Unlike his predecessors, Wally West gained his powers at an early age. While visiting the lab of his uncle-to-be, Barry Allen, Wally's life was changed by a what appeared to be a freak accident: a seemingly random bolt of lightning duplicated the event that gave Allen his speed, granting Wally identical powers. Thrilled to be Flash's junior partner, Kid Flash, Wally operated as a member of the Teen Titans and was a super-hero all his young life. Later, he grew up to become the only kid sidekick ever to fulfill the job's inherent promise; when Barry died, it was Wally's responsibility to adopt his costume and identity. Since then, Wally has masterd speed tricks beyond those that Jay and Barry knew. He has also learned that his origin may have been no accident at all; apparently, there is an energy field beyond the lightspeed barrier from which all speedsters draw their power, a "Speed Force" that may have "chosen" Wally for a reason yet to be revealed.