- The events of this issue happen before the events in Starman *

I wish I could just run away from this one.

The problem is, I'm in deep with this one. Well over my head. Here I am, near to the bottom of this mysterious lake that swallowed up my city, looking at Keystone through the energy shield that covers it. But I'm not protected like it is, as I float here, breathing water thanks to the magics of my pal Garth. But Tempest floats here with me, as we stare at our foe before us. Green mohawk, goggles and all. Worst thing is, I'm sure that after this is all over, Garth nd I will be fighting over who gets to *not* claim to have the Marine Marauder in their Rogue's Gallery.

But like every fight, I can't run away from it. Not with all of those people below me, counting on me to save them. One of them being my wife. If I didn't save her, I'm sure she'd be pissed, and considering we've only been married a month, I don't want to be sleeping on the sofa already.

Marine Marauder was just circling the pair of Titanic heroes, riding her shark, the shiver of some hundred more in tow.

"Garth, think you could try reasoning with those things? You have a lot more experience with sharks that I do..."

"I wish it was that simple, Wally. Sharks aren't all that bright, and I suspect they've been transported all this way... they're bound to be confused. Besides, Marine Marauder controls them psionically. I... I can't battle that."

What's that saying, about what friends are for?

"But maybe I can 'reason' with her," Garth said as he suddenly launched himself at Marine Marauder, hands glowing as he charged up with magical energy. "Or at least I can talk some sense into her!" With that he lashed out with a blue-fisted punch, the water freezing in its wake as Tempest sped in to slam that chilly fist into Marine Marauder's jaw.

That's what friends are for.

Playing cheerleader, Wally could only float there and watch on as Garth gave the Marauder a couple of follow-up blows, sending the woman from the back of the shark she had been on. Reeling, the woman righted herself quickly enough, kicking out to Garth's midsection. Apparently, Wally wasn't cheering loud enough.

But attention he drew, as suddenly those sharks turned to him. "Ah, Garth, a little help here...!"

Slamming her fist into Garth jaw in return, Marine Marauder grinned as she gained the uppperhand. "He's abit busy at the moment, Flash. I was always told I was a handful... And you, you're about to become a mouthful!" With that the sharks dove at him.

Narrowly dodging one lunge, feeling the jaws of one shark just missing a calf, Wally then had to think fast to dodge another nip at his head. Here, submersed, he had little or no way to get traction. sure, he could do things at superspeed, but getting _up_ to that speed was the difficultly. If he didn't do something fast he'd be fishfood. And Garth, judging by the pounding he was getting, would lose to a girl. Arsenal wouldn't let Tempest live that one down, in the Titans.

"Why are you doing this, Marauder? Why Keystone, and not some aquatic city? Why all the trouble?"

"Perhaps I can answer that, Flash."

That voice...! Turning while avoiding another series of bites, Wally caught sight of two things. Heating up the water around Marauder, Garth was able to drive his foe back, and give himself some room to maneuver. But the other sight is what stunned Wally the most.

Floating there in a mechanical bubbled chair, over the energy-domed Keystone was none other than The Turtle.

Distracted, Wally felt a razor sharp maw graze a twisting arm, and another near-bite knick his left thigh. With his blood in the water, Wally knew the sharks would be whipped into even more of a frenzy. More than any that Marine Marauder could induce.

And the Turtle just laughed.

Lord, how he wished he could just run away.

The worst thing about flying scared was the wind whipping past her ears. Her speed aura protected her from the winds, but the sound of them haunted her like whispers. Whispers she had heard on her answering machine. A voice she knew, that she knew she knew, but for some reason, dared not think of. And that is what scared her the most.

What also scared her was that she was running to her mother, of all people. A woman who had neglected her and abandoned her. Jesse Chambers had never been close to her mother, nor had she cared to. But something in that voice on her machine, and the fact that it had mentioned her mother, Libby Belle. Liberty Belle. She hated that voice, as it has not only torn her, a self-reliant independant woman apart. But it also had her concerned for her no good mother.

Streaking through the air, Jesse wasted no ceremony as she landed on the patio to her mother's lavish apartment. Some place that her new, mysterious boyfriend had set up for her. Since leaving her and her father, Libby had never really stayed in any place for long. Which had suited Jesse just fine, as he meant she didn't even have to pretend to make the effort to try to contact her mother.

Seeing that the apartment was dark, Jesse winced a little. Sure, now, like this, she needed to have dark closets and other shadowy hiding places to think about.

Maybe it was Libby's new man that had done this. Maybe it was some trick of her mother's to get Jesse to come visit her. Suddenly, Jesse felt foolish for coming here. For even being concerned. How many times had she been hurt, and her mother never once came to check on her?

When she was eleven and fell out of that tree and had to wear a cast for what felt like years.... not even a card.

Swallowing her bitterness, doubt and fear, Jesse stepped in through the balcony door which had been left open. There wasn't a sound inside.

"Mother?" That felt strange. Even now, here. maybe what was unnerving was that Jesse could hear the concern in her voice. But then, with what she saw next, she had every right to express such worry.

"Mother!" Running, not speed running, Jesse dashed to her mother's side, a woman who lay on her own bed, jutted and broken. her mother was a mass of bruises, cuts and various other injuries that Jesse didn't even want to think about. Clutching the woman who had given birth to her, Jesse could tell that Libby was still alive, and cradling her mother's battered head into her lap, she struggled to figure out to do while checking her mother over.

Hostile takeovers, instant board meetings or backers backing out of deals she could handle. But not this. Jesse was only faintly aware that her mother was trying to say something. And she was acutely aware that she was sobbing.

"Shh, mom, shh. It's okay. Okay. You're going to be okay," Jesse was panting, trying to get out the reassurances as she looked around for a phone. "I'm going to get you help... help, mom. Hang in there. Help's on the way. I'm here... whoever did this, I won't let them... oh mom!"

Nearly dropping the phone by the bedside, Jesse looked to her hands. They were shaking. And covered in her mother's blood. Somehow she dialled '9 1 1', and in that silence she heard a whisper. One that spooked her to the core.

"... johnny..."

It had been her mother, who was using what strength remained in her, to point to the balcony doorway. Jesse looked, but only to catch a glimpse of a figure that dart away. At superspeed.

Dropping the phone now, Jesse spoke the phrase her father had given her, the formula. Not to give chase, but to run way, taking her mother away to a hospital.

And in a flash, the foe disappeared.

But then, that is how the Mirror Master operated. And in a flick of his wrist, shining his handheld compact at the machine before him, McCulloch knew exactly where the thing disappeared to. But he wasn't telling, as he didn't ever plan on bringing it back. But seeing as how he was saving the citizens of Keystone from being attacked by the things, he didn't figure anyone would be complaining.

The Rogues had their hands full at the moment. Linda Park as well, who was standing beside the Pied Piper, using one of his sound guns. Just a moment ago the Rogues had proclaimed what was now true, that the mayor had made them offical guardians of the city. And then the robots came.

As big as a person, they were shaped to resemble 'turtle-men'. That was term that Weather Wizard had used on them. The Wiz was current aloft, using what minimal localized weather he cold generate to hover and send down the ocassional lightning bolt. Captain Cold was behind, using his cold gun to freeze more of the things that attempted to sweep in from the rear. Good thing was, these 'turtle-men' lived up to the namesake and were slow. Bad thing was, they were strong and numerous.

"First day on the job and already the steady pay check is in jeapordy! No one told us fightin' these turtle-bots was a part of the deal!"

"Quiet, Snart. I need a moment to try and isolate the right sound. If I can find the right frequency that these things are remotely controled by and I can block it."

"Just like ol' times, eh Pipe'? Maybe ye' should think of comin' back t'us full time..."

"The only thing that you should be thinking of is a way to get us all out of this!"

"Well, well," Captain Cold sneered as he froze another machine, but still many more were converging on him, "Looks like the 'lady Flash' has lots faith in her new husband. No longer holdin' out that Wally's going to be dashin' to your rescue on this one, Mrs. Park?"

"Wally will be here," Linda said with confidence. Raising the sound gun Piper had thrust to her to use, she blasted back another one of those turtle machines. But, she knew she was running low on charges, and if Wally didn't get here soon...

"A little late, but still I think I have time to spare in saving the day."

Skidding a stop was The Flash, complete with Tempest holding onto Wally's back, arms linked around the speedster's shoulders.

"About time you showed up, Red," Linda sighed, thankfully as she broke for Wally's side. But then eyeing her soaking wet husband, she noticed the several small scraps, cuts and bite marks on him. "Should I even ask?"

"Well, on the way down here we ran into some sh-... omph!"

Having slipped off Wally's back, Garth had attempted to explain, but only to get an elbow to the rips from Flash.

"Nothing to worry about hon, and nothing that won't heal over lickitysplit. So, how about..."

"Givin' us a hand, Flasher!"

Leaning in to quickly peck his wife on the cheek, Wally promised to be back in a 'Flash' as he dashed off to assist the Rogues.

"Well, thank you, Tempest, for bringing my husband to us in one piece. Even if he is banged up a little. All his doing, I'm sure."

Left to 'chat' with Linda while regaining his 'wind' following the fight he had just been in, as well as giving himself a chance to recharge his magical 'batteries', Garth looked to Wally's wife. And he was reminded that once this was all over, he had his own to return to, and try to explain all of this to her.

"Actually, it's all the doing of Marine Marauder. Her and-..."

"Wait, you said Marine Marauder?" Even though there was a battle raging around her with Rogues and a Flash battling mechanical turtle-men, Linda knew there was a story in this. She just had to get to the bottom of it. But, only if she knew she was already there, literally. "That would involve something 'marine', but Keystone isn't anywhere near a sea..."

"No, ma'am," Garth answered politely. "But outside the energy dome over this city is a massive lake. It seems like Keystone's been sunk to -..."

"The bottom of a lake?!?" Well, no wonder Wally was dipping wet when she arrived. "I just figured some madman had covered the city in some kind of field, like Cobra tried to destroy Keystone. Heck, maybe I figured that since that was the last time I used one of these," she said, brandishing the sound gun Piper had given her. "But if that means you were able to pass through the field, though it's keeping the water and what's outside out, then this Marine Marauder could-..."

"Get in," came a feminine voice from above. Sitting on the arm of a hovering chair was the Marauder, arm around the man in the chair. The Turtle.

It'd been so long since he had been on a vacation, Jay Garrick wasn't sure he knew what one was any more. But, considering how much pleasure he was having, he figured he was making due, and he certainly didn't feel like complaining.

"See now why I've been trying to get you to retire all these years?"

"Joan, darling, you've reminded me of that fact evey day since we got here."

"Well, once you start listening..."

Jay knew that his wife was teasing him. Joan knew exactly who Jay was, better than Jay knew himself. He was The Flash, the first, and if Jay had anything to say about it, he'd also be the last. Sure, he'd lost a step or two since when he first got his powers, but he was still going strong. There was still much he could contribute to the world. Teach others. But he did have to admit, laying here in a chair on a beach with his beloved beside him, watching the sun set in the tropics? Maybe this was the life. Maybe this is what he had been chasing for the past couple of years..

"Like now might be a good time to do that. Listen to you wife of nearly half a century."

Chuckling, Jay looked to his wife. She was as gorgeous now, if not more so, than the day he first laid eyes on her. "Actually, I was lost in thought... thought of considering that you might be right."

Reaching over from her own chair, Joan laid a hand on her husband's cheek. "I'm kidding, Jay. You quit, and I promise you, I'll divorce you. Being the Flash is in your blood. Besides, I was thinking of becoming a heroine myself, finally. Maybe the Blue-Haired Wonder or Lady Senior Discount?"

Both chuckled at this, but Jay couldn't help fear some of his own worst doubts. While Joan accepted his life, did she feel left out of it at the same time? "Joan, I..."

"Mr. Garrick, call for you."

Blinking, and looking away from his wife, Jay looked over his shoulder to the hotel attendant who had come out all this way, across the sand, to hold out a cell phone to Jay.

"The caller said it was urgent." Nodding, the attendant handed over the phone and quickly turned to scurry inside.

"Joan, sorry. I'll just be a moment. Must be Wally. I told him not to call me, not this time. This was meant to be just us. He's the only one that knows we're here. Not even the JSA knows." But Jay knew his apology was falling flat. This was supposed to have just been them, alone. Wally had better have a very good explaination for this. "Wally, I-..."

"I know about your daughter, Jay. Expect to see me soon." *click*

That wasn't Wally. That was... Johnny's voice?

Bolting up in his seat, Jay reached out for Joan's hand. Shaking, his wife looked to him concerned. Before she could ask, however, Jay was pulling her back towards the hotel frantically.

"Hon, I can't... can't explain now, but we have to go home. Right away." Jay had a grave to check.

People were looking to him for answers, but Wally West was looking to the one man that held all of those revelations. The same man that he was wanting to pummel at superspeed.

People all over Keystone City, citizens and visitors alike, had converged on city hall, seeking answers. Answers as to why they were trapped here, underwater. Why they were being held hostage. A flood of people, now being witness to this battle of heroes and Rogues alike fighting robotic 'turtlemen'. And all of them wanted to go home, in a Flash. None moreso than Wally.

"I expected you to find you way down here eventually, Flash. But as always, you arrive ahead of schedule. Good thing is that I prepared for that. Just like I planned for everything!"

Normally this was where Wally would have bapped Turtle and tossed him in jail, all in one motion. But right now he was busy battling robots and trying to keep Keystonians back. All while trying to figure a way out of this.

Using the winds to guide him towards the floating chair, one of the Rogues had had enough, and was willing to take matters into his own hands. Or well, into his weather wand.

"Prepare for this... to have the elements turned against you!" Rearing up on the floating chair, Weather Wizard threw his arms wide, eyes crackling with energy as he extended his limits. Reaching out, he called upon the elements above, far above the lake. Winds ripped the waters apart and a torrent of light from the surface washed over the scene. "*Hrt*... now time to... *hrk*... sending a lightning bolt right up your shelled a-... *Hrp!*"

Kicking out from her lover's chair, the Marine Marauder's foot connected with the Wizard's jaw with a sickening wet breaking sound.

"Now that we have your attention..."

From his chair, The Turtle looked down over the people of Keystone, with the Marauder resuming her place at his side. The waters remained parted and on either side a variety of sea life could be seen, called forth by the lady with the green mohawk. Falling, the Weather Wizard concentrated to maintain that opening to the skies above, even as he was caught by Pied Piper.

"Everyone one of you, you might as well give in! Give in to the thought that you now belong to Turtle City! I have toiled for years and years, preparing for this very day! Building a fortress under the city from which to plot my plans, I discovered this vast underground caverns and with care I hollowed them out further to complete my master plan! With the city trapped here in my own domain you will all have to bow to my will. In time you'll come to enjoy live here in my city, where I shall remove all of this technology, even that which I've created. A city out of time, a city of a simplier time, a city..."

"Without progress," Flash said, cutting off the Turtle.

"But that doesn't explain her," Garth mentioned, gesturing to the Marine Marauder.

"In attempts to get away from you meddling Aquamen for some time, I ventured inland via way of elaborate underground waterways," she explain as she shifted in her position. Crawling into Turtle's lap, she settled there while watching her new beau closely. "Finding his lair, he gave me shelter, and if I promised to help him, he would give me sanctuary to gather my pets about me. To practice with my powers, so that one day I could reach out and truly control the seas!"

"And then in time, I would be king of the majority of the world, not only this city. *MY* city!"

"Wally, I-..."

"I know, Linda," Wally said as he watched the foes above them. "I don't want to stay here either. And I-..."

"Flash," Piper cut in, as he held the beaten Wizard, "He's truly to speak... fortunately since i understand sound, I guess his mumblings mean that Mardon can't keep the opening up for much longer."

This was all so bizarre. Keystone sunk, by a madman who wanted his own city, whose girlfriend wanted to make her own zoo, fighting robots with a whole lake to get through to get home. Only home wasn't there. And all eyes were looking to him to get an idea in an instant as to what they sho-... that was it!

"There is no escape, Flash! You will all have to bow to me and accept that your city is mine, just as you all are!"

"That's where you're wrong," The Flash stated and finally he was in motion. For too long now he'd been helpless, unable to do anything. But now he had a plan. He just had to act on it before he gave himself time to second guess what he was about to do. "You may have stolen Keystone City, but you can't claim possession over those that used to call here home. I'm taking them back, now."

Not giving Turtle time to retort, Flash was in motion to enact his plan. "Piper, get a signal from Central City, centering on the Flash Museum. Give the location to Tempest, he's going to need it to make a portal for us. Rogues... you'll have to trust me. Snart, freeze over the dome as clear as you can, and McCulloch you're going to move those that Tempest can't get, using Cold's giant mirror to reflect everyone to the Museum."

"But, Wally, that would mean leaving all of..."

"This *stuff* behind, right, Linda. Rogues, Tempest, do it. I'll gather everyone here." And before anyone could dispute him, he was gone, rushing off in a blur to bring people here.

"But, but... you can't just... leave like..." All the Turtle could do was sit there and watch as no matter what direction he looked, there was the Flash in motion, stealing away his 'subjects'. He hadn't planned on this. But in a flash of light and magic, they would all be gone. Decades of preparation. Gone. Down the drain. To the bottom of this miserable lake.

Twirling her finger over the top of Turtle's bald head, Marine Marauder giggled, "Now this leaves a whole city to just the two of us, sweety."

Flash had to smile as he was teleported along with the last of the former Keystone resident, as he was left the with sound of the Turtle screaming, 'No!'

Standing outside the Museum, Flash was actually pleased to see that Piper had rallied the Rogues, who were still deputized, into helping to round up all of the people who had been in keystone moments before. There were so many of them... When Wally thought about pulling them out he hadn't considered just how many of there there were. He had saved all of these people, but now he had to save them again.

"Wally, what you did. It was the right thing. You didn't leave anyone behind," Linda said as she looked up to her husband. "You were right, that it was just all buildings and possessions. All things we can all get back. But, where are we going to put everyone?"

Squeezing his wife closer to him for a moment, Flash grinned. "Why, in New Keystone."

"New Keyst-... But, Wally where is that?"

Pointing to the left of where 'Old' Keystone had been, Wally gestured, "Oh, about there."

"But, Wally, how will-..."

"Just talk to people, Linda. Assure them that I'll handle this so I don't become their worst enemy. I'll have this fixed in a month, promise."