuman incidents popping up around Central City. It had been a long day, and despite the fact that Ethan had spent hours here already, his mind was elsewhere.
He hadn't been able to shake the conversation with Barry. The nagging suspicion, the look in his brother's eyes—it all weighed on him. Ethan wasn't sure how much longer he could keep up the act, pretending everything was fine when he was spiraling on the inside. The Speed Force's energy pulsed in his veins, unpredictable and volatile. He was only beginning to understand what it meant to be a speedster, to be connected to something as ancient and powerful as the Speed Force itself. And yet, despite the power coursing through him, he felt utterly powerless to control it.
This isn't me, Ethan thought, rubbing his temples, trying to push the overwhelming thoughts away. None of this is what I wanted.
His mind was abruptly interrupted by a sudden flash of light—like a bolt of lightning striking him from within. Ethan stiffened, his entire body jolting at the intense surge of energy that flooded his senses.
System Notification: "Protect Barry Allen, the Paragon of Hope."
The words blazed across his vision, written in a language he instinctively understood but had never seen before. They were short, simple, but their weight felt like a stone sinking into his chest.
Ethan blinked rapidly, trying to shake the sensation, but it was no use. The Speed Force System had just given him his first official quest. His heart raced at the implications. The System had been silent for days, but now, it had spoken.
"Ethan?" Caitlin's voice cut through his thoughts, and he turned to find her looking at him with concern. She must have noticed his sudden shift in posture, the way his body tensed. She took a step closer, her eyes narrowing. "You okay?"
Ethan forced a smile, hoping to mask the unease swirling inside him. "Yeah, I'm fine. Just... a little dizzy. Probably from all the stuff in here. You know, the tech and everything."
Caitlin's eyes didn't leave him, her gaze skeptical. "You've been acting strange lately. I know something's going on. What's happening?"
Ethan hesitated, the weight of the notification still pressing on his mind. The quest. The Speed Force was giving him a task, one that seemed to have something to do with Barry. But he wasn't ready to share that with Caitlin—not yet. Not when he wasn't sure what it meant.
"I'm... just dealing with some things," Ethan said quietly, trying to keep his voice steady. "You know, with everything that happened. It's a lot to process."
Caitlin didn't look convinced, but she nodded slowly, clearly unsure. "Okay. But if something's going on, you know you can talk to me, right?"
Ethan swallowed, nodding even though he wasn't sure what to say. He wasn't ready to talk about the Speed Force or the quest—it felt too overwhelming, too out of his control. But the way Caitlin looked at him, with that concerned, almost worried expression, made him want to confide in her. Yet, something held him back. He couldn't share everything with her—not when he barely understood it himself.
"Yeah, thanks. I appreciate it," he said, though his voice was quiet, distant.
Caitlin seemed to study him for a moment longer, but she eventually turned back to the screen, seemingly deciding to let it go—for now. Still, Ethan could feel her eyes flicker back to him every now and then, as if she were waiting for him to say something more.
As the minutes ticked by, the words from the Speed Force notification replayed in his mind. Protect Barry Allen, the Paragon of Hope. The message felt simple, yet profound. What did it mean? Why did the Speed Force want him to protect Barry? Hadn't Barry already taken up that mantle as the Flash?
Ethan shook his head, trying to focus. He needed to figure out what the mission meant, what he was supposed to do. He couldn't ignore it. The Speed Force wasn't something you could just shut out.
The door to the control room suddenly slid open with a soft hiss, and in walked Barry, looking his usual, upbeat self. But as his eyes landed on Ethan, a flicker of concern flashed across his face, mirroring the same look Caitlin had given earlier.
"Ethan, you doing alright?" Barry asked, his voice light but filled with a sense of curiosity. "You've been kind of quiet lately. You sure everything's okay?"
Ethan froze for a split second, the rush of emotions from the Speed Force notification almost overwhelming him. He could feel the intensity of Barry's gaze on him, his older brother trying to read him like a book. Ethan took a steadying breath, trying to calm his racing heart.
"I'm fine," Ethan said quickly, his voice too sharp. "Just—just working through some stuff. You know, things are a little... complicated right now."
Barry raised an eyebrow, his gaze flicking between Ethan and Caitlin, who was still watching him closely. "What kind of stuff?" he asked, his tone cautious, but not hostile. "If something's going on, we can talk about it."
Ethan glanced at Caitlin, her eyes flicking between him and Barry. She was clearly listening, but she didn't speak, instead choosing to let Ethan handle it. He appreciated the silence, but it only made the weight of the situation heavier.
"I... I just need some time to figure it out," Ethan said, his voice quieter now. He couldn't bring himself to go into more detail. "I'll be fine."
Barry nodded, though his expression remained unconvinced. "Alright. Just... be careful, okay? Whatever you're dealing with, you don't have to do it alone. We're a team."
Ethan swallowed hard, feeling the pressure of his brother's concern. It wasn't like he could explain everything right now. The Speed Force, the quest—it was all too much. But in that moment, Barry's words hit him harder than he expected. Maybe it was time to stop pushing everyone away. Maybe it was time to let someone in.
"Thanks," Ethan said, his voice barely a whisper, the words caught in his throat.
Barry smiled, his eyes warm. "Anytime, man. You know I've got your back."
With that, Barry turned and walked out of the room, leaving Ethan alone with his thoughts. The moment his brother left, the notification from the Speed Force surged back to the forefront of Ethan's mind. Protect Barry Allen, the Paragon of Hope.
What did it mean? What was he supposed to do? The power inside him was still so foreign, so untamed. He didn't know if he was ready to be the protector the Speed Force wanted him to be.
But the more he thought about it, the more he realized that he didn't have a choice. The quest was set. It had chosen him.
And if there was one thing Ethan knew for sure, it was that the Speed Force didn't ask. It commanded.