"Hey, Barry," she gained the man's attention, "quick favor. You too, Kara, you'll need to be there as well." The two superheroes glanced at one another before nodding. "Great. Smile."

Without knowing how to respond Barry and Kara gave a smile as Christi took out her phone and snapped a picture.

"What was that for?" Barry asked.

"Well chances are, you're going to meet Ms. Grant, and you'll need a small background," Christi smiled as she began to edit the picture she had just taken.

The two known superheroes and non-exposed alien walked off the elevator and followed Kara to her desk. Christi had finished editing the picture in record time and was ready to show it to anyone who asked who Barry was. Said man was pulling on a jacket Christi didn't notice he had until that moment.

"Just one more thing I've got to get and then we can-"

"Keira, you're alive," the unmistakable voice of Cat Grant drawled, gaining the three's attention.

"Ms. Grant, don't worry, I was rescued," Kara grinned, walking into the office of her boss.

Barry gave a confused look and pointed at the elevator and only way out of the building in confusion. Christi have him a pat on the back and a smile. This was a regular day at the office for her. She watched in amusement as Barry, and herself, went into Cat Grant's office, Barry's head going every which way in amazement at everything.

"Stop stating the obvious," Ms. Grant said. "You're in the middle of breaking news and I want you to act like it. And yes, yes another one of my ex-employees went all revengey, but. . ." Ms. Grant trailed off as she turned her computer around for Kara, Barry and Christi to see. Christi noticed that Winn and James had joined them, Barry noticed as well. "There's a new superhero in National City. This is huge. Direct competition for Supergirl."

"He doesn't have to be competition," Kara corrected.

"Would you prefer a sidekick?"

"No, not sidekick. More like an equal. Or an ally. Even a partner, maybe." Cat Grant was silent as she stared at Barry. "Speaking was the wrong choice. I see that now."

Christi could only give a small 'yeah' in confirmation.

"All five of you standing there doing nothing, you look like the attractive yet non-threatening, racially diverse cast of a CW show." Ms. Grant looked over every person in the room before her eyes settled on Barry. "Who are you?"

Everyone in the room went to say something but Christi beat them to it. "Oh Kara and Barry went to high school together," she grinned.

Christi pulled out her phone, giving Ms. Grant the picture she had edited not five minutes earlier. Her boss took the phone from her, giving the picture a once-over before handing it back to Christi.

"Yeah. My name's Barry Allen and I just wanted to revisit Kara. Since I haven't seen her in a while," Barry played on Christi's lie. Winn, James, and Kara all gave small smiles trying to play along as well.

"Uh-huh," Ms. Grant stared, her expression giving off the vibe that she didn't believe them. She closed her computer and changed the subject. "Well, I need a clear picture of this speedster. James, that's on you. And Keira, there are a lot of people out there who wanna know what happened. Speak to no one, you're mine. I will let you know when you should reveal this exclusive information. Now, I have to name this hero. I was thinking about the Whoosh or the Red Streak or, the Blur."

Christi shook her head as Barry once again spoke up.

"What about the Flash?" he asked. "I'm just saying that's a pretty cool superhero name. Right?"

"The Flash?" Ms. Grant flat toned. "Sounds like someone whose only superpower is jumping out of an alley in a trench coat. No. I want mystery, I want intrigue, I want the Blur."

James was grinning as Ms. Grant shot down Barry's superhero name. Both Christi and Winn gave sympathetic smiles as Barry sighed in defeat. Ms. Grant took a moment to look deep in thought before speaking again.

"Along with the Blur I have decided to name our mystery girl who saved me." The five figures in the room waited in curiosity. "I was thinking about Phantom," Cat supplied. Not giving a chance for someone to ask why she dismissed them. "Boys and other girl, be gone. Girl, stay."

They knew who was who so everyone, excluding Kara, left Ms. Grant's office. Barry gave an awkward two thumbs-up and followed after Winn and James, Christi behind him. James and Winn went back to their desks and Barry stayed with Christi at Kara's desk.

"So what did you do with the picture you took of me and Kara?" Barry asked.

Christi tossed her phone at him. "I just made a few adjustments," she said. "Made you two look younger, changed the background to some high school in Ohio I found online. Few other odds and ends." Christi shrugged as Barry gave an impressed look.

"Well we're lucky you did. Otherwise, who knows how that conversation could've gone?" Barry handed Christi back her phone and gave a sigh.

Christi took note of it immediately. "What?"

Barry gave a shrug of his own. "Well, I'm stranded on a universe where aliens exist and a chance of never getting home."

Christi had to admit, that was a good reason to sigh like a dejected person. "Don't worry. We'll get you home," she said confidently.

Barry nodded. "What was this about a mystery girl?"

"Well, a little while ago Kara's head was messed with and she sort of went out of it. She threw Ms. Grant over the balcony and a woman showed up in a black leather jumpsuit and saved her. Apparently she can fly, her hair is white and her eyes look like a radiation green. One night Kara was about to do something, I don't know what, and the woman showed up again and helped another alien take her down. The alien, who was actually a Martian, was captured and there haven't been any sightings of her since."

Kara took that moment to walk up to the pair. "So, donuts?"

Barry and Christi grinned.

"Yes, but I'm buying," Christi said. Kara went to object but was cut off by a glance from Christi. "You know you can't change my mind once I've set something to it. Besides, afterwards I'll most likely end up in the tech room showing Winn my upgrades to his system."

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Winn's expression passed shocked several exits back. The only thing the man had been doing for the past twenty minutes was checking through the security she set up. There wasn't a sound from Winn besides the clacking of the keyboard. It was comical, to say the least. Mere minutes after she found Winn checking the system, she struck up a conversation with Barry who had come in with her. James was off to the side sitting in a chair, amused at Winn's silence, yet he was taking the time to listen in on Christi's and Barry's conversation.

"So why did you become a superhero?" Christi had asked.

"I was struck by lightning the same night a particle accelerator exploded," Barry repeated himself.

"Yes you said that. But that doesn't explain why you did."

Barry sighed. "When I was eleven my mother was murdered and my father was blamed. The police thought they caught the man who did it and not the man I saw."

Christi was silent. "Who did you see?"

"He was a man in yellow. A speedster, like me. So when I was struck by lightning, and I saw what I could do, I knew I could make a difference in the world. Maybe protect those who couldn't protect themselves. Like my mom. There was this man and he controlled the weather. He used his powers to rob banks and he hurt a friend of mine, Eddie, was his name. And now I suppose that after seeing what people with powers can do, I wanted to make sure no one else got hurt."

"Did they ever find him? The man who killed your mother?"

"Yeah. He was, uh. He was my mentor, during my early days of becoming the Flash."

Christi winced and knew that it probably hit the man hard. She shook her head.

"I just don't get it," she said. "Where I came from, there weren't any superheroes around because they weren't needed. I was around the type of people that always kept peace rather than screwing with it and creating war. It never worked in the end. There's no point in fighting for a losing cause. So how do you do it? Why do you do it? Fight for them, even if you might lose?"

"Because if I don't, who will?"

Her arms were folded across her chest and a sad look was etched upon her face. She was thinking of her home, and Krypton. When she lost Elrizia, she tried to save Krypton but it didn't help at all. She had to leave and watch as another home of hers was lost. It was pointless that she tried to save something, because in the end it didn't matter. Krypton still died, it exploded actually, and she couldn't have done anything to help her own home world. Fighting for a losing cause was hopeless to her. A reason she didn't become a superhero herself.

The day dragged on, Christi's eyes constantly sliding over to Barry as she thought about his past. As she did so, she found herself thinking of her own, and how to approach Kara when the time came to tell her the truth. By six everyone had called it quits and headed home.

Then of course came the issue of where Barry would stay. Kara would be away at the DEO, James didn't like Barry, Winn would be at the DEO with Kara, so that meant Christi was volunteered with the honor of housing the newest superhero. They headed straight home and Christi began to pull out the hide away bed within her sofa.

"Thanks again for letting me stay," Barry said. "I know how weird it must be, letting a stranger into your home."

"Barry, for the third time, it's okay." Christi snorted at the embarrassment Barry seemed to have taken on. "Besides, you can make it up to me over a pizza and comparing our knowledge between our universes."

Barry went to reply but the radio, which was sitting across from the sofa on a small desk, began transmitting.

'All units respond. Two-one-one, turned hostage situation on Fourth and Grand. Suspect is armed.'

Barry and Christi shared a look. "Looks like pizza and comparing notes is going to have to wait," Barry said.

Christi nodded and tossed a duffle bag at the man, the duffle contained Barry's suit. Barry rushed to the bathroom and zoomed out wearing the leather suit, mask not yet covering his face.

"Which way is Fourth and Grand?"

"About nine blocks that way. Good luck."

Barry rushed from the room before she could say more. The radio went off once more.

'All units stand by. Hostage situation has escalated, suspect now has a bomb. Details include, C-4, hand-held button, and green liquid. Await further instructions.'

Green liquid? Christi's face paled several shades. The  chance of it being Kryptonite was low, but the chance was there all the same. For such a rare material no one seemed to have any problems finding it.

Christ jumped out the window, brown hair bleeding white. Her green eyes took on an ethereal glow and her body was cloaked in a black material. Time for Phantom to make her first appearance in taking down robbers.

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Sorry for the long wait. I was in the hospital, then I was bedridden and sleeping for most of the day, and then things progressively became worse. But you don't need to hear about that. Point is, I'm back. So for now, read, review (please), follow the story, set up alerts.... Whatever floats your boat. I look forward to our next meeting!

For those who don't know, 211 is robbery. I looked it up (and I sure hope it's correct).

Edited 10/25/18