Rocky Raymond //Book Seven//

Chapter 19 - Family Matters: Part 1

MacKenzie's POV

"All right, remember, the radiators release isotopes that'll bring out Fuerza, so you don't have to do anything." Barry tells Alexa as she steps onto the platform. "Just try to stay conscious during the transformation. That's the first step to maintaining control."
"If I start to lose control, promise me you'll turn these things off." Alexa says

"Of course we will." Cisco says. "Also... I've got backup." He says, holding up his gauntlets. "You ready?" He asks and, upon getting confirmation, he nods to me

"Releasing isotopic waves now." I announce as the machine whirs to life

"Remember, Alexa, you're in control." Barry reminds Alexa

"I can't." Alexa groans with tears in her eyes. "I don't want to do it."

"You can." Barry encourages her

"I said I don't want to do this!" A deep voice – Fuerza – growls from Alexa's body

"Guys, her biometrics are spiking." Caitlin announces

"Reduce her isotopic exposure." Cisco tells me and I'm about to when Barry stops me

"Don't." He says and I hover over the button. "Alexa, you can do this." He tells Alexa

An alarm balres as Alexa begins to fight through the forcefield. "Uh, that's a problem. Guys, she's getting blue and angry!" He exclaims

Caitlin slams her hand down on the button. "It'll take 30 seconds for the isotopic effects to wear off."

"We don't have 30 seconds." Cisco says. "She's overloading the force field. If we don't shut it down, this thing's gonna blow, and then we're all toast." Caitlin grabs her blaster and rushes over to the forcefield. "I'm shutting it down now." He says, shutting down the forcefield and Fuerza emerges from the smoke

Fuerza goes to attack Caitlin but Barry speeds her out of the way. Cisco goes to fight Fuerza next but he is launched and is knocked out when he hits the wall. And then, thankfully before I had to do anything, Fuerza morphs back into Alexa

"I told you I couldn't control it." Alexa says through tears

***

"Is he gonna be all right?" Alexa asks as Caitlin walks out of the medbay and to the cortex

"He needs to rest, but he'll make a full recovery." Caitlin tells the group

"All right, we should get back to work." Barry says

"Barry, why don't we take a break on training?" Caitlin suggests

"Look, I-I know this is a setback, but we can't stop." Barry says. "Lives are on the line."

"Don't you know what just happened? We can't train that thing." Alexa says

"Alexa, we don't have a choice." Barry tells her

"Oh, you don't, I do, and I-I won't be your weapon." Alexa says. "I'm done with this, and I am done with you." She says, storming out

"Wait, Alexa–" Barry tries

"Barry, hey." Caitlin says, stopping him from going after her

"What?" Barry asks

"What are you doing?" Caitlin asks

"She needs to train." Barry says

"She just found out two days ago that she has this force inside of her." Caitlin says. "She needs time to process that."

"Look, I'm trying to teach her how to survive." Barry says

"Well, she's not ready." I say. "Come on, dad, you must be able to see it."