The city lights of Central City blurred past the window of the bus, a neon symphony reflecting in Adam Stiels's eyes. He adjusted his glasses, a self-satisfied smirk playing on his lips. " Alright, Central City, prepare for the glorious arrival of Adam Stiels, your new, somewhat reluctant, sarcastic guardian angel. Don't worry, I won't wear my underwear on the outside... usually. "
CHAPTER 1: Arrival and a Date with Destiny
The bus shuddered to a halt, jolting Adam from his internal monologue. He grabbed his worn backpack, a relic from a life that felt like a distant dream, and stepped out onto the bustling sidewalk. The air hummed with an almost palpable energy, a subtle tremor that only someone with foreknowledge – or an overactive imagination, which he definitely had – would pick up on. This wasn't just any city; this was Central City, 2012. The year everything changed. The year a particular particle accelerator decided to throw a tantrum and shower everyone with dark matter.
" Showtime ," he muttered, pulling his hoodie tighter against the surprisingly crisp autumn air. He checked his phone, a generic flip phone he'd somehow manifested with his "transmigration." No Wi-Fi, no data, just a clock and a few pre-loaded games of Snake. " Seriously? I get dumped into a superhero universe, and my tech is straight out of the Stone Age. This is an outrage! I demand a refund... or at least a working smartphone. "
His destination? S.T.A.R. Labs. Not for a tour, mind you. Oh no, he had a very specific, somewhat morbid, appointment. The Particle Accelerator was set to go online tonight. And, according to his extensive, borderline obsessive, knowledge of the Arrowverse, it was also scheduled to go spectacularly boom. And right on cue, one Clyde Mardon was about to become less of a petty thief and more of a walking weather report. And Adam? He was going to be Mardon's first victim. _ "Talk about making a grand entrance, right? 'Killed by a guy who can make it rain indoors.' Sounds like a stellar obituary."_
He started walking, weaving through the late-afternoon crowds, his eyes scanning for any familiar landmarks. The jitters were there, a low thrum beneath his sarcasm, but they were almost overshadowed by a perverse excitement. He was here. In the Arrowverse. This wasn't just a TV show anymore; it was his reality. A reality where he could potentially meet Barry Allen, Cisco Ramon, Caitlin Snow... and Killer Frost. His heart did a little flutter at the thought of the latter. " Don't get ahead of yourself, Stiels. First, you gotta die. Multiple times, actually. Such a charming existence. "
Reaching the towering, futuristic facade of S.T.A.R. Labs, Adam felt a ridiculous grin spread across his face. " Okay, this is way cooler in person. And way less 'crumbling, abandoned building filled with angst' than it became later. " He approached the security desk, a nervous-looking guard eyeing him suspiciously.
"Can I help you?" the guard asked, his voice laced with suspicion.
Adam leaned in conspiratorially, his eyes wide with feigned earnestness. "Yes, actually. I'm here for the Particle Accelerator activation. I received a special invitation. Dr. Wells himself insisted I be here. Something about my... unique insights into atmospheric disturbances? Very cutting edge stuff, you know. I'm Adam Stiels, brilliant, charming, and just a little bit socially awkward." He flashed his most disarming, yet slightly unhinged, smile.
The guard blinked, clearly bewildered. "Uh, I don't see your name on the list, sir. And we don't have anyone scheduled for 'atmospheric disturbances.' "
"Of course, you don't!" Adam exclaimed, slapping the desk lightly. "It's highly classified! Top secret! Need-to-know basis! Dr. Wells is a man of discretion, you understand. He wouldn't want just anyone knowing about his pre-explosion meteorological consultant. Think of me as a... good luck charm. A human barometer. A really, really handsome human barometer." He leaned closer, lowering his voice. "He probably put me down under an alias. Something cool. Like... 'Night Raven.' Or 'Captain Sarcasm.' Check for Captain Sarcasm."
The guard, looking increasingly uncomfortable, picked up his phone. "I'm going to have to call for verification."
"Excellent!" Adam beamed. "That's the spirit! Due diligence! I commend your commitment to security. Just make sure you tell Dr. Wells that 'Captain Sarcasm' is here, and he's very excited about the bang."
Miraculously, after a few tense minutes and what sounded like a very confused conversation on the other end of the line, the guard put the phone down, still looking utterly baffled. "Alright, 'Captain Sarcasm,' Dr. Wells says to... let you in. He also said something about 'a necessary evil' and 'don't touch anything important.' "
Adam pumped a fist. "Victory! See? I told you I was important! Now, lead the way, my good man. Time is of the essence. And by essence, I mean 'imminent explosion.' "
He was ushered into the main atrium, a cavernous space already buzzing with excited scientists and a few nervous-looking security personnel. Adam's eyes immediately darted around, searching for the faces he knew. He spotted Cisco first, a whirlwind of energy and enthusiasm, gesturing wildly at a console. Caitlin was nearby, looking poised and a little stressed, her brow furrowed in concentration. And then, there he was. Harrison Wells. Or rather, Eobard Thawne in Harrison Wells's skin, a man whose evil was so understated, it was practically a superpower in itself.
" Oh, Thawne, you magnificent bastard. This is going to be fun. You think you're the smartest guy in the room? Challenge accepted. " Adam resisted the urge to salute him with a finger gun. That might be a little too on the nose, even for him.
He positioned himself strategically, close enough to the main controls to witness the impending disaster, but far enough away not to be immediately vaporized. He needed to be killed by Clyde Mardon, not just caught in the blast. Details, details.
The countdown began, a disembodied voice echoing through the atrium. Ten... nine... eight...
Adam felt a strange calm wash over him. This was it. The start of his new life. And the end of his old one, in a very literal sense. He closed his eyes for a split second, taking a deep breath. " Okay, Adam, don't mess this up. One death, one skill. Get that sweet Atmospheric Pressure Manipulation. "
The room filled with an ominous hum, the air vibrating with raw power. Lights flickered, and a low thrumming sound began to build. Seven... six...
Suddenly, a searing pain lanced through his chest. He gasped, his eyes flying open. A gust of wind, impossibly localized and powerful, slammed into him, followed by what felt like a hundred tiny, sharp impacts. He stumbled backward, clutching his chest, his vision blurring. A figure, silhouetted against the growing chaos of the Particle Accelerator, stood just a few feet away, its hand outstretched. The air around them shimmered, distorting like a heat haze. Clyde Mardon. He was early. And very, very angry. And clearly, very effective.
Adam fell to his knees, his breath catching in his throat. The noise of the accelerator became a roaring crescendo. " Well, that was fast, even for me. Not exactly the dramatic last stand I envisioned. More like a 'sudden gust of wind' situation. How anticlimactic. " The pain was intense, but oddly, not overwhelming. A strange, almost buzzing sensation began to spread through him.
Five... four...
He looked up at Mardon, a weak, sarcastic grin on his face. " Nice work, weather boy. You killed me. Hope you get a good review on Yelp. " His eyes fluttered shut.
Three... two...
[ SYSTEM MESSAGE: HOST DECEASED. SKILL ACQUISITION INITIATED. ACQUIRING: MINOR ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE MANIPULATION. ]
[ SYSTEM MESSAGE: REGENERATING... ]
The world exploded in a blinding flash of white, followed by an agonizing, deafening roar. Then, nothing.